Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/335762
July 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com 18 o into a contractor's office and you're more than likely to see at least one. Sometimes it's tucked into a corner of the bookshelf or a desk. Other times, a collection of them will take up a wall or even an entire office. Yet as much as manufacturers like to give them away and contractors prize them, there are those who claim the world of construction models is an unseen one. "Models are a niche market almost hidden from the main equipment market," says Chuck Sword, with DHS Diecast Collectables, a con- struction model dealer in Berea, Ohio. Adds Roy Ferguson, a model dealer in Manchester, Iowa: "A lot of people don't know we exist." However unnoticed by some, it's a busy world, populated by avid collectors, OEMs, model makers and model dealers. Is there a typical construction scale model collector? Not really, beyond the fact that most agree they are definitely skewed male. "A big percentage of collectors are either employed directly in or are in some way connected to the heavy equipment indus- try," says Daris Stratton, president of Stratton Systems, which goes to market as b2b Repli- cas and 3000Toys.com. "Almost all machine operators want a model of the machines they spend their days operating. There's also a fair amount of cross over from model railroaders, and those who collect trucking and agricul- ture models. And although some will begin collecting in their teens, the most serious collectors are in their 30s or older with more discretionary income." Collectors will usually focus on collecting a certain scale or type of equipment, such as cranes and trucks or earthmoving. "Every collection is different, depending on what the collector is interested in," says Brandon Lewis with Buffalo Road Imports. "There are still a few out there who try to get everything." Adds Stratton: "Serious collectors thrive on information. They like to know about upcom- ing model releases and offer their opinions on what models should be produced. There are also a number of websites and YouTube chan- nels produced by collectors and enthusiasts to discuss and review new models. Some of the collectors will post videos of a model being 'unboxed' for the first time. Social media allows collectors an opportunity to offer praise and criticism on various models, which can yield valuable feedback." There are even construction model review- ers. Ian Webb, who operates the review site model mania | by Marcia Gruver Doyle | MGruver@randallreilly.com Construction scale models have fervent collectors both in and out of construction EDITOR'S NOTE To view much more on this subject, go to equipmentworld.com/modelmania. There you'll see additional stories, a rundown of construction scale model events plus photo galleries of several collectors.