Over 400 people have visited this site so far

Seems incredible that well over 400 people from around the U.S., Canada, and 13 other countries have visited this little blog in the six or seven weeks that it has been around. We learned of a website called "Stat Counter" about a week and a half into this thing, which tells you how many "first time" viewers you had, how many "returning" viewers (people who have been here before), and how many "page loads" have been done. Thought it would be a neat thing to know!

The blog, however, was started with e-mailed invitations to about 30 die-hard BWF collectors that we already knew about from the boards, and simply put, those are the people who have taken part in this blog. Of those 400 plus people who have come here, we have just 21 "followers", and those are the people that we originally invited to this site. Many of them seem to have posted a few times and then fallen off the blog, leaving just a relative handful of "active" posters and contributors, to whom I am very grateful.

Those 400 new "visitors" have contributed zero to this site. While I can see that some of them continue to "lurk", none of them have joined in. That sort of defeats the purpose of bringing them here in the first place. Getting 400 people into  your "store" means nothing if none of them "buy" anything. I've promoted the blog the best way that I could, in the hopes of attracting more "new" people with whom to share info with, but really, that hasn't happened.

I've tried "tweaking" the blog format a bit to make it easier to get around. I've tried keeping interesting posts and topics, adding some "fun" regular features such as "Poll of the Week" and "BWF Product of the Week", I added the "Interesting/Funny/Cool" button. And now I've added the "Swap 'N Sell" feature as well. And I've "teased" that I have a few more fun ideas to add into the mix as we go!

I know "Rome wasn't built in a day", but still, participation  hasn't taken off like I had hoped it would. Outside of a handful of guys, people I know are faithful BWF lovers just aren't posting that much, or at all. Which makes me wonder:

Is it the "blog" format that is causing this?

I know that despite my trying to make it clear that this blog is open to EVERYONE to post, many people have this perception that a blog means just reading the writings of the person who created the blog, and not contributing posts yourself. I don't know what more I can do to explain to people that this blog is here for THEM to post,  not just me.

Is the blog format too difficult to figure out how to  join, how to post, how to enter photo's? I've had many people say that this isn't as easy to get around as a site like "Hobby Talk", and that they couldn't figure out how to add pictures - though eventually most of them figured it out either with my help, another member's help, or simply on their own.

I also know that some people simply don't know enough about blogs and worry about viruses. I've tried - with little success - to  learn more about blog security and viruses. I don't know how a blog can be infected with a virus in the first place,unless I or one of the posters here somehow inadvertantly passed along a virus that they didn't know their computer had, through making a post here. Can that even be done? Can any of those 400 "viewers" insert a virus into the blog without ever having made a post on here? I just don't know enough about this stuff, and have been unable to learn about it through the blog-hosting "help desk".

The ultimate question I've been asking myself is: Would more people be taking part if this were a traditional "website", like Hobby Talk, instead  of a blog? You are quite welcome to post your thoughts on that, either here or in an e-mail to me at rjmcdermott@verizon.net

My honest feeling is that I would have nothing to lose by switching formats to try and find out, so I will be looking into where and how to host websites in the days ahead. If I find a place that is suitable, and a site can be set up without too much investment in time or brainpower (hey, I'm already studying and attending four courses as it  is! lol), then I will make the change and let each of you know where this has been moved to.

The only other answer I can see is that this is just too narrow a topic to sustain much activity. That may be, but I have seen the BWF page at Swifty's be very active, and I can see how well my BWF thread on hotwheelscollector.com has taken off. And where else on the Internet can you find a Swap 'N Sell page dedicated soley to Black With Flames cars?

Like I have said, I didn't start this thing to hear myself talk; I set it up to hear what all of you have to say about the fun world of Black With Flames diecast! And we'll find our place eventually, I hope.

Acquisition of the Week

As I mentioned before, I got together with a few of the guys last Sunday (David Bilodeau, DadsCoronet, Dadvball, ECChopper) for a diecast excursion to a local diecast meet followed by a stop at an area flea market, with several cool BWFs being picked up by each of us.

