I've been very disappointed with the diecast collecting hobby as a whole as of late. It seems a lot of people think they're 'big wheels' if they produce a bunch of factory-run models, or have 300 factory built pieces in their collection. It annoys me, because this attitude washes down on smaller enthusiasts, making some believe they're 'small' or 'insignificant' just because they can't blow thousands of dollars in toys every year. It's odd, but the people that brag about having the biggest collections (and hence should be the first to help others) are generally the worst about passing on their knowledge within the community.
There's more to diecast than just buying a piece and having it sit on your shelf - you can customize it, make it special, something to really love, and that's what this is all about. With these pages, I'll try to show you everything I know about this hobby. Look around, and if you have any questions, fire me off an email. Enjoy!!!
Interests in diecast sway back and forth, but I'm pretty much a fan of 1/64 or 'S' scale models. I originally started almost exclusively with 'Code 3' emergency related models, but have since branched out into collecting some over-the-road semis. Probably the most enjoyable is a skill I'm just starting to develop - customizing.
Nothing is secret in this hobby; the guys that are the best at building these models are also the ones who share their experience with others. If there's anything I can ever do to help you get started with the hobby, any advice I can give, or any comments you'd like to make, please email me by clicking here: againstdarkness@againstdarkness.org
Another Ebay diddy I came out at least okay with... Saved a bit over the 'MSRP' by the looks of it, but... More importantly, it's cool. Not gonna unwrap the pieces right now (maybe later), but this picture of the set kinda shows it all. American Muscle *Grin* That car's got an engine as big as my mouth!!!!
I won a truck I'd intended to customize in an ebay auction, but something went a little amiss with the auction. To make up for it, the seller sent this rig along with the replacement for my auction, free of charge. It's a Liberty Classics Ford Aeromax (only the second LC piece in my collection) and is a beautiful machine. Somehow... *Grin* I think this one will probably escape the hacksaw.
Jessica Simpson, the famous, beautiful, voluptuos, and slightly brainless pop singer once sang a tune that included the lyrics 'A little bit goes a long ways'. It seems like an appropriate metaphor for this 1/87 scale tractor trailer, purchased from Zycon Models zyconmodels. The trailer is produced by Lonestar Models, and is a reproduction of a Wilson hopper. The truck is a Boley International. They're wonderful pieces, and I'd definitely suggest Zycon as a source for 1/87 scale models. A great truck from great people.
*Grin* to continue the musical metaphor, how about the line in Alanis Morisette's 'You Learn' - "The firetrucks are commin' up around the bend." These are also 1/87 scale,although they were purchased from Rich Krom at Roadblockers VERY inexpensively. They're all tied down to the display case, so I didn't want to remove them, but you can get a small idea of the variety available. All are based off of real fire apparatus. If I ever get caught up, I'd like to expand my collection to include some of Boley's BLM and Forest Service rigs. You absolutely can't knock the detail on these rigs for the price you pay.
I'm kind of tired of factory run DCP pieces, and the 379 Peterbilt in particular, but I couldn't pass up this Granite Construction rig, which came to me through Jaydeez. I visited a friend down in Tucson last fall, and we actually hauled asphalt for Granite, as well as getting to talk to one of their drivers and see several of their 'Transfers' and 'Supers' in operation. It was one of the best times I've had, so it was cool to have this little token to help remember that day by.
Code 3 Collectibles and I have what can most easily be called an 'off and on' relationship, but... I'd suppose this is in a on. This is a reproduction of FDNY's Rescue 5, the first piece in a limited edition set of 5 of New York's 6 Heavy Rescues. This is the post 9/11 unit, a brand new E-One with Saulsbury bodywork. Code 3 also issued the older HME's (which I have Rescues 5 & 3 as well), but this is by far a superior model. I look forward to receiving the next four issues.
