Tell us what this hobby means to you? 14 questions answered by you, Toni Steoboranu, Bucharest, Romania.

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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 have always liked cars and model cars and since I was a kid I used to collect Bburago and Hot Wheels models. I say collect, but those were my car toys more than collectible models.  Around 10 years ago a magazine series appeared in Romania, called “Masini de Legenda” or “legendary cars” with most of the cars that appeared on Romanian roads in the Communist era and shortly after. That magazine series started my appetite for collecting model cars.

2) What was your first diecast or memory?

Excepting the Bburago models I used to play with, the first diecast model would be a red Dacia 1300 at 1:43 scale, from the DeAgostini collection “Masini de Legenda”.
My first resin model was a Lamborghini Aventador J from Fujimi.

3) What is your favourite scale, and why?

I like all model cars, but even if I have model cars from 1:87 scale until 1:18, 99.9% of my collection is made of models at 1:43 scale. I find this scale the best combination of detailing and space.

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

This is very hard to decide, but I will enumerate the first models that get thru my head as favourites:

1 – Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 by Minichamps.
2 – Mazda Furai by Spark
3 – Rolls-Royce Phantom V Mulliner Park Ward “Personal car John Lennon” by True Scale Miniatures
4 – Alfa-Romeo GTAm by M4
5 – Bugatti Chiron Sky View by LookSmart
6 – Lamborghini Terzo Millennio by LookSmart
7 – Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Miura Homage by LookSmart
8 – Ferrari Roma (blue Roma) by BBR
9 – McLaren P1 GTR “James Hunt 40th Anniversary” by Almost-Real
10 – BMW i8 by Paragon-Models
11 – Volkswagen T1b – Renntransporter Continental Motors VW PORSCHE by Schuco ProR
12 – McLaren F1 by AUTOart
13 – Gumpert Apollo Intensa Emozione (IE) by Peako

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

There are quite a few that I missed buying when I had the chance and now are almost impossible to get.  Among them, I can enumerate the Lamborghini Egoista, the Marussia B2, and the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in Viola Altheia colour (I am picky, I know).

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

Everyone who sees my collection will easily notice that I am a Lamborghini fan as I have more than 200 Lamborghini models in my collection. Regarding the Manufacturers, I can’t say I have a favourite but I know that Make Up Eidolon and AUTOart are never disappointed (if we ignore the price tag of course). I am also a big fan of Minimax and old Minichamps models.

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

I have 3 main themes for my collection:

1 – Lamborghini models…If I will be able to get them all I would be so happy :)))
2 – Racing models. Mainly cars with podiums at Le Mans, Targa Florio, and Mille Miglia
3 – Models that make my eyes happy.  Basically, if I like a model that I like, I want it

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

As shown in my pictures or on my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/AtTonisGarage).

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

I like photography, hence the reason why I started my YouTube channel where I present the models from my collection.

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

For me, it is my favourite hobby, but I can’t ignore the fact that this is also a domain with a lot of intrigues and discussions about prices and fairness between collectors. But at the end of the day, I see this hobby of mine as the perfect place to enjoy my morning coffee.

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

My only wish is that manufacturers that make models at different scales make all their models in those scales. For example, I have a lot of Spark and TSM models, but I find it quite frustrating that these brands don’t make all 1:43 scale versions of the Mini GT models that are at 1:64 scale, and other way around.

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

No. I only break them from time to time when I don’t pay enough attention.

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

From this point, I can say that I am very lucky as my spouse likes my hobby and from time to time she even surprises me with a model :)

14) What is your daily driver?

A Honda CR-V (not what I collect, but I like it)