[Closed] Question of the day..... Why do YOU collect 1:24th scale and is it your primary scale ??

For me .....

I started off way back when dirt was not yet invented

As a very young lad - I lived to build model cars - my favorites were the 2 or 3 version offering because you always had left over parts ( motors and rims & tire combos )

I learned to read by reading the instructions on the plastic models cars.

I learned auto part lingo by reading the parts list and looking at the pictures

Then ... I grew into matchbox blister packs ... so many pretty colors

Then I got old ... but one day I saw an ad for the FM Red LAMBO

When it arrived ... the rest was history for me

I love the detail, opening features

As young lad and a serious love for cars, my memory of when I was growing up and how I eyed every car on the road

So I started with the FM & DM 1/24th scale offerings

Hey .. After all ... FM & DM were the best flavors of the month ... RIGHT?

Now that I am older than dirt ...

Now that I never did grow up ...

Now that I have just grown out ....

Now that 1/24th scale is moving into a new direction ....

I have focused my attention to 1/18th scale ...

such as - but not limited to

GMP Pork Chop's 1934 Ford Altered Coupe Hot Rod

CMC Alfa-Romeo 8C 2900B

CMC Bugatti 57 SC Corsica ( 1938 Roadster ) Crocodile Interior L/E of only 3,000

CMC Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic ( Black )

CMC 1394 Mercedes-Benz W25 ( Silver )

In fact ... CMC ... has REALLY got my attention ( And my credit cards, access to my retirement account and second mortgage on my Primary residence and 4 rentals )

With the 1/18th scales of today - I get exactly what I want ...

Impeccable Paint depth and detail

Yes -1/18th are just a lil bigger - But the trade off is they do have more detail due to so many tiny lil parts involved to build ... 300 - 1,000 does provide a window of extreme detail

So there you go

I started with 1/24th scale ( maybe 300 or so? )

and

I've grown into 1/18th scale ( About 10 ? )

and

My FM 1/10th scale Harleys & Indians ( We can't forget those now can we? )

I'm '62' and single. It keeps my mind off of PRETTY WOMEN! LOL! Seriously -

I love the details. 1:24 reminds me of my youth when I was building plastic 1:25 models. My eyes and hands won't let me do 'that' any more. So, I collect 1:24s.
And 1:24s are my primary scale.
As you said - they're JUST RIGHT! LOL!

I just drifted into 1/24 scale in 2014.

I have had in the past large collections in both 1/43 & 1/64 scales. These have all mostly been liquidated leaving about 70 models in 1/64 cars new prior to about 1950 and 35 models in 1/43 that are models of cars I onced owned.
The 1/64 models I will sell soon enough when I can part with them. However, the 43rds are here to stay and I have set up guardianship of these for after when I pop my cloggs.

I kind of drifted into 1/24 in 2014 while struggling with cancer, surgery and lengthy rehabilitation. A friend sent me a Motormax 1939 Chevrolet Coupe`. I've built on that to a total now of some 40 DM & FM models of Americann cars 1930 - 1950.

Now looking back over my shoulder, its difficult to acurately recall a time when I wasn't in some way collecting and building models.
Yet, even now, while my 1/24's main function is for me to stare at them, I do also use DM & FM junk yard models to produce variations. My current project is using a DM 1940 Ford Coupe to produce a dirt track racer. The V12 from an FM 1941 Lincoln shoe horns in with little modification.

Along side this project is up-specing a Jada 1947 Cadillac Convertable using parts in common from a junker DM 1941 Cadillac. This is a proving to be a difficult conversion to sucessfully pull off.

The 1/24 collecting is growing snail pace because of the self imposed date filters I have set for myself. And also no more DM & FM Mint models since they have both now shut up shop in our scale.
So far new released models in 1/24 have become very thin on the ground to now be almost nonexistent.
I know only of the Hatchett range of 1/24 from Russia from which I bought their ZIL/ZIM/ZAC State Limousine whatever it is, but is a model of the 1946 Russian copy of a 1941 Packard. This is a resin cast model with no opening features
and sells in the US for around $30 + shipping.

A hope of change in the shape of the collection from Ms Peters offers a glimmer of optomisim to an otherwise seemingly stalled scale that is 1/24.

Phil, you hit it right on the head. Your statements match up with me as well. We are probably close in age and I agree the 1/24th is just the right size, and to me the best representation of any make & model for likeness and great working features. Even though my 850 car collection is going to have to thin down. I have just run out of room. The problem is deciding which one's of all the beauty's I want to let go.

Excellent question, and to be honest, I have been struggling on where my focus is of late.

I have been collecting diecast model cars since I was five, so that's 53 years now. I have been collecting multiple scales over the years.
1:64 used to my primary focus, and still is the largest number of models in my total collection by several hundred. Even though I only add about 25 or so each year, my interests are more limited based on what's offered.
My next step was 1:43 many years ago, but after a short time I stopped, then 1:24 came into the picture. My first model was in 1989 and I continued to build my collection in this scale heavily until DM stopped, from there is has only been about 25 or so per year based on older fill-ins or new resin options. I began this scale for the same reasons already indicated-they seem just right, good size and amazing details for the size, they were also easy to photograph-which I really love doing.
In 2012, I started looking at 1:43 again, I was amazed at what was offered. The selection was considerably more than I had been used to in any other scale. 1:43 also included model types not covered by the other scales in a far broader array, such as sedans-2 & 4 door, station wagons along with hdtps, coupes & convertibles. I have accumulated a considerable amount of models and information on what is and was available. Which now, the hunt is on and I am thrilled.
Along the way I also added a few 1:18 here and there, but for the most part-except for a rare special model-stopped collecting them. The main reason is they are just to big.

