just looked at this area of forum for first time and was surprised to find people actually buy ertl and maisto products.personaly i would rather buy one exoto or a couple auto art than spend the same amount and get ten maistos.if any of you have encountered other decent quality 1/18th models i would like to know company name please.thanks bc

 

gmp are nice as well.

i personally like some of the ertl car and others that are cheaper. the hot wheel cars are nice as well.

i try to collect the cars, not the brands.

 

Carousel 1 makes some nice racing models that are comparable in quality to AA or GMP in my opinion...maybe even a step above in certain categories when you consider that they're making models which nobody else is (vintage Indycar stuff, etc.). I had a Carousel 'Vette in my collection for a while, but sold it to make room for some other stuff.

I am anxiously awaiting a new release from a model company that I'm new to - "CMC." (www.cmc-modelcars.de) They have focused on Mercedes-Benz racing cars (vintage monopostos), but have recently branched out and made an absolutely *stunning* Maserati 250F. I'm awaiting their Ferrari 250SWB (due out this week), and from what I've heard, these models will even put Exoto to shame.

 

There are some diamonds in the rough with the brands you mentioned.

1. Maisto: 1965 Corvette Coupe (great details)

2. Revell: 1969 Corvette Roadster. (best rally wheels I have seen).

3. Ertl: '04 CE Z06 (Blue/Silver Stripes)

I could go on but there are some sweet low and mid priced diecast if you look. BTW, I have over 400 1/18th diecast from Maisto to Carousel and Lane including Shelby, Mopar and Ford.

Mark

 

Actually, as stated above some of the Maisto's and Ertl/RC2 are better in the details than some of the more expensive diecasts. Just look at the $10 Maisto 65 wheels compared to the Exoto Knock off wheels which don't even have the correct number of spokes.And the small block exotos with big block casting and exhaust, so I wouldn't say that I would shy away from some of these lower priced diecasts.

 

Actually, I think the Maisto GT Racing line is a decent value since it offers cars that are not available in other lines. Autoart is getting dangerously close (if not already there) to overpricing their racing models, especially their buttoned-up Motorsports line.

 

Ertls, Maistos, and other similar brands are purchased for two main reasons, price and selection. Just as there are collectors whose budgets allow them to purchase as many high-end cars as they want, there are even more collectors who can only afford the mid- and low-priced cars. If there were no low-end cars available, this hobby would probably have 1/2 to 3/4 fewer collectors. Collectors of only higher-priced cars are in the minority. As far as selection goes, there are a lot more lower-priced Corvettes available than there are high-detail ones. If you only collect Corvettes made by Exoto, Carousel 1, Autoart, and the like, your collection is pretty darned limited. Start looking at those Ertls and Maistos, and you'll have a much wider selection that represents the Corvette's history.

 

Kyosho has a nice 1/18th scale Cobra. High quality. Frankly when it comes to 1/18th scale cars, I think Auto Art rocks in detail and quality.

 

thanks for your input folks.by the way that cobra is the only kyosho[?] that i have and it is okay. i didn't mean to offend buyers of lower priced models, just saying i would rather buy fewer and have better quality.oh,the 65 maisto vette is the only maisto i have purchased. bc

 

If you can get your hands on one, pick up a Kyosho Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione. Aside from my Exotos, it is HANDS DOWN the nicest model in my collection. Kyosho went way overboard on that one, IMO, and it shows. It shares a shelf with Exotos and more than holds its own...

 

kyosho is very ncie as well...i have a 93 rx7 and a 90 300 z from them, got them when i was in japan...very nice details.

 

I collect only Corvettes. Agree with all the comments made above. Some low end are surprisingly bad. I think Maisto can made a good model but they also make some sad examples. I have yet to get a bad AutoArt/UT even though the price keeps getting higher and higher. The last Hot Wheels, 06 Z06, was just terrible in paint quality. I collect Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint also and they can also have quality control problems, but they will exchange until you are satisfied! But that said, if I want a certain year or model and the only one making it is of low quality, I'll probably buy it. Bitch about it but put it in the display case and forget about all the flaws. Then look for that car with better quality made by another mfg.
The rare models on E-bay do draw the big $'s. But once in a while at the last minute I score a bargin. Sometimes I also lose to someone else's last minute bid. To me that is the fun of collecting. Sometime even I'm shocked by the ending bid. I've dropped out way before then.
I'm a newbie to collecting diecast. I was building 1/24 and 1/25th scale plastic model kits for a few years. Still am doing that but also buying diecast. Takes me a couple weeks to build a kit and less than a minute to buy a diecast. We have long winters here and this is how I pass the time.

 

2bubas i like to build kits but can never do well enough to satisfy myself with the end product so haven't built any in years.

 

Bigcypress, I agree with your strategy. I have many Bburago's and Ertl's that I am slowly taking out of the case and replacing. The Ertl Cord and Duesie are stating though. They just look awesome.

I have several AA's (C5R, 53, 78, Chaparral) and I had developed enough trust in the brand to buy a couple sight unseen. In the future, I will ask if the car is badged "Millenium" on the box, because these (59 and 69 Corvettes) have not lived up to my expectation of the AA brand.

I believe the only way to determine what you want it is to see it displayed out of the box. Some dream cars don't come off well as models, and some manufacturers will surpise you both ways. I am fortunate enough to live about and hour's drive from an Exoticar showroom. If you get a chance, stop by a place like that and get your eyes opened!