James Bond Car Collection - Questions and praise

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Comments

  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    FACT wrote:
    I actually agree it's hardly 'the most spectacular firework saved for the end of the show' and could have at least been better presented. Instead of using the same tunnel diorama as the earlier version, possibly a diorama using the quarry, or the ancient street where Bond finally parked up would have done it more justice. But it is still noteworthy imho.

    The diorama base of the Citroen Traction Avant was cobbled (Istanbul) and could easily have been used for a road scene in Siena. So either a lack of imagination there, or they just couldn't be bothered.


    I have to vote for the latter, unfortunately.
  • FACTFACT Station ZPosts: 320MI6 Agent
    The first auctions of Issue 107, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II from LTK, are appearing on ebay today, so it seems the release of this model to the retailers in the UK is a day earlier than scheduled.

    Just to have to wait now for a buyer to confirm that Issue 108 is going to be the DAF Ford Econoline.
  • WinnieWinnie Posts: 129MI6 Agent
    Just picked up LTK Rolls on the way home from work,I can confirm that No108 will be the Ford Econoline van.
  • FACTFACT Station ZPosts: 320MI6 Agent
    Winnie wrote:
    Just picked up LTK Rolls on the way home from work,I can confirm that No108 will be the Ford Econoline van.
    Thanks for the confirmation, Winnie {[]

    So that's that then, the remaining issues are as anticipated:
    Issue 108, the Ford Econoline from DAF, tbr ±13 July
    Issue 109, the Chev Impala Custom Coupe from LALD, tbr ±10 August
    Issue 110, the damaged Aston Martin DBS from QOS, tbr ±7 September.
  • crocke007crocke007 Posts: 107MI6 Agent
    just noticed the clear plastic cases no longer have the 007 logo on the top - or is it just mine ???

    and I just had 103, the Ford Bronco, with the vehicle loose and damaged !!

    I think GE seem to have lost interest in this collection themselves, the quality aint the same as it was !!!!
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    True, crocke007. I'm sure that save for a few diehard 007 fans everyone else is really looking forward to concluding the collection. Sadly, doesn't look like it's gonna close on a high note.
  • MovieCarFanMovieCarFan Posts: 973MI6 Agent
    Winnie wrote:
    Just picked up LTK Rolls on the way home from work,I can confirm that No108 will be the Ford Econoline van.

    How does the LTK Rolls look 'in the flesh'? It isn't easy to tell from photos so far whether the two-tone paint job looks like the correct blue and grey or like two nearly identical shades of blue?
  • MovieCarFanMovieCarFan Posts: 973MI6 Agent
    edited June 2011
    crocke007 wrote:
    just noticed the clear plastic cases no longer have the 007 logo on the top - or is it just mine ???

    I received 105 without the logo but with the small rectangular recess in the top to take one. I simply lifted an 007 sticker from a spare cracked box (very carefully and slowly) using a pair of tweezers, and stuck it in. Just be careful to avoid leaving fingerprints on the adhesive side of the sticker, they make it go opaque.
  • mazmaz Posts: 227MI6 Agent
    I don't think any of the IXO models comes with a JB sticker. The "hole" is where IXO would normally go I suspect and Fabbri just couldnt be bothered to pay IXO to make more JBCC stickers. Just got my Country Squire as a back order. It is excellent for money and my only observation is that decalled "wood trim" could conform better.

    Looking forward to Consul, Econoline and Impala now.
  • malakamalaka Posts: 7MI6 Agent
    hello all, just picked up issue 107 from newsagents. 1st the rolls royce lady [ can't remember what it's called] is leaning to one side and 2nd some of the front grill is filled in .looks a bit shoddy. still only 3 cars left thank god.
  • Dalkowski110Dalkowski110 Posts: 1,314MI6 Agent
    Back after a slight vacation!

    "Thanks for the link Mr D, I'd read some of the info before but hadn't seen that particular webpage up until your posting - fascinating stuff."

    Glad I could be of help! :)

    "as having spent £7.99 for each of the last 105 issues I think GEF need to consider they have sold a product under false pretences to all of us who subscribed."

    I think that's going a bit far...to defend Fabbri (never thought I'd be saying those words, but anyway...), they did make the collection almost three times the size of what it was supposed to be.

