Book details die-cast production from start to finish

It's everything you wanted to know about die-cast, but didn't know who the heck to ask...

"The Inaugural Action Performance Die Cast Chronicle, From Concept to Collectible," is the most comprehensive book ever written on the subject of die-cast replica vehicles, be it racing or any other genre. This unique specialty publication takes collectors deep behind the scenes to explore the creation of a die-cast collectible from drawing board to display case.

Published by Precision Publishing, the limited edition, 180-page hardcover book is clearly a must-have for the die-cast enthusiast.

"I think it is absolutely the best collectibles book ever written," said Fred Wagenhals, president, chairman and CEO of Action Performance. "We worked hard to make it that way. I don't think most collectors are fully aware of what goes into making a die-cast car. It's a very complicated, expensive, time-consuming, painstaking procedure. This book covers step-by-step what it takes to build a die-cast collectible from start to finish."

The opening chapters of "From Concept To Collectible" provides readers with little-known background information on Wagenhals and how he built Action Performance Companies from the ground up. For instance, most of today's collectors are unaware that Wagenhals was actually one of the founding partners of Racing Champions, or that in the past he has owned companies that built everything from snowmobiles to miniature motorized cars to mechanical bulls like the ones used in the movie "Urban Cowboy."

Also covered is Action's close working relationship with Early Light Manufacturing-the Chinese company that actually manufactures most Action collectibles.

Of course, Action has long been considered the vanguard of the special paint scheme movement, and that aspect of the die-cast business is thoroughly explained to collectors.

From there, "The Inaugural Action Performance Die Cast Chronicle" documents every aspect of the production process, beginning with the painstaking photography and measuring of actual race cars that ensure the authenticity of the finished product.

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Then come artist renderings, schematic drawings, creation of the many tools from which the cars are cast, the labor-intensive finish-sanding of the car chassis and body, assembly of parts, painting, tampo-printing of decals, the subtle nuances that differentiate certain cars from others... Folks, nothing is left to the imagination. It's all here. There's even a breakdown of the metal alloy the cars are made of.

Writer Paul Beakley does an outstanding job of explaining the complexities of the manufacturing process in terms any layman can fully and quickly understand.

"The Inaugural Action Performance Die Cast Chronicle, From Concept to Collectible" is punctuated by more than 1000 highly-detailed full color photographs immaculately laid out by 30th Century Graphics. The photography alone is well worth the cover price.

"The photography is excellent," said Wagenhals. "Charlie Keiger, of Precision Publishing took a professional photographer to the factory in China and spent a week capturing every step in the manufacturing process on film. It was a great collaborative effort between everyone involved, the people at Precision Publishing, 30th Century Graphics, our writing department, our art department, Steve Hilko and our engineering department. I don't think anyone who buys this book will be disappointed in the least."

The closing chapters of "The Inaugural Action Performance Die Cast Chronicle, From Concept to Collectible" are devoted to profiling the many Action die-cast brands and their product lines: Action Racing Collectables, Racing Collectables Corporation of America (RCCA), Revell Collection, Castaway, Brookfield Collectors Guild, Winner's Circle, Funline, Minichamps, and ActionMcFarlane.