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The world of model cars

The model car has a history closely related to that of the toy. Since prehistoric times, it seems that children have wanted to imitate the older children by using model tools that adults used for ensure their daily life. And when man began to use the wheel to get around, he also imagined sculpted carts and horses with wheels... for the younger ones. In ancient Greece, children used mobile toys. These have undergone numerous improvements over the years. inventions and innovations. At the beginning of the 20th century, model cars became a hobby for many people and collections of diecast cars are beginning to be built. Throughout history, model cars have evolved. It is the beginning of a hobby that is now the prerogative of the collectors of all ages.

The world of model cars is extremely diverse, with very precise codes and classifications. Whether the purchase is for a hobby, a present or a professional investment, it is important to take into account all the data, such as makes, sizes, materials that make up the miniature cars. It is therefore necessary to be familiar with the habits and customs of the miniature car trade in order to buy the right model. We offer you to learn everything about the wonderful world of model cars.

Today, there is a conventional scale of dimensions. It is these benchmarks that help to understand the size of the miniature vehicle. For example, a 1/24 model means that it is 24 times smaller than the original.

• 1/87 - This dimension, also called HO, is mainly used for model railroads, as well as some miniature vehicles such as buses or trucks. This gives 5 cm long by 2 cm wide.
• 1/72 - it is a format that is mainly found in plastic models of armoured vehicles or military cars. It is 6.1 cm long and 2.4 cm wide.
• 1/64 - it's one of the standard sizes for the model car. It was popularized by the brand Majorette at the end of the 60s. They are generally 7.5 cm long.
• 1/50 - is the ladder used for commercial vehicles, such as fire trucks, vans or miniature farm machinery. It is 8.8 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.
• 1/43 - another standard size of the so-called static miniature cars, as they do not have a motor. This is the classic format of the brands Dinky Toys or Norev. This gives about 10/12 cm length and 5 cm width.
• 1/25 - the latter is commonly used for reproductions of American Corvette, Pontiac or Ford vehicles.
• 1/24 - This size, which corresponds to about 190 mm, is often used to retain as much detail about the vehicle as possible. This gives about 17/18 cm in length and 7 cm in width.
• 1/18 - Static metal models, for example those of the brand Solido, mainly use this size. This gives about 24/25 cm in length and 10 cm in width.
• 1/12 - a lot of miniature race cars are built with this scale. This makes it about 35/37 cm long and 15 cm wide.

Several names of model car companies will have left their mark on generations of children, and some of them, to this day, no longer exist. This is the case of Dinky Toys, Jouet de Paris, Aurora or Matchbox. Owning a miniature collector's car of one of these brands, when it is no longer in production, is the collector's first ambition.

• Minichamps
• Spark
• Norev
• Neo
• Autoart
• Ixo
• Brumm
• Brekina
• Schuco
• Oxford

Each of these brands, considered to be the top of the range of miniature cars, work on different specificities that make their vehicles unique and of excellent quality. The most used material was metal, it allowed more actions on the miniature car, such as opening the doors and the trunk. The evolution helping, today, the material generally used for the construction of miniature car is the Zamak. It is an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper. This material is easy to work with due to its flexibility. Plastic and resin are also widely used. The finishes, generally hand-made, give a scratch to the miniatures and their perfection of detail will of course influence the selling price. The latter will also depend on the quantity produced, in mass or limited quantities. It is logical that a miniature car produced in very few copies is more expensive than another one.

More than a hobby, it's a real passion that drives collectors of model cars. These are objects with a soul, and you can put them in a diorama or simply exhibit them. They are, in any case, excellent gifts that will delight young and old enthusiasts alike. And for an even more unique gift, you can offer a miniature car entirely personalised by hand. The tuning for miniature vehicles , or even the French bolidage has the wind in its sails and offers real works of art of patience and precision. This craze for the modelised collector car is certainly a welcome revival. The miniature car is in any case the ideal gift to offer for the end of the year celebrations or for a birthday or anniversary.

An incredible amount of miniature vehicles exist (agricultural or gendarmerie vehicles, passenger cars, motorcycles, miniature race cars or military ...): we find almost all brands and models, old and new, they are available in reduced model format. Want to own the car of your dreams in miniature, or to find the model of your youth, the passion of miniature vehicles has multiple reasons. These cars, trucks, and other small-scale motorcycles are more of a collector's item for adults than children's toys. Choose his models. If you are new to the field, consider its three criteria before acquiring your first miniature vehicles: the scale: the most common is 1/43. A car on this scale is between 10 and 12 cm long, so it takes up little space and remains a faithful and very detailed replica. The 1/18 scale is also popular. Miniature vehicles are usually made of zamac (an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper), but they are also found in resin and plastic. For more value, it is best to buy miniature car models in closed boxes or limited editions. Miniature vehicles are available for all budgets. It is possible to have fun without spending too much with current models, new and good quality for 30 € to 40 €. The rarer the product, the higher the prices, which can reach hundreds or even thousands of euros.

www.alldiecast.co.uk is a passionate site for enthusiasts. I try to list as many miniature vehicles as possible: miniature fire engines, miniature police car or miniature car tuning made by enthusiasts who are creative and have a lot of patience to do their projects. For a birthday present, Father's Day or a Christmas, the miniature car is a great gift idea. Good visit.

The brands most viewed : Renault, Ferrari, Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, Porsche, Bmw, Mercedes, Alfa Roméo, Toyota