CastHeads Magazine Volume 6 Issue 4

ART & SOUL OF MODEL COLLECTING

inside this sizzlin' issue

Contributors: Scott Nadeau | Alberto Jorge Rodriguez | Patrick Pchalek | Nuning Suma | David Houston

• Creative Direction / Design Nigel J De Zilwa & Lance K Müller

ONE18 CASTING REMARKS ESTABAN

ONE18

CASTING REMARKS RE.

ONE18

CASTING REMARKS THE BIRTH OF RWB ROCKWEILER!

ONE18

CASTING REMARKS THE LITTLE FRENCHIE THAT COULD.

LATEST RELEASES

1:64 VW GOLF MkII Red/White | Metal Rims | Opening Rear PR640015

1:64 GR YARIS PANDEM Finland PR640013

1:64 RWB NOTTING HILL Yellow PR640014

1:64 TOYOTA GR86 Neptune Blue PR640012

1:64 HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R White | Detailed Engine | Opening Hood PR640011

1:64 SINGER Mulholland Drive PR640010

Pop Race Singer Targa - Tiffany Blue

Singer re-imagines classic Porsche models for the new millennium. These reworked masterpieces combine the best of Porsche design with latest in automotive technology wrapped in a beautiful package.

Pop Race has introduced many a collector to some finely detailed Singer models and this Targa in the iconic Tiffany Blue is no different when it comes to quality and finish, Scale 1:64 | Now Awailable

Johnny Lightning Classic Gold Collection 2023 Release 3 Version A

The good folks at JL keeps giving collectors some amazing castings with each release. They keep updating so that each model gets improved with each drop. This set now included an updated 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, and a 2014 Dodge Viper SRT featuring brand new toolings, which we are sure collectors will appreciate. Also in the set are a whole bunch of Chevys, including a 1981 Citation X-11, 2002 Silverado and a 2005 SSR which is unusual in 1:64, rounded out by a 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix.

The highlight is of course the Viper SRT in TorRed in Version A and Billet Silver in Version B.

JLCG030 | Scale 1:64 | Available Now

AutoWorld Premium 1967 Chevy® Camaro Z/28® (MCACN)

Who doesn't like a rare and exceptionally tuned Camaro model? And this 1967 model, in Royal Plum with White stripes were shown at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in 2017 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Z/28. The fully licensed model is presented in 1:18 with opening parts, amazing detail and rolling rubber clad tires.

AMM1297 | Scale 1:64 | Status: Coming soon

GT Spirit RWB Bodykit - Vaillant

The 993 gets the infamous RWB treatment but then is smothered in the famous Kremer-Vaillant racing livery that adorned many a Porsche racing car back in the day.

The livery is ode to the famous French fictional icon Michel Vaillant whose adventures and races influenced many a driver and used by the Kremer Racing team on their cars in the 1970s

The green orange and multi-colored lines make this for a stunning race car, and model.

GT869 | Scale 1:18

Status: Coming Soon

Solido Subaru Impreza S5 2000 Rally Azimut Di Monza

Part of a whole stable of Subarus, this particular model was driven by the famed Valentino Rossi and Carlo Cassina. The car had to be retired during Stage 2.

The model is presented in it's night driving trip with the added fog lights. As with Solido models, it features a detailed exterior/interior and opening doors so you get to take a closer look at what's inside this interesting model.

S1807403 | Scale 1:18 | Coming Soon

Otto Mobile Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV

With the major changes for cars by the WRC, manufacturers brought out reworked cars to the world state. One of these were the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV. The fifth iteration of the legend, was designed by Mitsubishi's Chief Engineer Chiaki Tsujimura. New body and an engine that has more HP, improved aero devices (Cd of 0.30!)

Otto presents the model in the 1997 livery used by Tommi Makinen and others across the European WRC circuit. Sporting the number one which was worn across season.

OT409 | Scale 1:18 | Coming Soon

Most models shown are either officially licensed or their licenses are pending. CastHeads Media and/or its partners do not accept responsibility of the legal status of any model shown or depicted in the magazine and lies solely the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Majorette Race Trailers

Ford Performance - Ford F150 & Ford Mustang GT

We love the fact that the Race Trailers from Majorette now encompasses American brands like Ford. Perfect for being used as haulers for your Mustangs and GT40s. The set included a Ford F150 pulling a fully-enclosed trailer with opening ramp and the wheels match on both. A Mustang GT in competition livery is included to complete the set.

Scale: 1:64 | Available

Jada Toys Street Fighter

Hulk & 2014 Ram 1500

Big Green gets his own set of wheels and whats better suited to the behemoth than the Ram 1500 truck in green and purple? The model comes with fully opening parts and figure with a metal figure of the "Strongest" Avenger!

Scale: 1:24 | Coming Soon

Ferrari F40 GT

It's always a great sensation when a brand decides to make a competition Ferrari as we don't get many of them, its even better when its a classic icon like the F40 which gets the race livery splashed across it. This time we get the version driven by Pierre-Alexandre Popoff at the 1992 Italian GT Championship. Tarmac Works collaborates with IXO Models to bring this automotive masterpiece to life in 1:64 scale.

TARMAC WORKS RELEASES

Catch up on the hottest, fully licensed models to come out of Tarmac Works. Check out these and other upcoming releases for 2023 on their web-store www.tarmacworks.com and through the global network of authorized dealers.