    "I have to vote for the latter, unfortunately."

    I think that unlike Ixo, where they're just doing the cars carefully and taking a "screw the rest" approach, UH is genuinely getting lazy regarding EVERYTHING. Model, diorama, everything.

    "I don't think any of the IXO models comes with a JB sticker. The "hole" is where IXO would normally go I suspect and Fabbri just couldnt be bothered to pay IXO to make more JBCC stickers."

    This is correct.

    "It is excellent for money and my only observation is that decalled "wood trim" could conform better. "

    I would only make one other change: add the Ford lettering on the tailgate. Compare this to any photo on the internet and it's not there. The LOGO is there, but the actual lettering is not. I REALLY hope Ixo corrects this for their Premium X release, which I also plan on purchasing.

    "Looking forward to Consul, Econoline and Impala now."

    You'll really like the Consul...excellently detailed. I too look forward to the Econoline and the Impala.

    "1st the rolls royce lady [ can't remember what it's called] is leaning to one side and 2nd some of the front grill is filled in .looks a bit shoddy. still only 3 cars left thank god."

    Universal Hobbies' quality control is REALLY in the tank. And if you think it's just Bond cars, go take a look at the Renault 4 series. Unlike the Bond cars, these were REALLY nicely detailed and I purchased a bunch to make into Yugoslavian and Romanian-marketed cars. Unfortunately, most had crooked bumpers that required actually heating them up to straighten them out, ill-fitting bottoms that required filing down the sides, and in general a seeming lack of quality control (I exchanged two that had badly bent axles). I don't look forward to Issue 110, either.

    "Sadly, doesn't look like it's gonna close on a high note."

    Thank you for bringing that up Jag, since I was going to bring it up myself regardless. ;)

    In the four partworks aside from the JBCC I follow closely (USSR AvtoLegende [expanded to 100 Issues!!!!], Kultowe Auta PRL-u, Atlas DDR Trucks, and La Route Bleue), there's always a sense of enthsusiasm about what the next model will be. With USSR AvtoLegende and Kultowe Auta PRL-u, even knowing what the next ten models will be doesn't dampen my enthusiasm. Although I don't follow Kultowe Auta PRL-u's forums as much as USSR AvtoLegende's, I get the sense that with both, even knowing what models are going to be released, there's a sense of excitement. Even the recent ZIL-117 in USSR AvtoLegende brought out the people who'd bought the JBCC model...which is literally identical save for the interior and number plates. We only know about 78 of the 100 models in USSR AvtoLegende, and I believe it was expanded from 80 to 100 because of the tremendous demand. It was even announced that two 1/43 trucks (early small ones, but trucks nonetheless) would appear in the series. But nobody's making calls to contract the collection...it's all "expand! expand! expand!" to the point where people are making suggestions of not only relatively minor alterations, but also one-offs, prototypes, and even 1990's Russian and Ukrainian production cars on the basis that they were prototypes during the Soviet years.

    La Route Bleue is a bit different. For their issues, it was about the TERRIFIC dioramas, not the cars. You got figures and various and sundry doodads to play around with even if the diorama wasn't your thing. And the scenes! Original AND fun. It got to the point where you didn't want it to end, a sort of "what WILL they do next?" And I'm now collecting those dioramas (albeit filing them off at the bases to better display them as well as adding my own figures and sometimes, my own vehicles, plus a tweak here and there).

    I didn't want those three partworks to end. Admittedly, Kultowe Auta PRL-u has no end in sight, and while USSR AvtoLegende got an extra 20 issues, I still know they're both going to end, just like La Route Bleue ended. And with Atlas DDR Trucks...who knows when it'g goping to end? Plus the possibilities are endless now that they've announced they're doing imported trucks like the KrAZ-256 (USSR) and Tatra T148 (Czechoslovakia) and probably going to throw in some buses, too. With the JBCC, I'll be happy to pick up my Econoline and my Impala and then call it a day. It just seems laborious at this point. I genuinely wonder what would've happened if they'd taken an approach closer to La Route Bleue with expanded dioramas (as well as Altaya's REAL genius...signing on Norev, Ixo, and Universal Hobbies from the beginning and then pretty much sticking with Ixo and Norev) or used an approach like USSR AvtoLegende or Kultowe Auta PRL-u where it would be made clear that model quality was what would be primarily focused on.
    By the way, are you gonna eat that?
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Thanks, Dalkowski - what you are saying is very true.

