PART 1 OF OUR SERIES OF ENDURANCE RACES THAT ENTHRALL ALL MOTOR SPORT FANS
SHELBY COLLECTIBLES
FORD GT40 MK2
FORD FERRARI contre
24 HEURES DU MANS
GT SPIRIT
FORD GT40 MK1
DATE WITH A DIVO
LaLD
TOP MARQUES
FERRARI 330 P4
REVIEWS
SCOTT NADEAU OF LIVE AND LET DIECAST REVIEWS A TEMPESTUOUS MODEL
THE MODEL CAR CRITIC
DROPS SOME DNA AUDI DNA
ALSO FEATURING: NEW MODELS FROM MAJORETTE - A FAIRLADY AT LE MANS - SASHOTWHEELS THIS MONTH’S SHUTTERCASTER www.castheadsmagazine.com | Volume 2 issue 004
BBR - Ferrari 375plus 1:18 Photo by Gotabaya Abeyagoonasekera
EDITORS NOTES Wow these last few months have been unbelievably amazing! We have had so many tie-ups with model car makers that we can proudly say 90% of the cars in this issue this were experienced first hand and we have had a blast unboxing them. Because like you, we love cars and some of these models are just spectacular. Fortunately, we have the mag as a platform to be able to share the love. And on the subject of sharing, IF you are actually reading this note I should tell you that we are sharing some of the loot we have gotten with some of you lucky CastHeads. But it’s not going to be easy. We are going to spread our prizes across all our social media platforms which means you will need to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Not that difficult either really.
We are back after celebrating our First Anniversary and it has been epic. The roller-coaster ride that is Castheads has been so much fun. We have made some amazing new friends, bonded stronger with some old friends and really experience some amazing diecast models these past few months. And trust me when I say it wasn't just cars. Our shipments keep growing bigger and our shelf space, cupboard space, cabinet space and under the bed space keeps reducing at alarming rates, and at this speed, we might have to look at an airplane hanger-sized closet to house all these wonderful models shared by some of the world's leading model manufacturers who has been, to say the least, very generous. And we have decided to share some of these models with you, our readers/fans/followers and fellow Castheads across the world. So if you want our goodies, please subscribe to our FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and YOUTUBE. You not only support our growing magazine but also enable other Castheads to discover us, and thereby
This months editors choice is an AutoWorld Exclusive GT40 Mark IV in Gulf Livery on the back of a 2013 Durastar by Greenlight. Our theme this month celebrates the upcoming movie FORD vs. Ferrari starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon playing out one of the most epic stories in Racing History. How could we NOT do an issue dedicated to this battle. Thank you! Nigel J De Zilwa @nigeljdz
sharing the love of model collecting. My Editor's Choice this issue is of course the beautifully brutal Mercedes Benz 190E Evo II by Solido. Once the Emperor of DTM and a 90s icon, this model is solidly constructed and looks gorgeous in that black gloss paint. Enjoy fellow Castheads Lance K Müller @jjsdiecastgarage
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif, June 1st, 2019 – From the brand that inspired a generation of die-cast collectors, celebrate twenty years with the iconic brands that personified car culture. The limited 20th anniversary line by Jada Toys features twenty popular brands across twenty years of Jada history. Such brands include the celebration of:
1999 Street Low 2000 Road Rats 2001 DUB City 2002 Import Racer! 2004 Big Time Muscle 2004 Option D 2004 Showroom Floor 2005 D-Rod$ 2005 Kustom Kings 2006 For $ale 2006 VDub$ 2010 Badge City Heat 2011 Hero Patrol 2012 LOPRO 2014 Big Time Kustoms 2014 Just Trucks 2014 Fast & Furious 2016 JDM Tuners 2016 Hollywood Rides 2018 Hyper-Spec
Each limited 1:24 scale die-cast vehicle features raw brushed metal paint and includes a brand specific die-cast mosaic tile. When all twenty tiles are assembled, they piece together to create a timeline of all the celebrated brands along with the 20th anniversary Jada Toys logo on the backside. Each vehicle also receives special 20th anniversary branding and packaging. Join our celebration with the release of the limited 20th line available beginning July 2019. About Jada Toys, Inc. Jada Toys, Inc., a subsidiary of Simba Dickie Group, is a leading manufacturer of authentically licensed and highly stylized die-cast collectibles, radio control vehicles, and pre-school toys. We carry a vast portfolio of popular entertainment licenses such as Fast & Furious, Marvel, DC Comics, Disney, and Hello Kitty. Products can be found at major retailers and hobby stores worldwide. For more information about Jada Toys and all its innovative products, please visit www.jadatoys.com
In This Issue 08 18 20 24 27 28 32 37 40 43 46 50 52 54 60 69
DIECASTING COUCH Gandering on models from around the world
PARTNERS
CASTING REMARKS Mazda's Wankel and other bits
CASTING REMARKS Taking Liberties with all those MiniGT LB Works
Majorette magic A fascinating selection
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU MANS Taking a look at the Ford vs Ferrari Through Scale Models
THE WAR FERRARI STARTED Amalgam Collections Ferrari 250LM
FORD FIRES BACK GT Spirit Ford GT40 Mk I
Ford Gets bricked We digress toward NOT diecast this one time
FROM SONNET TO SYMPHONY The two iconic Ferraris of Le Mans
THE SYMPHONY GT Replicas Ferrari 330P4
The sonnet The Model Car Critic takes a look at a one-of-a-kind Ferrari
The texan racer Carroll Shelby
Ford & shelby Solido Ford Mustang GT500 Shelby
The car ken miles drove to win
Contributing Writers: Nigel J De Zilwa Lance K Müller Live and Let Diecast The Model Car Critic Photographers Lance K Müller Nigel J De Zilwa Gotabaya Abeyagoonasekera Alex Walley Chaim Haffner Alberto Jorge Rodriguez Zankhan Chhaya Creative Direction / Design Lance K Müller & Nigel J De Zilwa
Shelby Collectibles Ford GT40 Mk II
KONNICHI WA FAIRLADY Those Japan exotics that we all love
A DATE WITH A DIVO Bugatti's latest gets scrutinized
74
GUEST CASTHEAD
78
#GIRLSCOLLECTHOTWHEELSTOO
79
Garage torque
80
Live and let diecast
86
SHUTTERCASTERS
The Model Car Critic Talks About LMX
Alpacas...
Tarmac Works drops some stunners
A Wedge, from Down Under
Action in 64 scale
PARTNERS WITH
diecasting couch
New Releases and Hot Picks
Otto Mobile
Ferrari 308 GTB Gr.4 For most, Ferrari is synonymous with exotic sports cars and multi-podium winning track race cars and F1 zingers, but there was a time when they decided to take on the harsh world of rallying. Though there were initial hiccups, they begin to shine in the early 80s. This particular model, with its eclectic yellow/black livery was driven by Mauro Pregliasco and managed to finish in second place at both the European Rally 1981 and the Tour de Corse in 1982. If you like rally AND Ferrari, this is most certainly for you. Be aware that production is limited to 1500 units. Scale 1:18 Status: Available July 2019
GT Spirit
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye
"MOPAR OR NO CAR!" Is an oft-heard cry when it comes to die-hard fans of one of America's greatest gifts to pure driving pleasure. And the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat RedEye is now the highest peak of that pleasure. Just three short of an astonishing 800HP, this demon-spawn is madness on four wheels. GT Spirit presents the Challenger in its matte metallic nickel, black lowgloss rims, striking red calipers and if you look closely, highly detailed interior that's going to make you tear with happiness. Scale 1:18 Status: November 2019 Solido Models
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5 Evo-II This Klaus Ludwig-driven Mercedes Benz 190E 2.5 16 Evo II was the 1992 DTM winner, and it is solidly scaled down by Solido Models to 1:18 scale. Captured in exciting detail, the Sonax livery shines on this model. Any fan of touring, and of course, Mercedes knows the 190E Evo-II to be one of the most iconic cars of the 90s. Scale 1:18 Status: July 2019
New Releases and Hot Picks
DIECASTING COUCH
Hot Wheels Basic
Roborace Robocar This model will be overlooked by many collectors due to the fact it looks like a 'fantasy' casting that Hot Wheels is known to put out. This is anything but. The Roborace Robocar is an actual autonomous racing car designed by Daniel Simon (the man behind the Tron: Legacy lightcycles and other iconic models. The future of racing is here and Hot Wheels captures the Robocar perfectly in scale. A re-colour in white is also available and would be a great addition to any collection. Scale: 1:64 Status: Released
Amalgam Collection
BUGATTI TYPE 57SC GANGLOFF CABRIOLET One of just three examples made in period, this Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was ordered by Frenchman, Mr Philippe Levy, in this wonderfully art deco-appropriate colour scheme. Levy commissioned a one-off body for the 57SC from the fabled
Swiss/French coachbuilder Gangloff, whose premises was located in Colmar, near to Bugatti’s Molsheim manufacture.
co-operation and assistance of the manufacturer regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings.
