Model Buses

There's a website from the U.K. that details models of transit buses from Asia. The gentleman who runs the site has collected information on models from Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Japan. I think the site is eminently charming, and the models themselves, usually HO scale, are finely detailed, with colorful and authentic graphics, that represent actual vehicles and routes in use. Most are diecast( like old Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars) or are plastic or resin kits. I think such collectibles would be under-appreciated in this country, owing to our entrenched car culture and the snub that public transportation usually gets. That is truly a shame, for although
such an infrastructure exists in every major urban area, we really seem to take it for granted, rather than celebrate it for its decided usefulness. If dire predictions are correct, and we are in a peak oil era, we would be wise to look to the Far East for inspiration in solving some of our transportation problems. In any event, I think collecting these models would be a fascinating hobby, encompassing a gentle, indespensible and often overlooked aspect of many people's daily lives.