MINI GT COMING SOON
TRUCK STOP No#597
So far, MINI GT’s truck lineup has included a wide range of Mercedes ACTROS. But soon, the KING of Semis, America, will be on the list, and collectors will have access to some good old American haulers. This is a Western Star Trailer with an EVERGREEN container with an opening at the back. Knowing how MINI GT trucks do, this is very exciting!
PLUM GORGEOUS No#865
Meticulously crafted and painted, it's lovely to see a Lamborghini back in this shade of purple. A similar colour for the Diablo was used in the 90s called VIOLA SE30. The famous purple shade is synonymous with Lamborghini’s V12s. We’ve seen the Countach before, and it's an amazing casting. Now, you can enjoy it in Purple.
Skylines
The No#869Limit
Japanese racing driver Tsugio Matsuda is what one could call a Skyline fanatic. He owns a very eclectic GT-R collection, including one of 19 GT-R Z-Tune. Apart from owning so many dream cars and proving that life is unfair, he is now the subject of a new collection that MINI GT is slowly releasing. This is the first of many to come AND, all cars will feature a Tsugio Matsuda figure.
BBR BEATING THE COMPETIZIONE
It’s going to be an exciting year for Ferrari collectors. HotWHeels will release their new Ferrari line-up, Tarmac Works is showing no signs of letting up, and MINI GT isn’t late to the party—they are just getting started. Giving themselves a home advantage and working with BBR, this new 812 Competizione V12 is a sparkling stunner we desperately want in our collections. Wouldn’t you agree?
HOLY GT SPIRIT!!
Unable to hold back, GT SPIRIT is making its mark on the resin car game like nobody’s business. Honestly, they do stunning models with crazy details. This year, they have ramped up their line of cars, and honestly, it is hard to pick favourites.
PORSCHE CAYMAN R and the KONNISEGG GEMERA in British Racing Green. As always, immaculate details give you the pleasure of showing off your collection while you listen to the sounds of excitement and pleasure from the people who cannot fathom your James Bond lifestyle when it comes to scale model cars.
But the details are thrilling, and you cannot go wrong with GT Spirit. Look out for these beauties because they will be gone very quickly.
HARD. BUT WE DID. AND THESE ARE CERTAINLY A PAIR TO WATCH OUT FOR.
CAST ASIDE THE COMPETITION
Johnny Lightning has been a name synonymous with die-cast since 1969. Whether they’re pavement-pounding muscle, high-revving import heat, death-defying dirt-jumpers, or your favorite silver screen machine, these small scale wheels have made a BIG impression.
New to the Johnny Lightning line-up:
The 2006 Subaru WRX makes its debut to the Johnny Lightning lineup in the newest release of MECUM Collector Tins. Be on the lookout for this import legend and the rest of the MECUM release in stores now!
White Lightning Chase
JOHNNYLIGHTNING STRIKES
JL is rounding up the first Quarter of the year with some new 1/24 scale models ranging from supercars to muscle trucks, and it all looks very exciting. For example, we have a SALEEN S7, a rare car in scale format, so seeing it come out in 1/24 is very exciting. Another hot casting we will seek is the Mercedes AMG GT3. There will also be pickup trucks with some of your favourite models hitting the shelves. It's great to see JL expanding their line with more scales and their choice of cars will help them capitalize on sales.
KONICHCHIWA OTTO MOBILE
TOYOTA
SUPRA MKII
For most of you, the SUPRA MK4 is the ultimate Supra to own. But I personally have reached a saturation point with certain cars, and after repeatedly being subjected to the MK 4, I have started to appreciate the Supra shapes of the MK1 and MK2. And the timing couldn’t be better because, as a fan of OTTO’s resin models, having them get deeper into JDM this year means that I can have all the cake I want AND eat it, too.
COMING SOON TO OTTO STOCKISTS, NEAR YOU IS THIS GORGEOUS SUPRA MK2 IN SIGNAL RED, READY TO LOOK GOOD ON YOUR SHELF OF SUPRA’S.
