Oktober 2011 ~ Car News

Minggu, 30 Oktober 2011

Collecting Diecast Toys--a Hobby for All Ages

14.40 Unknown No comments

Diecast toy vehicles were first produced in England and the USA in the early 1900s. This was the beginning of what was to become one of the most popular toys ever. Diecast toys are now collected by tens of thousands of people,both children and adults,all over the world. 
 
The early diecast models were very simple,featuring just a painted metal body with no interior fittings whatsoever.They were unfortunately made from low grade cast metal alloys which in most cases did not stand the test of time.These low quality alloys become brittle as they age and gradually deteriorate and crumble. As a result of this early die cast toys from the first quarter of the twentieth century are quite scarce today. 
 
Before very long however these early diecast toy makers realised that there was a really good market for toy vehicles. Cars,trucks,airplanes miniature farm equipment,and many other models,were widely produced by a number of manufacturers. As demand grew the quality of materials used to make the toys was improved. Increased attention to detail also became the rule as manufacturers vied for more sales. 
 
In the early 1930s Modelled Miniatures were introduced. These 1/43 scale miniature vehicles were designed for use with model train set layouts. Soon they became popular as a collectible,in their own right,and were known as Dinky Toys.

The height of popularity for Dinky Toy diecast model vehicles came in the 1950s and 60s. They were a fairly basic low detail model but were extremely popular.The flashy big American cars seen on TV shows,which began in the 1950s,became very desirable Dinky Toys and outsold the more staid small English cars of the time. 
 
Dinky toys were made into the 1970s when they died out mainly due to the competition from Mattel Hot Wheels. Vintage Dinky Toys today are a much in demand collectible and some of the scarcer models fetch extremely high prices. 
 
The well known Lesney Matchbox cars started production in England in 1947 and thus began a new trend in diecast models. In 1953 Lesney made a miniature diecast model of Queen Elizabeth's coronation coach complete with horses. This model was a huge success and more than a million were sold. 
 
The Lesney Matchbox cars were produced in huge numbers with 75 different vehicles in each line. This gave collectors an immense variety of models to collect. 
 
The Corgi line of diecast vehicles was introduced by Mettoy in the 1950s. These were also very successful. One of the big reasons for their success was that these cars had exceptional attention to interior fittings. They had detailed interior decor. They were even fitted with clear plastic windows. These very detailed miniatures vehicles were a big hit with collectors. 
 
In 1968 Mattel introduced Hot Wheels cars with an initial line of 16 vehicles. These early Hotwheels vehicles all had a red line around the side of the tires. This led to their becoming known to collectors as Red Line Hot Wheels models. The initial sixteen models with which the line began are now known to collectors as the "Sweet Sixteen" and are much in demand. 
 
Hot wheels vehicles are collected around the world by rabid collectors and were a huge success story for Mattel. They continue in production at the present time. 
 
There are now hundreds of different companies offering diecast toys to collectors. They are manufactured in Taiwan,Korea,China, and other countries around the world. High quality and attention to detail are a must if a diecast toy is to be a success as a collectible. Diecast toys made around the world are now mostly of very good quality. 

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The Art of Diecast Collecting

12.55 Unknown No comments

Collecting diecast vehicles consists of acquiring specific items based on your particular interests, such as airplanes, cars, trains, ship models, etc. Although some people just accumulate them, this is a passionate hobby for most folks, in which the genuine collector organizes carefully those items to catalog them and proudly display them. The depth and breadth of every collection is as unique as every collector is, and they are the ones that determine if a collection will focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interests or if they only want to accumulate determined items. As an example, a collector may collect diecast vehicles trying to accumulate any or all of them, while another individual could prefer collecting only a model, brand or marquee.

Diecast vehicles and toys are an example of a collection that is never-ending. When you start collecting these vehicles it is like traveling back in time until the early decades of the 20th century when manufacturers such as Tootsie Toys in the United States, or Dinky Toys in the United Kingdom first produced the first diecast toys. Because the term "diecast" refers to any product produced using the casting method, the first models on the market were small cars or vans without plastic windows.

Over time, the vehicles were made of plastic and metal, more commonly an alloy of zinc and aluminum, including not only cars but also scale models of airplanes and trains, although automobiles are still the favorites among all of them. With more than 50 popular brands including Altaya, Bandai, Brooklin, CMC, Dragon Wings, Exoto, Guisval, Ixo, Jada, Johnny Ligntning, Kyosho, Lledo, Matchbox, Minichamps, Norev, Plasticos Argentinos, Racing Champions, RCCA, Revell, Tekno, Tomica, UT Models, Vitesse, and the popular Hot Wheels introduced by Mattel, among others.

