How do I add a piece to my collection?

Everything in your collection is a Piece — your personal copy of a model that lives in the shared catalog. So the first step is always to point your new piece at the right catalog entry.

The quickest way: Quick Add

On your My Collection page, open Quick Add and type the manufacturer and SKU (the catalog number printed on the box, e.g. 6-18000). We'll find the matching catalog model and drop you straight onto the add form.

Or browse the catalog

Prefer to look first? Open the Catalog, filter by manufacturer, type, or year, open the model you own, and click Add to Collection.

What happens next

A new piece is created as your own copy, pre-filled from the catalog:

• Name and box dimensions are copied from the catalog model (all editable).
• Status starts as Delivered and visibility starts Public.
• The technical details (locomotive/rolling-stock classification, scale specifics) are cloned onto your piece so they're yours to adjust.

From there you can fill in condition grades, storage location, what you paid, photos, and notes whenever you like.

What if the model isn't in the catalog?

You can't create a piece without a catalog model behind it. If nothing matches, add the catalog model first (or ask us to add it) — then come back and add your piece. See The model I own isn't in the catalog. What do I do?

Tip: Adding a boxed set works differently — see How do I add a set I own?