This is one Hot Wheels BWF that I hadn't seen before, probably because it was an older release limited to the now-defunct Ames Department Stores. It's a cool '55 Nomad, which is part of a 4 car set. Our guy Walter had it for just five bucks, and hopefull I can later sell off the other three cars to make my five bucks back. He has a second set and I'm going there again this Sunday to pick up the JL "Badman" '55 Chevy for 70XR7 (aka "Chud") so if anyone wants it, first one to post here that they want it, I'll pick it up for you:

BWF Product of the Week

This week, the term "BWF" has a slightly different connotation, perhaps meaning "Boots With Flames", or better yet, "Babes With Flames", as we have a product that is geared towards the flaming chick in your life!

These boots come in a variety of sizes, with a 5" heel and are knee-high. Coupled with that nasty Black With Flames pattern, they give the ultimate "Dominatrix" look (whoa there, big fella!). If you're with the type of woman who would wear something like these, I suspect she's not going to be the kind who takes to their man playing with little toy cars!  lol

The link for a closer look is below, and the boots go for under forty bucks. Go ahead, check 'em out ..... you know you want to, you naughty boy!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Knee-High-Boot-Flame-Print-1-5-Platform-5-Heel-/250800554344?pt=US_Women_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item80103f80e5 

What series is this Racing Champions from?

Found this car in an old posting by Roadwarrior on Swifty's. Anyone know what series it was from? I need to find one.

Pre-pros, and White Lightnings

Just thought I'd see who has any of these out there, and see if you'd share them with us. The only car I have that fits this is a '65 Impala that I bought off ebay, it looks to be some version of the WalMart Exclusive set from Forever 64

Here is the WL version, as seen on LightningLane:

Here is the car I bought off ebay, has different colored flames (though the same pattern, ot appears) and a different set of gold wheels):

It's not red, so we know it's not a test shot (lol) but is it a White Lightning, a pre-pro, or a "lunchbox special"?

Show us your special BWF!

A big blog welcome to Rob "ECChopper" Irving!

Well, one of the coolest guys in the BWF community has finally decided to drop his resistance and join us here at the blog! The place just wasn't right without you, my friend! Folks, Rob not only collects Black With Flames cars, he is a customizer extrordinaire! I have a few pieces of this guy's work and they are the centerpieces of my collection. In fact, if I had to choose just one car to keep forever, it would hands-down be the Cruisin' McQueen "Tooned" ("Tuned?") Zinger that he did for me, which he duplicated for a four year old Lightning McQueen fan I knew.

Rob is a diehard picture taker, and if you want to see what can be done with a Photobucket album, Rob is the guy to see. We look forward to many great posts from rob and this place is definitely better for his being here. In fact, I will make it a mission of our swap 'N sell board to help Rob find that one Holy Grail BWF that he is seeking: the 1 of 96 Double-Secret Probabtion ADWC Mustang done for the original LightningFest put on by Mark Hosaflook, before it became AutoFest. If anyone knows where one of these may be available, we'll come up with a suitable finders prize for turning Rob onto it.

Welcome to the blog, Rob!

Now, where is that Stutz guy?!!!!!

Take a look at THIS!

In trying to find people across the spectrum of the diecast hobby who are into BWFs, I made many posts in out-of-the-way (for me!) places. One of which was the hotwheelscollectors.com site.  Any good BWF collector knows that no one makes more BWFs than Hot Wheels, as they are probably the biggest diecast company on the planet. And the website dedicated to Hot Wheels has so many members that it makes Hobby Talk look like a college blog project!

I started a post there, and the response has been phenomenal! Over 2,000 views in a few short days, and three pages of comments, with people posting pics of Black With Flames Hot Wheels that I never knew existed. Take a look:

http://forums.hotwheelscollectors.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/55210875/m/9961009196

Are you finding this "Blog" format too difficult to use?

I assume that many of you, like me, are having your first experience with a "Blog", and while you all have considerable experience with the traditional "discussion boards" (Hobbytalk, JLTalk, Swifty's Garage) and this blog format is similar, I am wondering if it is just different enough to be unfamiliar to many of you as to how to navigate it, how to "do" things. In fact, someone mentioned to me that they thought a blog was only for the person hosting it to post on.

