Scale Matters

Whether its 1:8 or 1:160, scale matters. Which manufacturer you choose to go with or collect from, also plays a major part. Scale model cars began coming out of the woodwork since about the early 1900's as children's toys. In 1934, Dinky Toys began making the shift into die-cast, zamak zinc alloy model vehicles, with traffic lights, road signs and was being produced by a British toy company, called Meccano Ltd. Meccano was 1st established around 1908 by Frank Hornby, producing metal construction kits, which they still do to this day.

The craze began in 1:43 scale… and the rest, as they say is history. Today we have model car manufacturers like Auto Art, Amalgam Collections, Maisto, Majorette, Hot Wheels to name but a few, and lets not forget, Matchbox. Who would've thought that the little toy replicas of the cars we love and drive would become so popular, and IF we only knew, when we were kids, where this would go. But then again, I think that would've taken all the joy out of it.

Common Model Car Scales

Personal Collection

Over the years, I've watched my Oldman collect Alfa Romeo model cars of various shapes and sizes. From the original 1:63 matchbox sets to the 1:18 Auto Art models. F1 cars of yester year, including a 1:14 scale version of the Nikki Lauda era, Alfa Romeo F1 Brabham BT46B Parmalat car which had a working wheel spanner, that came with it.

I was very much into Micro Machines [1:160] as a kid and the matchbox 1:64s. Had a few 1:24's that I played into the ground. An 80's box shape Giulietta and a chrome bumper Alfetta Gtv. Both in full rally livery. Loved the Gtv so much, and you can tell haha. Probably why I love the actual car so much.

Plastic Model kits? This was like an initiation into the world. You'd buy a kit, open it and then immediately start assembling. Paint was an after thought. You got better with each kit and so did your confidence.

I'd recently gotten back into the little 1:64 scale craze with the likes of Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Majorette. Hunting for the little Alfa Romeos that are now on display with my Oldman, who incidentally gave me his entire collection of unboxed 1:18 Auto Art Alfa Romeos. This collection includes the likes of the 33 Stradale and Montreal, finished off in arancio orange. Which reminds, I still need to locate the Scalextrics collection. Now that, brings back memories. Another time…

A while back I got myself a 1:18 Auto Art 2L Gtv, which I have turned into a little project, but more on that later.

How big, is too big?

Generally speaking, the popular scales are 1:18, 24 and 43 but, you do get bigger scales. The bigger one goes, the more its going to cost you, sadly. Lets take the Amalgam Collection. They produce high-end, hand built models in 1:4 scale, down to 1:16. Price tag? Grab a seat, you'll need, it as they start from £749 to over £34,995. These models are museum grade quality.

The biggest model car ever made is in fact a 1:1 scale, made from LEGO Technic. It was a replica of the Bugatti Chiron. Suddenly that little Hot Wheels car sitting on your shelf doesn't seem so ridiculous anymore.

Dioramas

I saw a picture on Pinterest a good while back of a display cabinet, that had been made to look like it was a parking garage. Various 1:18 scale cars were “parked” in bays here and there with the lighting, parking bay lines and such. It sparked something. THIS, i thought to myself, is how I am going to display the collection of model cars I have. Fast forward a few years and its now become a thing that you can get off of Temu, for 1:64 scale cars.

Collectors vs Collections

Ok, so a few questions. How big, is your collection? Which model manufacturer is it mostly made up of? Which car brand do you tend to lean toward or is it just a love of cars.

"I'm a boy who appreciates a good body, regardless of the make."

These are all factors that influence how far one will go for that specific little, or big toy car. A quick search on the interwebs will bring up a man by the name of, Nabil “Billy” Karam, [Guinness World Record holder] and one can see his collection by visiting the Billy Karam Museum in Lebanon. As this article says, if you cannot make it to the museum, there is a 3D space you can checkout: World's largest model car collection.

The biggest life size car collection I know of in Cape Town, is The Oom Louis Coetzer's Lost Barn Collection, which even has a plane you can mooch around in. Feels hella unstable, but, you're in a plane… hopefully there're no snakes on it.

Model cars are but a small section of the scale world. There are trains, planes, motor cycles, bicycles and even skateboards. Lets not forget the “figurine” side of things. That is a whole nother world entirely.

Obsession vs Passion?

Got a big collection? Are they all still “unboxed” or have you made dioramas to display them in? Take a few “lekker” pics of your collection and tell us what it was that made you start collecting and which scale/car brand/model manufacturer is your favourite to collect. We'll feature your story on our website and social media channels.

Hit the submit button and tell us your story.

— Jack Spanner