INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Natal Diecast Model Collectors Club based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The first meeting of our club was held on Tuesday 25th March 1980 in the lounge off the verandah of the Berea Hotel, Berea Road, Durban. Founder members were Alf Reynolds, Keith Roberts, Ian Sutherland, Geoff Sear and Rod Guérin. Click here to see the notice of this first meeting.
Our club was then provisionally called “Die-Cast Collectors”, and then later “Natal Diecast Collectors” or acronym NDC. (But because this acronym clashed with the then municipal name of “Natal Durban Corporation” it was decided to change to the present name of “Natal Diecast Model Collectors” - NDMC) The then early stated aim of the club was to promote the hobby of collecting diecast model cars, lorries, buses, military vehicles etc. - and to cater for collectors of all types of diecast models - and this theme has largely remained in place today.
Following the Berea Hotel venue, and over many years, subsequent meetings were held at the Tafta Ocean View Library, Berea, the Westville Civic Centre, Westville and the new Westville Fire Station. More recently we moved our meeting to the VCC (Veteran Car Club of South Africa) in Kloof - see below for more details.
Through the intervening years, and although most of our members still collect diecast models, another material which has been popular for some time is white metal. But, because of the very high production costs to produce diecast moulds, which have to withstand very high casting temperatures, many manufacturers are now producing resin models - called by some collectors as the “new diecast”. Both white metal and resin can be cast from either rubber or metal moulds, which are far cheaper to produce, as the casting dies don’t need to be so resilient to the high temperatures required for making diecast models.
A highlight on our events calendar is the Annual Rod Guerin Diorama Competition. See Competitions
We meet on the last Monday of every 2nd month viz: January, March, May, July, September and November. Note: If the Monday falls on a Public Holiday, we meet the next day Tuesday.
Our Exhibition Co-ordinator Richard Hebbron organises various Hobbies Fairs which are held at different times during the year, in one of the local Durban suburbs or further afield in Pietermaritzburg. See Upcoming Events
At these Hobbies Fairs there are often model electric trains running or Scalextric track racing set-ups. Included are exhibits and stands where various scale die-cast and other model material manufacturers are displayed and sold.
There are numerous other hobbies on show, and sometimes full size motorbikes and 1:1 cars on display.
We also have swap meets, organise auctions and Toy Fairs where our members display all or selections of their collection.
On occasion we meet at a member's house to view their collection.
Our members have a wealth of knowledge on the subject of diecast collecting and are only too willing to share this information with others.
A newsletter is published and is available for download on this website. See Newsletters
Should you be interested in finding out more, please feel free to attend one of our meetings as a guest.
We hope you enjoy your visit to our website and look forward to meeting you.
Comments, suggestions and contributions to this website will be most welcome.
Please feel free to Contact Us
So, whether you have a soft spot for cars, buses, trucks, aeroplanes, ships or motorcycles, our club is the just the right place to enjoy the wonderful hobby of diecast collecting.
Monthly meeting information:
Meeting times: 17:00 for 17:30. Meetings normally last for about an hour and a half.
We choose a theme for each meeting and members bring their models along accordingly e.g. “Steam Wagons, Vehicles and Stationary Steam Engines”.
Entertainment may be a guest speaker who will discuss the many facets of diecast collecting.
Venue: Veteran Car Club (VCC) Clubhouse - 21A Village Road, Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal. (Below Kloof Auto Centre and Engen Garage).
GPS co-ordinates -29.795312,30.837379 (29°47'43.12"S 30°50'14.56"E) Click to open in Google Maps.
Directions: From Durban:
Take the M13 and go past Pinetown and up Field’s Hill.
Near the crest of Field’s Hill take Exit 22 to Village Road / Pioneer Road. Go along Village Road (parallel to the M13) for about 1km - you will pass John Dory’s and Standard Bank on your left.
About 300m past John Dory’s you will see an Engen Garage also on the left. Just before the Engen garage you will see the VCC on the left down a short pan-handle drive, and below Kloof Auto Centre / Engen garage.
(Note: If you get to Hugh Mathie Beds or the SPCA you’ve gone too far)
Directions from Pietermaritzburg:
At the top of Key Ridge branch left off the N3 onto the M13
Go past Hillcrest and take Exit 23 to Kloof - Village Road
At the top of the exit ramp go around the traffic circle and go to the right and over the M13 bridge to Village Road.
The road curves to the left and past Hugh Mathie Beds. Immediately past the Engen Garage forecourt turn right into the VCC driveway. This is the entrance to the Veteran Car Club grounds. If you get to the Standard Bank you’ve gone too far.
