Models118 is a specialist online shop for collectible diecast and resin scale model cars, founded in 2021 in Czestochowa, Poland by Katarzyna Tyla. We carry over 4,000 models from more than 100 manufacturers, including Minichamps, Norev, GT Spirit, AUTOart, IXO, OttOmobile, CMC, and BBR. The catalogue spans scales 1:18, 1:43, and 1:12, covering precision replicas of real automobiles crafted for adult collectors.
What sets us apart from most diecast retailers: alongside new releases from manufacturers, we offer a large and constantly growing selection of used models from the secondary market. These are discontinued pieces, no longer in production, that collectors cannot find through normal distribution channels. Models118 ships from Poland to 27 countries through dedicated local domains, each with localised language, currency, and delivery options. What began as one collector’s lifelong passion has grown into one of Europe’s largest specialist diecast and resin retailers.
From a Personal Collection to a European Destination
Katarzyna Tyla has been collecting model cars for as long as she can remember. It started in childhood with Bburago and Maisto: the bright-coloured Ferraris and Lamborghinis that sparked a fascination with automotive design reproduced in scale. Over the years, the collection grew alongside her knowledge. Entry-level diecast gave way to museum-grade pieces by Minichamps, CMC, and AUTOart. Shelves filled. Display cabinets multiplied. The hunt for discontinued models, pieces that manufacturers had stopped producing and that only surface on the secondary market, became a passion in its own right.
By 2021, after nearly three decades of collecting, the step felt natural: turn that expertise into a shop. I built Models118 to be the kind of shop I wished had existed during all those years of searching. One place where collectors could find the latest releases from Norev, GT Spirit, and AUTOart alongside hard-to-find used models that had vanished from regular distribution. Not a faceless marketplace, but a shop run by someone who understands why a discontinued piece from 2017 can be worth more today than when it was new.
Why “118”?
The name comes from 1:18, the most popular scale among serious collectors. At roughly 25 centimetres long, a 1:18 model is large enough to capture every detail of the original car: the stitching on the seats, the callipers behind the wheels, the texture of the dashboard. It is the scale that turned a childhood hobby into a lifelong passion, and the one that defines what we do.
What We Sell (And What We Don’t)
Models118 specialises in collectible scale model cars for adult collectors. Precision replicas of real automobiles, crafted in diecast metal (zamak alloy with opening doors, bonnets, and boots) or resin (sealed, produced in limited runs of 500 to 3,000 pieces), in scales 1:18, 1:43, and 1:12.
Every model in the catalogue reproduces the original car’s bodywork, interior, engine bay, and livery in fine detail. The catalogue spans over 160 car brands and more than 100 manufacturers: from Minichamps and Norev to GT Spirit, AUTOart, Kyosho, IXO, OttOmobile, Almost Real, CMC, BBR, Spark, and KK-Scale.
Alongside new releases, we carry a large and constantly growing selection of used models. These are pieces that are discontinued, out of production, and unavailable through normal distribution. For collectors hunting a specific model that the manufacturer stopped making years ago, this is often the only way to find it.
New and Used: Two Sides of the Same Market
Most model car shops sell only new stock from manufacturers. We cover both sides: new releases for collectors who want the latest, and used models from the secondary market for those chasing pieces that no longer exist in regular retail.
A used model does not mean a lesser model. It means an unavailable one. Manufacturers produce each model in a finite run. When the run sells out, the tooling goes on the shelf, and there will be no reprint. Many of these pieces arrive in mint condition with the original box intact. Their value often appreciates over time precisely because the manufacturer will never produce them again.
Where We Ship
Models118 ships from Poland to collectors across Europe and beyond. We operate dedicated local domains in 27 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, and all EU member states. Each domain offers localised language, currency, and delivery options. Orders are dispatched with full tracking and insurance, regardless of destination.
Models118 in Numbers
- Founded 2021 — Czestochowa, Poland
- 27 languages with dedicated local domains across Europe and Japan
- 4,000+ models in the catalogue — new and used
- 100+ manufacturers: Minichamps — Norev, GT Spirit, AUTOart, Kyosho, IXO, OttOmobile, and more
- Scales: 1:18 — 1:43, 1:12 in diecast and resin
- Top collected car brands: Porsche — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini
Why Collectors Trust Models118
Authenticity Guaranteed — Only original models from authorised distributors. Every used model is inspected and described with full condition details and original packaging status.
Protective Packaging — Custom-made 5-layer protective cartons in multiple sizes, designed specifically for scale models. Each model is secured with expanded polystyrene filling to prevent any movement during transit. Your model arrives in the same condition it left the shelf.
Secure Shopping — SSL-encrypted transactions, trusted payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. 14-day return policy across all 27 markets. Customer support in English, German, and Polish.
Find Us on eBay
Beyond the main shop, Models118 maintains one of the largest diecast model car selections on eBay, spanning marketplaces across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Collectors who prefer marketplace shopping can find the same range of new and used models, backed by the same authenticity guarantee and protective packaging.