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Post by Alfaholic on Jun 12, 2022 18:04:06 GMT -5
I know I used the phrase “a couple of stunners” recently, but I’m going to have to use it again - Wow.
My only visit to the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles several years ago coincided with an exhibition of all things Bugatti. The exhibits included some truely wonderful cars as well as sculptures, furniture and other items designed by many different members of the Bugatti family - a very memorable experience.
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Post by DeadCanDanceR on Jun 12, 2022 19:12:46 GMT -5
I had just asked you who made these two Bugattis, over in other thread! Simply stunning pieces, Jerry!  |
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Post by jager on Jun 15, 2022 8:35:32 GMT -5
When it comes to cars of the 1930's, as an Alfa owner I've always tended to favour the cars from Milan rather than Molsheim. Nevertheless, these are smashing models and ooze quality.
My Le Mans database tells me there are over 30 Bugatti's that are still to be modelled, including a few 57's. I don't know why we haven't seen more Bugatti models from this period.
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oldirish33
Member
"All Jaguars run on Guinness!"
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Post by oldirish33 on Jun 16, 2022 17:41:24 GMT -5
Two fantastic models! I prefer the first one with disc wheels as opposed to the wire wheels in the picture, looks much cleaner. I generally prefer wire wheels on a car, but in this case, I think the solid wheels are very bit as smashing. A bit less sporting and more sedate perhaps, but certainly don't detract from the car at all. I know I used the phrase “a couple of stunners” recently, but I’m going to have to use it again - Wow. My only visit to the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles several years ago coincided with an exhibition of all things Bugatti. The exhibits included some truely wonderful cars as well as sculptures, furniture and other items designed by many different members of the Bugatti family - a very memorable experience. That would have been quite an exhibit to see! I haven't been to the Petersen in a good number of years now, but if I find myself in LA again, my wife can go visit the tar pits across the street and I'll take in the cars.  I had just asked you who made these two Bugattis, over in other thread! Simply stunning pieces, Jerry!  Thanks Julio! I thought so too and couldn't resist. Only wish I had the $ for the ten or so on offer. When it comes to cars of the 1930's, as an Alfa owner I've always tended to favour the cars from Milan rather than Molsheim. Nevertheless, these are smashing models and ooze quality. My Le Mans database tells me there are over 30 Bugatti's that are still to be modelled, including a few 57's. I don't know why we haven't seen more Bugatti models from this period. Alfa and Bugatti were great racing rivals in the 1920's. I believe the Alfa race cars to be more stunning and the Bugatti road cars to hold an edge, as well as in the engineering. Either way and I am divided between the two, they are both beautiful marques from a great automotive period. Other than more boutique, hand built models, I don't think there is enough sales in it for larger model concerns. That and the fact that there were a number of different body styles from coachbuilders as well as Bugatti themselves in such limited numbers, they are probably okay with just producing the more well known T57S and SC Atlantic (i.e. Ralph Lauren) models for mass production. Just my guess. |
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oldirish33
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"All Jaguars run on Guinness!"
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Post by oldirish33 on Jun 16, 2022 18:39:25 GMT -5
Building a Dynasty - I doubt there are not too many that follow motorsport, that don't know that Toyota and Toyota Gazoo Racing won their fifth consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans this past weekend. This year was the second running of the Hypercar class and what may prove to be another great era in Le Mans racing as more factories and teams join the action in the coming years. While I am not collecting current era Le Mans models, I made an exception for the 2021 Toyota winner. One, if it is the start of a great era in racing, this car will be important as early Group C cars were at the start of that era. Second and perhaps more pragmatic, I have decided to collect the Le Mans winners through the first century of racing at La Sarthe. Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid - Le Mans 2021 Winner - Spark
The 89th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours was the first year for the new Hypercar class and Toyota Gazoo Racing showed up with two cars that would prove to be the class of the field. The race was run in August rather than on its usual June dates, in order to let fan attend the race for the first time since the Covid pandemic began. Being late August, teams were faced with racing in longer night stints and cooler and wetter early fall weather. Rain was a persistent factor in the early hours of the race and the cooler night temperatures made it difficult for competitors to get tires up to temperature. The result being spins and crashes which affected the running order in all classes save the Hypercar class, with Toyota Gazoo picking up its fourth consecutive win in this car.  The accomplished trio of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez led the race from pole position. Kobayashi set a fast 3:23.9 time and the team continued to build its lead from the start. Its sister cars race was spoiled by electrical and fuel system problems which dropped it down two laps, but still in position for second place at the end. The lead Toyota, while also experiencing the same fuel issues did not falter. Thier pace set a fastest average lap speed of 130.8 MPH (210.5 KPH), over 3,141.2 miles (5055.2 Km). They led for 173 consecutive laps of the 371 lap race, only swapping the lead with their sister car, to take the top podium step and the first win for a new car in a new era at Le Mans.  One of the marketing mysteries to me about the choices and decisions model producers make, is why they wait until the eve of the current year's race, to release the model of last year's winner. I know retailers are already starting to take orders for this year's winner, but it would seem to me that if companies like Spark can produce F1 and Spa 24 Hour models before the current season is over, or the next race; why not Le Mans models too? There has to be some marketing ploy for waiting. Build up of interest perhaps? However in the age of pre-sales that would not seem to apply. I for one wish the manufacturers would participate in forums like this (assuming they would be willing to give us a peek under the tent) to answer question we always seem to have. How much R&D is done and by whom? What subjects do they choose as the main point of reference and why? What compromises do they have to make to conform to things like box size, mass production, painting methods, etc.? Why do they choose certain subjects and not touch others? The list could go on. 
