2004 on review

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

It seems that 2004 was in many ways a good year for the 1/87 scale hobby. Busch's new Toyota 4x4 and Fishbowl bus were received with enthusiasm. Also,it seems that there were many - and exciting - releases as compared to previous years. Hence, feedback about this year's event will be an interesting addition to this board.

[cfesmire]

I have just posted on "is the hobby dying" that I have observed the number of models available in 1/87 keeps growing at a steady rate. I will add to that the fact that the models we saw released both by the big guys and the smaller folks this past year are increasing in quality as well. I, for one, am as satisfied with this as I will be after eating my Christmas supper tomorrow. It has been a very good year. Thanks to all that have made it possible.

[Eric]

Question:

the frontpage is in need of a new editorial piece, is there an esteemed member of this messageboard that would be interested in writing a '2004 in retrospect' guest editorial ?

Eric

[Lee]

Or the grand and glorious things to come in 2005?

[Eric]

Or the two subjects combined ofcourse ;D

[cfesmire]

The year 2004 in retrospect
It seems the trend in sending Christmas cards from many of the folks I receive cards from, is to compile the years events in a letter, print it out with some clip art holiday border and send it to as many people as they want to impress with the grade average of their oldest and misgivings about the deeds of their youngest (with the excuse of what an individual they are). I suppose that the last year of our hobby could be summed up in a letter like one of these with superlatives written about the wonderful quality of a company product and the excuses made for the others that haven’t quite come up to expectations (but their heart is in the right place). This approach to summing up the year would not be too interesting coming from me. There’s far too little knowledge bouncing around between my ears to be accurate or complete. I believe that it would end up resembling an index of manufactured products anyway and I will save those kind of entries for the data base.
Suffice it to say that I believe the year has been good to us in general. Much talk has been made of the demise of our scale (and hobbies in general) and I would hate to think this is true. I can only vouch for my personal experiences and from this creaky chair, the hobby looks fresh and lively. We have seen several folks venture out and offer vehicles that have never been seen before and the quality has been so much more than expected. We welcome them and encourage more from them. The new pieces from “the big boys” have not been a disappointment either (except for a few, to a few) and the quality on the commercial front seems to be exceptional to a degree not seen before either. Yes, there is always that particular piece that did not make it into the realm of the injected molded this year, but there is always some ray of hope. We have also seen makers of models in other scales venture into 1/87 and their additions are top notch and welcome.
This venue, the internet, has added some spectacular sites this year that have occupied all too much of my time perusing. But viewing the work of talented people intrigues me to no end. I grew up near a group of folks that practiced a religion (which will remain nameless here) that believed that the practice of worship includes the glorification of their God, not particularly through deeds but in the creation of beauty with ones creativity and skills. Every time I see an abundance of talent exhibited in the handiwork of an artisan, I feel sure that he has taken another step closer to his Nirvana and that his place in heaven is being more solidly established. Now I don’t want this to sound like the Zen of 1/87 but consider what it takes to accomplish some of what we see shown in the photographs of models created by some individuals. I picture devotion, patience, intelligence and a love for what is being created. It seems like every month, a new site becomes available for us to admire. Needless to say, at 87scaleinfo we hear from the most informed people involved in the scale as well as some of the most creative. The message board has been an invaluable tool for me and this year being it’s first full year of operation make it a milestone in itself. And in the immortal words of Martha Stewart: “That’s a good thing” (although I doubt if she’s said that in the last few months) Congratulations and thanks to all of those responsible for a terrific year.
To this point, the year would have been a success in our scale and to the site but the benefits of this year I have not fully revealed yet. For me, the ability to make contact with others as deeply interested in the scale has bounded this year. And really, this has been as important as the models themselves. That I can converse, trade and observe around the globe is truly most extraordinary. I have added unique and otherwise unattainable pieces to my colIection and attribute this ability most gratefully to the message board. What makes these contacts equal to the models, if not more so, is that many of the acquaintances have become friends. What more could one ask to happen in a years time, than to have made valuable additions to ones collection of models and friends? OK, well maybe that obscure 50’s two door coupe in resin with photo etched details.

[superba]

Here Here

[BillC]

I think we have our editorial!

Bill C.

[Lee]

I agree wholeheartedly I don't think anyone could have put it any better. Great job Chester.

[cfesmire]

Thanks guys, just another rant from the sometimes demented mind of just another 1/87 lunatic.

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

As 2004 is coming to an end, one has to ask how good - or bad - it was for our hobby.

As the German model show was in progress at the begginig of this year, the general question was: how many models will debut ? Or 2004 will be as quiet as the last year?

The show ended and the news were good: Busch was releasing a host of interesting models,along with Norev and other smaller manufacturers. Brekina also did launch a surprise by offering a vehicle that had a superb dashboard detail. And the Chevrolet Impala from CMW was considered a fantastic piece. Either way one looked, interesting models were avaliable.

That was the factor that made this year even more interesting: the announcements or releases of manufacturers as 2004 went by. Model Power had a line of very interesting cars besides their truck lines. Of course, these were Hongwell products, but some of the vehicles would not be sold under the Schuco brand. Promotex also released a series of very simple cars, but some of them as the 1955 Cadillac, was worth the while. And of course, Busch Toyota 4x4 and GMC bus were nice additions to the hobby and their promo made Audi was a piece to have.