For the last several months or so, I have been struggling with where my collection and focus was headed. With 1:24 continuing to dry up, what was available just wasn't a thrill anymore, so I moved on to 1:43. Collecting them has satisfied everything I needed and looked for in my hobby interests. Just a few weeks ago, I had decided to start selling off my 1:24 considerably and focus all my interests in 1:43.
Now with this announcement from Michelle, I am unsure. 1:24 was a lot of fun when there were choices, so I guess I am going to see where all of this goes and what becomes available.
I have ordered one of the new Cadillac models announced in green. It looks good, and Esval makes some really nice 1:43 models, I have several in my collection-it could get interesting again. We shall see.

For me also the 1:24 size is right.

I also like small sport cars in 1:18 and classic cars in 1:43.

Phil, good question, but it's one that has been discussed on this Forum before. I like 1:24 for the very reason you said, "they are just the right size". As a kid I collected plastic model kits and 1:25 scale promo's.

I've never went to 1:43 scale, and fairly certain I can say I never will. They really are just "toy like" to me. I was never in to Hot Wheels car as a kid for that very reason as well. Just too small.

I always said I would never get in to 1:18 scale, because they are just too big. And with the rarest of exceptions, I've found them to not have the detail and precision that 1:24 does. I do though, own 19 cars in 1:18 scale...but only because they look nice on my collector shelves at the very TOP close to the ceiling. That is the only reason, and I'm not interested in adding any more in that scale.

So that leaves me with 1:24 scale being the size of choice for me. And next to this importance in scale, I'm very committed to my personal self-imposed collecting guidelines. This being only 1940 to 1970 model years and ONLY American cars, but NO Corvettes.

I've cheated on 4 cars that are not within the 40 to 70 year range, and it is a consideration I'll make on a car by car basis. But truthfully speaking, there are just not very many cars outside of those years that I have any interest in.

I want this new venture that Michelle is sharing with us to succeed as much as anyone else here, but I will not buy models from the early 1930's or the 1920's because they do not fit in with my collection and I've zero interest in them. Not even a little bit!

Honestly, I question how many 80 year old and older collectors out there that can support someone producing cars from before World War II. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I just don't see a market for them.

So, 1940 to 1970 American model years and I will order any and all that are produced in 1:24 scale.

George perhaps I’m an oddball, but I’m 53 and LOVE the cars from the teens - 1930s

I have about 43 models from the Early 1900s - 1930s. I find them quite charming, interesting, historically important and they were essentially horse-less carriages in the early 1900s. The teens and up started becoming more closed in and weather resistant with features being added year by year. So my collection is more of an evolutionary one then one with constraints, the only one being that it has to spark my interest in some way. So while my preference and favorite era is 1960s-early 70s I have and love many cars from WAY before then and some later on!

Well, yes you are wrong, George or at least I strongly disagree with your ascertion that it is only collectors 80 years and older who would buy models of pre War cars and in the numbers that would make their production viable.
I'm guessing that you are referring to only 1/24 here, because in taking just Brooklin models as an example, they seem to continue to be doing good business in models of the decade that immediately presceded WW2. My guess is that few of these collectors would be in their 80's.

I am at 72 a huge fan of cars from this pre-war time and those cars going up to the early 1950's.
From reading the posts from other members here, there seems to be a pretty healthy early uptake of the 1928 armored Cadillac and by collectors who have still quite a while to go before they become octogenarians.

If you were to look at the comments feed, George, you will notice that many of the collector comments in support of pre-war models are from collectors as young as 52 - still only boys having to live another 28 years still before they can be included in your 80 years of age thing.
Phil, a spritely no doubt 53, admits to having models of cars from the immediate post WW1 period. Gosh darn it, George, how is that even possible?
While others among us who are steadily working there way towards 80, but nowhere near there yet, also seem to be open to some pre-war favorites.

I seriously doubt that any collector would be advocating for any range of models to be based on every pre-war car that there ever was. Neither are you probably when it comes to buying for your collection.
Collectors generally buy what ever suits their fancy to add to their collections. Many of us have selected perametres or filters - you and I both do.

Whether 18 or 80, most collectors will have declared open season on what they like, buying predominately only what they like, in what ever scales suit their collector ambitions including one marque themes.

We have recreational interests and hobbies because we aren't pushed into having them, its one of the last great freedoms we have left to enjoy. That is what building and collecting models has only ever been to me.

I was born into a "car guy" family. My older brother was a "customizer" in the 50's. In 1958 when

AMT and Johan introduced 3-1 model kits I saved my lawn mowing money and bought them at the local drug store. My brother helped me paint them and put them together. I was hooked for life. I worked on real cars doing body work and paint but that was short term as I received athletic scholarship for college which changed the direction of my life. In 1991, I saw an ad for the FM 1953 Cadillac and became addicted to die-cast. I prefer 1/24 mainly because of the size. As others have said, it seems just right. And they take up less space. I have about two dozen 1/18 scale cars in subject matters not produced in 1/24. I still build models too. I will keep collecting until I check out as this hobby brings me a lot of joy.

I hear you, Tim. 1958 was a pivotal year when those kits were introduced and you could build a car any way you wanted. Later, when AMT came out with the 1932 Ford roadster and 1940 Ford coupe, I was in heaven - building cars I never thought I would see as scale models.
How times have changed.

I guess I started with 1/24, 1/25 scale in 1947 with dealer promos.

I can't say that any one scale is my favorite as I collect all of them. Why? Because that's the only way I get the images I want. My collection is the history of the automobile not the history of model size.