Our club was then provisionally called “Die-Cast Collectors”, and then later “Natal Diecast Collectors” or acronym NDC. (But because this acronym clashed with the then municipal name of “Natal Durban Corporation” it was decided to change to the present name of “Natal Diecast Model Collectors” - NDMC) The then early stated aim of the club was to promote the hobby of collecting diecast model cars, lorries, buses, military vehicles etc. - and to cater for collectors of all types of diecast models - and this theme has largely remained in place today.
Following the Berea Hotel venue, and over many years, subsequent meetings were held at the Tafta Ocean View Library, Berea, the Westville Civic Centre, Westville and the new Westville Fire Station. More recently we moved our meeting to the VCC (Veteran Car Club of South Africa) in Kloof - see below for more details.
Through the intervening years, and although most of our members still collect diecast models, another material which has been popular for some time is white metal. But, because of the very high production costs to produce diecast moulds, which have to withstand very high casting temperatures, many manufacturers are now producing resin models - called by some collectors as the “new diecast”. Both white metal and resin can be cast from either rubber or metal moulds, which are far cheaper to produce, as the casting dies don’t need to be so resilient to the high temperatures required for making diecast models.
A highlight on our events calendar is the Annual Rod Guerin Diorama Competition. See Competitions
We meet on the last Monday of every 2nd month viz: January, March, May, July, September and November. Note: If the Monday falls on a Public Holiday, we meet the next day Tuesday.
Our Exhibition Co-ordinator Richard Hebbron organises various Hobbies Fairs which are held at different times during the year, in one of the local Durban suburbs or further afield in Pietermaritzburg. See Upcoming Events
At these Hobbies Fairs there are often model electric trains running or Scalextric track racing set-ups. Included are exhibits and stands where various scale die-cast and other model material manufacturers are displayed and sold.
There are numerous other hobbies on show, and sometimes full size motorbikes and 1:1 cars on display.
We also have swap meets, organise auctions and Toy Fairs where our members display all or selections of their collection.
On occasion we meet at a member's house to view their collection.
Our members have a wealth of knowledge on the subject of diecast collecting and are only too willing to share this information with others.
A newsletter is published and is available for download on this website. See Newsletters
Should you be interested in finding out more, please feel free to attend one of our meetings as a guest.
We hope you enjoy your visit to our website and look forward to meeting you.
Comments, suggestions and contributions to this website will be most welcome.
Please feel free to Contact Us
So, whether you have a soft spot for cars, buses, trucks, aeroplanes, ships or motorcycles, our club is the just the right place to enjoy the wonderful hobby of diecast collecting.
Monthly meeting information:
Meeting times: 17:00 for 17:30. Meetings normally last for about an hour and a half.
We choose a theme for each meeting and members bring their models along accordingly e.g. “Steam Wagons, Vehicles and Stationary Steam Engines”.
Entertainment may be a guest speaker who will discuss the many facets of diecast collecting.
Venue: Veteran Car Club (VCC) Clubhouse - 21A Village Road, Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal. (Below Kloof Auto Centre and Engen Garage).
GPS co-ordinates -29.795312,30.837379 (29°47'43.12"S 30°50'14.56"E) Click to open in Google Maps.
Directions: From Durban:
Take the M13 and go past Pinetown and up Field’s Hill.
Near the crest of Field’s Hill take Exit 22 to Village Road / Pioneer Road. Go along Village Road (parallel to the M13) for about 1km - you will pass John Dory’s and Standard Bank on your left.
About 300m past John Dory’s you will see an Engen Garage also on the left. Just before the Engen garage you will see the VCC on the left down a short pan-handle drive, and below Kloof Auto Centre / Engen garage.
(Note: If you get to Hugh Mathie Beds or the SPCA you’ve gone too far)
Directions from Pietermaritzburg:
At the top of Key Ridge branch left off the N3 onto the M13
Go past Hillcrest and take Exit 23 to Kloof - Village Road
At the top of the exit ramp go around the traffic circle and go to the right and over the M13 bridge to Village Road.
The road curves to the left and past Hugh Mathie Beds. Immediately past the Engen Garage forecourt turn right into the VCC driveway. This is the entrance to the Veteran Car Club grounds. If you get to the Standard Bank you’ve gone too far.
Natal Diecast Model Collectors Club
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
www.ndmc.co.za info@ndmc.co.za
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
www.ndmc.co.za info@ndmc.co.za
NATAL DIECAST
MODEL COLLECTORS
MODEL COLLECTORS
