It's a Matter of Scale

Jan/Feb 2019 edition
Issue #3 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
Marshall Buck

Whether or not you’re new to collecting models, I would bet you have a preference of scale (size) for models. Of course, not everyone does, though most collectors I know do have a preference, and some will only collect in just one scale no matter how great the model if it’s not in their scale. Which is your favored scale?

​1:43 Bugatti Type 54 Chassis, by Alain Bouissou. Extensively detailed. Brass, copper & aluminum construction. Steering wheel is made of wood. Value $2,800+.

​1:87, 1:72, 1:64, 1:43, 1:24, 1:20, 1:18, 1:16, 1:14, 1:12, 1:10, 1:8, or even bigger = ginormous scale, which can be in sizes such as 1:6, 1:5, 1:4, or 1:3.  My preference is 1:12, but the majority of my collection is in an assortment of all of these scales….except for ‘ginormous.’  With that said, for many years the bulk of my collection was made up of 1:43 models.

If you do go for the ‘only this scale’ route, then chances are extremely high you will miss out on more than one special piece worth having.

Granted, for some of us, there are space considerations, which may dictate your scale(s), but then again….as collectors (of anything) we can make justifications for a lot…. I say, just keep an open mind, you never know what might turn up.

Too small, or just right?…. Sometimes good things, or really phenomenal things do come in small packages.

There are those among us who are of the opinion that only bigger is better, and that you can’t get much or enough detail in a petite 1:43 scale piece (4” long on average).  I beg to differ; just take a look at two examples shown of Alain Bouissou’s amazing custom built 1:43rd Bugatti’s.

The workmanship and artistry is superb. Any Bouissou Bugatti model is worth having. They are exceedingly rare, coveted gems. And yes indeed, they are rather small, but far better and more desirable than many, much larger 1:8th scale models currently produced. Depending on the piece, Bouissou models can range from $2,000 to over $5,000.

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