Anyone who knows the history with Code 3 knows the collectors begged and pleaded for years for two things, apparatus on commercial chassis, and a replica of a tanker. Although Code 3 really isn't my thing anymore, I couldn't pass up adding the piece to my collection I'd waited so long for. It's based on a Freightliner commercial chassis, and it's quite nicely done.
I've pretty much tapered off my 'Code 3' collecting, but I still get a piece now and again. This is their first release of an FDNY Tower Ladder on a Mack CF chassis, Ladder 31. In my opinion, the CF is the coolest of what one might call 'Classic Fire Apparatus'. She's definitely a good looking machine.
These are part of a 1/64 scale set, but to be honest, the chopper is WAY small. Airwolf was an absolute favorite show when I was growing up - a real spark to my imagination, too. So, adding these to my collection was a given. These are the Santini Air pieces, but I also have a mint in box model of Airwolf itself, as well. All pieces were produced by Ertl. Absolutely not models for those who demand precision in their collections, but absolutely essential if you grew up wanting to fly around, save the day, and be a hero...
These are also from a television show, and one that is also a bit of an inspiration to some. These are 1/64 scale models of vehicles that were actually builty on the Discovery Channel's 'Monster Garage'. Fabrication absolutely astounds me - it always has. I'm by no means incapable in a metal shop, but I can't even begin to understand the skill and knowledge that went into the production of the real vehicles. And, the models are cool, too... I look forward to trying to add a few more to my collection as they become available.
Collecting diecast is worthless if the pieces have no meaning to you. *Grin* When I was a little boy, every Sunday night we used to sit in front of the television and eat pizza for supper. We always watched the television show 'Emergency', which I guess I fell in love with. In another time, I would be a fireman - I have great respect for them and have since I was very little. So, this piece means a lot to me in two ways... First, it's all about firemen, and it also reminds me of happier times with my family. So here's a little piece of metal in a cardboard box that's about something...
Here's another piece that means a lot to me. This is a Cat D4D, approximateley a 1965 model. My friend who runs my farm has one of these in his shed (almost identical to this one), and I learned how to drive tractor on a very similar unit (A Cat D4D SA). I spent a lot of time on the Cat with my Dad, and... I guess a lot of time by myself, too. It's kinda where I started out and learned how to work. I paid too much for this model, and it's a bit beaten up, but... Who cares? It's special to me.
After an inattentive driver decided to 'hang out' in my 'No-Zone' once while operating our company's semi, I was all about having this truck. Plus, it is extremely well done. It's my very first PEM product (and my first Volvo), and due to the sale of PEM/Hartoy, I'm afraid it's the last. I hope Drumwell & Tonkin can keep these models alive in their new incarnation. Definitely a nice model...
This is by no means rare, it's DCP's 1/64 scale 'Big Bud' 747-600. Originally, I had no intention of buying this model, but a customer made me an offer I couldn't refuse (He sold it to me at cost!) It really is a stunning model. Back on the farm, my next door neighbor use to farm with a 'Big Bud' (Although I'm not certain it was the same model) to pull a Yielder No-Till drill. It was an impressive machine, to put it mildly.
This is a very common truck - it's a pole truck produced by DG productions. As far as I'm concerned, it's all about the box, and the boom arm in particular. It's awesome because no one had (or, to by knowledge has) does anything like this at this level of quality. There is a trailer with a phone pole available for them, but I wasn't interested in that. As is, she's an awesome little truck - this one came to me from Griff at Jaydeez.
If there were to be a contest for the world's most obscure piece of diecast, this would have to be a front-runner. The same customer who sold me the Big Bud just above also sold me this (Again, at cost!). It turns out, it is a Case IH tracked sugar cane harvester. I'm told it is 1/64 scale, and it is a product of C&D models. whether or not it's the greatest model is left to interpretation, but it is definitely novel.
I bought this off of an Ebay auction, full well intending to butcher the tractor with a hacksaw to turn it into a daycab, and then give the trailer a custom paintjob. But... *Grin* Some plans go astray? You know? I'm not familiar with this at all, other than to tell you it's a product of the Lionel Train Company, and that it's pretty cool.