TARMACWORKS RELEASES
Catch up on the hottest, fully licensed models to come out of Tarmac Works. Check out these and other upcoming releases for 2025 on their web-store www.tarmacworks.com and through the global network of authorized dealers.
SENNA 190E Mercedes
We are preparing ourselves with space on the shelves to bring this Senna car into our fold. Tarmac Works have outdone themselves again with great thought to what would tickle the collectors' fancy. They also work closely with F1 lore and, where legally possible, get permission to produce other F1 stuff. The details already look savage; honestly, these look like they will be hot sellers.
Those of you who love TW’s Silvia X Vestex cars will be pleased to know another one is on the way and it is beautiful because of the two-tone paintwork, Sky Blue and Gun Metal Grey, striking combination that is as cool as it gets. The wheels, though, are the best feature and the entire assembly is a perfect example of JDM Culture
KAIYODO x TLV #carsnap 28a Safari 1 with Toyota LANDCRUISER
KAIYODO x TLV #carsnap 29a Safari 2 with Toyota HILUX 4WD
DEFINING THE SLEEPER
TOYOTA CHASER
There is nothing MORE satisfying than knowing that though your car looks like a glorified taxi, it is probably one of the fastest things on the road and can peel away with enough torque to frighten a Gallardo. And, yet, it’s a four-door family saloon built for transporting a group of people comfortably. Japan had many of these cars from different brands; some even grew up to be iconic halo cars that defined speed and reliability.
The Chaser, powered by its iconic JZ engine, didn’t grow up to be anything that entered Motorsport and underwent an evolutionary change. But mounted with this lethal JZ engine, the Chaser lived up to its name—or there was a slight tweak because most of the time, the Chaser became the Chased.
The Toyota Chaser, with its sleek design and powerful performance, was a joy to drive. TLVN from TOMY TEC has captured this joy in their perfect casting of the Chaser, evoking a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for this iconic car.
Incredible detail and perfect painting highlight these attributes; the whole piece is sensational. If there ever were a museum dedicated to all the different car models in the world, TLVN would be a great contributor simply due to the sheer craftmanship of their finished product. They are one of the few mass-produced diecast brands with no reputation for inadequate quality control, which means they can do it.
In addition to being depicted as replicating the body and design aspects so well, you can also expect accurate to-actual car production of the various paint specs that came standard from the factory. For example, this set features two factory-painted colours: a famous two-tone beige and goldish brown, and the other is a pretty renowned colour synonymous with the Chaser, which is dark blue. The favourite colour to get when you buy this car stock. TLVN always gives us a healthy approach to cars without the glitz and glamour of over-designed and overturned models.
IM JUST SAYING ITS A REFRESHING CHANGE EVERY MONTH
PICKET FENCE RIDES
As
NOW,
this may not be as exciting as NISSAN GTR fattened up by LBWK or an overweightlooking PORSCHE by RWB, but chances your dad had this car, and it was probably his pride and joy, and he probably didn’t get anything after ever again. It might be what you are driving right now as your first hand me down car. It could be worse. You could be telling people you drive a Volkswagen whereas you walk into a family dinner, and some uncle tries to be funny asking you about your second-hand car, and you cooly reply it’s a Lexus.
in addition to having an old, reliable as your first car, you can now get it in 1/64 scale as a memorable present for you and your Dad. The quality of detail on this is terrific, as it is usually done with their Global 64 line. The paint is perfect, and I have not seen this model in any other colour in real life.
Ultimately, it all boils down to what sort of cars you want to collect. Before, there were just Hotwheels, and everyone wanted Hotwheels. Still, with more competition entering the 1/64 scale market, the market has fractured under the weight of choice, and it has reduced to people personally taking sides with brands. Fortunately, some brands like Tarmac Works believe in working with licenses, allowing them to have an extensive catalogue instead of depending on a set of castings being rehashed repeatedly. One day, the collectors are going to wake up.
The Advan event went well. What's next?
WE'VE GOTTA FETCH SOME MAZDAS FOR THE NEXT EVENT. LET'S GO!
Liberty Walk. This is the place.
Hi Lysander. The cars are ready for you.
