The Magic of MINI GT and being a Die-Cast Director | Glen Chou | EP. 004

James here to give you guys our 4th podcast episode where we get to talk to the Director of MINI GT and TSM Models Mr. Glen Chou! You may be familiar with these die-cast and resin model car brands but we take a deep dive into the inner workings of the brand and how all the magic comes together!
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something l receive a small commission.
🗒️ EPISODE NOTES 🗒️
✅ Model Cars Houston MINI GT Merch:
🌐 www.modelcarshouston.com/coll...
✅ MINI GT Website:
🌐 minigt.com/
✅ TSM Models Webste:
🌐 www.tsm-models.com/
✅ Glen Chou Official Facebook Page:
🌐 / glentsm
✅ MINI GT Official Facebook Page:
🌐 / minigt64
✅ TSM Models Official Facebook Page:
🌐 / tsmmodel
✅ MINI GT Official Instagram Page:
🌐 / minigtofficial
✅ TSM Models Official Instagram Page:
🌐 / tsmmodel
✅ Video Podcasting Provided by StreamYard:
🌐 streamyard.com/pal/6529582620...
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🚗If you're a collector that loves JDM vehicles, high quality products and amazing attention to details, this channel is for you! I love sharing this collector grade hobby with everyone and showcasing some of coolest and newest makes and models that are continually being produced. Buckle up because you are in for a RIDE!
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❓QUESTION - Have a question about the podcast or anything you saw in the video? Post it in comments section of this video!
✔️Subscribe to Model Cars Houston Podcast Here: / @themodelcarshoustonpo...
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✅ Adobe Premiere Pro - Video Editing
✅ Affinity 2 Photo - Thumbnail
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#diecast #minigt #diecastcars
About this video:
Welcome to the Model Cars Houston Podcast! In each episode, James Kim shares the importance of the hobby, collecting and why we do what we do. Each episode will give you more insight, upcoming changes and challenges with the hobby and more. If this is something that sounds enticing then the video and channel is for you!

[@turbomovies1677]

Mini GT!!!❤❤, great video!!👍👍Like!!

[@autofigment]

Great interview! It was very reassuring to hear Glen's perspective on the hobby and Mini GT's philosophy. I'm glad they're making unique stuff like the Camel Trophy Papua New Guinea Set. I'm also very impressed by the diversity of castings in general, they're really knocking that out of the park. I love true 1/64 and being able to collect a lot of different castings (I'd rather have a lot of 1/64 than fewer 1/18.. maybe it's just me ;D), so it's great Mini GT is succeeding. I appreciate the questions you asked on QC too, I have had a few issues with Mini GT, but the discussion reassured me. For me, it's not the issue of how much a model costs (that has a QC issue), but the fact that getting a replacement is usually really difficult as the popular releases can sell out pretty quick. Personally I'd pay twice as much to have an even higher quality Mini GT with close to zero QC issues (see TLV), but I understand the approach they've taken, and their price point, has made them really successful. I'm interested to see how the partnership (not sure if that's the right term) with BBR goes for their releases.

[@speelshare]

What a brilliant episode! Enjoyed all the questions you asked and Glen is so awesome, in the way he interacts with fans very openly and informatively. Look forward to picking up some more MiniGT's.

[@macm431]

Great talk, as a follower of Mini GT it is a pleasure to be able to listen to the Podcast, thanks for sharing with all the Fans this pleasant time, shared and greetings from Mini GT Bajío...

[@themodelcarshoustonpodcast]

Excellent and you're welcome!

[@DevangSanghrajka]

This is a fantastic interview... Glen Chou is always at the forefront of this diecast hobby and I do not know of any other company's management who is this transparent with info. Love these interviews. Love Mini GT! Thank you both for this very informative video session. Looking forward to more Mini GTs... Cheers! :)

[@themodelcarshoustonpodcast]

Thank you!

[@abbiravindhran8424]

I want more classic cars like the Lincoln Capri.

[@brandonragsdale5037]

Hey 👋 I have a question? How do you know what the TSM Model number means. Like does it mean something about the number of cars made.

[@LG4761]

Glen is a Taiwanese.

[@speedcaptured]

Good interview and Glen seems quite likeable but perhaps a bit disingenuous when it comes to quality control. TSM / TopSpeed have made some glaring mistakes and all attempts to get a response through email or social media go ignored. The legitimate dealer responds but shrugs shoulders as what can he do? He's apologetic, of course, but his main reaction is fear that customer returns may be coming and that Sunrich won't cooperate. Without exception every US dealer I've spoken to says that Sunrich can be very difficult to deal with. Many mistakes come down to poor research - perhaps using pictures of restored cars or how they appeared at modern events not as raced originally but some mistakes are just poor quality control. Example would be the 1/18 TopSpeed Acura NSX where "Continental" was correct on the body and misspelled on the actual tires. Would have like to hear more about the licensing process because many collectors don't seem to understand why certain models don't get made or are missing certain logos - and not just with tobacco products.

[@themodelcarshoustonpodcast]

As a Sunrich dealer, it's not bad at all tbh.

[@johnmachaqueiro5877]

@@themodelcarshoustonpodcast I found your interview to be great as it opens up a window into some of the issues model makers face and that collectors aren't often aware of, like licensing. To your point, yes it is bad in some ways. I have numerous TSM models here ranging from 1/18th to 1/43rd that are filled with errors. Simple errors that are easily fixed that do not cost anything to get right because most of the time it simply comes down to getting colors right, or even more common, an incorrect livery. As an example, TSM is poised to announce the Mazda RX-792P prototype. They had it on display at the Nuremberg toy Show. It is supposed to depict the car that ran at Watkins Glen in 1992 and came in second. The model shown at the toy show, and the announcement photos all show a car that is completely wrong. TSM as a whole has been pretty dismal when it comes to replying, or simply acknowledging someone when they reach out. The issues with that Mazda release is currently a topic of discussion in the MINIMAX WORLD FB group. It's ALL there when it comes to that car. TSM dropped the ball on their Mazda RX7 GTO in 1/18th and 1/43rd by making some oddball version of the restored car with a name on the roof of someone that was at Mazda corporate in the last few years. If you're buying a race car model, chances are you want it to represent how it was raced, and not some vanity piece for a corporate talking head. TSM also has an issue with putting tire markings on tires. The Mazda RX7 GTO's ran on Good Year tires. Neither the 1/43rd or 1/18th versions have any tire markings. While I am fully aware of licensing issues, Good Year is on the body of the car. If there is an issue with putting them on tires due to licensing, then I can understand that but I don't see that being the case because it is on the body of the car. The Wynns 962 Porsche from TSM depicts the 1987 car as it ran at Daytona. The model has a really great finish, however, at Daytona, cars run counterclockwise which means that the fuel filler is on driver's left. TSM has it on driver's right which would never be the case at Daytona. The back of the car is also wrong. The mistake on the fuel filler takes about 30 seconds on a Google image search to spot. That's all it takes. These are some of the models that I've either had issues with, or look at, and shake my head because they don't require any extra effort to get right, just a simple commitment to accuracy and an acknowledgement to collectors that they see the messages sent, which ultimately only benefits them as a company on making their products better.