Submitting an idea for die cast models

[Amphicar BUYER]

Does anyone know whom I would speak to in the various companies (Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, etc) about getting a nice die cast model done?

As the new president of the Amphicar club, I think it is time that an Amphicar was done. I want to try to get this to happen for our club and the others who want but can't afford to own an Amphi.

We only have some hard to find, lower quality (OK for the scale 1:43) model available, quite often in incorrect colors. I would like to see a quality 1:18 or 1:24 scale model produced.

In the past I was told by Franklin Mint that "we do not accept ideas from customers" in a real matter of fact way. I thought they came across rudely. There has to be some company who sees the potential of an Amphicar model now that they are getting respect they really deserve. I know most want to sell 20k units to be profitable, I see no problem in that with the popularity growing everyday.

[Barry Wolk]

Post your question here. It's a pretty active die cast forum. I know that some of the company reps have posted here.

Legacy Motors forum

[mrpushbutton]

We just did a 1:18 scale model through Signature models, very much like you are talking, a car that has not been done before. It ain't cheap!

[cobalt1959]

You might want to try and contact a representative of either GMP or Lane. They seem to have a willingness to produce models in small batchs. But it will not be cheap. I doubt Maisto would do it, and they, like Franklin Mint do not take suggestions. Autoart, ERTL, and Hot Wheels more than likely would not tackle it either, since they would not be able to sell enough to make it profitable. The only other company that springs to mind would be MotorMax. . .

You could ask someone at www.diecastxchange.com If they can't find out, nobody can!

[RocketDude]

Build it, and they will come..!

I'll buy one.......

[Ivan Saxton]

You might have a better chance if you could kid them to do a set on the theme, John, with a model of Oliver Evans' steam job, and the WW2 amphibious Jeep based on the Willys Jeep. We had two of the latter. One was used in the bush whe nit was pretty sloppy driving around the logging areas in winter. Later we used it here when we were clearing the farm. Someone bought the new, unused one from my father in the late 50's; but he found it had been dropped in the drink and was very rusty and spoiled, which we did not know. So my father let him have the one we were useing as well; and I was disappointed to se it go.

At one stage someone, I think American, drove/sailed one of these around the world. When he came to Australia he came looking for ours, as surprisingly we had apparently heard of them. He wrote a book about his achievement, which I think was really quite heroic. (The trip, not the book). He called his amphibious jeep "Half-safe"; which is a name I would use for a tandem trailer if I ever needed to own one.

Ivan Saxton

[Aanderson44]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone know whom I would speak to in the various companies (Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, etc) about getting a nice die cast model done?

As the new president of the Amphicar club, I think it is time that an Amphicar was done. I want to try to get this to happen for our club and the others who want but can't afford to own an Amphi.

We only have some hard to find, lower quality (OK for the scale 1:43) model available, quite often in incorrect colors. I would like to see a quality 1:18 or 1:24 scale model produced.

In the past I was told by Franklin Mint that "we do not accept ideas from customers" in a real matter of fact way. I thought they came across rudely. There has to be some company who sees the potential of an Amphicar model now that they are getting respect they really deserve. I know most want to sell 20k units to be profitable, I see no problem in that with the popularity growing everyday. </div></div>

John,

As a model car collector (well over 4000 model car kits, and perhaps 500 diecasts in my collection), I'd like to see an Amphicar, but as a now-retired product development specialist for a well-known diecast brand, I'd have to say, unfortunately, that Amphicar is one of those unlikely to "make the cut". Sadly, like so many potential subjects, it's pretty obscure nowadays, outside the enthusiast population, and diecasts, by their very nature, depending on mass production and mass sales, almost always have to have pretty massive visibility.

Art Anderson

[Amphicar BUYER]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">John,

As a model car collector (well over 4000 model car kits, and perhaps 500 diecasts in my collection), I'd like to see an Amphicar, but as a now-retired product development specialist for a well-known diecast brand, I'd have to say, unfortunately, that Amphicar is one of those unlikely to "make the cut". Sadly, like so many potential subjects, it's pretty obscure nowadays, outside the enthusiast population, and diecasts, by their very nature, depending on mass production and mass sales, almost always have to have pretty massive visibility. </div></div>

Art - Yea, I know but I am ever so hopeful! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> When I see those tacky special edition pickups from FM (I think), I can't understand why something as unique as an Amphi doesn't make the cut. I understand that they want to sell 20k units, is that the usual? I spoke with Danbury Mint today and they seemed very receptive.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Interesting thread, folks. Just a reminder that the AACA Forum will not tolerate negative comments between vendors & customers...

