Dave Smith - How about FFR models?

[jimgood]

Dave,

After seeing something on another forum, it got me to thinking...I wonder if a company like Revell would be interested in creating scale models of the FFR cars. With your CAD diagrams, I'll bet they could make them very detailed. Then all of us that are waiting for the stars to align so we can build a real car can build the models. What do you think?

I'll take three of each so I can try out different colors and configurations!

Jim

[jimgood]

No love, huh? I was thinking this would be really great for parents so that the kids could build a miniature of Dad's/Mom's FFR.

[Russ Thompson]

I like the idea. :-)

[Martin]

3D printed models maybe?

To make it economical, FFR would have to get them made outside of the USA.

Martin

[Mike N]

I think it's a great idea just not sure of the volume required to make it viable for the manufacturer, the injection molds required would cost many $1,000's of dollars to produce. I think at $25 it would sell quite a few, at $50 less and at $100 it probably would only sell to true enthusiasts. Potential sales would have to be in the thousands or 10's of thousands to make it viable.

[AC Bill]

Being there are already Cobra models available, I expect that a major model car manufacture, that already has one, wouldn't bother to design another, just for the perky butt aspect of the FFR's..:D

[jimgood]

There are actually very few plastic model kits available of the <cough>obra that are still being manufactured (by Revell) and those are 1/24th scale (6.5" long) :( . Those that I could find in 1/16th scale are uber expensive.

If I were God, or the president of Revell, I would jump at the chance to do this, assuming FFR would part with the CAD files to simplify the design process. I'd offer the whole FFR line up. Not only that, instead of just kits, like they currently offer, I'd make some parts interchangeable and sold separately so that people could customize and experiment.

[Mustang Man]

So you're saying you'd offer a base kit and a complete kit then... :D

[jimgood]

That's the idea! 4-link, 3-link, IRS, single roll bar, dual, passenger side only for the men with cojones grandes and "I don't need no stinkin' roll bar and I want it to look like I switched from right hand drive to left without moving the roll bar". :D

[Mustang Man]

Might be less cost to use the CAD files to produce R/C car bodies and then slap then on your favorite (or cheap) 1/10th scale electric R/C car. Then you can drive your small scale version anywhere (cruise night, car show, etc.)

Hmm, I got friends at HPI Racing! Have to talk to them...

Mark

[riptide motorsport]

Cool!

[jimgood]

Now you're putting it in another price bracket. I was looking for a $20-$50 kit.

[Mustang Man]

True, but the low volume, as mentioned above, would mean an actual kit from a major company would most likely be a moot point (it's all about volume for big companies and the revenue stream it brings). So, it would most likely fall to a small specialty model building company and then the kit price would be much higher, closer to $100 and up.

With an R/C body you simply make a plug and then drop a sheet of heated plastic over it to form the body shell. Most bare/clear body shells sell for about $20-$30 and then you paint it and install it on an R/C vehicle of your choice. If you don't own an R/C car, you can find them used on eBay/Craigslist all day long for $50-$100 and I've seen some pretty basic ones brand new for $150. So for under $200 instead of having a static model on the shelf in your garage or den, you'd have a scale version of your car you can drive around at shows and have fun with.

Perfect example is my '66 Mustang:
http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/editorials/mustang-turns-47-years-old/31047047/hpi-racing-1966-mustang-coupe-r-c-body-with-full-size-mustang.jpg

I've found a R/C Roadster body, but it is in the Netherlands and too expensive to buy/ship over, but if I could find one I'd paint it to match our Mk 3, that's for sure!

Mark

[jimgood]

Yeah, maybe I'm on an island with this one. I just like the static models. I find R/C too annoying; batteries and chargers or fuel and noise. Not for me.

[DARKPT]

I bought a 1:24 resin kit of the Daytona Coupe from Historic Racing Miniatures (HRM). I haven't started on it yet because I'm still working on the 1:1 scale kit that Dave sold me last year. :)

examples: http://www.islandcollectibles.net/prod022211.htm


The resin kit is beautiful, but expensive. You might look them up and see if they'd be interested in doing the Hot Rod, GTM, or the 818 in a kit. I don't imagine they'd want to tackle the shapes of the Roadster or the Coupe since such similar shapes are already available.

PM me if you want the phone number of Harold Bradford of HRM. He put a business card on the kit box.

[Mustang Man]

Wow, $165 for the FIA car, and it's 1/24 scale to boot...

For just a little more money you'd be into a 1/10 R/C car and having some fun. I have nitro cars, but I don't bring those to public events. The noise an speed scares the little ones and annoys the parents.

A nice electric car these days is plenty fast for tooling around at a car show or cruise in (I usually just make small figure eights in front of my car to attract some attention). It souns like you may have been looking into R/C technology from a few years ago. There have been many advances. I can quick charge a battery in about 30 minutes and it'll last me the whole cruise in/show of just tooling around...

Mark

[jimgood]

I placed bids on three 1/16 scale roadsters; two AMT and one MPC. Hopefully I won't win all of them!