Like with other popular collecting fields, diecast collecting has specialized commercial dealers that trade vehicles and related accessories. In fact, many individuals start collecting cars as a hobby to become dealers at a later date, either turning this hobby into a profession, or as a means to get extremely rare vehicles for their own collections, while they help other collectors in their pursuit of showcase-model cars. In the United Kingdom, there are teams specialized in visiting small and larger toy fairs to acquire incredible cars, in good conditions from Dinky Toys and Corgi, the main British collectibles companies. Dinky Toys was first introduced in early 1934 by Meccano Ltd of Liverpool, England, presenting a new line of modeled miniatures, as diecast vehicles were first known.

Corgi Toys began producing scale model cars until July 1956 under the supervision of Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. in Swansea, Wales, along with Dinky Toys, and the American Tootsie Toys, which is one of the most wanted brands of collectors worldwide. However, there are many other popular manufacturers from the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.

Rarely a diecast collector completes a collection because new models of cars are always available, and collecting never stops, you can always expand or start an entirely new collection in a subtopic, such as cars, then sport cars, vans, etc. From Hot Wheels to Matchbox and from Bandai to Tomica, including all the other brands, diecasts models include popular automobile marques. Packard, MG, Morris, Hillman, Austin, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Citroen, Opel, Triumph, Talbot, Gwynne, Vauxhall, Reliant, Singer, Bristol, Wolseley, Innocenti, Healey, Siddeley, BSA, Darracq, Crossley, Jowett, Frazer Nash, Northern, Renault, Ford, Chrysler, and the classics Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce, just to name a few.

Broadening a collection is not that hard, even when focusing on a single marquee, because there are different models from the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, etc. Hence, every diecast Collector has a world of possibilities when gathering diecast models from almost any period of time as early as models from 1885, when the first automobile driven by internal combustion was introduced by German inventor Karl Friedrich Benz, to actual models in modern car showcases.

Diecast vehicles come in various scales, the most popular ranging from 1:28 to 1:64 scale, although many collectors prefer focusing their collections on the 1:43 and 1:50 scales. Diecast toys were originally designed for children, but the collecting boom started during the 1950's when grown children stated to keep their cars instead of throwing them away and adults discovered them as valuable collectible items.

There is computer software that is made just for collecting diecast vehicles. Anyone who has a small or large diecast vehicle collection can easily keep track of what vehicle they have, the color, condition, cost, value, scale and lots of other info for each record (vehicle). This is the most easiest to use software of it's kind, and it is made 100% for diecast collecting. The software is described in detail and you can download a free demo version of it at this website address:

http://www.rb59.com/diecast

By Robert W. Benjamin

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections. 
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Ship Model

