CastHeads Magazine Volume 3 Issue 4

CASTED BY

GARAGE TORQUE

THE HEAVY DUTY EDITION

BIG RIGS 4X4s PICKUPS & TRAILERS

SCOTT NADEAU OF LIVE AND LET DIECAST

T H G I FL E H T F O STHEADS CA

S U O I C S LU S O B LAM

REVIEWS

MORE & É P U O C R O VENTAD A , O I R A N E T N THE SIAN, CE

THE RAMBO LAMBO 1:18 SCALE by GT SPIRIT x KYOSHO

Porsche 911 R, Team Bernhard 75 1:18 - Minichamps.

Photo by Patrick Pchalek @wonderbunk

The biggest ESPORTS race in Asia with the best drivers from REAL and SIM world.

Live streams will be broadcasted on “GT World” Youtube Channel

SEASON STARTS OCTOBER 6

EDITORS NOTES I’m sure everyone’s pretty fed up with 2020 and ready to move on to 2021.

Even disaster struck HQ1 in the final days of putting the magazine together affected by the outcome of some depression in the Indian Ocean. But we forge ahead like the foundries of our diecast world that has an endless supply of little trinkets that put a ZAMAC lining in our clouds. With each issue we like to introduce new elements that we feel might interest you (feel free to say otherwise at info@castheadsmagazine. com) and this issue will be no exception.

This time we take to the skies because let’s face it, some of the brands we work with have some stunning models and pieces that need to be celebrated in our pages. PUMA brings back an old friend in our CastHeads Couture. And, after being cooped up under lock-down for a while we decided to head outdoors for some stunning pictures we have taken specially for your enjoyment.

We have spent a lot of time and effort putting this together and if you have any reason to dislike what we’ve done please feel free to contact us with your suggestions. If you love this issue then please share our links and send it to all your friends and social media groups… spread the good vibe.

Nigel

As we drag ourselves out of what probably been the worst year in many decades, the tiniest glimmer in the distance offers that 2021 will be better than the Year That Shall Not Be Named.

Castheads have always striven to be different, to tell stories rather than mere "oh look, its a 1:64 diecast model with four wheels and bits of plastic.." And go beyond the normal magazine dedicated to scale models. We have also dedicated to making your reading experience better, so hopefully you are reading this now on a faster, more easier to read platform than the previous issues.

We also got on Magzter (our issues are free) which one of the world's largest e-kiosks for newspapers, periodical and magazines. So we can reach you better.

We are also working towards a better web and social media experience. But all of this takes money and advertising in our magazine enables us to keep this issue, and many many more to follow, free for readers across the world. We have also initiated a donation button to enable fans to support this endeavor in any way they can. We look forward to having our fans enable us to reach more readers across the world. Thank you in advance.

Lance

9

in this

DIECASTING COUCH Looking at some goodies for you

16

Casting remarks MAJORETTE, MATCHBOXES AND BMCS

21

FEATURE IT'S A SMALL WORLD

24

FEATURE ACHTUNG!

26

FLIGHT OF THE CASTHEADS AUNTY JU

38

RAGING BULLS A SLEW OF LAMBORGHINIS

64

ELECTRIC FUTURE BBURAGO TERZO MILLENNIO

74

JADA CASTED HYPERSPEC FIVE-O

76

MAISTO HOT LAMBO TRAILER 1:24

PARTNERS

Contributing Writers: Nigel J De Zilwa | Lance K Müller | Scott Nadeau Photographers Lance K Müller | N Creative Direction / Design Lance K Müller & Nigel J De Zilwa | A P

s issue

Nigel J De Zilwa | Gotabaya Abeyagoonasekera | Patrick Pchalek | Scott Nadeau | Alberto Jorge Rodriguez Publication of Castheads (Pvt) Limited. © 2020 All Rights Reserved.

80

MAISTO FORD HOT ROD TRAILER 1:24

84

MAJORETTE TRAILERS IN 1:64

86

AUTOMODELLO FORD F600 ART CASTOR TRAILER

93

SCHUCO VW T1 RENNTRANSPORTER

98

BREAKER BREAKER! MAISTO RIGS 1:64

102

THE MUSCLES FROM SANT'AGATA

109

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT BRUMM F1

118

UNIVERSAL MOTOR Great OR UNIMOGS

125

CASTHEADS COUTURE SPEEDCATS AND SPITFIRES

#32661

Presenting the fastest Mustang ever in 1:24 scale diecast with opening parts Order now through our global resellers.

Multiple colors available

Collect them all!

Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Jada Toys, Inc. SHELBY®, CARROLL SHELBY®, CARROLL SHELBY'S SIGNATURE & INITIALS®, 427 S/C®, THE SHAPE AND DESIGN (TRADE DRESS) OF THE SHELBY COBRA 427 S/C VEHICLE™, GT-350®, THE SHELBY MODIFICATIONS TO CREATE THE SHAPE AND DESIGN OF THE 1960S SHELBY GT-350 VEHICLE™, GT-500®, THE SHELBY MODIFICATIONS TO CREATE THE SHAPE AND DESIGN OF THE 1960S SHELBY GT-500 VEHICLE™, KR®, THE SHELBY MODIFICATIONS TO CREATE THE SHAPE AND DESIGN OF THE 1960S SHELBY GT500KR VEHICLE™ and SHELBY AMERICAN® are registered trademarks and/or the tradedress of Carroll Shelby and Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. (Shelby). COBRA and COBRA SNAKE designs are trademarks of Ford Motor Company used under license.

@JADATOYS WWW.JADATOYS.COM

New Releases and Hot Picks

DIECASTING COUCH

Jada Toys

Nano Hollywood Rides GI Joe Jada Toys continue to feed our voracious appetite for vintage pop culture nostalgia with an addition to its Nano Hollywood Rides range of single casted models. GI Joe was a seminal piece of animated entertainment (yes, dated by today's standards) that had a mixed set of characters battle the ruthless terrorist organization COBRA hell-bent on world conquest. This set will soon be joined by a set of GI Joe Nano Metalfigs to help you expand your collection. Go Joe! Scale: Not mentioned.

Status: Available

Schuco Modelle

Volkswagen T3c with Audi SportQuattro and Trailer Schuco presents another addition to its 1:87 historical collection with a classic Volkswagen T3c box van in Audi Sport livery. Its accompanied by a trailer, atop which sits a naked Audi Sport Quattro but has added rally fog lights. This is an ideal model for customising as not very many 1:87 scale Audi Rally models exist (not as much as we like though). This model will compliment the 1:64 model, which is a collaboration model between Schuco and Tarmac Works that is expected soon.

Scale 1:87 Status: Coming Soon

Majorette

FCB - MAN Lion's Coach L Supreme FC Bayern München is currently blitzing over the competition in European football. Majorette pays an ample tribute to them with their FCB collection comprising a range of cars, a MAN trailer truck and this super luxury coach which transports the team to their games. While one side features some members, the other side sports the club motto, "Mia, san mia". We suggest you collect the whole set.

Scale 1:100 Status: 2020 New Releases

COLLECT WITH PASSION! Download the Schuco EDITION 1:64 Collector‘s Catalogue for free now!

schuco.de|service.schuco.de|

Schuco.de

Available now!

CREATIX Porsche Experience Center

CL EX

2

21 205 0029

.

incl. 5 die-cast Porsche 3 x original Porsche motor sound onroad and offroad parcours with steep curve, moat, circular lane and seesaw age recommendation: 5 +

New Releases & Hot Picks

DIECASTING COUCH

Hot Wheels Premium

Rick and Morty: Rick's Ship Rick and Morty is an insanely popular animated series targeted at a mature audience on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block. It revolves around the interdimensional, (mis)adventures of mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his somewhat fretful grandson Morty Smith.

This is Hot Wheels Premium model is based on Rick's Space Cruiser which he put together in his garage and is the vehicle which ferries them across space and time.

This is a more contemporary pop culture model that was presented alongside the Thudertank from Thundercats and Masters of the Universe Wind Raider.

There is also a 5-car Rick and Morty Pop Culture Premium set to go with these release. Just in case you are a completist and would like to have them all!

Scale: 1:64 Status: Released

Amalgam Collection

Ferrari F40 The Ferrari F40 was the culmination of Enzo Ferrari's vision to build the ultimate road going sports car. It had it's roots in the 288GTO Evoluzione project which was developed for Group B rallying that was ultimately canceled. It was also the time that Porsche had released the 959, which was also developed for Gr B racing and Enzo saw the love the

959 was getting. So he tapped Nicola Materazzi, father of the 288 GTO and its Evoluzione counterpart, to build the road car. It would be the last road car that Enzo Ferrari personally approved.

Amalgam Collection has rendered the ultimate homage to this model by producing this luxurious scaled

replica. The base holds a booklet containing the certificate of authenticity along with information and collateral material about the car.

Scale: 1:18

diecasting couch

New Releases & Hot Picks

Solido Models

Renault 5 Maxi #1 - 1986 Rally du Var - F. Chatriot

The Rallye du Var, and is usually the denouement of the French rallying circuit. This rally has been run since the 1950s. Most of the winners have been French, and 1986 was no different. François Chatriot and Michel Perin piloted their Renault 5 Maxi to victory in the race and was also the overall winning team.

Solido presents this model true to detail. Features opening doors and back with the livery represented properly.

Another model to the existing Renault 5 rally car collection.

S1804705 | Scale 1:18 Status: Available

GT Spirit

2020 Ford Shelby GT-500 The season of the Ford Shelby GT500 isn't over by a long shot.

While GT Spirit gave collectors the blue with the white stripes.

Now they give you this monster is eyeball searing Grabber Lime.

Expect this model to either sit next to, or replace any other Mustang Shelby GT500 you may have and a surge in collectors selling their currents GT500s just to own this.

GT803 | Scale 1:18 Status: Available

Otto Mobile

Volkswagen Scirocco Mk2 Scala The Volkswagen Scirocco Mk2, when released in 1981, was offered in many trim levels and configurations with exotic sounding names across the world. Storm, White Cat, Slegato to name a few.

The Scala, a reworked GTX 16v, featured an Alpine white paintwork and an interior with matching trim and on the 14″" Avus alloy wheels.

This would be a great addition to any VW hot hatch collection. .

OT845 | Scale 1:18 Status: Pre-order

New Releases & Hot Picks

DIECASTING COUCH

MiniGT

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Gr. A #11 BP 1993 Japan Touringcar Championship The Nissan GT-R R32 models MiniGT keeps releasing is getting more and more interesting each time. This time its a model from the 1993 JTC. This yellow and green liveried monster was fielded by the team BP Oil Trampio and took part in the Group A races.

