Maisto
Encyclopedia
Maisto International Inc. is a popular toy brand of the May Cheong Group (which also now produces the Bburago
brand name). Maisto manufactures die-cast
models
of automobile
s, aircraft
, and motorcycles. The company also manufactures a number of Tonka
products, under license from Hasbro.
The May Cheong Group is based in Hong Kong
and their products are made in China
and Thailand
(Rixon 2005, 64). The factories in China and Thailand manufacture 1:12, 1:18
, 1:24, 1:25, 1:27, 1:43, 1:31 and 1:64 scale replicas. Most models are officially licensed products, based on popular vehicles. The US warehouse and distribution center, aka Maisto International, Inc, is located in Fontana, California.
In 2005 the May Cheong Group acquired the assets of Bburago
, the well-known Italian scale model manufacturer that had previously gone bankrupt.
, Ertl
, and even Mattel
's larger scale Hot Wheels
had entered the 1:18 scale fray. Especially since Bburago failed (being now a part of May Cheong), no other company overall has been able to compete as successfully in the market as Maisto at these larger scales. Maisto produces many licensed properties that reflected contemporary motoring and industry trends. For example, it is an official licensee of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company.
Maisto vehicles of 1/18 scale usually have all features open with nicely appointed engines and interiors. Models are nearly perfectly proportioned and have very good detail for being mass-produced in the hundreds of thousands. Still, paint application may not be uniform, body panels may be uneven, lights unrealistic, and trim rather thick and gaudy (Review: Maisto 2010). Collectors wanting finer crafting in this size must look to AUTOart
, CMC, or Exoto at the higher end of precision detail in miniature.
1/64 scale Maisto die-cast models are comparable in quality and details to Matchbox, Hot Wheels
and Johnny Lightning
, but new models in this scale are not released very often. Newer lines offer vehicles of more customized themes. One such line is the AllStarz which features custom rims, special paint jobs, lowered suspension and upgraded in-car entertainment systems. Another line is Pro Rodz which uses similar themes but consists of classic American muscle cars. Both lines are in direct competition with 'Jada Toys
' 'Dub City' and 'Big Time Muscle' brands that started the 'bling' trends in auto toys.
Bburago
Bburago is an Italian model car manufacturer, that was based in Burago di Molgora, Italy, which made mostly diecast cars from 1976 to 2005, and then under the May Cheong group since 2007.-Early years:...
brand name). Maisto manufactures die-cast
Die-cast toy
The term die-cast toy here refers to any toy or collectible model produced by using the die casting method. The toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber or glass details. Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection moulding, but the two are rarely confused...
models
Scale model
A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...
of automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s, aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, and motorcycles. The company also manufactures a number of Tonka
Tonka
Tonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by...
products, under license from Hasbro.
Company history
In the 1980s, Maisto became well known as a diecast vehicle producer after a business conglomeration of May Tat Toy (Mainly motorcycles), May Cheong (MC Toy - which produced smaller vehicles), and Maisto. Through the 1990s, Maisto was considered the US division of Master Toy Co. Ltd. of Thailand with May Cheong being the Kowloon, Hong Kong, subsidiary (Johnson 1998, 119).The May Cheong Group is based in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and their products are made in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(Rixon 2005, 64). The factories in China and Thailand manufacture 1:12, 1:18
1:18 scale
1:18 scale diecast replicas are diecast replicas in 1:18 scale or 1/18th the size of the real vehicle. Most popular in this category are 1:18 scale diecast automobile replicas - usually made out of zinc alloy with plastic parts...
, 1:24, 1:25, 1:27, 1:43, 1:31 and 1:64 scale replicas. Most models are officially licensed products, based on popular vehicles. The US warehouse and distribution center, aka Maisto International, Inc, is located in Fontana, California.
In 2005 the May Cheong Group acquired the assets of Bburago
Bburago
Bburago is an Italian model car manufacturer, that was based in Burago di Molgora, Italy, which made mostly diecast cars from 1976 to 2005, and then under the May Cheong group since 2007.-Early years:...
, the well-known Italian scale model manufacturer that had previously gone bankrupt.
Automobiles
Maisto gained popularity in the around 1990, mainly competing in 1/18 scale with Italian Bburago and Polistil. By 2000, a whole host of other companies like YatmingYatming
Yat Ming , is a die-cast car model maker, much like Matchbox. The company is based in Hong Kong.The company started out making muscle cars, European sedans, and transport trucks from the USA in the early 1970s. In the late 1990s, however, the company moved towards making more realistic models, and...
, Ertl
Ertl Company
The Ertl Company is an American toy company best known for its die-cast metal alloy collectible replicas of farm equipment and vehicles. The company is based in Dyersville, Iowa, home of the National Farm Toy Museum...
, and even Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
's larger scale Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:...
had entered the 1:18 scale fray. Especially since Bburago failed (being now a part of May Cheong), no other company overall has been able to compete as successfully in the market as Maisto at these larger scales. Maisto produces many licensed properties that reflected contemporary motoring and industry trends. For example, it is an official licensee of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company.
AUTOart
AUTOart is a Hong Kong-based diecast model car line sold by AA Collection Ltd. The company was formerly owned by Gateway Global Ltd. based in Costa Mesa, California.-History:AUTOart was established in 1998...
