So you've decided to start collecting scale model cars...excellent decision. You're about to embark on a fun and rewarding hobby that will help you realize your dream of owning a fantastic collection of the cars of your dreams, albeit in small scale. If you're brand new to the hobby, though, you might be intimidated by the sheer number of options available to you in terms of model companies, subject matter, and differing sizes of model. Luckily, we're here to help. Every month, we're going to cut through the noise and spotlight three scale model cars (one in each of the scales we focus on at Model Citizen Diecast) to help you find true treasure that can form the foundation of a world-class model collection.

For our first entry in the series, we're starting out big by looking at three models that represent some of the most popular marques in diecast collecting: Ferrari, Nissan Skyline, and Porsche. If you're fan of any of these iconic brands, and you're launching a new model model car collection, read on (or click the bold text to shop online).

1:18 SCALE: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, diecast metal, by Kyosho. Simply put, the Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the greatest collector cars of all time. Only 36 of the real thing were built, achieving incredible success on the international GT racing stage in the early 1960s and helping deliver the FIA International Championship for GT Manufacturers to Ferrari for three consecutive years. Today, real GTOs trade hands for upwards of $50 million (when they trade hands at all!) and remain out of reach to all but the wealthiest of individuals. For diecast collectors, numerous 250 GTOs have been released in a variety of scales, but if you're looking for a foundational piece for your collection, we recommend Kyosho's 1:18-scale, fully opening diecast metal model. The GTO's complex, fluid body shape has been pleasingly recreated by Kyosho, but what lies beneath is equally beautiful. The engine compartment is plumbed, wired and topped with a dozen gorgeous velocity stacks, while the cockpit features a lovingly sculpted shift gate and diamond-tufted parcel shelf. In short, Kyosho's GTO is stunning. If you're starting a collection of 1:18-scale Ferrari models, why not start with one of the very best? $360

1:43 SCALE: 1995 NISMO 400R, resin, by Kyosho. Just as in the world of full-sized car collection, the JDM scene is the fastest-growing segment of the scale-model car hobby, as demand from a younger generation of collectors has brought the high-tech heroes of Japan's bubble era to the fore. Perhaps no other car in this market can surpass the Nissan Skyline GT-R for popularity, and dozens of models have been produced at every level of detail. To start your collection, we're in favor of choosing one of the rarest and most sought after GT-R variants: the NISMO 400R. Based on the R33-generation Skyline GT-R, the NISMO 400R boasted a larger engine and improved aerodynamics from the "standard" GT-R, with a top speed of nearly 190 miles per hour. Only 44 400Rs were completed, making it arguably the most desirable Skyline from a collector standpoint. For model collectors, Kyosho offers a beautiful 1:43-scale resin replica (available in red or yellow) that captures the all the visual excitement of the 400 thanks to incredibly accurate trim pieces such as perfectly scaled front facia, prominent rear wing and delicate badges, all accented by perfectly rendered LM-GT1 wheels. We can't think of a better launchpad for a JDM-focused collection of 1:43-scale cars. $85

1:64 SCALE: 1963 Porsche 901, diecast metal, by Mini GT. It's not hyperbole to suggest that the Porsche 911 is not only the greatest sports car of all time, but also one of history's most significant automobiles in any category. Its unorthodox rear-engined layout has proven its mettle as an ideal performance platform for sixty years, so it's only fitting that a diecast model collector would chose to explore the lengthy history of the 911 nameplate when building a collection. That exploration should start with the genesis of the brand: the 901 prototype, first shown in 1963 (before a legal challenge from Peugeot would dictate a name change to 911). For those looking to start a collection of Porsches in the red-hot premium 1:64-scale space, Mini GT offers an exceptionally well-detailed Porsche 901, which features intricate trim pieces such as tiny wiper blades and a crisply cut grille that suggest that a shrink ray may have been used in the model's construction. For the space-constrained model collector, the Mini GT 1:64-scale 901 is a logical starting point. $17