This was the model that won the 1993 race for the GT-R and was driven by Yokoshima Hisashi and Tom Kristensen at the Fuji Raceway. This was the last time GT-R R32 took part in Group A racing.

This is a prototype model with approval pending so the final model may have a few changes.

Scale 1:64 Status: Coming Soon

TSM Models - Velocity

LB-Silhouette WORKS GT NISSAN 35GT-RR Ver.1 Matte Black Back in July, TSM Models announced their new brand Velocity. It's touted as a brand new model collection focused exclusively on 1:43 tuner cars from well-known manufacturers like Liberty Walks and others.

One of the first models to see daylight is the profoundly tasty LB Silhouette Works in both an icy white and matte black. We can wax lyrical about the quality (always top notch) attention to detail (minute) and range of models (extensive) but we won't. We will let you judge for yourself when these are finally released. Approval pending at the moment but we are sure it will be out soon.

Scale 1:43 Status: Coming Soon

First Gear, Inc.

Freightliner 2018 Cascadia High-Roof Sleeper Cab This authentic Freightliner 2018 Cascadia High-Roof Sleeper Cab diecast metal replica model comes paired with a 53' Wabash® ArticLite® Trailer with skirts and features and opening hood with authentic engine detail, pose-able front wheels, accurately detailed cab interior, pivoting fifth-wheel for trailer attachment, working trailer landing gear, opening rear trailer doors with detailed interior, and detailed undercarriage.

This quality replica is decorated with a red paint scheme and the iconic Rosie the Riveter.

Conceptual image shown. Final design vary in production.

Scale 1:63 Status: Coming Soon

Discover the Magic of Miniatures

Produced by: iScale GmbH • Große Elbstraße 162 • D-22767 Hamburg • Germany • www.iscale.eu Asia & Pacific sole distributor: CarLoverDiecast • www.cldc.store

Discover the Magic of Miniatures

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

Hino Type KB324 Truck (TLV-N44d) This Hino truck will be the first model released after almost 7 years.

It sports the livery found on the original catalog. This model was manufactured and released in 1975 was very popular with heavy materials movers.

There are wooden pallet boxes included in the model so you can load up the truck.

The side mirrors come as a user installed part, but that's only if these every come out of the package.

Scale 1:64 Status: November 2020

Tomica Premium RS

Lamborghini Miura P400S The Lamborghini Muira P400S, also known as the Miura S was introduced in 1968 with a few more revisions, enhanced styling tips and added comforts over the previous model. They also added 20hp to the existing 345hp. The Miura was far ahead of its time and was one of the first rear mid-engined road cars in history.

The Tomica Premium RS model is casted in candy apple red with black and matte chrome accents everywhere. The front and rear cowling open to display a spare tire and the V12 engine respectively.

Scale 1:43 Status: September

Staples and Vine

North American P-51D The P51 Mustang, produced by the North American Aviation on request by the British Purchasing Commission. The BPC wanted NAA to build Curtiss P-40 fighters for the British war effort. Rather than build an old design from another company, NAA proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter.

Sera Vine hand crafted this particular model our of pewter and it carries the particular insignia and markings of fighter ace Lt Col John C Meyer, one of the finest pilots of the P51.

Scale 1:48 Status: On request

LAMBORGHINI CASTING REMARKS

Huracán EVO 1:64 SCALE BY MAJORETTE

Though the world’s eye has been on the Majorette Porsche releases, quite a few other sweet pieces keep slipping by. Like this beautiful blue Huracán with some orange trim and cyclone styled black rims.

The Huracán EVO has appeared in the Majorette line up before and to be honest even the earlier model was far from disappointing. This time we have got this beautiful metallic shade of blue that looks like it has silver flecks in the paint trimmed with a bit of Jaffa orange to offset the lines of the Huracán. The logo on the bonnet is a little disproportionate but the Lamborghini badging at the back is fine as is the curious markings on either side of the car on the door under the side mirrors. The headlights are Majorettes signature plastic with painted rear lights. But the painted rear lights look realistic because its painted in a dark shaded red as opposed to some bright red flicks.

The doors don’t open as per usual, instead the engine lid at the back opens and the lid itself quite classy in dark translucent grey. The engine itself isn’t the bomb when it comes to detail but, if you’re a customizer who likes detailing engines this could be a worthy project.

Thankfully the chosen mainline wheels for this comes from the cool wheel pile. I would have been absolutely gutted, if they had gone with the silver 5 spoke standard they have. This is a no-brainer pick.

MITSUBISHI CASTING REMARKS

Mitsubishi Pajero 1:64 scale by BMC

Honestly this is one of those buys I thought I didn’t need but turns out I need all of them now. BM Creations has taken a different approach to 1:64 cars and what you can do with them with a fairly good amount of precision.

BMC is part of a new wave of premium 1:64 brands that are slowly eating into the $1 market. This Pajero is a perfect example of how these new bands are answering the call for higher end 1:64. Initially I was worried that the pictures we were seeing were over emphasized marketing versions of what it really was, turns out what we saw was what we got. The body mold is well done with paint thick enough to hide any casting blemishes but not thick enough to ruin the body lines. And the one I picked up was a nice black paint.

The over badging that Mitsubishi is famous for has been replicated gloriously on the front, back, wheel cover and I’m pretty sure there is braille somewhere as well. Plastic lights in front and at the back but, the indicator lights at the back are painted on.

I love the wheels they look exactly like the steel stock rims that used to come standard on the lower trimmed models, you know the model that said you have a Pajero but you couldn’t afford the extra’s. Brings back modest memories of stock standards.

The doors open! Well at least the front doors but they are pretty hard to open even with a door opening tool for 1:18’s. At first, I didn’t even realize the doors would open. That’s how nice and seamless it looked. I like this model so much I ordered another version that comes with Jerry cans hood rack and interchangeable tires (not wheels TireS!!!!!!!!!). This rabbit hole took a whole new twist!

LAMBORGHINI CASTING REMARKS

LAMBORGHINI URUS GT 1:64 Scale by Majorette

It’s raining URUS! It’s everywhere!

Multiple scales, multiple brands with the same color. Throw a stone and you would probably hit a Yellow Urus. Thankfully for 2020, Majorette has decided to add a little flavor to Lambo’s SUV savior.

This year we get the Urus in a nice bright neon green in case you miss it on the pegs. This is the sportier version than the brother, complete with Lamborghini’s new Italian flag pinstripes they keep putting on all their new models.

You also get a trailer hook at the back for escorting your Huracán to the club/track day in our case we just used the Majorette Airstream Camper van. The hood is black which I am going to assume is code for faux carbon fiber and the number 63 definitely dead giveaway signs of a sporty nature.

In terms of finish the Urus has pretty much the same Pros and Cons as the aforementioned Huracán.

Slightly disproportionate badge on the front but fine everywhere else. Opening front doors, textured grille, plastic lights etc. In fact, the pros outweigh the one con. They have even used the same cyclone styled wheels as the Huracán except the ones on the Urus are silver.

A good pairing of Lambos.

CASTING REMARKS

MERCEDESAMG MERCEDES AMG G WAGON 1:64 Scale by Matchbox

This is the start of many different types of G Wagons you’ll see in this issue. Another popular choice in the 4-wheel drive department combining luxury with mud and dirt the G Wagon is like glamping for Mercedes owners.

This Matchbox version is the bare bones stripped down ‘stock standard’ G Wagon you get on the market and it’s the most basic version from the Matchbox range. But its simplicity holds its charm.

I love the matte purple paint finish in a nice light coat which matches the blacked out plastic wheels.

The casting is great and for those who believe the smoothness of the roll is important this is perfect.

My only sore point would be the silver painted tampos on the front. I feel that should have been left blank. More left to the imagination as opposed to trying too hard or in this case not trying at all. Fortunately, there is a slew of customizers who can correct this for me. For a jeep collector this is going to be a fantastic addition. In terms of color and casting it’s a winner on our couch.

G.M.C CASTING REMARKS

This is an 90s cult classic that actually beat a Ferrari 308 in a quarter mile race. It was the ferocity of this 4.6 Liter V6 engine that made it a 280 Hp beast that propelled from 0-60 Mph in 4.3 seconds. The Syclone was GMC’s storm in a teacup.

GMC Syclone 1:64 Scale by Hot wheels

Its sad there are no front tampos I would have liked at least the GMC logo in red but nope no dice. You do get the famous Syclone symbol on the doors and

there are rear tampos, but that red GMC logo on the front grille is like a staple to the brand. Even the wheels have been given the Syclone treatment like what the actual pick up had.

Legends at re-creating American Muscle its no surprise that this little piece of history comes from our old friends at Hot Wheels. And though this release is a simple mainliner the casting has the potential to move up the ladder and be a Car Culture premium.

If you are into wide body’s (this trend is spanning a lot of categories) this is one of those examples of stock wide bodies and even with wider wheel arches the wheels would stick out from the wheel well.

At the time of going to release Hot wheels have released a red variant and car culture model, but if you're going to be a purist about it, then the black is all you need.

It’s a small world...

FEATURE: IT’S A SMALL WORLD...

THE

WORLD’S SMALLEST CAR

If you have big clumsy hands and find that you can never text someone without making a hundred corrections then this Piccolo series from Schuco may not be the best thing for you, unless you are trying to cultivate immense patience.

The first thing that always shocks me with the Piccolo range (love the name) is the weight of the cars. I have held 9MM bullets that are lighter. If you threw these at

someone full force, you might do some considerable damage.

But first things first. The Piccolo series is an assembly kit line from Schuco in 1:87 scale. It is the most uncomplicated kit you can find. In fact, it’s just fitting the wheels on to the body, uncomplicated. But getting the tires onto the rims?

The tires and the rims are half the size of my smallest fingernail which made it very frustrating for my big fingers to comply with German precision

engineering. At the same time, you get only 5 wheels and rims, so you waste one life, you have nothing extra left and we came so close to that moment many times.

The model is lovely in light grey and beige paint with a bright gold steering wheel inside and of course commendably detailed for its size.

The surprising weight gives it the ability to roll along quite nicely for a car at this scale. Cute and classy is the tiny Piccolo VDub.

Schuco Modelle 1:87

KÄfer Volkswagen Cabriolet

When DNA Collectibles first launched, they dropped a 1:18 scale version of the PEEL 150 which is recorded as the world’s smallest car.

