Amalgam Collection launch 1:18 scale collection!

I don't think Amalgam is treated (or should be treated) any diferently from other brand, in this section we have some very knowledgeable people and most of us are colectors, so we try to be as honest as possible about the models. I think everyone here will recognize that Amalgam models are amazing, they are some of the very best in the buisness and i don't have any problem admiting that if i had the money i would probably own a couple of models myself.
However, like other brands, there are things we like and others not so much, and even if i think they have an excelent product, i still believe it is very expensive. It's a high-end product and obviously aimed at a very high-end clientele but, that doesn't mean their models are 100% perfect or that the price isn't exagerated.

 

From what i understand, at least for the 1/18 models, the situation is pretty much the same as BBr or Mr models, that are developed and managed from Italy..china only builds them....i would like to see an Amalgam GTO besides a BBR GTO to really compare both, but at first glance they seem pretty evenly matched.

 

Should we therefore not say what we think?
I am really willing to pay a high price for a Europe engineered and built model but a production in China is a "killer". By the way, ask the guys of BBR about the quality problems with their pruduction in China.

 

FWIW Amalgam was bought not long ago by the same parent company that now owns FerrariChat.com. A little constructive criticism isn't going to chase them away.

 

Still one final comment:
BBR produces his serie BBR18 completely in Italy and prices are below EUR 500. So there should as well a possibility for other companies to produce 1:18 models in Europe for a reasonable sales price.
Designed, enginered and produced in England sounds better than made in China!
Should be worth thinking about it.

 

I think people made too big a deal of the whole China thing. I own 4 spectacular Amalgam 1:8 models, and I believe all were made in China, and all are beautifully crafted. This isn't 1970. Some of the finest assembly is done in China. The last time I looked, my IPhone was made there as well, and I'm very pleased with it.

 

For a number of reasons, I've avoided joining the conversation or debate in this thread, but I will say just a little. First off, we have 3 iPhone's in our house..... and get new ones about once a year, each has almost always had various issues/problems. Not terrible, but certainly not what I would consider very fine, but they do look nice. I'm not so happy. Regarding models; there is truly a lot to say about quality, value, production, etc... of all types of models made all over the world. Though production of models has come quite a long way since the 1970s, there are still issues, and valid reasons for what is and is not acceptable to collectors. And those reasons..... along with facts, could fill a book. Collectors perspectives can and do vary greatly, as does general knowledge. We all have our opinions..... I have been collecting, buying, selling, producing and building limited edition hand built, and scratch built collector models for over 35 years. I've also been writing about models in many publications for about the same length of time.

The larger 1:8th Amalgam models are very impressive, and quite spectacular, though some are better than others. Regardless, they are wonderful models. As far as the smaller 1:18th line, time will tell. I'll just say that while the GTO in the photos looks to be a nice model, I was bothered by some 'issues' I noticed with the one that was photographed. Perhaps some, or all of those 'issues' will be addressed with the production pieces.

In my personal collection I have models of all types, made in various European countries, the Ukraine, USA, and China. There are positive and negative things to say about many, but Not all of them. For my own limited edition production runs, I have produced most of my editions in the USA, with the exception of three previous editions: One was made in England, another was partially made in France, and I did produce one time in China.

 

I was able to view the new 1/18 GTO at the Amalgam display at Cavallino this past week. I thought the model was beautiful and very well crafted. The detail was exceptional and the display/packaging was also very impressive. I am personally more focused on my 1/8 collection, but I found the quality of the 1/18 GTO to be superb. If this scale was your taste, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

Thank you fro your preview- did you happen to notice if the wheels have real wire spokes or photoetched stampings?

 

That's a fair question. I can't honestly say, so I wouldn't want to give you a misleading assessment.

 

Has anyone seen any closeup photos of the 1:18 Amalgam pieces? I'm curious about how the wire wheels will be done on the GTO and 250LM

 

auto & modell - der Modellauto-Blog

 

Is this true? I was under the impression that the 1:18 product was made in China.

To be honest, I don't really care either way. Quality is quality.

I mean, I would love it if the product was made in Italy for the sake of Italy and Italian workers.

But the BBR and Looksmart and even the Mattel 1:43 from a few years ago, all of which were made in China, all have a high quality appearance, if a little lacking in that hand built je ne sais quoi.

-F

 

Wheels on the 250 LM look great, except for the fact that they should be painted silver, not with the raw metal finish shown.

 

Should the nose be a bit longer?