I'm just gonna get us a coffee. Watch the cars Nic.
NIC!
WHY DID YOU HIT THAT GUY?
No, no, Nic. He said Wankels. He's talkin' about the rotary engine in the RX7
FULLSIZE AVENUE
You fancy visiting the aircraft museum, Lysander? I heard they've got some old German WW2 planes on display.
To be continued... To be continued...
RACINGLINE
The collaboration between SPARK Models and TINY HK, which has resulted in SPARKY, continues to give racing fans constant collecting pleasure with their new issue of LeMans cars, specifically the Porsche 956 from 1983 and 1984. 1983 was a solid year for the 956, with many versions filling up the grid, specifically at the starting line, and finally winning and dominating the LeMans field that year.
But brands can’t always produce the race winners and champions. Instead, Sparky aims to give collectors the entire PORSCHE line-up, which means we get the cars that started the race but didn’t finish either. With this double pack (we really love these double packs), we get a nice balance: one top-ten winner and one that didn’t complete the race.
The Top Ten Winner placed 6th in LeMans 1983, driven by B. Woltek / K. Ludwig / S. Johansson. The tobacco-sponsored cars were at the top, with the famous White and Blue livery cars winning. We don’t have to spell out the brand that sponsored the red and white, and if you don’t know the brand, then the reason why it has been blocked out has worked.
BUT MORE INTERESTING IS THE STORY OF THE ORANGE NO.34 CAR
DRIVEN BY
PETER BROCK AND LEE PERKINS.
First of all, though it says 1983, LeMans, the Australian duo, took part in 1984, sponsored by Bob Jane T Marts. Australia’s famous Tyre and Wheel shop is open to this day and is still familyrun. The team was the first all-Australian driver lineup at LeMans. The endeavour was Led by Australian race driver Peter Brock (no relation to BRE), who also worked for HOLDEN tuning their Commadores with his tuning arm HDT.
Unfortunately, at around 2 Am, the Porsche they were driving suffered a part failure (fake part unlicensed tooling) and had an accident while Larry Perkins was driving. This left Peter Brock with an altered state of opinion, resulting in a fight with Lee Perkin over ‘race times’ and suffering from depression. Then he was introduced by a new age doctor calling himself ‘Dr Feelgood’ who he claimed healed him with ‘crystals’ which really led him up the bat&*^& crazy tree. Peter started applying this ‘crystal healing’ theory to everything, including cars.
HEARD OF GO FASTER STRIPES? THESE ARE GO FASTER CRYSTALS!
After the misfortune of loose crystals flying out into a car's cabin during a racing incident, Peter Brock came up with the ‘Energy Polariser,’ which apparently made the car better in every way. When Holden and GM bosses found out how Peter Brock was building these USD480 upgrades, they immediately severed ties with Peter Brock and his crystal-dealing ways.
AUSTRALIAN RACING AND TUNING LEGEND PETER BROCK WAS NEVER THE SAME AFTER DRIVING THAT PORSCHE YOU ARE ABOUT TO CLICK ‘BUY’ ON. LEGEND.
THE ‘ENERGY POLARIZER’
This genius invention was just a box with crystals embedded in resin. Sometimes, it was supported by an antenna on the car to align the energy with the driver.
As a tribute to AUSSIE Peter Brock, we looked at some possible crystals that would enhance the performance of any car. We plan to present Swarovski as a possible collaboration idea.
CITRINE FOR CONFIDENCE / ENERGY BOOST:
Apparently, this boosts self-esteem and confidence. Perfect for brake discs and braking systems. This is where you will need a lot of confidence to prevent loss of self-esteem. This crystal also provides an energy boost. So, it can also be used for your turbo. DO NOT PUT IT IN THE TURBO YOU WILL GET TURBO RATTLE. Increase boost and watch your PSI grow in days with this crystal.
PYRITE FOR ENDURANCE
It is also known as ‘fools gold,’ and that doesn’t surprise us. This improves performance on clutch and gearbox systems, especially when you think you can change gears like Mika Hakkinen in your PERODUA. Much better than conventional oil, this unconventional approach will keep your gearbox running like Brand new every six months. Make sure you get gearboxes with warranties; they are very important.
