O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle Dec 20

Same to you Richard. That is too bad about Yat Ming. When K line went out years ago, Walmart had tons of Yat Ming at $1.88 a piece. I bought a dozen then but have not seen any again at my local store.

Same to you and everyone, Richard. Also, Thanks for posting every week.

Thanks for the heads up on Yat Ming.

Richard

Wishing you the same.

Yes, sad about Yat Ming. I have a number of their 1/43 models

Makes me appreciate American Hobbies - that cheap line out of Poland that sells through Amazon, even more . . . 

Let's face it...it's been a long time since YatMing issued a new 1:43 (color variations, yes). My understanding was that they will continue making larger scales. Lee, I did not know that FM stopped making large scale models.

There is far more available now in 1:43 than ever before...but prices start around $70.!

Joe
The $10 to $15 models are slowly disappearing. They are slowly being replaced by more detailed models. White Box and IXO are a couple of brands that are in the $30 to $40 range. I think they look better on a layout and don’t paying a little more for a quality model.
Rich.

I agree.  It is inevitable - and surprising - how quickly diecast cars accumulate.  So, okay, yes, you will buy fewer at the higher prices, but will still be amazed several years later you have more than enough.  I'd buy the pieces you really want regardless of price.  Over time you will end up with enough - more than enough probably, and they will be quality.

If that doesn't work for you - for anyone on a budget who has a bare layout and feels they must populate it with cars right now, I recommend going to Amazon and shopping the toys and games section for "1:43 New Ray" (a few vendors troll for foolish customers at $99 for them, but don't pay over $8 for a car or $20-ish for a big rig) and "1:43 Amer Hobbies" (all 11.90 or less).  

In 1986 (the year I built my first Christmas layout), diecast 1:43 cars, mainly made by Vitesse and Solido, cost $15..In 2012 money, that is $31. So, in fact, you could say we are getting better quality, and a much better selection, for the same cost.

So...who besides BBB (Big Buck Brooklin) has decent models in the pre WWII steam

era?  I never noticed that Yat Ming, nor New Ray, were players in that era..

Well, Amer Hobbies (discussed earlier) has stuff into the early 30s, maybe before.  Diecast Direct has some other, less expensive brands, too, that go back into the 30s and 20s.  some of the links given in previous weekly chronicles by Richard E here are worth exploring, too.  Except for Amer Hobbies don't expect a lot under $30 though . . . 

A good way to search is to enter on eBay "1:43 1938" or whatever year you would like to see. In your case, start with 1942 and work your way back.

Richard E.:  Thanx for your best wishes and greetings and may you and yours also enjoy a joyous Christmas as well as a Happy New Year.

Sorry to hear about the problems with some of the car manufacturers.  Throughout the years, all of them have supplied close to 200 vehicles which are all on my layout.  I'm glad I began acquiring these vehicles from all of the different manufacturers, including Brooklin, because they really do make the scenes on my layout look authentic.  i don't consider myself a "collector" of these cars, but I like to "use them" to create various scenes. 

I probably will not be hurt by the unavailability of certain vehicles because my road and highway scenes are well populated with cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment.  But some of our younger guys, who are just getting their layouts started, will certainly have difficulty getting a variety of vehicles which is what is needed to make a scene realistic.

Paul Fischer