Lancia Kappa Pictures

I’m not one for the sales, especially when it comes to non-car related goods, but I stumbled across a model shop offering 40% off all its Die-Cast stock, so it would have been foolish not to buy something. The first time I started collecting model cars seriously (not damaging the skirting boards and then putting them away for dinner) I decided to collect 1/18th scale models. At the time there was only Burago and Polistil selling them in the local shops, and I acquired a open top S1 Jaguar E-Type (which I obviously still have) for christmas and started a lifetimes obsession. The Burago models were not perfect, the paint finished varied (the jag suffers from paint over running on the boot lid edge) and the plastic chrome parts were fragile and quite crude. Since then I’ve sporadically bought 1/18th scale, mainly due to the amount of space they take up, but if I see one at a reduced price and buy one against my 1/60 or 1/43 only buying policy. Back in my Burago days, there wasn’t much choice beyond exotic sports cars, but gradually companies like Solido and Revell started producing ordinary everyday modern and classic cars. Today we have got to a point where there is so much variety with improving detail and quality its very difficult to rationalise spending.

I have several 1/18th scale Revells, including a VW 1302S, NSU TT and Opel Kadett. The quality is pretty good, details are accurate and the proportions are very good. I noticed the mk1 Scirocco when it was released and imagined that I would be investing in a model of the car as soon as the opportunity came up.

It features opening doors, folding seats, steering and excellent detailing throughout, incuding a carpeted boot and bonnet stay. It should sit well with my 1/18 Vitesse Golf LS which is finished in a similar hue.

In the same shop, and much for the same reasons, I also bought the Sunstar ‘European collectibles’ Ford Escort MKIII. I also have a few other 1/18th scale sunstar models, which vary in quality and detailing. The VW is a beautiful model, but the Ford is in another league, its heavier for a start and uses many more parts. The detailing is crisper and includes suspension and an opening parcel shelf as well as the usual opening doors. The interior and engine detail are faithful to the original and the colour is accurate. Along with a few of my 1/18th minichamps and Kyosho models, this rates as one of my favourites. The only downside is the fonts used on the number plates are slightly unrealistic but I am being anal about that - and it won’t be an issue to reproduce more accurate ones.

The Burago’s of the 1980’s were considered very good, but as cheaper manufacturing and new techniques used to assemble the models, detail application and quality control have improved its hardly surprising Burago called in the recievers last year.