Doc's right on that, especially with diecast. There is more on this in my 'JUST STUFF' file on my site talking about 'your car is the star' program by Johnny Lightning. Alternatives! My suggestion would be to get ahold of a number of diecasts like the big ERTL AMXs that are common colors and easily found like big bad blue, hunter green, white to name three colors. You can buy these highly detailed 1:18th (about a foot long) off ebay all the time cheap. You might also consider something already done like the Motormax Gremlins and Pacers in larger size, those are all over Wal Marts here for $9.97. And buy up X amount, then get Tommytoys to customize them. www.tommytoyz.com/ (their website don't appear but their phone and area in Minnesota is on a google search). But armed with X amount, find out how much it would cost to customize a run of them. I don't know if some of you remember a few years ago people were sending ERTL's up to them and they made 60 AMXs 'restoration projects' I believe 100 Big Bad Green (well before the Toys R Us exclusive came out!) and several other limited ones. They would take out of box, customize, reseal them and send back. The BBG AMXs were selling for $250-$400 each. The Resto AMXs usually sold in the $100 range. Again, on the front of the box it read '1 of 60' or '1 of 100' so people jast had to have them for their personal collections. Possibly if you are considering doing a Gremlin or Pacer or AMX use what already exists. Another note. I wanted to have a 'commemorative AMX' done for the super nationals in Kenosha in 1998 which was the largest AMC event in history (and I think it was bigger that 2002 in terms of attendance and vehicles on/off field) but I contacted PM about having one done, probably a 68-69 aMX or a 71-72 AMX as the dies were already done. For a 'mimimum run' of 10,000 vehicles (I supply the artwork on back of the card) it would have exceeded $20,000. Needless to say I backed off real quick. The Buick club years ago did however have a limited run of the GSX and was selling thru their club store for something like $10 to clubmembers, and $15 to non clubmembers. Maybe we can get a 'badassgremlin' small custom diecast made for this group modeled after Barts red car or something, someone simply go pick up all these damned little Fresh Cherries on shelves right now and take them out and if you have a steady hand before land of starbucks, you can hand paint them. Or take rivets out and custom paint them. There are a lot of ways around this. If you looked closely at some of my auctions, you will see one of none made miniatures I custom painted myself before I had some coffee so hands weren't shaking like Janet Reno on Paxil. Brat Stop: this has a custom miniature convertible Rebel Machine I made, modeled after my own real car: http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/amcdship23.jpg Barton Motors: Here is a NASCAR 73 Matador #16 I hand painted: http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/amcdealership18.jpg The late Steven Schall's convertible red AMX is on the front steps here: http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/amcdealership26.jpg Stakes' Conoco has a stealth black AMX with Centerlines: http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/stakes_conoco6.jpg and the Kenosha factory has several!! http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/kenosha10.jpg http://www.planethoustonamx.com/amcdealerships/kenosha12.jpg So to me at least it can be done, but probably with existing models and diecasts! PS: all of the above miniatures are currently on ebay int he shameless plug department. Eddie Stakes' Planet Houston AMX 713.464.8825 eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.planethoustonamx.com Email is currently HEAVY 5-12 day reply times, call if important ----- Original Message ----- From: <AMC74HORNET@xxxxxxxxx> To: <BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 5:05 AM Subject: Re: [BaadAssGremlins] custom die cast cars? > Being a model car builder since 1957 and a some time AMC diecast > collector I have never heard of anyone offering to make one of custom > diecast's. The amount of time and money involved would prevent this. You > may find what you want being made by a resin body maker but usually it > is just a body, bumpers and a grill with glass and an interior tub. You > would need another production kit to finish it. If what you want is > saleable you might talk one of the resin companies to make what you are > looking for as most resin makers are small cottage industries. But then > again if it is a one time thing I doubt a resin maker would be > interested because of the same reasons I stated on the diecast's time > and price. > "Doc" > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BaadAssGremlins/ > > <*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > > <*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BaadAssGremlins/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > > <*> To change settings via email: > mailto:BaadAssGremlins-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > mailto:BaadAssGremlins-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > BaadAssGremlins-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or go to http://www.amc-list.com