The car was touted as being a single seater with only enough room for an added shopping bag. It did not even have a reverse gear relying instead on some crazy three wheeled maneuverability.

The rarity of these cars is reflected in the price tag for one of these now. The last recorded sale price was US$176,000 at auction. For perspective the 2020 Range Rover HSE costs 95,000 or a 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S for around 104,000. Wish your grandfather never sold his PEEL 50?

FEATURE: IT’S A SMALL

A TIME

TRAVELLING DeLOREAN This is an excellent selection of BTTF cars for the fan who likes to collect and keep collectibles everywhere as a sign of BTTF obsession (a real condition non-fatal). The time traveling DeLorean has be made in every scale with every gimmick that can be thrown in. There are magnetic floating cars, JADA has a 1:24 that lights up and now for your office desk comes the NANO versions.

A set of three tiny cars that span the BTTFverse and have the footprint of one and half 1:64 scale cars. The set starts with the original DeLorean and the flux capacitor which is quickly replaced by the flying version that pairs a flux capacitor with a fusion reactor giving it the ability and energy to fly.

And finally the nightmare of time travel, getting stuck in a time the has no modern technology and the time machine had fallen off the wagon on to some wagon wheels in a last ditch effort to fit in. This is the best synopsis of the entire trilogy.

WORLD...

CAPED

CRUSADER I’m so glad that JADA decided to go back to the 80’s and do the Bat car from the original screen play directed by Tim Burton.

That Bat car was the business, striking fear into the hearts of criminals with that giant turbine in the front with the wide body wheel arches hunched over like Arnold Schwarzenegger about to sprint a 100 meter.

The Bat Tumbler was also cool but in an extreme sports kind of was. Not striking terror in the hearts of criminals vibe. The other two pieces are rides, that the PENGUIN used to transport his hideous little Danny DeVito type body around the Den.

One was his famous duck ride from the second Tim Burton installment which was quite scary for young children. It was a hideous looking duck that really put a lot of toy ducks in bad light. If you were a major fan of the original BATMAN movies, then this would be right at home in your collection.

MAGIC CHILDREN It is okay you can admit it, these days it is quite fine for adults to be fans of magic.

Especially Harry Potter magic. The sort of magic that makes boring cars like FORD Anglias fly befuddling the muggle mind. The NANO FORD Anglia is a cute little model that will transport you to that magical place called nostalgia not just triggering your Harry Potter Fandom.

Another great piece from the Harry Potter set is the Wizards Night Bus. A purple double decker that can defy physics and squeeze through the smallest cracks in traffic. Sign me up for one of those now!

Yes, please anything that can get me through traffic faster.

ACHT

FEATURE: IT’S A SMALL WORLD...

Schuco has a really cool line of German Military vehi MILITARY 87. It lists a line of military helicopters, troo tanks etc. For the military and military history buffs

Wolf G Bundeswehr 1:87 Scale by Schuco

The famous Mercedes G wagon proved it’s mettle in the 90’s when it entered the military service. It was there to replace aging vehicles and was a strong contender because of its versatility and adaptability to the many applications it was put through. There were rifle mounts, a map reading lamp, spade mount for a quick treasure dig and interestingly a 24 V socket in the engine compartment for jump starting the G The 1:87 scale model from Schuco is brilliant.

Unlike the Piccolo series these have actual windows instead of painted silver and the attention to a lot of details on this is astounding.

All the lights both front and back have been painted on as is the number plate. At the back a tiny little Jerry Can sits in the rack next to the spare tire and what seems to be a communication antenna behind the Jerry Can.

The side mirrors come separate so they are detachable but because of its size they can be quite fiddley to attach. Though it rolls it does lack weight, so it does not roll far which we surmised with the Piccolo ranges weight and why they rolled so far at that size.

TUNG!

icles that come in the size of 1:87 scale called op carriers, command vehicles, utility vehicles, this line is going to be a real treat.

This is what the G Wagon Wolf replaced. The type 181 by VOLKSWAGEN. It really was a NO FRILLS car through and through. Its constriction was rudimentary yet, sturdy. It was as slow as a tortoise to the vet at 44HP and absolutely no aerodynamics whatsoever often called ‘The Bucket’ by the troops that used it. But it did 30+ years of service and is one of the most remembered vehicles that served on the German military.

VW Type 181 Kübelwagen Bundeswehr 1:87 Scale by Schuco

There were several versions that did, make it to foreign markets as a civilian vehicle. Some of them even got the hippie treatment painted in psychedelic colors and flowers. Defiantly not the one you want if you collect military vehicles. But these Military 87 models will be me more to your taste for sure.

The accuracy and detail on the Type 181 is astounding at such a small scale. I did not expect to see plastic headlights on the vehicle for example. The mold overall contains a lot of details as well. The canvas tarp roof under close inspection has the folds and creases where the canvas is attached to the car molded in. The rear lights are painted on and the number plates are crystal clear. And the camouflage body paint doesn’t hide the lines of the model which accurately replicate the original car.

Aunty Ju JUST LOOK AT YOU

We take our gaze away from wheeled vehicles on the ground and turn it heavenwards towards winged marvels.

The Golden Age Flight during the 1920s and 1930s saw mankind take to the skies in sleeker, sharper flying objects. They transitioned from wood and paper/ fabric bi-, and tri-planes to larger air craft with metal skins and single wings. Thus begin the quest to travel further, faster and higher. Previously unexplored air lanes between countries, continents and destinations became oft-traveled pathways across the skies. Wingless humans took to flying across vast distances in metal tubes like ducks to water.

As humans often do, they wanted these distances covered while seated in comfort, served the best cuisine and fall sleep knowing that they were in flying objects crafted by artisans and built by masters.

With the advent of the new decade in 1930, Junkers Fluzeug- und Motorenwerke AG (Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works) was already synonymous with producing some of the world’s finest civilian and military aircraft. And in the beginning of that decade, these pioneers of finely crafted aviation masterpieces presented the world with a thing of sheer beauty...

THE JUNKERS JU52/3M. Endearingly called Aunty Ju (Ger. Tante Ju), or Iron Annie (by the Allies), this craft became an icon in the skies all over the world. Okay, it didn’t start out that way. The first prototype, designed by engineer Ernst Zindel and his team was designated Ju 52ba which had a single Junkers manufactured 800hp motor. After several redesigns and motor changes throughout its extensive test, Zindel and the team decided that more motors should do the trick, thus was born the Ju 52/3m (3m stood for drei motoren or three engines for you Anglophiles).

Ernst Zindel (seated), the designer of the aircraft, looking at a scale model

"A-DBIK first saw service from 1935-1936 with Lufthansa."

The craft featured a shiny corrugated duralumin skin, which provided both strength and durability. Its wing and slightly separated flaps gave it the impression that it had double wings, known as Doppelflügel, or "double wing” which enabled it to have a much lower stalling speed. Built primarily as a civilian passenger craft, The Junkers Ju52/3m served extensively in many fleets around the world, before, during and after the war. It saw service in many iterations, across multiple theaters. Up to this day, there are more than five airworthy craft in existence, with the oldest (made in 1936, serial number 5489) was still being flown at air shows till about 2018.

It’s now exhibited at the Technik Museum Speyer, outside of Frankfurt.

Schuco presents this model in three 1:72 variants.

We feature the Lufthansa version, bearing A-DBIK and named after the famed Ace of Aces, Manfred von Richthofen painted along the fuselage. Its tri-motors and engine cowling painted black, and the tail bearing the pre-war tricolor of Germany. The cockpit features two pilots looking positively excited to be sitting there.

The model is a fitting ode to this magnificent aircraft and is worthy of any scale model collection.

A stamp printed in Germany shows the Junkers 52.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of German Airmail Service, circa 1969

Left: A collectors card issued by Player's Cigarettes in the 30s with Junkers Ju52/3M that served with the Hungarian Airlines.

Right: Manfred von Richthofen, the famous WW I ace, was also known as Baron von Richthofen aka The Red Baron (German -der Rote Baron or more popularly Der Rote Kampfflieger) by the Allies.

Started by Hugo Junkers in 1895 in Dessau, Germany designing gas heaters, who later went on to produce aircraft engines and aircraft. They pioneered all metal planes way back in 1915 with the J-1 monoplane and produced the first all-metal transport aircraft, the Junkers F-13.

Airbus

Helicopters are intriguing and cool. If you grew up in the 80’s you would have grown to love helicopters after watching shows like Airwolf or movies like Blue Thunder. Even the Matrix had a superb helicopter scene in it. From entertainment to toys and practical day to day applications Helicopters are brilliant, fun and most of all fascinating.

H145M The Airbus H145M is one of the first and hopefully not the last helicopters we have gotten from Schuco to review and off the cuff out of the box it’s lovely. It has a lovely weight and sits quite nicely in the palm of my hands everything about it breathes premium elegance.

Airbus H145M The Airbus H145M is one of the most chosen helicopters for both military and search and rescue applications.

It’s role in the military is a big one.

Due to a shrouded and smaller tail rotor the H145M is quieter than any other helicopter in the world. This makes it perfect for ferrying troops and supplies in and out of difficult places including urban spaces.

It also comes with a whole load of additional packages and add-ons that make it easier to slip into the various roles it can perform. It can go from a full-on offensive attack helicopter to an emergency search and rescue in a span of minutes by removing and adding on various parts. It can carry really advanced & heavy communication equipment, operate in adverse environmental conditions, taken on high altitudes and manage some pretty hot circumstances.

numbers are in the right spots. The main rotors double and lock in place when you want to display it in park mode, or you can open it up to four rotors for flight mode. The body is heavy and balances well on its own. And of course, all the bodywork and body highlights have been etched correctly. Great piece to add to your flying brigade.

After researching all of the above I am even more impressed with this model that we got. First of all,

after looking at an extensive number of pictures of the H145M in German military service I can tell you that this is a fantastic replica. The paint job is spot on, no mistakes. The insignias and ID

Really impressive body work and detail, this is one of those situations where you will find yourself being pulled into a whole new direction.

FEATURE: RAGING BULLS

RAGINGBULLS CARS : MAISTO & BBURAGO SCALE: 1/18 WORDS BY NIGEL DE ZILWA PHOTOS BY LANCE MÜLLER

The boys at MAISTO and BBURAGO have got their LAMBO game on and they are on point! Three beautiful Lambo’s that were so good we drove to the CastHeads Test Track (officially known as the Sri Lanka Karting Circuit Bandaragama) specially to capture these three hedonistic looking ladies on tarmac.

