I’m Katarzyna Tyła. I’ve collected diecast and resin model cars for nearly three decades — and in 2021 I turned that obsession into Models118, a specialist shop for 1:18, 1:43 and 1:12 scale models.
From a Collector’s Shelves to a Shop
It started with childhood Bburago and Maisto and grew into museum-quality pieces by Minichamps, CMC and AUTOart. When I opened Models118 in Częstochowa, Poland, I built it around one idea: a single place for the latest releases from Norev, GT Spirit and AUTOart alongside hard-to-find used and discontinued models that have vanished from regular distribution.
The “118” comes straight from 1:18 — the collector’s favourite scale, large enough to show every detail of the original, from the stitching on the seats to the brake calipers behind the wheels.
Why Collectors Trust Us
Because I run this shop as a collector, I understand why a discontinued model can be worth more now than when it left the factory — and exactly what it takes to get it to you safely:
- Authenticity — every model is an original, sourced only from authorised distributors. Used models are individually inspected and described with full condition details and original packaging status.
- Both sides of the market — the newest releases from leading manufacturers alongside a large, carefully curated range of used and discontinued models from the secondary market.
- Protective packaging — orders go out in purpose-made 5-layer cartons sized for scale models, filled with expanded polystyrene that holds the model firmly in place during transit.
- Safe purchase — returns within 14 days of delivery, shipped worldwide from Poland.
What I Write About
On the Models118 blog I write from nearly thirty years on the collector’s side of the hobby — diecast and resin materials, manufacturers and their production runs, scales, the secondary market, and how to care for and display a collection.
Read more about Models118 or browse the collection.