It must have been my interest in the old T.V. show 'Emergency!' that gave me my fascination with firefighting in general, and the Los Angeles Fire Department (City and County) in particular.
These helicopters are both 1/64 scale Bell 412's, released by 'Code 3 Collectibles' a few years ago. I'd never had them out of the boxes before I took this photo, but found the detail to be amazing. The LA County bird (yellow) has a 360 gallon drop-tank, and the LA City bird (red details) has a 'Night Sun' searchlight underneath.
LA County is utilizing a new bird now - the Sikorsky Firehawk. According to the LA County Fire department website, there are two Firehawks presently in service, alongside Bell Jetrangers, 205s, and 4 of these 412s. These Bells are cool but the Firehawks are just plain awesome!
I rather enjoyed the movie 'Smokey and the Bandit' when I was growing up. I won't say it's the reason why I learned to drive a truck, but it most likely contributed to my willingness to. I'm not a big Burt Reynolds fan, but Jerry Reed (The Snowman) is THE MAN! And Fred rules too. *Grin* I love bassett hounds... Anyways, these are dime-store specials, like $2 apiece, made by Racing Champions, if I remember correctly. Two questions are brought up by this... One, since we obviously have models of Bufford's Cop Car and Bandit's Trans-Am, when will someone commercially build a model of that beautiful KW again? And two... With all these movies being remade, is Hollywood ever going to give us a WORTHWHILE revival of the movie? Anywho... Fun little models to have around...
This is a nice truck that was for a good cause. Penjoy, the company that released it, is known for being 100% American made (how many companies of any sort can claim that???). It's their 9/11 'For All Those Who Gave' truck, with pictures and lettering for the Pentagon, the WTC, and Flight 93. On top, it has 'United We Stand' lettered with a picture of the Earth, and on the back is a flag with the words 'God Bless America'.
Penjoy gave all of the profits from the sale of this truck (which was enormously popular - I waited for more than 2 months for this one to be built) to the Relief Funds.
For a minute, let's all imagine I've entered the Trucking Business... Well, *Grin* this would be the 'Liquid Transport Division' of McMurtrey Enterprises. Both of the trailers are DCP 'Heil' Tankers, and I have to say the detail on them is absolutely incredible. The green tractor honestly can't be called diecast - it is actually a 'resin cab' (a type of plastic). It is 1/64 scale. The tractor on the right is a daycab International 9100i, produced by DCP. The detail on it is incredible, as it features working suspension, steerable front axle, a removable cab, detailed interior, and a detailed Cummins engine.
After getting this truck, I'd highly recommend DCP models to anyone. It is easily the best factory-built model I've seen, particularly for the price.
We've borrowed a Kenworth T-600 from another Cooperative for several years at work, which is used for hauling dry fertilizer. *Grin* It is one of the most uncomfortable trucks I've ever been in - they're just not designed for us 'tall guys', as the driver's seat is way too close to the steering wheel. You kind of drive them with your knees tucked up in your armpits.
The complaint about the operator's station not withstanding, this is a serious model. This is the latest of Wilken's 1/64 scale models (manufactured by Speccast). Take a look at the front fenders on the truck and the skirts - this truck has the same front end as an Apache Gunship... And with good reason. The T-600 I've driven may have been uncomfortable, but it was an absolute rocket. True to the genuine article, this model looks like it's doing 90 even when it's just sitting on my tool box posing for this photo.
Just a little note... Nearly all of the 1/64 scale semis pictured here were contributed to in one way or another by a buddy of mine, Griff. Maybe it was a technical suggestion, encouragement, or a completely pre-fabricated rig, but... Well... I didn't do this alone - my collection is only as incredible as the product I'm supplied with. Griff is really great to work with, and if you're interested in starting in this hobby, I'd definitely suggest that you check out his site Jaydeez. His contact email address is available on his board if you have any questions - don't be afraid to ask him for help if you need it.