Why not metal ??? (1 Viewer)

[thebritfarmer]

I was just wondering (maybe a question for the manufacturers) why the various vehicles that are being made are not made of metal??? Surely they would be more robust during shipping.

I doubt that it is cost to ship as there are many other companies making metal models and shipping them all over the world.

Any thoughts ?

 

[Wraith]

I think the metal are heavier than polystone and would thereofr eincur greater shipping costs.
I would also imagine that the production process would be more complex than polystone moulding, also more expensive.
As regards fragility, I'm afraid that my guess would be that metal would be more fragile than polystone. Take a look at the early Figarti Stuart / Honeys and Tigers - alot of breakages.

But apart from that, what did the Romans ever do for us...?

 

[theBaron]

If they were solidcast, even with interior cavities to reduce the amount of metal, metal vehicles in 1/32 would be very heavy. But if they were made of sheet metal, like tinplate, they might actually work out to be lighter.

Prost!
Brad

 

[UKReb]

If they were solidcast, even with interior cavities to reduce the amount of metal, metal vehicles in 1/32 would be very heavy. But if they were made of sheet metal, like tinplate, they might actually work out to be lighter.

Prost!
Brad

Tinplate? Brad.....now you're talking

 

[theBaron]

Tinplate? Brad.....now you're talking

Ah, Schuco! And all of the great vehicles Elastolin and Lineol had made to go with their lines, and the old toy ships.
That would be great!

Prosit!
Brad

 

[Peter Reuss]

I believe the reason for polyresin and not metal is in the cost of the molds. Metal molds would price these vehicles out of most people's budget.

 

[kilted vampire]

This is a discussion that I have had many times. I would love to see at least more metal parts. Even rubber ones for tires and such. Die cast mold making is an incredible skill that takes time and money.

It seems to me that many parts could be interchangeable. Especially with American made prototypes.

The FOV tanks have die cast bodies that are fairly light. Weight does not seem to be an issue. They also have a lot of plastic details Cost is everything. FOV makes thousands, the other guys make hundreds. One defrays cost by making mass numbers of items and distribution all over the world. Our hobby can not support those kinds of numbers. So poly stone it will be. Would really like to see more metal detail parts though

 

[4th Hussar]

Tinplate? Brad.....now you're talking

HECO made great tinplate toys including armour. Whatever happened to them ?

 

[theBaron]

HECO made great tinplate toys including armour. Whatever happened to them ?

Yes! Was Heco the company that made the vehicles that Elastolin and Lineol sold?

I have to look this up....

 

[Louis Badolato]

HECO made great tinplate toys including armour. Whatever happened to them ?

I love and collect Heco Tinplate aircraft, armored vehicles, trucks, etc. (I have about 14 planes, three armored vehicles, a British Military Truck, a V1 Buzzbomb on a cart, and an RAF weather tower). Sadly, Heco was literally a "Mom & Pop" outfit -the husband made the tin vehicles, and his wife painted them. From what I understand, the husband had a stroke sometime in the mid to late 1990's, and the company closed down.

If somebody would hand make tin aircraft and armour to Heco's level of quality, I would happily collect them with a dedication akin to my dedication to K&C products!

As the undead-kilted-one so aptly explained, there is no chance of affordable die-cast metal vehicles in our hobby, as you have to sell literally tens or hundreds of thousands of vehicles to defray the cost of production.

 

[kilted vampire]

Thanks Louis I thought I did a pretty good job as it was explained to me.