The latest effort from China brand KengFai is the 1:18 Lexus LM300h. Not sure who gets truly excited about a mini van in scale, but if interested the model does feature a diecast exterior and full 360 access. We definitely appreciate the cool sliding door, nice work KengFai!
Product# TBD
I skipped out on the Toyota Alphard.. but I don’t think I’ll skip this one though! Not for everyone, but a very unique piece in a collection. If they’re building things like these instead of complaining about any possible tooling costs or jumping into the resin market, then more power to them. Their models are certain pricey, but would rather help them than some of these other companies that have gone resin/composite.
Not sure who gets truly excited of a mini van < well as asian. i know really well this model sell really well despite the price tag. Because this car symbolys as wealth in many asian country (VVIP minivan). i pesonaly really like the design and grill. it's feels more premium then Toyota Alphard. i already some video and i think Kengfai really put a good detail in this diecast
Thanks for the insight!
Actually, the Alphard was a lot more popular amongst collectors than you think. Hence this other people carrier. Like I said in my review about the Kengfai G-Patton, Chinese manufacturers are guided a lot more by the daily drivers category. My Ford Mondeo (Ford´s speaking name for the global market except North America, where it is the Fusion) model only exists because of this policy. Before that they cared to make the Transit, S-Max, Fiesta, Focus, Edge, Kuga, to just name what is almost the entire Ford range, … and it´s done with models from other manufacturers like VW and Audi. In fact, it´s the Rover 75/MG7 that gets most visitors on my website, not the hyper or luxury cars.
I bought an Alphard and didnt thik id be interested in getting another van but….I’m liking the White one.
I think what collectors don’t understand is.. there are actually different types of collectors.
There is a type that only collects hyper cars and/or sports cars, or expensive cars. They collect cars that 90% of people will never see, but will only see on YouTube videos and other forms of media. These people will buy different colored McClaren’s, Huracan’s, or maybe S600 Mercedes Benz and G63’s. Some will buy Chargers, Corvette’s Mustang’s, etc.
There are also collectors that like everyday cars. Believe it or not, they have no interest in McClarens! They would rather buy cars that they see everyday in their city, or maybe cars that their parents had and they grew up with while growing up! These are the people that might get Greenlight. If they like European based cars, they might get certain cars from Norev, Schuco, etc. If they like Asian based cars (and have some credit/money) they will get Kengfai or some Kyosho models.
And then there might be people in between.
I think there is certain room in the world for the two to exist.
Our latest poll would suggest there is broad assortment of what people like to collect. But with the ever escalating prices, we all know any model with substance doesn’t come cheap. And excitement factor, one would believe people carriers, not matter how detailed would be at the bottom on the priority list. And not the mention the serious investment the manufacture/brand would need place forward in $$ and R&D.
Indeed! I think that’s the reason why a company like Kengfai deserves praise, even though they have their own bottom line and targeted customer base as well.
Not related to Kengfai, but I would pay BBR prices if someone made a diecast (not resin) version of my first car, or the cars that my parents had while I was growing up. And I feel like only a couple of companies today would even fathom or entertain the thought of making some of these models. But then again, the market for those types may be so small that the tooling would make such a car cost more than BBR’s portfolio, which takes me back to the point of giving props/kudos to companies that venture out into these niche markets that you mentioned.
Don’t hold your breath there. In today’s climate that won’t happen in diecast with full access. That is why resin does have its place, brands such as OttOmobile and DNA Collectibles seem to address some of the unique concerns. Other than this the option would be aquire in 1:43 scale where more obscure pieces are presented.
Good points. Unfortunately, I think this hobby has come to the point where if ALL diecast cars were to become resin, I would leave the hobby for good. I am not sure about the justification for spending >$100 for a model that is closed, as I would spend twice that for an opening model but about half that for a closed one. Like you mentioned, 1:43 might be better all around for that. The holdouts are keeping me around for sure, but this direction of doing more 1:18 models in resin, in my opinion, is a continuing downward spiral for the hobby itself.
I’ve been in this hobby ever since the (almost laughable by today’s standards) 1:18 “Road Tough” Lexus LS400 was made along with the Bburago Ferrari F40’s from Italy. The first time I heard of resin models was when nobody was willing to make a 1:18 diecast BMW e39 M5, and a (then unknown to me) company called Otto, who didn’t have AutoArt or Kyosho’s budget for tooling costs, decided to make an e39 M5 for us 1:18 collectors. And it was cool because we now had an e39 and had this idea that you didn’t need to be Autoart and Kyosho to attract collectors.
That’s when practically every company that existed back then decided it was cute to cost cut and start making resin models or finding other materials to make their cars out of. When big companies make resin models in response to smaller companies making resin models (in the name of cost cutting), it defeats the entire purpose of WHY we even have resin models, and why we felt the need to resort to resin models to begin with.
Now that resin is the name of the game, I think it’s almost time to turn off the lights for this hobby for me. It’s Been a fun ride though and one that is still enjoyable with the remaining holdouts for now.
We don’t think diecast will completely phase out. KengFai here, LCD Models, Almost Real and BBR are still producing some exciting examples.
I do agree with that; the hobby looks better today than it did a couple of years ago. But there is another issue: Price. Prices keep going up every year and I know everybody has to pay their bills and tooling costs… but we are headed upwards to the point where instead of talking about the prices of BBR models, we might as well pay BBR prices soon. I’m not complaining, but I think we’ve probably lost a fair amount of collectors on this upward price increase and may lose a few more. It’s an argument that has many compelling arguments on all sides
Well, thank goodness the market is not as small as most think for these types of model. China is a large country and thus, they have buyers that love “Everyday” Cars/Vehicles. I guess that you could call me an “In Betweener” as I buy pretty much everything if I like teh design. However, “Everyday Modern Vehicles” and JDM cars really pull my attention and monies.