HEMATITE FOR BALANCE
You can have all the speed and endurance, but it won’t be worth anything if you ‘beetle’ your high-speed machine on every corner. Hematite Crystals add immediate balance to your entire car. They cancel body rolling, adjust ride height, distribute power to each wheel when needed, and auto-align the chakra on your wheels. This crystal is so good that some drivers are replacing the crystals in their inner ear with these to sync with the car HEMTITE for a more balanced driving experience.
TIGER’S EYE
See more transparency with better light and get crystal clear vision with the TIGER’S EYE. See your goal, see that tree, see that cyclist, see your victory, SEE THAT PEDESTRIAN, see it all.
THE HDT ENERGY POLARISER NOW WITH DUAL ANTENNAE AND 5G
Most iconic cars have the fortunate blessing of growing up and establishing their forever mark through Motorsport. Branded club events give drivers and teams the opportunity to pit their talents against each other on an even keel and therefore events like the PORSCHE CUP, FERRARI CHALLENGE, TOURING CAR CHALLENGES etc. are always great events to see who can push the limits of the car the furthest.
For MINI it was / is the MINI MIGLIA that started around the late 60’s and continues to this day at Brands Hatch. It is the biggest event in a series of events hosted by the MINI 7 Racing Club which is a body dedicated to preserving of one the key aspects of this iconic car, ‘balance’
But to a model collector the only balance they are worried about is their bank balance. So are we looking at a keeper. Breaking it down.
It’s a limited-edition CORGI, licensed and part of 3600 models produced and distributed worldwide. This means you could get a Corgi close to home if you needed. It also comes with a certificate of authenticity and a write back card encouraging you to join their club. The detail is very nice with its Cadbury branding and of course a perfect finish. The reverse of the certificate describes details about the owner of the car and driver Andrew Howard and the placement of the car in the MOTORSPORT field which was ‘NOVICE CHAMPION’ 2001. The livery, however, became so popular that the MINI moonlighted as a model when it was not racing.
I discovered this fantastic piece at the Gravesend Model Shop that was part of a series of collector editions released as a collaboration between CORGI and MINI 7 Racing club. My only regret in buying this cast? Not buying the others.
From base straight up we are loving this release from INNO64.
THEYHAVEKEPTTHEIRCATALOGUEOFCARSPRETTY WILDANDCANALWAYSDROPSOMETHINGOVERTHE TOPWITHACOMPLETEUNDERSTANDINGOFWHAT
COLLECTORSWANTANDTHEYDELIVEREVERYTIME.
Currently one of our favourite castings for 24’-25’ this SILVIA delivers and ticks all the boxes. We are suckers for chameleon paint jobs re throw ourselves at anything that is covered in such. But it’s not just the paint job that is executed well. The overall casting and bodywork are brilliant as is the plastic bits like the grille and the lights. Awesome stance, and we don’t care that the wheels don’t roll because for us this is a pure display piece. The interior is detailed a bit as well including the protective white roll bar, which to our delight contributes to the overall essence of the car. If you were to allow yourself a certain number of cars for a month and whether you are an Inno64 fan or not, this is a must have in you collection specially if 1/64 is your jam.
I remember the first Singapore Diecast Expo I had the pleasure of being able to attend and meeting the team who put in maximum effort to make it the continuing success that it is. Last year the event attracted it’s biggest gathering yet with the combination of a classic car show and INNO64 stepped up to deliver one of their best castings with a custom livery as the event special car.
The first thing we love about this car is all the familiar close to home logos that make up the livery of the car. All Singaporean diecast community brands involved in driving the hobby. Brands like Black Crow customs. You should really check out the customs cars of Black Crow because you will be pleasantly surprised by the stunning work he does. Then of course the Korei logo, the team that puts together all these events. VP Racing, BOOM Charlie Studio, Daily Diecast and D’Hive being a few of the ones we know. And of course, the SGDE Logo which CastHeads had a hand in designing.
