Who is Agora Models?

In 2009, I was one of two co-founders of an exciting new idea which came to be known as ModelSpace. What started off as a way in which to acquire museum-quality models at affordable prices, would go on to become one of the world’s biggest modeling hobby sites.

Ten years on, I decided to go back to my original roots and ethos to start a brand-new, high-end modeling company. I’ve partnered up with some of the leading people in the industry from around the world to bring you Agora Models.

Many people earn a great deal of money to come up with mission statements, marketing strategies and the latest buzzwords, however, I didn’t need to spend a cent to come up with what Agora Models means to me:

• Great quality models
• The best customer services
• Positive engagement with our customers.

You can read my blog on our actual design and production process, but needless to say, here at Agora we are upping the ante on the production process. We 3D scan the original vehicles using cutting-edge laser technology to create intricate computer models. These are then inspected by the source company (e.g. Shelby American, Inc. checked and approved our Super Snake). It takes us four months of detailed work to get to this stage. Another two months to create the precision molds required (there could end up being 200 molds per model, some weighing over a ton!). After six months of research and development, plus several hundred thousands of dollars spent, only then are we ready to start production.

Making fantastic models is only half the picture. I’ve loads of great ideas that will be coming online. Not just some amazing models but also ideas on how to create a business with much more involvement and engagement from you, the customer. We will be setting up events so you can actually come and meet us! We want to work with you to produce the very best models; let’s decide what models we want and create them together!

And not only that, we will not be ‘test-marketing’ products only to stop them after a few months. When a model appears on the Agora website then I am committed to seeing it through to the end. We only sell products once we have started full production. Similarly, we won’t be selling products where we are out of stock or know of stock problems ‘down-the-line’. If we don’t have it, we won’t sell it! If there is some sort of disaster like a ship sinking or a warehouse burning down, then we’ll tell you and keep you updated on what’s going on and how we are trying to resolve things.

There is a great pipeline of products following our first model, the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake. We have some amazingly beautiful cars, classic planes and iconic military vehicles on the way!

I’m online and on our forum so please chat to me and tell me your thoughts – I want Agora to be a truly inclusive and transparent company.

James Franks

Founder