Promocom Toy group Ferrari 126C2 scale 1:8

[tony126c2]

A year ago I transferred $4500 for the purchase of the 1:8 model of the FERRARI 126C2 to the bank account of Berardo Oliviero Manzoni (also known as Berry Manzoni) from Brescia Italy. He is the owner of Promocom Toys Group of Italy.

This model is a “model builders heaven” and a top-notch kit: more than 2100 individual pieces. The chassis is machined from aluminium billet. The under tray and body are genuine carbon fibre. Wings, wheels, shock absorbers, and exhaust are machined metal. Many smaller metal parts are in brass, nickel silver and copper. There are hundreds of precision photo-etched metal parts in brass, nickel silver, stainless steel, aluminium and the brake air scoops are moulded in fibreglass.





A couple weeks after transferring the money Berry Manzoni wrote: “give me a couple of days to assemble the kit”. However days became weeks and weeks became months but at last in January 2009 the kit arrived.
After checking the kit it appears that from the 50+ building stages over 30% of the bags were incomplete or complete bags were missing. A lot of these parts are big, vital pieces: gearbox, suspension, wing strut etc.
The response of Berry Manzoni was: “give me a couple of days to check this”. I was not surprised that days became weeks and weeks became months.

In the last year I wrote Berry Manzoni zillions of emails with almost no response. When he responded it were all empty promises (from “in …weeks you get them” to “ I have already send you the parts” etc.) I did not get one firm date about delivery of the missing parts …the only thing he was firm about was the price and the data of his bank account.

I really don´t expect to see one single part so with the help of other customers who send me pictures, drawings (and even parts) I started scratching the missing parts.

I started with gearbox the most completed part to reproduce. Red are the missing parts of the gear house



The shapes of the parts are rather complicated so I started with a drawing based on pictures.



Also I made my first scratched part: the cover of the gear house. The white plastic is a bit faded



As a kind of preparation before the real build I will successively replace the missing parts with my "own work"

regards

Ton

[Tim25]

Wow. For that kind of money I would be talking with a lawyer! That said, the build looks fascinating, can't wait to see more.

TIM

[CrateCruncher]

Man, I hate hearing about stuff like this but you are wise to just move on. Don't let that jerk kill your love of the hobby. The same thing (albeit on a much smaller scale) happened to me a few years ago. I really really wanted an 1/8th Vincent Black Shadow Motorcycle kit from RAE so I rang 'em up in the UK and asked where I could get one. "Oh, we'll put one together for you and ship it right out to you." Great! I thought. I always inventory my kits the minute they arrive and this one had 3 frames, no rear cylinder and was missing numerous pieces. It's like they just threw whatever they could find in a box until it weighed enough! Geez!

I remember this kit from a build someone did years ago. It really looked like fun. I'll enjoy watching your progress Ton.

[tuned.by.twenty]

It takes a lot to be able to keep a positive attitude in a case like this, but I think seeing the completed model will make it all worth-while.

[star21]

Ouch! Sorry to hear that. A definite learning lesson for us all. This is why I'm glad money orders and wire transfers are getting second fiddle now to payment services like paypal.

I concur with a previous post; I'd definitely be consulting with a lawyer, though I'm not sure how things would really pan out.

Good luck with your build. I'll definitely be posted as this looks like one cool build. Too bad the engine didn't actually run though. That'd be awesome!

[tony126c2]

Thanks guys for your kind words. Of course I considered legal action .....but by that time you got all the parts you can buy a real one from the lawyers fee I contacted the police, embassy etc but they can´t help you. So you got to help yourself

[512BB]

The engine looks magnificent but the price is also......
It's shame that there are so many missing parts for a beauty like this, but glad to see that you are capable of scratch building them. Keep up your good work, I'll stay tuned!

[Noddy]

I wouldn't bother with the lawyer angle - too costly and no prize at the end. I'd opt for a personal visit with a cricket bat in my luggage. Much more satisfaction.

[tony126c2]

Originally Posted by Noddy

I wouldn't bother with the lawyer angle - too costly and no prize at the end. I'd opt for a personal visit with a cricket bat in my luggage. Much more satisfaction.

I often used a verbal cricket bat

Ton

[lovegt40]

I wellknow that model.
Saw it some years ago when it was presented here in Milano and it look very very welldone (mostly for the machining).

I just didnt agree about the carbon fiber used for the body, cause the real 126c2 dint had it at all, and just used some minor parts done in carbon fiber (this was told me by Mauro Forghieri in person, so think I can believe him)

They told me, the idea to use carbon fiber was for international delivering by plane, cause other materials will be damaged during the expedition .

I wanted the model (actually I wanted to have 2 of theme) but suspect all the idea collapsed under too many production problems.
The also asked me for an account I never gave (thanks god)

Also I think if I ever would have missing parts...I surely will give a call to my lawer to have my money back.
Good luck for the building, consider at today no real 126 c2 exist.
There is only one replica in Paris in FIA offices.
The surviving ones were all modified into the following c3.
There is also very few cool documentation about her,btw if u need some infos, try ask.