09.33 Unknown No comments

History Ship and Boat Models from the Ancient Mediterranean Ancient ship and boat models from ancient Greece, Egypt, and Phoenicia have been discovered throughout the Mediterranean. These models provide archaeologists with valuable information regarding seafaring technology and the sociological and economic importance of seafaring. In spite of how helpful ancient boat and ship models are to archaeologists, they are not always easily or correctly interpreted due to artists mistakes, ambiguity in the model design, and wear and tear over the centuries. In the Ancient world, ships ere among the most technologically complex mechanisms of the ancient world.2] Ships made far-flung travel and trade more comfortable and economical, and they added a whole new facet to warfare. Thus, ships carried a great deal of significance to the people of the ancient world, and this is expressed partly through the c
reation of boat and ship models. Ancient boat and ship models are made of a variety of materials and are intended for different purposes. The most common purposes for boat and ship models include burial votives, house hold articles, art, and toys. While archaeologists have found ship and boat models from societies all around the Mediterranean, the three of the most prolific ship model building cultures were the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Egyptians. Archaeologists have determined that Ancient Greek ship models were used as burial or votive offerings and as household articles such as lamps or drinking vessels. The kinds of ships depicted in Ancient Greek models can be classified broadly as small craft, merchant vessels, and warships. Models were cast in different materials, including wood, bronze, lead, and clay. Greek warships were popular subjects to be made in miniature. One particular model, acquired by the Staatliche Mus
eum in Kassel, Germany, proves to be helpful to archaeologists and historians in understanding what a hemiolia warship was like. Archaeologists have tentatively dated the Kassel model to be from the 6th or 5th centuries BC through iconographic and literary sources. This ship model is made of clay and features a distinctive prow shaped like a boar head that is described by Herodotus in History, and depicted on pottery, coins seals and drinking cups. The model is a miniature of a vessel that would have been too small to be a typical warship. The presence of holes bored into 8 thwarts in the ship suggests that the thwarts may have been seats for a pegged-in dummy crew. If the holes bored into the thwarts are indeed meant to accommodate a dummy crew, the crew seating would have been arranged with two men per bench amidships, and one man per bench fore and aft where the ship narrows so that there is only room for one man. Alec Tilley suggests that a small ship with this type of s
eating arrangement would have been called a hemiolia, or a one-and-a-halfer. The name indicates that two oarsmen would have been seated on half of the benches and one on the others. Until this ship model was discovered, archaeologists, classicists, and historians had only been able to hypothesize on what the seating arrangement might have been like on a hemiolia based on its name. All ancient Greek ship models are not of warships. One boat model from a house deposit in Mochlos, Crete, dating to around 3000BC, is thought to be too small to be a war ship. Basch postulates that the boat annot have been propelled by more than four oarsmen so it can hardly be other than a fishing boat.8] As opposed to other Early Bronze Age ship and boat models, this model was not found in a burial context. This model is thought to be a child toy or a piece of art, instead of a burial offering. The model itself features a projection of the keel beyond the stem-post at b
oth ends. Despite appearances, these projections are not rams. Because the model is depicting a fishing boat, there would be no need for rams. This model in particular has helped archaeologists understand that not all keel projections in depictions of boats during this time are necessarily rams. Instead, keel projections on depictions of Bronze Age ships are explained as cut-waters or as beaching protection. Phoenician ship models also provide archaeologists information regarding the technical aspects of seafaring, and the cultural importance of seafaring for the ancient Phoenicians. However, some models offer tantalizing pieces of information that are, unfortunately, difficult to interpret. Item number H-3134 at the Hecht Museum, a dark brown clay model of a 5th century BCE oared boat, is one such craft. The vessel is unprovenienced, save for the reported location of its discovery off the Phoenician coast, but scientists have been able to tentativ
ely confirm the origin and authenticity of this model. The model is of an oared boat manned by three pairs of oarsmen, who are rendered with ands raised to their chests, in the last instant of pulling the oar in the water, before lifting it for the recovery.10] The mystery of this model is the purpose of small holes- three on the starboard side, and four on port- that were made in the sides of the ship with a sharp tool before the clay dried. It is believed that the holes are too small to pass an oar through, and thus would not be used for rowing purposes. This is hard to prove, however, because the poorly preserved state of the model and the amount of fouling that is layered on the model makes it difficult to definitively rule out this possibility. Another theory regarding the purpose of these holes suggests that opes for holding oars were threaded through these holes.10] Ship models are helpful to archaeologists in that they allow archaeologists
