1/43 Scale Cars & Trucks are Great

Oh, my - yet another innocent, happy soul who has been moved a step closer to the dark side.  It does not stop at one car, you realize.  1:43 cars are like Tribbles, if you remember the Star Trek episode.  Soon they are everywhere and you have more than you know what to do with!

Seriously, they are fun and they do help the the layout in the right place.

Terry what kind of car did you shoot?

Lee, you are correct. Already placed an order for 3 more.

BK. I knew this was going to happen sooner than later. Let me work on a picture, follow Rich's directions for posting pictures and get myself up to date. Thanks Terry

Lee's right, I started back in this hobby back in 1980 and today not counting the cars and trucks on the layout or those I've given away I have 4 beer cases full of them and they are all wrapped in tissue paper to save space, each box weighs about 50 lbs!

Jerry

Here goes. First post with a picture. It's the original James Bond car from the movie Goldfinger. Have to have fun! Terry

Some of my collection.

Bob

Oh boy.....packratitis can set in quickly, and there is no antidote....there are parameters you can set....like years appropriate to your era...no 50 lb boxes of $125 Brooklins to finance cruises for your heirs...and for me, in my era, no imports were seen, and I only get ones likely to be seen on the street....wnich means no open topped Duesenbergs in a snow scene.  Unfortunately, a lot of stuff is outside those parameters, so you have to be a picky searcher....but even in the magazine layout spreads you'll

see VW bugs next to those Chinese 1934 Fords...but it depends on what you are

going for..the image..I had Dinky and dimestore Tootsietoys on my childhood layout.

(now they are collectible and not a cheap way to go)

For what its worth folks, I have also quite a few 1:43 scale cars and trucks,.

 I was looking for convenient storage containers for them before the holidays, when I discovered Cabela,s had the Plano model #1374 tackle and storage case on sale for 19.99 each, with free shipping over 100.00 purchase. So I ordered 6 of them. (I gave a few away for gifts). I can get at least 50 or more 1:43 cars and trucks in each case . The top of the case will hold about 12 or 15 in original boxes, the 4 utility trays will only hold the cars and can be adjusted for short or longer lengths. Very handy carrying handle on top. I swap cars and trucks on my layout once in a while and store and carry them up and down for use under the Christmas tree.

Just a thought for anyone needing a storage case, I don't believe they are on sale right now.

I expect that I'll be primarily using 1/43rd scale vehicles on my layout. It would have been nice to use more 1/48th scale autos and trucks, but they aren't so commonplace, and if you're collecting for the late 1930's--early 1940's, the pickings are few and far, far between.

I did buy a James Bond car at a San Antonio flea market. The deal included the bad guy who sits in the ejector seat. I'm thinking of painting the bad guy in something that could be found on a carpet if he goes over the cliff at the edge of the layout and the James Bond Driver with Daniel Craig's flesh-tones and hair color.

I have over 15 Cars, Trucks, Emergency Vehicles & such. ALL with Headlights, Tailights. Blinking Lights, Flashing Lights, etc. They were all moified by Jack Pierce of Toronto, Canada. Quite a "LIGHT" Show ,I might add.

FREDSTRAINS

I've not yet purchased any cars or trucks for the layout, just has not been a priority to this point, but this tread opened up a whole new world of options -- Thank you.

My sole question is with the different scales already on the layout, Lionel PW and modern actual 1/48, will there be any true difference when the cars and trucks are .25 or .5 smaller than true 1/48. Is this something that when I or a visitor looks at the layout the cars will be unnaturally smaller than they should be. I also understand that when buying 1/43 scale die cast you are buying something akin to 1/43, might be larger or smaller, is there any one supplier who tends to be truer to scale -- one that is not $125 per car, as while I love old cars I don't want $5K worth on the layout.

If you like old Japanese & European cars (especially race-cars), then Ebbro makes a crap-ton of 1:43 models.  They can be expensive though.

http://ebbro.net/series/oldies/

http://ebbro.net/series/history/

http://ebbro.net/series/japan-grand-prix/

http://ebbro.net/series/racing/

Joe & SB

Thank you for your replies, that helps a great deal.

Thanks again,

Jason

My first layout started with just 3 Ertl 1/43 scale vehicles. Today my diecast collection totals 95 and counting. I try to stay with 40s and 50s era cars and trucks but I do have a 1960 Corvette. Every once in a while I will rotate the vehicles to give them all a chance on the layout. Some cars are more detailed like the Franklin Mint versions and some are less expensive like Solido. My advice is if you see it a show and you like it, go ahead a buy it no matter what type of detail it has.