Posting my Diecasts - Why am I doing it?

[Gramps46]

Collecting diecasts is an option for some of us who because of age or physical limitations can no longer build kits to a level we are willing to accept..  Diecasts allow us to still enjoy the hobby and the thrill of the hunt to find new or cherished models is still there.  Plus there are many diecasts models which will never be available as kits.  The advantage of 1/24 scale is they fit nicely with my built plastic collection which being racing sports cars are mostly 1/24th scale also.  Over and out.

[vamach1]

8 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

Collecting diecasts is an option for some of us who because of age or physical limitations can no longer build kits to a level we are willing to accept..  Diecasts allow us to still enjoy the hobby and the thrill of the hunt to find new or cherished models is still there.  Plus there are many diecasts models which will never be available as kits.  The advantage of 1/24 scale is they fit nicely with my built plastic collection which being racing sports cars are mostly 1/24th scale also.  Over and out.

Well said Gramps.  I've have not bought any 1/18 in a few years.  They just take up too much space and either inexpensive and low quality or expensive with less detial than ones in 1/24.  Sadly with the demise of FM and DM models the market is being flooded with a lot of lower quality and price models.  Not necessarily;y a bad thing as they are more affordable and you do not feel like you;re ruining a museum model if you decide to add detailing or even do a body color change.  As others have said, the few kit manufacturers have ignored making some cars and the diecast fills the void for some. 1!/43 scale has a lot of variety but does not cut it with most US collectors.  I've got a hundred or so kits and diecast in 1/43 and the companies making that scale make some really models price them accordingly.  I've never seen kits or diecast as one being better than the other, if the subject matter interests me and the quality and price are reasonable I'm likely to buy either.

[Junkman]

For me it's predominantly the subject matter and how the models are rendered.
In both regards, the diecasts have just taken over. Also, some of those 'lower quality' model brands have come a long way.
I'm particularly impressed with the latest offerings from Welly and Maisto. Also, you can't beat Norev for bang for the buck.
 

[Tom Geiger]

For me it's about finding vehicles I want to have, but aren't and probably will never be kitted.  There are a lot of old trucks in my collection, and nothing is keeping me from tearing them apart to build a project.  Then there are vehicles so well done that I'd never be able to achieve it myself. For instance the Danbury Mint Divco Bordens Milk truck.  I do own the old Ron Cash resin one, but the Danbury one is so suburb that there's no way I'd pass it up! 

And yes, I'm strictly 1/25 and 1/24 scales.  

[randyc]

20 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

For me it's about finding vehicles I want to have, but aren't and probably will never be kitted.  There are a lot of old trucks in my collection, and nothing is keeping me from tearing them apart to build a project.  Then there are vehicles so well done that I'd never be able to achieve it myself. For instance the Danbury Mint Divco Bordens Milk truck.  I do own the old Ron Cash resin one, but the Danbury one is so suburb that there's no way I'd pass it up! 

And yes, I'm strictly 1/25 and 1/24 scales.  

Agreed with that as well.   In the last year, I've added about 40 1/24 diecasts from the Mints to the "lowly" $5 Welly cars.   I couldn't finish that many kits in 5 years.   I have finished a BUNCH this year, but the diecasts are either not kitted or are detailed far better than I ever want to.   I often wonder how they were able to crank those out so well.  Would love to see a video of the Mint factories' assembly lines.

[ToyLvr]

On 10/22/2019 at 12:04 PM, Tom Geiger said:

 

The market really tanked with the larger scale stuff.  I'm not sure if it was just the cycle of collectibles,  the realization of people that these weren't an "investment", or people just plain running out of room to display them.   I've told the story about the guy who emailed me a long list of 1/18 scale diecast cars from the estate of his father. He thought they were worth a sizable sum, I advised him otherwise.  After a month or so he approached me to buy the lot for $5 a car.  I declined.

I bought a few “Mint” cars in the early days when they first started, thinking they would increase in value, or at least *hold* their value. I had to sell most of them after losing my job, and was lucky to get about half of what I originally invested.?

Many of them are pretty cheap these days, if you watch for bargains. I have seen some sell on evilBay for as little as $10.00, and that was for a unit in perfectly good shape.

[randyc]

15 hours ago, ToyLvr said:

I bought a few “Mint” cars in the early days when they first started, thinking they would increase in value, or at least *hold* their value. I had to sell most of them after losing my job, and was lucky to get about half of what I originally invested.?

Many of them are pretty cheap these days, if you watch for bargains. I have seen some sell on evilBay for as little as $10.00, and that was for a unit in perfectly good shape.

Oh yeah.   I have several nice pieces that were $10 - $20.   I rarely ever pay over $50 for a car.  I know there is little chance of getting money back.  There are a few exceptions out there.  I sold a 68 SS396 convertible for my buddy that went for almost $200.  But that is exceedingly rare and for the rarest cars.  I am working through selling his collection now for his widow.  

[AlexT.]

as for me i love old trucks exquisitely hand-modelled in 1:24 scale.
Especially the superb die-cast metal Maqmadon trucks. High-end quality  and  and finely detailed replica with opening parts, detailed engine and with  very precise  interior trim.
you can see some of them here:

https://www.miniatoys.net/en/tags/174-maqmadon