A die-cast toy also spelled diecast, or die cast is a toy or a collectible model produced by using the die-casting method of putting molten lead , zinc alloy or plastic in a mold to produce a particular shape. Such toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber, glass, or other machined metal parts.
Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection molding , but the two methods are distinct because of the properties of the materials. The metal used in die-casting is either a lead alloy used early on , or more commonly, Zamak called Mazak in the UK , an alloy of zinc with small quantities of aluminium and copper. Lead or iron are impurities that must be carefully avoided in Zamac, as they give rise to a deterioration of the metal most commonly called zinc pest.
The terms white metal or pot metal are also used when applied to alloys based more on lead or iron. The most common die-cast vehicles are scale models of automobiles , aircraft , military vehicles, construction equipment , and trains , although almost anything can be produced by this method, like Monopoly game pieces, furniture handles, or metal garden sprinklers.
The first models on the market were basic, consisting of a small vehicle body with no interior. In the early days, as mentioned, it was common for impurities in the alloy to result in zinc pest , and the casting would distort, crack, or crumble. As a result, die-cast toys made before World War II are difficult to find in good condition. The later high-purity Zamak alloy avoided this problem. Lesney began making die-cast toys in Their popular Matchbox 1β75 series was so named because there were always 75 different vehicles in the line, each packaged in a small box designed to look like those used for matches.
These toys became so popular that the "Matchbox" became widely used as a generic term for any die-cast toy car, regardless of manufacturer. The popularity of die-cast toys developed through the s as their detail and quality increased. Corgi Toys appeared in and pioneered the use of interiors and windows in their models.
