The passion that drives the hearts of all real men is cars. Car modeling is a versatile hobby for men.
It is known that even the stronger sex has its own weaknesses. Every man has his own gentlemanly set of passions and hobbies. But a man is the same child, with only one difference: the cost of their toys. Some spend a lot of money on the purchase of another pair of Swiss watches with a turbion, others collect trophies of historical battles. Someone gives preference to collecting rare varieties of noble French wines or expensive Cuban cigars. And someone considers it necessary to constantly be on the crest of modern fashion trends and maintain an impeccable style of clothing, investing huge amounts of money in exclusive Italian shoes, haute couture suits and accessories corresponding to this image. This list can be continued for a long time, but there is one passion that controls the hearts of all real men - this is cars.
All car enthusiasts express their feelings for cars in different ways: some are limited to getting another portion of pleasure from magazines and auto catalogs. Others improve their own cars through tuning. Still others visit car exhibitions to personally enjoy the proportions of the design of new or, on the contrary, classic retro models, because pictures in magazines cannot convey a three-dimensional image of the harmony of forms of a holistic image of a car. But there is a way to combine all of these hobbies in one - this is car modeling. After all, it is collecting scale models that allows you to put side by side, for example: Ferrari, Bentley and Hammer, in order to compare their sizes, as well as to feel the unique aura of these legendary brands in such an impromptu parking lot, which can be found only near some casino sparkling with neon lights in Monte -Carlo.
World firms producing scale models
In general, there are many such firms around the world - more than 100, among which about 30 produce models in 1/18 scale. But among those presented in Belarus, there are about 5 of them, and first of all, these are Maisto and Bburago, as well as MotorMax, Welly, YatMing. Distinctive features of these firms are the relative cheapness - on average $ 30 per model, but, unfortunately, at the same time, not the highest level of workmanship, which does not allow us to call them collectible, especially in comparison with such recognized world authorities as AutoArt. Minichamps, Kyosho and others. But the latter are practically not represented on the Belarusian market due to the high cost, which is over $ 100, and in cases with such world exclusives as Exoto, CMC, BBR it reaches $ 350. Their absence is explained by the fact that very few fans of this hobby are ready to pay a price at least 3 times higher than the cost of models from inexpensive firms, unable to compare representatives of these two qualitatively different categories, and understand the obvious advantages of more elaborate collectible models.
Differences between expensive collectible models and inexpensive ones
The differences are noticeable literally in everything.
Firstly, it is the correspondence of the sizes and proportions to the real originals of cars. Expensive firms of the AutoArt level keep them exactly, developing a model according to official drawings received from automobile factories (for example: Mercedes or Ferrari). While inexpensive firms make their models at best from photographs of real cars, sometimes their creations are so inconsistent with the original that it seems that engineers designed them from memory or by their own imaginations.
Fig 1: the authenticity of the BMW Z8 interior
Fig 2: Proportions of the BMW Z8 headlight
Secondly, the difference in the quality of workmanship is manifested in such things as:
- painting
- the accuracy of castings and seams on body panels
- gaps and slots of movable elements (doors, trunk, hood)
- the accuracy of the interior and engine compartment
- detailed implementation of all small elements, icons, emblems, turn signals, etc.
- the floor of the cabin is lined with velvet, a mat in the trunk, leather interior is often found.
- the emblems are made of needle-thick steel plates.
As a bonus, some limited edition models come with a certificate of exclusivity with a unique number for your exhibit. And on rare occasions, the collector receives a gold-plated medal with the image of a particular model as a souvenir!
Thirdly, only on collectible models can you find such pleasant little things made with jewelry accuracy:
- openable vents, - lowered side windows, - retractable antenna, - lifting headlights, - openable fuel tank hatch, - sliding and reclining seats, - folding sun visors, - sliding sunroof, - openable glove compartment and armrest, - cloth safety belts with steel locks, - precise mechanism for folding the roof on the convertible, - detailed engine compartment with wiring and all kinds of hoses, - working suspension, - fixed caliper with a movable brake disc on the wheel, - nipple on the wheel rim
- spare wheel in the trunk, - cardan connected to the rear axle, - lights with lenses located inside
- full glazing of the body
and much more.
All these little things make the collectible model indistinguishable from a real car on close inspection, for example, in enlarged photographs.
Therefore, now, even without having the opportunity to purchase the car of your dreams, you can always get closer to the legends of the automotive industry by collecting your own collection of your favorite cars. And for this it is not at all necessary to be a multimillionaire or an Arab sheikh.
