Magazines? Books?

Check out Brooklin Models Collectors Guide by Gianluigi Cappi. It has a listing of all of Brooklin's white medal models, and if you cross reference to those that tickle your fancy with eBay, you'll be able to see what the range of prices are. 

That's my focus. I'm sure others here can provide more references.

Ed, thank you. I just saw the book on Brooklin's website, and found John Kuvakas' youtube video about it. Before I order it, I'm going to see if the wife will buy it for me, as early B'day present. That way, I save some of my model cash.

Jim Flynn

1/43 1940-50s American cars?  I assume you mean new ones and not old Dinky/Corgi/etc diecast toy cars.  Then there are later ones that were some of the first collectible 1/43 - Solido l'Age D'or, Rio, Dugu come to mind.  For more modern stuff, we still have diecast but probably more resin and white metal choices.  

For books, you need Independents in Miniature by Randall Olson, 2012.  I need a copy of that one - I have his Ford and GM books. abebooks.com and ebay are good sources - don't see any there now...

Also, White Metal Transport Modeling by Ray Strutt and David Wright, 2011.  David has a resin book as well.  Might still be available from David himself in the UK.

Magazines - there are MAR Online (I am US Editor) and in English, Diecast Collector.  Neither have much 1940-50's American cars - just every once in a while.  

Then search on ebay and hobbyDB.com - let us know if you have questions about anything you find...

I agree with Karl about the book Independents in Miniature by Randall Olson. This is the only one that i don't have but i have his three others books GM in miniature, Ford in Miniature and Chrysler in Miniatures. I like them all very much. Here is a preview of the book. You can even see a couple of pages inside.

INDEPENDENTS by RANDALL OLSON | Blurb Books  

@jimgf. send me an email, Ed. 

John, sent you one earlier, about 12:30ish. If you didn't get it, I'll try again. It would be from b*****2@carolina.rr.com.

Thanks.

Jim

Oops! I got it and just replied. 

Hi JimGF, and welcome to Forum 43.  My first recommendation is to do what you are doing- reading this forum every single day.  And in your spare time, go to the back days.  Since this is a "rebirth" site, that's only a few months.  A few months ago, when Forum 43 was closed for re-vamping, I hunted and hunted for a replacement.  It would have been easier if my interest had included racing,  but that's not my thing.  I am just happy the forum is back.  My second choice is eBay, going to the toy/hobby section and using the "1/43" a lot.  Next, and I'm not the first to say this, get ahold of a copy of Randall Olson's INDEPENDENTS IN MINIATURE. Click on any picture for enlargement.

  I'm sure you're familiar with the toy dealers of the Salisbury area, but it's not that far to other NC cities.  There aren't many around, but a good dealer is a true value.  Don't forget to use your good RR contacts;  I understand a lot of RR people use 1/43 cars in their Lionel sized set-ups.

   Selfishly, I welcome you to the forum because our interests are very similar.  I kid the guys here sometimes that anything newer than the late 50's is just a used car, and who wants a model of that!  (Just kidding, guys.)  My 1/43 Packards are a large part of my collection.

   Most of all, enjoy!

      David H (up in the mountains at Brevard)   

Hi David. Thanks for the welcome. And the recommendations. I am slowly going through all the older posts in the forum, and have been checking out ebay. Much as I want to start buying models, I'm going to concentrate the books mentioned 1st, since my hobby/display space still need clearing out and organizing. Any models bought would have to remain in their boxes, for now.

I have a line on the Brooklin Collector's Guide, from a very generous person, and I have Olson's 'GM In Miniature' in ebook form, on my kindle. So I'll hunt for the other titles.

As far as I have found, there is no dealer in the area, or even within decent driving distance, so I'll be basically doing mail order/ebay for my buying. There is one of the last remaining model train shops in the next town, Spencer. They carry all the common scales, and are a Lionel dealer. I've not paid attention to what they may have in 1/43 cars, but will check the next time I pop in there.

Yes, it's nice to know there a few of us who are just into models of the cars average (well, and maybe a some wealthy types) people bought and drove. My interest cut off is pretty much 1955, as I never could cozy up to fins One exception, the 1963 Ford Galaxy. My 1st serious car. Never was much of a Ford fan, but deal was too good to pass up in 1969. And the fins were gone by then, too!

Know where Brevard is, was there (well, maybe almost) a few years back. Delivered tanks of Oxygen and Nitrogen to the hospita, off Highway 64 (I think). Beautiful country.

Thanks again for the welcome, looking forward to all this.

Jim

David H - we were just in Brevard 2 weeks ago..  Sorry to highjack the thread.  We are looking for a house in the Hendersonville-Brevard area.  Will be back there in a few weeks.  They are going like hotcakes, so no luck yet!

@jimgf. In addition to all the above ideas, when I first started I found a lot of good info at this site and have made some purchases from them as well

http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/diecast/index.htm

As Egon Spengler said in Ghostbusters, print is dead. Well, almost (Cappi's Brooklin guide is quite good by stops around 2019). The problem with a book about current models is that it is obsolete as soon as it comes out. Hoobydb is good, but with so many contributors it can be hard to navigate by manufacturer number - it all comes down to the brand administrator to keep things straight. As far as values, ebay Completed Auctions is useful, just be sure you are checking for condition. And, also check completed auctions by Vectis, Wallis and Wallis, etc. Even books about obsolete makes (Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox, etc.) can be superseded as new info comes to light. Some websites devoted to one brand can be extraordinarily good (for example. for Mebetoys see http://www.grantoros.com/grantoros/mebetoys1.html)  

I don't subscribe to any print magazines anymore, though I get Brooklin's club news. My accumulated issues of Model Auto Review, Model Collector, Corgi Collector, Diecast Collector, The Car Room, etc. are great dust collectors, but I do dig into MAR once in a while while researching a model's history. 

@jimgf  Here are a few 1963 full sized Fords,  a Conquest Country Squire, and Thunderbird roof line Galaxie and a later roof line Galaxie 500 hardtop by Spark. Also were made Falcons, Fairlanes,  Econoline Club Wagon and a C tractor cabover truck.

I have Olson's GM in Miniature in ebook, and plan to buy a print copy, soon. I see it, and Ford In Miniature copies, selling in the $30 to $50 dollar range, the latter a new, sealed HB copy. Anyone have a idea what a decent price is for the Independents In Miniature book would be? Is it usually pricier than the other 2?

Thanks all.

Jim