This fine scale model has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the
Scale 1:8 Status: Available US$13,830.00
Discover the Magic of Miniatures
Produced by: iScale GmbH • Große Elbstraße 162 • D-22767 Hamburg • Germany • www.iscale.eu Discover the Magic of Miniatures
CarLoverDiecast • www.cldc.store
Tarmac Works - Mitsubishi Evo X - Falken Photo by Lance K Müller
DIECASTING COUCH
New Releases and Hot Picks Jada Toys
Letty's Dodge Viper SRT (Furious 7 2015) Furious 7 released in 2015 presented a slew of new cars to the FnF universe and expanded the already mythic pantheon of models to both fans of the movie and car collectors across the world. Jada Toys also adds another model to their already comprehensive line up with the debut of Letty's late model Dodge Viper SRT10. Its glossy black paint accentuates the red and chrome detailing on the wheels and the engine covers. A truly epic addition to any collection. Scale: 1:24 Status: Available
Norev
Aston Martin LMP1 Team Aston Martin Racing Le Mans 2010 This model was entered into the 24hrs of Le Mans in 2010 with two others, the 008 run by Signature Plus and 009 run by Aston Martin Racing. While the other did not complete the race, this model finished 6th overall after completing 365 laps. Norev presents this model in the iconic Gulf Oil livery, and model specific decals in fine detail. Scale 1:43 Status: Released
AutoCult Modelles
1984 Mazda MX-5 Miata Concept Duo 101 V705
Autocult is known for giving collectors off-the-wall models. But this time they have presented one of the most iconic models to hit the road, as well as collections around the world. The car got the designation MX 5, the abbreviation for “Mazda-Experiment Project 5”.
The small, sportive two-seater was initially presented to the public at the Chicago Motor Show on February 10, 1989. With a sales figure of meanwhile far over 1,000,000 sold copies, the small roadster deserves its rank on top of the list of the best-selling roadsters in
automotive history…. and there is no end in sight for the triumph. Scale 1:43 Status: Released
TOMICA LIMITED VINTAGE NEO
TLV-N185c Bluebird SSS-R (Calsonic #2) AVAILABLE MODELS LV-N185d Bluebird SSS-R (Calsonic #10) LV-N185c Bluebird SSS-R (Calsonic #2)
Other new releases coming soon to our store.
www.jlhobbymy.com | jlhobbymy@gmail.com | O FFIC I AL E X CL U S I V E DI S T R I BU T OR F OR
JLHobby
New Releases and Hot Picks
DIECASTING COUCH
Tomica Limited Vintage Neo
Cedric Gran Turismo Altima TypeX (Silver) The Cedric/Gloria represented the luxury segment of Nissan in the early 90s. With the models set to celebrate their 60th anniversaries in 2020, TLVN has released a pair of these classic luxurious sedans in both White (LV-N203a) and Silver (LV-N202a) These models will surely be a great addition to any castheads collection. Scale 1:64 Status: Coming Soon
Tomica Limited Vintage
Toyota Coaster High Roof Deluxe If you were born in South East Asia, there is a chance that you would've taken a ride in one of the vehicles, either used a public transport or part of a factory or school. The Toyota Coaster was one of the most popular 'micro-buses' in the world. These models are actual representations of existing businesses in the Ibaraki prefecture. TLV presents these in White/Blue (TLV-184a) and White/Red (TLV-184b). Scale 1:64 Status: Coming Soon
New Releases and Hot Picks
DIECASTING COUCH
TSM Models - MiniGT
LB«WORKS Nissan GT-R (R35) Pink Pig LB«Works + MiniGT kicks things up a notch with the release of another Nissan GT-R R35 with the famous porcine livery of the "Pink Pig" seen on a famous Le Mans in 1971. Scale 1:64 Status: Coming Soon
TSM Models
Land Rover Defender 90 Tomb Raider Edition Tomb Raider was a massive video game that spawned a spate of movies staring Angelina Joile at the height of her fame. One of the more iconic vehicles from those movies were Lara Croft's highly customized Land Rover 110 Defender. The film was a great success and such was the interest in the ‘Tomb Raider’ Land Rovers that the company introduced a Tomb Raider Limited Edition in both 90 and 110 format which was the most popular limited edition Land Rover have ever produced and is now a highly desirable collector’s car. TSM model offers the 90 version in spectacular fashion. Scale 1:43 Status: Coming Soon *Figure not included
Classic Model Cars America
Talbot-Lago Coupé T150 C-SS Figoni & Falaschi “Teardrop" The Full name for this model is the Talbot-Lago Coupé T150 C-SS Figoni & Falaschi “Teardrop”, 1937-39 “Memory Edition” metallic-aubergine. The “Memory Edition" variation is modeled after the vehicle which was featured in the Rosso Bianco Collection in Aschaffenburg, and is dark-aubergine in color (but with headlights which are recessed into the bodywork and arranged behind a chromiumplated metal grid). This model is immaculately detailed and exquisitely crafted model. In our humble opinion. Of course. Scale 1:18 Status: Coming Soon
New Releases and Hot Picks
DIECASTING COUCH
Diecast Masters
Hydraulic Excavator Diecast Masters has a reputation of creating some of the finest examples of CATERPILLAR branded scale models. With the finest details in construction machinery, its sought after by many collectors who love these large machines. This Commemorative replica Hydraulic Excavator in gunmetal finish makes for an ideal centerpiece of any such collection. Scale 1:50 Status: Available
Schuco Modelle
Land Rover Defender The Land Rover, known as the Land Rover Defender (the long-wheelbase 110 and short 90 variations), has had a long and storied career and has contributed to many legendary journeys in exotic places. This Schuco model short wheelbase 'Landy' is quite detailed for a 64 scale version and with its two tone (green/white) paint scheme, sunroof and 5-spoke aluminum wheels make for an outstanding miniature replica of the actual thing. One of the few smaller models to feature the mud flaps. Scale 1:64 Status: Released
Majorette
Toyota Corolla Altis Every day Toyota models are very few and far in-between with many 1:64 brands not producing Corollas, Camrys (apart from the NASCAR versions). Majorette has quite a few basic Toyota models and this Corolla Altis (which was a 2018 Kabaya exclusive released in Malaysia) is stunning. The bright orange paint, plastic lights and the chrome accents on the grille is on point. Majorette has released quite a few variations of this model since 2017 including country specific Police and Taxi models. Sadly one of the few models that does not have an opening feature. Scale 1:64 Status: Released
CASTING REMARKS
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa
MAZDA’S MAGIC WANKEL This magical formula is what gave Mazda its first win in 1974 with the Sigma MC74 driven by Yojiro Terada and then again in 1991 with the Quad rotor 787B, the only non-piston car to win at Le Mans. There have been many scale versions of the 787B due to its cult classic popularity and one of them that deserves commendation is from Hot Wheels.
HOT WHEELS 1:64
MAZDA 787B th 6 PLACE '91 LE MANS
Also known as the rotary engine the Wankel system delivers more power to weight ratio while taking much less space and parts as your standard piston driven engine. The result, a high-performance engine that is lighter and can be fitted efficiently into a car.
They really didn’t spare the monkey with this one. Coming from the Car Culture Circuit Legends series this is one hot tamale and I think Hot Wheels realized they had big shoes to fill after Tomica’s Race Winner 787B Rendition. For me this is one of Hot Wheels finest moments. The molding is quite detailed, livery and tampos are proper, even the Real Rider wheels are great reflection of the real deal.
TOMICA LIMITED VINTAGE NEO 1:64
MAZDA 787B TEST CAR Finally, the best for last. The rear engine lid opens up revealing an albeit basic plastic molding but an engine, nevertheless. Details are not as good as Tomica’s 787B but its 10x less in price. This is an awesome desk buddy.
Opening Parts
PAINT/COLOR
MOBILITY
REAR ENGINE LID
SATIN SILVER
ROLLING WHEELS
The Mazda 787B test car by Tomica Limited Vintage is just delicious to feast your eyes upon. Way better detail and immensely stylish in Black and Red, beautiful wheel rims and just overall hotness. Unfortunately it comes with an aggressive price tag that will kick you in the nads.
