Best Showroom Ever?

[gordb]

A few weeks ago (somewhat stimulated by some discussions from dear old H), I was feeling a bit nostalgic and wanted to read up on the stories behind some models of other collectors. Which started me wondering just how I'd go about finding these "interesting" cars in the sea of showroom entries.

How could I find that one memorable trip down memory lane hiding behind an innocent picture of a "black hornet" without having to click through the 47 other "black hornets" whose description amounts to "eBay find"? (and I'm not judging anyone who does just put a quick description or even no description at all! I'm sure I have a few spare comments myself, and I know it takes time to type that stuff in - I'm just saying that sometimes I like to read the more detailed descriptions is all).

I mulled over this on the way to work one morning and promptly forgot about it, until a few minutes ago. I was trawling through old forum entries trying to find out more about some of the Hotshot knockoffs that are floating about (as I bought the possible "ProtoShot" off Burcin and am now really enjoying trying to do some research on the odd parts on it), when my search lead me inexorably it would seem to the holy grail of showrooms. Not only is it overflowing with weird models, but everything I click on (and I'll admit I've only clicked on 10 or so) is just chock full of interesting description waiting for me to read through!

This to me is what it's all about - it is truly a king among showrooms. Does it have 372 pages? No. Does it have lots of expensive NIB kits? Maybe - I'm sure some of the rarities on there are worth a pretty penny. But scale and cost are not what's on offer here: here is a collector sharing his passion for the hobby. Just brilliant.

But it left me wondering: what other super interesting showrooms (or even just models) are out there waiting to be discovered? Is there some easy way to find them (as the "Has Description" is all but useless from my perspective)? What are you favourite showrooms?

Oh - and for the record, here it is, in all its majesty:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom.asp?id=37&offset=0

Stoke up the fire, grab some popcorn, and settle in =)

Wldnas, I salute you good sir. Thanks for taking the time to write those up - I know where I'm headed in TC for the next little while!

[tamiyoman]

Dont forget the likes of TC's Monty, Timecmdr and especially Hong Kong (possibly the best on TC?)

Just my tuppence worth.

[bakaguyjean]

Personally i dont care for new in boxes at all.

My vote is for Grahoo`s showroon as everything is enteresting

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom.asp?id=418

[bjr250]

I love all of those mentioned. Grahoo's is my favourite as well but some others worth mentioning are bcollection for the size and scope and Rayman001 especially for the non-hobby grade cars listed.

[Origineelreclamebord]

Grahoo's is one of my favorites, Toykid's, Scollin's, and let's not forget Victorious Secret's showroom!

And someone who didn't have a showroom I think... I forgot his user name unfortunately. He made beautiful pieces of driving art and posted them here on the forums, but he passed away a few months ago...

PS: I forgot to mention Soonsie's, Deemiller's, Dr.Roberts', Sayroll's, Rad22Rad's and Wyoming's showroom

[TIMECMDR]

Others that comes straight into my mind after all those mentioned are Federx for brilliant models and photography, then theres Larbut and not forgetting our main man Paul, Loaded. These are just off the top of my head but I'm sure theres definitely a few others ;-)

T

[Kokuzu]

I agree and admire all showrooms mentioned so far, but for me - my own showroom will always be no. 1.

Still an interesting post:-)

[gordb]

There are certainly some amazing showrooms in the lists above - and what's kind of cool is that both the collections and the showrooms themselves are all very unique.

What I really need now is a way to add whole Showrooms to my favourites =)

On a slightly tangential note - I popped open my favourites the other day to find a foreign car staring back at me. I certainly didn't remember ever adding that car to my favourites, so I opened it up and read through, only to realise it was Moosey's Hilux++ turned into a Blazer. Now as nice as the Blazer is, I have to admit there as a bit of me that wished I'd archived the old entry away somewhere because (at least for me) it was pure awesomeness. Which got me wishing we had some archiving/versioning system on the showrooms so I could find "old" stuff. I'm sure there are lots of ownership and TC revenue issues around doing this - but it would sure be a shame if any of the showrooms above disappeared.

[Toykid]

Wow, thanks Guys, honored to even be mentioned. All great names for sure.

For me it is true, that my favorite showrooms are not just the size or cost, but the story and the choices that make a great showroom. That said Hong Kong's is just completely over the top A 1:1 GTO - honestly, how is one supposed to top that

James.

[Kokuzu]

.... That said Hong Kong's is just completely over the top A 1:1 GTO - honestly, how is one supposed to top that

James.

I agree and I am jealous.... but:

@Hongkong, allow me this provoking statement to represent us normal earthlings here:

For me it is not the volume of models or historical but virgin NIB Kits, nor the overall net-value which count.

It is the creativity of the special builds which make a showroom being 'over the top'....

Guess it's quite a challenge to use a subjective criteria (our taste) to create a (supposedly objective) ranking....

[Rayman011]

I am honoured to be mentioned, Thanks. Best showroom to me means a diversity of RC , whether rare, different makers, modified custom and even how they are displayed. Alot of showrooms on TC certainly qualify in 1 or all of these areas.