to make estimates regarding the size the vessel would be in real life. While this technique makes the assumption that artists scaled the models appropriately, it is useful to get some sense of how large these ships and boats may have been in real life. Archaeologists estimate the Phoenician vessel above (H-3134) to be about 6 meters long and the beam about 2 meters. Archaeologists are able to calculate these estimates of size by employing a series of assumptions about the distance between benches, the lateral distance between rowers, and a maximum draft of the vessel. Egyptian ship and boat models are perhaps some of the most enchanting and well-preserved types of ship models available to archaeologists. Some small models made from ivory, wood, or clay exist, and archaeologists believe these models were actually children toys. This is fairly rare, however, because ancient Egyptian ship and boat models more often were placed in tombs of prominent pe
ople as agical substitutes for the actual objects which the deceased has used in life and which he expected to use again in the next world.14] Boats placed in tombs of Egyptian royalty can be separated into two types: boat models that represent actual vessels used on the Nile, and boat models that represent boats that are considered necessary for religious purposes. The second type of model may or may not have been used in real life, but were purely magical boats. The majority of boats found in tombs are carved from wood. Several boat and ship models were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, dating to the Sixth Dynasty , and at Meketra (2061-2010BC). The wide variety of vessels depicted by the models in these two tombs has provided archaeologists new information on the types of boats that were used in Egypt. Moreover, the presence of boat and ship models in the tombs attests to the paramount importance of boats and ships to
the Nile-going people of Egypt. The boat models discovered at Meketre feature several different kinds of boats, including traveling boats, sporting boats, and several papyriform crafts. Two of the papyriform skiffs have a trawling net slung between them. It is uncertain whether or not the net is meant to be depicted as being under the water or being pulled out of the water by the fishermen. In the event that the artist meant for the net to be in the water, it is interesting to note that the net is upside down. Needless to say, the upside down net would not work for catching fish. This ambiguity points up the question of artistic veracity of the craftsmen who make ship models. As is attested by the ambiguity of the holes in the sides of the Phoenician model, and the skiff from Meketre, archaeologists need to be aware of the possibility of artistic error while interpreting ancient ship models. While a mistake involving an inverted trawling net may se
em trivial, the lesson is important. It is important for archaeologists to be aware of the possibility that ancient artists may not have been familiar with the finer details of ships and boats. Despite some of the limitations of interpreting ancient Mediterranean ship models, archaeologists have been able to glean a great deal of information from these items. This information has been instrumental in filling in gaps in knowledge about ancient seafaring technology and culture. Europe Church votive hanging up in a church; the workmanship is somewhat crude, but sufficient to identify as mid-19th-century Model of a 19th-century English frigate Closeup of the frigate's quarterdeck, showing quality of the detail. Prisoner-of-war model at the Rosenborg Slot in Copenhagen. Some of the oldest surv
iving European ship models have been those of early craft such as galleys, galleons, and possibly carracks, dating from the 12th through the 15th centuries and found occasionally mounted in churches, where they were used in ceremonies to bless ships and those who sailed in them. Until the early 18th century, virtually all European small craft and many larger vessels were built without formal plans being drawn. Shipwrights would construct models to show prospective customers how the full size ship would appear and to illustrate advanced building techniques. Ship models constructed for the Royal Navy were referred to as Admiralty models and were principally constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries to depict proposed warship design. Although many of these models did not illustrate the actual timbering or framing, they did show the form of the hull and usually had great detail of the deck furnishings, masts, spars, and
general configuration. Some of these grand models were decorated with carvings of great beauty and were evidently constructed by teams of artisans. Admiralty models served to educate civilians who were involved in the financing or some other aspect of the ship, to avoid construction errors that might have evolved as the ship itself took form.[citation needed] During the Napoleonic wars French and English seamen who were taken prisoner were confined, sometimes for many years, and in their boredom sought relief by building ship models from scraps of wood and bone. This evolved into something of an art form and the models were sold to the public, which responded by supplying the prisoners with ivory so that the models would be more decorative. For the most part, the models had carved wooden hulls with rigging made from human hair, horsehair, silk, or whatever other fine material could be obtained. Bone or ivory would be used
for masts and spars, and as a thin veneer over the hull.
 A consequence of Britain's naval supremacy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was wide public interest in ships and ship models. Numerous fairly crude models were built as children's toys leading to the creation of functional, as opposed to decorative, ship models. Britain also led the world in model ship sailing clubs - in 1838 the Serpentine Sailing Society was started in Hyde Park, followed by the first London Model Yacht Club in 1845. By the 1880s there were three model sailing clubs sharing the Kensington Gardens Round Pond alone. Modern era In the early part of the 20th Century, amateur ship model kits became available from companies such as Bassett-Lowke in Great Britain and Boucher's in the United States. Early 20th century models comprised a combination of wooden hulls and cast lead for anchors, deadeyes, and rigging blocks. These materials gradually gave way to plastic precast sets