, CMC, or Exoto at the higher end of precision detail in miniature.
1/64 scale Maisto die-cast models are comparable in quality and details to Matchbox, Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:...
and Johnny Lightning
Johnny Lightning
Johnny Lightning is a brand of model cars originally produced by Topper Toys, similar to the hugely successful Mattel Hot Wheels die cast racing cars. They were not quite as successful, one major reason was that the styling, casting and finish was not as of high quality as Mattel's Hot Wheels...
, but new models in this scale are not released very often. Newer lines offer vehicles of more customized themes. One such line is the AllStarz which features custom rims, special paint jobs, lowered suspension and upgraded in-car entertainment systems. Another line is Pro Rodz which uses similar themes but consists of classic American muscle cars. Both lines are in direct competition with 'Jada Toys
Jada Toys
Jada Toys, Incorporated of Industry, California, USA is a manufacturer of collectible diecast model cars and radio controlled vehicles. It was founded in 1999 by husband and wife Jack and May Li...
' 'Dub City' and 'Big Time Muscle' brands that started the 'bling' trends in auto toys.
Large scale
- Special Edition - Mid-range vehicle replicas. 1:18 scale models are mounted on plastic display stand.
- Premiere Edition - Vehicle replicas with clear plastic casing over display stand. No real quality increase over Special Edition, varies with the model.
- Assembly Line - Ready-to-build die-cast vehicles. Includes FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
models. - GT Racing - Replicas of race cars from the Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersDeutsche Tourenwagen MastersThe Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
(German Touring Car Championship) and 24 Hours of Le Mans24 Hours of Le MansThe 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
series. - AllStars - Scale replica vehicles with lowered suspension, larger wheels, custom interiors and special paint jobs. Formerly marketed as Playerz.
- AllStars Red - TargetTarget CorporationTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
-exclusive lineup, which consists of 100 different models. - Pro Rodz - American muscle cars with custom wheels, interior and paint jobs. Some 1:18 and 1:24 models are also available as assembly kits.
- Pro Rodz Pro Street - American muscle cars modified with larger engines and thicker tires for drag racing.
- TLUGZ - 1:24 scale plastic vehicles with 2½" block character figures.
- Hummer World - Maisto's exclusive lineup of HummerHummerHummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were...
vehicles.
Motorcycles, bicycles, and aircraft
- Motorcycles - Lineup consists of Harley-DavidsonHarley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
s, MotoGP racers, VespaVespaVespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A...
scooters, stock motorcycles and the Dodge TomahawkDodge TomahawkThe Tomahawk was a Dodge non-street legal concept vehicle introduced at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It had futuristic and unusual design, featuring the V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper. The vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels, making it...
Concept Bike. - Wild Rides - Custom choppers with matching helmets.
- Tour de Maisto - 1:12 scale replica bicycles.
- Fresh Metal - Tailwinds - 1:87 die-cast historic and modern-era military helicopters and airplanes. Plastic stand with aircraft name included.
Smaller scale
- Tonka Classic - Replicas of classic TonkaTonkaTonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by...
vehicles. - Chuck & Friends - 3" cartoon vehicles that are part of the Tonka Collection.
- Fresh Metal - Power Racers - 4.5" die-cast vehicles with pull-back motors.
- Gascaps - Super-deformed vehicles, similar to Jada Toys' Chub City line.
- Need for Speed: Undercover - Promotional die-cast for Need for Speed: UndercoverNeed for Speed: UndercoverNeed for Speed: Undercover is the 12th installment of the popular racing video game series Need for Speed, developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts . It was released on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and mobile...
game. Each car has a cheat code to unlock the in-game version of the car.
Radio-controlled vehicles
- Custom R/C Shop - Radio-controlled versions of AllStars and Pro Rodz vehicles.
- Street Troopers: Mobilized Attack Vehicles - R/C vehicles that can transform into attack modes and fire foam projectiles.
- Monster Drift RC - R/C vehicles with hard plastic tires and 4 wheel drive, optimized for drifting.
See also
- BburagoBburagoBburago is an Italian model car manufacturer, that was based in Burago di Molgora, Italy, which made mostly diecast cars from 1976 to 2005, and then under the May Cheong group since 2007.-Early years:...
- Hot WheelsHot WheelsHot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:...
- PolistilPolistilPolistil was a toy company headquartered in Milan, Italy, with production center in Chiari, Brescia. Polistil specialized in diecast metal and plastic vehicles of all sizes. The company also made toy and model tanks, dolls, robots and TV tie-ins...
- TomicaTomicaTomica is the line of die-cast toy vehicles and related products produced by Takara Tomy Co. of Japan . This is not the same as Tomica World, which is a line of motorized trains and vehicles and accessories that Tomy Co. of Japan has produced since the late 1990s...
- Matchbox (toy company)Matchbox (toy company)Matchbox is a popular toy brand which was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953 and is now owned by Mattel, Inc. The brand was so named as the original die-cast Matchbox toys were sold in boxes similar in style and size to those in which matches were sold...
- Jada ToysJada ToysJada Toys, Incorporated of Industry, California, USA is a manufacturer of collectible diecast model cars and radio controlled vehicles. It was founded in 1999 by husband and wife Jack and May Li...