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Post by jager on Jun 16, 2022 18:59:58 GMT -5
About 20 years ago I decided I would start a small collection of Le Mans winners...look where that got me now!
I don't think its a deliberate ploy to release the previous years cars on the eve of the next race, I think its more representative of the backlog of subjects and shipping issues. Pre COVID, Spark was usually pretty good at releasing the first cars about 6 months after the race, and the full grid would trickle through over the next six months, so I more or less had a full grid of models to choose from prior to the next race. That program seemed to run off course in COVID, and many of the 2020 cars weren't ready before the 2021 race. In fact, it's only recently that I've received the last of the 2020 Looksmart Ferraris. This year of course they also had a compressed time schedule because the last race was in August, not in June, so only had 10 months rather than the usual 12.
Down this way, I haven't received a single car from the 2021 race, so your way ahead of me.
The biggest mystery to me is why Toyota keeps persisting with the same bland liveries year after year. Yes its looks good, especially on this car, by why couldn't they run their second car in a reverse livery (ie white on red rather than red on white), use red chrome or do an art car interpretation of the livery. They could be a lot more adventurous with the livery if they and their sponsors tried.
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Post by Alfaholic on Jun 16, 2022 20:27:44 GMT -5
An important car for a LM collection for sure, but I can't wait for the extra competition to arrive in 2023 - although we will get a look at the new Peugeot next time out in Monza. While I am no Toyota fan, I must admit to cheering for the #7 over the #8, as the former always seem to be on the wrong end of the good luck spectrum. |
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Post by Tom on Jun 16, 2022 22:32:28 GMT -5
Collecting only the winners is a sound strategy. A very good model of last year's Toyota.
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Post by reeft1 on Jun 17, 2022 8:26:26 GMT -5
Congratulations on your latest addition
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oldirish33
Member
"All Jaguars run on Guinness!"
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Post by oldirish33 on Jun 23, 2022 17:41:17 GMT -5
About 20 years ago I decided I would start a small collection of Le Mans winners...look where that got me now! I don't think its a deliberate ploy to release the previous years cars on the eve of the next race, I think its more representative of the backlog of subjects and shipping issues. Pre COVID, Spark was usually pretty good at releasing the first cars about 6 months after the race, and the full grid would trickle through over the next six months, so I more or less had a full grid of models to choose from prior to the next race. That program seemed to run off course in COVID, and many of the 2020 cars weren't ready before the 2021 race. In fact, it's only recently that I've received the last of the 2020 Looksmart Ferraris. This year of course they also had a compressed time schedule because the last race was in August, not in June, so only had 10 months rather than the usual 12. Down this way, I haven't received a single car from the 2021 race, so your way ahead of me. The biggest mystery to me is why Toyota keeps persisting with the same bland liveries year after year. Yes its looks good, especially on this car, by why couldn't they run their second car in a reverse livery (ie white on red rather than red on white), use red chrome or do an art car interpretation of the livery. They could be a lot more adventurous with the livery if they and their sponsors tried. I think we will agree to disagree on the release of models Ian. I believe its a matter of priorities with Spark. They were slow releasing Le Mans winners before Covid. Other manufacturers get cars out faster and even Spark can if they want to, my next add is case in point. Toyota has and probably always will be a conservative company and I think that their logos will always tend to reflect that conservative nature. Your right though, it would be great if they spiced it up, did something creative with the livery. An important car for a LM collection for sure, but I can't wait for the extra competition to arrive in 2023 - although we will get a look at the new Peugeot next time out in Monza.  While I am no Toyota fan, I must admit to cheering for the #7 over the #8, as the former always seem to be on the wrong end of the good luck spectrum. Well, it lasted one year.  Like you, I find one-marque dominance a yawn, hoping for better days ahead in Hypercar. Collecting only the winners is a sound strategy. A very good model of last year's Toyota. Thanks Tom! I'm not sure its a sound strategy. I could easily have drawn the line at the year 2000. The cars after (Le Mans winners) have never interested me much. Congratulations on your latest addition Thanks Paul |
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Post by jager on Jun 23, 2022 18:54:36 GMT -5
Just remember too Jerry that the 2021 Toyota was an all new casting, like the Glickenhaus that has also been slow to be released. Its not like the LMP2 Oreca's where all they have to do is down load the graphics file and apply it to their existing casting. Now that the new castings are done, hopefully we'll see the 2022 Toyotas and Glickenhaus come out a little quicker.