Ferrari F40 GT Italian GT Championship 1992 Pierre-Alexandre Popoff

T64-076-92IGT02

Tarmac Works x One Piece

Toyota Hiace Widebody

One Piece Thousand Sunny

T64-038-OP22

The One Piece line up keeps growing and Tarmac Works keeps adding some outstanding models to it. The Toyota Hiace Widebody gets the wrap of the second ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, the Thousand Sunny. We are sure any fan would love to add this model to the growing collection.

Mercedes-AMG GT3, Bathurst 12 Hour 2022

Craft-Bamboo Racing

M. Engel / D. Juncadella / K. Tse

T64-062-22BH91

Contesting in the Pro-Am Class, the Hong Kongbased Craft Bamboo Racing team came from behind, with a few setbacks, for a P2 finish at this exciting race.

WITH SPECIAL PACKAGING BOX AND STORY BOOKLET

Porsche 911 GT3 R Nürburgring 24h 2018

M. Böckmann / S. Jans / L. Luhr / J-E. Slooten

T64-032-18NUR02

Gigaspeed Team / GetSpeed Performance from Germany fielded this GT3 R at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2018. The car placed 16th overall in the spectacular race.

COLLABORATION MODEL WITH IXO MODELS

Driven at the Italian GT Championship, the Brummel sponsored Ferrari F40 GT was race version of the road car. This model was piloted by Pierre-Alexandre Popoff who finished 5th overall in the final round

COLLABORATION MODEL WITH IXO MODELS

Porsche 935 K3

24h of Le Mans 1980

B. Rahal / B.

T64-079-80LM71

The only race car to ever wear the Apple Livery, this car was the idea of Steve Jobs and Bob Garretson. It was fielded by the Dick Barbour Racing and took part in more than a few races in the 1980s

COLLABORATION MODEL WITH IXO MODELS

Lancia Delta HF integrale Martini 6

T64R-TL049-MA6

Built to commemorate it's 6th constructors win in the WRC in 1992, this limited edition Delta HF Integrale Evo 1 was limited to just 310 real world models. It has different livery to the Martini 5 released previously. Have a closer look and you'll spot them all around the model.

Ferrari 488 GTE 24h of Le Mans 2020 M. Molina / D. Rigon / S. Bird

T64-071-19WEC71

Based off the Ferrari 488 GTB, the car is race built by Ferrari's in-house Competizioni GT unit for endurance racing. The car was fielded by the Italian AF Corse team founded by Amato Ferrari. COLLABORATION MODEL WITH IXO MODELS

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Wagon Super Taikyu Series 2007

T64-042-07ST12

Who doesn't love the inimitable wagon that goes racing. Tarmac Works presents the model from the Super Taikyu Series 2007

Porsche 911 Turbo S LM GT

452029800

The Brumos Porsche team fielded this Porsche 911 934 in the INV GT class and placed 7th overall and first in class at the race. Driven by the famed team of Walter Röhrl, Hans-Jochim Sturck and Hurley Haywood, the #59 car

SCHUCO SPECIAL EDITION

Rat Fink was created by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and became an integral part of Southern California's Kustom Kulture hot rod scene. This figure adorns many vehicles and looks amazing on this yellow and green VW Caddy. Oh and it comes with a removable top no less.

COLLABORATION WITH & LICENSED BY RAT FINK

Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance Barcelona Pre-season Testing 2020 Lewis HamiltoN

T64G-F036-LH2

The car was put together by the Mercedes AMG F1 team for the 2020 season, but missed many races due to cancellation. But when it did race, Lewis Hamilton led it to many pole and podium finishes in the season, winning 11 out of 17 races.

COLLABORATION MODEL WITH IXO MODELS

Land Rover Defender 90 Silver Metallic

T64G-019-SL

The new Land Rover Defender 90 has shown its grit off-road and its smooth handling on road, so it's quite the multi-tasker. Tarmac Works presents the SWB model in Silver Metallic with blacked out wheels.

T64F-007-RED

There is nothing like having a pit crew for your racing dioramas and models. Tarmac Works and American Diorama collaborates on this red/white six-person crew to enable you to live out your miniature racing dreams

OFFICIAL COLLABORATION WITH AMERICAN DIORAMA

T64F-008-PU

Perfectly suited to decorating your street dioramas with this lovely bunch of ladies out for a good time.

OFFICIAL COLLABORATION WITH AMERICAN DIORAMA

Garretson / A. Moffat

Figures Set Girls Night Out

Figures Set Pit Crew - Red

Very excited for the latest models to drop this July. Two racing Ferrari models that celebrate its racing heritage through the years and a range of racing cars from different eras and there are also figures for all your diorama settings.

Enjoy the latest from Tarmac Works!

Most models shown are either officially licensed or their licenses are pending. CastHeads Media and/or its partners do not accept responsibility of the legal status of any model shown or depicted in the magazine and lies solely the responsibility of the manufacturer.

MINIGT 1:64 #498

BMW Alpina B7 xDrive

GREEN METALLIC

Based on the recently facelifted 7 series, this 3rd Generation B7 is the height of performance luxury. The second release of the model from MINIGT is presented in the metallic green that is specific to ALPINA models which looks amazing on the model.