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa HOT WHEELS 1:64
PORSCHE 962C MT. FUJI 1000KM Another Le Mans pedigree that has seen many endurance races and won a lot of them as well cementing Porsche’s dominance during the 70’s and 80’s. The 962 has an impressive line up of wins, 2 Years World Sportscar Championship, 4 years of the Supercup Series, 5 Years at the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship and 2 Years of Le Mans…too name a few.
CASTING REMARKS
PORSCHE ENDURES This particular car is based on the model that placed 4th at the 1000Km Fuji Endurance race driven by Kunimitsu Takahashi (if you don’t know who this guy is, burn all your Initial D fan gear and Nissan Skylines) and Swedish Le Mans Winner Stanley Dickens. The HotWheels version features some nice details, like the exhaust ports and the petrol cap area, and its even got a small red tow ring painted on the Bonnet My only wish is, that it had the same rear wheels as the Mazda 787B from the same Car Culture Series, painted in black. It would have looked much closer to the real thing and much nicer than what it has now.
Opening Parts
PAINT/COLOR
MOBILITY
NONE
RED, BLACK & GOLD
ROLLING WHEELS
SPARK MODELS 1:64
PORSCHE 962C WINNER 1986 LE MANS And in this corner we have another Porsche 962C a heavyweight at Le Mans in its most recognizable livery (new collectors won’t know the relevance but that’s probably a good thing too). Sparky models the new 1/64 arm of Spark Models has an endless supply of Le Mans cars thanks to the licenses held by its older brother. A little pricey in the range of a Tomica Premuim or Tarmac Works but, the lights are plastic and that multi-spoke deep dish rim at the back is a treat.
Opening Parts
PAINT/COLOR
MOBILITY
NONE
BLUE & WHITE
ROLLING WHEELS
CASTING REMARKS
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa
MINGT 1:64
LB WORKS NISSAN SKYLINE R35
It seems MINI GT has hit a home run with its collection of Liberty Walks Nissan GTR’s, so much so they moved into releasing some absolutely gorgeous LB Lambo’s. But it all started here with the humble Nissan’s. And the variations have been numerous, these however, are our favorites and if you were to pick a few to pick up these would be the lot to get for now. The Satin Silver (above) with red rims is on top of my fav list. It looks like an unpainted zamac type deal but when you open it up and hold it in your hands that smooth silver finish surprises you and that satin paint is just so slick. Plastic headlights, standard race stickers and the complimentary red rims just pop on the display rack.
MINGT 1:64
MINGT 1:64
LB WORKS LB WORKS #WearItPink ZERO FIGHTER SKYLINE R35 SKYLINE R35
Scale model car collecting is no stranger to good causes and community support like this #wearitpink LB Works. This model comes with the large spoiler and of course painted bright pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Personally I think it’s a great color for the GTR and a great job to MINI GT for being a part #wearitpink which is why it made it to my list of favorites.
World War II livery is pretty cool and we’ve seen some really neat adaptations creeping on to some nice diecast models recently. The Zero Fighter Livery from Japan first started appearing on some LB Tuned Italians and caused a furor. Thankfully it ended up on a MiniGT GTR and pleased me. Matt army green paint, red lined aero splitter and the Zero Fighter livery makes this a must have in the collection.
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa
CASTING REMARKS
MINGT 1:64
LB WORKS HK EXCLUSIVE SKYLINE R35
MINGT 1:64
MINGT 1:64
LB WORKS LB WORKS COSMICS MY R NISSAN SKYLINE R35 SKYLINE R35 The first of its kind and the one that started off the LB WORKS GTR madness. The popularity stems from it's solid build, great attention to detail and of course fantastic price. MINI GT have perfected this mold and to be honest I don’t care if they’re milking it because as you can see there are some pretty stunning variations to choose from. And, choice, to a collector is always key.
The Cosmics Malaysia LIBERTY WALKS MINI GT will always hold a special place in our hearts here at CastHeads Magazine. Being the Malaysia DieCast Expo exclusive we had the chance to re-create the livery and we managed to sneak in a Casheads Easter egg as well. When you get one see if you can find it.
Finally, this special edition Hong Kong exclusive GTR has got a crazy Bronze finish that looks like it has the finish of a traditional family gong with shimmering hits of purple and plum. It looks really great and if you like fancy paint jobs on your diecast cars, you will like this uncommon finish.
COMING SOON All new rims and that gorgeous satin paint in candy red. I really can’t wait to get my hands on one of these. This is just one of the many that MiniGT has coming out at the time of this issue coming out the Green version a Philippines exclusive was announced.
CASTING REMARKS
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa
MAJORETTE MAGIC As a kid I had a few Majorettes in my collection which was dominated by Hot Wheels, Corgi and Dinky so when I got back into collecting as an adult Majorette didn’t strike me as a viable contender to my collection. Fortunately, they sent us a box load of their entire catalogue and I have been proven wrong. In fact Majorette freaking rocks are here are a few samples why.
MAJORETTE 1:64
FORD MUSTANG GT
This insanely hot Mustang GT is from the ‘Deluxe Cars’ range which comes with a separate box you can use once you crack open the packaging. Insanely hot because of the red candy satin paint job which is stunning to say the least. The GT strip on the side is perfect, plastic headlights, an actual Mustang badge extrudes from the grille, opening doors and, opening rear boot like a little extra thrown in by the dealer. Even the wheels have a disc brake molded in. Unimaginable that this is priced between your standard Hot Wheels and Tomica.
MAJORETTE 1:64
MAJORETTE 1:64
TOYOTA CELICA GT COUPÉ
PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS
It’s like Majorette decided they would do classy cars and not buy into too much of the JDM hype, having said that they do have quite a few CIVIC Type R’s in their repertoire (something for everyone) but this is an absolute classic and gem! A bright yellow Toyota Celica GT and the details are banging. I love the center nut in the wheels like the old Le Mans cars, the badging is proper front and back, headlights on all Majorette cars are plastic and far more realistic looking than painted tampos. I love this car right down to its GT stripes on the side.
Hey there Porsche, GT3 RS another well detailed piece to add to your Porsche collection which by now must be insanely huge. Majorette has quite a few Porsche models on catalogue and we can testify that they look good. I’m finding hard to find a mis-step anywhere. Some critics claim that the scale is not truly 1/64 and yes they are a little bigger than Hot Wheels but HW isn’t truly 1/64 either. For me it’s another brilliant Porsche for the collection.
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
Satin candy red
Doors + Rear boot
ROLLING WHEELS Rubber tires
GT yellow
Doors
ROLLING WHEELS
Speed BLUE
Doors
ROLLING WHEELS
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa
CASTING REMARKS
As part of the packaging certain Deluxe and Premium cars come with a double side gloss laminated card with the car art on one side and details about the car on the other, like those football trading cards. We absolutely love this feature because for these cars we won’t need to keep the hideously large card art or employ any special ways to remove the blister from the card. You just crack open and there you have it, car + card art with info it’s perfect. Majorette you are blowing my mind. MAJORETTE 1:64
DODGE CHALLENGER SRT HELLCAT The Dodge Challenger is another American Muscle car I’m sweet for and so is Majorette. They have quite a few types of Challengers and all of them finished really nice. This particular Hellcat model comes from their Limited Edition line and I love the purple rims that match this Zamac styled paint job. Opening doors, side mirrors molded into the doors, chunky black wheels which sits the car well are all part of this really cool package.
MAJORETTE 1:64
CITROEN C3 WRC Another under utilized genre of cars with immense possibilities being taken advantage of by Majorette is WRC Cars. Their first set of 4 have been epic and I’m really hoping to see this line expanded. My pick is the Citroen C3 it’s a quirky designed car and not featured as much as the other three but I like the Red / Grey combination along with some intricate lettering and motif’s. The other nice feature about the WRC series, rubber wheels. Oh, and yet another nice feature, METAL SPOILER molded on to the car! You can drop it and clean it and the spoiler won’t snap off! Majorette can do some great things with this line.
MAJORETTE 1:64
DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON I told you Majorette has some hot Dodge Challengers, and this might be the hottest one of them all! The SRT DEMON (ungodly, yay!). Majorette has made it look super buff, a great casting with well defined lines for example that hood air intake looks like an intake and not a floozy painted on job. This also features a dual textured paint job between red gloss and matte black, the Demon Head Graphic is painted in gloss on the Matt Black, nice wide wheel arches, excellent casting, perfect Sunday pocket car.