. The development of tinplate and improvements in machine tools enabled significant advances in ship modelling from 1900 onwards. Thin, workable sheets of iron could be coated with tin to prevent rusting, then mass-produced as parts of ship model kits. The process was pioneered by French ship model manufacturer Radiguet, which produced a line of zinc boats with pressurised steam engines, wooden decking and brass fittings. The speed of production for tinplate vessels enabled one 1909 manufacturer to produce ship models of speedboats that had competed that year in Monaco. Ship modelling in the United States experienced a boom in the 1930s when Popular Science magazine published an extended series of articles and plans for famous ships by modeller and former Navy officer E. Armitage McCann.[citation needed] In recent years, widespread internet access has played a major role in promoting ship modell
ing, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to show off their work and share techniques. Internet sites such as Modelwarships.com, Steelnavy.com, or Model Shipwrights are oriented to plastic model ship builders, while others such as Hyperscale focus largely on aircraft or other subjects can regularly feature plastic ship models as well. Types of ship model construction The most common materials used for ship models are: Woodommonly solid wood, two pieces of wood with a vertical seam or slabs of wood placed one on top of each other. Plasticncluding both injected styrene and cast resin models. In larger scales (1/192 and larger), fiberglass is often used for hull shells. Metalsually cast lead or other alloys. Steel, sheet tin and aluminum brass are used less frequently for hull construction, but are used extensively for adding details. Paperreprinted paper construction kits are common in Europe, and are available in a variety of scales. Wooden model ships A "plank on frame" model of the HMS Sussex on display at the US Naval Academy museum. Main article: Wooden ship models Wooden ship model hulls can be constructed in several ways. The simplest is a solid wood hull sawn and carved from a single block of wood. This method requires the greatest skill to achieve accurate results. A variant of this technique, sometimes known as bread and butter construction( the wood is the "bread" and glue the "butter") is a hull built up from thin blocks of wood glued together with either a vertical seam which can be incorporated into deck design, or a horizontal seam. This reduces the amount of carving required, but still requires skill and the use of templates to achieve a
nd accurate hull form. Modelling precision and lightweight design can be achieved by creating a hollow hull. The plank on bulkhead technique inserts a series of shaped bulkheads along the keel to form a shaped stage which will be covered with planks to form the hull of the model . Plank on frame designs build the model just as the full size wooden ship is constructed. The keel is laid down in a manner which keeps it straight and true. The sternpost and stem are erected, deadwood and strengthening pieces inserted, and a series of shaped frames are built and erected along the keel to form the internal framework of the model. The planks are then applied over the frame to form the external covering. A wooden hull can be used for operating models if properly sealed. Plastic model ships 1/720 scale plastic model of the USS Massachusetts An assembl
ed Skywave/Pit-Road 1:700 scale Japanese destroyer is about the size of a pencil. 1:700 scale plastic model completed with photoetch brass rails and other refinements. In the decades since World War Two injection-molded polystyrene plastic model ships have become increasingly popular. Consisting of preformed plastic parts which can be bonded together with plastic cement, these models are much simpler to construct than the more labor-intensive traditional wooden models. The inexpensive plastic kits were initially targeted to the post war generation who could glue them together and produce passable replicas in a single afternoon. Plastic models are available in both full hull and waterline versions for a wide variety of vessels. A more recent addition has been a variety of kits in cold cure resin marketed by various small companies as part of a cottage industry. These often cover more obscure subj
ects than mainstream manufacturers. Scales vary as well, with many kits from the early days being "box scale"; that is, scaled to fit into a uniform sized box designed to fit conveniently on hobby shop shelves. Scales have since become more standardized to enable modelers to construct consistent scale collections, but there are still many to choose from. In Europe 1/400 scale remains popular, while in the United States and Japan the most popular scales are 1/700 (making a World War Two aircraft carrier about a foot long) and 1/350 (twice as long as 1/700). Nevertheless, mainstream plastic kit manufacturers continue to produce kits as small as 1/1200 and as large as 1/72, with a few even larger. The early plastic model kit producers such as Airfix, Revell, Frog and Pyro have since been joined by Tamiya, Hasegawa, Skywave/Pit-Road, Trumpeter, Dragon Model Limited and many others in producing a wide array of model subjects.
The plastic model kit market has shifted over the years to a focus on adult hobbyists willing to pay for more elaborate, higher quality kits. Another recent development has been the advent of aftermarket parts to enhance the basic kits. Decals, specialized paints and turned metal replacement gun barrels are available to make plastic models more accurate. The introduction of flat photoetched metal sets, usually stainless steel or brass, also provide much more realistic lifelines, cranes, and other details than are possible with the injection molded plastic kits. These photoetch sets have transformed the hobby, enabling the finescale modeler to reproduce very delicate details with much less effort. Wargaming models Main article: Naval wargaming 1:1250 scale die-cast models of ships Model ships have been used for war gaming since antiquity, but