TIN SERIES

The Tin series continues and from the pop culture icon Volkswagen featured in last year's series, this year Majorette Drops their ode to Porsche, needless to say that this PORSCHE collab with Majorette is yielding a lot of stunning castings and ideas from this fast-growing collector’s brand.

The tins are a nice bonus and if you have the space to keep the cover open, they make nice displays but the set of castings themselves are bang on target with a pretty cool selection and liveries.

The car that sounds like Liam Neeson would order 3 off, is part of this race series as the pace car or safety car representative. The livery is based off the actual Taycan Safety Car used in Formula E without the sponsor logos. This is the second TAYCAN safety car from Majorette, the first one with the

livery taycan… sorry, taken, from the 2020 LeMans TAYCAN Safety Car. The tin cover matches the design of the car and although it’s meant to be for storage and display, we personally feel they work better as tins for storing other stuff in the office. Cool tins for organising your desk drawer.

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S

It’s the late 70’s and PORSCHE has muscled in on the world of motorsport and is at the peak of their unbeatable combination of raw performance and high reliability. They were ones to beat and for a long period the machines that they built during that time became rockstars and superstars in the

automotive world. Porsche could spin one success after another and the 935 was in that long line of succession. No wonder its part of Majorette’s long line of releases, this one with its own branded metal parking space in your collection. Yet another real-life car shrunk to fit your wallet and collection.

PORSCHE VISION GT

A complete range of cars made for Virtual Reality and Gaming offering up a taste of future car design has been a regular feature for many car brands. This is Porsche’s version of the Vision GT recreated by Majorette in the presentation livery and added to this collection with a smart corresponding

storage tin. In terms of design the car is pretty low on the aesthetic front, but Majorette have added their opening parts magic and the cool part about this car is that the whole canopy opens to get in as opposed to the two doors.

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S PORSCHE VISION GT

A designer’s hat tip to the famous livery that made media around the world print the words ‘Psychedelic’ and ‘MotorSport’ in the same sentence to date. The iconic original livery was worn by the PORSCHE 917 L longtail at LeMans with the colour scheme purple and green. But in 1970 a similarly painted 917 K was sold to

racing team AAW in Finland before it was used by Porsche Works Team. And they repainted the car in the team colours of yellow and red using the same ‘Psychedelic’ design. That is the inspiration for the paint work on this casting of the 911 CARRERA.

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S

911 CARRERA RS 2.7

Shiny! Like a trophy. Which makes it such a great rendition of how PORSCHE would put hair on your adolescent chest regardless of gender. Cup cars are where many young hopeful drivers begin their PORSCHE Motorsport careers. Solid chrome coat, opening doors and dual coloured wheels along with Majorettes

pretty slick details, this one is stellar, no doubt! There are many variations of this casting and if you have most of them it won’t hurt to add this one to the lot as well. Good casting, pretty radical chrome finish and display tin to finish it off.

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

MAJORETTE TIN SERIES

PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO S PORSCHE 911 GT3 CUP

ABOUT A YEAR AGO

we looked at the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the various mainstream castings that had been released in 1/64 scale. This year TarmacWorks does that one sweep and

‘EVERYTHING IS OFF THE DESK’ type of

thing to the competition and the whip out their 1/64 version under their GLOBAL64 line.

We had to sit down and fan ourselves.

Honestly nothing looks finer right now in comparison to the this. The car itself is extraordinarily beautiful and on top of all of that Tarmac Works delivers the stunning red paint finish fitting for this car, rolling wheels with the correct representation of those Alfa Romeo wheels we just can’t get enough and really after seeing this can you get yourself anything less into your collection?

With this level of detail everything cheaper seems less collectible and although the cars don’t come officially numbered the fact that these are produced at much lower volumes than mainstream brands automatically make their collectible credentials much higher, which is what any collector wants whether they intent to sell or not.

extraordinarily beautiful..

TARMAC WORKS growing Italian portfolio is growing rapide’ if you would pardon our Italian. But yes the servings have been plentiful and a great choice of road going machines to keep the fans entertained for hour marvelling at the intricate attention to all the details that make these cars so desirable in the first place.

GET 911's

I don’t know if it’s the name of the colour or because it’s the same PORSCHE used to signal PORSCHE’s return to the Bad Boys movie franchise, BUT THIS CAR MAKES ME THINK OF WILL SMITH. Aside from the movie reference there is absolutely nothing negative that can be said about this casting. I think when it comes to PORSCHE and MINI GT, we can skip the review and go straight to the recommendation.

When it comes to PORSCHE these guys have a pretty good handle on things right down to detailed wheel rims (my personal benchmark) and all exterior features present from the 1:1 scale car. They are motorious (intended) for trying to bring as much realism to their products in every possible way. In this case, using the same paint and colour palette from the PORSCHE garage to make sure collectors get the real feel right down to a paint sample.

IF YOU HAVE MISSED GETTING YOURSELF MINI GT PORSCHES IN THE PAST, YOU’VE MISSED OUT ON A LOT at least now try and correct your errant ways and begin your journey with MINI GT with this beautiful ‘MIAMI BLUE’ 911 Carrera s 992.

LEVELING IT UP

BY DAVID HOUSTON

WITH MR. GLEN CHOU

FOUNDER & CEO OF SUNRICH TOYS & HOBBY (TSM/MINI GT) IN 2023!

