Photo showing front of 38a?

[fixer]

tbh George i like Ghosty use it as a good information source along with Nicks listings
i only tend to post if i have something interesting or htf that may add to the thread , please don't feel as if you efforts are not appreciated they certainly are by me

[johnboy]

tbh George i like Ghosty use it as a good information source along with Nicks listings
i only tend to post if i have something interesting or htf that may add to the thread , please don't feel as if you efforts are not appreciated they certainly are by me

I second that. I use the pages for reference and the photos and variations are so good that it's often difficult for much to be added. Keep up the good work George and fintail.

[Tinman]

All of the highly detailed older models, especially those with front & rear detailing and all of the models with decals need to have all those views represented. I've never liked a single 3/4 view or a single side shot as reference photo. The more views of these models, the better. These views are just as important (if not more important) then text about the model's history.

Those additional photos are critical in this day and age where fakes and altered models are such a worry. Yet, in nearly every case, there is no place on the VBD that one can go and see more photos. In a few rare cases, you can get lucky and stumble across a discussion and see an additional photo or two of other than the common view.

I often have to search ebay to see other views of specific models. It's pretty sad that people selling a model document the casting far better than we collectors, who think we are creating a helpful data base. All we have created, so far, is the same view of the same models in multiple locations.

The original casting show on the mcch was started by a young Canadian collector. He showed all six views of each model (and sometimes more). His ability was limited to the models he had and often they were much less than mint. The point is, he was creating a real data base of photographs (of each model) that anyone could reference on a fun thread where anyone could show pics of their models.

The young man's posts received attention because his collection had so many missing models and that allowed people to join in and fill in the gaps. What we need here is to stimulate more participation in the casting show. To get others to join in and show their models and show all the other sides/surfaces as well.

I certainly mean no offense to George, but right now what we have is a Readers Digest condensed version of Nick's Variation Guide, as a thread. Nearly always, the identical single view is used on the thread and sometimes it's even the exact same photograph on the Variation Guide and in the thread. As has been mentioned, too few others join in to show their models or to add photographs of additional views.

The casting show is something that was started to allow members to show off their models. By doing so, it creates a default searchable data base of photos for the models. On the VBD, it seems to have become far too buttoned down and only a couple members will post contributions. The result is now we have the same thing in two places and the casting show is just a rerun of Nick's Variation Guide.

Again, this is not a complaint about George's efforts (after all, he alone has kept it going and without his contributions the thread would have certainly died off). But no one needs two copies of the same volume of an encyclopedia, much less an entire duplicate set. We need collectors out there to join in on the thread, take photos of your models and show all the views. Then we can create a real photo data base as well as an informative "casting show." People shouldn't have to search ebay to find better and different views of models.

[matchbox_n_molars]

I reference George's 1- 75 casting guide with great regularity. I only post photos when I've got a significant variation that is not represented within the images already posted. With George's wonderfully complete collection it isn't too often that I have something to share that he hasn't already covered.
Within Nick's variation's resource pages he has made an effort in include photos detailing the significant casting and color changes. I looked there and for TInman's particular 38a needs there were no "head on" photos of these models.
It almost seems as if Nick's variation guide would be the appropriate place for this standard bank of photographs that Tinman is looking for. And I would agree that it would be ideal to have that type of record. Is there a way that some of us could help Nick make those types of additions or does he made those types of modifications on his own?

[Tinman]

I looked there and for TInman's particular 38a needs there were no "head on" photos of these models.
It almost seems as if Nick's variation guide would be the appropriate place for this standard bank of photographs that Tinman is looking for. And I would agree that it would be ideal to have that type of record. Is there a way that some of us could help Nick make those types of additions or does he made those types of modifications on his own?

While I would love to see more angles and views in Nick's guide, it seems to me the perfect place for members to contribute those photos is in the Casting Show. I'd like to see it fill up with all the other views of the models. We're at least on the second go round with the same file photos each time.

[numi]

Well Joe I was the one who did the casting show on the MCCH and lots of members would post their models and variations on it.

But alas I guess that members don't want to or cannot be bothered to contribute to Casting Show I put on, on Nicks Site, with the exception of Fintail who always posts on each model. there were many good and reliable collectors on the MCCH, but for some reason they never came over to Nicks site even though it was well documented and listed on the MCCH site mores the pity as they showed many variations.

I wonder where these great collectors are now ?

George T.

Hi Mr Marshall please do not feel offended in any way as i am most appreciative of the fact that u sacrifice your precious time & efforts in undertaking this painstaking task of posting weekly for our benefit and from the bottom of my heart i do hereby thank you very much.It is highly appreciated and im sure all on here share the same sentiments.

I speak here for myself Mr Marshall. Your casting show meant just that as far as i was concerned and was never considered to be a forum for debate,comments,arguments or authentication.I felt that your prized forum would have turned out a "mess" had we all uploaded unwarranted pics,quotes,narratives,inquiries,arguments etc as was noted in a good few instances. Up until now it has remained "neat & tidy". I have always referred to your casting shows & Nicks site for info & pics and was quite satisfied.You certainly have almost all variations which we collectors have to reference so i felt that it was not necessary to duplicate any posts & pics.
However if we must or should then by all means i will certainly contribute and show off my odd/missing specimens and im sure others will do the same but shouldnt some pegs & boundaries be set so that your forum remains "tidy".Just my thoughts.
Could we have some suggestions from the forum members please.
numi

[numi]

Hi Tinman,heres a pic of another.Hope this helps in some way.
numi

[Tinman]

Thank you Numi, are those flaws in the casting or just dark spots of dirt?

[Tinman]

I speak here for myself Mr Marshall. Your casting show meant just that as far as i was concerned and was never considered to be a forum for debate,comments,arguments or authentication.I felt that your prized forum would have turned out a "mess" had we all uploaded unwarranted pics,quotes,narratives,inquiries,arguments etc as was noted in a good few instances.

I see the casting show in a completely different way. Most likely because (as I've already commented) it is a carry over of a popular weekly thread at the mcch. It was started as a fun way to show off and discuss one specific model each week. It was exactly for everyone to post photos, discuss and comment about that week's featured casting. And, it was a good thread which produced lots of photos of different views and variations. Because it only dealt with one model each week, a new thread started the following week.

ON the VBD, it's become all way too "buttoned down." The threads have their own forum (although still a new thread each week). Yet, almost no one participates (except those already mentioned) and the threads just keep recycling with the same photos and info repeated. If it was intended as another version of the Variation Guide, it could have been locked and turned into a sticky along time ago. But that's not how the threads began or were intended ... we already have a very extensive variation guide. The "show" was a place to show and tell, for everyone to show, tell and discuss. I really wish others would join in, give the thread life, discussion, photos (of your models) and ask question about the featured model's variations. Otherwise, what's the point of continuing on with a repeating duplicate and lesser guide?

[Idris]

With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps the Casting Show and my catalogue analysis should have been combined in some way.