{"id":211,"date":"2013-07-09T21:43:23","date_gmt":"2013-07-09T21:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chirurgean.net\/?p=211"},"modified":"2018-02-09T17:37:23","modified_gmt":"2018-02-09T17:37:23","slug":"201379the-latest-arrival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chirurgean.net\/?p=211","title":{"rendered":"The latest arrival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just arrived, the last of the Dinky racing car series. This is the Alfa\u2014Romeo 23F. As usual, a decision has to be made when restoring a collection or starting from scratch as to whether to leave as is \u2014 job done, it is meant to look like this \u2014 or to restore the model.<\/p>\n

Really it is a personal decision. To talk of reducing the value of the model really means reducing the money one can get for it on eBay. Original models in pristine condition in their original boxes, command silly money. To achieve this, the original purchaser ( or collector<\/em>) will have to put the boxed article in a dark room or secondary box, away from the light and bring it out 50 years later. Not really a very good investment and of course, no pleasure in playing with the cars.<\/p>\n

My models came in a variety of dilapidated states. Some had been repainted \u2014 really, just overpainted and poorly at that. The paint work was chipped and faded.<\/p>\n

This latest model had its original paintwork. The tyres had perished (we do replace the tyres on real cars from time to time without loss of value \u2014 indeed to some gain in market price). A good paint job also gains value.<\/p>\n

And so: <\/p>\n