Auto World has a ton of bodystyles now and theyre obvioulsy popular. And when they opened up the website they had us sign up and become members so why not put it to good use?

Id like to see them promote a contest where you'd pay an entry fee of something like $20 and you'd get a boxed, completely knocked down unpainted kit of any X-traction car you wanted. The fee could include return postage and you'd build that kit using only the parts included (maybe have some optional parts to customize such as extra blower motors, a couple sets of different wheels, side pipes, stuff like that from existing cars) and you'd build it, paint it, and send it back in along with an entry form and a release form. The rules could allow some minor modding of the body, or addition of accessories. Or it could simply state you build your car using only parts in the box and can only paint, decal, or sticker the body depending on if AW though you could add something so cool and significant to a car that it could warrant the molding of a new part or parts. You could enter as many cars as you wanted to but you'd have to buy the kit each time.

Then, AW would post all of these on their site categorized by what they are (muscle cars, hot rods, classics, contemporary cars, off roaders/trucks, sports cars, etc) and once you registered youd get to vote on your favorite entry in each category. Theyd have to narrow it down to 6 categories, since the winner of each category becomes the basis for a car in a full release of XT cars. AW usually does a release of 6 with 2 paint jobs, so once the 6 winners were picked (all six have to be unique bodies) then all the other entries using on those same bodies are voted on as the alternate colors. 6 bodies, 12 paint jobs, just like normal.

They number the first 100 or so of each of these, and #'s 2-100 are just tossed in randomly in cases but all 12 winners gets #001 of the car they designed in a special packaging with their signature or something. The 6 first string winners each gets a full 12-car case with one each, the 6 runners up gets a 6 car case of that release. The entry fees and box include shipping to return all entries to their creators, along with an AW patch or something for participating. That release form in the entry kit is an iron clad legal document giving AW full ownership of the design and the right to use your name on their website and on your design's release should you win.


What do you guys think? Id do this in a heartbeat! I think it would be awesome to see an XT based on my design as a regular release and showing up on slotcar sites.

It'll be a Jeep?? :tongue: :wave:

I like the idea alot!! Really alot!!!! I will need to restrain myself from lighting it, but I'm game!! I have absolutely no idea which car I would choose, but I'd do it!!! How about it Tom??? Sounds like a fun lil contest!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

JL did some diecasts of collector's cars and maybe they still do, but I don't think it was contest or voting based. Coming up with new offerings in this area really comes down to: 1) coming up with designs that have mass appeal, 2) creating designs that can be produced using the available manufacturing resources, 3) having all of the required licensing in place, 4) being cost competitive, and 5) hitting the market at the right time with the right product, i.e., timing.

Limiting the designs to existing AW inventory would reduce or eliminate some of the impediments, although licensing is always a big deal in this market. If a paint scheme or design of a real car is copied them someone is going to expect to get a cut of the action. Even some of the existing licenses could have expiration dates or max quantities on them. Any changes that require modifications to existing molds or new molds raise the stakes and costs considerably. The biggest hurdle I believe is coming up with designs that have mass appeal. Even if hundreds of people vote on the proposed designs there is no guarantee that the buying public as a whole will agree with the selection. People's tastes vary widely and most people have no real data to back their assumptions about what will be popular. A manufacturer who is cranking out diecasts like jelly beans probably has a clue about what types of designs would also be most appealing as slot cars. Timing could also be an issue. The glow of winning the design contest might fade if the winning cars didn't hit the stores for 2-5 years and the online community was constantly lambasting the manufacturer about the "delays." Look at the time between the web cam previews of the AW cars and when they actually show up for sale. Getting everything queued up and run through the design and production process takes some time.

All in all, could it be done? Sure. Would it change the game? Probably not. Would it build goodwill? Maybe. Nonetheless, still a worthy concept to float for consideration in this forum of diverse opinions.

AFX2--Hadnt thought of the idea of someone using an existing paint scheme. But that DOES raise a good point. And youre right about the timing and appeal parts. But again, if instead of a regular release they did a limited and numbered run of 500 or so then there's your appeal regardless. Personally I think the appeal of the iWheels cars is strictly based on that. But it would get people more involved in AW's product since there would be a reason to register for the website and then get sucked into new product instead of grabbing one or 2 from the local hobby shop or the Bay and then leaving it at that.

And SCM, you nailed it! Id have to do a CJ-5, and prolly a Javelin T/A as well.