The first thing we love about this car is all the familiar close to home logos that make up the livery of the car. All Singaporean diecast community brands involved in driving the hobby. Brands like Black Crow customs. You should really check out the customs cars of Black Crow because you will be pleasantly surprised by the stunning work he does. Then of course the Korei logo, the team that puts together all these events. VP Racing, BOOM Charlie Studio, Daily Diecast and D’Hive being a few of the ones we know. And of course, the SGDE Logo which CastHeads had a hand in designing.
THIS CAR IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DIECAST COMMUNITY HAVE COME TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS USING THEIR BRANDS AND SKILL TO MAKE THESE EVENTS BETTER AND MORE EXCITING EVERY YEAR FOR YOU THE COLLECTORS.
SINCE EVERYONE IS DROPPING A LITTLE JDM MADNESS INTO THEIR LINE UP’S THE GUYS AT JADA SAID, “HOLD OUR BEVERAGE’ AND SET OUT TO CREATE A NEW LINE UP OF CARS WHICH HAS NOW ENDED UP IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES FOR YOU TO DECIDE…. WHEN, YOU WILL BUY YOUR JDM TUNER
LOVE THIS NEW VERSION OF THE CASTING. JADA REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET THE TUNER JUICES IN US FLOWING. THIS THING IS PERFECT. FROM THE COLOUR SCHEME TO THE OVERALL BODY SHOP AND OF COURSE ACCESSORIES ARE PERFECT FOR THIS MODEL.
The dark blue metallic paint, highlighted by the ivory line motif and the TOYO Tires on the trailer bed look stunningly slick against the wide wheel rims dressed in TOYO branded tires, chrome deep dish and matt black inner rim. And they look awesome fitted under those lovely, widened wheel arches.
The front of the pickup has a highly detailed front grille which includes the 70’s headlamps with the ‘eyelid’ housing and the lights set in side the housing as opposed to being surfaced. Visible disc brakes with red callipers, front air scoop, and of course the famous colours of the Datsun logo in great detail.
DATSUN
Opening parts as per usual with JADA and the engine isn’t too detailed but still detailed enough to handle a bit of painting and modding to make it more realistic. But I love it when the gate of pick-up models drops down. It’s like an essential part of being a pickup, having that as opening part is weirdly special.
OVERALL, A DEFINITELY FANTASTIC PIECE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION.
FANCY YOURSELF A ‘Z’?
The Z Nation family is vast, and this car has become a hit cult classic in all forms and ages. This tiny little coupe will fit straight into your Nissan Z collection, and the details are pretty sharp. It has a Carbon Fibre weave on the rear wing, drilled and slotted discs, red callipers, and wide star rims. It even has an entertainment sys tem with a speaker array in the back. Personally, at my age, you don’t compromise on luggage space.
NISSAN
This one is like ' Marmite ' of all four cars in the series. There is nothing wrong with it as a scale model; it's just that some don’t like what Nissan did to the Z, and others will probably want to buy multiples-
ONE
FOR
EACH ROOM IN THE HOUSE.
NOW, THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO WANT. ISN’T THIS AN RX-7-THEMED ISSUE, YOU SAY? WHY, YES, ISN’T THIS A HAPPY COINCIDENCE, OR IS IT? NEVERTHELESS, THIS GORGEOUS HKS-STAMPED BEAUTY COMMANDS ATTENTION WHEREVER IT GOES AND IS ONE OF THE FEW CARS THAT LIVE UP TO DEMI GOD STATUS.
MAZDA
AUTO TUNERS
Everything looks pretty ‘cool’ on this model. Wide black ‘petal’ rims that swallow up the light. The HKS Logo and ‘Power’ signature is placed in a simple fashion, giving you plenty of room to create and place your own water decals. It’s like a canvas just begging to be used as a tool for creativity, the potential is vast. Gorgeous, wellscaled carbon fibre hood with dual louvered air intakes, also covered in carbon Fibre, nice body kit at the front with an understated oil cooler in matt black which is quite good looking.
