Tell us what this hobby means to you? 14 questions answered by you, Alin Demian from Deva, Romania.

We’re always looking for more collectors to feature on DiecastSociety.com Diecast Collector Of The Month (DCOTM). Click HERE for all the details! ** Remember, for your efforts all winning candidates will be mailed a pair of www.DiecastSociety.com decals! **

 

1) What first got you collecting diecast? How long have you been collecting? What is your total model count as of today?

Strange enough I wasn’t a car enthusiast when I start collecting. At that time I was looking for a James Bond memorabilia and it pop-up the DB5 from AUTOart. Seeing it I said to myself that it would look bad alone on the shelf, and from that moment I kept adding models, get interested in car history and add more. So after almost ten years of collecting, I can say I have a lot.

2) What was your first diecast or memory?

My first model was an Aston Martin DB5 from AUTOart.

3) What is your favourite scale, and why?

Scale 1:18 is my favourite because from my point of view it fills best the quality/dimension ratio I am looking for from a scale model.

4) What are some of your favourite models to date? Did you share any photos with us?

Of course my first model but also some fine models from CMC like Ferrari 250GT SWB or Mercedes 300SLR. The latest Land Rovers from Almost Real are also among my favs.

5) Is there a model that has eluded you, a holy grail of sorts?

I don’t have a holy grail, because there are so many nice models out there, but there are some miniatures that I would like to add. Mclaren F1 from AUTOart is one of them and Ferrari California and Mercedes Uhlenhaut from CMC.

6) What is your favourite brand/manufacturer, and why?

I appreciate AUTOart for their past releases but since they changed their way of manufacturing and mostly because they seem to focus only or super/hypercars I lost somehow interest. Being a brand that still has an interest in classic cars reproduced with plenty of details. CMC remains one of my favourites.

7) Describe your current theme and what your overall goal is?

A great part of my collection is centred around British cars themed around Aston Martin and Land Rover.  I do like the stories from the past of the automotive & racing world consequently I like to collect models representing that era, especially from ’50 to ’70. The latest theme was for me Ford @ Le Mans.

8) Do you display your collection? If yes, how?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a room dedicated to my collection, where I display the collection.  I find useful enough the furniture from a Swedish producer.

9) Do you have any other hobbies, passions or addictions?

Collecting models was not my first “addiction”. I enjoy spending time listening to good music, and since my adolescence, I gathered a collection of rock/progressive rock CD albums, a few hundred in total.

10) What do you think about the diecast hobby as it stands today?

Mixed feeling, because today you can find scaled almost every car ever produced, which is a good thing. On the other hand, if you are an old enough collector you cannot observe the degradation of quality and increase of prices.

11) If you could change one thing about the diecast hobby what would that be?

I’d keep today’s diversity but yesterday’s quality.  Wouldn’t be nice to have a sort of quality standard for models, like in the real world for cars?  If you don’t pass the rules you are not allowed on the market? I know… it’s utopia.

12) Do you modify cars? If yes, what are some examples?

I had a few tries but I’d better leave the models as they came from the factory.

13) What does your spouse, partner or significant other think of your hobby and your collection?

So far so good.

14) What is your daily driver?

Ford Focus Active.