Maybe you should forget HK & go to Bangkok yourself instead to scout for 1:18's. I'm not a fan of 1:18's(I fancy 1:43's) Besides, Bangkok is very much nearer & the 1:18's seems reasonably cheap. Hell a lot more than us here in KL. Hongkies being calculative will slaughter. Sing x'change rate killing.

Try checking this :-

http://www.ampmodelcar.com/ampshop.htm

Cool down guys! Unless everyone agrees to a standard model size to share, I suppose it is open to all sizes. I don't agree that price matters but I do agree that this is a very expensive hobby (& addictive also). Anyway, do take a cue from this guy :-

http://msk2705.blogspot.com/


P.S. Remember this is not a war zone! I am a 1:43 fan 'cause of space constraints & this size is almost limitless. Besides I always feel that the biggies look a bit like those paper ones they burn for the afterlife. Mind you, 1:43 are not cheap. Please bear in mind the most expensive die cast ever auctioned off is not a detailed model but a die cast toy ('cause it is so rare)

So if you want to enjoy your hobby as well as turning it into an investment, size does not matter.

Price very steep for a 1:43. Besides have to DIY. What if some components are short/missing. Frustrating. Also not many variety - only muscle cars. I love 1:43's but I wouldn't give an arm or a leg for it. $ is hard to come by nowadays. Must buy wisely.

There are many 1:43's in the world & almost all cars under the sky are found in this scale but my target are MDM models - cars in our own domestic market (replica of real cars which I can see on our roads & which I can relate to, & some which I really fancy) Attention to minute details is not my priority but accurate semblance to the real thing(overall outlook) is what I look for. Besides what I buy goes straight into the display cabinet. I just don't have the time to peep inside all the models I buy or physically examining them. I have more than 370 pcs . 90% 1:43's & half of them are still in storage in their boxes. I guess I can only focus on displaying them (i.e. once I get the right cabinet &) when I stop buying. I never expected my passion/obsession for this hobby would make my living room look more like a model shop. This obsession of mine also includes military hardware, planes & tanks (mostly 1:100 & 1:72's). I tell you, I seriously have to start thinking of displaying this beauties or else what is the point of buying them. I don't know how you guys can cope with 1:18's or 1:24's. You'll need a mansion for them if you want to keep up with the hobby.

Cheers!

Life can be very short so it's pointless to waste it by sparing with one another on the net. Btw HW have 1:18's as well as 1:50. Are there any 1:50's here in M'sia?

MINICHAMPS do have the Double-cab version of the Hilux in 1:43 scale. I have one.

Ur rite. We all know that there are a lot of people here who has lots of money & time to spend. For goodness sake, please don't waste other peoples time by showing a box. Besides, it is also taking up valuable space in this thread. Don't be a f.....g tease bit..h ! Just show everyone the goods!

Different people have different taste. Depends on your resources. I mean, $, space & time. Best place to look for die cast car models is ebay. You can either Bid or Buy, depends on seller. Sometimes you can get really great bargains & sometimes if that particular model is very rare & in demand, you may have to pay top $ if you bid for it (because you are competing with buyers from all over the world)

You need to spend a lot of time surfing the net for the models you like. For me, I target (preferably 1/43) street models of vehicles found on Malaysian roads because I find their body shape (street versions) more distinct when displayed. Furthermore, there are more varieties. Retro models i.e 70's, 80's & 90's model are my favourite. They are hard to come by. Once sold out. Gone forever.

Over the past 2 years since I have been bidding & buying on-line, I have accumulated about 300 cars, 20 planes & 12 soldier figures (all die cast) And all this time only 5 models did not reach me. I have made 3 claims with Paypal for non receipt of items and I was duly compensated fully for the amount I paid. I made the claims because the purchase prices were quite substantial. Please note, you must know how to open an ebay account as well as a Paypal account if you want to buy anything on ebay. Ebay & Paypal are sister companies.

Coming back to lost items & compensation, purchase & compensated amount may vary because of different exchange rates during different time intervals. Paypal always favour the buyer when the buyer opens a dispute & subsequently a claim against the seller for lost items. Timing is very important if you want to get back you money for items not received. You have to open a dispute within 45 days of paying for the item & 20 days there- of to make a claim i.e. if seller does not agree to compensate. Like I said earlier , I got back the money about 68 days which is credited into my Credit Card balance by Paypal.

