Out on the 1/87 vehicle modeler’s site ( http://1-87vehicles.org/) they have an extensive photo gallery, where sometimes great models are made from non-HO specific sources (like Matchbox or Hotwheels or whatever).
Case in point is this Shinsei Mack MR postal tractor (http://1-87vehicles.org/photo215/mack_mr_usps.php [OK, they mispelled Shinsei] - they have also featured other models using this Shinsei MR cab in the past). Unfortunately they have not a forum, and googling around did not turn up a Shinsei specific web-site (lots of expired eBay auctions, however).
Anyone know of more info about Shinsei and this model in particular?
I’m going to go out on a limb and do some educated guessing. This Shinsei looks like one of those off beat budget toys they sell in grocery stores and convenient stores. I do know I’ve seen the name before, and I often look at toys for their HO potential.
Another brand in this catagory is Yatming. They made the best looking C600 (Ford Cabover) I ever saw until Athearn’s came out. Well, the cab was good, the rest needed help.
The frames and wheels on these toys are usually awful cheesy, but the metal cab castings can have great potential. Note that in the caption from the picture in the site you posted it mentiond it’s detailed with Herpa parts. These parts are available from Tyls, http://www.tylssmallscaletrucksales.ca/partspage.html
I have dealt with him personally and he is great to work with, real friendly, Prices are quite reasonable and has a good many parts for HO truck modellers. The Herpa wheels look great, although the tires can be a bit wide for some HO trucks. I have filed them thinner with good results, You leave the front tires as they are but file the dual rears down and put the filed surfaces facing each other.
I was enlightened about Tyls on this MR website myself by the way…
Like I said, I’m guessing a bit here, but I think I’m fairly on to it. Hope it helps, Dan
Well sparkingbolt, I’m going to agree with you that Shinsei probably does provide vehicles for those discount store ‘Blister Pack’ displays, although I was hoping there was a website to see what they offer, as opposed to hit or miss hunting at Target and Walmart. Oh well.
BTW, it’s almost a given for these type of models that you toss the frame and wheels and then set about detailing the cab (usually very nice after you strip off the thick paint).
Come to think of it, I seem to recall a decent Mack MR cab from some ‘Boutique’ resin caster, but I’m not sure if they went out of business or not. Unfortunately their price was much higher than the 2.99 this Shinsei diecast truck would probably cost…