I have tried hard to make it clear, whenever I e-mailed invitations or posted a promotion for the blog anywhere, that EVERYONE is welcomed to post, but still, I have to wonder if this format is just too different from the traditional websites we are all used to using.

With that, I am inviting anyone who reads this to contact me - not necessarily by posting here on the blog itself (unless you want to) but by e-mail, which may be more comfortable and more private to use. Let me know if this "blog" setup is too difficult to use, or too foreign or different from the discussion boards. Is this keeping you from viewing the blog or posting?

It has been suggested to me that I switch this over to a more traditional website/discussion board setup, more similar to what we're used to on these other forums. I may just do that, I don't know yet. Shoot me an e-mail, which will remain private., and share your thoughts about this blog with me, please. I didn't set this up to be the only one posting, to hear myself talk, or to have a relative handful of people take part. I had hopes that there was enough interest and activity that it would pretty much take care of itself without a whole lot of posting from me (a little "carnut" goes a loooooooong way!).

Then again, maybe the topic (BWFs) is just too narrow and specific a subject to support that much interest in the first place? I figured with 20-30 guys starting, and who knows how many around the world joining in as we grow, there would be enough "traffic" to keep things interesting, not that I haven't appreciated the efforts of those who have contributed some very cool posts here so far!

I look forward to hearing from people who have participated, however much, but even more so from people who have visited the site and not participated.

Thanks folks! Send your e-mails to me at:  rjmcdermott@verizon.net and put "BWF Blog" in the subject heading please.

Lame - but Flame!

Well, the new release of Johnny 2.0 came in today, and there was another Beat the Heat police car. Very minor flame job on the hood. I think it snuck in with the minium amount of acceptable black on the car to be a BWF. I'm not proud, but it has been a while since I scored a JL BWF, so I brought one home. I can't find a good picture to show the lameness of the flames, but hopefully you can find one yourself.

Big Welcome to Nick "Centershock" Shonsky!!!!

Order has been restored to the BWF world, with the arrival here at the blog of the last of the three "Founding Fathers" of the Official Unofficial Johnny Lightning Black With Flames Committee.

Welcome to the Black With Flames Blog, Nick!

I know your participation in the diecast world has tapered a bit as other things have move center-stage of your life (that new job, pool tournaments, gaming, and - congratulations! -another baby, but it's good to see your name here, my friend.
Many of you know Nick as the driving force behind the PA (Keystone) CARnival, and Nick has been a great member of the hobby for so many great years. We hope to see your name here often, Nick.

Welcome aboard!

Now, if we could just get Rob "What's a blog?" Irving and Mr. Stutz to both join us, we'd be at near capacity! to join us, and

Going hunting with the guys today!

Seeing as none of us Jam guys could make it to CARnival this weekend, we did the next best thing, arranged a little diecast "hunt" of our own for today. Dave Antonelli had to back out, but in a short while I'm heading out to meet David Bilodeau and Mark "DadsCoronet"  Appellof, we're going to pick up Bill "Dadvball" Hicks, and head over to meet Rob "ECChopper" Irving to attend a diecast show at Pete's Model Garage. I always find some cool BWFs at this meet, usually for not much money. After that we'll head over to the Raynham (Mas.) Flea Market nearby whichg has 2 or 3 diecast vendors, and I generally score a car or two there, as well. After that we'll grab lunch and try to make plans for Johnny Jam 2011.

While it's a great time getting together with these guys, the downside is that three out of the five all collect BWF cars, so the competition bvetween us gets very heated, and fistfights between us have erupted at tables many times ("I saw that first!" lol).

Hope to have a nice report later on today's acquisitions.

Limited Ed M2 BWF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a tad on the pricey side, but I figured I'd at least let everyone know. This is my first attempt to post pics, so if it doesn't work, go check out 1StopDiecast.com and hit M2, then limited editions.

Anyway, you need to buy 6 of the regular version to get the BWF chase "for free". It's $150 for the set.

 

 

Testing

Just posting a test.

Shout Out to the Guys Attending CARnival!

