The Art of Diecast Collecting
Collecting diecast vehicles consists of acquiring specific items based on your particular interests, such as airplanes, cars, trains, ship models, etc. Although some people just accumulate them, this is a passionate hobby for most folks, in which the genuine collector organizes carefully those items to catalog them and proudly display them. The depth and breadth of every collection is as unique as every collector is, and they are the ones that determine if a collection will focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interests or if they only want to accumulate determined items. As an example, a collector may collect diecast vehicles trying to accumulate any or all of them, while another individual could prefer collecting only a model, brand or marquee.
Diecast vehicles and toys are an example of a collection that is never-ending. When you start collecting these vehicles it is like traveling back in time until the early decades of the 20th century when manufacturers such as Tootsie Toys in the United States, or Dinky Toys in the United Kingdom first produced the first diecast toys. Because the term “diecast” refers to any product produced using the casting method, the first models on the market were small cars or vans without plastic windows.
Over time, the vehicles were made of plastic and metal, more commonly an alloy of zinc and aluminum, including not only cars but also scale models of airplanes and trains, although automobiles are still the favorites among all of them. With more than 50 popular brands including Altaya, Bandai, Brooklin, CMC, Dragon Wings, Exoto, Guisval, Ixo, Jada, Johnny Ligntning, Kyosho, Lledo, Matchbox, Minichamps, Norev, Plasticos Argentinos, Racing Champions, RCCA, Revell, Tekno, Tomica, UT Models, Vitesse, and the popular Hot Wheels introduced by Mattel, among others.
Like with other popular collecting fields, diecast collecting has specialized commercial dealers that trade vehicles and related accessories. In fact, many individuals start collecting cars as a hobby to become dealers at a later date, either turning this hobby into a profession, or as a means to get extremely rare vehicles for their own collections, while they help other collectors in their pursuit of showcase-model cars. In the United Kingdom, there are teams specialized in visiting small and larger toy fairs to acquire incredible cars, in good conditions from Dinky Toys and Corgi, the main British collectibles companies. Dinky Toys was first introduced in early 1934 by Meccano Ltd of Liverpool, England, presenting a new line of modeled miniatures, as diecast vehicles were first known.
Corgi Toys began producing scale model cars until July 1956 under the supervision of Mettoy Playcraft Ltd. in Swansea, Wales, along with Dinky Toys, and the American Tootsie Toys, which is one of the most wanted brands of collectors worldwide. However, there are many other popular manufacturers from the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.
Rarely a diecast collector completes a collection because new models of cars are always available, and collecting never stops, you can always expand or start an entirely new collection in a subtopic, such as cars, then sport cars, vans, etc. From Hot Wheels to Matchbox and from Bandai to Tomica, including all the other brands, diecasts models include popular automobile marques. Packard, MG, Morris, Hillman, Austin, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Citroen, Opel, Triumph, Talbot, Gwynne, Vauxhall, Reliant, Singer, Bristol, Wolseley, Innocenti, Healey, Siddeley, BSA, Darracq, Crossley, Jowett, Frazer Nash, Northern, Renault, Ford, Chrysler, and the classics Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce, just to name a few.
Broadening a collection is not that hard, even when focusing on a single marquee, because there are different models from the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, etc. Hence, every diecast Collector has a world of possibilities when gathering diecast models from almost any period of time as early as models from 1885, when the first automobile driven by internal combustion was introduced by German inventor Karl Friedrich Benz, to actual models in modern car showcases.
Diecast vehicles come in various scales, the most popular ranging from 1:28 to 1:64 scale, although many collectors prefer focusing their collections on the 1:43 and 1:50 scales. Diecast toys were originally designed for children, but the collecting boom started during the 1950′s when grown children stated to keep their cars instead of throwing them away and adults discovered them as valuable collectible items.
There is computer software that is made just for collecting diecast vehicles. Anyone who has a small or large diecast vehicle collection can easily keep track of what vehicle they have, the color, condition, cost, value, scale and lots of other info for each record (vehicle). This is the most easiest to use software of it’s kind, and it is made 100% for diecast collecting. The software is described in detail and you can download a free demo version of it at this website address:
http://www.rb59.com/diecast
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
About the Author
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released software on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970′s-80′s.
