It was a childhood pastime that I’ve continued and now transformed into a business venture. When I was 10 years old, my father brought me a railway engine scale model complete with electric tracks and signals. In the next couple of months I got totally hooked. Even now, though I am an engineer by profession, I tinker around with my models.
I started off by making paper models — houses, boats, etc. But by 1996 when I was in the tenth class, Ihad begun using plastic. After passing out of college in 2002 I was into making highimpact polystyrene railway scale models.
The problem with turning a hobby like mine into a full-fledged business is that neither are there too many buyers in India nor is the technical expertise available to scale up my skills. However, in 2003, I started a company, Mukund Toys, and tied up with Bachmann — the world leaders in model railways — to import and sell their products in India. Gradually by 2005 I had developed my skills to make full-scale models.
These models are not just toys or collectibles but are also useful. In fact, one of my first independent projects was that of setting up a signalling scale model for the Indian Railways. I also made a scale-model truck for an exhibition by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
These models are perhaps too expensive for the mass market. Each model costs anywhere between Rs 3,500 and Rs 12,000. However, this is the most profitable business within the toy industry and that is the market I am looking at.
All these years of association with an international firm have helped me gain some good contacts and also much needed expertise. I have sent some of my models for international certification. I will soon start manufacturing and exporting these models. The market abroad is huge. Out of every 10 people in the US, seven have some form of these models. By 2010, I see myself taking up my passion full time.