WHAT A WAY TO START OFF 2023

than to sit down and chat with trailblazer and iconic hero to world of miniature automobiles Mr. Glen Chou! Glen a very busy man and we are so very fortunate that he has taken the time to sit down and go over some of his background and future plains for Sunrich Toys & Hobbies.

In the world of diecast/resin promotional miniatures, Glen Chou is one of the most respected people in this industry. Travelling all over the world to meet with auto industry leaders, private customers for special orders and taking in automobilia the world over just to ensure that his company is producing the most accurate and authentic products for collectors globally. Unlike so many other factories these days, Glen Chou actually crosses all the “T’s” and dots every “I" with regards to licensing and officially sponsored

products. Glen also makes the final calls hands on with what goes on into production, based on current relevance to sensing if a product will be popular or not. Everything that Glen's company makes and every product that Sunrich Toys & Hobby produces is legit! This man is dedicated, because getting licensing and checking to ensure that he puts out the most absolutely accurate product is a passion you can see from his largest scaled items down to his popular miniature 1/64th Mini GTs.

GLEN CHOU is such an automotive enthusiast, plus respects that industry and values his customers so much, that he has actually created a public page on Facebook for anyone to personally interact with him the world over. With Glen's busy lifestyle, it is a wonder that he can find time to connect with anyone outside of work. Kudos to him for making the effort! Personally, after an hour and a half video chat, I found Glen grounded, very brave and I absolutely respect him on such a high level. Plus, I have heard only the best comments from personal friends who have known Glen for years.

I COMMEND MR. GLEN CHOU FOR PUTTING HIMSELF OUT THERE TO BE ACCESSED BY MANY COLLECTORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC! That said, I couldn't think of anyone else in this hobby whom I personally wanted to speak with more than Mr. Glen Chou! I was curious to find out what makes him tick and motivates him to keep us collectors and dare I say fans glued to his weekly updates at his companies TSM Models, Top Speed and the boomingly breakout superstars of 1/64th range, Mini GT! Here we find out what Mr. Glen Chou, Sunrich Toys & Hobby are planning (in discussible boundaries) for 2023 and beyond!

With the 2023 Internationale Spielwarenmesse (Nuremberg Toy Fair 2023) just ending, I missed the opportunity to chat with Mr. Glen Chou in person there for this article. Sharing mutual friends/ acquaintances, I can remember Glen from early on via Scale18.com. I decided to message and ask him if he had time afterwards via online connection chat and he agreed to put this interview together with me by answering the questions which I had sent him via email additionally.

I have always been fascinated with what it takes to become a founder at such powerhouse companies as TSM Models, the makers of Top Speed Models and Mini GT? JUST HOW DID MR. CHOU GET STARTED AND WHAT ULTIMATELY LED HIM DOWN THIS ROAD?

Sunrich Toys and Hobby parent company of TSM Models is a Hong Kong based company which runs several lines such as Top Speed and the extremely popular 1/64th scale brand Mini GT. Since entering the premium 1/64th scale market, TSM have ramped up putting out some outstanding regular and limitededition range of Mini GT scale model replicas. Many

Since I have been a dedicated model kit and miniature car collector for more than 35 years now, it's always interesting for me to speak with people like Mr. Glen Chou and others (usually in person at the Spielwarenmesse). It's always fascinating to discuss where one plans to take their companies, especially with Glen and the direction for Mini GT going forward into the future.

Personally I, as a car designer and someone who has worked for other miniature replica makers in the past, am often wondering which projects Glen might feel most successful to bring forward onto the markets. Of course, I personally have a plethora of proposals to suggest, if given the opportunity to do so for attentive ears. So, let’s dive in and find out where Mr. Glen Chou started, where he is now and where he plans to go in the future with Sunrich Toys and Hobby.

CH: How long has TSM Models/Top Speed/Mini GT been around?

TSM Model was founded in 2008.

Top Speed in 2015, Then MINI GT in 2017

CH: Where did you grow up and were cars always prevalent from the beginning?

I move to United States when I was 12 and grow up at Torrance CA. Car is always a big part of my life.

CH: Did growing up in that country(s) influence your outlook on your choice of favorite automotive brands?

My first car was a Nissan 300ZX 2+2 (Z32) and I have become a big fan of Nissan

CH: What was your first automotive memory and was it at this point where your first automobile spark started? If so, how old were you and what car/truck caused that fascination?

There was a flower shop on my way to middle school. The owner always parked his red Ferrari Testarossa in front of the shop. I was always happy to see that car and hope one day I can own a car like that.

CH: Do or have you ever personally collected model cars currently or in the past? If so, are model cars your sole hobby? If so, do you have a collection theme?

GC: I do have a collection of model cars that covers various range scales from 1/64, 1/43, 1/18, 1/12 and 1/8. I also have a small collection of military models.

CH: How long have you been a part of this industry? If so in the past, which other companies have you worked for/with and in which capacities? Did you enjoy valuable insight from those collaborations? Why did those associations end?

GC: I start the business in 2000 and I did not work for anyone else.

CH: Mr. Chou, do you currently find this industry reliably stable or fluidly rapidly evolving? Would you say that TSM Models is the kind of flexible company that is ready for a fluid environment or steadfast to tradition?

