When Collecting Diecast Airplanes S#@Ks

I started collecting diecast model airplanes in the mid-1990's, when I was a much younger, single man with a much higher level of "disposable income" (but that's another story). I've amassed a pretty sizeable collection of somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 models in just about all available scales, and in just about all available eras--but primarily WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Modern. The vast majority of these are in 1:72 scale, followed by 1:48, and then 1:35, 1:32, and some odd scales.

Only recently did I acquire the space to really showcase my collection. Earlier this year we converted our 1-car garage to an office (I work from home), and I purchased some nice cabinets (Ikea rocks!) with some lighting and glass doors to set up a display worthy of my... um... "investment".

So, I took a couple weeks unboxing my models and arranging them in my new office space to achieve my version of "diecast nirvana". These models are "pre-built" but many required some fairly painstaking asembly as well as some dabs of glue here and there (I didn't care--I was going to leave 'em displayed for years!). Here are a few sample pics:

Then, barely a week after I got everything set up the way I've been invisioning it for years, Mr. Murphy struck--a sudden job change came into play and meant we had to pick up and move...and quickly. Oiye!

So, 150 or so models had to be quickly disassembled, and each piece carefully returned to its proper home in the myriad boxes I had stored all over the house--in just about every dark nook and cranny. It took much longer to box 'em all up it did to display them, and for the first time I cursed my hobby!

This process, which includes boxing the models for transportation to the new digs (with a much smaller office, and much less display room), also fully exposed the exent of my "little hobby" for the wife, and myself really, to see for the first time. To say we were a bit shocked at the sheer mass of zinc and packaging was an understatement--I sold off quite a few models as a result (most of my Franklin Mint collection, in fact) but something tells me some more thinning out is going to be required on the back end of the move (those panicked looks from Mrs. Ace, perhaps?).

This has all forced me to reevaluate my hobby based on an important, and overlooked until now, criterion: moveability--how easy is the model to get in and out of its packaging, set it up, and take it down. Here's how I rank the major brands I collect, from best to worst:

1. Corgi

2. Gaincorp

3. Witty

4. Hobby Master

5. Gemini Aces

5b. Century Wings

6. Eagles International

7. Franklin Mint/Armour Collection (oh how I hate those clamps!)

8. Speccast

9. Marushin

10. GMP

11. Dragon (due to how many of these required glue to get them to display right, and how many little parts there are to keep track of)

When I, and my models, get to my new home and I tackle setting them up again, I'll share the results. In the meantime, you can few most of my collection here: http://www.diecastace.com/.

Until next time...

The Ace

"So many great models, so little display space."