Looking to start a 1/43 collection

www.cavallinomodels.com

we have over 750 BBR models in stock.

 

If you are in the US and want to know that the models you receive are pefect, I would suggest Miniwerks (www.miniwerks.com)

 

x2
never a problem, great service, good inventory across several manufacturers and specialist builders. I have purchased almost 1/4 of 150 models from Mike.

 

If you want to check out collectibles in person at a shop, I strongly recommend Hobby City in Anaheim near Knott's Berry Farm. The diecast collectibles shop has plenty of 1:43 scale models for decent prices.

 

I second or third that. Miniwerks is the ultimate source for the serious 1/43 collector. No one compares for selection, service and the fact that the owner is also a genuine Ferrari owner! You will never regret dealing with Miniwerks.

 

Oh yes, he is the best not only if you live in the US, but anywhere in the world. He has on numerous occassions shipped me super detailed models with full opening parts all the way to Asia and not a single part has been broken or vaguely damaged.

 

Miniwerks is the best web site to buy from, Service is second to none. I live in the UK and all shipments are received within a week of ordering. Packaging is bomb proof. Highly recommended.

 

pro´s and con´s when ordering at Miniwerks:

pro´s
-owner Mike is very knowledgable on the subject of 1:43 handbuilds
-very quick response to emails
-a true enthusiast
-always very interesting pieces in his inventory
-not at all expensive, considering the pieces he offers
-very quick delivery. Even when the package goes overseas
-very neatly packaged. Never have anything arrived broken


con´s
-euhh.... well....uh.....hm...lemme see..... uh...

nope, no con´s

 

BBR has is its own webshop www.gasolinemodels.com,
Do your research and buy the BBR book il grande piccole (1985-1995).
It gives you all the produced modells of the discribed period.
BBR has announced the publication of issue nr. 2 (1995-.....) a few years ago,..........but i'm still waiting.
You can also view the production on www.bbrmodels.com, but a lot of fotos are not on the site.
I am using this knowledge for buying most of my collection on ebay.
There are quite a few sellers with good history and fair prices.
I do not buy everything on ebay, In the netherlands you have several good shops, but mainly older modells are not available in a shop.

Do not get trapped in the limited edition series of the modern cars.
At the moment they make small series of limited numbers in a special color, or for a special shop. These modells are exactly the same as the more common ones, only the color is different.

Make sure the modells you are buying are complete!, missing wipers, mirrors, etc. depreciate the value, and make sure the original box is with the modell.

if you are not a builder do not buy kits unless you are prepared to sacrifice a few, to perfect your skills. Built kits are very difficult to sell. Collectors mainly want factorybuilts.
Building to a high standard is NOT easy.

A collection of homebuilt is difficult to sell.

Last tip,
Be selective, rare factorybuilts are expensive. I rather buy a very rare older undisplayed modell than a recent one, the last few years numbers of production go up, prices will go down.


Good luck, i have been collecting BBR, Brianza, MR, AMR and recently Looksmart models for over 20 years, It's still a great hobby
(my wife tells me to sell, to buy a real one, but maintenance is much cheaper this way)

 

More great advice.

I have built a comprehensive collection over three years following this approach.

Do your research of the marque, know what it is you want ( race car, 1950's 250 series, etc) target eBay, experiment with dealers, accept a few bad decisions, then work on the overall provenance of the collection, once you know sh**t from clay.

Good luck!!

 

and on that note:

To keep collecting fun, buy what you like, not what you hope to sell for a higher price sometime in the future. As I always say: "I buy to own, not to sell".

And indeed, know what you want. I have limited my interest to Ferrari roadcars (including one off prototypes), plus some GT racers (preferably the prova-models). I don´t do F1. Maybe sometime in the future, when my resources allow me to expand my collectors-eye to this aspect of our marque.

 

Again, know your interest and focus. I'm with GTE, F1 will drive you nuts with the variation, as will liveried [winners]-too many variations to comprehend and too many vendors capitalising!!

Ps , GTE, did you ever get a decent 1:43 365GT 2+2? Just swapped 1:1 365 for 1:1 308

 

I make do with the AMR built for Minichamps in aubergine red. It´s a nice model. BBR have announced however some new models for the RGM-line of Rainer Goetzke, which will also contain their very nice 365 2+2, so I am holding out for that one as well.

What BBR is concerned, I have their coming 275 GTS on order.

you did WHAT?!?!?

That is quite a departure from the Queen Mother!

 

you did WHAT?!?!?

That is quite a departure from the Queen Mother![/QUOTE]


See PM