OPINION: Why do you buy Diecast Planes?

[FireAngelZero]

Hey guys:

During the weekend I got into a bit of a tangent with some of the Google+ users (mostly of which are below the 18+ age group) and it got me thinking. What is your primary purpose for buying Diecast airplanes? Being a collector the thought of a plane being taken out of the box to be "played with like a toy" sends shivers up my spine. But it is a question I'm really interested in your feedback for. Do you purchase airplanes for collecting? Or are these toys you use regularly?

[9Y-ISA]

Definitely for collecting. I loved airplanes since as a kid. Because these model airplane replicates the real things so well that's why I'm hooked on them.

[FireAngelZero]

Thanks for your input 9Y-ISA, I looked up your registration and found some of the pictures you have on DA.C I'm a fan of your collection, you have a lot of Caribbean Airlines. I especially like the 767-300. I've always wondered does Caribbean Airways fly in the Caribbean or do they do their own stops?

[9Y-ISA]

Thanks for the compliment FireAngelZero. Caribbean Airlines has three types...the ATR72, B738 and B763. They also took over what was known as Air Jamaica. The main base is Piarco Airport in Trinidad and secondly in Kingston, Jamaica for the AJM operations. The ATR72-600 and the B763 is solely based out of Trinidad.
ATR72 does mainly domestic/regional throughout the Caribbean.
The B763 does the Trinidad-Gatwick as well as Trinidad-Guyana-NewYork JFK and vice-versa. It was also on the Trinidad-Guyana-Toronto route but was reverted to the B738 now.
The B738s out of Trinidad goes to Toronto, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami, Suriname, Guyana and also the Caribbean Islands.
Out of Jamaica they go to Toronto, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Nassau.

[FireAngelZero]

Good to know 9Y-ISA! I didn't realize they purchased Air Jamaica, (here I thought Air Jamaica still operated) I should look into Caribbean Airlines for my collection, the 763 and 738 would fit really well in my JFK airport. Thanks for the info!

[@CLT✈]

I like to collect the models & occasionally move the models & GSE around to make it seem like an airport.

[FireAngelZero]

I move the models and GSE's around too, but most of the time once I display my collection to post pictures online, or on YouTube, once I'm done I put all my planes back in the boxes and on my bookshelf I store them in. Do you display your collection at all times?

Also: why don't you display your collection? haha

[@CLT✈]

I keep a lot of models on a shelf & leave some on the tarmac.

[Brusselsairlines]

Definitively collecting!!! Most of my models are still in their original boxes (exept the ones without box!). I'm planning to build a diorama wich should be complated soonly (I already have many buildings, GSE and a large wooden panael. I now just need the time and patience to build and paint ecerything

[Brusselsairlines]

I don't have lights yet but Herpa produces a set of lights in 1:500

[FireAngelZero]

@CLT I went to a local collectible store (mainly trains) and purchased some HO scale street lamps, they are very bright and match the style of the airport. I think I bought a box of 3 of them for like 7 bucks. I want to grab more so I can add more lighting to the terminal as well as the parking lot.

[@CLT✈]

What scale were the HO lights for (1:200 or 1:400)? I have 1:400

[eugenevh]

I mostly buy model planes to keep my credit card debt high.

Also, I like looking at the boxes stacked high.

But one day I will display them and be in seventh heaven with my precious models (and maybe a couple of cats too) as no sane woman would want to live with a house full of aircraft models. Girls are weird like that. Their loss ;-)

[fleetlordatvar]

DITTO, but i still have hopes for a woman in my life....I'm almost have half a bedroom of stacked high boxes to look at!

[FireAngelZero]

I mostly buy model planes to keep my credit card debt high.

I agree on that! I love my routine of paying off my credit card and maxing it out on models, I'm actually going through that phase this month. I've ordered about 9 jets over the last 2 weeks.

as no sane woman would want to live with a house full of aircraft models. Girls are weird like that. Their loss ;-)

You'd be surprised, I was surprised when I saw a huge collection on YouTube of over 100+ jets to find out it was a girl who collected them.

I was amazed.

[eugenevh]

Hoarders unite!

A girl who collects model aircraft! Well, slap me silly.

Is she married? I'm thinking of pooling resources :-)

[fleetlordatvar]

LINK, where is the link! ...some of us need to see the proof of such a oddity in life.

[asapienza]

For collecting, without any doubt. When I was 7 years old (back to 1967) I started building plastic scale models of airplanes, hobby that I have had since then. In the early 2000s, workload increased a lot and also my desire to start writing books, so I put the hobby aside for a while, and stopped building models in 2008. I still have my collection, though. Since collecting is my passion, I started collecting diecast models about five years ago, focusing on Pan Am, Braniff, TWA and prototypes, plus a few other models that I like. I mainly collect 1/400s, but I do have some 1/200s and 1/500s.

[eugenevh]

Ahhh the wonder of childhood. If only we can all still have that FireAngelZero. Some collectors take the fun totally out of collecting by bitching about each and every minor fault on a model instead of looking at the beauty it represents. I don't want to live my life that way. There is very little (if any at all) perfection in real life. If one's quest is for Zero Defects, then you will live a sad life as that would probably never be achieved.
A representation cannot be as good as the real thing. (and the real things all arguably also have faults).

I liked the Lockheed bird more than the DC-10, but the MD-11 really grew on me and I miss all of the trijets now :-(
I even have a Fantasy SAA DC-10 in my colleciton and I must admit that I like it more than the 747. Shoot me now :-)

[FireAngelZero]

I agree 100% Eugenevh quality will never be a factor when purchasing diecasts. I collect more for the opportunity to say I own that specific model. I don't really care about value as I never really see myself selling my collection.

As for Lockheed I agree as well my two favorite planes of all time have to be the L1011 and the SR-71 hands down. Lockheed will always have a spot in my heart.

[JAL1628]

Definitely to collect.. Just like asapienza, I used to build plastic models and I quit about 5 years ago due to lack of time and space..

Although I'd gotten pretty good at it, I never did enjoy building the models so much as just admiring them afterwards.. A few years ago I discovered this hobby and it is the perfect compromise for me.

[MAStuttgart]

What is your primary purpose for buying diecast airplanes?
- I think the fact that airplanes are so massive in relation to humans was the primary reason why I have been so fond of them, which in turn lead me to collecting. Being at the airport and seeing all the different planes and their liveries was and is still fascinating to me. My primary reason for collecting is because I have a moment in my life to somehow "replicate" those exact emotions I felt.

Do you purchase airplanes for collecting?... Or are these toys you use regularly?
- When my interest in commercial aviation was rekindled in 2006, I would play with my airport that I had built. It even had paper planes! (see picture attached to get an idea, it's a little "childish")
However, it is different now. I am strictly against using these things as a toy, that is not the proper use of Herpa and many other. I know for a fact that Herpa explicity states that the planes are adult collectible models and are not suitable for anyone under 14. Their are many planes marketed to be safely used as a toy such as those Daron/RealToys models, Matchbox SkyBusters.

[JAL1628]

- I think the fact that airplanes are so massive in relation to humans was the primary reason why I have been so fond of them, which in turn lead me to collecting. Being at the airport and seeing all the different planes and their liveries was and is still fascinating to me.

Yes. What a feeling of awe as a child to see these giant machines up close. For me it was the DC-10. I remember when my father used to pull over at the Bradley Terminal so I could look at the planes.