Off the Shelf: How Ed Davis collects history one model at a time

For Ed Davis (@ed-davis), collecting scale replica models was never about chasing a single prized object or completing a checklist. It was something quieter and more gradual, shaped over time by curiosity, craftsmanship, and lived experience. His journey into the hobby began not with intention, but with a few small gifts in the mid-1950s that would leave a lasting impression.

Ed was about seven years old when scale models first entered his life. Among his earliest were a 1:25 scale promotional Buick and a Dinky Ford painted in U.S. Army colors. He doesn’t recall exactly which came first, only that both arrived as gifts. One came from his parents, the other from a relative. At the time, they were simply toys, but they stood apart from the rest. They looked real. They carried weight and proportion. They hinted at the larger world beyond childhood.

An even stronger influence came from Ed’s father, a World War II veteran who introduced him to plastic model kits. Rather than simply buying toys, his father built models of machines he had known personally during the war. Aircraft, bombers, and artillery pieces took shape at the kitchen table. Ed vividly remembers an Aurora T-6 Texan, a Lindberg P-51, a Revell B-24 bomber, and a Revell Long Tom 155mm artillery piece with its tractor. The Long Tom became a favorite. It was large, detailed, and unlike most toys, it demanded careful handling.

Those early experiences taught Ed an important lesson. Models were not just things to play with. They were objects to be respected, studied, and appreciated. Craftsmanship mattered, even if he didn’t yet have the language for it.

As the 1950s gave way to the 1960s, model building became a central part of Ed’s life. He built a large number of plastic airplane kits, mostly World War II aircraft in 1:48 scale, along with a smaller number in other scales. Monogram models stood out for their detail and operating features. Folding wings on naval aircraft were especially appealing, not only because they were realistic, but because space was limited in the family’s Chicago apartment. Even real aircraft carriers folded wings to save room.

At the same time, Ed began building 1:25 scale car kits from companies like AMT and Johan. Some were built stock, others customized. Early attempts were brush-painted and imperfect, but improvement came quickly. Spray cans from Testors and Pactra opened new possibilities. With no garage available, the kitchen near the back door became a temporary paint booth. His parents were patient, and Ed’s results improved dramatically.

That effort paid off in the mid-1960s when Revell and Pactra sponsored custom model car contests at local hobby shops. Ed entered a customized Corvette and won second place in his age group, along with first place for best paint. It was a small but meaningful affirmation of his growing skill and eye for detail.

By the time college began in 1966, model building faded into the background. Academic demands, graduate school, career development, and travel took precedence. Another passion emerged during this time, car rallies. Over the years, Ed participated in many events across northern Illinois and neighboring states, forming friendships that would last decades. Models were largely set aside, though one exception remained. Ed began collecting brass HO scale model trains, drawn once again to precision and quality. As a working engineer, he appreciated fine mechanical craftsmanship and could afford to pursue it.

The early 1990s marked a turning point. A visit to Des Plaines Hobby Shop introduced Ed to S scale brass locomotives, which operate at 1:64 scale. Larger than HO and already painted, they offered a level of detail he found compelling. He sold his HO collection and committed to S scale, building a small modular layout. That decision quietly reshaped everything that followed.

A train layout needs context. Buildings, vehicles, and scenery became necessities rather than optional additions. To support the layout, Ed began collecting 1:64 scale cars and trucks. Early diecast offerings were simple, but detail improved steadily throughout the decade. Models from Ertl, Racing Champions, Winross, Hartoy, and later Hot Wheels and Code 3 found their way into his collection. Fire trucks, tractor-trailers, and everyday vehicles populated his miniature world.

At the same time, another childhood interest resurfaced. In the early 1990s, Ed purchased his first diecast airplane, a 1:72 scale Corgi F4U Corsair. It rekindled his fascination with aviation history. Over time, his airplane collection grew to include about 25 models, mostly World War II aircraft and early jet fighters. These were not generic representations. Each model depicted a specific aircraft, from a specific unit, often tied to a particular historical moment.

Years earlier, during visits to Al’s Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Ed had noticed a small display of 1:43 scale cars from Brooklin. At the time, he admired them but did not buy one. That memory lingered. In 2013, he finally took the leap and purchased a 1:43 scale resin 1957 Cadillac. The model was beautiful, but it also revealed the limitations of resin. Tire deformation and fragile parts led to disappointment. Other resin models followed with mixed results. The experience clarified what Ed truly valued. Durability, weight, and metal construction mattered.

In 2015, he purchased his first white metal model, a Brooklin 1957 Oldsmobile convertible in gold. The impact was immediate. The finish, the plated brightwork, and the substantial feel in hand set it apart from anything he had owned before. That car became the foundation of his 1:43 scale collection and remains deeply meaningful to him today.

One model led to another. Brooklin was followed by Conquest, Madison, WMCE, SMTS, and others. Prices were higher, but the craftsmanship justified the cost. In 2016, Ed purchased a Conquest 1957 Thunderbird after considerable debate. It remains one of his favorite pieces. By 2017, he attended his first BuzFest outside Chicago and joined fellow collectors for dinner. New friendships formed, and the hobby became as much about people as it was about models.

Today, Ed’s collection includes 65 cars in 1:43 scale, most of them white metal, along with approximately 75 vehicles in 1:64 scale and a carefully curated group of airplane models. His primary automotive focus is American cars from the mid-1950s through the early 1970s, along with Japanese sports cars from the 1970s onward. That interest mirrors his real life. Ed has owned Datsun and Mazda sports cars for decades and recently added a modern Nissan Z to his garage.

His approach to collecting is thoughtful and selective. He prefers to show how a brand evolves over time rather than accumulating volume. Photography now plays a role in his decisions, especially through his “Brooklin in Illinois” series on the Forum43 and Brooklin and SMTS Collective Facebook page, which pairs models with real-world Chicago-area backdrops. LEGO buildings support both his dioramas and his train layout, allowing him to merge planes, trains, and automobiles into a single cohesive scene.

Ask Ed what matters most today, and he doesn’t mention rarity or value. He talks about craftsmanship, history, and connection. He values the friendships formed through collecting and the conversations sparked by shared interests. After a lifetime in miniature, the models continue to offer something new. There is always another story to learn, another detail to notice, and another person to meet.

As Ed puts it simply, he buys what he likes. Trains, planes, and automobiles. And somehow, that’s been enough.