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
PAINT/COLOR
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
ZAMAC
Doors
ROLLING WHEELS
DUOTONE RED/GREY
NONE
ROLLING WHEELS RUBBER TIRES
duotone Matte back/ gloss red
NONE
ROLLING WHEELS
FORD FERRARI contre
24 HEURES DU MANS
Between 1964 and 1966 one of America’s biggest industrialist and international car manufacturer decided to take on a plucky, full of attitude Italian homemade sports car maker in one of the weirdest David v. Goliath battles in Motor-sport history. On the road, FORD was easily the biggest in terms of manufacturers and reach with cars around the globe hundreds of models millions sold. Ferrari a few 100s in both categories combined. Yet on track Ferrari was unstoppable, unbeatable and a technical monster to most drivers who had gentleman parts of steel. 2019 we know the result and we’ve seen both brands continue to grow but what happened behind the curtains is where all the spice is and the new movie directed by James Mangold starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale is one of the most important stories that tell tale of this classic battle. At CastHeads we tracked down scale model versions of some of the cars you will see in the upcoming movie 1. Because we can and 2. We think, once you see this movie you are going to go on a shopping spree.
FEATURE
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
THE WAR FERRARI STARTED
Enzo Ferrari never intended on selling Ferrari to anyone other than an Italian. The thing was, he knew how to play on the sensitive nature of the Italian press who vilified Ferrari’s losses as much as they celebrated its victories. And at the end of 1961 the Magician of Maranello suddenly became the Monster of Maranello when Count Von Trip racing his Ferrari against Phil Hill caught a tire and was sent hurtling into the spectators killing 11 of them and himself. Ferrari won F1 with Phil Hill but the cost was great. The only thing Enzo could do, was play on the nationalist card.
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
FEATURE
On the 21st of May 1963 Ferrari sat down with Don Frey (being played by Joe Williamson) and Ford’s delegation of lawyers to go over the final contract. FORD was set to buy FERRARI for the curiously low amount of 10 million dollars. This was where Enzo Ferrari lay down his famous best act and brought contention to the fact that FORD would have the ultimate say with Ferrari Racing even though it would come under the full purview of Enzo. Immediately ending all negotiations in a not so nice way. The executives return back to Dearborn and reported what happened to Henry Ford II, who pretty much lost his marbles and decided that Ferrari needed to pay for its audacity of embarrassing FORD by doing a run around the Mulberry Bush. FORD would end Ferrari’s choke hold on Le Mans.
AMALGAM COLLECTION 1:18
FERRARI 250LM
On the higher scale of collecting Amalgam has probably the sweetest treat of them all when it comes to the Winning 250 LM at the 1965 Le Mans. This number 21 car is special because not only did it win in 1965 but it was also the last Ferrari to ever win at Le Mans which signaled the subsequent end of Ferrari’s participation in Le Mans shortly after. Driven to victory by Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory this replica has been created with the assistance of Ferrari themselves using scans of the exact plans, details and drawings as well as the same materials of the original 1:1 car. When Amalagam makes them it’s a perfect replica right down to the seat stitch.
ALTAYA MODELS 1:43
FERRARI 250LM If you really want a Le Mans raced 250 LM you can get your hands on this 1/43 scale ALTAYA model that raced in 1968 at the hands of private racer David Piper and Richard Attwood. It wasn’t a top five winner, but it did come in 7th. This ALTAYA version is pretty impressive with great detail for relatively cheap.
FEATURE
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
THE WAR FERRARI STARTED
When Shelby finally got the chance to congratulate the winner, Gregory summed up the story neatly. “You know, that’s a good car! He said, I stuck the clutch in that ****** and it revved all the way up to 7,800 rpm! The thing didn’t even bend the valves!” – From the Book ‘Go Like Hell’ by A J Baime Headed by Luigi Chinetti the North American Racing Team (NART) were in Second place until the final hours of the race when the leading Ferrari team driven by a pair of Belgians blew a tyre down the Mulsanne straight giving way to Luigi’s 250 LM Ferrari to take the lead.
Even when a Ferrari Factory Rep came and beseeched Luigi to let the Belgians now running in second place to retake the lead, Luigi was incredulous at the request. This was his team’s moment to shine and he wasn’t giving that up for all the favors in the world.
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
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Another re-assuring fact as to the detail of the faithful representation of the Amalgam 250 LM is the fact that once this model is handcrafted and completed it is then given a look over one last time by both the design team as well as the engineering team to ensure accuracy. So, you will never find an ‘error’ version or factory defect on your model that has a starting price of USD740 The car comes to you with a clear acrylic dust cover mounted on a carbon fiber finished base which also holds the certificate of authenticity and collateral material about the car. And even if your heathen friends don’t think much of the model the price tag will certainly be a conversation starter.
From leather engine cover straps to the intricately woven spoked lightweight race rims and the etched Ferrari logo on the center wheel nut every component is perfect and given a stamp of approval. I always say this, if you have a chance to own at least one outstanding model in your collection make it an Amalgam.
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GT SPIRIT 1:18
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
FORD GT40 MARK I
FOR FIR BAC
RD RES CK!
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
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After being spurned by the Magician of Maranello, Henry Ford II took it personally and immediately decided to take away something that Ferrari valued more than money, victory at Le Mans. He gathered his most trusted and gave them an ultimatum, one that had them on their toes for three years culminating into one of the greatest motorsport historic moments. This is the beginning of one of the greatest machines FORD had ever built, this was the beginning of an icon, the beginning of a Legacy that continues to be victorious till today. The FORD GT40, built specifically to destroy the FERRARI on track.. The team that started work in Slough was Roy Lunn, operations manager and engineering head, John Weyer from Aston Martin Racing, Don Frey, Eric Broadly founder of the company that made the LOLA Racing Car and Carroll Shelby’s chief engineer Phil Remington.
After 11 months of work the team behind the GT 40 finally had a completely built car. Due to various problems over the course of 11 months the project was behind schedule and though FORD had a car built it was completely untested.
The reason for the location choice was easy access to parts that were not available in the US at the time. These parts were then tested on Lola cars test driven by one of the most famous names in racing, Bruce McLaren.
On the 3rd of April 1964 the FORD GT 40 was unveiled to the world at the start of the New York Auto Show and the press eagerly lap up all the information they get on the car. There were rumors that Ford would take on Ferrari, suddenly it’s not rumors anymore.
The engine was a 350 bhp producing FORD Fairlane V8 with a modified 256 cubic inch V8 being prepped to race at Indianapolis. On paper the car looked like it would 210 Mph which was fast but then another problem arose, which was the wear and tear of the other parts running at high speed for 24 hours.
Opening the GT Spirit box for the first time and unpacking the Mark 1 made me feel a bit like those journalists at the unveiling of the actual car in 1964. There was a crackle of excitement in the air as well as an immense swell of pride when I lifted the car out of its Styrofoam box. Here I was, holding a significant symbol of Motorsport History in 1/18 scale and as I gave the car a quick once over, I couldn’t help but wonder, isn’t this the coolest freaking job ever.
First impressions…WOW. Definitely a fantastic looking model without a doubt and to be honest we haven’t seen GT Spirit put a foot out of place when it comes to finish and quality. I have heard of the occasional dis-satisfied customer but GT Spirit have always been responsive concerning customer complaints. Now I know GT Spirit promote their models as being premium resin made however I cannot get over the weight and overall feel of this model. To me it looks, feels and weighs more like a diecast model and made out of a composite material. In fact, it feels heavier than some 1/18 diecast cars. The body mold is perfect, and the re-creation of the car’s lines are symmetrical and smooth. The little touches like the mesh in the air intakes are neat and tidy.
No signs of over glue residue or overspill. The windows section have been glued on neatly and again no hideous glue marks anywhere not even at the seams. Exterior details are very good. The rivets on the side windows, headlights and fog lamps are neat and well-spaced and I’m really happy about the integrity of the side mirrors, they don’t feel anywhere close to being flimsy or easily detachable by my hand. The paint is a simple brilliant white with a high gloss finish, but there isn’t any overspray or orange peel effect and definitely no paint bubbling. The speed strip along the side with the FORD letters is clean and sharp no jagged lines
Oddly enough we find that models with opening parts don’t have great interior detail unless its an extremely premium brand. But look at the detail in this sealed GT 40, that steering wheel alone should get the racer in you all fired up.