WITH LITTLE EFFORT, THIS CAR CAN GO FROM GORGEOUS TO GLORIOUS WITH CHERUBS SINGING ABOVE IN JUST A FEW MOVES. IT'S GOT ALL THE RIGHT BITS; IT'S YOUR JOB TO MAKE IT YOURS.
HONDA
AVAILABLE IN SPECIFIC MARKETS IN YELLOW AS WELL, THIS STRIKING NSX BEARS THE JONSIBAL DESIGNWORKS LOGO, WHICH IS VERY PROMISING NEWS FOR JADA. COLLECTORS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR THESE COLLABORATIONS, AND WITH 1/64 AND 1/18 SCALES COVERED, COULD WE SEE THE RISE OF TUNED MACHINES LIKE LBWK AND RWB IN 1/24 SCALE?
We are getting revved up at the office just thinking about the potential. With Pink Slips, we know that JADA has the capability to shake up the 1/24 scale field. They have been slowly expanding their licensing field and growing the number of brands they can capitalise on.
NSX GOD OR DEMI? WE RECKON, GOD.
Very few cars are designed in the same way the NSX was. First of all, it has a pure racing pedigree, with Ayrton Senna on the team providing real-world driving data and driver input crucial to the balance of the car. It was designed to rival its Italian counterparts in every way.
JADA BRINGS ALL OF THIS OUT WITH THEIR LATEST OFFERING OF SUCH A SUPERB CAR. DEFINITELY GOD MODE WITH THIS.
If you like collecting rare pieces with the added benefit of having some meaning and information behind them, you are reading the right space. Welcome to Hobby DB. This mission is to catalogue as many collectibles as possible with relevant information concerning history, price range, worth, availability, and rarity, across various forms of hobbies. And, of course, that includes model car collecting. There is also a readily available app that can be used to catalogue your collection, and if you would like to share your collection with the great HobbyDB Collective, you can help create the biggest gathering of information globally concerning hobbies. A wiki of sorts but with more current and ‘LIVE’ information.
To celebrate this impressive collection of information, Hobby DB and M2 have teamed up and dropped a collectible of their own. It has a strictly limited run of 1,008 numbers and is planned to be a continuing release yearly, making this 001 of the future possible limited series from HobbyDB.
BASED ON A 1971 CHEVY G10 VAN, THE MODEL IS DRESSED UP IN HOBBYDB'S COLOURS, ROYAL BLUE AND SUNSET YELLOW. THE SIDE'S EMBLAZONED LOGO, INCLUDING ANGLED RAY GRAPHICS SET ON WHITE, PERFECTLY MATCHES THE VAN’S AGE.
AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE NOW IS GOOD TIME TO START YOUR HOBBYDB COLLECTION
"THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY"
Larry Wood Trading Card Set
AND THESE ARE LIMITED EDITION AS WELL.
TRADING CARDS ABOUT CARS HAS SUDDENLY BECOME A THING AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ART AND DESIGN OF SOME OF THESE NEW ENTRANTS INTO THE TRADING CARD MARKET, WE AT CASTHEADS ARE VERY EXCITED. ONE SUCH SET WE ARE EAGER TO GET OUR HANDS ON IS THIS ART SET PRODUCED BY HOBBY DB FEATURING THE ART AND IMAGINATION OF THE FAMOUS LARRY WOOD. FOR THOSE JUST GETTING INTO THE HOBBY, LARRY WOOD IS OLD-SKOOL COOL AND HAS DESIGNED SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC HOTWHEELS EVER MADE. HE IS A LEGEND IN THE INDUSTRY, AND LIKE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, ART IS ACTUALLY FIRST NATURE. HIS ARTWORK IS LEGENDARY AND OFTEN RUNS FOR TOP DOLLAR AT CONVENTIONS AND AUCTIONS. SOME PIECES OF HIS ART FROM 1973 FOR HOTWHEELS CAN START FROM USD 2000.
LAUNCHING INTO THE COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARD WORLD, HOBBY DB HAS CREATED ITS FIRST TRADING CARD COLLECTIBLE CENTERED AROUND THE CARS THAT NEVER MADE PRODUCTION, BUT THE ART EXISTS. THERE ARE 10 CARDS TO A BOX, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. AS TIME GOES ON, MORE AND MORE DESIGNERS AND ARTISTES WILL GATHER TO BE A PART OF THIS.
