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OP=OUT OF PRINT, NO LONGER PRODUCED
H=HANDMADE, NOT A MODIFIED MODEL, BUT MADE ENTIRELY FROM ORIGINAL CASTS, PARTS, ALL DONE BY PROFESSIONAL CRAFTERS.
RES=RESIN MODEL, SOFTER THAN PLASTIC, RESIN IS THE CHOICE OF PROFESSIONAL MODEL MAKERS. IT'S LIGHT, BUT STURDY, ALTHOUGH NOT AS FORGIVING TO DROPS AS PLASTIC.
PLAS=PLASTIC MODEL, USUALLY LOWER- END MODELS ARE PLASTIC, THEY ARE LIGHT, AND STAND UP WELL TO DROPS.
C=COLOR CHOICES WERE OR ARE AVAILABLE
MET=METAL MODEL, COULD BE THE HEAVY METAL OF FACTORY MODELS OR LIGHT ZINC ALLOY OF HANDMADE MODELS. BOTH ARE STRONG, STAND UP WELL TO TIME, AND SHORT DISTANCE DROPS. MOST FACTORY MODELS ARE MUCH HEAVIER THAN MOST METAL HANDMADES.
LMD=MODEL PRODUCTION IS LIMITED TO A SMALL NUMBER OF PIECES.
F=FACTORY MODEL (MASS PRODUCED), THE MOST COMMON TYPE WE SEE. THEY ARE RUGGED, HEAVY, AND USUALLY HAVE OPENING DOORS, HOODS, TRUNKS, WORKING SUSPENSIONS, ETC.
MOD=USUALLY A FACTORY MODEL THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY A PROFESSIONAL MODEL MAKER. THESE ARE USUALLY RARE AND INTERESTING SMALL-RUN MODELS.
RARITY(1-10)=THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL GAUGE
AS TO HOW RARE AN ITEM IS, OR HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO LOCATE
IT.
1=THE LEAST RARE, SUCH AS SOME FACTORY (MASS PRODUCED) MODELS,
AND 10=THE HARDEST TO FIND, AND USUALLY VERY EXPENSIVE.
SERIALIZED MODELS - CAR MODELS MADE PRIOR
TO ABOUT 1991 WERE SERIALIZED. THIS MEANS THAT EACH TYPE
OF CAR MODEL HAD ITS OWN NUMBER ETCHED INTO THE BASE . FOR
EXAMPLE, ALL VAZ 2101 MODELS WERE #A9 , VAZ 2101 POLICE WERE
#A17. GAZ 2401 WERE #A14, AND SO ON. THE MANUFACTURERS STOPPED
SERIALIZING MODELS WHEN COMMUNISM FELL IN 1990 AND WHEN CUTTING
COSTS BECAME AN ISSUE. NOW THOSE SERIALIZED MODELS ARE RARE, AND
SOUGHT AFTER BY SERIOUS COLLECTORS. THEY ARE DISTINGUISHED NOT
ONLY BY THAT NUMBER, BUT ALSO BY SOLID SOVIET QUALITY, AND IN
SOME CASES BY PARTS THAT WERE METAL, BUT ARE NOW PLASTIC (EXAMPLE
IS GAZ 2401/02 UNDERCARRIAGE). I BELIEVE THE ONLY MODEL THAT
CONTINUES THE NUMBERING TRADITION IS THE UAZ 469 JEEP, AND SOME
UAZ 452 VANS. ONE OF THE RAREST SERIALIZED MODEL IS THE VOLGA GAZ
3102. THE VERY FEW EXAMPLES THAT DO EXIST MAY COST 7-10 TIMES
WHAT THE REGULAR 3102 MAY COST.