Modcar: Toy Identifier & Value

TL/DR: -An aesthetically pleasing app. -Professional looking. -Was able to identify my off-brand China-sourced dealer model along with background info. -Can only add two pics for AI to identify the model and it incorrectly identified a car because of the limitation. -Can’t edit/add info, even if it’ll correct AI’s error. -Aren’t able to add if you have the original box. -Values are skewed, especially if sourcing from online auction sales. -Catalog search feature is confusing or the purpose is misinterpreted. Detailed Review: I used the 7 Day free preview and I tested for 1:18th scale Diecast or Resin models. The Good: The ModCar App has a very nice feel to it, not a cheapie, fancied-up database, but what a proper app or website should feel like when you’re paying for it. Background info on the models is also good, but it also has background info about the real car as well, albeit excluding Hot Wheels’ drivable Sharks and Telephones I’m sure. I was very impressed when I took a picture of my 1/18 Cadillac CT6 as it did have the background info on the scale model as well as the short-lived real car. So, it’s an uncommon model in both 1:18th and 1:1 scale. It was made by some unbranded company that makes them specifically for Dealerships. It’s not normally found in retail stores and isn’t sold like Kyoshos, Maistos, etc., save for a few big online websites that have extensive inventories and your Chinese dealers on eBay. I was impressed with that as I have quite a few models that fall into that category. The Bad: I’ll lead with the Biggie. A big problem is the app only allows 2 pictures, the main item pic or “Beauty Shot” and ONE extra. For my first test Diecast, if I submit an underside pic as my extra pic that just shows ‘KK Scale’ as the manufacturer of the model, it’ll get the model manufacturer correct, but then it incorrectly identifies my Ferrari model as a ‘400 GT’ when it’s a ‘365 GT4 2+2’-close but incorrect. If I choose the extra pic of the car’s rear showing the ‘365 GT4’, it’ll get the Ferrari model identifier correct, but doesn’t identify the manufacturer because I don’t have a pic of the base. If I was able to have 3 pics I’m sure it would have it correct. So I have to choose one error or the other error. Not a good choice…….plus there’s no ability to edit the information so I could simply add the model’s manufacturer as ‘KK Scale’ which the AI Background already lists as a possible manufacturer of the model car! It’s frustrating, especially since correctly identifying the manufacturer would add to AI’s learning. The app’s Value also seems low, but if AI is digging into eBay sales, a lot of times the Chinese dealers will lowball the price but your shipping will be $50 and your Import fees will be another $40-$50! I’m not sure why the Import fees because the tariffs on Chinese goods have been delayed and is not in effect the last time I checked, so the values can be skewed. However, the App lists my black CT6 valued at just $85 when the white and grey ones are going for no less than $180 on up to $450 plus shipping and none of those are in the desirable black exterior, which is sold out and goes for higher amounts. I noticed when adding a model pic, there’s a “Gallery” option which I assume I can use to upload a pic as it pulls up my library of pics, but not the ones that I took through the app. So, if you delete a pic taken through the App, you’ll have to retake the pic again as it’s not saved, but maybe I need to change a setting? I think I saw an “Auto-save” option somewhere? Does that mean it auto-saves in my personal library even if I deleted the pic in the app? Nonetheless, retaking a pic isn’t a biggie and wouldn’t turn me away. Plus I was looking into something else and didn’t drill down into the Auto-Save, so maybe it’s a non-issue. I also think that you should be able to list whether the original box is available. I display mine in glass cabinets so they’ve been taken out of their boxes. However, I still have the boxes and packing material they came in. I’m guessing this affects the Condition and Value that its AI has arrived at. A boxed model would probably be New or Original and even though my model is Mint and kept under excellent conditions and in an unhandled display, I get “Loose-Good”. No option to say I have the original box. Maybe “Loose with original box-…”? And then there’s the “Catalog”. I assume it’s supposed to be a database of current model cars and values as it looks to be pre-populated with some Hot Wheels, but when I use the Search function, nothing comes up for KK Scale, Kyosho or Tomica. What’s even funnier is I plugged in “Hot Wheels” in the Catalog’s Search bar, and only ONE Hot Wheel is found and it’s the Ducati Scrambler motorcycle of all things, even though it had hundreds of Hot Wheels listed without the Search, so I’m not sure what that’s about? Maybe I don’t understand the purpose? So, I’m regretfully disappointed with this App. I had high hopes, but It’s very limited on the ability to correctly inventory my die-cast collection, especially when a simple Edit feature and the ability to add extra pics would help in the proper identification. It seems like such easy tweaks to go from basic inventory app to outstanding inventory app worth my $39.99 per year, but I’m not a developer or Programmer. I’ll check in down the road and hopefully it’s There.

Obviously you lack the knowledge of the value of the Corvettes I submitted as they are highly detailed limited production Collectibles. I’m anxious to see your reply and then I’ll be leaving your site.