From the moment Phil Hill jumped into his GT 40 it was disaster. A blocked jet in one of the Weber carbs meant a stalled start and once he did get the car going a return to the pits to get the jet going. Meanwhile Richie Ginther was having a much better race in the #2 car taking the lead by lap 2. Unfortunately, a slow pit stop dropped him back to second. Then the first Ford to retire in the hands of Richard Attwood catches fire due to ruptured fuel lines. Then the #2 car now being driven byMasten Gregory retires with failed transmission. Finally, at around 5.30 am the last GT 40 despite setting record laps finally suffered the same gearbox fate leaving for the team with nothing to do except pack up and leave.
Even the interior lining gets a small nod in remembrance. Absolutely love it, wish this car would open up for a better look inside. Talk about a titillating tease.
Since the engine cover doesn’t open you don’t see much except for the FORD Fairlane engine block.
G & S M i n i atu res P res ents
Art isa n Sc ale d Sc u lpture s Decorate your space with a custom hand-crafted 1:64 diorama. Each one is unique, and you can even select your own model to be crafted.
Abandoned Porsche 917 in Farm Shed
G&S Miniatures Call/Whatsapp +94 77 226 5268 or email gnsminiatures@gmail.com
gnsminiatures
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
D R FO ETS G ICKED BR
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FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
LEGO is always too cool for school and hundreds of civilizations later whatever humans have evolved to, they’ll still be playing with LEGO. And the LEGO guys really know how to celebrate car culture. Hence the launch of this super cool set to celebrate FORD’S 60 Year Le Mans legacy. And we hear no complaints from anyone.
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
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FO R MK D G LE II 19T40 MA 66 NS
FO RD GT LE M 20 40 AN 16 S
LE G O
LE GO
From the Speed Champion Series comes two crucial FORD GT 40’s in a 366 piece set that includes a race mini figure for each car and one race marshal, along with some race essential accessories as you can see. What’s great about buying LEGO is that it truly can be justified as a learning tool for your child which makes it an extremely important purchase.
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FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
From sonnet To Symphony FERRARI 330
FORD CONTRE FERRARI 24 HEURES DU LE MANS
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The
Symphony
"This kind of love, which I can describe in almost a sensual or sexual way within my subconsciousness, is probably the main reason why, for so many years, I no longer went to see my cars race. To think about them, to see them born and see them die - because in a race they are always dying, even if they win. It is unbearable"
Enzo Ferrari from Go Like Hell by A J Baime
This was the endurance racer that would be the peak of Ferrari’s stable of endurance racers. In every way this car was the perfect combination of all Ferrari’s racing technology from endurance racing and Formula 1. And, its build was powered by competitive revenge which is the perfect ingredient for building a purebred race car. This was a car that could be red lined at 8000 Rpm to use maximum gear ratio and squeeze out 450 Bhp while ballet dancing through cars on track. Chris Amon who drove for Ferrari during the 1967 season said
“The P4 was a very pleasant car to drive, as it was a great deal more nimble than the Fords I was used to. Although it lacked the ultimate top end pace of the 7-litre Ford, it gave you the feeling that you could drive it to the maximum for the whole race, which really wasn’t the case for the Fords, especially the brakes...” Scarlet Passion, by Anthony Pritchard
GP REPLICAS 1:18
FERRARI 330P4
When we unboxed the GP Replicas Ferrari 330 P4 there were tears in our eyes at the CastHeads Office. It is simply a thing of beauty that commands your attention wherever you put it. We even tried hiding it at the back of the cupboard and suddenly it became the most beautiful cupboard in the room. GP Replicas is a line from Top Marques Collectibles a serious model car builder that re-creates some of the most famous and finest machines to hit the road. These guys concentrate on scales 1/18 and 1/12 with resin cast bodies, so you can expect sealed body models but with serious detail.
Headlights so realistic you almost wish they would come on. Just the headlights alone will tell you how serious the detail on this model is.
For example check out the headlights with the layered lens on the P4 you almost half expect them to come to life. And to be honest this is what collecting is all about. Realism, limited production run and of course presentation. After all the actual cars were built to be seductive and desirable. So the closer you are to the real thing the more it excites you. The P4 is pretty exciting. Even our lead photographer concluded his shoot saying this was one his favourites for the day. This particular limited edition P4 is the car driven by Chris Amon and Lorenzo Bandini at the 1000Km Monza
4 point safety harness with photo etched buckles are some of the details you get to see straining your best eyes through the glass.
Edurance Event also known as Trofeo Filippo Caracciolo. This was the P4’s race to win dominating from the beginning holding the top spots at the end. Through out the season Ferrari and Ford kept trading top spots with the P4 winning at Monza and Daytona 24Hr as well as placing 2 & 3 at Le Mans behind the GT 40 Mark IV. It took FORD 3 years and all their might to unseat Ferrari but it took Ferrari one year and a few mods to bring back a viable contender. In the middle of these wins and battles for supremacy by Ferrari and Ford the FIA decided to change rules stipulating that Prototype cars are limited to 3.0 Litre
Carbon Fibre textured base, with a nice little metal mounted plaque is TopMarques little touches of class that make you like the winning drivers at Monza.
engines and the Sports Car Championship limited to 5.0 litres with a minimum of 50 cars built for homologation. "I remember when I heard that, for I was screaming," said Franco Lini, who was then Ferrari’s team manager. "I found myself saying ‘Next year you will not see any Ferrari cars.’ When the organizers asked why, I said "Because Ferrari is a small factory and we don’t have the money to build 50 cars for homologation..." Sure enough FERRARI didn’t enter after 1967 as a manufacturer team
Another sealed body with great interior detail that will make you gladly grow squint without hesitation on your part.
The Son “Women are more intelligent and dominating than men, Men are creatures of passion and this makes them victims of women. Ettore Bugatti, a great driver and a great racing car builder, and a fine gentleman, once told me, the perfect machine doesn’t exist mechanically. The only perfect machine is a woman.
Enzo Ferrari Go Like Hell by A J Baime
BBR MODELS 1:18
FERRARI 330P3
Lorenzo Bandini
Bandini was Ferrari’s number 2 driver heavily favoured by the race manager Dragoni over Surtees who he saw as a foreigner driving in an Italian team. This resulted in Dragoni constantly trying to undermine Surtees right up to Le Mans where Surtees finally had it and publicly resigned leaving Bandini to fill the open spot of lead driver for Ferrari. Bandini was a seasoned racer for Ferrari having won third at Monaco Grand Prix on his debut race with them. This was followed by winning Le Mans in 1963. In 1964 he won the Austrian Grand Prix. In 1965 he won the Targa Florio and in 1967 he won the 24Hr Daytona with partner driver Chris Amon
Sadly on the 7th of May 1967 during the Monaco grand Prix, Bandini running second hit guard a rail at the Harbour Chicane and loss control of the car. The fuel tanks ruptured encapsulating the car in flames and igniting everything around it. Bandini pinned under the burning wreckage suffered 3rd degree burns on 70% of his body and succumbed to his injuries 3 days later. Another gifted racer lost to the dangerous sport of motor racing.
There isn’t any suspense in talking about a race where everyone knows the result at Le Mans 1966. It was 3 years of fighting, lives had been lost, technological advancements had been made in leaps and bounds in car development and it is a race that changed lives completely. There are many maybe’s as well. Maybe Ferrari could have won if John Surtees drove that day. Maybe Dragoni over-reached his power and caused an overall loss of confidence in the team. Maybe Enzo should have sided with Surtees.
nnet The 330 P3 is a beautiful car to behold. Ferrari’s usual dramatic flair. Large wheel arches with huge tires that filled them out for better traction and grip. A rigid tubular chassis, V12 engine with redesigned cylinder heads and LUCAS Injection system replacing the Weber carburettors. The 4.0liter engine revved up to 8000 Rpm and howled out 420Hp from the rear connected to a ZF five speed gearbox.
BBR MODELS 1:18
FERRARI 330P3 SPYDER
Ferrari had lined up 7 prototypes from various teams going into Le Mans. 3 of them were the 330 P3’s. Mike Parkes and Ludovico Scarfiotti in one, Lorenzo Bandini and Jean Guichet in the second and Pedro Rodriguez and Richie Ginther in the other. The car pictured here from BBR No. 21 is the car driven by Bandini and Guichet.
