Volume VII, Number 5

O F F - T H E - S H E L F

The following editorial reflects the personal thoughts of Doug Breithaupt relating to our common hobby of miniature cars. It is intended to generate discussion
relating to 'Tales of Toy Cars'. Your letters are welcome and may be submitted via e-mail.


The Toy Room in 2004


It has been several years since I showed images of 'the toy room'. Most collectors have somewhere to call their own space and I have a basement room that was re-designed to accommodate most of my collection. The room is not finished so I currently have another 50 or so 1:18 scale models on display in the library.



^The first image looks into the toy room from the doorway. To the left is my desk and chair where TofTC comes to life each month. The wall to the right of the desk contains Matchbox and Hot Wheel blister cards which are mostly duplicates for trading. My red-line Hot Wheels are stored in individual plastic boxes from Hot Wheels' California Customs series. Below those are sport/GT cars of the 1950's-1970's in an open, blue Hot Wheel plastic display. On the left, my new free-standing display can be seen with a Majorette display on top. I purchased the free-standing display at the FAO Schwartz fixtures sale, after they closed their Seattle store. This display has carded Johnny Lightning, Majorette, Racing Champions, Ertl, Siku and Road Champs models. It also has some boxed sets, plastic Plano 48-car cases and a few 1:18 scale models.



^This image shows some of my 1:43 - 1:36 scale models. Empty Tomica boxes are stored behind some of these models. My second and older Majorette display rack can be seen behind. My automotive library is in the bookcase to the left.



^This image looks past my new free-standing display at the wall to the left of my desk. This wall was constructed with a built-in, open display for my 1:18 and 1:24 scale models. A second display like this one will be built later for the other side of the room.


^This view shows the many 48-car boxes made by Plano that I use for my loose 1:64 scale models. The boxes shown are all the German, British, Japanese, Sweedish, Australian, Italian, French and other non-U.S. cars. Above these are all Racing Champions and Matchbox Premier series cars, and in the yellow displays, a mix of Hollywood models, police, fire, ambulance, taxi and drag-racing cars. Next to the books are two Tomica display boxes (light blue), filled with Nissan and Subaru models.



^Trading stock in packages can be seen here. These are the Hot Wheel and Matchbox blisters.



^The new display from FAO Schwartz with Majorette models can be clearly seen here. My 1:18 scale shelves are also shown. F1 cars are in the yellow displays. The turning Majorette display does have newer Majorette models but also Maisto, Norev, Golden Wheel and Motor Max boxes.

Not shown are carrying cases for the small selection of trucks (several hundred), military vehicles, NASCAR racers, hot rods, customs and fantasy cars and Indy style racers. Also missing is the wall with all the U.S. cars in Plano boxes. Although the room looks full, I still have space for expansion. A washer, dryer and hot watter heater will be moving to a new laundry room in future, allowing for the toy room to become a truly dedicated facility.

The day I took these images was very bright and the camera makes it look even brighter. Please don't worry about sun exposure to my collection. Everything is actually well protected from light or heat over-exposure. The overall room is about 30 ft. by 30 ft. in size.
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