Love the Porsche and Jaguar but you know that its unlikely that you’d ever be able to afford one? No sweat. Now you can at least settle for the poor second option of owning a miniature version. Tucked in a tiny corner at Select City Walk Mall, Saket is Modelart, a shop that sells scale model collectibles of all popular brands of cars, bikes, choppers and boats. And mind you, this is much more than just an ordinary toy-shop. A collector’s paradise, Modelart houses some rare limited edition cars such as Corvette and Shelby Cobra besides the dazzling Cadillac, Mustang , Lamborghini and Porsche.
Priced between Rs 99 to Rs 40,000, Modelart seems to be a hit among kids and adults alike. “Our customer profile ranges from die-hard collectors who are into hobby art to kids who are fascinated by the items at our store. And the enthusiasm among people is phenomenal. Hobby art has been a rage in the Western countries, and now that we have a hobby art store in India, we think it is just the beginning”, says store owner Sanjay Bhuwania.
Modelart has only two stores across the country, one in Bangalore and now this one in Delhi. Most of the collectibles are imported from Hong Kong and Thailand. “We keep high-end scale model brands such as Maisto, Franklinmint, Autoart and Signature. These companies craft scale models after obtaining a license from the respective automobile brands. We also have models that have a real engine, operated by nitro-ethanol. These models are a big hit among people,” tells Sam Thapa, the store-manager as he shows us some exquisite remote-controlled models among racing cars. The store registers a walk-in of around 50 people each day and the average sale per day hovers around Rs 20,000.
Forty-three year old Fareed Mallick, a lawyer by profession and a hobby collector of Mercedes scale models feels that having a store like Modelart is great beginning for Delhi. “Earlier, we did not have any scale model store in India and one could only buy die-cast models from toy-shops”, he says. He has recently purchased a 1:12 scale model of Mercedes CLK GTR worth Rs 19,500.
For Delhi University student Pranav Babbar, Modelart came across as a pleasant surprise. “I wish I had discovered the store earlier. They stock an amazing variety but I wish all these wonderful scale cars came at a cheaper price”, he says while checking out his purchase: a macho 1:24 scale model Hummer worth Rs 995.
At Modelart, one could also pick up elegant vintage scale models of 1938 Mercedes 770K used by Hitler (Rs 2,785), 1936 Mercedes 500K used by the Maharaja of Jaipur (Rs 18,500) and the charming Harley Davidson bike worth Rs 16,000.
For people looking for some designer accessories, the store offers a wide variety of them too. Clocks and watches designed out of real disc-brakes, tissue holders made of a real engine filter besides Harley Davidson key chains and coffee mugs that completely enchant you with their innovative designs.
Modelart F-27 Level 1
Select City Walk Mall, Saket