IF YOU'RE WILLING TO INVEST IN SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING, I'LL GIVE YOU A 15% DISCOUNT WHEN YOU CHECK OUT WITH THE CODE CASTHEADS15 TO GET YOUR FIRST DECK OF HOBBY DB TRADING CARDS.
BASICALLY, instead of having a piston go up and down to generate combustion, the Wankel system uses an eccentric rotary design to squeeze all that is needed to cause an explosion. And, if you want to know more, Wikipedia has the best layman's in-depth explanation to the Wankel system!
We are here to see the rotary-engine cars that drive us eccentric to own even if it is in the smallest scale affordable. As the saying goes “THERE
IS SOMEONE OUT THERE FOR EVERY WANKEL”
HOTWHEELS MAZDA 787B
When this came out from Hotwheels, collectors were literally agog with excitement. It was a premium car with lots of premium extras by Hotwheels standards, including a removable engine bay cover. Part of the car culture series, this casting sold out everywhere. Since then, it has made several appearances to date, including an STH and a team transporter version.
TLVN MAZDA RX-8
This is chock full of detail, as should any TLVN release be. A recent 24-25 release, this RX-8 is a shining example of how TLVN has still got it in terms of leading the market with great cars. It has an opening hood as well, and a detailed engine cover that can also be removed is included.
HOTWHEELS RX-7
It was not their first release of the iconic car. But as Hotwheels realises there are newer brands out there eating up the market, like Pacman on appetite enhancers, they have returned fire with a salvo of new and improved castings, tampons, and graphics to entice collectors young and old. Rear spoiler, front splitter, Mattel is going places.
TARMAC WORKS VERTEX RX-7
Another champion of RX-7’s while the rest of the world runs after Skylines. Tarmac Works has been killing it with their new releases, but their RX-7 is probably one of their best castings. Carrying the VERTEX body kit TW has quite a few of them in their catalogue, all of which are equally impressive.
IGNITION MODELS
ROCKET
BUNNY RX-7
Yes, some 1/64 cars are a little more special, up the price chain, like this incredibly detailed Rocket Bunny RX-7. During 2018 and 2019, these were hot ticket items, and IGNITION dropped them in various colours, including LAVA Orange, Moon White, and Red. While they were in high demand, they were also high in price.
TLVN MAZDA RX-7
Master craftsmen of classic Japanese market vehicles would like to invite you to pick up another piece in their repertoire if you can find it. The yellow version is a little harder to find, but this special casting celebrated MAZDA and its implication of the rotary engine so successfully in their cars
HOTWHEELS MAZDA COSMO
Another little wonder machine from Mazda. While the legacy of the RX-7 was on the horizon, Mazda’s desire to become a sports car for the young generation of baby boomers while keeping running costs low manifested into this gorgeously designed car, dubbed COSMO. Only 1,176 of these were hand-built.
If you are hunting for what is probably Liberty Walk’s hottest donation to the auto world to date, you’ve landed on the correct pages. Inno64 do a pretty good representation of two key Liberty Walk hits from 2024. The Silhouette RX-7 and the LBWK RX3. INNO64 has done these in spades with the RX-7 appearing in the Coke Zero livery, 727B livery, and Bunny. But now they have returned with the ADVAN livery version and the HK Toy Salon version which runs the nice clean colours that make me think of MINOLTA Racing.
And the stubby RX3 that dropped in the yellow and green livery similar to Ayrton Senna’s home colours now gets the ADVAN Livery too.
All three cars feature spectacular detail that INNO64 usually pulls off in this scale, and their loyal fan base has not been left dissatisfied with the outcome. The HK Toy Salon version is probably the freshest looking one because it's been long since we have something this clean. The top body is white, while blue wraps around the bottom, highlighting the Silhouette Racing-inspired rear wide fenders.
