Nuremberg, Germany - Model cars should not be dismissed as playthings: For many a car buff, the miniatures are the next best thing to owning and driving an exclusive dream machine.
The selection available is enormous and prices range from the ultra-cheap to ones costing hundreds of dollars.
Pocket-sized miniatures from Matchbox, Siku and Hot Wheels are sold as toys for children. While they often have charm, most car enthusiasts prefer a scaled-down reproductions of their favourite vehicles in more detail than the toys offer.
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Andreas Berse, editor-in-chief of the German model-vehicle monthly Modelfahrzeug, admits that finding the right model is not an easy task.
“Around 2,500 new models come out every year,” he explained. “And that does not include all the variations such as different colours.” Berse admits that no one really knows exactly how many different models are on the market.
Anyone looking to start a collection might like to look to their own personal motoring history for inspiration.
“Many want to have on their shelves miniature versions of cars they once owned,” said Berse.
Scale is an important issue, since 1:87 models measure between four and five centimetres in length and will fit into a matchbox, while 1:18 versions demand ample shelf space.
The scale is expressed as a ratio of the original object to the model. For example a 1:43 car has dimensions exactly 43 times smaller than the original. Around the world, scales of 1:87, 1:76, 1.43 and 1:18 are the most commonly found.
The smallest models are so tiny that fine details can only be distinguished with the aid of a magnifying glass.
Berse believes 1:43 is the ideal scale, “neither too small nor too large, and still well-detailed.” Those models are generally between eight and nine centimetres long.
WEALTH OF DETAIL
Model cars scaled at 1:18 offer a greater wealth of detail and often have working parts, such as doors that open and engine compartments miniaturised right down to the spark plug cables.
CMC, regarded by fans as most upmarket model car manufacturer, turns out models which are hand-assembled from more than 1500 parts.
“These are comparable with a mechanical watch,” said Berse. “Each CMC miniature model is a jewel that finds a special place in the hearts of our collectors,” proclaims the firm on its website. The CMC miniatures do not come cheap.
All is not lost for the bargain minded. Models costing from €10 (R170) can still display remarkable fidelity. What all models share is a complicated genesis which involves many hours of precision engineering work.
Sculptors need between six and nine months to create a 3D master model from which production copies are cast or injection-moulded in plastic. The masters are often made of brass.
Many cheaper models are still made today using die-cast technology. Most carmakers work closely with the model makers and are keen to see their new models in miniature.
“Companies such as Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz want the models to be ready in time for the launch of the real car,” said Berse. Miniatures often go on display in auto-dealer showrooms.
DPA
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