[Gjb52]

My question comes to mind having seen the excellent thread about liveries by Ecurie.
Some of the very best in my opinion are those of JPS, Marlboro, West, Lucky Strike and other cigarette manufacturers.
Let me make it clear I think if the real car had cigarette sponsership then the model of it should be the same and not something similar like Adayoff for Davidoff and Buzzin Hornets for B and H or even left "blank" like the latest Scaley F1 (although some real cars have had "similar" names on them in countries where *** advertising is banned.)
I also am of the opinion that cigarette ads on racing cars do not encourage non smokers to start but for existing smokers to change brands, but that's another subject.

Anyway, back to my question.
I understand that we do not see these liveries on slotcars as they are perceived as children's toys and that there is an EC directive banning them ? if so, how can VMG get away with JPS and Lucky Strike liveries on their new Lotus?

Can anyone clarify or put me right on this one ?

Gjb52

 

[Intergrali]

vmg aimed at adults! simple answer, there is probably more to it

 

[Scott B]

II suspect it is a voluntary agreement type of code of practice thing rather than legislation.

I am always a bit disappointed even Minichamps do not have real liveries on old cars JPS Lotus 72 looks particularly bare) although on one I have, Rothmans 956, the offending words came in the box as separate decals. Neat solution I thought, but have not seen it since.

Scott

 

[Rich T UK]

It's not just VMG- fly also carry *** branding. The "not for under-14s" probably gets them out. however, if there is a complete ban on tobacco advertising, I don;t see how the intended age range of a product is going to earn them an exemption from it.

They may be exempt because they are historical representations that just happen to have tobacco ads on them- this sort of exemption mught be in place to stop artists who paint ayrton senna's mclaren getting busted, for example.
It's probably simpler, and more worrying, than that.

They only do it because no-one's taken them to court about it yet. slot cars are pretty low-profile, so no-one is who's likely to object has taken the matter up.
Yet.

 

[Scott B]

Slot cars might be low profile, but tobacco isn't and you can rest assured the tobacco companies will have everything looked and covered. After all, it might be a slot car maker who is at fault, but it would be the cigarettistas that would get the flack.

Then again, it could just be an Iberian disregard for the law.

Scott

 

[JEXY1]

This may be the answer to our Toy or not Toy debate?

I would imagine that EU regulations apply to toy sold to children under a certain age and if a manufacturer says it's not a toy then they may not have to stick to the cig or alcohol rules.

The smaller Spanish brands do seem to have less regards to the rules either way, i seem to remember Jaguar not be at all happy about Ninco selling the Jaguar F1 Kart.

From memory they contacted several UK dealer telling them to stop selling them!!!

How did they get away with that?

Doesn't bother me eitherway, i smoke and drink (Dunhill Lights logo on any car?)

Gareth

 

[Difflock]

This reminds me of an article I saw regarding plastic model kits of world war II german aircraft. Whether it was a specific manufacturer or a specific country of sale I cannot recall, but some of the decal sheets did not have the swastika emblem on them.
To my mind a model kit is supposed to accurately represent the 1:1 scale item at a point in time of that item's life - say a Messerschmidt Bf109 based in France in 1941? It's a historical thing. That time has been and gone. If a certain Lotus F1 car in the early 70s had John Player Special livery plastered all over it, then so should the model.

Now please don't take this the wrong way - some horrific events happened during the times when aeroplanes had swastikas painted on them. However, museums and the like are full of accurate historical representations, either replicas or the real thing.

Mark.

 

[JEXY1]

You will find that any material sold in Germany is not allowed to have the swastika on it or ref to Nazi flags etc.

For example if you sell something on Ebay it's in their rules.

They, understanably, take it very seriously and heavy fines and or jail time are involved!

Be warned!

Can only think it would apply to us if the Auto Unions or Merc streamliners were made with the correct logos. (Carrera did put the logos on their 1:24 cars)

see:

http://www.uk250.co.uk/uk/search/for/nazi+memorabilia

For recent rulings on a French court decision to try to ban French nationals looking at International auction site selling Nazi Memorabilia.

Gareth
NSCC

 

[JEXY1]

Sorry type on previous post:

Carrera DID NOT put the logos on their 1:24 cars

Sorry!

Gareth