Tell us what this hobby means to you? 14 questions answered by you, Curtis Wood from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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

I wouldn’t be in this hobby if it wasn’t for my dad. He was a big Revell model kit guy when he was a kid, and I saw his passion for the hobby and started collecting Hot Wheels at probably age 8-9, luckily I kept all of those Hot Wheels and still have them. I stopped collecting in my teens and early twenties (didn’t really have the means to get what I wanted), and now over the last 4 years have picked it up again, and started buying Hot Wheels again now that I have kids. Total model count, Hot Wheels: around 60-80, 1:18 scale: 10 total (soon to be 11).

2) What was your first diecast or memory?

I don’t remember my ‘first’ diecast car, but there are two cars that stick out in my memory.

#1. My favourite Hot Wheels growing up was my 1997 First Editions Firebird Funny Car, I sadly lost this car a long time ago (but thanks to eBay I’ve got 2 new ones tucked away safely now haha).

#2. There was a hobby shop where my dad took me as a kid, and in the hobby shop, they had the regular aisle stuff, and near the front, they had these glass cases (where all the good stuff is). There was a 1:18 Hot Wheels Elite Ferrari FXX #30 Michael Schumacher in one of the cases and they wanted $400 for it (A LOT to 11-year-old me); I made it my mission to get this car, and over the next few months I managed to save enough cash to get it. I wasn’t sure if it would still be there when I went in to buy it, but luckily the stars aligned and I was able to pick it up. Happy to say I still have it in the original box, which is frankly a miracle given where it was stored most of its life.

3) What is your favourite scale, and why?

1:18 for sure. I was gifted a bunch of these cars as a kid, and all my friends had this scale, so we would bring these over to each others’ houses to play/trade, so good memories. Also, to me, I think they display the best; I display most of my models in my rec room, and the 1:18 scale works well for our shelving layout/dimensions.

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

I’m very selective on what I buy and have limited display space, so I like most of my stuff similarly (I know, pretty lame answer).  Gun-to-my-head, my favourite would have to be the CMC Mercedes SSK “Black Prince” (Count Trossi), it always looks like it’s going 100 standing still.

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

I have a couple, the CMC 1/18 Ferrari 312P Berlinetta Rennsport- Coupe 1969. I’m ‘late’ to the CMC party, and I love a lot of the models in their back catalogue, but this one stands out. I’m searching for one at a relatively decent price, but none have come
up at a price I’m willing to pay. 

The second car… doesn’t really exist from what I know, I’m waiting for a good manufacturer to make a diecast, fully opening Lamborghini Reventon Roaster. I know MR made a resin model, but I really want a diecast version that opens, so I’m waiting for something that may never exist haha.

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

CMC. In my opinion, they make the best 1:18 models (yes, I know amalgam exists). Every single product they are currently turning out is a work of art.

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

I didn’t really realize it until I bought my Count Trossi, but I was unknowingly putting together a good chunk of Ralph Laurens’s collection, I guess that’s my “theme” haha. No real end goal apart from the idea that the models will be seen by friends and family (sometimes clients) coming over to the house, so the models I purchase need to be high quality (and ‘chic’ enough, to pass the wifey test).

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

Yes, most of it gets displayed in our shelving unit above the TV in our rec room (see attached photo), and a couple in the office.

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

I’m an avid runner, mountain biker, and watch collector (which could be why I gravitate toward CMC so much haha).

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

I wouldn’t say I have my finger on the pulse of what is going on in the hobby, but I know that both my boys are into it, so at least at my house the hobby is going strong (Can’t leave a Costco anymore without picking up a 1:18 Maisto).

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

This isn’t just a diecast hobby thing, but a societal thing, “buying something as an ‘investment’ vs just buying it because you like/love it”. This is a real problem I’ve found in watch collecting, and on the higher-end diecast models, you can see the same trends. Diecastsociety.com does a good job of avoiding “speculation” in its articles, and I like that.

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

No.

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

For the cars that are being displayed, they need to pass the ‘Mrs’ test and look good with our décor (i.e. a lime green 1:18 scale twin mill won’t pass the mustard). For the cars that aren’t being displayed, she could care less, she knows it brings me joy, so she doesn’t really ‘poke’ too much haha.

14) What is your daily driver?

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE (for the kiddos), and on Sundays, my Emerald Green 1966 Mercury Parklane (390).