My Scale Models

One of my longest lasting hobbies is scale model collecting. I can still remember what was the first scale model I had, a military Land Rover from Corgi. I was just a kid then and that land rover belongs to my cousin. When we visited them, I just kept on playing with it because I really like it. When it was pushed it made a noise like just like a Land Rover with off road tyres. No it did not have a sound generator but the sound is just natural to it. They gave it to me because they knew I really like it and I really clocked plenty of fun mileage on it. Hmmmm …….. wonder where it is now.

The next piece is a Sky Hawk fighter jet when I was in primary four, off course there were many other stuffs in between which is not worth mentioning like plastic figurines, vehicles and others. The Sky Hawk fighter jet was a self assembly plastic model kit. One of the rich kid in my class brought it to school to show off and it instantly caught my attention. After all the “huu haa” my classmate offered to buy me one if I can come up with the cash. Well after a month or so I managed to save enough from my pocket money without spending a single cent for that whole period. It cost me just below RM5.00 I think and that long to save for it. Later on I found out that a shop in then Newcome Road called CY Chang were selling these models.

Every time whenever I passed by that shop I would spend time admiring at all the models that were on display to lure people like me. I can still remember those state of the art train models by Hornby, they all look so real with a whooping price tag to go with it. Well I guess I can only dream about it because not only because of the price but also the space needed. Anyway it was much later in my life that I was able to realise this hobby after the Sky Hawk.

Most of the models I had - only a few - then were war aircraft including the famous B52 and Mustang. I had a couple of battle ships and an aircraft carrier too. The B52 was really large and when there is a breeze, the propellers would turn. It fell a couple of times from its stand because of strong breeze and I had to repair it a couple of times.

Then came the Japanese Model kits, mostly of automobiles and some are even powered by battery. One of the model that I really spend lots of hours detailing was a Datsun 240Z by Fujimi. It was like the 240Z was THE car at that time and the model is really detail with engine. Then came the motorbikes by Tamiya and I had a real big collection of it but the one I like best is the Honda Super Cup or commonly known as "cup chai".

Most of these plastic scale model kit cannot last long because they are very flimsy and our weather here is not kind to them. As of today only a few of the plastics models that are still with me, most of them needed repair and still in the box when I transported them back to Malacca. Maybe one of these fine day I might just take a look at them.

Not long ago, actually about 10 years ago while I was killing time in the Atria Shopping Centre in Damansara Jaya, a display model shop caught my interest. I was really impressed by the collection of highly detail metal die cast model they had. By the time I left the shop, I was sure I would like to start my own little collection. Yes, yes, yes, I know I can only stare at it, push it around and make some engine noise by myself – V-R-O-O-M-Mmmmm……I was happy with my buy and I guess this is the part of human nature that is not logical only understood by capitalist.

One fine day like 10years or so ago, I decided that the time was right because there was a sale in Metro Sungei Wang Plaza and I got my very first die cast model, a Ferrari 550 Maranello 1/18 scale by Bburago. Slowly and surely one after another started rolling in.

Metal die cast model are much more robust and so far all those that I acquired are still with me almost in the same condition when I got it, never driven on the road before …… hehehe!!! A little dusty though.

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Want to go for a spin? You chose the ride and I’ll push, you make the sound ya!!! …….. Vrooommmmmm ……………..