the introduction of elaborate rules made the practice more popular in the early 20th Century. Small miniature ships, often in 1:1200 scale and 1:1250 scale were maneuvered on large playing surfaces to either recreate a historical battle, or in the case of governments, plan for future encounters. These models were basic representations of ship types, with enough detail to make them recognizable. Bassett-Lowke marketed these to the public in England, along with more detailed versions that appealed to collectors. Prior to World War II, the German company Wiking became a leader in the field but the war ended its dominance. Large Scale Models Large Commercial Model of the IJN Akagi on display at Pearl Harbor Large scale model warships in San Diego Larger ship models have been used in museums to document historical ships, in companies for decorat
ion and public relations. These are typically built by commercial firms, or, in the past, model departments of large shipyards. One famous builder of ship models for the United States Navy was the firm of Gibbs and Cox.;a 1/48 scale model of the USS Missouri, which is on display at the Washington Navy Yard museum, required an estimated 77,000 man hours to construct. Commercial ship models are usually built to rigorous standards; for example the US Navy has an exacting set of specifications regarding the use of materials and methods with the aim of ensuring a model "lifespan" of one hundred years. Radio Control Model Ships Main article: Radio-controlled boat Some hobbyists build and operate scale model ships utilizing radio control equipment. These can range from small models that can be operated in aquariums to vessels capable of navigating large bodies of water. Further expanding the concept i
s model warship combat, in which scale models fire projectiles at each other in combat. Engineering models Test model in a towing tank Model ships are important in the field of engineering, where analytical modeling of a new design needs to be verified. Principals of similitude are used to apply measured data from a scaled model to the full scale design. Models are often tested in special facilities known as model basins. Manned models Manned models are model ships that can carry and be handled by at least one person on an open expanse of water. They must behave just like real ships, giving the shiphandler the same sensations. Physical conditions such as wind, currents, waves, water depths, channels and berths must be reproduced realistically. Manned model of a 250 000 dwt tanker Manned
models are used for research (e.g. ship behaviour), engineering (e.g. port layout) and for training in shiphandling (e.g. maritime pilots, masters and officers). They are usually at 1:25 scale. The aim of training on manned models is to enable seamen to acquire or to develop manoeuvring skills through a better understanding of a ship behaviour as it sails in restricted water conditions at manoeuvring speed. Manned models are considered by maritime pilots as the next best thing to a full-scale prototype for understanding a ship's behaviour.. Those who have trained on both claim that scale models are complementary to computer simulators. While manoeuvres with currents, waves, tugs, anchors, bank effects, etc. are reproduced more accurately on scale models, numerical simulators are more realistic when it comes to the bridge environment. The Port Revel Shiphandling Training Centre is a French maritime pilotage school speciali
zing in training for pilots, masters, and officers on large ships like supertankers, container ships, LNG carriers and cruise ships . The facility uses manned models at a 1:25 scale on a man-made lake designed to simulate natural conditions in harbours, canals, and open seas. It was the first such facility in the world. The Centre was originally created in 1967 near Grenoble by Laboratoire Dauphinois d'Hydraulique. Model yachts Main article: model yachting Model yachts are operating craft, which may be sail, steam, engine or electric motor powered, typically resembling pleasure power craft, although the hobby also includes the construction and operation of models of working ships such as tugboats and other craft shown in this article as static models. Model shipwright guilds Model shipwright guilds are social groupings intended to allow mor
e experienced ship modellers the opportunity to pass on their knowledge to new members; to allow members of all levels of expertise to exchange new ideas, as well as serving as social function. Some model shipwright guilds have been incorporated into government and Naval facilities, achieving a semi-official status as a clearinghouse for information on naval history and ship design. The USS Constitution Museum operates a model shipwright guild from the Charlestown Navy Yard, adjacent to the berth for the vessel itself. Model ship made with non-traditional materials: rolled-up tubes of paper, Express Mail labels, and duct tape. Model ships in a model town Detail of a model that shows men operating a capstan John F. Kennedy's PT-109 has been a popular a subject for plastic and radio controlled models since the 1960s. Here is a 1/72 Revell kit p