RB59 Software
http://www.rb59.com/software
R/C Mechagodzilla Robot from Bandai Japan
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BANDAI TV TELEVISION PLUSH TOY 1993 MADE IN JAPAN RARE $24.95 |
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Robot Damashii Spirits EVANGELION NIGHT COMBAT ver. EVA Japan Bandai Limited $80.41 |
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Japan Bandai Limited Toy POKEMON Black & White Mini Vinyl Figure – GARBODOR NIB $6.04 |
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JAPAN BANDAI TOY Nintendo POKEMON BLACK & WHITE Mini Figure Summer Sawsbuck NIB $6.04 |
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Bandai Saint Seiya Cloth Myth EX Gold Leo Aiolia Japan ver $130.99 |
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Japan Bandai HG High Grade 1/144 Mobile Suit Gundam AGE G Exes Model Kits NEW $28.20 |
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Kimewaza Pokemon Kids BW PANSAGE Yanappu Figure Toy Black White Bandai Japan $5.03 |
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Kimewaza Pokemon Kids BW DARUMAKA Figure Toy Black White Bandai Nintendo Japan $5.03 |
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Bandai Megaman Rockman Japan Barcode 32 Cards Set $33.49 |
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Bandai Saint Seiya Myth Cloth Ophiuchus Shaina Japan $60.36 |
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Bandai Saint Seiya Myth Cloth Ophiuchus Shaina & Cassios Set Japan $109.83 |
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Bandai Wing Club L#2 1/144 WWII Japan Type 21 Fighter $34.25 |
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SAINT SEIYA CLOTH MYTH GOD OF SLEEP HYPNOS BANDAI JAPAN $166.26 |
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SAINT SEIYA EX GOLD CLOTH MYTH LEO AIORIA BANDAI JAPAN KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC $171.30 |
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BANDAI S.H. FIGUARTS SAMURAI SHINKEN GOLD +KUROKO JAPAN $73.00 |
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SAINT SEIYA EX GOLD CLOTH MYTH LEO AIORIA BANDAI JAPAN KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC $125.00 |
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Bandai Saint seiya cloth myth bronze phoenix ikki V2 power of gold japan ver $95.68 |
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Thunderbirds TB2 BANDAI JAPAN $27.21 |
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Thunderbirds TB4 BANDAI JAPAN $27.21 |
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SAINT SEIYA EX GOLD CLOTH MYTH GEMINIS SAGA & LEO AIORIA BANDAI JAPAN ZODIAC $365.00 |
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GUNDAM GF13-017NJII G NEO JAPAN 1/144 – Bandai HGUC 110 $20.96 |
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SAINT SEIYA EX GOLD CLOTH MYTH GEMINIS SAGA & LEO AIORIA BANDAI JAPAN ZODIAC $413.14 |
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Japan Bandai Doraemon Gashapon Capsule PVC Figure NEW Ornament $8.05 |
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Japan animation Riraka Sos Figure Palace-Bandai $29.22 |
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BANDAI GALAXY EXPRESS 999 MODEL KIT 1986 VINTAGE JAPAN $30.22 |
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DIGIMON XROS LOADER & HOLDER BANDAI SET OF 2 NEW JAPAN $80.60 |
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TAMAGOTCHI RESORT TV PLAY BANDAI JAPAN NEW $18.13 |
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Postcard Book 18 Views Bandai Azuma Skyline Japan $8.95 |
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BANDAI EX Ultraman Monster FIRE ZETTON 6″ Figure Kaiju from Japan ( In Stock) $12.08 |
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Bandai Bleach Ceramic keychain- 2 random – Japan Import $7.00 |
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Digimon Digital Wrist Watch – Japan Import Bandai 2000 $9.02 |
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Godzilla 2005 Final Wars Japan Bandai Figure ( In Stock) $12.08 |
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POKEMON Mew Bandai Mini Plush Doll Japan Pokedoll $28.72 |
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Bandai Japan 1992 Megaman 3 Rockman – 6 PRISM Card $33.49 |
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Gundam F91 MS in Pocket #7 1/144 Action Figure – Rare Japan Import Bandai 1993 $40.26 |
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Bandai Japanese SUSHI ROLL MAKER Norimaki Makky $69.00 |
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Tamagotchi School Bandai Japan – Blue $13.39 |
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Unknown Series Japan Anime Lot of Random Mecha Figures Bandai Gundam ? 1 $9.06 |
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Unknown Series Japan Anime Lot of Random Mecha Figures Bandai Gundam ? 2 $9.06 |
