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TrueScale Miniatures
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<h2 id="industry">Industry</h2> <p>TrueScale Miniatures caters to model car collectors and motor sports fans through various channels, but their main focus is in the <a href="/facts/Model_car/EqezIlHJ">model car</a> hobby industry as evidenced in their heavy advertising and product reviews in industry specific magazines such as Car Room magazine, and attendance at select <a href="/facts/Hobby/MH1aFd8v">hobby</a> related trade shows such as the <a href="/facts/Nuremberg_International_Toy_Fair/QqGheTWQ">Nuremberg International Toy Fair</a>. Typically, their products can be found in hobby and collectible shops, various online retailers, motor sports related shops, race track vendors, and occasionally even automotive museums. </p> <h2 id="snap-on">Snap-On</h2> <p>TrueScale Miniatures’ first products were 1:18 and 1:43 scale replicas of specific tools from the Snap-on catalog. These miniature tool sets are typically used by modelers and collectors for use in automotive <a href="/facts/Dioramas/lyRS1ArC">dioramas</a>. These first sets are called "Garage Essentials" and include miniature replicas of 10 tools in the 2006 Snap-on Tool Catalog that would be found in many household garages. In 2008 they released their "Shop Essentials" set which offers scaled replicas of Snap-on tools found in many automotive service stations. Both sets are a part of their "Garage Series" which can still be found not only in many industry related retail outlets, but some official Snap-on franchisees as well. The 1:18 scale sets are mainly diecast metal with some plastic implementation whereas the 1:43 scale sets are mainly plastic with some diecast metal. </p> <h2 id="entrance-into-diecast-model-market">Entrance into diecast model market</h2> <p>In early 2008, TrueScale made its entrance into the diecast model car market when it began producing its own line of 1:18 scale replicas, beginning with the 1980 <a href="/facts/Porsche_935_K3/6NaCa4mF">Porsche 935 K3</a> <a href="/facts/Le_Mans/z9Ykgdmc">Le Mans</a> <a href="/facts/Apple_Computer/oTJYta3k">Apple Computer</a> car. With opening doors, and a removable hood and tail section revealing a highly detailed engine, they had debuted what Sports Car Digest called "A thoroughly impressive (model) from every angle."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="signature-series">Signature Series</h2> <p>The Signature Series is a line of models within the TrueScale Miniatures brand in which the race car driver, team owner, or someone pivotal in the successes of the real race car lends their hand signature to the base of the model. The signatures are hand signed and not artificially replicated making their Signature Series models more sought after than similar models. The models themselves are limited in production quantity, typically less than a thousand pieces, which further adds to their appeal to collectors. </p><p>Persons associated with the Signature Series: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Dan_Gurney/aEcUSTmc">Dan Gurney</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Jim_Hall_(racing_driver)/Im9JLPUe">Jim Hall</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Jody_Scheckter/DuJf2Dfq">Jody Scheckter</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Juan_Manuel_Fangio_II/RPozklM3">Juan Manuel Fangio II</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/P_J_Jones/SILLtaIR">P J Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mario_Andretti/7bk0J7Q7">Mario Andretti</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pete_Brock/hIvLNQKf">Peter Brock</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Gordon_Murray/C9sJjHNu">Gordon Murray</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ron_Dennis/YrQn7Yuu">Ron Dennis</a></li></ul> <h2 id="worldwide-presence">Worldwide presence</h2> <p>TrueScale Miniatures is currently distributed in over 20 countries around the world.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Their products have also been routinely featured in numerous international magazines, including The Diecast Magazine of Australia, Modell Fahrzeug of Germany and Model Cars of Japan. </p> <h2 id="coca-cola">Coca-Cola</h2> <p>Beginning in late 2009 and continuing through 2010, TrueScale Miniatures produced a series of Porsche race car models featuring <a href="/facts/Coca-Cola/wbnCJYb6">Coca-Cola</a> livery, all driven by famous driver <a href="/facts/Bob_Akin/DwURnWuK">Bob Akin</a>. While this was not the first time that a Coca-Cola race car model had been produced by a company, TrueScale has received recognition for their production of such a widely encompassing collection of cars under such a recognizable livery.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="mini-gt">Mini GT</h2> <p>A <a href="/facts/1%3a64_scale/EwRpm8yf">1:64 scale</a> line featuring a variety of vehicles was launched in the mid-2010s. While still producing highly detailed models, the Mini GT line focuses more on affordability, being similar to <a href="/facts/Greenlight_Collectibles/zD7C1dTF">Greenlight Collectibles</a> and POP RACE products in quality. Each MINI GT Model is produced in full diecast metal, with the chassis being fully reproduced. </p> <h2 id="brands-of-models-produced">Brands of models produced</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Alfa_Romeo/G8qCXueo">Alfa Romeo</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/All_American_Racers/BftVLXkt">All American Racers</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Bentley/NTLGFkTW">Bentley</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Buick/MV4z0rU6">Buick</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/BMW/cJd8y02r">BMW</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Chevrolet/lp04IP4m">Chevrolet</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cadillac/XIwEf3TI">Cadillac</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Datsun/7AzqfmAk">Datsun</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Goggomobil/G1WnV3Ut">Goggomobil</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Honda/asGvEBbW">Honda</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Hyundai_Motor_Company/5mpP2VyW">HYUNDAI</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lancia/em2t5fEI">Lancia</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Land_Rover/oNTGb5XQ">Land Rover</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lamborghini/UQyUKejC">Lamborghini</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lincoln_Motor_Company/AM75BNop">Lincoln</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lola_Cars/YYoh9IL0">Lola</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/McLaren_Automotive/lycKkdac">McLaren</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mini_(marque)/BgLAhc2Y">MINI</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nissan/1m2uVLE4">Nissan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Porsche/9S83Lb11">Porsche</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Rolls-Royce_Motor_Cars/b1IIKgds">Rolls-Royce</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Toyota/wHIb40oG">Toyota</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tyrrell_Racing/6l89Iltk">Tyrrell</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.truescalemini.com/">Official website</a> </li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Porsche 935 K3 by TrueScale Miniatures – Model Car Profile www.sportscardigest.com. Retrieved 2010-12-01 <a href="http://www.sportscardigest.com/porsche-935k3-by-true-scale-miniatures-model-car-profile/" target="_blank">http://www.sportscardigest.com/porsche-935k3-by-true-scale-miniatures-model-car-profile/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>TrueScale Miniatures Distribution www.truescalemini.com. Retrieved 2010-12-01 <a href="http://www.truescalemini.com/distribution.php" target="_blank">http://www.truescalemini.com/distribution.php</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Kelly, Joe. "Adds Life: TrueScale Miniatures Coca Cola Racers." The Car Room July 2010. Pages 34-37. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>