The white deep-dish rims look as clean as the icing on a wedding cake—undoubtedly, they look yum. Then all the other bits combine to make up this possible collector's choice for 2025.
ADVAN
As far as ADVAN liveries go, those will fly off the shelf to facilitate the love some collectors have for the brand and its colours. And to be fair, they look gorgeous, especially the RX3. Great looking car that looks ever ready to attack with its broad haunches. An excellent casting that complements the RX-7.
ver since Solido launched the first RX-7, the world of collectors was beside themselves with joy because until then no one had got the RX-7 in that scale right unless it cost over USD100. Then Otto dropped the Barthurst Version which became an instant hit and sold out in a few days. Then Solido launched the red model with the same body cast AND FLIPPING lights. It also had very progressive BBR rims, a clear signal that Solido would go deep into JDM / Drift Territory. Then Solido introduced the dark greenish blue with the original rim, giving those who missed out on the red version a chance to drop dime on this version, and the car sold out quickly. Once again, it came with retractable lights, interior detailing, opening doors, and a gorgeous colour.
2025!
And Soildo slaps us with another RX-Z complete with aero kit surpassing the previous two releases. And everyone loved the fact that it was painted in Bathurst Yellow. After shooting the car and enjoying the look of the burnt titanium tips on the exhaust, the canards on the front, the Rotiform SRG Custom rims and UV coated brake discs underneath, I opened the door to discover the VERTEX logo on the steering wheel. Although this was not titled a Vertex RX-7, is it a VERTEX tuned car?
SEARCHES ONLINE HAVE YIELDED NO RESULTS, AND THE SEARCH CONTINUES, BUT UNTIL THEN, IF YOUR LOVE FOR THE RX-7 IS AN OBSESSION LIKE THE SKYLINE IS FOR SOME, SOLIDO HAS THE CURE —AND LOTS OF IT!
While the diecast world rages on with issues like licenses, dealers, taking sides, bribing influencers, event envy, blah blah blah, in the corner managing his own diecast business sits a very fun guy named Ben, who owns BMC Models.
BMC has been around for quite a while, but unfortunately, not being as big as the big guys, BMC has a lot of problems scaling up. However, their models are EPIC! And for me, one big reason is that they do not follow the crowd. I’m not even sure they have an RWB or LBWK casting. But they have a lot of other amazing castings, with cool ideas like interchangeable parts and accessories.
WITH THESE GUYS IT’S A NEVER-ENDING SURPRISE.
ON A SERIOUS NOTE,
this time, BMC has been seriously promoting some of their new castings, which should bring them to the big boy's table.
- FEATURES
FEATURES -
HERZOGENAURACH, 18TH FEBRUARY 2025
PUMA SHOWCASES
ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO FORMULA ONE™ TEAM RACE SUITS
Global sports company PUMA proudly showcases the official race suits for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, following the announcement of their partnership last November. With a legacy spanning over two decades in motorsport, PUMA brings its expertise, precision craftsmanship, and performance-driven design to the forefront, creating race suits that meet the highest standards of safety, comfort, and style in Formula 1.
Handcrafted in PUMA’s race wear factory in Italy, each suit undergoes a meticulous production process. Lightweight, fire-resistant materials ensure maximum safety, while advanced moisture-wicking fabrics and ergonomic construction provide comfort and flexibility under the intense conditions of Formula 1® racing
Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Driver Ambassador and Head of F1 Academy: "Race suits are a vital piece of a driver's equipment. In the high-pressure environment of racing, safety is paramount, and Puma's suits provide unparalleled comfort, flexibility and protection. Not only do the suits deliver on performance, they also offer a design that reflects the spirit of the team - fusing safety and style with innovation."
In addition to their technical excellence, the suits embody Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team’s iconic brand identity. Precision stitching, refined detailing, and bold design accents reflect the elegance, power, and innovation synonymous with Aston Martin Aramco, seamlessly merged with PUMA’s commitment to innovation and functionality.
these PUMA-crafted
throughout the upcoming seasons, representing a shared legacy of performance, precision, and passion for the sport.
PUMA x ASTON MARTIN
The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team will wear
suits
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