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oldirish33
Member
"All Jaguars run on Guinness!"
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Post by oldirish33 on Jun 23, 2022 19:53:44 GMT -5
RAGING BULL - I have watched F1 with somewhat detached interest for many years now. I record all the races and generally fast forward through the races after the start, pausing to watch the exciting bits until the races conclusion. I have neither become particularly attached to any driver, or team. However, the Netflix series Drive to Survive has increased my interest level, as well as my overall awareness of the F1 season. I now find myself more interested in drivers like Lando Norris and Daniel Ricardo than the front runners, but that's another story. For the 2021 season, I found the drama off the track almost as interesting as the racing. When it came down to the final race of the season with the Championship in the balance I didn't have a favorite, so would be pleased with the outcome either way. I decided then that because the 2021 season had been more interesting to me than other seasons and it was so close in deciding the Championship, that I would buy a model of the winning driver and new World Champion. So I did.2021 Red Bull RB16B - Max Verstappen - Spark
The 2021 F1 Drivers Championship came down to the last race of the season at Abu Dhabi, with Sir Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull entering the last race with equal points. The season would end in a last race showdown between the seven-time World Champion and his main rival looking for his first championship title. Just as the season had already been controversial with accusations of overly aggressive driving and unfair advantages being leveled by the top two contenders at each other; the race finale would prove to be even more controversial. With Hamilton leading the race from the beginning, he looked certain to be headed to his record eighth championship, but fate had other plans.  In what will probably always be regarded in the most controversial finish in F1 history, a late safety car setup a last lap showdown between the two drivers vying for the Championship. The Race Director allowed the lapped cars separating Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves. With slower cars no longer separating the two, it would be a mad sprint to the end for the win. Verstappen on fresher tires was able to make a diving inside lunge to pass Hamilton and go on to take the win and his first World Drivers Champion title. While the win at Abu Dhabi will always cast some shadow of doubt, Verstappen won 10 races in 2021, setting 10 pole positions and six fastest lap of the race during the course of the season. Spark have done a nice job on the 2021 Abu Dhabi winner and the model comes on a larger display base proclaiming Verstappen as the World Champion and also comes with the first place race winner sign and World Champion pit board. Even though I'm not particularly fond of the Red Bull livery, it makes a nice display piece. 
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Post by Tom on Jun 24, 2022 0:32:12 GMT -5
Not a particular Verstappen fan myself, but the guy can drive and he's less of a cry baby than Hamilton, who has clearly shown that he's nowhere without a fast car. When RB weren't the fastest, at least Max always tried hardest to find a way to get ahead anyway.
I'm not interested in modern F1 cars for my collection and will likely leave it at this one as my only one. Yours certainly is a lot better than my very cheap Burago.
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Post by Alfaholic on Jun 24, 2022 3:09:23 GMT -5
I have tried watching Drive to Survive but found it to be too much like a "soap opera" and gave up after 2 episodes. It may be dragging more (especially American) fans in, but I'll stick to the cars and the racing!
I was indifferent to the end of the year, after some many years of M-B dominance it was a change to have a different winner, but my loathing for anything Red Bull related has been mentioned before. I would have preferred it if a Haas had won!
Having said that, the Max car is a Championship Winner and therefore ticks a few boxes. I am also quite liking the look of the modern F1 cars these days and this is a cracker of a model.
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Post by JSB33 on Jun 25, 2022 6:37:24 GMT -5
My Fargin eyes!
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Like you, I find one-marque dominance a yawn, hoping for better days ahead in Hypercar.
