Tell us what this hobby means to you? 13 questions answered by you, George Kages from Illinois, USA.

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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 first started collecting when I was 7 or 8 years old, perhaps younger (I’m a 57 year old attorney in Chicago now!). While I’ve never really done a full inventory, I did count up the Exotos, which number 29. I probably have around 100 models all together.

2) What was your first diecast or memory?

My first, when I was a young boy, were Matchbox and Corgis.  Then, when they came out in the 1960s, Hot Wheels (I still have some of those original Hot Wheels club exclusive cars!).  My first 1/18 was a Bburago Ferrari 250 GTO.  That was in the early 1980s.  I haven’t stopped!

3) What is your favourite scale, and why?

Favorite scale, and pretty much the only scale I collect, is 1/18.  I prefer this scale due to the detail it allows, as well as the use of heavier, “noble” materials.  I’ll always look to a diecast car, with tampoed markings, over any resin model with decals (which I stay away from.) I do have a few of the Exoto 1/43 race transporters, and have been able to pick up the appropriate cars to match up to each – for example, the Fiat Bartoletti Type II, in the 1966 LeMans guise, which I’ve matched up with the Ford GT40s ( the number 8, 7 and 2 cars (as shown in the well-known photo, where they are being unloaded for the race.)  Those look nice on a bookshelf.

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

I’m a big racing fan, particularly of historical and vintage races and the cars which were involved in those races. One of my most recent additions is a pair of CMC Mercedes Benz SSKLs, the 1931 Mille Miglia winner and the 1931 Grand Prix of Germany winner, both driven by Caracciola. Those make a great pair. Another favorite is the Exoto Alfetta 159M. I’ve got Fangio’s Spanish Grand Prix winner in a case, with the rolling chassis, and the Fangio figure standing next to them. I’m starting to like the figures, which I had originally stayed away from, but now appreciate as they add some nice interest, life and scale to the models.

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

I’ve always been fascinated by the speed record cars which were unleashed on the Autobahn in the 1930s.  Unfortunately, they are only now found now in 1/43 scale.  I get most of my models through an incredible shop in suburban Chicago, The Motorsport Collector, and I’ll go there every now and then just to talk racing with Paul, the owner.  Recently, he took in some cars from an estate.  I was going through them and found the long out of production 1/18 Revell Auto Union Recordwagen, the famous “streamliner”, from 1938.  Of course, I had to have it.  Not the most detailed model around, but that one is all about the shape, the beautiful aerodynamic, silver colored body.  And, while not popular in this era, it has the swastika on it, which is accurate.  Rosemeyer drove it, and was a party member.   I’m also a fan of the great Can Am racers of the 1960 and 70s.  Another “estate” car I recently picked up is the great GMP model of Dan Gurney’s 1966 Gurney-Westlake Bardahl Special Lola T-70 Spyder.  Again, an older model which isn’t detailed like a CMC or Exoto, but it looks fantastic, and represents a great period of all-out, unrestricted racing.

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

I’m a big fan of Exotos, CMCs and AUTOArt.  The detail on these brands is always high, and the attention to the accuracy is impressive.  Just looking at the differences between the 2 CMC Mercedes SSKLs, the differences, for the sake of accuracy, are amazing- different (branded and treaded) tires, interior controls, even the tailpipe treatment show that someone in CMC was really dedicated to replicating the actual car.  Some of my Exoto XS cars have detail that still leaves me in awe, like the detail on the ’54 Jaguar D-Type’s rolling chassis.  Like they say, it really looks like all you need is to fill up the gas tank and drive away!  The AUTOarts, especially the Signature line, are tremendous in their detail and variety of cars.  I recently picked up a Hennessey Venom, in matte black, (a “modern car- a rarity for me!) and I constantly pull that out and just look at the beautifully done engine.

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

I think that the best way to describe a “theme” is that I tend to collect the older, vintage cars. I like cars that were purely mechanical, no computers or software anywhere! Cars which owe their aerodynamics to somebody’s artistic taste- my favorite example of that is my CMC Bugatti Corsica-bodied roadster- pure art, or perhaps Malcolm Sayre’s aeronautical design involved with the D-Type Jaguar. I love the old phrase, “if it looks fast, it will be fast.”

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

I have selected cars displayed in my den. They are all in cases, and I occasionally rotate them with others. I like to have some sort of coherent match, like with the 1/43 transporters, time-specific, or even race-specific cars being transported. I love the Exoto rolling chassis models, which always look great when put next to the bodied-car. The vast majority of my cars are in their boxes, tucked away in closets.

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

I’m a huge reader, mostly history.  A lot of what I read also involves racing and automobiles. I always research the history of the cars I buy, that way I can appreciate the design and history of whichever car I’m looking at. I also road bike. and of course, my Golden Retriever dog.

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

I think we’ve seen the eclipse of the great diecast models, at least the truly affordable diecast models. I’m not a fan of resin, of which I only own 1 and was hugely disappointed when I got it. Between the labor and material costs, I can’t see any company taking the time and effort to develop cars like the great CMC or Exoto cars while keeping them affordable.

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

Although the current state of the various economies make it impossible, I’d like to see the trend towards higher prices stop.  It seems like nobody will be able to afford the great models.  Even Exoto now makes their Ferrari LM only when an order is placed.

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

Because the cars I collect are pretty much race or model-specific, I really have no reason to modify any.

13) What is your 1:1 daily driver?

I drive a BMW Z4- the first generation of that model. The great (or in the eyes of some, hated) BMW designer Chris Bangle was behind the design of the original Z4, and to see him describe his thoughts on it, why the various lines and cuts are where they are, really gives you an appreciation for a car that embodied as much artistic thought as can be allowed in a modern, mass-produced vehicle.