The first time the world saw Bburago’s impression of the Sian there were plenty of Ooo’s and ahh’s, sweaty palms and palpitations, an outpouring of emotion on the web, woven with a hint of caution. It was almost too good to be true. Several months later Bburago made good on their promise and they dropped this absolutely gorgeous reproduction of Lamborghini’s most recent, mental beast. This is Bburago’s second best drop for the year 2020 and wonderfully both cars have been in the hyper-car realm. And, because it is made by Bburago, you can afford to own one.

I love the colour. Yes, it’s a copy of the actual car. But our friends got it completely right all the way down to the texture that looks matt but feels as smooth and rich as three coats of gloss. I’m trying hard to remember when a sports car looked so good in Olive Green and if you have any ideas email them to us right now. The

display of this car deserves an entire roomed themed in this colour. And the burnt orange highlights along with the rims is just a perfect colour combination.

This is one of the situations where the car itself is so mental in power, technology and design that a nice soft shade of colour was needed to tone it down.

Another noticeable detail is the effort that has gone in to reduce the gaps between opening parts. Bburago hears the critics and makes every effort to make amendments which shows. This mere detail alone is enough to put this model in a far more premium category especially appearance wise. The attention to detail on the bodywork is award worthy because replicating a car like this can’t be easy with the different angles and materials all merged together to form a symbiotic unit. The way carbon fibre and diecast fit together, like hand in glove.

I’m trying hard to remember when a sports car looked so good in Olive Green. The display of this car deserves an entire roomed themed in this colour. And the burnt orange highlights along with the rims is just a perfect colour combination.

Just look at the detail on the engine. Carbon Fibre texture used everywhere. Engine highlights painted in colour. Even the V12 badging is visible. The Italian flag colours strip on either side of the engine bay cover are a nice little touch of added colour.

The other section that Bburago has paid a lot of attention to, which collectors would really appreciate, is the interior of the car. You’ll find the usual large serving of carbon fibre along with dark tan plastic that replicates the leather finish similar to the actual car. The steering wheel is fairly detailed and so is the HUD, AC vents with the slats painted in silver, detailed centre console, SIAN branding on the side of the seat, etc.

The detail of the wheels and tires is a personal benchmark for me because I feel if those are done on a model well then, the rest of the car will be great. And the SIAN certainly does it for me. Low profile PZERO branded tires treaded and fit snugly round the laser cut rims which are quite intricate in design. Finally, I like how Bburago has gotten the lights right. One of the most striking things about this car’s appearance are the lights both in the front and rear and the team at Bburago have gotten it perfectly.

It's great to say “ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT BBURAGO” for a second time this year. They have taken an amazing and beautiful machine and made it perfectly well in 1:18 scale. If you are a Lambo fan you need this, in your life.

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Step plate branding check. Just to let your feet know what they are going to be travelling in.

Much like the SIAN the engine has been given quite a bit of attention making it very difficult to believe the price range of these models.

It also gives customizers a great base to start work from should they or you want additional detail without the BBR price tag. Maisto Elite, killing it.

Again, a lot of effort has gone into minimizing the gaps between opening parts and the MCG production team is getting very good at this. There is great hope on the horizon!

Open those scissor doors and get yourself an eyeful of detailed interior with a level enough to satisfy you very much as you think about how much you paid for it.

You know at the end of your amazon or e-bay shopping spree, you get those suggestions “People also bought” well, here’s ours. If you are buying the SIAN then we suggest you pick this up as well. The price will please you what you get will please you AND together they will look phenomenal in your collection.

AVENTADOR COUPÉ BY BBURAGO SCALE 1:18

The Aventdaor is one of those Lambo's that broke the mold when it revved its massive V12 engine. Post Gallardo it's release was highly anticipated after which it spawned an entire lineage of V12's under the Aventador name.

This is the one that started it all This is another really nice production from Bburago. It comes in the original colour orange metallic paint, black standard issue rims and great casting all round. Honestly it has been a blast going through all these new Lamborghini’s at the same time. Like the other two this has great attention to detail and all 3 look stunning when put together which is kind of crazy in a good way because this model is more like a mainliner in comparison to the other two.

The Aventador is a hands down gorgeous looking sport coupe. It has so many references and design cues to a fighter jet and it cuts through the air like a missile. With so many angles and lines to work with it would prove very challenging to make sure everything is properly reproduced. But the guys at MCG work with so much passion to make sure collectors get a great replica of the car they love, and the collectors are starting to see and appreciate the effort. So far, the only negative point we noticed is the gap between the tires and the wheel well. It is slightly underdone, and the wheel could certainly fill the arch out a little more.

Vast improvements on the interior detail. Centre console decked out with launch control and touch screen capabilities. Colour tachometer display.

Orange and black interior. Again, quite impressive as to what this has, being what one would consider a mainline.

Even the dashboard on the passengers side has not be spared the detail and there is a tiny Lamborghini badge.

Detailed wheels and rims with slotted disk brakes in the background.

Lamborghini branded brake callipers can be just made out by a keen eye hidden behind a commendable crafting of the car’s standard rims.

Even though THE Aventador is not as flashy as it’s two heavyweight brothers it certainly holds its own weight. It is detailed, well crafted and certainly looks like a scale model that can join its brothers on the Lamborghini shelf at home.

Three raging bulls that give us a clear indication of how far the guys at MCG can go to make some great models. And, while they hold some pretty intense licenses we can only expect and look forward to some more great cars in greater detail.

ELECTRIC WORDS BY LANCE MÜLLER

FUTURE PICS BY PATRICK PCHALEK

While the rest of humanity plods through the first 20 years of the second millennium, Automobili Lamborghini is looking at the far future, on how will some humans move from A to B, materials and tech that will make that movement possible and a million other tangents.

The vehicles had to be radical, they had to be so futuristic and they had to have never been thought of by anyone else before them.

To this end, the design team reached out to, not one, but two different laboratories at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The first one was the "Dinca Research Lab”, led by Prof. Mircea Dinca, Department of Chemistry and the “Mechanosynthesis Group”, led by Prof. Anastasios John Hart, Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Prof. Dinca's team was charged with looking at cutting-edge energy storage and replenishment systems, while Prof. Hart's team had to look at never before used material combinations.

This collaboration led to the Lamborghini Terzo Millennio (Ita: Third Millennium) concept. Unveiled at the 2017 EmTech conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. They made the statement at the reveal of this concept

"On the occasion of this announcement, Lamborghini presents the new design concept “Lamborghini of the Terzo Millennio”. The concept physically imagines design and technology theories of tomorrow, while sustaining the visual intrigue, breath-taking performance and, most importantly, the visceral emotion found in every dimension of a Lamborghini. It is made for future super sports car enthusiasts."

This car was literally out of this world. The electric engines were built into the wheels! The entire body had a monitoring system that enabled a micro-level self-healing tech that repaired cracks and dents received while driving! It could lap a racetrack on its own, learn about it and teach the driver the best way to drive on that track! Only thing missing is a conversation after a long hard... drive.

While the actually concept may never see the light of day as a production vehicle and will remain forever vaporware, rest assured that the tech developed as a result of this design build will trickle down to the road cars and may now be in some of the models on the road.

We feature the1:24 scale model produced by Bburago. The model is a faithful representation of the concept, and has quite a bit of detail for a low-budget model. The clear canopy has opening gullwing doors and the interior is quite well laid out. The matte grey paint is dotted with carbon fiber accents, lights are properly painted in and there are tiny tricolores in all the right places on the vehicle.

The model comes in two colors, this matte grey and a bright luminous yellow the we think has come back from the 90s and is now embraced by the electric vehicle community.

CASTED BY

OH LORD FORGET MERCEDES I’m sure if Janis Joplin lived today a Mercedes Benz would not be at the top of her car list. Looking at JADA’s new Hyper-spec range it would be safe to say she would probably go for a Lambo.

I WANT A LAMBO! This is the fastest banana on wheels you ever come across.

Looking at the new line its quite refreshing to see less JDM and Fast and the Furious and see more Hyper sports cars like the earlier Hyper Spec Lykan and now the Lamborghini’s. Out of the new range, two of the Lambo’s are street spec cars and they are delicious. A lot of attention has been given to detail and it’s nice to get some Lambo’s in 1:24 scale.

The first one that got us going gaga was the candy blue Huracán. It is actually a well moulded model with opening parts not incredibly detailed but enough for its price tag.

JADA is yet another brand that does some solid models and prices them in the reasonable range. Like the Baby Bear’s porridge, not to hot, not too cold, simply delicious.

The other big daddy in this line is the Aventador Super Veloce.

Literally named super-fast this model of the Aventador comes with an exaggerated carbon fiber rear downforce spoiler, far more aggressive stance and of course the usual SV version body trim made to look more like a track car than your shopping ride. Again, JADA has

The blue on this Huracán is so nice it will have you singing Madonna all day long.

CASTED BY

Opening parts make for great photographs. Especially with 1:24 scale

gone above and beyond to bring you a really nice 1:24 scale version of the SV Aventador.

They have brought in the super extreme SV styled rims, carbon fiber highlights and the way the rear tires sit slight wider than the rear buffer when you look at the car from behind is just a beautiful tease for speed. The lights (which are another thing that gets overlooked sometimes) both in front and the back have also been given quite a bit of detailing where you can see the fins and reflectors within the shell. What’s cool was when we were shooting with our rudimentary lights the headlights would catch a reflection and look like they were actually on.

We love how the attention to detail permeates throughout the car

In conclusion if you have a hankering for some Lamborghini’s bigger than 1:64 yet no space for 1:18’s these JADA’s could fill that gap very nicely.

One thing you cannot expect at the JADA price point is an insane level of detail on the engine or the interior but as a show piece or display on your desk at work or a nice reminder of your Lambo love in the bedroom these are perfect models to get.

There is the tease for speed. This car has some nice angles.

CASTED BY

I’AM THE

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When DaBaby claimed in his new song Rockstar that he had a Lamborghini and he wasn’t worried about cop cars, he obviously hadn’t seen JADA’s HyperSpec Lambo Police Cars. But it does seem like a natural fit because most hyper cars look like they are hunting you down when you look at them in the rear view.

The detail of the Veneno on the back is pretty awesome for JADA

First up is the Lamborghini Veneno and when I was titling this piece, I thought of Judge Dredd getting off from one of these and dispensing his Judge, Jury, and Executioner routine on some hardened armed to the criminals. After all, when you drive a Lambo to the scene of a crime taking place you are not taking any prisoners.

