Diecast and Resin Model Cars in 1:18, 1:43, 1:12 and Other Scales

What are diecast and resin model cars?

Diecast model cars are scale replicas made by injecting molten zinc alloy ("Zamak") into precision steel dies, then assembling the body with photo-etched parts and opening doors, bonnets and boots. Resin model cars are cast from polyurethane instead — a smoother surface finish, no opening parts, and nearly always limited production runs of 99 to 3,000 pieces worldwide. Both are collectible scale model cars made for adult collectors, not children's toys. Diecast is the broader category (Norev, Minichamps, AUTOart, IXO); resin is the premium niche (GT Spirit, OttOmobile, BBR). Collector scale model cars run from 1:64 (~7 cm, the entry scale ruled by Hot Wheels and Matchbox), through 1:43 (~10 cm, the breadth scale for motorsport grids) and 1:18 (24–28 cm, the display centrepiece), up to 1:12 (~50 cm, museum-grade); our catalogue concentrates on 1:18, 1:43 and 1:12. Which one suits you comes down to shelf space, budget and where your collection is heading — the comparison below lays it out.

Manufacturers in our catalogue — quick comparison

Each manufacturer has its own production philosophy, scale focus and licensing relationships. Knowing the manufacturer tells you what to expect from the level of detail, the opening parts and the run size.

Where to begin: Norev for value entry, Minichamps for breadth of motorsport, AUTOart for the engineering benchmark in 1:18, BBR for Ferrari collectors, GT Spirit for bold limited resin, and CMC once the budget stretches to museum-grade. The widest choice of diecast cars for sale sits at 1:18, with strong depth at 1:43 (F1, Le Mans and rally grids) and 1:12 museum-grade trophies. Our Used Models segment is a Models118 speciality — hand-picked references from private collectors' collections, each one inspected and graded individually with full photo documentation, and many no longer available from authorised distributors.

Which scale should you collect — 1:64 vs 1:43 vs 1:18 vs 1:12?

Short answer: 1:18 is the most-collected display scale and the safe default, 1:43 packs the most cars into a cabinet, 1:12 is the museum-grade trophy, and 1:64 is the pocket-friendly way in. The comparison below shows how size, weight and manufacturers shift from one scale to the next.

Almost every manufacturer in our catalogue makes 1:18 scale model cars — it's the scale where opening parts and engine-bay detail come into their own. 1:43 is the breadth scale (50+ models fit in a single cabinet) and the only practical scale for full F1 grids or Le Mans classes. 1:12 is the trophy piece — one model anchors a room, and runs are typically under 500 worldwide. 1:64 is the industry's entry level — small, affordable and broadly licensed by Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Tomica; at Models118 we focus on the display scales from 1:43 upwards.

Within any one scale, weight depends heavily on the type of vehicle and how it's built. A 1:18 sports car (AUTOart composite, low and compact) can come in around 500 g, while a 1:18 large SUV or van (Norev Mercedes V-Class, Almost Real Land Rover Defender, GT Spirit Land Rover) reaches 2–2.5 kg. The same 4–5× spread shows up in every scale — small sports cars at the lower end, vans, SUVs and buses at the upper.

How to buy at Models118 — stock badges, pre-orders, authenticity, shipping

Models118 sells new, factory-sealed models from authorised distributors alongside hand-graded used models from private collections, shipped insured to 78 countries. Here's how the stock badges, pre-orders and delivery actually work.

How our stock badges work

Every product card carries a mix of badges (above the image) and a stock status line (under the price). The badges tell you what kind of model it is; the stock line tells you what's genuinely available right now.

Badges:

• New — added to the catalogue within the last 30 days.
• Sale (−X%) — an active discount with the percentage off.
• Pre-order — manufacturer allocation reserved; we dispatch as soon as the production batch reaches our warehouse.
• Used — sourced from a private collector's collection, hand-graded with full photo documentation.
• Last one — the final piece of this reference left in stock.

Stock status under the price:

• Only X left — between 1 and 5 units remaining. Popular references sell out within days at this level.
• Sold out — the production run has ended and it's no longer available from authorised distributors. It may reappear in the Used Models segment if a curated private collection comes in.
• Pre-order sub-states — from Slots available through Limited slots, Few left and Only X left! down to Sold out, tracking how much of the manufacturer allocation remains as the production batch closes.

How pre-orders and limited editions work

A pre-order reserves your specific allocation before the manufacturer closes production. Resin limited editions from GT Spirit, OttOmobile and BBR typically run from 99 to 3,000 pieces worldwide (see the run sizes in the manufacturer table above) and routinely sell out before delivery. Once a manufacturer confirms allocation your order locks in — but you can cancel any time before that confirmation for a full refund. If a model sells out at Models118 before you order, the Notify Me button on the product page emails you the moment stock returns.

Are Models118 models authentic?

Every model in our catalogue comes from one of two sources. New models are sourced directly from the original manufacturers and their authorised distributors, in factory-sealed packaging — no third-party resellers, no aftermarket reproductions. Used models are hand-picked from private collectors' collections, inspected individually, photographed in our studio and graded before listing. Either way, what you see in the photos is what arrives in the box.

Shipping and returns

We ship to 78 countries across 6 continents from our EU warehouse — every parcel in a custom 5-layer carton with foam padding, fully insured door-to-door and tracked, with a 14-day return window under EU consumer law. See full shipping options → See full return policy →

Still have questions? Browse the full FAQ → or get in touch.