| There are things that stood the test of time, but for others, it’s about the bond of the community that makes the hobby or other interest last longer going beyond what started as the point of conversation. In the world of die-cast collecting and the exploration of interest, certain communities continue to be relevant.
DCPH is one example of a group or community that continues to stay relevant that was first founded in local message boards before spilling into the “Social Media” scene. Recently, the group celebrated its anniversary with a special Swap Meet that just wrapped up at Uni-Mart in Capital Commons in Pasig City. |
It was at the tail end of the event that things started to peak with most of the event sellers having immediately packed up after getting all their sales done. A few independent sellers have their wares organized and well-displayed on o the tables so walk-in individuals can see what they have that would interest them.
The amount of castings that a majority of stuff being sold are Hot Wheels, and Matchbox comes second that rarely few would appreciate. The prices are fair enough that a random individual who is not into collecting would be immediately hooked by the displays and cheap cars discontinued in the basic range of Hot Wheels’ most affordable series. If you’re just casually walking through this part of Uni-Mart, chances are you’ll get your eyeballs on certain cars that might find it attractive to get.
In the world of die-cast collecting, “I’ll get the ones I like” gets thrown out of the window once you glanced upon hundreds or even thousands of types of die-cast cars from different brands like Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning, Matchbox, or even from Tomica for some familiar names that you might hear about.
From Vintage to Modern Finds
The association of die-cast collecting will never end as long as these brands continue to churn up new models or the latest colours of that same casting find their way to the retail or even collector shops. There will be a new group of people that will immediately find the interest as for most of the kids growing up their first toy would be a die-cast car and this will have an immediate recall for those who would have that interest in collecting these colourful vehicles.
Matchbox was one of the pioneering brands that started this interesting hobby, which was originally produced by Lensney and is currently with Mattel. But the explosion of interest in die-cast collecting in the Philippines was dominated by those who got into the Hot Wheels brand and continues to become the inexpensive hobby for most finding the escape and a community like DCPH provides that sanctuary with that kind of cultivating interest in collecting.
BENSAN Customs Diorama
There is no diversity in the hobby if there is not without BENSAN Customs, which was a group of creative artists using a die-cast car as their canvas to create unique and sometimes inspired by what’s happening in the real world. For this DCPH anniversary, they headline the Swap Meet event with their custom diorama.
The attention to each of the glass-encased dioramas will certainly get most of the walk-ins at the Uni-Mart something to stare at. From rare customized die-cast cars to a diorama set up featuring Japan’s 70s popular anime in Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V standing guard beside a Dunkin shop there is some hilarity too.
While the dioramas are getting the attention, up the second level only a few more sellers have stayed as the others have tucked in their wares in their storage bins and plastic containers. The earlier coverage over social media shows it was packed and celebrating like no other.
DCPH have another success following some participating collectors showing their pride and joy at a recent car show in Pasay City was a huge hit aside from BENSAN Customs being present there too. It was fun until it lasted up to 8 pm as most headed out to wrap up another weekend with the community.
So what are your picks from this Swap Meet? Any significantly cool thing you found? Hopefully, this is not just another rarity event, and there will be more public gatherings from DCPH or any die-cast community out there, for now, those who missed out should look forward to the next one as this is quite a wrap.
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