GC: I think we are in a rapid change era; everything is constantly changing and at a faster pace than before. TSM Model has to find a way to change with its customer but also be steady & focus on the brand’s direction.

CH: Have you ever attended a university or college? If so, what did you major and minor in, as well as do you graduate? Did those courses help with your current career?

GC: I attended Boston University. Originally, I wanted to be a doctor but then I changed my mind and studied business.

CH: Do or have you ever personally collected model cars currently or in the past? If so, are model cars your sole hobby? If so, do you have a collection theme?

GC: I do have a collection of model cars that covers various range scales from 1/64, 1/43, 1/18, 1/12 and 1/8. I also have a small collection of military models.

CH: How long have you been a part of this industry? If so in the past, which other companies have you worked for/with and in which capacities? Did you enjoy valuable insight from those collaborations? Why did those associations end?

GC: I start the business in 2000 and I did not work for anyone else.

CH: Growing up, did you ever have a dream car? If so, what did you like about that car?

GC: Yes. Ferrari Testarossa mentioned in your previous questions.

CH: Mr. Chou, do you currently find this industry reliably stable or fluidly rapidly evolving? Would you say that TSM Models is the kind of flexible company that is ready for a fluid environment or steadfast to tradition?

GC: I think we are in a rapid change era; everything is constantly changing and at a faster pace than before. TSM Model has to find a way to change with its customer but also be steady & focus on the brand’s direction.

CH: Growing up, did you ever have a dream car?

If so, what did you like about that car?

GC: Yes. Ferrari Testarossa mentioned in your previous questions.

CH: Have you ever attended a university or college? If so, what did you major and minor in, as well as do you graduate? Did those courses help with your current career?

GC: I attended Boston University. Originally, I wanted to be a doctor but then I changed my mind and studied business.

CH: I noticed many niche vehicles from your three product lines. How do you and your team decide on which vehicles that TSM Models creates? Any current openings?

GC: It is always interesting to introduce some models of unique vehicles to the collecting world. We often try to mix some niche cars into our range.

CH: Why resin over diecast or ABS plastic for most 1/18th TSMs?

CH: Early in life, were model cars in your original career plan? If so, did you plan out your career methodically or coincidentally by circumstance did you happen upon where you are now in this career?

GC: I attended Boston University. Originally, I wanted to be a doctor but then I changed my mind and studied business.

CH: Do or have you ever personally collected model cars currently or in the past? If so, are model cars your sole hobby? If so, do you have a collection theme?

GC: No, it is a coincidence that I entered the model car business.

CH: What was your first job and was it automotive related?

GC: My first job was in real estate. I was working for a company that bought/sold apartments.

GC: The 1/18 TSM is still diecast, we just don’t produce as many of them as before. Due to supply stability and market demand. The resin 1/18 are TopSpeed Model, the main goal of which is trying to provide collectible grade resin model car at a good balance between price and quality.

CH: Is resin the future, or do you see other materials being introduced into all scales of TSM Models brands?

GC: I think the model car market will always have mix of resin and diecast model.

CH: GRecently after seeing you in Japan at the Tokyo Auto Saloon, on your public Facebook account, do you have any further plans for fulling JDM miniatures? If so, for Mini GT, could we please see some 90s JDM coupes and sedans like Mazda Eunos Cosmo/4th Gen Honda Prelude Si/3rd Gen Toyota Soarer (Lexus SC300/400)? Plus, a whole OEM stock, “VIP or Bippu” line of 90s Luxury cars like Nissan Cima Y33/Nissan President (Infiniti Q45)/Lexus LS40 (Toyota Celsior)/ Toyota Crown Majesta/Y33 Nissan Cedric/Gloria Those would be epic sellers!

GC: JDM will always be a part of MINI GT. We are expanding the subject coverage of MINI GT, so we also need to be more selective about the cars. VIP style is always interesting but challenging. Because some car companies do not allow such models.

CH: In 1/64th, do you see a place for creating both sealed and opening models, or just focusing on opening castings for the Kaido House Solely?

If more opening 1/64th miniatures are coming, how much more will they cost over sealed versions?

GC: MINI GT line do not have plan for opening model. Its focus is on creating a model with good shape, painting at a reasonable price. KaidoHouse line needs the opening hood as part of Jun’s design and creation. It suits Kaido House line

CH: Do you see your company ever making more premium die-cast larger scales again, like your 1/18th scale opening McLaren P1s? If so, when should we expect to see something?

GC: Maybe. There are many cars I would like to develop for 1/18 diecast range. But we also require stable supply from China and reasonable size market demand. I am not sure at this moment.

CH: Are you satisfied with all of TSM Model’s product lines? Do you see places where improvements can be made?

GC: There are always things we can improve on the product line. We also have many ideas we would like to realize. But the world is a much more complicated place than 10 years ago. So many things are beyond our control

CH: What is the average development time for any given project? Does scale have an influence on development time?

GC: For 1/18 diecast – 8-12 month depends on the data. 1/64 diecast will take about 5-8 months.

CH: How many people are currently employed within the entire TSM Models organization? Do you prefer a large or small staff, and why? Do you see expansion soon? We preferred to work as a small team and efficiently.

CH: How do you go about selecting your employees? If you could go back in time, would you change or do anything differently career wise? If so, what?

GC: Just like any business – you need to be passion about the work and willing to put in the effort to achieve their target.

