OPINION: Why do you buy Diecast Planes?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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 :-)

[@CLT✈]

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

[FireAngelZero]

See when I lived in Puerto Rico, I used to take paper towel rolls when I was 6 years old and cover it with paper, make some paper wings and engines, and make a DC-10 with nothing more than a brown cardboard roll, some paper, glue, and imagination.

Since then I always wanted to get a something like that, 10 years later I found Geminijets at San Juan Airport, and since then I've never looked back. My main focus is 1/400 but I have a few in 1:200 including a Delta DC-10 (who would've guessed) and a Condor 767.

[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.

[fleetlordatvar]

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

[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!

[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.

[Brusselsairlines]

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

[@CLT✈]

What did you use for lights? Where did you buy them?

[eugenevh]

Hoarders unite!

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

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

[FireAngelZero]

It just adds that little bit more of a realism level. I always remember as a child watching the model train sets with trees, and grass and lights and when I got my airport mat, I decided it was time to add that realism to my airport. So I placed some street lamps on the terminal that light up. Since the terminal building GJ sells lights up it was just a way to compliment it. Maybe when I have the time I'll put lights on the runway and taxi lights around the airport, seems like a few users have gone that route.