So, the cars are all safely placed, sparkling clean,
and the room’s standing tall. Why stop there? There
are some cool scale accessories on the market, and
everything from tool sets, shop equipment, and entire
pit crews is available to add a neat touch of realism to
your shelves.
TrueScale Miniatures got a start in the accessory
market thanks to a deal with Snap-On Tools. They offer
complete sets of branded shop equipment in 1: 43 and
1: 18; add in the slick mechanic figures they market, or
the “Oil Pack” offerings of scaled petroliana, and you’ll
have the makings of a Lilliputian pit scene. They also
sell single-car display cases. Phoenix Toys has a good
selection of tools, too, and some of the stuff is pretty
esoteric (scaled bungee cords, and a 1: 24 Chevy 396
on a stand, among others). You can also pepper your
queue of old race cars with the nostalgic 1: 18 figures now
offered by Spark’s Le Mans Miniatures line. There’s an
Alfred Neubauer (Mercedes), a John Wyer (Porsche),
a “Manfred the Mechanic” figure and a Le Mans driver
caught running to his car. More figures are planned,
including Audi’s Dr. Ullrich in race-day gear. If you want
to add even more sauce, and
like little people, Motorhead
Miniatures is a top player;
it started with the bikini-clad “Fast Women” series
a few years ago, and is still
going today with a broad
selection of street-clothed figures and
accessory tool sets in
all the popular scales.
For those who want
to bump their display into
diorama territory, the aptly
named American Diorama
company makes a full line of multi-scale figures, and
also offers accessories in 1: 24. The big news with this
manufacturer is its line of storefront buildings with
working lights, in 1: 24 and 1: 18. If you’ve got the space,
or just want to showcase a
particular car or set of cars,
nothing anchors a classic
cruise vignette like a burger
joint or gas station.
Spark makes these expressive figures in 1: 18. From
left: John Wyer, Alfred
Neubauer and “Manfred the
mechanic.”
Above left and left: Motorhead Miniatures’ cold-cast
resin 1: 18, 1: 43 and 1: 24 figures are well-proportioned,
ranging from pretty girls to
everyday people and shop
mechanics.
Above right: TrueScale
Miniatures’ Snap-On Tool
assortments add a lot of
realism to any display, in
popular scales.
Case Closed
Depending on your budget, your creativity and your
building skills, display alternatives can cost very little,
or put a big dent in your wallet. So, plan things out. Think
it through. Know the space you want to build into, and
the kind of feel you want to achieve. Measure carefully
and spend wisely. When you’re done, kick back, invite
in a few friends—or that significant other—and enjoy the
view. You’ve earned it.
SourceS
American Diorama americandiorama.com
Carney Plastics carneyplastics.com
Custom Display Cases customdisplaycases.com
Ikea IKEA.com
Le Mans Miniatures lemansminiatures.com
Phoenix Toys phoenixtoys.com
Protecto Pak protectopak.com
Sunrich Toys sunrichtoy.com
TrueScale truescalemini.com