CH: Have you ever thought about changing professions? If so, what else could you see yourself doing professionally?

GC: I would like to go back to real estate when I retire from model car business. Building/re-modelling a house is like building a big model kit.

CH: Are there any other lines planned for TSM Models in the future?

GC: We had a small aircraft range TSM Wing that has been suspended since COVID. I would like to start doing more aircraft models.

CH: Is there ever a compromise with regard to accuracy versus a time deadline with TSM Models? Is so, can you give us an example?

GC: Most of the compromises occur with material, tooling and budget.

CH: Was there ever a project(s) that didn't go as expected and released? Any regrets to where something could have turned out a lot better?

GC: You will always find things you can do better. But I always learn from each project and try to do better at the next one.

CH: For anyone interested in starting a career in this industry, what would you tell them to prepare for?

GC: It is a very difficult industry. There is no professional school or training facilities for this type of business. Anyone who wants to start in this business will require a person's passion for cars, vast knowledge of car history/world and good business sense at the same time. I know many people who have entered this business because of their passion for cars/models. But they failed because they are a horrible businessman. There is also business trying to create models that are boring because they lack the passion of cars.

CH: Thank you. We appreciate you taking the time to sit down with us and to give some insight into Sunrich Toys & Hobby as well as yourself. We're looking forward to seeing some really exciting models in the near future and much success to you and TSM Models/Mini GT.

One night in One night in

THIS YEARS

MALAYSIA

DIECAST EXPO

came early and with a massive surprise that would bring influencers, dealers, supporters, and fans of diecast in from all over the world. MINI GT + KAIDO HOUSE brought together a wonderful crowd of people for a night of good food, friendship and of course charity.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US CASTHEADS TO CONNECT WITH GLEN CEO AND MASTERMIND BEHIND MINI GT AND ITS METEORIC RISE IN GLOBAL POPULARITY. WE ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO MEET FAMED DIECAST DESIGNER JUN IMAI AND HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE UPCOMING CREATIONS WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE HOUSE OF KAIDO.

Taking centre stage at this year’s MDX MINI GT is starting to flex its muscles as a serious mainstream producer of detailed 1/64 cars. The range that has already been produced and the list of upcoming releases is numerous. Variations of existing casting mixed in with brand new castings exploring genres such as FORMULA 1, CLASSIC AMERICAN, ITALIAN HYPER CARS and of course much more. We can even look forward to a release of RED BULL’s entire pit crew in action thanks to a collaboration with American Diorama.

While every industry and economy seem to be at the end of its tether, barring related issues such as shipping, the diecast community is vibrant, and the industry is quite strong with demand growing daily. There are no ends to how far some collectors would go to get their hands on a piece they really want and to be honest both MINI GT and KAIDO House have grown high in brand value and demand.

AS ALWAYS IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL GESTURE FOR THE MINI GT TEAM TO FLY US ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE INVITED, PUT EVERYONE UP AT A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL AND TREAT US TO A LOVELY EVENING OF AMAZING FOOD AND SINGLE-MINDED DIECAST ENERGY.

THANK YOU GLEN CHOU

AND THE MINI GT TEAM FOR THAT AMAZING ONE NIGHT IN KL

FIRST OFF!

What is BPR ZUHAI?

HERE’S A LITTLE BACKSTORY into these, as always, well-made SUPRA’s that took part in a series called the BPR GLOBAL GT SERIES which ran from 1994 to 1996 and then officially changed to the FIA GT Championship in 1997.

This was a series that allowed manufacturer sport cars to be modified into race cars. The series had 4 classes which were GT1 to GT4 but by 1995 was slimmed down to 3 with 12 rounds of racing for the year and some races running up to 4 hours.

ZUHAI WAS THE FINAL RACE IN THE SEASON IN 1995 AND IS A STREET CIRCUIT HELD IN CHINA. It is a 3-hour race and covers a total distance of 4.2 km. The race winner covered a total distance of 96 laps and 403.2 kilometres completed.

Under the TOYOTA TOM’s Team 2 GT SUPRA LM cars are entered into the race one car driven by JJ LEHTO and Yannick Daimas numbered 36 and in car number 37 Phillipe Alliot and Pierre Henry Raphanel was the team.

UNFORTUNATELY, CAR NUMBER 36 DID NOT COMPLETE THE RACE DUE TO HANDLING FAILURE, BUT CAR NUMBER 37 HAD MUCH BETTER LUCK FINISHING 11TH PLACE AMONGST SOME PRETTY HIGH-POWERED COMPETITORS.

Master’s at bringing track machines to your tabletop or shelf collection TARMAC WORKS have made use of their existing SUPRA LM tooling to bring these two twin turbo beasts into your collection ramping up your SUPRA racer set. And, they are fantastic replica’s in 1/64 that will definitely give you more street cred and street knowledge on the SUPRA’s illustrious motorsport legacy. If you feel that there is something missing in the livery, then you are most certainly an eagle eye pro.

The famous tobacco branding has not been put on the car because they come in open window packaging. So, you have the option of adding them yourself with the supplied water transfer sticker sheet that comes with the said logo. Other than everything else is all faithfully put on and with a brand like TW who is tough on licensing you can be 100% that you are getting the right details.