ositioned against a 1/700 Japanese destroyer. 4-year-old boy painting a Revell plastic model of the South Goodwin Lightship A Revell "box scale" plastic model kit of the USCG Taney. Originally issued in 1956, it was among the earliest injection molded plastic ship model kits. Completed Revell Taney model See also Model yachting Model warship combat Radio-controlled boat Wooden Ship Models References ^ "HMS Invincible Model". The Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre. December 2007. http://www.invergordonnavalmuseum.co.uk/news.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P129. ^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P.127. ^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P127. ^ Gottlicher, A. 2004. "A Newly Acquired Ancient Ship-model in Kassel, Germany." IJNA33.1:154. ^ Gottlicher, A. 2004. "A Newly Acquired Ancient Ship-model in Kassel, Germany." IJNA33.1:154-5. ^ a b c Tilley, A. 2007. "Rowing Ancient Warships: Evidence from a Newly Published Ship Model. IJNA 4.2:293. ^ a b c Basch, L. 1975. "Another Punic Wreck in Sicily: its ram." IJNA4.2:201. ^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models in Ancient Greece.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P. 12. ^ a b c d e Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. "Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the
Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel." IJNA 32.1:61. ^ Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. "Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel." IJNA 32.1:62. ^ Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. "Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel." IJNA 32.1:62. ^ Jones, D. 1995. Boats. Austin: Universtiy of Texas Press P 26. ^ Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 2. ^ a b c Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 3. ^ Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 1. ^ a b Jones, D. 1995. Boats. Austin: Universtiy of Texas Press P 30. ^ Hirschfeld,
N. 2009. "Egyptian Seafaring." Class Lecture, 23 January, San Antonio. ^ "Church Ships". Henning Thalund. http://www.kirkeskibe.dk/en/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ a b c Lavery, Brian & Stephens, Simon (1995). Ship Models, Their Purpose and Development from 1650 to the Present. Zwemmer. ISBN 0302006540. http://books.google.com/books?id=oRP5AQAACAAJ&dq;=''Ship+Models,+Their+Purpose+and+Development+From+1650+to+the+Present''. ^ "The Pilkington Collection of French Prisoner of War Miniature Models". Merseyside Maritime Museum. December 2007. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/collections/artsea/models/pilkington.asp. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ "Ship Models - Prisoner of War Work". National Maritime Museum (United Kingdom). December 2007. http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/search/listResults.cfm?name=Prisoner of war work, Full hull model&category=ship
models&sortBy=title. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ a b "Club history: The Model Yacht Sailing Association". The Model Yacht Sailing Association. December 2003. http://www.mysa.org.uk/default.asp?PageNum=2. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ "Brief History: Basset-Lowke and No. 78". Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow. 1999. http://www.78derngate.org.uk/old/docs/78lowke.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ Head, Derek (1997). Bassett-Lowke Waterline Ship Models. New Cavendish Books. ISBN 1872727727. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=8QcWAAAACAAJ&dq=bassett-lowke+waterline+ship+models. ^ Wegner, Dana (March 2007). "Here Today, Maybe Gone Tomorrow?". Nautical Research Journal 45 (1). http://shipmodeling.net/vb_forum/articles-print3.html. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ a b Macarthur, Antonia (2008-05-01). "Bateaux Jouets - Toy Boats from Paris 1850-1950". Sig
nals (Sydney, Australia: Australian National Maritime Museum) 82: 1115. ^ "Toy Model Kits". Advarneg Incorporated. 2007. http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Toy-Model-Kit.html. Retrieved 2007-12-05. ^ a b Ashey, Mike (2000). Basics of Ship Modeling: The Illustrated Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0890243727. http://books.google.com/books?id=2ffCoUTsj4YC&dq=The+Basics+of+Ship+Modeling. ^ Schnfeldt, Peter; Klaus Hogardt (1998) (in German). Wiking-modelle.: Die Schiffe und Flugzeuge. Koehler Publishing. ISBN 3782207319. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=GbTeAAAACAAJ&dq=Wiking-Modelle+Die+Schiffe+und+Flugzeuge. ^ "US Navy ship models built by the Gibbs & Cox Company". Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. May 2007. http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/faq_09d.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. ^ "Specifications for construction of
exhibition models of U.S. Naval vessels". Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. May 2007. http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/const_1.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. ^ "Puget Sound Maritime Pilots". http://www.pspilots.org/pilots_training_scale.html. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to category: Models of ships Model Boat Mayhem - Probably the most comprehensive website about Model Boats - VERY active Forum! UK based. Model Ship Builder - A website dedicated to preserving the art of model ship building. Model Ship World The online home for the model ship builder Model Shipwrights Database An information repository for the model shipwright Model Shipwrights Model Ship Building Community Mod
elWarships.com Plastic ship models Steel Navy Plastic ship models of the modern era 1250 Home Page devoted to 1/1200 and 1/1250 scale models Ship Modeling FAQ Model Boat Links The Maritime History Virtual Archives The Nautical Research Guild Models Used to Train Maritime Officers The Nautical Research Guild - a model shipwright association Ship Modeler's Association of California vde Scale modeling Architectural models Brass models Building models Diecast models Model aircraft Model cars Model commercial vehicles Model construction vehicles Model figures Matchstick models Model military vehicles Model robots Model trains Model rockets Model ships Gundam mod
el Miniature wargaming 1:6 scale modeling Categories: Model boats | ShipsHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from December 2007
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Hot Wheel Cars - Reliving Your Childhood

