What is the typical custom diecast delivery time from order to doorstep?

For most UK customers, expect 10 to 14 days door to door: about one day for order review, 7 to 10 business days in the workshop, and 1 to 2 days in courier transit. Elsewhere in Europe, allow closer to two to three weeks.

How long does a custom diecast take to actually build?

The hands-on build takes 7 to 10 business days from the moment production begins. That covers reference work, chassis and body assembly, engine bay detail, interior fitting, paint, clear coat and curing, and final quality checks.

Does the scale I choose change the diecast model production time?

The headline 7 to 10 business day window applies to all three scales, but 1:12 models sit closer to the upper end because there is more surface area to detail. 1:24 models usually finish sooner within the same range.

Can I speed up my custom scale model timeline?

You cannot shorten the craft time itself, but you can shorten the front end. Upload sharp, evenly lit photos, supply your factory paint code, and reply quickly to any clarification email. That often saves two to three days.

How long does shipping take across Europe?

The UK is 1 to 2 working days. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France are typically 2 to 4 working days. Spain, Portugal, Italy and Austria are 3 to 5 working days. Switzerland is 3 to 6 working days, allowing for customs clearance.

What happens if my photos are not good enough?

The workshop emails you within one working day and asks for replacements before charging anything further. Your slot in the production queue is held while you send new images, so nothing is lost mid-build.

Will the paint really match my car's exact colour?

Yes. We mix to your car's factory paint code rather than eyeballing it from a photo, which is why unusual pearlescents and discontinued OEM shades do not add time to the schedule.

Do you ship in GBP or EUR?

Prices display in GBP by default and convert automatically to EUR for visitors in the eurozone. The figure shown at checkout is the figure you pay, with no surprise conversion at delivery.

From Photos to Your Doorstep: The Full Custom Diecast Timeline

Name: ROYS DIECAST
Price range: ££
Rating: 4.9

The short answer first: at Roys Diecast, the standard custom diecast delivery time is 7 to 10 business days from the moment production begins, plus a short review window at the start and courier transit at the end. For most customers in the UK and Western Europe, the whole journey from uploading photos to unboxing the finished replica sits comfortably inside two to three weeks.

That is a deliberately honest window. Every model is built one at a time, by hand, so we would rather explain each stage clearly than promise a next-day miracle. Below is exactly what happens between the moment you press upload and the moment the box arrives at your door.

Stage 1: Photo upload and order confirmation (Day 0 to Day 1)

The clock does not really start until we have what we need to build your car. When you place your order, you upload four to six photos of the vehicle: front three-quarter, rear three-quarter, both side profiles, and ideally one interior shot and one wheel close-up. You also pick your scale, either 1:24 from £69, 1:18 from £129, or 1:12 from £199, and confirm the factory paint code if you know it.

Within one working day, a member of the workshop reviews everything. If the photos are sharp and the angles are complete, we confirm the order and slot you into the production queue. If something is missing, we email you before charging anything further, so no time is lost mid-build.

What can slow this stage down

Blurred or heavily shaded photos where panel lines disappear
Missing interior or wheel reference shots
Aftermarket modifications you want reproduced but have not described
An unusual factory colour with no paint code supplied

Sending clear, evenly lit photos on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to keep your custom diecast delivery time on the shorter end of the range.

Stage 2: Reference build and paint matching (Days 1 to 3)

Before any metal is cut, our team builds a digital reference sheet from your photos: proportions, trim details, wheel design, badge placement, and interior colourway. In parallel, the paint department mixes to your car's exact factory code so the shade on your replica matches the shade on your driveway.

This is quiet, unglamorous work, but it is where accuracy is won or lost. A common question we get is how long does a custom diecast take if the paint is a tricky pearlescent or a discontinued OEM colour. The honest answer: usually no extra time, because we mix from code rather than guess from a photo.

Stage 3: Chassis, body and mechanical detail (Days 3 to 8)

Now the physical model comes together. Each replica is built on a metal alloy chassis with a composite body shell laid over it, which is what gives the finished piece its reassuring weight and the crisp panel edges you feel when you pick it up.

Inside those days, the workshop fits:

The opening bonnet and a detailed engine bay, right down to the oil filter and coolant lines
An opening boot with a finished floor and trim
Rotating wheels on proper axles, with brake detail visible through the spokes
A full interior with seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and gear knob

This is the longest single block of the diecast model production time because it is where the model earns the word "replica" rather than "toy". At 1:12 scale, this stage takes noticeably longer than at 1:24 simply because there is more surface to detail.

Stage 4: Paint, clear coat and curing (Days 7 to 10)

Paint goes on in thin, even coats with proper flash-off time between each pass, followed by a clear coat and a curing period. Rushing this stage is how you get orange peel and fingerprints, so we do not rush it.

Badges, trim, lights and glazing are fitted after the clear coat has fully hardened. A final quality check compares the finished model side by side with your original photos on a lit bench, and any panel gap or trim piece that is not right gets corrected before the model leaves the workshop.

Stage 5: Packing and courier handover (Day 10)

Every model is packed into a foam-cut inner tray inside a rigid outer carton, sealed, and handed to a tracked courier. You receive an email with the tracking number the same day it ships. From there, transit time depends on where you are.

Typical courier transit windows

United Kingdom: 1 to 2 working days
Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France: 2 to 4 working days
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria: 3 to 5 working days
Switzerland: 3 to 6 working days, allowing for customs

Prices display in GBP by default and convert automatically to EUR for visitors in the eurozone, so the figure you see at checkout is the figure you pay.

Putting the full custom scale model timeline together

If you add every stage up, a realistic end-to-end custom scale model timeline looks like this: one day for order review, seven to ten business days in the workshop, and one to six days in transit. For a UK customer who sends clean photos, that is often 10 to 14 days door to door. For a customer in southern Europe, allow closer to three weeks.

You can see how consistently we hit those windows in the 50 verified reviews across 10 European countries, which currently average 4.9 out of 5. Delivery timing is one of the things customers mention most often, which is precisely why we publish these ranges rather than a single optimistic number.

How to shorten your own timeline

A few small choices genuinely move the needle:

Upload high-resolution photos taken in soft daylight, not in a dim garage
Supply the factory paint code from your car's VIN plate
Confirm the interior trim colour in writing, especially for two-tone cabins
Reply promptly if the workshop emails a clarification question

None of these change the craft time, but together they can shave two or three days off the front end of your custom diecast delivery time.

Ready to start your build?

If you have your photos ready, you can start your order at Roys Diecast in a few minutes and be inside the production queue by tomorrow. If you would rather browse scales and pricing first, the order page lays out 1:24, 1:18 and 1:12 options side by side so you can decide what suits your shelf, your desk, or your display cabinet.

Either way, the timeline above is what you can expect. No mystery, no vague promises, just a handmade replica of your own car arriving at your door in a couple of weeks.