But I did message Mike over at JADA and offered up the idea of a

All doors open no space for perps Judge Dredd would love to dispense instant justice

Judge Dredd themed Veneno since they also have the DC license. He did mention that I was in his head so I’m hoping for the future or that was just creepy.

Run, run as fast as you can keep running until I pass and then run into my open arms OF THE LAW!

CASTED BY If Officer Jack Traven had one of these instead of a Bronco he would have made the bus before it hit 50

The Veneno usually draws stares of disbelief and quiet apprehension but in this S.W.A.T livery it looks downright scary striking terror and fear into the hearts of bank robbers and homegrown terrorists. This is the car ROBO Cop should drive.

It really captures the pain with its sharp lines and aggressive design.

that goes from 0-100 in about 2.4 seconds. You could overtake a Bronco drive to the nearest café have a latte and doughnut waiting for the perp to show up. Of course, this all in my fantasy.

For those who like collecting Police and Search & Rescue vehicles these will be a great add to the collection especially since it’s still a

very lacking genre in the 1:18 scale but plenty of 1:64’s. Having some Lamborghini cop cars in 1:24 will be very refreshing and satisfying to get your hands on. You could up engaged in some very cool 1:24 diorama projects as well.

Looking for some 1:24 Five-O heat?

Jada brings it in buckets or even better… in lambos.

Even the cop lights are given aerodynamic treatment DaBaby better watch out

The car is surrounded with opening parts no back seats so perps will have to be dealt or dispensed with on-site .

The other car is the awesome SV Aventador decked out in the State police livery, Obviously after OJ Simpson and being outrun by a FORD Bronco state police are taking no chances and they have the best of the best brought it. Like an attack vehicle for the state police

I wish just for the cop version they did the exhaust tips in black matt black

HOT LAMBO TRAILERS IN 1/24 SCALE from the House of MAISTO

It’s lifestyles of the rich and famous from MAISTO. A Lamborghini URUS + Trailer bed + Lamborghini Huracán. This is how you take your family and new sports car to the club on a Sunday.

While the entire collecting world is going crazy for trailers and transporters Maisto put on their thinking caps and said “you know what? No one is doing trailers in 1:24 scale” Eureka!!!!!! What a brilliant idea! Not too small to be fiddley and not too big to be impossible to display. 1:24 Decent scale that can easily sit on a work table and look good. This is the Italian combination of the series featuring a Lamborghini URUS and a Lamborghini Huracán it's like getting two for the price of one, a double whammy, the feeling of going home and unpacking that model you wanted, doubled.

As far as basic detailing goes both models are not bad. The URUS looks pretty cool a really decent body

casting and black alloy wheels exactly like the actual SUV. The badging right round looks in place, sharp without any mistakes or issues even the tiny Italian flags on some of the air intake vents look good. The front doors open to reveal a basic interior, but the cup holders are there.

At the back there is a plastic tow hook which is a bit too large for my liking and I hope they improve with subsequent models. I do understand the problem that the tow hook is an add on and not something they would have got with the URUS schematics. The 4 wheeled bed is basic but very functional, the supplied car sits on it without rolling off which shows good balance and the loading ramp at the back is movable.

Much like the Urus, the Huracán is a great basic casting with a lot of pro points. Great body work, nicely done head and rear lights, opening parts include the doors and engine compartment. And I’m really enjoying how cool this set looks in 1:24. They are both made really well and made to match together really well, if you like trailers this definitely should be on your next shopping list.

FORD HOT ROD TRAILERS IN 1/24 SCALE from the House of MAISTO

Another great trailer combination, this time in the shape of American Muscle on steroids. We have two FORD’s ready to burn rubber at the track. Serious rubber.

Supercharged truck pulling a supercharged 2+2 coupe, looks like it’s time to drag.

Both vehicles in this set are FORD classics and they bring the American Muscle to represent. In the series the other two sets are a German Classic Combination and a JDM Combination which brings it to 4 sets altogether.

Decked out in Red and Black race livery the American contribution sits on low rider suspension, has nice fat wheels and as mentioned earlier big American V8 blocks supercharged and ready for action.

The Truck pulling the trailer is a 1948 FORD F1. And it looks pretty badass by itself. One of the reasons I like these trailers sets is because each individual piece looks cool. Even the trailer bed being basic makes for a really nice parking space for a 1:24 scale car. The F1 truck has been treated with a widebody kit, low rider fat boy tires, chromed out rims and a massive chrome

supercharger sticking up at the front. I also love the fact that the truck bed has been painted in red as opposed to the usual black that would have been expected.

Now it looks special like those expensive mugs that have an inner color or red bottom shoes.

Similarly the Mustang in the back, has been widened with a bodykit to accommodate the really fat tires that are used in drag racing and also house the big side exhaust tips that discharge the supercharger’s super combustive power with a loud roar. What is ultracool about this model is the fact that the engine cover is completely detachable like the race cars at the American Speedways, so you can display your car in proper race prep. Both vehicles have opening doors as well but that seems bland compared to the detachable engine hood.

Maisto have done a stunning job of coming up with these trailers in 1:24 scale we really like them and we are 100% sure that collectors especially the ones who are into trucks and trailers are going to love these sets immensely. You can check out the other trailer combinations in their online catalogue for a taste of things to come.

MAJORETTE TRAILERS IN 1/64 SCALE Answering the demand for 1:64 trailers Majorette jumps in with a set of real-world trailers which are refreshingly different and in some cases quite cute.

Out the range this one is the most serious one and all is cool except for…. The horse.

Take a G Wagon give it some Police livery and voila you have a instantly cool Mercedes police vehicle which shows you care for your police giving them G Wagons to ride around in. We have seen this casting before, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that there are

The diecast police will poo poo this horse in minutes, They might even break the internet

Majorette, like an AirStream or boat trailer etc.

The trailer that comes with this is basically a plastic box on wheels with a drop-down ramp door at the back. The base is metal and the plastic clips into the base which is interesting because with current access to 3D printing

Maybe a small off-road bike trailer or car carrier, opportunities are endless.

As far as opening parts go (Majorette very rarely does non opening models) The trailer as we

Nice to have a Police G Wagon that’s not in the Dubai Police livery.

plastic headlights and branded spare tire cover (always the little things). The new addition is the trailer hook at the back for the horse carrier or (here’s where it gets cooler) other trailers from

it really gives customizers the opportunity to break this down and create their own trailers or modify the existing trailer to be cooler.

mentioned earlier has a drop down ramp door and the G Wagon has an opening engine bonnet. Standard stuff. The most disappointing thing in this set though, is the horse. I must say the horse was far from impressive and the usual diecast police will have a lot to say. The ‘scale’ is wrong, the ‘hooves don’t roll’, ‘no tampos on the eyes’ ‘one ear is missing’, ‘the legs are not aligned’, ’it doesn’t neigh’….. Simba Dicke could make a killing on horses for this set.

MAJORETTE TRAILERS IN 1/64 SCALE

The VW and the toe smashing airstream looking innocent in their ice cream guise.

“AIRSTREAM YOU ARE EXPOSED AND NOT FOOLING ANYONE”

WARNING! : DO NOT DROP THE AIRSTREAM TRAILER ON YOUR TOES. IT’S HEAVY, SOLID AND METAL AND WILL HURT TO HIGH HEAVENS. YOU WILL INVOKE MANY THINGS, SOME

BY ACCIDENT SOME YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT BACK, SO BE CAREFUL.

After the pain settled I got round to having a look at this peach coloured ice cream van set and I think every quaint little Ice Cream boutique in the world should have this on display. Do your local ice cream shop a flavour (sorry horrid pun) a favour and buy them one of these. It comes in an ice cream shade of Peach Melba with golden sparkly dust

infused with the paint and the dust sparkles are to scale as well.

Pastel shades similar to Tutti Frutti line the bottom of the van’s body with a generic Ice Cream logo in the centre. The black wheel hubcaps at certain angles make it look like the van is floating.

Majorette has been doing the VW Samba van now for quite a while and their entire VW Van collection is massive, needless to say they have it down to an art form. So like all the other VDub vans before this, you get the plastic headlights and the opening rear door as standard. Extra’s you would have to put in yourself.

The AirStream trailer has also hit the shelves previously paired with the V Dub van and I have to say it is a bit of a toe killer. For some reason it is triple times the weight of the van which make me believe there is other stuff inside, like a kitchen sink and a 65-inch CRT TV, Laserdisc Player and a massive teak king size bed. Or at least that’s what it felt like. The large window in front is quite cool, very reminiscent of the 70’s and 80’s (wide view windows) complete with a light brown tint. The door on the side can be opened which is a nice place to put a small-scale figure seated on the step. And it is painted in matching colours to the van.

Majorette has a whole range of these VW trailers and it seems like a really nice subcategory to branch off to in the collection. Maybe one of these days we’ll drop a blog post with all the VW Buses we have gotten our hands on. In the meantime, enjoy this and the new trailers from Majorette and don’t drop an Airstream on your toes.

AutoModello HAND BUILDS SOME TIMELESS CLASSICS

We are bestowed with a finely crafted multi-car hauler from an American manufacturer of period correct models. We deep dive into this model… feet first.

As we explore some heavy duty models in this issue, it was pertinent that we feature a multi-car hauler in the mix. There is a plethora of 1:64s haulers from many brands out there. From the top-end Mercedes Benz Actros and Tomica Limited Vintage Hinos that costs an arm-and-a-leg to the Hot Wheels Team Transports that’s expanding like Tribbles with each release.

While 1:18 tend to be massive models that you need a literal garage to showcase them, its very rarely we come across a 1:43 tscale hauler that ACTUALLY fits 1:43 scale models.

AutoModello

HAND BUILDS SOME TIMELESS CLASSICS James “Jim” Cowen, the owner of Automodello, and all-around nice guy,decided to change that by sending us a limited edition 1956 Ford F600 with 4-car hauler in deep blue Art Castor livery. The whole story behind the model and its livery is detailed in the website. The Ford F600 has some amazing detail and the colors just pop against the tarmac. The trailer can be parked by itself when not connected to the cab.

The model comes in a gorgeous black box with silver leafed Automodello logo. The form padded box holds the model safely.

In the box is another topend paper envelope, again

sporting a silver-leafed logo, with the history of the model and the ownership certificate. Each letter is hand signed and contains the serial number. So much class. Also included is the instructions for removing the model out of the box.

Remember, this model is limited to 249 pieces… and its hand-built, so you better be careful when handling them. It’s about US$ 144, and its worth every cent to have a crafted, period correct model to display your 1950s models on.