Bidding or buying on ebay can be very exciting especially when you are bidding against other buyers for a model you like very much. I used to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to bid for a model car. Highly satisfying when I win the bid. Come to think of it, I have won most of my bids. Don't want to elaborate on my bidding skills. Lately, I have slowed down because I feel that I have already achieved my targets & also I have a new 1/1 car to pay for.

Remember, decide what you want (type of vehicle) & it will be easier to search for. Cheers!

Going to Hong Kong next month. Can anyone recommend other shops selling reasonably priced die cast model cars (especially 1/43) besides those found in the links below :-


http://sgdc.8.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=...3dda0b86f2aThis



http://volvo.alexlokopen.net/j9990shp.html

I dun know what type of budget ur talking about or what type of die cast cars ur interested in (normal street or race cars) . If money is not a problem & u have credit card/s, ebay is d best source. Going thru the ebay & Paypal procedures can be quite complicating if u wanna pay by Credit card but it is d safest.

I have been bidding & buying on ebay for almost 3 years now & all I can say is that I have found most of the models I like. And I can say the models I have bought are very much cheaper than those found at The Mines , Queens Park Retail Center(dun know whether d shop is still there or not) & forget about Nikko - since it is closed. Toycity,Toys r Us, Jusco, Parkson & Metrojaya just do not know what what people wants. If you wan to waste your time & money hunting for models at these places, u can wait till d cows come home.

P.S. I recommend that u decide on the scale u most fancy (& also d type as I have mentioned above). Personally, I prefer 1/43 because because most models are available in this scale & does not take up space. However, I do have one 1/18, a couple of 1/24, 1/32, 1/36 & 1/40 because it does not come in 1/43 scale. I even have 1/64's but I don't keep track of them. I would say 90% of my collection consist of 1/43's.

Don't remember seeing any LR Defenders @ 1/43 scale locally. But have seen LR Discovery III & Range Rover Sport of this scale @ Toys r Us -RASTAR
brand. Cararama (by Hongwell) does have pretty good replicas of all the Land Rover models. The have both sealed & openable doors (Front only) type. If you reside in the Klang valley,try Brightzone at The Summit USJ (1st. floor). The uncle/boss use to import LR's from UK. I do have the whole range of LR's but so sorry, I do not have extras & I do not have the heart to trade them. By the way, some body in Malaysia is trading the latest models of the Camry, Accord & Corolla Altis of the 1/43 scale on ebay. They are RASTAR brand & pretty good replicas. Anyone, seen them on sale at the stores?

Come over to Ipoh or KL or PJ then. Check out Parkson/Jusco or Toys r Us for Rastar 1:43s. which is quite a decent model for its price.

Check link for pics. - http://www.rastar.hk/die.html#


Most Jap models are quickly snapped up so Minis are still available. I got a couple, i.e. Accord,Corolla Altis,Teana,350Z,X6,Odyssey,

Alloys don't rust. That's why they use them in the 1st. place. I notice this is very common in Maisto - sometimes even in higher end models. A collectors nightmare. That is why I am reluctant to collect 1/18s. I only have one 1/18, the rest 1/24 & mostly 1/43s. The larger the model, the more distinct the bulges from underneath the paint. Metal die cast models are made of alloy i.e usually a combination of metals such as zinc, aluminium, magnesium,copper etc. Get any impurities in this combination of metals & over time will result in blisters or bulges on the surface of the models. Only way to restore your model is to strip the paint to bare metal, grind away the bulges & repaint. But then, you will loose all the decals i.e the badges & logos on the model. Too much work for something that might not meet your expectations in the end. Might as well sell it off if you can find a buyer.
You said you have finally collected all your dream street version cars. Are they all 1/18s? Quite challenging to collect 1/18s. I have close to 450 pcs. of mostly 1/43s & half of which are still in their boxes. And besides cars, I collect air crafts & tanks(1/72s) I have to one day stop buying & start concentrating on getting a few dust proof cabinets to display my models or else it is pointless to keep them without the ability to appreciate them. House is looking more like a die cast model shop. Anyone out there knows where to get reasonably priced wall mounted cabinets?