Thank you in advance,

Peter J... <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Amphicar BUYER]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Art - Yea, I know but I am ever so hopeful! When I see those tacky special edition pickups from FM (I think), I can't understand why something as unique as an Amphi doesn't make the cut. I understand that they want to sell 20k units, is that the usual? I spoke with Danbury Mint today and they seemed very receptive. </div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Interesting thread, folks. Just a reminder that the AACA Forum will not tolerate negative comments between vendors & customers...Thank you in advance, Peter J... <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

Peter - Don't mistake <span style="font-weight: bold">opinion </span> for negative comments.

[Jay Wolf]

Back in the late 80's I had my Amphicar up at Lake Shafer in Northern Indiana.

A man followed me to shore and struck up a conversation.

He was a professional model maker from Chicago IL.

(He carved the models that the molds are made from the MPC in Chicago)

His specially was WW III war planes but his department at MPC also made cars.

He was totally taken by the Amphicar, I took him a ride.

He took two 36 exposures rolls of slides of the car, made sketches and took measurements for over an hour. He thought MPC would make a model of my Amphicar.

He said he had gathered all the information they would need, lots more than the usually had.

He came by my parents cottage about a year later saying MPC had totally rejected the idea.

They didn't think there was a big enough sales base.

MPC made model kits and looks for wide appeal.

[Guest bkazmer]

for low projected volumes, a cast resin model kit may be more realistic. Of course, it has a different appeal/audience that a die cast

[Amphicar BUYER]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">for low projected volumes, a cast resin model kit may be more realistic. Of course, it has a different appeal/audience that a die cast </div></div>

The resins kits are sporatically available at over $150+ (sometimes little less) from Germany. They are the ones that I mentioned earlier. I really would like to see a quality die-cast in a reasonable scale to see the details. I have NO DOUBT they could easilly sell the 20,000 units most require. I am a persistant man, I just need to get in front of the right folks.

I can't find MPC models. What is the complete name of MPC and where are they located? (If they still exist)

[Aanderson44]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">for low projected volumes, a cast resin model kit may be more realistic. Of course, it has a different appeal/audience that a die cast </div></div>

The resins kits are sporatically available at over $150+ (sometimes little less) from Germany. They are the ones that I mentioned earlier. I really would like to see a quality die-cast in a reasonable scale to see the details. I have NO DOUBT they could easilly sell the 20,000 units most require. I am a persistant man, I just need to get in front of the right folks.

I can't find MPC models. What is the complete name of MPC and where are they located? (If they still exist) </div></div>

As much as I personally would like to see a diecast or even plastic model of an Amphica (or for that matter, any of several thousand cars that have never been modeled), as one who spent nearly 40 years in the hobby & toy business (retail, design, product development, manufacturing and marketing), I just don't see an Amphicar happening in anything like a popularly priced miniature or model kit. 20,000 of anything automotive, among the billions of people on the planet doesn't seem insurmountable, but often it is. It all depends on how long one wants to take to clear the inventory once produced. Most all diecast companies working in the $30-and-under simply have to see production numbers well over 100,000 pcs in the first couple of years, just in order to recoup the engineering, development and tooling costs. Go up the ladder, to the likes of Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, Georgia Marketing & Promotions, and the required numbers become less, true--but also the potential risks grow as well--which is why they tend to go where they know their market is.

As for MPC (plasstic model company): MPC, or Model Products Corporation was never in Chicago, their entire corporate life having been in and around Mt. Clemens, Michigan. MPC was owned for a long time by first General Mills, and then by Fundimensions, before the brand and its tooling were purchased by AMT/Ertl (out of Dyersville, Iowa) in 1986. That buyout effectively ended all new tooling done under the trademark MPC, MPC kits subsequently produced by AMT/Ertl having been reissues of old subjects only.

Methinks the model company out of the Chicago area mentioned here, from the late 1980's was Monogram Models, which by that time was the only plastic model producer in the Chicago area (Morton Grove IL in those years) actively engaged in tooling new product.

Art Anderson

[Jay Wolf]

"Me thinks the model company out of the Chicago area mentioned here, from the late 1980's was Monogram Models, which by that time was the only plastic model producer in the Chicago area (Morton Grove IL in those years) actively engaged in tooling new product."

May have been Monogram, I can't remember that far back, I was thinking it started with a M. I think later I was told the company he worked for was bought out and he lost his job, he was old enough so he retired. The guy was strange so I didn't pursue a friendship.