Modelautonieuws.nl

Archive for the ‘Algemeen’ Category

The second Neo Scale Models leaflet ever was continued in the style set with the first. Click the image to download your own copy of the PDF file.

High end versus toy cars -> cleaning out the house!

Tiny Toy Cars started selling 1/64 scale model cars years ago. To increase sales, we added other interesting model cars to the inventory over the years. Now we’re facing an imago problem, because the Tiny Toy Cars brand name is still very strong in 1/64, but the 1/43 never really picked up except for the incredibly nice models from Neo Scale Models. Tiny Toy Cars will be back to, well, tiny toy cars!

To clear product lines we are building a whole new website to sell the 1/43 high end products like Neo Scale Models. This shop is called Autobahn Model Cars and you might have noticed we’ve already  used that name here and there on the Internet. This shop will have a completely different look and feel compared to the Tiny Toy Cars shop, much more exclusive, ‘less is more’ and incredible photography.

Also Autobahn Model cars will use Social Media to the max. Why? Well, because we believe that selling newly released model cars is becoming an issue of ‘being the first one to buy’, production numbers are being lowered each time. We want you to be able to buy these fantastic die cast cars and we want to supply you with news flashes as fast as possible. Buying Diecast model cars is entering the 21st century!

For this Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr) are the tools to use. You might have noticed we’re experimenting with social media on all of our sites. We have a Flickr account (Autobahnmodelcars) where we publish all our product images in full size, high res. And we’re  active on Facebook for our international customers!

Our Twitter account Autobahnmc was opened today and we will use this to update you on all news releases regarding the High End products and the development of Autobahn Model Cars. Also, if you follow this twitter account, you will be notified with postings on modelautoforum.nl automatically.

After the launch of Autobahn Model Cars we will also pull Tiny Toy Cars into the Social Media, so stay tuned!

The latest Neo Scale Models leaflet to be available in printed form soon, but we already have the PDF!

The first Neo Scale Models leaflet as it was published in July 2009. Something for the archives! Be warned, it is a large PDF file!

Volkswagen Samba bus T1 brown/red (Sun Star SUN05073), originally uploaded by AutoBahn Model Cars.

Over 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of Die Cast Metal model car, this Volkswagen Samba bus T1 in scale 1/12! The Samba is the most beloved version of the Volkswagen busses (vans) and the Samba highlights are the working opening roof and the small roof windows.
Special trim around the hips of the bus and on the bumpers add to the high level of luxury for this over 50 years old van. At the rear you find luggage bars behind the windows preventing luggage to damage the windows. This model is limited to 1500 items worldwide and has many, if not, all opening parts. Even the fuel cap door opens and the tires can be removed by unscrewing the 5 nuts with the wrench supplied with this model. (hubcaps are in a separate bag included with the model car)
Our photo model has some transport items still attached because we do not intend to keep this one in our personal collection.
Find your Sun Star 1/12 scale Volkswagen Samba bus T1 at Tiny Toy Cars!

To celebrate the summer Tiny Toy Cars Model Cars offers a 10% Summer Sale discount on all orders until August 31st! Be sure to benefit from this offer and place your order today! Feel free to forward this message to all your friends!

By Ben van Roode

You do not need to be Einstein to understand that the current economic troubles have it’s influence on the model car business. The recent Toy Fair at Nuremburg was held in good spirits but the number of new toolings was greatly reduced compared to other years. In these circumstances rumours flourish. CEO Paul Lang of Minichamps denied that his company was sold to an unknown Chinese buyer. He told that he and his wife bought back stock three years from Action, the American company that purchased stock years earlier. Now the company is again owned by the Lang family. Another surprise was the take over by the German Dickie Simba group of Majorette , which includes the Solido brand. On the Schuco stand there was a display of Solido models and the 2010 Solido catalogue was in the Schuco press kit. Must have been ready before the deal was made. Chinese makers like Motor Max and Welly are improving their quality and are developing more tooling than the other big ones.
Corgi had it’s own booth but is largely issuing the models we already know. Lyndon Davis of Oxford Diecast is doing a successful job, adding al lot of new models to the separate ranges and the cooperation with Cararama. The same goes for NEO by Replicars. The resin models in small series are successful and helps them, according to boss Jaap van Dijk, through difficult times. The number of models in the resin range Premium X by IXO has been significantly larger. Though they have watched NEO closely in the models they will offer. Lots of duplicates. Modelcars are of course luxury items and I heard of decrease of sales by  around 12 percent.

Talking about trends. More and more diecast names are introducing radio control to their models. Good or bad is not the question here. It is about attracting buyers to models and maybe they will become collectors. Another notable development is that makers are turning to more smaller scales. 1:18 seems to have had the highest point. More models in 1:32 and 1:24 scale. Signature starts a 1:43 range with the same kind of cars as in 1:18, which is a good sign. It also looks as the American market is tending more to the 1:43 scale, we have to wait and see. Contrary to this are the real large models. Like the coproduction of Premium Classics and Schuco of the Porsche transporter in 1:18 scale. CMC will bring us the famous Ferrari transporter in 1:18, seen before at Old Cars, impressive to say the least. The price will be around the € 400,– mark. I also saw a 1:6 model of the Maybach 62, the long wheelbase version, by an unknown Chinese maker. Retail around 1200 US dollars. One model and your collection filled half of the room where you display your models.

Tiny Toy Cars en Modelautonieuws.nl wensen u fijne feestdagen en een gelukkig 2010!

Tot 25 December geeft Tiny Toy Cars de Sint en de Kerstman 15% korting op het volledige Siku programma. Dit om de beide heren wat tegemoed te komen in deze economisch niet zo florissante tijden. Modellen kunnen meegenomen worden naar de volgende NAMAC modelauto beurs in het Euretco gebouw in Houten op 5 December a.s. (hoe toevallig).

Siku graafmachine: Nu met 15% korting!

Wij zijn erg benieuwd naar hoe u over ons denkt. Daarvoor hebben we via Google Docs een enquete gemaakt (in het Engels) en we zouden het erg op prijs stellen als u uw mening met ons zou willen delen. Anoniem en in vijf minuten klaar. Met deze informatie kunnen wij als Tiny Toy Cars nog beter op uw wensen inspelen.
Klanten Enquete 2009.