SUPRA fan, THEN D*** YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE LINING UP WITH THE REST OF YOUR SUPRA COLLECTION.

taRmac WoRks

&

formula 1

Extending their reach into the racing world and making great use of their long-term relationship with Mercedes TARMAC WORKS now gives you the opportunity to add to your 1/64 collection of F1 cars. So far, the detailed 1/64 F1 selection has been a little bleak or at least up until recently with TARMAC WORKS and another brand have got some really interesting F1 licenses. For TARMAC WORKS this is the second F1 release they have done, the first launched few months prior of the McLarens team and now the Mercedes Team of which another set has been released as well.

THE FORMULA to FORMULA 1

Shrinking an F1 car down to 1/64 is no easy task specially the post turbo era models that came in from 2020 onwards. Lots of intricate details that can get messed up if not done right. But coming from their GLOBAL64 line with rolling wheels you can start your great collection of Mercedes F1 cars with these two championship ‘W11 EQ Performance’ winning cars of 2020 driven by Hamilton and Bottas.

To add more street cred to you collection the designers at Tarmac Works have very thoughtfully added placement boards for the cars with the package as well for placing in front of the cars on display. All you need now are some decent American Diorama race figures to go with the set.

TARMAC WORKS

Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance

AWESOME NEWS!!!!

this is not going to be the only Release! taRmac WoRks has alReaDy ReleaseD otheR Race vaRiations so Don’t Waste staRt yoUR collection as Fast as possible.

There aren't many of those around!

In the vibrant era of motorsports during the 1950s, MercedesBenz revolutionized race transport with an iconic vehicle known as the "Blue Wonder." This extraordinary transporter, featuring a striking blue exterior, not only captured the imagination of enthusiasts but also became an enduring symbol of speed, style, and engineering prowess. Let us delve into the remarkable story of the Blue Wonder and its enduring legacy.

The Blue Wonder, officially named the Mercedes-Benz Race Transporter, was first introduced in 1954. It was an engineering marvel, designed to transport the legendary Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows Formula One

cars to race circuits across Europe. What set it apart from conventional transporters was its exceptional speed and agility, courtesy of the mighty engine housed beneath its sleek hood.

Equipped with a 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine, the Blue Wonder boasted an impressive power output of 150 horsepower, propelling it to a top speed of 105 miles per hour (170 kilometers per hour). This remarkable performance allowed the transporter to swiftly transport the race cars and their support equipment between races, often covering long distances at incredible speeds.

The Blue Wonder's design was a testament to Mercedes-Benz's

commitment to innovation.

Constructed primarily from aluminum, the transporter was both lightweight and sturdy. Its aerodynamic shape reduced wind resistance, further enhancing its speed capabilities. Inside, the vehicle featured a spacious and well-organized storage area, allowing for the safe transportation of spare parts, tools, and other essential equipment.

The Blue Wonder quickly gained iconic status among motorsport enthusiasts and became a symbol of Mercedes-Benz's dominance on the racetrack. Its distinctive blue livery, adorned with the iconic three-pointed star, was instantly recognizable and made it a beloved sight at race circuits and on public roads alike.

While the Blue Wonder's primary purpose was to serve as a race transporter, it transcended its functional role to become a revered piece of automotive history. Even after its retirement from active duty, the Blue Wonder continued to captivate enthusiasts at exhibitions and car shows

worldwide. Its timeless design and technological excellence cemented its place as an emblem of Mercedes-Benz's commitment to excellence and innovation.

The Blue Wonder, the MercedesBenz Race Transporter from the 1950s, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and passion of the era. It showcased the automotive prowess of Mercedes-Benz and became a symbol of their

dedication to performance, speed, and design. More than just a transporter, the Blue Wonder represents an iconic chapter in motorsport history, forever etching its name in the annals of automotive legends.

The 1:43 model by Schuco is a almost perfect replica. This finely crafted model aims to recreate this marvel of race transportation in minute detail. Its not on the level of more expensive models, with some of the details seems a little rough, but overall it is of a higher quality than most models in the market today.

In the world of motorsports, few cars have achieved the level of success and dominance exhibited by the Porsche 956. The 1983 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, held in France, stands out as a defining moment for this iconic racing machine. Let's delve into the story of the Porsche 956 and its remarkable performance at the renowned endurance race.

Porsche 956's dominance became evident. The car consistently set fast lap times, pulling away from its competitors and building a significant lead. The reliability of the Porsche 956 was a key factor in its success, as it allowed the drivers to maintain a consistent pace and avoid mechanical issues that plagued other teams.

Introduced in 1982, the Porsche 956 was purposebuilt to compete in the Group C racing category, which had gained significant traction in the world of endurance racing. Porsche collaborated with renowned engineer Norbert Singer to develop a car that would push the boundaries of speed, aerodynamics, and reliability.

The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was a highly anticipated event, drawing the attention of motorsports enthusiasts from around the globe. The Porsche factory team, along with several privateer entries, fielded a formidable lineup of Porsche 956 cars, each equipped with powerful turbocharged engines and cutting-edge technology. As the race progressed, the

The triumph of the Porsche 956 at the 1983 Le Mans solidified its place in racing history. It showcased the car's exceptional engineering, aerodynamic prowess, and unmatched performance capabilities. The victory also marked a testament to Porsche's commitment to pushing the boundaries of endurance racing and establishing its dominance on one of the world's most prestigious stages.