Right about now, there should be a huge table full of guys at Zia Maria's enjoying a late night meal (with appropriate beverages, of course!) in Denver Pennsylvania, having arrived for the 5th Annual PA CARnival held by our BWF buddies, Nick "CenterShock" Shonsky, Rick "Bray" hartman, and the unforgetable "Swifty", whose name cannot be divulged because he's in the witness protection program (or something like that!).

There should be a fair number of BWF collectors there to join them, as usually "Stutz", "RoadWarrior", Chris "DCPDGuy" Kniotek, "Rattlehed" and a few other BWF collectors are always in attendance. We miss seeing you guys, and will be there next year for certain!

Have fun with the trading and the gravity racing, the run to Kiddie Kar, and the midnight WalMart pallet raids!

And please, somebody put a leash (and a muzzle!) on Hutt, before he gets out of control again!

Have fun, guys!

(Hey Nick, if you've got a few extra sets of Event Cars, I know a few guys who'd love to get them!)

BWF Custom

I've worked on this car on and off for a couple of months. I'm tired of it now. I think I'll call it done. I made a little 1:64 S+H Green Stamp sign too. These signs used to be in front of many gas stations. They gave you Green Stamps when you bought gas, then you could trade in your stamps for gifts.

Swap 'N Sell Pages Are HERE !!!!!!!!!

A long-awaited feature of this blog - one that we think will become the most popular - has now been added to the site! If you have BWF castings that you want to trade or sell, or have BWFs that you would like to find, this is the place to do it, a true "BWF Clearinghouse" where we can help each other build our collections!

To the top right sidebar, you will see the word "Pages". Under that, you will see the words:
"Home"
"BWFs Available"
"BWFs Wanted".

"Home" is the "Main" page, the one where you currently make all your "New Posts", and "Comments" on existing posts. You are reading it right now.

"BWFs Available" is the page where you would list any BWFs that you are offering for sale or for trade. You can (hopefully!) post pics of the car(s) or simply make a post saying what you have available, and what you are asking for it in price or for possible trades.

"BWFs Wanted" is a place where you can post which car(s) you are looking for, and also (hopefully!) add a photo of the car(s) you are looking for.

Apparently these two "Swap 'N Sell" pages (called "stand alone" pages in blog-speak) can have comments added to them, but not "New Posts". So what that means is that you simply go to the appropriate page ("Available" or "Wanted") and add your "Comment" (what you have, or what you are looking for) to the existing "Post". It's a continuous post, a "rolling" post that just always keeps getting added to. You don't start a brand-new "Post" when you have stuff to sell, or need, you just add a new "Comment".

It's not all that complicated, as far as I can see. If you can add a "Comment" to an existing thread on the "Home" page, then you can do this. If you have any problems or questions, contact me with any questions or problems at rjmcdermott@verizon.net and I'll help you out.

Thanks for your patience in waiting for this great feature to finally appear, but that it is, get busy listing any extra BWFs you have "available" for other members, and any BWFs that you are looking to find!

Let the trading BEGIN!!!!!!

Post your Muscle Machines!

Got any BWFs from Muscle Machines? There were a bunch of cool releases from Funline back in the day a whole series of BWF's. These are the ones we're looking to see. So if you've got any how about showing them to us? Here are the cars that we have. First, MM was known for a really cool series of similar BWF cars that they ran, all in single car packaging. They also did an odd BWF mixed into a 5 pack set at times, with different "flame jobs". And in the second incarnation of MM a couple of years later, there was an entirely different "look" to their BWFs. Here's a look at what I'm talking about:

Here is a set of "Tri-Five" Chevies; two different '57s,  with a '55 (Apparently MM never did a '56?)

Next up, a '65 Chevelle wagon, with a '67 Nova, and a '68 Dart

Next, I like to call this "The Class of '69" ... there's a '69 Charger, a '69 Camaro, and a '69 Mustang

Finally in this series, we have my most recent addition, a '70 'Cuda

I remember that Muscle Machines did a limited series of 1/18 cars in these same schemes, though I don't have a single one, and some were done with an identical "Mini Me" 1/64 car in the box. I recently saw one of these combos with an old Willys Coupe, and I need to get that 1/64 as well.

