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In the world of diecast models, there is a wide range of manufacturers making models in the 1:64/3" scale that
can suitable all collectors of all ages. One of the great manufacturer's that is loved through the collecting world is
a Chinese company called Welly Die Casting Factory Limited (hereon in simply referred to as Welly), which has been
manufacturing die-cast toy cars and scale models since 1979 and this year they turned 30. To celebrate this achievement,
I wanted to look at the history of Welly and the models they produce.
At the start of the 1980s, Welly mainly produced toy cars, around the length size of around 3 inches (approx. 1:60 scale)
and have since gone on produce model cars, trucks, bicycles, motorbikes and playsets in a range of different scales from
1:18 to 1:87, although I will focus only on their 1:60-1:64 scale model cars.
Welly models, are like most other diecast models in a way that they are not without their faults, but they produce some great models
in my opinion due to the quality
of the cars that they make and the variety of the cars that they make, all typically for a reasonable price. Such examples
of excellent models, includes the Jaguar XK180, 2005 Ford Focus ST, Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 406 Coupe, 2004 Opel Astra and the
forthcoming Hyundia I30 none of which have been made in this scale by any other manufacturer. The best thing is that Welly
continue to offer these 'unique' models, as well as more common Porsche, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Lamborghini models.
One of the biggest problems/compliants across the collecting world with Welly models is their availability across the world.
A regular supply of Welly models is rare in certain parts of the world and Welly do not regularly release new models, in the
same formal/regular way that other manufacturer's such as Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Siku do. Although, I do find that they
have a habit of appearing every now and then in a new location, such as recent 5 packs in Marks & Spenser and singles in Morrisons
and in both situations new models were part of the range. I also find that it makes things more exciting collecting Welly models
even more fun, as there is a element of the hunt to find them or the enjoyment of trading models between friends.
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