You’ve already heard of Collectible Corner on YouTube, where diecast aficionado Jared Costello discusses the ins and outs of the scale-model automotive hobby. But where is one expected to “park” those scale models, aside from just a generic display shelf on the wall or a curio cabinet? That was the thought process that drove my pursuit of a special project to commission a custom diecast diorama.

David Miniatures, of Quebec, Canada, makes his living by creating scale models. He has done so for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hasbro, and even A-list celebrities. Occasionally, David gets a shout-out from cast members of TV or movie locations he has re-created. That’s what happened when he built a scale model of Michael Scott’s office from “The Office.” David’s work is catching on, and today, he has over 330,000 Instagram followers tuning in to see his latest builds.

Background

I first connected in David in 2023 via Instagram and asked if he’d be interested in working on a scale model Acura dealership for me. More specifically, I wanted it to be a dealership from the 1990s era. I provided him with some reference materials, and I shipped him two of my 1/43-scale models so he could use them for staging. David contributed some great ideas to the project, including incorporating a period-correct (and illuminated) Coca-Cola vending machine to the space.

David and I video-chatted when he was ready to show me a rendering of what the model would look like, and I gave him some feedback on details like signage and furnishings. Soon, he was posting “in-progress” pictures to his Instagram page and my excitement elevated.

The details were far-reaching: David installed a working miniature television into one of the walls that plays a loop of Acura commercials as well as “office” style ambient noise (phone ringing, muffled conversation, and typing). One of the final steps was creating a removable ceiling/roof that had functional office-style LED lighting on a dimmer switch. The footprint of the indoor portion of the showroom ended up at roughly 13 inches by 9 inches, or 117 square inches in area.

Finished Product

The long-awaited day came when my custom miniature dealership arrived in the mail, and I eagerly furnished it with a few of my diecast model cars as well as a 1/43-scale couch, a couple of chairs, some swivel office chairs, plants, and a few scaled-down magazines for the coffee table.

As an Easter egg, I even put a scaled-down photo of myself on the wall by the coffee machine since I’m “employee of the month” (and also the only employee, it just so happens). The longer you look at the display, the more features you’ll find. Check out the video where I’ll take you on a guided tour.

I’m like a 10-year-old kid again playing with my toy cars and rearranging them in their new space. This new bite-sized addition to my Acura showroom will be the perfect conversation piece.

What kind of creative displays have you made for your model cars?