Cutter's Miniature Cars

[Lee]

Instead of putting pieces of information on what is happening in other threads, the updates on what is happening will all be here. We are NOT planning on running a business as such as that is too much work and not much fun. There will not be any advertising, only what you see here in 87thscale.info. Dealers and distributers need not apply as we will not be doing volumn casting. We are planning on making as many models of American vehicles from the 40's, 50's and 60's as we can which we will be willing to share with our fellow members of 87thscale.info.

For those who live in Europe who wish to purchase any Cutter's models, please contact Christian at [e-mail] as he now handles all Europian orders.

[Lee]

First, from past and present experience, all finial vehicles will be vacuumed and pressure cast. We have found that it eliminates air bubbles and gives sharper, crisper detail.

Jerry has made the first two part mold of a four door 1950 Chevrolet from which he has cast about a dozen models. These will be reworked for finial casting.

Jerry has also made two part molds for the wheels. One set has the hubcaps and the other is without hubcaps. It was the practice back then for the manufacture to put the hubcaps in the trunk and the dealer would put them on the wheels.

In 1950 Chevrolet made three body styles. The Fleetline, the Styleline, and the Bel Air. Within these body styles you had two door, four door, convertible, and station wagon. The Fleetline also had a delivery panel truck. Each was available in a standard and a deluxe version. Read as no chrome or chrome trim. There was a skirt over the rear wheels on the deluxe models and none on the standard.

Thanks to Sylvain, we have a copy of the advertisment used by GMC for Chevrolet in 1950 showing the various models for that year. If anyone wants a copy, I will be happy to email it to them.

And, before you ask, yes we will be trying to make all the various models offered that year.

As in the past, we welcome any and all input. The more information available, the better the model(s) will be.

[Eric]

Pictures at www.87thscale.info !

[skunk]

good luck guys - seems like a worthy and fun project, wish I could be there!

I love the fact that plain steel wheels will be offered. I just wrote about the absence of base models of cars elsewhere, and I am glad to see that you guys are way ahead of me!

[Lee]

skunk said:

I am glad to see that you guys are way ahead of me!

Only in some areas and we have to move fast to do it. ;D

[cfesmire]

Lee,
You will, of course, let us know how to acquire the models. I would like to express my interest at this time.
Chester

[Christian]

Lee,

what you said in that other thread, that convertibles will have clear windows - does that imply that you are not going to make hollow models?

[Lee]

We plan to try and make two versions of a vehicle. One will be a solid cast and the other will be a hollow model. As far as the convertable, I am talking about a model with the top down. They would look a lot better with a clear windshield.

Jerry wants to change the name from Cutter's Miniature Cars to Cutter's Miniature Castings so we are not limited to just vehicles. I have no idea what he is thinking about outside of vehicles.

[Christian]

I am beginning to understand. Solid convertibles with clear windshields. So you did find a source again for clear resin?

[Lee]

We have a clear resin, but have not tried it yet. It is available in the craft stores. I am always putting the cart before the horse, but then how would anyone know what is happening if I didn't?

[Lee]

Being as Eric has given us a new area in the Member section for buying and selling among members, all info regarding the prices and buying Cutter's Miniature Castings will be placed there. If you want to aquire any of the Cutter's Miniature Casting kits, you will have to join us at 87thscale.info by becoming a member and doing some posting. ;D

We are getting closer to actual production. Jerry is still finding some errors in the models and is correcting them before the final molds are made. It is far better to take the time to correct something now than to be unhappy with the finished product in the future.

[RDgraFX]

Lee, I've been watching the Cutter's information with interest. However, I'm a little confused about the Cutter's Miniature Cars. concept. You previously stated that you are NOT planning on running a business and will be selling only to 87thscale. info members and not to dealers or distributors. In a later post you mention that Jerry wants to change the name from Cutter's Miniature Cars to Cutter's Miniature Castings so you are not limited to just vehicles. Why the importance of the name if it is not going to be a business? Did I miss something?

[Lee]

You didn't miss anything. You just have to know Jerry. Even though he is pushing seventy, like the billy goat, he has high hopes. Some of his projects have been and are monumental to say the least. As far as the name change, he just does not want to be confined to just cars. As far as running a business, we have been there and done that with SMCC.

Making a master and a mold is fun. Casting twenty or thirty vehicles from that mold is not too much of a problem. Then there is the cleaning, packaging and mailing to deal with. Also receiving the orders, doing some kind of invoice, dealing with the various types of money, etc. Now that is just plain work without the fun.

We are not interested (at least at this time) in dealers because we wish to set the price low enough to be affordable. A dealer wants a forty+ percent discount off the retail price, which would raise the retail price.

SMCC started out doing hydrocal (plaster) castings. The first was a HOn30 layout. Then we did smaller hydocal castings including little buildings, loads, mini scenes, etc. Then we started the vehicles also in hydrocal plaster but were unhappy with the results so we started playing with resin. As a lark, wondering if people would buy anything, we did the weathering kits, mineral kits and the wood scraps. Yes, people will buy anything, if it is done reasonably well.

What you are seeing is the thinking of a company starting up. Normaly you would not see this, just the end product of a company doing business. We had to learn what we do know the hard way. Now I am trying to share our knowledge with others hoping to encourage them to try their hand at doing something. Keeping the models available to only members is part of the idea of getting others more involved. They have to join and do seven postings inorder to find out how to obtain anything when we do go into production. ;D

Just bear with us and enjoy the unfolding story of our trials and errors, wins and losses. I have seen the masters (seven different ones so far) and they are better than good. They are great. The first should be available in the next couple of months.

I will be taking and sharing pictures with you thru Eric as we progress so you can see just what and how we are doing.

[RDgraFX]

Lee: Thanks for the comprehensive update. I will be anxiously waiting to see the pictures of the vehicles.

[Lee]

Put an update in the member's tradezone. ;D Now if you want to see whats new you'll just have to join and post seven times.