John Surtees A talented racer who wanted nothing in life than to race. A man who knew machine intimately and often collided with engineers and technicians on an array of ideas. But he was the epitome of talent. To this day no racer has been able to conquer Surtees record of being World Champion in MotoGP and World Champion in Formula 1 at the same time. Unfortunately Surtees had a life threatening accident while test driving a LOLA race car which left one side of him 4 inches shorter. After gruelling therapy and being physically stretched back out Surtees returns back to Ferrari ready to race and incredibly starts with amazing lap times. This fails to impress team boss who makes a last minute decision to change the driver line up despite Surtees performance which upsets Surtees a little prompting him to resign from Ferrari till he meets with Enzo Ferrari himself.
BBR Models does a fantastic replication of 2 Ferraris that took part in the 1966 Le Mans, one that raced directly under Ferrari Works race team. And the other No.27 330 P3 Spyder fielded by Luigi Chinetti from the North American Race Team. Unfortunately being a BBR Model you can expect a non opening body especially when you can see their fantastic detailing from the outside you want to shrink yourself and just sit in it.
What’s great with realistic models such as these is when you read or watch something historical involving a car like the 330 its always nice to be able to have a reference at hand. For example reading about how the seating inside the cockpit is more of a single seater format that the usual two seat configuration. With the BBR P3 you get to see that. It really becomes a piece of history that talks to you and takes you on that journey. You can almost see Bandini with his concentration getting ready to take off at the starting line. Sadly the P3 didn’t do well at all. By the 17th hour of the 1966 Le Mans the cars were pushed to the limits and started failing one by one, pulling into the pit dejected at their
fortunes. This was a race where they underestimated the Americans and they slipped up on the preparations. If you are looking to create the 1966 Le Mans cars in your collection then this is a great pair to add. BBR is not cheap but their detail and quality in finish is impeccable and it would be really fantastic to own a little bit of Le Mans magic at home.
DRIVERS OF CAR #27 RICHIE GINTHER PEDRO RODRIGUEZ
THE TEXAN RACER Carroll Shelby SOLIDO MODELS 1:18
SHELBY AC COBRA 427 Carroll Shelby was born on January 11th 1923 in Leesburg Texas. Some believe he was born to race with engine oil and petrol running through his veins. To list out Carroll’s illustrious career will take several pages and issues. He was intrinsic for a lot of things that racing takes for granted today. But for the sake of our story in this issue what you need to know is Shelby disliked Enzo Ferrari and saw him as a man who would risk the lives of his drivers to win at all costs which resulted in the deaths of some of Shelby’s friends. He took it personally and was out to beat Ferrari.
Ferrari was a target for American racers in the 60’s one of them being Shelby. Shelby had carved for himself a nice little niche business of tuning big muscle car engines and putting them into small sports cars. One of them being the famous AC Shelby Cobra. Featured here is the 427 Shelby Cobra, the same model that beat the Ferrari GTO’s in the GT class at the 1964 Le Mans and came 4th overall. It was almost like fate when that happened showing the world Ferrari was not as untouchable at any given time and was facing it’s impending doom every year at the hands of the GT 40 .
Solido gives you an awesome opportunity to own a very stylish piece of motoring history with this 1/18 scale model in a deep shade of purple. From the first time I laid eyes on it I was smitten like a small boy with his puppy. The lines of the car perfectly re-created along with the all other little bits and bobs. The Anti-roll bar behind the drivers seat. The glass flaps on the side of the windscreen. The exhaust pipes coming out the side look like freshly forged metal sprayed in matte silver. And, of course realistic lights and spot on badging. The standout feature for me personally is the paint job, what a beautiful finish.
The Interior is well furnished with good detail as well, not a shoddy job in the least. Seatbelts, the buckles on the seat belts, the ribbed seats, full on dashboard display, floored gear lever and handbrakes and of course the wood finished steering wheel with the Cobra etched on to the center. There is even an ashtray in the center console. The engine bay is openable (as well as the doors) which means owners can get a nice little look into that 427 FORD engine that powers this little Cobra up to 485 Bhp a number envied by some of the bigger cars even. Actual wires run from under the engine to the throttle bodies all nice and detailed.
Need something smaller? This little number from DelPrado is perfect. No seatbelts but it does have a wood finished steering wheel, fire extinguisher, gear lever and hand brake as well as a tiny little racing wind breaker for the drivers side. Such a great casting with lots of detail for its size. It also comes on a neat black plastic base and acrylic cover but the Shelby Cobra is one of those models you need to keep out in the open for constant ogling.
DELPRADO 1:43
SHELBY FORD COBRA 427
FORD & SHELBY A Motorsport Saga
Like Mercedes has AMG and BMW has HAMANN, great cars inspire other people to take them and make them even more mental. For FORD that mentalist was Carroll Shelby. After the monstrous success with the AC Cobra and Henry Ford’s revolutionary vision to make FORD race cars Shelby was drafted in to help make the GT 40. This also meant that he was the go to man when they wanted the Mustangs to go faster. So to this day Shelby Motorsport turns ordinary Mustangs into race horses of the highest breed. Of course there was a temporary parting of ways for a while in the middle and Shelby got to do some dastardly fast Dodges.
Solido Models once again satisfies our hunger for American Muscle and American Sports cars and they have left us with a taste for wanting more. This GT 500 Mustang is simple and classy with no need to be dramatic in any way painted white with Pearl Blue racing stripes. Close up the details are properly in place and as always the reason why 1/18 is so cool to collect especially if you have the space is the ability to enjoy those minor details. Like the Shelby Badge on the front grille or the Shelby badging at the back, the Shelby Snake in
the center of the racing wheels and then of course there is the interior. Made to look like wood finished steering wheels that turns the wheels. Ribbed sports seats famous in American Muscles, Speedometer, Rpm meter and the usual pressure gauges painted onto the dashboard. The door handles and window winders are also a nice touch. Shelby was truly a great racer and race car maker, he was also a philanthropist and good friend who could never get over what FORD did to Ken Miles in the final lap of the 1966 Le Mans.
“I’ll forever be sorry that I agreed with Leo Beebe and Henry Ford to have three cars come across at the same time. Ken was one and a half laps ahead and he’d have won the race. It broke his heart, Then we lost him in August” Carroll Shelby to A J Baime for the book Drive Like Hell
The Car Ken Mile By the end of this year 2019 Ken Miles will be a household name. Played by Christian Bale in the movie ‘FORD vs. FERRARI’ the unknown champion of the FORD GT 40 and the real winner of the Le Mans 1966 is finally getting the recognition he deserves by way of a movie that releases on the 15th of November 2019.
es Drove To Win Ken Miles wasn’t the easiest to work with, but he was a man who had a seemingly symbiotic relationship with machines which made him invaluable to Henry Fords campaign against the Ferrari’s and helped build a true American Sports Car.
Working together with Shelby the two were a formidable pair of racing experience and mechanical genius that produced one of the most amazing machines to race at Le Mans. He was a self taught mechanic who had a gift for understanding the way race cars needed to work and he worked tirelessly to perfect his machines.
Featured in the article is the scale replica of the actual car Ken Miles raced at Le Mans in 1966. Made by Shelby Collectibles we were really really fortunate to get our hands on one for this issue. For me personally this is an absolute mind blowing experience.
SHELBY COLLECTIBLES SCALE 1:18
FORD GT40 MARK II
For example during one testing session Shelby’s team manager taped cotton yarn to the car in tight rows on the drivers side and Ken Miles would push the car to its limits while a chase car would take polaroids of the direction of the yearn. Together the team manager and Ken Miles discover a loss of 75hp due to poor air ducting. This was the type of genius that built the GT 40 Mk II.
To have such a great piece of The car comes with all opening parts as seen below and everything has been faithfully recreated with a lot of heart and soul put in to keep it as original and true to form as possible. The V12, 7 liter engine is quite the site to behold and it ignites a certain kind of excitement in you. As far as finish goes this model is worth every penny you
spend on it. The paint is perfect as well as all the exterior details captured with precision. All the opening part sit well, wheels roll smooth, front axle allows for the front wheel to turn. The interior is well detailed right down to the metal step plate and metal trim instrument panel. If you are yet to make your last purchase for the year this should be the car to get.
Motorsport history built by the same guys who made the actual car (not the exact same guys) and of course without any exceptions its safe to say this model is a work of art. When you think about that massive amount of power that was being created in the mid 60s. Potent power.