We are so thrilled to have this in the Castheads Garage. We hope that you managed to snag one to park in yours.

RENN TRANSPORTER PORSCHE VW T1 by Schuco I really have been waiting to get my hands on one of these classic RENN Transporters and finally I have, and I love it. As usual Schuco puts some class into the collection with a beautifully crafted scale model in 1:43 and the only reason why this won’t be out on display is because it needs a fitting display case which can be purchased from Schuco as well.

Demonstrating Schuco’s attention to detail in a simple picture. Look at the alignment of the colours and red pinstripe between the T1 VW and trailer.

Practically seamless. This is the attention to detail you rarely find nowadays.

Schuco has a brilliant line of 1:43 scale models built in resin called PRO.R 43. We’ve seen a lot of awesome models released under this line so when this came to us, I was additionally excited to open this up, because I knew it was going to look absolutely awesome. And when I slipped it out of that stylish packaging there wasn’t an ounce of disappointment anywhere.

The VW T1 Transporter is something of a rarity in the collecting world with more models being based on the T2. So, from the get-go this is a refreshing change in the use of the VW license. Being made of resin means disappointingly we don’t get to open it up and appreciate Schuco’s usual attention to detail, but there are no opening part

RENN TRANSPORTER PORSCHE VW T1 by Schuco

Which is kind of ironic with this model that is painted in the same paint and finish as the real car which is why it’s named specifically after the paint code

gaps and the body work looks as Even the wheels have been pure and delicate as ceramic. The reproduced in painstaking details that predominant colour is a beautiful are period correct in styling, materials light beige trimmed with a red and colour palette. Dark red steel pinstripe and metallic silver for the looking hubs painted in what looks upper portion pf the body. Chrome like gloss steel paint and covered by highlights on the nose logo, chrome hubcaps with a laser etched headlight holders, dual air horn on VW logo in red. And boy do those the roof and sidemirrors. Printed chrome hubcaps shine with pride I Which is kind of ironic with this model that is painted in number plate. It’s all there perfectly justfinish love the ouris studio the same paint and as the realway car which why it’s lights after the paint code of light of them. fitted and moulded together named specifically bounce sparkles

The trailer is made out of laser cut plastic, perfectly cut and painted in matching colours that line up when the truck is turning. It’s a Porsche transporter so he Porsche logo is emblazoned on the side proudly with a fake plastic canvas at the top. This is also the only opening part on this model where the back drops down a plastic door / ramp.

Oddly, even though this is a 1:43 scale we couldn’t fit a 1:43 scale car in the back leaving us with a 1:64 Porsche which looked odd or a white plastic horse with nonrolling legs.

Another great model we had but didn’t get to feature yet is this beautiful 356B Porsche, which is

also from the same PRO.R 43 line.

At first, I thought I could get into the back of the RENN Transporter but sadly I couldn’t due to the difference in sizes. But it seemed like a missed opportunity if we didn’t pair this with the RENN transporter for the shoot. And why not, just look at that eye candy in gun metal grey, white wall tires, and chromed trims.

RENN

Mounted at the back are a pair of designed water ski’s ready for a Holiday at the Rhine. The skis also look period correct as if they were made out of wood. Altogether the combination of these look stunning and it is models like these that make collecting so interesting.

TRANSPORTER PORSCHE VW T1 by Schuco

Big Rigs are catching a bit of spotlight these days and the guys over at Maisto have dropped 4 new 1:64 truck rigs this year and, they look pretty wicked. We brought two of the flashiest ones to the magazine.

One things for sure these are going to be priced pretty well considering the construction which is a combination of diecast metal and plastic. The headlights are painted on, actually all the lights are painted on. The body mold is pretty basic with a lot of the curves and edges generalized into a single piece with no intricate detailing or attached parts, assuming that this is keep the cost low.

The rears look very empty without the availability of a trailer which I am hoping will come out soon

preferably one that can carry the Tarmac Works containers hmmmm, maybe that should be a collab in the making. All the trucks have Firestone radial branded tires along with pretty well detailed wheel hubs right down to the lug nuts that stick out aggressively.

Another standard feature on all the trucks….THE ENGINE BAY OPENS!!!! I have always been intrigued at the way the front hinged bonnets opened. Especially on big rigs where everything is enormous.

There isn’t much by way of the engine detail in fact its just a molded plastic piece mounted on a plastic block. What there is, is space for an opportunity to customize a nice little engine and put it in. Trust me anyone who does that will be the bee’s knees of customizers.

THE MIGHTY

MACK This is a staple name in the big rig industry if you haven’t of the Big Macks then you don’t know your rigs. At one time it was the most popular rig on the big screen used in a plethora of movies from thrillers to comedies and everything in between.

I love the colour combination of turquoise blue, orange and black which is a great representation of how these big rigs have become creative expressions of their owners who demand extravagant colour schemes that individualize their connection with these mechanical monsters they spend days and weeks with. Another specific thing about this model is the back can extend outwards when hooking up to a trailer which makes us believe a trailer option may be available in the future.

Even though the Mack is basic by way of detailing keeping it simple with a singular mold they still manage to pull together quite a decent looking truck

THE INTERNATIONAL

LONESTAR The big rig cousin of the Durastar this beast keeps it old school with side mounted exhaust pipes mounted on either side of the cab.

The ones that shake menacingly in those slasher movies where the Big Rig is chasing you down.

This is actually a very opulent looking rig with so much chrome it blinded us during the photoshoot. But the Yellow flames on the black rig was a great nostalgic nod to the 80’s when flames on big rigs was all the rage. There was also a time when the container trailer was painted like a rug tapestry, thank god we’ve moved on. I hope Maisto continue this line with more and louder big rigs, the opportunities are endless.

I just love the side profile of this truck. The combination of the chrome and flames takes me back to the Bandit days.

THE

MUSCLES FROM

Sant'Agata SCOTT NADEAU GOES OFF ON A TANGENT AND LOOKS AT A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF LAMBO

When Nigel told me the next issue of CastHeads Magazine would focus on models of trucks and Lamborghini's, I knew I had the perfect model to share. Its the best of both worlds: gt Spirit's

Lamborghini LM 200

This was the original Lamborghini SUV, not whatever that Urus thing is. Affectionately named the "Rambo Lambo" for a reason, this SUV began as an experimental utilitarian vehicle.

In the late 70's, Lamborghini explored the possibility of building an SUV for the middle-eastern market to explore oil fields and a potential military contract with the United States. This prototype was dubbed "The Cheetah" and had a Chrysler V8 mounted in the rear. Unfortunately, the Cheetah never took off, but Lamborghini kept tinkering with the design.

In the mid-80's, they decided to build their truck anyway and sell it to civilians. They turned the cabin into a high-end, luxurious command center with leather everywhere, power windows, A/C, and stereo system. They ditched the rear-mounted V8 and installed the Countach's massive V12 up front.

Slap on some bespoke Pirelli offroading tires and a 45 gallon fuel tank, and the LM002 went down in Lamborghini history.

It took 32 years of my life before I got to see one in person. It was massive! I'm a pretty short guy to begin with, but the front hoodline was over my shoulder when I took a photo next to the elusive beast. It took just as long for a model manufacturer to mass produce a 1/18 scale LM002 as well. Some models exist, but are rarer than the real deal! GT Spirit and Kyosho collaborated on this one and released a limited production run back in the last quarter of 2018. GT Spirit released 500 white models, while Kyosho produced 500 models in black paint. For whatever reason, Kyosho's black LM002 cost several dollars more than the GT Spirit's model, so I opted for the latter.

As with any sealed resin model, there are no opening parts. It sticks not to open that massive hood to view a Lamborghini V12 underneath, but what can you do. We likely will never see a fully opening, diecast model of this truck, so I will take what I can get.

They did a fantastic job with this one, from the finely detailed interior to the little "Lamborghini" logos printed on the wheel hubs. The thin plastic film windows are present, which we all dislike, and are a little flimsy when handling. It's a huge model too! It takes up enough real estate for two 1:18 scale cars, but man is it cool!

"It took 32 years of my life before I got to see one in person.

It was massive!"

Th e ha leve ab ve l o su rd in th f de ta ke . Too e in tail a c ba ter s th lo d w ior ey se r l e ca is oo n' k. t

Maybe you won't be able to get the 1:18 monster featured in this article, but there is hope yet for you other collectors. Matchbox released the Lamborghini LM002 in 2015 in yellow. This is the 2016 version in flat red that was in the MBX Explorers mini collection.

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

FERRARI 126 CK TURBO 1: 43 SCALE BY BRUMM

DRIVEN BY GILLES VILLENEUVE 1981 MONTE CARLO GP

There are two ways to go with this story but before all of that, getting a BRUMM to review is pretty rare. And to understand why, we need to go back a little while and look at some history stuff but...

I must warn you; this is going to be a scorcher of an article and feelings will be hurt.

So, get ready for some rare beauty and collector inflection.

Brumm kicked off in the 70’s making scale models of horse drawn carriages’ followed by a line called the Old Fire series, which was a tribute to the pre-gas, steam era of vehicles from steam fire engines to steam carriages’. In 1976 the line expanded to the Revival Series which leant more towards the manufacture of modern automobiles. The other big leap during this year was production moved from using detailed plastic to using zamac.

Interesting to note that BRUMM was competing with another brand called RIO and they both produced Henry FORD’s 1902 model 999 land speed record car which led to a legal dispute which BRUMM lost. So, if you find a FORD model 999 by BRUMM it is very rare and quite the collectible.

Back in the 21st Century almost 50 years later BRUMM continues to be a small-scale producer of fine Motorcar replica’s, they remain in Italy a home grown company, they produce in Italy and most importantly all their models are entirely handmade from start to finish. Pieces produced, painted, decals pasted, car assembly all of it done by hand. Which means no two cars are the same, there is human error and the price is premium because the cars are all limited editions and all of that put together makes BRUMM cars highly collectible.

The moral of this story is, if you are a whiney knit picker who believes that your ‘hard’ earned money should get you perfection every single time and there should be no room for error on what you buy, then, you are not a BRUMM collector who loves the hobby or cars but a collector who has a collection just to show which is why every piece you own has to be display perfect. And you should stop reading this right now.

This is by no means an admission of shitty quality whatsoever. The pictures will certainly show you the incredible level of detail this Ferrari 126 CK Turbo by BRUMM has. And knowing that all of it was hand made is absolutely mind blowing. This is a Ferrari that was raced in the 1981 Formula 1 at Monte Carlo driven by one of the sports great. It was still a dangerous time in the sport where cars were far from safety as they are now. Priority was given to speed.