Here are some of the other cars MM did, either as "5 Pack" cars, or "Second Generation" releases (singles as well as 5 Packs):

That Coupe with the yellow is included under the fabled "Millennium Bus" statute (lol) as it clearly is a lot of yellow paint - including yellow flames - laid over the main color of black.

Here we have a different '69 Charger, paired up with a '69 Daytona Charger

And lastly, a set of silver-flamed cars, a '69 Corvette and a '69 Chevelle. There's a third car with silver flames that didn't make this picture, an old Anglia delivery. Not sure where I put it (lol).

All together, I have 22 1/64 BWFs from Muscle Machines, and outside of the Willys from the 1/18 set, I'm not aware of any others. Maybe you've got one that isn't shown here? Rob Irving (ECChopper) is a hardcore Muscle Machines fanatic, maybe he can shed some light on this subject as well?

Rob? Come in, Rob?

Another blog welcome!

We want you all to extend a warm welcome to another well known board member, Rick Young (aka rlyoung)

Nice to have you Rick, don't be shy!

Black With Flames "Product of the Week"

This is one item you simply have to get for that BWF man cave that you just bought those light switch covers for last week!

For this item, you either have to be a really hard-core BWF lover, or someone who's eaten too many jalepeno peppers:

Here's a link where you can jump right on this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Round-Toilet-Seat-Black-Flames-TRUSTED-SELLER-/300540392543

Who we are Part III

We have now been checked out in South Korea! Do we have any Black With Flames collectors in South Korea? Put up a post and join us!


Ooops just noticed, we've also hit Egypt, Argentina, and the Netherlands!


This is in addition to England, France, Germany, Denmark, Brazil, and the Philipines! Not to mention, obviously, the U.S. and Canada.

Update: As of Monday, June 27, we are now logged on in New Zealand, Brunei, Jakarta, Malaysia, Mexico, Venezuela, Switzerland, Turkey, India, Malta, Hungary, and even Mother Russia now! A total of 24 countries!

Black With Flames Diecast: A big "Welcome" to rattlehed!!!!

Thank you for the welcome, I gotta figure out how to work this thing!

Black With Flames Diecast: A big "Welcome" to rattlehed!!!!: "Just saw that Mark (aka 'rattlehed' on the diecast boards) has checked into the blog! Mark, tell us all a bit about your BWF collecting, ple..."

A BWF display for the big Rhode Island "Summer Smash" show???

We have been invited by the President of the Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club, Jim Lombari, to put together a BlackWith Flames display for their huge annual "Summer Smash" show this summer. They have had such noted members of the industry there as Larry Wood andmany, many others in the past, and we just learned from Jeremy Morin of the Lincoln Johnny Lightning Race Club that Johnny Lightning's own Tom Zahorsky will be attending the Summer Smash this year!

Details still need to be worked out, as we just tonight received the offer, but any of you in the New England area who would like to help put together an unforgetable display of BWFs are welcome to help out. This is one of the largest diecast shows in the Northeast with thousands of people attending from all over the country, so it's a great chance to show off the cars we love most!

A big "Welcome" to rattlehed!!!!

Just saw that Mark (aka "rattlehed" on the diecast boards) has checked into the blog! Mark, tell us all a bit about your BWF collecting, please?

My recent "finds"

I've mentioned some cool BWF's that I've scored lately, and promised to post pics when I could. Well, I took some time to take some quick photo's today, and while the cellphone camera isn't the clearest, I thought I'd put up what I could.

Here goes:

First, I scored these three at a Salvation Army store at 3 for a buck, maybe 3 weeks ago. There is a Hot Wheels Dodge Power Wagon, another HW that doesn't have a name on it, and - if you'll forgive the timing - a HW "Super Tsunami" (foreground)
.

Next is a three car Racing Champions set that I put together from a seller on Ebay for about $12 shipped ('33 Willys, rear, '34 Ford, center, '69 442 foreground):

Here is that CarQuest '40 Ford coupe I wrote about earlier:

a close-up:

And lastly, this really cool Racing Champions '49 Merc Ed "Rat Fink" Roth car. The pics stink on it, but there is a cool "Rat Fink" logo on the rear quarter along with the phrase "Lake Pipes Save Lives" on the roof, and under the hood is a sweet flathead Ford V8!