“YOU KNOW, I’D RATHER DIE IN A RACING CAR THAN GET EATEN UP BY CANCER” - KEN MILES -
At the Le Mans race in 1966 the cars Ken Miles helped build, won with an unprecedented 1,2 & 3 placing and all three cars coming in together at the same time for a photo opportunity. A photo opportunity that cost Ken Miles the race that was his, the chance to win one last time and carve his name amongst the greats in motorsport. Sadly, that chance was robbed from him, a chance to win the triple crown having won Daytona and Sebring in that same year. Two months after Le Mans Ken Miles was at Riverside California testing the prototype FORD J Car which he hoped would give him another shot at the title the following year. It would be the road test that would take his life. Today thanks to the efforts of Director James Mangold, Ken Miles will be remembered and celebrated for giving us one of the greatest cars in our lifetime. The FORD GT 40.
Japanese cars are the stuff of cult icons. Sometimes the popularity of JDM’s astound me. It’s universal and outweighs any other form of Japanese culture not to mention the millions of just as good cars if not better out on the road at any given time. Yet JDM’s stay true and strong in the hearts of millions car lovers in the world and probably the reason why they are so loved in the world is because a JDM always keeps it real. One such icon is the Datsun Z (aka the Fairlady) In the 70’s it was the sports car to have which tipped into the 80’s keeping Nissan very busy and popular. This year there have been quite a few model releases of the ‘Z’ and we look at 4 that we really liked.
MAISTO DESIGN 1:18
1974 DATSUN 240Z (TOKYO MOD) This one is delicious. We loved the tuner look given to this model without the razzle dazzle of most tuning arms out there right now. This is simple and sleek and feels like the sort of car a young boy who works as a sushi delivery driver during the day would drive at night prowling the Tokyo street for a solid drifting / street race to earn extra cash to finally buy that Toyota Supra drift machine. Gloss wine red with black tacked on wheel arches for extra flare, fat race wheels with black race alloys and black duck tail spoiler at the back. It has a wide stance and looks like a Japanese thug intimidating all the cars on your shelf.
PAINT/COLOR METALLIC WINE RED
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
DOOR/BOOT/ENGINE
ROLLING WHEELS Rubber tires
Opening doors, engine cover and rear boot is great but the detail on the engine and interior is basic which is a pity because the engine could be from the same Datsun Z up next for review and it would be a whole lot better.
MAISTO 1:18
1974 DATSUN 240Z FAIRLADY If your dad was cool in the 70’s and had the ability to buy his own car, this would probably be the car he bought. This version is streets ahead of the Tokyo Mod version because it’s a bit more serious. A stock standard you get to see how cool this car is without the make up. And, we secretly feel it is much cooler. We love the retro sports alloy wheels that give instant nostalgic vibes. Great color which is a dark metallic blue and the overall finish is really solid. Also comes with all the doors and engine opening the only difference being the detail is better. Especially in the engine area. The interior is not too bad either. Fairly detailed dashboard and steering wheel details.
PAINT/COLOR STORM SEA BLUE
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
DOOR/BOOT/ENGINE
ROLLING WHEELS Rubber tires
Maisto has done a fantastic job on this car in keeping it looking absolutely retro. A great comparison on how it looks stock. The front wheels turn with the ‘looks like wood’ finish steering wheel and little things like the ‘Z’ on the petrol cap is great to see from Maisto.
JADA TOYS 1:24
1972 DATSUN 240Z (JDM TUNERS) Jada surprised us with their 240 Z from the JDM Tuners series. Again a nice tuner version with fat grippy wheels that have the brand name painted on the side wall. Subtle GReddy stickering on the sides, black after market riveted wheel arches give it that street stance. It’s not a perfect finish with a few blemishes here and there. But for some reason it helps the car with a bit of character. And we can’t help but give it some love as would that Sushi Delivery boy we were talking about earlier would give his street racer. We also love that the rear wheel alloys go deeper than the front wheels giving the car a more dynamic look in its stance.
Another Datsun with complete opening parts and a fair amount of detail going into the interior. The hinges for the opening are quite solid and lock into place when closed. They feel like they would be snappy and strong for a long time. We really like the feel of this model and on budget its pretty awesome.
PAINT/COLOR DUOTONE RED/WHITE
Opening Parts
MOBILITY
DOOR/BOOT/ENGINE
ROLLING WHEELS
This version from Otto Mobile is the most expensive ‘Z’ in the review and also disappointingly no opening parts because from the outside the interior looks beautiful and we hate the tease some of these models do to us by having severely detailed interiors in cars that don’t open. On the flip side it will never get dusty in there. The paint job is perfect with no blemishes anywhere and the late 70’s two tone styling is just swish with class. Metallic grey with dark blue. The alloy wheels again, are flawlessly made and the overall casting with plastic parts are leagues ahead of lower priced versions. But, don’t forget this is not a cheap model, especially with shipping because this model is curiously heavy in comparison to the others we looked at. While the other 3 are great display pieces this one sets the standard for being the ‘show’ piece at center stage. OTTO MOBILE 1:18
1979 DATSUN 280ZX TURBO
PAINT/COLOR DUOTONE BLUE/SILVER
Opening Parts NONE
MOBILITY ROLLING WHEELS Rubber tires
T A K E C A R E O F O U R B E A U T I F U L
Planet Earth
R E D U C E
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R E U S E
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R E C Y C L E
Photographed by Zankhan Chhaya IG: Zankhan_photography
DIVO A DATE WITH A
bburago 1:18
BUGATTI DIVO
Right now the name Bugatti is on everyone’s lips because it is the car to beat for the title of fastest production car in the world. Those guys are constantly upping their game so much so that there hasn’t been a serious contender to the crown in a long time. Some have gotten close but Bugatti is always there with something faster.
Bburago has been around for a while and over the years have had quite a few hits a few near misses and then some absolute gems. Off late, they have been dropping some sick models and the latest 1/18 to hit the shelves has been the eagerly awaited Bugatti Divo. Now, there are brands that have dropped their version of the Divo but by far Bburago has the bess\t priced 1/18 version and for the price you get a pretty decent car. And, to be honest one of the main components about collecting models cars as a hobby is the ability to show them off. And if we get a car we really want to show off then we also know its going to be hit. We really want to show off the Divo.
You can’t get to this level and not have a detailed interior. This Divo is pretty detailed with little Divo badges around the inside of the car. Carbon Fiber styled finishes on the center console and dashboard. So much blue!
The actual car itself in intricately designed with lots of weird pieces sticking out and into even more weirder places, but these are bits and pieces that keep the car on the ground when its massive engines hits those G defying speed. Diffuser, fins, rear diffuser everything in the real car has been put together have been faithful recreated in this model. The shape of the rear is very daunting and the rear lights look quite realistic. Also love the way the intakes and exhausts have been shaped well on the model.
We love the wheels, with the low profile blue side wall tires. We also love the fact that the disc breaks inside the wheel don’t turn with the wheel. The Bugatti painted on the caliper is a really nice little detail and this car is made up of little really nice details like that.
Ours is a community of constant criticism and debate. There are many sides to a story and to be honest what some people tend to be easy about its not the same for others, so however much we say this is a great model there will be those who disagree and they will have valid reasons. Personally, I own some fantastic Bburago & Maisto models and have never needed to complain.
The Matte Black finish with blue highlights is such a striking color combination and the Bburago boys have done an excellent job of copying the color combination.
CHIRON sport
THE OTHER BUGATTI...
Even as a scale model just look at how comfortable the Chiron Sport looks on the track. It looks like an outright meany, that nose when seen in a rear mirror just simple says ‘Get out the way’ and you obligingly will move knowing that you can never outrun that unless you were in a Bugatti yourself.