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MLB PVC MINI FIGURE DODGERS Hideo Nomo BANDAI JAPAN $9.72 |
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Bandai Gundam G-Armor Model Kit Unused Japan 1:144 $25.18 |
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Bandai Thunderbirds Mole Compact Model Kit Unused Japan $30.22 |
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TAMAGOTCHI TALKING CHAMAMETCHI PLUSH DOLL BANDAI JAPAN $60.45 |
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HUMAN PLAYER RED BANDAI JAPAN NEW $15.10 |
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TAMAGOTCHI NANO YELLOW VIRTUAL PET BANDAI JAPAN NEW $19.14 |
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TAMAGOTCHI’S MUSIC FEVER BANDAI JAPAN NEW $15.10 |
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DIGIMON SAVERS DIGIVICE IC 102 BLUE BANDAI JAPAN NEW $40.30 |
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MLB PVC MINI FIGURE CUBS Samuel Sosa BANDAI JAPAN $8.72 |
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MLB PVC MINI FIGURE GIANTS Barry Bonds BANDAI JAPAN $10.40 |
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Sailor Moon Full Harmoney Music box 1994th made in Japan Bandai Rare !! $387.95 |
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CUTE JAPAN BANDAI DOGGY BANK KEYCHAIN- EAT YOUR COINS $13.91 |
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GODZILLA KING GHIDORAH JAPANESE 7″ Figure Bandai- Retired- SUPER HOT $50.37 |
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Bandai Toei Japan Hero Gashapon Figure ( full set of 5) $25.19 |
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Green Yellow 1960s Vintage BANDAI Japan Toy Truck VG $12.59 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH MYTH SCYLIA IO BANDAI JAPAN $131.00 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH SIREN SORRENTO BANDAI JAPAN $106.81 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH SEA DRAGON KANON BANDAI JAPAN $133.01 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH SEA KRAKEN ISAAC BANDAI JAPAN $115.88 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH CHRYSAOR KRISHNA BANDAI JAPAN $129.99 |
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SAINT SEIYA MARINE CLOTH SEA HORSE BAIAN BANDAI JAPAN $97.74 |
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Bandai S.H.Figuarts Masked Rider Dark KIVA Japan Version $80.56 |
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Godzilla + King Ghidorah Japan Bandai Figure Set+ BONUS $59.44 |
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Godzilla Gigan + King Ghidorah Japan Bandai Set+ BONUS $60.45 |
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Bandai anime Japan Virtual Bubble Wrap Simulator Phone Strap puchi puchi Set x 4 $32.14 |
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JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- DEVIL MASK $10.98 |
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JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- PURPLE GLOMY $10.98 |
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JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- SPEC RED GLOMY $10.98 |
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JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- SPECIAL BANANA $10.98 |
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JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- SPECIAL GOAT $10.98 |
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NEW JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN – HUMAN BLUE $9.98 |
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NEW JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- HUMAN GREEN $9.98 |
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NEW JAPAN TRENDY BANDAI CAPHEADS! KEYCHAIN- HUMAN RED $9.98 |
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Japan Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Masked Rider Fourze Weapon Module Set 01 SH NEW $45.33 |
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Japan Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Masked Rider Fourze Stand & Effect Set SH NEW $37.27 |
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Japan Bandai S.H.Figuarts Kamen Masked Rider Fourze Base Status Action Figure SH $59.44 |
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BANDAI VOOV TRANSFORMING CAR-VS07 MARK II TO JAPAN TAXI $15.11 |
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Lot of 5 Individual POKEMON KIDS Mini Figure Lot by Bandai of Japan with ROTOM $45.31 |
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Lot of 5 Individual POKEMON KIDS Mini Figures by Bandai of Japan with REGIGIGAS $45.31 |
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RARE Lot of 5 Individual POKEMON KIDS Mini Figures by Bandai of Japan with SNIVY $45.31 |
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NEW Kamen Masked Rider AR Carddass Vol.2 BOX AR-KR 02 Bandai Japan $100.77 |