Now let's see your recent scores!

Found today

The Mailman Cometh

And today he brought me some BWF's!

Last week I received a very cool CarQuest '40 Ford Coupe; what's funny about this is that when this car was released in CarQuest stores around the U.S. in 2002, I hadn't really started collecting BWF's yet, hadn't even found Hobby Talk yet. But I remember seeing them at the time because I was working as an outside salesman for, you guessed it, CarQuest! They were selling for $4.99 at that time, and I spent that plus shipping on this car!

Today I received a three car package from some other Ebay auctions I won, a Racing Champions '34 Ford Coupe, a RC '33 Willys Coupe, and a RC '69 442, which sadly arrived with the roof detached, damaged in shipping I believe. A very hard to find BWF! Scored all three for around twelve bucks, shipped, from the same seller.

These are joined by that Muscle Machines '70 'Cuda I won last week. Pics will have to wait just a bit, I'm not quite done finishing the living room.

How 'bout you, any nice additions to your collection lately?

Black With Flames "Product of the Week"

I've  been kicking this idea around for a while and think it's a fun little tidbit for the blog. We'll keep an eye open for any cool - or odd! - items that have received the BWF treatment. We've already seen things like a BWF stool, table lamp, even a BWF toilet seat cover! If you see something unique, feel free to post it on the blog as well!

This product, Black With Flames switch-plate covers, turned up on a recent Ebay search, and would be an awesome part of a BWF hobby room (or a little bit of BWF overkill, lol)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Black-Orange-Motorcycle-Flames-Various-Sizes-Types-/330401326918?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item7dba8e2450 

Who we are, Part II

As the admin for this blog, I have access to particular data regarding visitation to this site, and I thought some of you might get a kick out of hearing about how word of this site has spread.

About a month into this blog, we've had 338 different people who have visited this place from all over the country, and a handful from Canada as well. But we have also had visitors from England, Germany, the Philippines, Denmark, and Brazil!

Out of those 338 visitors, we've had maybe a couple dozen different posters, so we encourage all those "lurkers" to come in and join us!

New Hot Wheels BWF Dodge Van

Just uploaded to HWC Sneek Peeks today. Just hope it has a metal body. I already have a custom in mind for this. Let's just hope it has a metal body and not the crappy plastic one from the color changers line.

Rare One-of-Five Johnny Lightning Black With Flames Confirmed!!!!!

Folks, I've been waiting for confirmation of this for a few weeks, but I have now received confirmation of a previously unknown Black With Flames Johnny Lightning. I first heard about this car in an e-mail from someone who was very connected with Playing Mantis and who knows how big a BWF freak I am. The casting was the Tucker Torpedo, and he said he recalled JL did a custom run of just five of these cars back in mid-2003 in conjunction with the "Tucker Automobile Club of America" celebration of the 55th Anniversary of the infamous Tucker, a casting which Playing Mantis apparently did specifically for this occassion (I always wondered why they did a Tucker!).

Our source found reference to five of the Tuckers being done in a Black With Flames motiff, which states that the five castings were presented to the Club Officers in addition to a run of 100 JL Tuckers made for the event in maroon, one of just six original colors Tuckers were available in. We were told that the flame pattern for these five cars was based on an actual 1:1 customized BWF Tucker which appeared in a 1956 issue of Hot Rod magazine! Unfortunately, the photo JL used, as well as photo's of the pre-pro BWF casting, are in the hands of a former "employee" of Playing Mantis" and arenot available to us as yet.

What became of these five JL BWF's is unknown, but we've put out an e-mail to the President of the TACA to see what light they can shed on this and we'll pass along word as soon as we hear back. So all you JL BWF "completists" have a new - and most likely very expensive! -search to undertake.

Happy hunting!!!!!

Is it,or isn't it: "Under The Hood" Greenlight Corvette

I believe this subject was raised on Poll #2 about this car; what do you think?

To me, this is a SWF, Silver with (Black) Flames!