The side view of this model just makes me want to cry tears of joy; this is a beautiful replica. The details in the wheels, the polish, the shine, the two tones of the metal used in the real car and finally the rough graining surface of tires that have been raced on. Just the wheels.

The branding on the car is also a lovely toast to the history of the race. As I write this article FERRARI celebrates their 1000th race in Formula 1 today with Sebastian Vettel and Charles LeClerc wearing classic liveries on their race suits and cars. Seems like a good day to be writing this article. Just the sight of some of the logo’s takes me back to the days when pit stops were fiery, Michelin ads that ran during the breaks, and feisty on track racing.

The Packaging for this model is also a special edition sleeve with a weird piece of golden metal stuck to it which I’m still trying to figure what it is for. The car sits in a locked acrylic box with a black base screwed on. But if you are willing to spend a little extra some models come with gorgeous display dioramas.

There are two version of this model and the one that BRUMM very kindly sent us is the one that comes with the Driver strapped inside the car with a four point harness, hands on the steering wheel looking at a speedometer on the tiny dashboard in front of him. If you have a good eye you can see three dials and the Ferrari Logo on the steering wheel.

The clasp or harness lock is not painted on or laser etched. It is actually a really tiny metal construction placed with actual loops for the straps. On a handmade 1:43 scale. No wonder BRUMM have always loudly maintained that their models are not for children. This is real collector stuff.

Towards the back again there are all manners of details. The rigid rear frame that hold the rear suspension is exciting painted in matt silver looking very complicated. You can’t really see to much of the engine, but you can see the two straight line exhausts coming out from the top of the engine and the brake cooling airducts curved over the tops of the inside of the wheels.

BRUMM Really takes the 1:43 scale to the next level and there were one or two fitment and alignment errors but nothing a gentle hand can’t fix and again the fact that you get this level of detail that is hand built makes it even more special, because if you think about it, even the actual car was hand built.

Though Gilles Villeneuve never won a Formula 1 Championship he is considered one the greater drivers of the sport. In Motorsport most of the time a driver’s success depends on the car they race. Sometimes its just pure skill. And that is where Gilles is placed amongst the greats, not a fast driver, but a skilled driver who relied on his ability to get crappy cars in to point scoring positions.

Sadly on May 8 1981 almost exactly one year after he drove this very car Gilles Villenueve died during the final qualifying round heading back to the pits in Belgium when he collided with Jochen Mass from behind launching his car into the air and then nose diving into the ground and continuing to somersault along the edge of the track.

He was kept on life support for a while, but his injuries were too serious, and the world lost a great sportsman.

Gilles won the 1981 Monte Carlo Formula 1 race in this very car. It was the first-time turbo cars were introduced and the Ferrari’s struggled with downforce on one of the windiest circuits in the series. It was also a race that was filled with drama from start to finish with the Canadian emerging victorious and landing this same car on the cover of TIME magazine, 1981.

"

The sport is more important than anything. More important than any of the people in it. Of course I say what I think. I always have, even if it upsets people like Ecclestone and Balestre. Why should I be afraid of them? The fans aren’t here to see politicians and manipulators. They’re here to see me. I am very secure in my feelings about racing. I make a lot of money from it, but one thing I can tell you for sure: if the money disappeared overnight, I would still be in racing, because I love it. The entrepreneurs would be gone.

Gilles-Villeneuve

"

UNIver sal MOt or GerÄt AKA: THE GO-ANYWHERE DO-ANYTHING VEHICLE WORDS + PICS LANCE MÜLLER

Schuco Modelle 1:64

mercedes-benz unimog 406

In my humble opinion, no magazine dedicated to trucks and other active vehicles will be complete without at least a look at the mighty Mercedes-Benz Unimog, the benchmark in "getting out there and getting things done vehicle".

Launched in 1948, this hiridin' bare-bones little off-road truck had the hallmarks of being destined for greatness.

Hot Wheels 1:64

mercedes-benz unimoG

From the beginning, this vehicle was made to go where no man wanted to go, but had to. From the wild forests, jungles and bleak tundras, to the deserts of North Africa and the icy wastes of Antarctica.

Below is the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz Unimog released in 1999 and designed by Larry Wood. It has a removable back cover.

We assume its the 1300L version but aren't too sure. You are more than welcome to enlighten us.

The Unimog was designed with not only drive-ability in mind, but also the adeptness to ensure that it's fitted equipment could be easily operated, and that it could be repaired in the field quite efficiently to enable it to survive harsh conditions.

Here you can see the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U300 casted by Matchbox. This came out in the 2019 MBX Construction series.

Matchbox 1:64

mercedes-benz unimog U300

And it has shown it prowess in rallying, mud bogging and truck trials.

Below is the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz Unimog 1300 in a more rally inspired deco with extra wheels and dual-exhaust popping up from rear of the cab. They released a blue variant and a SWAT livered version so far.

And left is the Hot Wheels Mercedes-Benz Unimog U1300 which is mainly found in premium castings. This is from the 2020 Car Culture Wild Terrain set.

Hot Wheels 1:64

mercedes-benz unimog 1300

The Unimog has seen many iterations over the years. It continue to serve both the military and civilian population with distinction.

Top is the Schuco Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 in Feuerwehr (Fire Department) livery with a removable rear covering. They have many variations in their collection with a few more on the way.

Schuco Modelle 1:64

mercedes-benz unimog 406

Matchbox 1:64

mercedes-benz unimog U5020

Top: The Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5020 by Matchbox released as part of its 2018 Jurassic World miniseries and seen in the movie.

We are in love with this truck and think that it is a significant part of the motoring landscape. So will you be adding this model to your collections soon?

CASTHEADS COUTURE

A FLYING COURSE OF

WRISTORY A very apt term for what the guys from REC Watches are trying to achieve. And with fantastic results. They believe in recycling bits of history into their brad of amazing watches. Imagine looking at the timepiece on your wrist and knowing that it fought in world war 2 or has battled the elements in an unforgiving rally.

To REC every watch needs to tell not just the time but also a story of historic significance.

REC – RECover, RECycle and REClaim. These are the 3 processes that go into constructing each individual limited-edition piece. Truth be told these are not your regular run of the mill TAG or Seiko with prices starting at US 1,000/- but sometimes the history is just priceless.

THE DIAL

ROUND THE DATE WINDOW IS RECYCLED FROM A PIECE OF UNTREATED ALUMINUM CUT DIRECTLY FROM THE PT879 MK IX SPITFIRE AIRCRAFT

THE CASE

IS INSPIRED BY THE WATCHES WORN BY THE BRITISH ROYAL AIR FORCE AND THE BRITISH ARMY DURING WWII – WITH A MODERN TWIST AND PROPORTIONS.

THE CROWN

IS INSPIRED BY THE NOSE CONE OF THE SPITFIRE FIGHTER MIXED WITH A TRADITIONAL DIAMOND SHAPED CROWN.

THE STRAP

IS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE RAF PILOTS AND THEIR FAMOUS BLUE UNIFORM.

THE CASEBACK

IS INSPIRED BY THE SPITFIRE METAL RIVET CONSTRUCTION.

THE CROWN GUARD

IS HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THE SPITFIRE ELLIPTICAL WING SHAPE & WING STRUCTURE

THE

WRISTORY

The Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most iconic aircraft to dominate the skies during WWII. This legendary airplane led many victories for the RAF in both theaters of the war, and sometimes when shot down by other types of aircraft, enemy pilots swore they were so done

by Spitfires. This led to the term "Spitfire Snobbery". Less than 100 of the original planes are left in the world and REC Watches have sought to increase that by reclaiming the un-salvageable

pieces of one, bearing serial number PT879 which crashed in the Russian tundra during the war.

This plane underwent a complete restoration after being found by pilot Peter Teichman.

Both the plane and pilot retired from air shows and displays in 2018 and he gave the pieces to REC Watches to include in this little piece of wristory. The marks, scratches and dents are authentic and tell the story of this plane which will always be part of our history. Oh and its limited to 334 pieces.

PUMA PRESENT S THE

SCUDERIA FERRARI

SPEED CAT PRO Moto r s p o r ts fa n w h o w ill d o anything to b e c lo se to the sport ?

H ard co re Fo r m u la 1 S c u d e r i a Fe r rar i Fa n? Wa nt to wa lk a round l i ke an F1 dr i ver ? O rd e r n ow T h e P UM A SPEED C AT P RO…he re ’s w hy.

D

The first pair of Ferrari PUMA shoes I ever got myself was a pair of Drift Cats. Actually, I got them as as a present but that another story for maybe readers Digest. The reason I bring this up is because I haven’t worn the SPEEDCATs yet but they are of the same DNA as the Drift Cats and I can tell you they were built to make your feet race. Narrow soles, rounded heel support, and the way the shoe wraps around your foot it makes your feel like the pedals and your foot have become one when you drive. And I used to drive a CAMRY. They were comfortable, had great grip which means your foot never slipped off the accelerator and clutch and they looked fantastic with white linen pants.

The SPEEDCAT PRO’s are different in that they are lighter, better and FIA approved high tops that provide better rigidity for your ankle which is important for endurance driving. The heel support is actual Carbon Fibre reducing weight of the shoe. The shoe’s fabric is also state of the art light in weight and fire proof which could be beneficial if you have a sports car that catches fire often. But most importantly… THESE SHOES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONES THAT SEBASTIAN VETTEL AND CHARLES LECLERC WEAR WHEN THEY RACE.

That is the ultimate ‘cool’ factor. The unfortunate part about all of this is that they are seriously limited editions and I can only imagine the price (which means I doubt I can wrangle one of these into my shoe collection waaaaaaaaaa) Only 97 pairs of Charles LeClercs SPEEDCAT Pros will be on sale (birth year) and only 53 pairs of Sebastian’s (race wins) will be available, just my luck the one I want is even more limited. If you do miss the chance to get the SPEEDCAT Pros you can get the normal SPEEDCAT’s at any time and they are just as good, not just as cool.

When you think of Romania you remember stories of gypsies with mystical powers and curses or vampire folklore and intriguing landscape dotted by enchanting architecture.

WINNER WINNER

DACIA DUSTER

Even stranger though is the growing popularity of something else that is putting Romania in the limelight. A highly robust auto manufacturing industry. And one brand with the help of Renault has broken out and is spreading across the world faster than a vampire leaving a Van Helsing family get together.

