Die Cast Toys

Die Cast Toys in the context of this site refers mainly to road vehicles, civilian figures and accessories, with the emphasis being those scaled to suit 0 gauge toy trains. Scale is flexible, stretching from 1/32 to 1/60, or thereabouts. Ideal scale is 1/43. Die Cast Toys also include tinplate and pressed steel, and even some wooden items. The emphasis is Dinky Toys, particularly those manufactured at Binns Road, pre 1964. Many other manufacturers are listed, although limited to those producing up to the mid 60s, and some modern reproductions. This site does not include Corgi or Matchbox toys. The initial emphasis was toys made in the UK, although some from further afield are gradually being added. Sources are mainly eBay listings, and Vectis Auctions, to whom toy enthusiasts are indebted for their wonderful photography and knowledge of the subject. Special mention too, for the Index of the Brighton Toy and Model Museum.

The site does not intend to illustrate every variation of every model but rather to illustrate a representative sample of toys available up to the mid/late 1960s. The Dinky Toy pages are the most comprehensive but again, whilst the aim is to include the majority of the Dinky range, no attempt is made to illustrate every casting or livery change. Note that UK production of Dinky and other toys ceased during WWII, so a date range of, say, 1936-50 will exclude the war years, actual production ceasing 1939/40, and recommencing 1946/47.