Many Bugatti’s have passed through the CastHeads office and we decided to take the Chiron Sport down to the Bandaragama ProKart Circuit to let its wheels touch some real tarmac. (we also got some cool pics)
Back to reality and we see Maisto has done a pretty decent job on the Chiron though it’s a 1/24 scale. And, I have to say I have quite a collection of Maisto and Bburago 1/24’s which I have always been happy with. Specially the Dodge Viper line (See issue 002). So its unsurprising that this Chiron Sport is a pretty good mold and finish. The only opening parts are the doors but you will see a little effort has gone into the details like the hints of the Carbon Fiber texture, and the checkered seats. Really love the alloy wheel design and the way the tyre slightly juts out the wheel arch. It even rolls superbly well on the Tarmac which we tested while doing a slow motion video.
guest casthead
Words + Pics by The Model Car Critic | Design by Lance K Müller
1:18 DNA COLLECTIBLES AUDI R8 LMX REVIEW
LET'S TALK ABOUT LMX BABY
With the second generation of R8 due out sometime in 2015, Audi wanted to give its very first supercar one final special runout. Announced on 9th May 2014, you'd be forgiven for thinking the R8 LMX looks a lot like the R8 GT introduced at the 2010 Wörthersee Tour. The R8 LMX
takes the power up another 18bhp over the outgoing GT to make a total of 570bhp from that glorious naturally aspirated V10 engine and it dispatches the 0-62mph sprint in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 198mph. Limited to just 99 pieces worldwide, the R8 LMX was Audi's
most powerful, quickest and rarest supercar at the time of release. The headline feature of the R8 LMX is definitely those laser headlights, with Audi aiming to be the first to release them on a production car. However, that claim may have been stolen by
Guest castheads
The detail in the engine bay is equally impressive.. BMW with their i8 – you can read more about the background to this feud in my full review linked below. Most of the 99 cars produced left the factory in an Audi Exclusive paint called Ara Blue, crystal effect. This is the colour DNA Collectibles chose
to replicate this car in 1:18 and the colour really pops! The quality of the paint is also epic, with no visible scratches from factory polishing. Contrasting against that lovely paint is the smattering of carbon fibre decals all around the model. DNA have done a great job in replicating
the matte finish of the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) on the real car featuring it on the front splitter, canards, side blades, rear wing, diffuser and all around the engine bay. It also features heavily on the interior too – you can find it around the instrument binnacle, on the central tunnel and even on the door cards.
More goodies on the interior include the Sepang Blue stitching on the seats, door trim and even the headlining! In true DNA style, the buttons and dials are ridiculously detailed – I’ve never seen such incredible definition on such tiny parts! The detail in the engine bay is equally impressive, with that V10 engine on full show beneath the clear engine cover.
The exclusive 19-inch designer multi-spoke wheels feature realistic carbon ceramic discs with red Audi Sport callipers expertly moulded. Thankfully we also have proper perforated mesh used all around the model, from the front and rear grilles to the side blades and outlet beneath the rear wing. The headlights lack a bit of detail that makes these laser headlights so special on the real car, but the tail-lights are up to par.
I’ve never seen such incredible definition on such tiny parts!
Overall, DNA have knocked the ball out the park with their 1:18 Audi R8 LMX. Yet another model not produced by anyone else and with details that should make other resin model manufacturers quake in their boots – R8 and super car fans alike should look to add one of these limited run of 320 pieces in their collection before they’re sold out for good! FULL ARTICLE follow the link https://themodelcarcritic.com/1:18dna-collectibles-audi-r8-lmx-review/
As an exclusive treat for readers of The Model Car Critic’s reviews, simply apply the discount code of ‘TMCC20’ at checkout to receive an incredible 20% off the DNA Collectibles 1:18 Audi R8 LMX in their online store.
#GirlsCollect HotwheelsToo I've yet to find a more talented artist than Erin in the customizing community. Forget everything you know about wheel swaps, suspension drops, and airbrushed paint jobs for a minute. Erin uses these little cars like blank canvases and hand paints tiny murals on wheels. She's done everything from mermaids and koi fish to scenic landscapes and psychedelic images that would make Janis Joplin envious. I can't image the patience, nerves of steel, and steady hands Erin must have in order to create these wonderful masterpieces. Plus she likes alpacas, which you might have guessed from her Instagram name @alpaca.erin - Scott Nadeau
TORQUE
GARAGE Of the many things TarmacWorks does well, the BMW E30 M3 is one of them. They have many in their portfolio in different styled liveries (including the Jagermeister). Now they have teamed up with Hong Kong-based team to release a set of Kamachi Race Branded beemers.
To celebrate this tie up there will be an event in Hong Kong this November and the cars will be going on sale as well. There will be a special not-for-sale box set created and Kamachi will be releasing some special edition t-shirt and jacket to celebrate the event.
This is one of the many collaborations that TarmacWorks will be doing leading into 2020. Endless racing has teamed up, GReddy will be doing some interesting collabs and kicking things off will be the stuff done KAMACHI.
Castheads will be bringing the news to you as and when the collabs are happening so make sure your eyes stay peeled to Garage Torque. Till the new E30 comes out you can start your collection of E30’s immediately with some of the older models still available.
Live & let diecast
Words + Pics by Scott Nardeau | Design by Lance K Müller
HOLDE HURRI THE GREATEST WEDGE THERE EVER WAS Scott Nadeau writes about a force of nature from Down Under.
LIVE & LET DIECAST
EN ICANE
This is one of those paradox models in the debate between diecast and resin. It’s a car that should have been made out of diecast with opening parts. It’s a car that would have never been made if it weren’t for the simplicity of resin model manufacturing. Coincidentally, the Holden Hurricane actually began its life as a scale model. It was developed into a fullsize concept car in an attempt to ditch Holden's then "family car" image. Wedge shapes and V8's were all the rage in the late 60's, and this car fit the bill. A dramatic canopy lifted the entire windshield and side panels up and away from the car, allowing the driver and passenger to drop in. The car didn't have any rear side-view mirrors either; the car pioneered a system that used cameras and a dashmounted monitor.
to use resin instead of diecast, and since the model is made of resin, that fighter jet canopy does not open. We really miss out on one of the car’s defining features. The rear engine hatch also opened like a clamshell backwards but we do not get to see that Holden 4.2L V8 lurking in the back. The little known manufacturer from Down Under set an MSRP of a staggering $250, but American diecast retailer Replicarz get a hold of a handful of these models and marked them down to $99. That, in my opinion, is more in line with this model’s quality. The wheels are paired on solid axles, which bounce around much like that of a Hot Wheels car. The paint color is more bronze that the orange metal-flake I think it should be, but I edited the warmth in my photos to get the color I wanted. I’ve also got a weird, oily rainbow mark on the inside of the windshield. I really don't think I should have to crack open a $250 model to clean the insides myself.
Wedge shapes and V8's were all the rage in the late 60's
It was paraded around Holden dealerships for a while, but it ultimately wound up in storage. It was supposed to be destroyed on more than one occasion, and was also restored twice while hidden from the public. Finally, in the mid-2000's, it was given the proper restoration project it deserved. No one really knows who designed the Hurricane, and no one really knows it was ever driven before it was locked away in storage for years. This model is a 1:18 scale version of the car from an Australian model distributor: Apex Replicas. In addition to distributing several popular brands, they began commissioning their own model builds of legendary Australian cars. Unfortunately they decided
Nevertheless, this is the only 1:18 scale model of one of my favorite concept cars ever. Of course I needed one in my collection, but I was definitely glad I was patient until a deal popped up.
Holden Hurricane Apex Replicas 1:18
SHUTTERCASTERS
Showcasing the Hottest Diecast IGers
Drama in 64 Scale CAPTURING THE DRAMATIC USING MINIATURE MODELS IS A SIGNATURE OF sashmitha jayasinghe IG@sashotwheels
We' have featured a lot of castheads who take great pictures of models over the past few issues. Now we would like to take the opportunity to feature someone who not only takes amazing pictures of mostly 1:64 scaled models, but goes the extra to remix them to exciting and dramatic murals.
Showcasing The Hottest Diecst IGers
shuttercasters
I'm Sashmitha Jayasinghe, but people call me Sas, the administrator of Sas Hot Wheels instagram blog. I was born on 2001. I live in Kurunegala, and now I'm studying for my advanced level examinations in 2020. I first got my Hot Wheels when I was 3 or 4 years old, since then I loved diecast cars and toys. My father used to teach me many things about cars and that made me a car enthusiast. My main hobby is collecting diecast models followed by photography and editing. I also like driving, traveling and adventure. I travel around the country, and I take some Hot Wheels where ever I go so I can get pictures of them in awesome locations. In my small ages I used Hot Wheels as toys, I played with them. But as I grow up I understood the value of them and started preserving them. I started collecting them from 2018 and have around 250+ diecast models .each and every Hot Wheels, sdi have is like a treasure to me, I started my instagram on 2018 and I've been sharing diecast photography since then. You can check my instagram @SASHOTWHEELS This is my passion and I love it.
1982 CHEVY CORVETTE COLLECTOR'S EDITION AUTOart Photo by Alberto Jorge Rodriguez
THROWBACK
Diecast stuff from yesteryear
1959 Corgi Toys Catalogue
Majorette - Porsche 934 1:64 Photo by Lance K Müller
Solido - BMW E30 DTM Photo by Lance K Müller
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