Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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I have several high quality 1/24th scale Packard models from Danbury Mint. Unfortunately, they are no longer offering their 1/24th diecast model line. Franklin Mint used to make a nice line of diecast models too. Sometimes they come up on eBay.
Diecasm, LLC - Automodello offers very nice selection of 1/43rd diecast Packard models. I have a few of them and the detail is outstanding. You can visit their website or telephone: www.diecasm.com 847-274-9645 (o[]o)
Posted on: 2016/8/22 11:44
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Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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After seeing the amazing detail on a Danbury Mint 1956 Caribbean hardtop with the same MES colors as mine, I went to eBay and bought another in slightly better condition. Neither cost a hundred, after shipping.
Later, when my Executive hardtop needed a complete dual exhaust system fabricated by a local exhaust specialist, that die cast model proved invaluable as a 3D example of what the end result should be. He said he had never seen a model with such detail on the way things got threaded through the frame, around the TL suspension, etc. Who knew that buying "a toy" could prove so useful when no printed references could be found? I have a dozen other Danbury Mint models for other cars, but none show the exquisite detail of the Carib hardtop. There's even a metal wire to show the parking brake cable and flexible rubber Bendix power steering lines! The seat cushions flip like he real thing.
Posted on: 2016/8/22 18:35
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Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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Thanks very much for the info,I'll certainly check out these sources.It never occurred to me to check e-bay even though it should have been obvious from the start.
Posted on: 2016/8/22 22:05
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Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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Both Danbury Mint and Franklin Mint had some very excellent 1/24th scale Packard models. You can find most of them on eBay if you are patient. Of course, as a vintage guitar collector, you can take solace and pride in a kind of tangental Packard connection. Ray Dietrich (yes, THAT Ray Dietrich who did Packards) designed a line of electric guitars and basses for Gibson. These first appeared in the early 1960s. The guitars were known as "Firebird" and basses were "Thunderbird"-all featuring what collectors refer to as reverse body. I still have one of each that I got new and kept all these years. My Thunderbird is a prototype so early that it has no serial number. So if you have any of these Gibsons, there was a Packard connection-however slight. And-as an added benefit (or curse) the Gibsons have certainly appreciated in value.
Posted on: 2016/8/23 21:20
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Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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You are incredibly lucky to have not only an early Firebird,but something as rare as a Thunderbird prototype.I bet the guys at Vintage Guitar Magazine would jump at the chance to do a feature on such a scarce and iconic pair of beauties.Prototypes of just about any guitar are quite rare and always are worth quite a premium over the regular production run guitars-especially such relatively rare birds as the Thunderbird.
I had totally forgotten that Ray Dietrich had designed the Firebirds and Thunderbirds,in fact my dream guitar is the '63 Firebird VII like Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music has played for over 40 years.I have a Custom Shop Epiphone Firebird V that I have replaced the standard Probuckers with Craig Vineham Mini-Humbuckers wound to the exact specifications as the earliest Gibson Firebirds.Although I don't have a Phil Manzanera Firebird clone,at least I have a near clone of a guitar belonging to another guitar hero of mine, Johnny Winter....now if only I could play the guitar with the incendiary passion he released when he played. Keep on pickin' and grinnin'. BTW: I have the same color combination in a 1/32 model of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible like you have pictured,from Signature Models.The detail is pretty good and it even has steerable wheels.
Posted on: 2016/8/23 22:01
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Re: Good sources for Packard Die-Cast Models
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Hello... don't wanna stray too far off of the Packard subject. Just mentioned the Dietrich connection to Gibson. But yes, my Firebird is a very early version with original case. And my Thunderbird is an early prototype with no serial number, finished in black with white trim. Has original case too. And yes, both have indeed been pictured in Vintage Guitar magazine years ago. All my guitars are just the way I got them in the 1950s and 1960s. The Firebird has my initials in 14K gold on it since new. It was used by me in performances with major stars and in the recording studio. My Thunderbird supposedly was made for the Chambers Brothers and used on the recording of "Time"... but for whatever reason it went back to Gibson and was sold to me through the original Guitar Center in Hollywood (back when it was only one small store). As for my Caribbean, I took this photo in the 1970s when I drove it to the funeral of a major figure in the Earle C. Anthony company. Photo was taken very near Forest Lawn Cemetery. The factory colors here were Dover White, Scottish Heather and Maltese Gray. Somebody got hold of it later and did a horrible black paint job and then worse, yanked off my beautiful white top with the pink inner lining only to be replaced with a non-original black cloth top. The piece de resistance was a horrific squash yellowish orange interior. Gad! As for the 1955 and 1956 Caribbean scale models, I have the 1/24th scale Danbury 1956 convertible in Corsican Black and Naples Orange and the hardtop in Dover White, Danube Blue and Roman Copper. I also have the 1/24th 1955 Franklin Mint convertible in White, Rose Quartz and Gray Pearl (looks like black). Both were exceptionally well done, but with minor errors. I keep my scale model Packards in special clear plastic display cases made by Franklin Mint. Have fun with your guitars and Packards in any scale.
Posted on: 2016/8/24 9:20
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