To date you can find Dacia in 44 countries with 6.5 million customers which is the same number of vampires there are in the world. And, if we can stop making unnecessary vampire jokes, we can start talking about the 1:18 scale model from SOLIDO on review.

It was built to look like a fancy 4x4 jeep so we thought we’d take it to the jungle, where it surprised us, with how natural it looked there

SOLIDO as usual has done an exceptional job at reproducing this model. We scrutinized many online pictures of the actual vehicle and right down to the paint Solido have captured this car perfectly. All the wonderful little details like the roof racks and radio antennae, rear buffer guard, buffer reflectors everything has been careful captured and re-created ready for DACIA owners (which are growing) and car cult enthusiasts to place in their collections. Even we had fun taking this out to the jungle to capture some outdoor shots of our model.

Not really a 4x4 the Duster is part of the new crop of crossover vehicles. Which are station wagons that dream of being off-roaders.

We also see fast improvement in SOLIDO’s treatment of interiors getting more and more intricate and trying to push the envelope on reasonably price 1:18 scale models on the market. And much like the actual car you would be surprised at how well this ‘plain jane’ is made. Detailed a/c vents and dashboard as well as a detailed steering wheel with no blemishes in the plastic. The door panels are intricately detailed right down to the speaker covers, at a glace it looks almost like the real thing which also looks like a plasticky interior.

Even the entertainment has been given a colour screen. I glance back to the box to double check whether I’m reviewing a SOLIDO. And, since you may rarely look under the model, we’ll tell you that this one has the spare wheel underneath. why would SOLIDO put this much effort into a DACIA? Integrity.

Overall this may not be a popular choice of car brand or model to own in a collection, chances this car in future may become a cult classic like the Volkswagen Beetle or maybe it will fall away and forgotten into history like a Hyundai Sante Fe one may never know. But one thing is for sure SOLIDO has treated this like any other desirable model and given it the best attention maybe more than it deserves.

And if you decide to take a leap of faith and purchase one banking on the fact that it may grow to be as popular as a MINI rest assured the build quality and detail will not be lacking at all.

After quite a few pictures our DACIA started to feel a little self-conscious and got shy.

“

“OWNING ONE OF THESE FOR REAL, IS ON MY BUCKET LIST” THE SUBARU BAJA BY DNA COLLECTIBLES When I found out that DNA Collectible was doing the BAJA in 1/18 scale I was so happy I jumped over the moon and ran away with a dish and spoon. Yes! I was that happy.

The BAJA to me is like a Legacy unleashed inside a pick-up’s body and considering how well Subaru can wield an all-drive system this is an epic drive to own, so big fan. I’m also the lucky owner of DNA’s Subaru Brat in 1:43 scale so I know how these guys respect the aesthetics that go into all the cars. I love that they went with the crazy Banana Yellow fun but totally utilitarian which was what Subaru would have wanted to say with the colour choice.

Interestingly the BAJA design came from Subaru’s US arm that was trying to capitalize on the popularity of race-rally trucks and bank on the American love for pickups.

Unfortunately sales were slow in the US and the line was eventually discontinued but for those who bought them, they love it and probably wouldn’t let them go easily.

The one that DNA has chosen to follow is the first generation non turbo version that dropped around 164 BHP but was later upgraded to 210 Bhp with the help of a turbo in the 2nd Gen version.

“Crazy Banan

fun but totally utilitaria which was what Subar would have wanted.

na Yellow

an ru

DNA has a knack for really piling on heavy detail.

My only regret is that they are made from resin which means I can’t open the Baja and enjoy the wonderfully detailed interior. Trust me it is impossible to find anything wrong with this or any other DNA model for that matter.

DNA collectibles also does acrylic display cases for their 1/18 models which you can buy separate. I love this BAJA so much I will get one of the cases and put this up on display as soon as possible.

This comes home, with me sorry it will not be in the CastHeads garage. (sorry not sorry, BAJA BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH)

Luxury 1:18 SUV

Roughing it has a new meaning with a slew of proper monster off-roaders receiving the ultra-luxe treatment.

We got two of them to check out.

Roughing it has a new meaning with a slew of proper monster off-roaders receiving the ultra-luxe treatment. We got two of them to check out.

Glamping is what the mega-rich do when they want to experience the humbleness of camping out in the wilds. These camps have every amenity and lacks nothing. Softest padded camp bed, private heated baths with uninterrupted views of the jungles and 40 year old wines and expensive champagnes.

But how do the 1% get to these places?

In super luxury off-road vehicles like the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet and the megatuned Brabus G700 Widestar of course.

These behemoths ferry them in safety, comfort and so much refinement. If you can call 600-700hp beasts, refined.

Chapter 1

BRABUS 700 WILDSTAR This vehicle is when you take a prizefighter and make him into a colossus. The G700 is a hyperboosted Mercedes Benz G63. They have taken the already powerful V8 engine and taken it to a screaming 700hp. Wide body kit, enhancements and plush interior adds to this impressive off-roader being able to tackle anything nature, or nurture, can throw at it.

GT Spirit offers this particular model in a stunning dark emerald green and signature Monoblock Y Gold Platinum wheels, the color combo is super. The interior sees the same GT Spirit quality we have come to expect.

Chapter 2

Maybach G650 Landaulet When you want to experience the fresh air or the pristine forests, and you belong to that 1%, you will of course take your V12 powered land yacht filled to the brim with apex tech and ride comfort offered

by Mercedes Maybach, the purveyor of the finest flagships.

Rear seats that rival even the most luxury airliners and an electronic rear roof that opens up to the heavens. You can even experience the heavens in private, as the privacy screen between you and the driver can change from clear to opaque at the touch of a button. Now that is class. Also the real model was limited to 99 worldwide.

This model is brought to you via the Pro.R 18 line from Schuco, which is in our estimation a step above even their finest quality 1:18 models. Crafted in black, it sits on ceramically polished, 22-inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels. Every minute detail is captured in the model, even the decals have a feel to them.

Two models that are worlds apart, but in essence the same.

Luxury combined with proper outdoor capabilities.

If you like brawny off-roaders, luxury vehicles and tuner models... Here are some all in one models just for you

GARAGE

EVO HERO

THE CARS OF TOMMI MÄKINEN This issue of Garage Torque we look at the some of their EVO cars that were made Iconic by Tommi Mäkinen.

Tommi Mäkinen is to Mitsubishi EVO’s like Colin McRae is to Impreza’s. He is a four time winning World Rally Champion and every time it was his trusted Lancer EVOs that got him over the finish line. He started racing Mitsubishi in 1996 and continued from the EVO 3 all

the way down to 2001 in the EVO 6.5 In fact he was so important to the EVO name and fame that Mitsubishi released an EVO 6 called the Tommi Mäkinen Edition which has been re-created by TARMAC WORKS and just been released.

TORQUE

GARAGE Tarmac Works also has on sale the Rally Car that Tommi won the San Remo 1998 rally in which makes a great addition to the collection

TW has etched a name for itself in the premium 1/64 category with very detailed tributes to motorsport cars and as you can see here, we have two cars with great detail dying to be a part of

if you are thinking of picking up the new EVO. It provides a great visual introspective to the road going version that carries some of the branding and design cues.

your collection. The detail is so good you can see the subtle differences of model styling between the EVO 5 rally car and the EVO 6 road car like narrower headlights.

TORQUE

GARAGE

As always the paint job, decals design right down to the tiny little nameplate on the front are detailed as well as the proportions of the racing styled bumpers and wider wheel arches that make the difference between beast and your usual Lancer.

If you decide to go for the Tommi Mäkinen edition Lancer we strongly advise you to go for the rally version as well, it will only eat at you if you don’t and then you’ll end up spending extra on shipping just to get it as a follow up.

TORQUE

GARAGE

SHOWING IT OFF!

SHUTTERCASTER DIECAST PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS WHO MAKE THINGS MORE VIBRANT

Darf ich mich vorstellen? I am Frank, a designer based in southern Germany. As the region I am born and as well the region I chose to live in are mainly known for its car manufacturers, it happened I grew up to be a "petrolhead".

Since I am a passionate designer too, the visual appearance of the cars is what triggers me the most. To have the chance to always look at these shapes, colors, and from my point of view design masterpieces, I started to collect model cars – mainly scaled 1/18 – and became a passionate "casthead" too.

The inspiration and motivation of my pictures derives from these two passions, and the fact that I want to show the character of the individual cars as I see them – and as graphically as possible.

Character is actually a very good keyword: I am always looking for cars full of character. That’s probably the reason why I mainly photograph oldtimers, especially legendary racing icons, and once in a while hypercars.

As I have only started to experiment and evolve my style, and therefore constantly exploring new concepts, angles… you name it, in my own little studio at home, I am really glad to be part of such a strong, inspiring and supportive community!

So thank you so much Lance and Nigel for giving me the opportunity for this feature in the Castheads Magazine!

You can see this and others on his insta @ franks_showcars - Ed.

CUSTOMS OFFICE THROWING THE SPOTLIGHT ON CUSTOMISERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD

The

Duality of KING S M O T S U K

Meet Andrew Ingram, a customizer from Krugersdorp Gauten in South Africa. He started collecting Hot Wheels in 2004 and then got into customizing around 2016.

His attention to detail is quite unique. He not only makes rustic rat rods/gassers but makes impossibly small workshop tools that makes your diorama as realistic as possible.

Let him tell the rest of his story.

When I do customs I always want to make my work realistic with the smallest detail that I can do.

I have over the years won several of our local build offs including a build off that was hosted in America where the theme was to build a gasser.

A weird fact about myself is that i'm actually not a very big motorhead at all but i do like my Hot Wheels and even better to custom them and always looking to stretch my limits.

My favorite style would be Hotrods but more Rat rods, the rustier the better and make no mistake i love my gassers.

I’ve started my Instagram page August 2018 under the name @ King_Kustoms77 just to show my work to a bigger audience but since i started on Instagram i also met a lot of other top class builders around the world that is always a huge inspiration to what i do.

I've started to build the 1:64 scale shop tools about 14 months ago and have about 16 or so items that i currently scratch-build out of stirene .I still have many ideas for shop related tools I want to make but just can't get the time to do it. At the moment i just love my hobby especially the scratch building.

You can see more of his work on insta: king_kustoms77 -Ed.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 1:18 GLM Photo by Alberto Jorge Rodríguez @18impressivecars

Nissan Skyline R32 1:64 Hot Wheels Photo by Lance K Muller @jjsdiecastgarage

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