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MFH models

paddy

Well-known member
Just thinking out loud here.....
There are a lot of model kits about now that are pushing the boundaries of detail, sophistication and costs.
I had my own questions on this with Pocher and the only real answer was to buy one. My conclusion was that the quality and detail is dependant, unsurprisingly, on the age of the model. A 1960.s airfix kit does not compare with some of their latest super accurate models 60 years on and Pocher are no different.
My current £100 Italeri build is streets ahead of a £1000 build Pocher but here i am talking OTB and the fascination with Pocher is not whats in the box, its what you can make using the parts as a starting point.
I think one of the main reasons for this is the scale. At 1:8 they are large models and that really makes them suitable for super detailing/scratch building for the average modeler , smaller scales require after market parts, resin or now 3d to detail up. 1:8 scale is moving in to the realms of possibility to scratch the parts yourself.
Of course modern Pocher kits are super detailed OTB but the older models are pretty poor despite being priced above the new models. This is just rarity and hype driven and price really doesnt reflect quality.
Summing up and just my opinion, A vintage Pocher kits gives you the building blocks to build the foundations of a highly detailed model. How detailed is entirely down to you as its you who will have to create that detail from scratch ,OTB is a large toy car.

Which brings me to the purpose of this rant :)

I have seen a few builds of MFH model cars in 1:12. again these are expensive but still half the price of a Pocher. There are you tube , "whats in the box" videos that show broken parts, warped white metal and dubious fits but there are also build threads that show amazing models completed.
So what is the view of people here ? Are these smaller scale Pocher models ? Are they dinosaurs from an age now gone where white metal was the detail choice, now far out done by 3D printing ? or do they offer something special. ?
One advantage that has attracted me is the chance to build cars that the mainstream model suppliers dont do. If you want a 1:12 Ferrari 250 Testarossa from 1960 you dont have a huge choice :) ... I just wonder if the use of metal is a novelty and in fact plastic might offer more detail and be easier to work with, IE: fill ,shape , repair and glue....do i want to spend £600 GBP to find out ? For that money you can buy a now discontinued Tamiya 1:12 Ferrari Enzo and know its gong to fit perfectly....
 
I think folks build logs are the best reviews, if you're seeing a constant stream of folks finding issues then I think I'd throw rocks at them. If you spend that sort of money on a kit you should expect quality. Sure every kit has flaws either in design or production but consistent issues coming out of the box? Nope for me.
I haven't build a large scale car, not sure if I'd want to because I'd be against making a showroom car show car, rather have a beater everyday driver build.
 
Ah! The Automotive Obscurity Kit! More "canvas for the Artist"! Ferrari 250 Testarossa has my curiostiy piqued.
 
I decided to take the plunge and ordered a Vincent black Shadow (early) , partly because i live , build and deal in classic bikes during the day but also because its a cheaper option gateway into MHF than a car and still 1/12 so a scale that fits with my car builds.
Its very obvious when you look at whats available, these being short run kits, some are sold out pretty quickly and some seem plentiful still at several outlets however this doesnt seem to stop HMF producing some very obscure models.
anyway i got the last Vincent black shadow from Spotmodel at about £100 less than other outlets who still had them available. That said it was still 10x the price of an equivalent Tamiya model
:)
 
I was talking rubbish as usual, MHF bikes are 1:9 same as italeri. :doh:
 
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I decided to take the plunge and ordered a Vincent black Shadow (early) , partly because i live , build and deal in classic bikes during the day but also because its a cheaper option gateway into MHF than a car and still 1/12 so a scale that fits with my car builds.
Its very obvious when you look at whats available, these being short run kits, some are sold out pretty quickly and some seem plentiful still at several outlets however this doesnt seem to stop HMF producing some very obscure models.
anyway i got the last Vincent black shadow from Spotmodel at about £100 less than other outlets who still had them available. That said it was still 10x the price of an equivalent Tamiya model
:)
Looking forward to seeing what you are talking about Paddy. Love your builds.
 
What i would really like is a Brough Superior 100ss
Famous to some as the bike T.E.Lawrence was killed on.
MFH are the only people i know that attempted to make a good model of it however all their products are limited issue and i doubt i would ever find one now at an affordable price.

brough_superior_1931_photo_lg.jpeg


Real thing above ..........MFH model below...

9_Brough_02.jpg
 
Someone stop me, i went and bought another ....I have three now. I just love the bloody things, even unbuilt :)
I got the Brough and i also got this

9_Crocker_Big_003.jpg


A really nice crocker went for $800,000 a few years back, they only made 100 in the 1940's. no idea how many survived ?

I also have this now

9_Vincent_0001.jpg


and of course this

1737227797906.png


Will i ever have the nerve to start one ?

My excuse is these are limited run, 2 are already not available anymore so its buy now or never. ............am i convincing anyone :) if i want to continue they only seem to release these occasionally so 1 a year sort of scale and i a year is affordable.
 
Paddy, they are like the resin, garage kit, figure kits I have bought over the last several years. While first available, they run in the $200-$300 range. Once they are out of production, the prices hit about $500 and stay there. The thing is if they are built and "really nicely" painted they also go up in value. This is because not all collectors can build the kits and there are some awesome painters out there that get commission to paint and build up the kits. As there are usually only about 50 or less kits made of each they do tend to hold their value.
On the other hand, with the 3D printing coming on, many artists are switching to doing 3D masters and then they can be printed to order. One fellow I know has switched to doing this as he has started having a lot of trouble with resin casters in recent years. He has closed down all his former lines that were old time hand sculpted masters and has gone to digital only. He is also NOT releasing the STL files and doing all his own printing with some of the newest hi res printers. The hobby is changing, hopefully for the better.
 
I will build one soon and see if i have what they take. Its really a whole new thing with very little comparison to plastic but...i did spend 38 years as a tool maker working with metal and metal finishing so i'm in with a chance.
I finished the Italeri Alfa this evening so the bench is empty :)
 
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