Scale miniatures of real production vehicles, designed as kits for children or the enthusiast to construct, can be made of plastic, die-cast metal, resin, and even wood.

 

In plastic model kits, parts are molded in single cast 'trees' with thin connections that can be easily severed for painting and assembly.

 

Parts come molded in a variety of colors, white being the most common in the 1960s and 1970s.

Some parts are chrome plated to simulate real bumpers, grilles, wheels, and other pieces that might be chrome on the actual vehicle.

 

Tires are most commonly molded in rubber.

 

Water 'slide-on' decals are usually included along with an instruction brochure.

 

The best kits have incredible levels of accuracy, even in detail and parts unseen when the model is complete.

Major manufacturers are AMT, MPC, Revell, Monogram, and Tamiya but many smaller plastics companies, like Aurora, Pyro, IMC, and Premier have come and gone.

 

 

Although the British scale for 0 gauge was first used for model cars made of rectilinear and circular parts, it was the origin of the European scale for cast or injection moulded model cars.

 

MOROP's specification of 1:45 scale for European 0 will not alter the series of cars in 1:43 scale, as it has the widest distribution in the world.

 

In America, a series of cars was developed from at first cast metal and later styrene models ("promos") offered at new-car dealerships to drum up interest.

 

The firm Monogram, and later Tamiya, first produced them in a scale derived from the Architect's scale: 1:24 scale, while the firms AMT, Jo-Han, and Revell chose the scale of 1:25.

 

Monogram later switched to this scale after the firm was purchased by Revell.

 

Some cars are also made in 1:32 scale, and rolling toys are often made on the scale 1:64 scale.

 

Chinese die-cast manufacturers have recently introduced 1/72 scale into their range.

 

The smaller scales are usually die-cast cars and not the in the class as model cars.

 

Except in rare occasions, Johnny Lightning and Ertl made die-cast cars where sold, as model kits to be put together.