I love this car, cause was Gilles last one...too important for me.


Consider all the project is now owned by this company:
http://www.scaleautoworks.com/Ferrari126C2.html

maybe they can help u, even if the responsability for all the mess missing parts is only from "Berry", that also took the money in a couple of days..
Hope this help.

[CrateCruncher]

There's little one can do once this has happened except badger the producer to make your parts. Unfortunately the reason the castings are missing is likely because the molds or masters were misplaced or damaged.

From my experience the only way we can protect ourselves from these crooks is to expose them when it happens and AVOID buying the last of a run of expensive model kits. Being a Bugatti fan I was intrigued by an eBay seller in France (Art Collection Auto) who was offering 1/8th T35's in kit form called "Challenger Series" for $3500. The guy did a run of built-ups and when that petered out he began selling the kits. The workmanship looked beautiful but I ultimately passed because I felt they were too expensive and too pre-fab for the kind of building I like to do. Recently I ran across this:http://cgi.ebay.com/Bugatti-T-35-1-8th-scale-Art-collection-Auto_W0QQitemZ280436923290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_To ys_Hobbies_Model_Kits?hash=item414b57db9a
It's a listing of one of these "Challenger Series" kits that is missing parts. He probably got shorted just like Ton and I and couldn't look at it anymore. It sold cheap but no telling what vital parts are missing.

[tony126c2]

@Paolo

Thank you very much for all this information especially about the carbon fibre. It would have been more realistic if they had moulded it from aluminium like the monocoque.

btw if u need some infos, try ask.

If you have some more information/pictures etc. please sent me a PM because I only have one booklet from the Meri collection.

Consider all the project is now owned by this company:
http://www.scaleautoworks.com/Ferrari126C2.html maybe they can help u,

To my knowledge Brady Ward has nothing to do with Promocom Toy group. I have had contact with him but he was also one of the people who waited a long time for missing parts. BTW he got these parts but I didn´t !

@Mike

AVOID buying the last of a run of expensive model kits.

I fully agree with you ...until now I have heard nothing more than troubles...but it is such a temptation

It's a listing of one of these "Challenger Series" kits that is missing parts. He probably got shorted just like Ton and I and couldn't look at it anymore. It sold cheap but no telling what vital parts are missing.

I spotted this model also years back ( I had not even restarted with modelling) and I was flabbergasted. Now I can tell you that the ebay Bugatti you were referring to is mine now the parts that are missing are rather easy to reproduce. I know a guy nearby my hometown who owns the kit also so that will no problem.

regards

Ton

[rallymaster]

Originally Posted by CrateCruncher

There's little one can do once this has happened except badger the producer to make your parts. Unfortunately the reason the castings are missing is likely because the molds or masters were misplaced or damaged.

From my experience the only way we can protect ourselves from these crooks is to expose them when it happens and AVOID buying the last of a run of expensive model kits. Being a Bugatti fan I was intrigued by an eBay seller in France (Art Collection Auto) who was offering 1/8th T35's in kit form called "Challenger Series" for $3500. The guy did a run of built-ups and when that petered out he began selling the kits. The workmanship looked beautiful but I ultimately passed because I felt they were too expensive and too pre-fab for the kind of building I like to do. Recently I ran across this:http://cgi.ebay.com/Bugatti-T-35-1-8th-scale-Art-collection-Auto_W0QQitemZ280436923290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_To ys_Hobbies_Model_Kits?hash=item414b57db9a
It's a listing of one of these "Challenger Series" kits that is missing parts. He probably got shorted just like Ton and I and couldn't look at it anymore. It sold cheap but no telling what vital parts are missing.

Sorry for being out of topic with what follows but...
I live 25 kms away from the Bugatti manufacter (located in Molsheim, eastern France), I know several collectors or people involved close or far into what can be called a Bugatti collection (including 1/1 scale cars ), and if I can be usefull feel free to ask if my help/translation/contact for you etc can help you, especially in trying to know who is/can be an Ebay french seller or/and a model brand.
I'm also member of an adult Lego bricks collector association, for our second show/meeting opened to public, we built a... T35 1/1 scale !!
PM me if you want some links to it.

[rallymaster]

Waow, 4500 dollars !!!
I would NEVER spend in a scale model almost enough money to get... a REAL CAR !!!!
But I also must admit this scale model looks like more to a real one than to a scale model one...

[tony126c2]

Hallo Philippe,

Thanks for your offer on the Bugatti info. I will keep it in mind

I would NEVER spend in a scale model almost enough money to get... a REAL CAR

If someone had predicted an odd 25 years ago that I would spent that kind of money of A MODEL.... I would have taken the person gently to a nearby institution where an adequate psychological treatment could start

Say NEVER NEVER