Without a shadow of a doubt, these news were of interest as well: Ricko - the 1/18 scale manufacturer - announced that they would mold a line of 1/87 vehicles as well. At first,it was thought that these would have a Hongwell connection, but that was not the case and some of the Vehicles, such as the Lancia,Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos and Maserati are very interesting offerings and made our scale even richer. New Ray offered a semi trailer that if worked on, it will look quite decent and Greg's garage molded a host of vehicles that were not avaliable at our scale before and was commented that some of these are not this realistic,but hey, at least they are trying. Likewise, SAI's offerings of Peugeot vehicles was very well received and so was the ones which were offered by Norev.

One of the biggest issues about the hobby is the fact that most of the large manufacturers are promo makers and a model will not be done if a manufacturer will not order a large amount of these. It was explained that a couple of models were issued without these specifications. As an outside analyst pointed out, the hobby is going towards specialized models and it seems that our scale is not exception. The makers of SMCC are back again making models of vehicles that no one is bothering to mold under the name of Cutter's; and Joe (superba) is also offering all kind of models that no one would want to touch, specially Mopars,Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles.

Athearn also did not rested on its laurels and offered a series of new Macks which are seldom seem in our scale and/or are made by specialty modelers. And it kept going like this all year long.

Based on what as shown above, it is quite obvious that this year was not a static one; many interesting and exciting miniatures and kits were offered. Also,it was discovered this year, but was issued sometime ago, but there exists a MCI bus in 1/87 also, with 'Greyhound' markings on it.It was issued as promo for that bus agency. One of our members is also molding Polish cars - Syrenas,Warzawas,the like, and their Star truck (which was own by IH once). On the same hand, some more East German cars were avaliable, and the company who was molding these also offered some other nice German vehicles. The new model thread with its 20 page lenght is a proof that this year was in fact a very rich one in terms of models issued or announced to be released. Classic names,such as Bub also re-appered and one of our members let us know that BDB will be back as well and this company had a whole set of very interesting kits such as the Facel Vega. And Woodland Scenics also wants release a whole series of cars for 2005.

It was a general annoucement at the beggining of the year that a new manufacturer would release a new line of vehicles for 2004. Well, Ricko,New Ray,Model Power,Promotex did fit the bill because did came with new vehicles to anyone's big surprise. Granted,Promotex issues were toy-ish, but some of them were quite well made. Another surprise came from Tonkin, a manufacturer of diecast trucks in 1/50 scale: they announced that they will mold 1/87 scale trucks.

As it can be seen, 2004 was very exciting indeed. Is quite probable that 2005 will also be as exciting as the news are coming by.

The 2005 rumours from this site are already giving an exciting view of models that may be released. It is a question to wait and see what really will come out.

In conclusion, 2004 will be considered a very good year for our hobby. I would believe the most of the members of this site would agree at that. Basically, one can say that were surprises at all times and most of the models were worth the while and the people who also brought the models that no one wants to mold made many collectors happy by filling the gaps at their collections. For one thing, it is interesting to know that a model of a Western Star is avaliable (the Italeri version even if that has to be modified in order to get realistic) or any other make that makes the modeler and collector in us to be very content about its existence. By itself, this site showed us that these exist and other members also make models that fill these gaps that one has at his/her collection. Plus, the friendship that goes in here is also very valuable, be it by the models acquired and/or the discussion of a common theme. This is very valuable.

Thank you,

Nick K

[Eric]

Chester,

If you have no objections your 'rant from the sometimes demented mind of just another 1/87 lunatic' will be the next editorial...

Eric

[cfesmire]

Objections? I would be honored, thank you Eric.

[stanhas87]

Dear Sirs:

Yesterday I was reading most of 2004 Nuremberg toy show and it is fair to see that Brekina and Busch were the one who,should we say,took the most risks; Wiking was offering all kind of vehicles but not that many cars; Herpa kept with its promo line and brought up a cheap line of cars under the 'Magic line'; the Peugeot 505 and the origins of SAI's models were thouroghly discussed; companies who specialized on vehicles from DDR introduced normal regular German vehicles and there were comments if they will bring out vehicles from other countries; and there were happy comments about a Opel four door sedan,the Land Cruiser and GMC Bus, plus the Peugeot 505 (an unusual choice,as commented yet welcome,alongside several other models of French cars).The news from Norev were at its beggining and yet it was unknown about the releases of Ricko (which should fall onto the 2005 thread),Model Power and the complete range of the Norevs. Oh yes, and then there was the Volvo Amazon Estate from Brekina and again very positive comments about these. And of course,more. 2004 brought an exciting amount of different vehicles and I am not forgetting that by the time of the 2004 show, the Audi A6 - very praised in here because it has a ton of details - promo from Busch debuted. Or the discussion of an Opel from Rietze plus several promises that never came trough.

It was also the year that me,as a Bus enthusiast discovered that there is a MCI 102 Greyhound bus avaliable in - well,close; seems to be 1/90 scale but exists anyway and seem to be a rare item because I never saw it around even as a 'rip-off' model - our scale. Alas,despite its Chinese markings,that particular item was made specially for Greyhound (sold at the bus stations,maybe?) and has a year 2001 marking but as stated never saw it before and not sure if I will see it very often. Close,if I dare to say so, to the Chinese trucks from Herpa with Beer liveries.

Also discovered the existence of a Western Star conventional truck by Italeri; can mark the year of that model. And many more -exciting as well - models were reported as being molded.

Hence, 2004 was a very excitimg year. I hope that it will be going like that.