 

Pedro, I have been thinking the same thing about the LM nose.... It does not look quite right to me, which was the same problem with their big 1:8 LM model of the '65 Le Mans winner.

Also, forgot to mention that the knock-off wheel spinners are not the correct shape, and same comments about these and lack of painted wheels on the GTO as well.

 

All of this is quite amusing...made in China, wheels should be, nose is too short ,blah, blah, blah. This takes effort to actually get correct, and then there will always be someone waiting in the wings to be critical. But I doubt any of them could come close if handed the task. Marshall knows just as well as I do that finding a competent builder is almost an impossible task these days and even the very best get things wrong.

Mine are "made all over the world"...but painted, assembled and detailed here in the good old USA. Not perfect....hand made.

My clients prefer the "finesse" of a truly hand built model.. as opposed to perfectly sterile hand built wannabes.They also want certain details their way...like it or not in some cases I am forced to accommodate.

What I have found, for the most part, are Ferrari owners and collectors of production hand made models [if you can call it that] are cheap. So made in China is just perfect for them. If they are a little off...oh well, at least they can have lots of them to show off.

This is being said with an immense sense of humor. That being said if you feel so compelled flame away!

What building by hand looks like...
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I think the shape of the loksmart 250lm nose is closer to the real car, but could be from the picture...

 

Peter, I really don't care much were the model is built, as long as it's well done.
Everyone would love to have models made by expert modelers such as yourself and others we all know..but not everyone can afford them, so mass production must be the other way for those who want to buil a collection, and we try to buy the best with the money we can afford.....this being said, i confesse seing some of your builds makes me sometimes sell everything and change them for 1 or 2 hand builts....but i still think there are some pretty litle jewels in my 1/18 collection, even if they'r far from perfect.

 

Look, if there are manufacturers who proceed to produce accurate model after accurate model for a tenth of the price of an Amalgam, then we have every right to be critical. If you like hand made models with obvious flaws good for you. To each their own.

p.s. by accurate I mean the overall shape, or the historically correct details, not how detailed a model is. Even so at Amalgam's price point a gear lever the size of a flagpole is something worthy of negative comments.

 

I'm guilty of owning a few "production" models, i.e. BBR or Technomodel and some TSM but I accept the fact that they are just that. Some way to glossy, others just not quite exact. I generally accept them as is. Eye candy for the Gallery. I honestly can't afford to own the models I build for my clients although now as I reach my golden years I am doing more "spec" projects so if they don't end up with someone else I don't mind keeping them on display.

 

I noticed that oversized gear lever too, it's a glaring problem, and one of several things on my list of issues with their GTO model. I also think that the steering wheels on the BBR 250 GTO models are better....more detailed/accurate.

However....on the positive side.... I do think the body shape is superb, which of course is the most critical area. Probably the best of all the 1:18n models to date, and certainly far better than the problem plagued CMC model.

If I did not already have both the 1:18 Kyosho GTO, and BBR "Press Day" GTO in my collection, I would consider the Amalgam, though the various problems would make me think at least a few times before buying. So my final decision is that I am staying with the Kyosho and BBR models I have now, plus I will be building two of the 1:12th MFH 250 GTO's for myself.......one of these days.

 

Yes, and yes. Finding a competent - extremely talented builder as well as any for a factory is more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Same can be said about individuals at companies that do, or do not do good enough research. Often it is the poor and clueless attitude of a companies management that dictates what they consider to be good enough, which often is not. I am citing CMC is the prime example of a company that always seems to screw up with their research, and then makes claims of greatness, and produces models that many collectors (but not all) consider to be expensive. They just did it again with their new Talbot-Lago models - many mistakes.

I feel that claims made by any and all model manufacturers are directly tied to the prices of their models. The more that one states they are the best, etc, etc, as well as with regard to higher prices..... Well there is a sliding scale of standards they are held to and praised or criticized for. I have been writing about models and reviewing them for various publications for over 30 years. I have also manufactured, and personally built many. When I review a model, I look at the facts, not the marketing claims. Is the model accurate, or how accurate, a few mistakes or many, how serious are the flaws (good, bad, etc), and how does that relate to the price?

For example; a manufacturer that produces a $100 model is going to be held to lower standards than one that produces a $500 or a $10,000 model, etc. And as mentioned....if you make claims about how accurate the model is or how great you are with research (BBR is a big culprit with that) then you as a manufacturer have to be prepared to accept the criticisms, especially if they are correct.

With today's technology that some use, as well as available documentation & research material, there is less room for error, and certainly less for any excuses.