Taking off with their passion for wheels
Hitting the road: Giving a scenic Sigiriya backdrop to a classic miniature
What began as a pastime has grown into G&S Miniatures, a company founded by Gotabaya and his wife Sachindi, specializing in limited edition handcrafted cement composite model cars among other products and collectibles. Miniature model artists are drawn to different variations of miniature models such as trains and planes, they explain, but G&S Miniatures prefers vintage and classic cars.
What makes most of their models stand out is that they design them with a rustic look. “I prefer something that has that a ‘used’ look with dust on it that looks like it’s run a race and come back,” says Gotabaya.
His passion has been contagious for Sachindi was introduced to the process during the early stages of their relationship and was drawn to the hobby herself. While the models are made by Gotabaya, Sachindi assists in every other aspect of the process from gathering the right materials to handling the company’s online presence through social media and more.
Sachindi and Gotabaya Abeyagoonasekera: Model couple. Pix by Amila Gamage
An interest in cars runs in Gotabaya’s family as his own passion emerged at just four years old watching his father restore classic and vintage cars as both a business and hobby. “When I came back home from school I used to run to the garage and play with the cars and the mechanics,” he recalls and that interest only grew over the years as he received miniature toy cars from his father as gifts which he stored carefully in a cabinet.
His interest in creating models and dioramas started to take shape when he came across a model car which he wanted to recreate. He created a mould experimenting with different materials to fill it. Most of his early attempts failed and frustrated, he decided that if couldn’t create something with his next attempt, he would break the mould. It was then he used cement, an unconventional material, to fill the mould. After much trial and error, he was elated to see that cement had worked far better than any of the materials used before.
Now primarily using cement to create their models, Gotabaya adds that they never stop experimenting, finding it important to keep discovering new ways to be creative. Wood presented several problems such as warping when creating dioramas but other recycled and reusable goods, like buttons and sequins, have found a new use as part of a G&S Miniature model, appearing as fog lamps on some model cars.
Running on wheels: Custom-made clock
Time is their biggest challenge – completing a model can take from a few days to a month. With the scale being so small, details have to be painstakingly done and the model or diorama also undergoes several rounds of painting to truly capture all the little details.
The dedication Gotabaya has for collecting models is nothing short of a passion. Once it took him five years to find a particular model he was interested in and bring it down to Sri Lanka. He searched for this particular car in France for a year, managed to get it sent to England through a friend (as it was cheaper) and was able to finally call it his own, years later. The model which was valued at £400 holds special meaning to Gotabaya as he initially thought of it as something he could never have, prompting him to first create his own.
G&S Miniatures have now exhibited at several national and international conventions and Expos, starting off in June last year at the Malaysia Diecast Expo, Malaysia’s annual premium diecast event. Gotabaya reveals that he hit a few speed bumps along the way. “I got stopped at customs about five times and everyone wanted to know what was in the bag- what it was and why I was taking it to Malaysia!”
Combining their love for their work and their love for travel, Gotabaya and Sachindi photograph their models in different regions of the country with scenic views in the background. “Whenever I got a new model it wasn’t just to keep in a cupboard – I wanted to do something with it,” explains Gotabaya. “I started photography by taking models to different locations and taking pictures with my phone.” Two years ago receiving a camera as a gift, he was happy he no longer had to ‘struggle to take pictures by kneeling down and rolling around’.
Dust from the road: One of Gotabaya’s models
The couple’s two young sons share their interest. Their four-year-old knows every car model and knows how to take apart models as well without damaging them, Sachindi says proudly. “He’s already started his own collection!”
Their creative range keeps growing. From restorations on diecast model cars, custom projects, wood transfers where they transfer images onto planks to look as if the image was printed onto wood, they even do custom-made clocks decorated with their model cars. The latter has proved very popular – they displayed their first custom-made clock at an exhibition last year and “five minutes into the exhibition a client came up to me and said ‘I want that’,” Gotabaya recalls. Since then more clients have requested their custom clocks with other additions such as engravings.
For those who may be hesitant to follow their passion, whatever it may be, Gotabaya says, “Try- just simply try it. If you can imagine something and try to make it, you will get the idea; you will know where you went wrong, you will learn from your mistakes. It’s just a matter of trying. If you don’t try you’ll never know what you can do.”
To view their work, follow G&S Miniatures on their Facebook page or on Instagram @gnsminiatures