2012 in Review: 1:43 Scale By Dick Browne

Other scales have struggled in 2012, but 1:43rd scale collectors have flourished. The year 2012 was a great year with important contributions from over 20 manufacturers. The models came in white metal, resin, and diecast, pleasing those of us with material preferences and appealed to both large and small wallets.

Brooklin Models led the way in white metal with over 40 models including past favorites in new colors. A major development was their Pontiac Collection, the first pre-WWII Pontiacs to hit the market. New equipment at their factory will make it possible to produce longer wheelbase professional cars and limousines in future years. It’s always hard to pick a Brooklin favorite but I sure liked the 1954 De Soto Firedome 2-door hardtop.

Neo Scale Models, despite a change in ownership, did not slow down their many releases of both American and European cars. These well detailed resin models just keep on coming and fill the desired gaps in collections for many cars of the 1960-80’s era. I tend to collect older vintage models so the arrival of their long awaited 1941 Packard 110 Deluxe station wagon was a highlight for me.

Minichamps, a long time diecast favorite, put on their resin hat and launched an exciting Mullin Collection of great French cars. Their first two releases in this series of 22 models were a 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Dubonnet “Xenia” coupe and a 1939 Delage 8-120 convertible. Future releases are anxiously awaited.

Buz Kirkel’s resurrection of past white metal lines continued with Conquest, Madison, and WMCE models. Highway Travelers were added with an all new 1960 Valiant 4-door sedan.

Jim Cowen’s Automodello line continued to grow. Two of my favorites are the 1966 Fitch Sprint, an adaption of the Corsa 2-door hardtop, and, of course, the red museum version of his 1938 Packard V-12 cabriolet.

Minimarque, having to overcome the death of our friend, Steve Overy, continues onward under the very capable direction of his partner, Mike Murray. Their release of the Tom Mix 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton was a highlight for me as I had a personal involvement in meeting the current owner and gathering data and pictures for this model.

Many other 1:43rd manufacturers had outstanding releases.

Spark launched some commendable models of GM cars. After some premature announcements, Ixo got its PremiumX line launched. My personal favorite was a 1954 Pontiac sedan. British Heritage Models has an interesting lineup of Rolls Royce’s. Tin Wizard, a somewhat overlooked white metal maker from Germany, offered an outstanding 1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” speedster. My favorite “little guy”, Inver Models, showed a prototype of their 1938 American Bantam station wagon that will be launched shortly. Michael Bashmashnikov’s B&G had a 1933 Duesenberg produced by EMC in the Ukraine. Volodymyr Sorokolat presented the 1961 Cadillac Jacqueline show car, named for the former first lady and made by EMC. Silas Models in Paris continued their interesting line of postwar English cars.

Jeff Thomas re-launched Motor City with a 1956 Dodge convertible and we anxiously await further models from this high end producer. Vitesse resurrected several of their older models as a prelude to becoming more active.

Ilario continued with their line of top-line classic cars that are available through Legacy Motors. Oxford Diecast in England produced a very interesting 1927 Austin Heavy Twelve phaeton and a neat Jaguar XK-120 coupe among their offerings at very reasonable prices. There were more 1:43 offerings in 2012 from even more manufacturers that ranged from vintage cars to 2013 models leaving no appetites unsatisfied.

On the literary side of our hobby, Jerry Rettig offered his latest version, the Fourth Edition of “American Wheels”, a reference book that no collector would want to be without. Our own Randall Olson produced his latest book, “Independents in Miniature”, a companion to his previous books on Ford, GM, and Chrysler models. Matt White continues to expand his coverage of the 1:43rd scale in his quarterly publication, The Diecast Magazine and, oh yes, I do have a hand in this.

Among our favorite dealers, Legacy Motors has expanded their inventory of 1:43rd models and, with their Legacy Point Program, that’s good news for us collectors. Following the passing of the “godfather” of our hobby, David Sinclair, his longtime associate, Judy Kirkpatrick and her husband, Mike launched JMModelautos, a very full line mail order dealer.

If you have digested all of this, just wait for 2013. It promises to hold even more excitement for 1:43rd collectors.