It has been almost impossible to find data on the size of the vintage and collectible toy & model market so that in the end we have done our own study.  When we met the folks from the Hobby Manufacturers Association or HMA at their event, the iHobby in Chicago they presented us with results from their their now annual survey.

The HMA Size of Industry estimate is based on 2006 reported sales of participating model hobby companies and was $1.192 billion.  The estimate for the next year, 2007, again based on the same type of survey was 7% higher at $1.274 billion. Here the split-up by HMA Segment (each in $ millions) for 2007:

The HMA was only created in 2005 through the merger of the International Model Hobby Manufacturers Association, Model Railroad Industry Association and the Radio Control Hobby Trade Association. HMA represents manufacturers, importers, publishers, distributors, and suppliers of model trains, plastic and die cast models, radio control products and hobby accessories and tools (for example paints).

It's good to have some solid 3rd party figures and we do think that the HMA does a good job.  That being said it is important to keep in mind that these numbers exclude various channels, direct sales into the US marketplace, all sales in the secondary markets and - from our perspective - sales in the rest of the world and other segments like action figures, dolls and bears.