    However, we should not miss one serious difference. When it comes to the former Eastern Bloc partworks, this is the first time EVER most of those cars /trucks/buses have been reproduced in a model form. Even when the Iron curtain was in place it was easier to buy Western models there. I remember how I treasured my first and only Matchbox car as a kid! Those few cars that had been produced were usually made of plastic, lacked details and did not hold scale very well. There were exceptions, of course, but very few.

    James Bond is a different story - Corgi has produced millions of car models beginning with Goldfinger. They have made a number of variants and scales. There have also been more recent releases - Minichamps is producing some of the same cars as Fabbri and in the same scale. So as a result the market is much more saturated, we are more demanding and more likely to complain. There is a limit to how many DB5 models I would like to have! In the East, on the other hand, people who buy their partworks are huge in number and quite insatiated - and this includes kids, their dads and even grandads!
  • Dalkowski110Dalkowski110 Posts: 1,314MI6 Agent
    "However, we should not miss one serious difference. When it comes to the former Eastern Bloc partworks, this is the first time EVER most of those cars /trucks/buses have been reproduced in a model form. Even when the Iron curtain was in place it was easier to buy Western models there. I remember how I treasured my first and only Matchbox car as a kid! Those few cars that had been produced were usually made of plastic, lacked details and did not hold scale very well. There were exceptions, of course, but very few...In the East, on the other hand, people who buy their partworks are huge in number and quite insatiated - and this includes kids, their dads and even grandads!"

    I agree completely (especially in regard to the last sentence) and was aware of this. Yes, the Elecon/Arek trucks made in Kazan are absolutely terrific when it comes to detail, though they were scarce...one of the best bangs for your buck today, though...I'd also say Tantal did a very nice job with the Lada Niva and the Russo-Balt cars were incredibly well-done, but again, both were somewhat "top of the line". The Moskvitch 408/412/426/427/433/434 was nice and was perfect 1/43, as was the GAZ-13 Chayka, ZIL-117, GAZ-24 Volga series, UAZ-452V, and UAZ-469, but all lacked detail and were closer to the later Dinky Toys than modern models. Lesser in detail and quality still were the Progress Factory knockoffs of Polistil, plus the 1/?? scale unpainted models of the ZAZ-968 and ZAZ-968M. It's similar in Spain with the Altaya/Ixo/Norev SEAT series; I know that was really popular because nobody made SEAT unless you became good at converting Fiat models.

    "James Bond is a different story - Corgi has produced millions of car models beginning with Goldfinger. They have made a number of variants and scales. There have also been more recent releases - Minichamps is producing some of the same cars as Fabbri and in the same scale. So as a result the market is much more saturated, we are more demanding and more likely to complain. There is a limit to how many DB5 models I would like to have!"

    Still, I also mentioned La Route Bleue. Although I can think of two or three cars that were NOT available outside of that partwork (the Ford Comete and Austin Cambridge come to mind), virtually all were available from Ixo or Norev prior to it, sometimes in even better detail. Yet, nobody wanted that partwork to stop that I know of. I guess they just executed it exceptionally well. I suppose this is a better comparison due to existing cars as well as, in my opinion, better dioramas and better planning with regards to dealing with the modelmakers.
    By the way, are you gonna eat that?
  • WinnieWinnie Posts: 129MI6 Agent
    I'm afraid the LTK Rolls is as bad as we anticipated,mainly down to colour.To me, the two-tone paintwork looks totally wrong.The top colour is a metallic Sliver/grey and looks good.But the bottom half is a kind of tractor blue and non-metallic.It looks nothing like the colour of the Rolls in the magazine.If it was a real Rolls, I certainly wouldn't buy it!Then we have the problem with the fat non-white wall tyres,already discussed on previous posts.
    I feel this model will probably be in for a bumpy ride! Can't wait to see your comments.
  • DokkDokk Posts: 382MI6 Agent
    crocke007 wrote:
    just noticed the clear plastic cases no longer have the 007 logo on the top - or is it just mine ???

    and I just had 103, the Ford Bronco, with the vehicle loose and damaged !!

