Toy cars, but not really toy cars

Toy cars are the best possible things for kids when they are kids. Then they grow up and some of them still continue collecting their toys now known as collectibles. Family members may often laugh and point and still call them toys, but for certain grown ups, scale model cars offer an outlet into a world of possibilities.

Scale models provide an outlet as a smaller, more intense version of our passion for cars. And bikes. You'd think it is cheaper because it is smaller. Not quite. Scale models can run up $100 (roughly 8000BDT) or more for a basic Autoart 1:18 scale model. In Bangladesh we have a complicated process of ordering online purchases from abroad that jack up the prices of these scale models by 1000-3000BDT based on weight. That basic Autoart model will end up being 10K easily. Buy twenty of these and you've spent enough to buy a starter kit of a project car. Think AE80 Corolla. If your wallet isn't deep enough or you're not seated at your grandfather's garments factory board of directors, this is a tough hobby to have. But scale models are not all about the fanciest. A 400BDT Tomica built Toyota Probox is just as joyous to hold. Or crush with a hammer.

Plenty of people will try to roll over your hobby calling it 'kid stuff'. Who says kid stuff is bad? Photo: Ehsanur Raza Ronny

The last couple of years has seen a growing trend in collecting model car and bikes. Hotwheels is the current fad and it is probably here to stay. Multiple groups and pages have sprung up all over Facbook that focus on showing off and trading Hotwheels cars. Some cars go for insane prices. We've seen special edition Ferrari 599x with rubber tyres sell for as high as 4000BDT. But there are so many different avenues to explore it is mind boggling. People have even gone into customizing scale models the way others customise 1:1 cars. It's all just a matter of how steady your hands are and how creative you get with the tools around you. DanielHmodelmeister is one such guy who makes some really insane miniature customs. What you see in the collage below is the bosozuku style mad Manga from Hotwheels. This has been given opening doors, hoods, custom wheels and a paintjob. And all this hard work pays off for this guy as a business.  Now how's that for playing with toy cars?

There's more coming on scale models, what and where to get, who to avoid and how to customise without destroying the house. Watch this space.