Minchamps Vs model kits

[janus5]

As you all build such awesome models from kits, I was thinking how you guys rate Minichamps 1/12 bikes.
I know that the die cast replicas from Minichamps have not got anywhere near the detail as say a Tamiya equivalant, but I was wondering if their collectability might compensate for this? Is there an element of snobbery for instance, or even rivalry?
As I don't have a great deal of time these days to build bikes, I started to collect them. Any that are supposed to have tabacco advertising, Marlbro, Gauloises, Fortuna etc, I then convert to the full livery.
I can post pics of the converted bikes if anyone is interested.
I am sorry if this post is in the wrong place, but I'm not to sure were else to put it.

[joelwideqvist]

Diecast are great looking bikes and highly collectable but when I see them next to a plastic build the latter has so much more detail. And plastic models has your own sweat invested in them, besides your money... So I must say I think they are two different things.

BUT, I don't look down on diecast bikes.

I think there are a sub forum for them but as stated before, if you convert or rebuild them I don't see why you shouldn't be able to show them here. So go ahead!
/Joel

[janus5]

Here are a couple of pics of a converted bike. To convert most Minichamps bikes you will need to first remove the non tobacco decals, but on some you will need to respray part of it, as I had to with this one.
So I thought that I would post this first, and if anyone is interested, I will post others later.
I have posted a pic of the original model to give you a idea of what it looked like originally.