Hi, guys!

I was explaining a while ago to Bryan from Aeroscale that there is a full sub-culture of customizing and detailing die cast models in Eastern Europe. Many Eastern European car brands - many dead and forgotten by now - will never find their way to the mainstream injected plastic kit manufacturers. The void is filled up by small companies we never heard of, mostly from Ukraine and Italy. Of course the detail and even the shape are questionable and the Easterners are passing to great pains to custom paint them and to address the detail issues.
However, on the collectors market, die-cast models are better appreciated than the plastic ones for their durability and because they can be virtually re-painted an infinite number of times... The biggest American producer of die-casts in 1/32nd and 1/18th scales is Testors - yes, the same Testors

In the following video I have addressed two requests: custom painting a die cast model and performing an in-depth review of Tru-Color paint range. Have a look!



Gabriel

Gabriel,
In the world of race cars, 1/18 scale die-cast models have taken over Nascar and Indy Car official license models that sell like crazy at the tracks, and through dealers. Unlike the Eastern European models, these are dead on accurate. Not to hard as both series are now kit bodies with various homologated engines.

Stripping is the same as we use for plastics in most cases, but stronger strippers can be used. Once stripped, detailed as one desirers, just prime and paint by whatever method one prefers. Even decals are readily available from many of the same resources we use now.


Joel