08.37 Unknown No comments

Hot Wheel Cars are made from a die cast metal, manufactured by Mattel. In 1968 they made there market place entry, to which they were an enormous success. There was an initial 16 car line up that is now referred to as the "Sweet Sixteen". Production plants in the US and Hong Kong started to produce these fantastically colored cars in there thousands. Output moves outside of the US, and Hong Kong becomes the sole producer of Hot Wheel Cars in 1972. The first cars from 68 - 72 came with there own distinct features. Early models had there tyres emblazoned with a red line on the tyre walls. The Redline trademark was a hugely effective way of adding personality to the diecast cars of those early models. Hot Wheels Cars are as much a part of growing up as TV, and if you are in your forty's you will know what i mean. Early Redlines became part of the American psyche, by copying the popular cars of that era. In fact 9 of the first 16 were copies from cars fro
m that time, while the other 7 were nothing more than exhibit cars.
 The early Redline Hot Wheels had many other specific traits as well as the redline tires. For example they mostly were painted in brash metallic colors called Spectaflame paint and had chrome styled hot rod type rims. The styles available would spark the imagination of young boys around the world. Each car was packaged in a blister pack with very loud colored cardboard backs. Most young men are now enthused with capturing these childhood memories and now the hunt is on to collect these rare vintage early Hot Wheels. The market for collecting Hot Wheel Cars in general is on the rise. With eBay now the business it is, collecting even the rarest of old Hot Wheels from reputable dealers and individuals has become very easy. Make certain you are able to distinguish the grade and shape of the Redline you are buying, ask for close up pictures if needed. In the age of the internet, it will not be hard to find Redline Hot Wheels for sale.
Check out a great range of Hot Wheel Cars at Hot Wheel Cars! Or alternatively go to the site directly at http://www.squidoo.com/hotwheelcars
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Hot Wheel Cars - Reliving Your Childhood

08.37 Unknown No comments

Hot Wheel Cars - Reliving Your Childhood

08.37 Unknown No comments

Hot Wheel Cars - Reliving Your Childhood

02.49 Unknown No comments

Mattel Hot Wheel Cars are manufactured from die cast metal. There market place introduction was in 1968 to which they arrived with a huge seal of approval. There was an initial 16 car line up that is now referred to as the "Sweet Sixteen". These dazzling colored cars began rolling out from plants in Hong Kong and the US. Hong Kong becomes the sole manufacturer of these cars in 1972. In the early years between 1968 and 1972, Hot Wheels came with one very distinctive trait on each car. Early models had there tyres emblazoned with a red line on the tyre walls. The Redline trademark was a very effective way of adding personality to the diecast cars of those early models. If you are 40 plus, then you will know all about the lure that Redline Hot Wheels Cars hold over young boys. These basic designs reflected the popular modern car of that period, and were thus cemented in our minds forever. In fact 9 of the initial 16 were copies from cars from that time,
while the other 7 were nothing more than exhibit cars.
 Redlines from this time did have further attractive features other than a red line. As an example these cars were mostly painted in very bright metallic colors called Spectaflame paint and had chromed wheel rims. Each style would evoke the minds of young boys all over the world. Each car was packaged in a blister pack with very flashy colored cardboard backs. Were you once a collecter of these cars in your childhood years? Perhaps you are now enthused with capturing these childhood memories again by collecting these rare vintage early Hot Wheels. Much like baseball card collecting, Redlines and Hot Wheels collecting in general is on the rise. The internet has now made it likely to find even the rarest of Mattel Hot Wheel Cars a distinct possibility. Make sure you are able to tell the grade and shape of the Redlines you would like to bid on or buy. Thanks to the internet, finding the car of your choice has never been easier.
Check out a great range of Hot Wheel Cars at Hot Wheel Cars! Or alternatively go to the site directly at http://www.squidoo.com/hotwheelcars
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The advantages of owning a diecast Nova

07.54 Unknown No comments

There are several advantages to owning a diecast Nova rather than the real life, full size version. The biggest advantage is pretty obvious, the cost. A diecast Nova is thousands of dollars cheaper to collect than the real deal. Muscle car prices today are through the roof. Even a rusty hulk of a project car can cost a small fortune. Not to mention the hundreds or thousands of hours of labor to restore the car. Or you could use your 401k savings and buy a real Nova SS from e bay.
The second biggest advantage is the size. You do not need a large garage or pole barn to house your diecast Nova.You can house a fleet of diecast cars in your house, garage, or basement. Plus the diecast versions don't need gas or routine maintenance. If you live in a colder climate you won't have to prepare your diecast muscle car for the long brutal winter storage season. No mothballs needed, no flat spotted tires, no stabil in the gas tank. Even if you already own a real life Nova, a diecast Nova is also a great compliment to your collection. There are many different year models available from several different manufacturers. Most are very high quality replicas and are highly detailed. They can also increase in value over time. Especially if the model was discontinued or was part of a limited production run. So, if you are looking to start an affordable muscle car collection, diecast is the way to go. Or for you Nova junkies, it is pretty hard to resist thes
e miniature versions of your favorite muscle car. Just a word of warning though. Collecting a diecast Nova or any other diecast muscle car can be an addictive hobby. Happy hunting !
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