    I think GE seem to have lost interest in this collection themselves, the quality aint the same as it was !!!!


    Just noticed that #107 has the 007 logo on the top -{ :007)
  • dickiebartdickiebart Posts: 220MI6 Agent
    I got this response when querying about replacement #89's:
    "Issue 89 is also currently on back order. The Publisher advised we should receive stock this month."

    Sounds positive.
    http://www.007collection.blogspot.com check it! All my 007 autographs, toys, cars, books and more!
  • mazmaz Posts: 227MI6 Agent
    Couple of observations. 107 is already available as a back order but 106 isn't! Glad I ordered over phone a few weeks ago..... 107 has logo on top for simple reason it is a UH model and not ixo.

    when 89 comes in we need to know if UH or IXO made the Anglia. If IXO I will add it to my wants list. BTW Dalkowski - can you let me know which bulletin boards you haunt for auto legends I have been building up a small collection of these. Bit narked the Zils have no badge on bonnet even the old Auto USSR managed that.

    Have just got the Mini Moke as a back order what a lovely model - nice diorama and the detailing of the model is excellent shows UH can do it why did they make such a mess of the Silver Shadows?
  • Dalkowski110Dalkowski110 Posts: 1,314MI6 Agent
    edited June 2011
    maz wrote:
    when 89 comes in we need to know if UH or IXO made the Anglia. If IXO I will add it to my wants list.

    Ditto here, especially since I'll be getting it via eBay...
    BTW Dalkowski - can you let me know which bulletin boards you haunt for auto legends I have been building up a small collection of these. Bit narked the Zils have no badge on bonnet even the old Auto USSR managed that.

    RCforum.ru. If you can speak Russian well enough, you can participate. If you can't, I recommend google translator. I only know about two hundred spoken Russian words and while I can read Cyrillic, I can't spell in it to save my life, so I generally use a mixture of both and just lurk. However, the people there can certainly help you with the ZIL badges. Some truly unbelievable conversions the people over there do.
    Have just got the Mini Moke as a back order what a lovely model - nice diorama and the detailing of the model is excellent shows UH can do it why did they make such a mess of the Silver Shadows?

    To be honest, I'm wondering if they just got lazy. It's not as if they haven't before. If you followed the Renault 4 Collection like I did, it wasn't detailing where they screwed up, but rather quality control. And it was on the later models. The first three or four offerings in that set were just fine. But the Renault 4 collection was basically re-using the same mould over and over. With the JBCC, you can't get away with that. Also recalled a few models (from Ixo, Norev, and UH) that were introduced in "La Route Bleue" that LATER became available or were exclusive to the series: the Renault Estafette is something we've only seen as a panel van from Ixo, but we saw a minibus version in LRB. The Renault 8S (the down-marketed version of the Gordini) has yet to appear outside of the collection. The Chrysler Airflow first appeared in LRB, as did the Salmson and the Panhard Dyna Z. It also took quite a while before we saw a SEAT 1500 outside of LRB.
    By the way, are you gonna eat that?
  • crocke007crocke007 Posts: 107MI6 Agent
    Just noticed the bases are grey on the ZIL and Bondola - all the others are black !!!
  • dickiebartdickiebart Posts: 220MI6 Agent
    crocke007 wrote:
    Just noticed the bases are grey on the ZIL and Bondola - all the others are black !!!

    Yeah that is kind of an oversight by the makers. Why only 2 with differing plinths. They should at least have black writing on them as the white on grey is hard to read in some lights.
    http://www.007collection.blogspot.com check it! All my 007 autographs, toys, cars, books and more!
  • Leijo007Leijo007 Posts: 106MI6 Agent
    They simply should have kept the sides black, like all the others.
  • FACTFACT Station ZPosts: 320MI6 Agent
    Seeing as there're some new posts on this thread, I might as well chip in to remind y'all that we're halfway to the UK retail release of the Ford Econoline (issue #108) ... only another two weeks to wait ................................................. :#
  • MeMe Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    Newby here so apologies if this is in the wrong place/format etc. Just noticed on the LTK RR Silver Shadow No. 107 there is only one wing mirror - on the passenger side assuming this should have been a right hand drive car. Also Silver Lady on bonnet is crooked - as is front number plate - and there is a tiny piece of red plastic loose in the box. Looks nothing like a guenuine RR and so glad this will all come to an end very soon. Rubbish models of late and they have really milked every last penny out of their captive audience.
  • myhandlemyhandle Posts: 124MI6 Agent
    Me wrote:
    Newby here so apologies if this is in the wrong place/format etc. Just noticed on the LTK RR Silver Shadow No. 107 there is only one wing mirror - on the passenger side assuming this should have been a right hand drive car. Also Silver Lady on bonnet is crooked - as is front number plate - and there is a tiny piece of red plastic loose in the box. Looks nothing like a guenuine RR and so glad this will all come to an end very soon. Rubbish models of late and they have really milked every last penny out of their captive audience.

    The Silver Shadow is not great, it is true, but it's not the worst model of all time. I would say that of late the models really have not been rubbish - the Zil and the Country Squire are both so good that I would buy them for my non-Bond 1:43 collection if I were not collecting this series.

    Thanks for signing up and restarting the dialogue!
  • MovieCarFanMovieCarFan Posts: 973MI6 Agent
    Whilst everything's been quiet I've been re-aquainting myself with the work of Dleyvraz. For anybody unfamiliar with his work, he's done some amazing stuff with the JBCCollection as can be seen on this webpage - hope he doesn't mind me posting it! I particularly like the Halle Berry figure with the DAD TBird. Enjoy.

    http://s615.photobucket.com/albums/tt239/dleyvraz/?start=all
  • dickiebartdickiebart Posts: 220MI6 Agent
    Whilst everything's been quiet I've been re-aquainting myself with the work of Dleyvraz. For anybody unfamiliar with his work, he's done some amazing stuff with the JBCCollection as can be seen on this webpage - hope he doesn't mind me posting it! I particularly like the Halle Berry figure with the DAD TBird. Enjoy.

    http://s615.photobucket.com/albums/tt239/dleyvraz/?start=all

    Wowwee!. Thanks for sharing those with us MovieCarFan. They are all amazing, and make the models look 100 times better! A lot of very hard work has gone into them, Dleyvraz is a machine. Thankyou!
    http://www.007collection.blogspot.com check it! All my 007 autographs, toys, cars, books and more!
  • Diecast007Diecast007 Posts: 576MI6 Agent
    Issue 106 and 107 have arrived. A nice surprise today.

    First off the Ford Consul is stunning and has to be one of the best in the collection. The Rolls Royce is not really bad either and has received some flak but I like it . It is good model and welcome in the collection. Only three to go plus an Anglia replacement , fingers crossed.

    So hopefully concluded by October ......
  • ArymoreArymore Posts: 27MI6 Agent
    Got thr Ford Consul last night......... anyone else got the head lights upside down? I had the left correct and the right inverted! Was so obvious it hurt! cant believe it got through production. Rectified now though.
  • WinnieWinnie Posts: 129MI6 Agent
    I had to glue one of the Ford Consuls head lights back,as it was loose and hanging out.My LTK Rolls also has the 'Spirit of Ecstacy'figure bend to one side.Nobody with the Rolls seems to have mentioned the colour yet.I have to say though,I do prefer the LTK Rolls over the TWINE white Rolls.
  • Kissy SuzukiKissy Suzuki IrelandPosts: 66MI6 Agent
    Hi Guys,

    Been following this thread for a while, there's been some good discussions - pity the cars haven't always been up to the same standard!

    Anyhoo, I was wondering if anyone can help me out ...

    I recently ordered and received the OHMSS Aston Martin DBS as a back issue from the JBCC website. However, there's a flaw in the paintwork with the model they sent me.X-(

    Basically, the dark green topcoat is missing in a couple of places along the side of the car, leaving the grey undercoat showing through. As it's along the side facing in on the diarama, it's not noticable when I leave it the box, but it's annoying none the less.

    So, does anyone know the exact colour and type of model paint required to touch it up? I've had a look at Humbrol paints but haven't been able to find a match.

    Thanks!

    Kissy.{[]
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