Beyond its Le Mans triumph, the Porsche 956 went on to achieve numerous victories in other renowned endurance races around the world. Its success not only elevated Porsche's reputation but also influenced the future design and development of sports cars, leaving a lasting impact on the motorsports landscape.

The model that Solido released was the #14 car that was part of the Canon Racing/Richard Lloyd Racing team. The drivers were Richard Lloyd, Jonathan Palmer and Jan Lammers. The car took 8th place in its class while other Porsche 956s took 9 out of the Top 10 spots.

In conclusion, the 1983 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans stands as a remarkable chapter in the story of the Porsche 956. This iconic racing machine showcased its unparalleled speed, reliability, and engineering excellence, propelling the car and its drivers to an unforgettable victory. The Porsche 956's triumph at Le Mans in 1983 serves as a testament to its enduring legacy as one of the greatest racing cars ever built.

Porsche 956 #14 Jan Lammers - Jonathon Palmer - Richard Lloyd - in Esses - Le Mans 1983 © Martin Lee. All

The car demonstrated remarkable durability, navigating the grueling 24-hour race with minimal mechanical issues. Additionally, the 956's top speed of over 220 mph (354 km/h) on the Mulsanne Straight showcased its remarkable performance capabilities.

Porsche 956 #14 Jan Lammers - Jonathon Palmer - Richard Lloyd - on pit straight - Le Mans

1983 © Martin Lee. All Rights Reserved. Used for illustrative purposes only.

GIVE YOUR F1

COLLECTION MORE REV'S ESTABAN OCON – ALPINE A522

I’ve never had a problem with Pink vehicles and this F1 car which is probably the epitome of engineering and road speed dressed in this METALLIC GLISTENING PINK is definitely rocking my F1 boat like a Norwegian Ocean Swell. I never thought I would have myself an F1 car collection and even though I’m hardcore Tifosi I do love the engineering and the liveries that go behind these machines and now with brands like SOLIDO giving us these beauties at impressive price points it has become possible to build a decent F1 car collection.

Estban Ocon is definitely one of those drivers who is someone to watch over the next few years and you never know how some of these drivers may turn out in the future.

COULD OCON BE A LEGEND? You can never say which is probably why covering the bases and getting yourself a collection of his early career cars could go a long way in your collection.

SOLIDO ESTABAN OCON - ALPINE A522

Solido has been doing F1 cars for a while now and in addition to these ALPINE’s this year they also have a line of McLaren cars from the 2022 season as well and the brand has been getting consistently better in delivering really awesome detail.

SO, WITHOUT DOUBT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR GROWING F1 CAR COLLECTION OR AT LEAST A GREAT PLACE TO START.

FOR ME, WITH ALL THESE NEW SOLIDO RELEASES COMING UP I’M GOING TO NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT A DEDICATED F1 DISPLAY.

IT WAS GREAT TO BE A PART OF ONE OF ASIA'S MOST IMPORTANT DIECAST AND SCALE MODEL RELATED EVENTS.

WE WERE NOT ONLY GUESTS AT THIS YEARS STAND ALONE EVENT, BUT CASTHEADS WERE PART OF IT FROM THE INCEPTION, SUPPORTING THE EVENT THROUGH THE YEARS.

The Malaysia Diecast Expo (or MDX) has been a hot spot for diecast collectors since it's

inception in 2017 as part of the larger Toys Anime Games Comic Con which itself is a key

event in the hobby scene in Malaysia and the SEA region. CastHeads has been a part of the

event since 2018 as a supporter and partner and this time was no exception.

(L)AYDEN CHUA, ONE OF THE MAIN ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT WITH JUN IMAI OF KAIDO HOUSE GARAGE

(CENTER) GLEN CHOU, OWNER OF MINIGT WAS THE CHIEF GUEST OF MDX23 FLANKED BY JUM IMAI (LEFT) AND OTHERS AT THE MINIGT BOOTH

MDX's first standalone event was held in May at the Tropicana Gardens Mall Convention Centre, a unique space that had enough space for not only scale models but also for the real world models to be showcased with some amazing car displayed around the venue.

(L) TENGKU DJAN LEY, ONE OF MALAYSIA'S FOREMOST MOTORSPORT PERSONALITIES WAS A SPECIAL GUEST AT THE POP RACE BOOTH (WHO RELEASED TWO MDX23 EXCLUSIVE MODELS OF TENGKU DJAN'S RACING CARS)

MDX23 was also the first time that saw many diecast brands exhibit as themselves and not through a dealer. MINIGT, Pop Race, Era Car, Greenlight, BMC Creations, American Diorama and many others have its owners or principals on had to meet and greet collectors and fans during thetwo-day event.

PORSCHE is probably one of the most ‘messed around with’ sports car in the entire gamut of sports cars. For some reason it inspires people to play with it and tinker with it, chop it up and redefine its character. PORSCHE is a sports car that can be whatever you want it to be. Hyper car, project car, race car, runaround car, offroad car, police car, it has filled the role of most needs us humans would want with a car.

And so, the legend gets remastered, retreated, reinvented, new models come, older models restored and some resto mod’ (a term which possibly originated from PORSCHE tinkering) and the result is always beautiful it both aesthetics and engineering.

RE

IMAGINED

S-KLUB SPYDER 500

This is the production and brain wave of famed car designers Slang500 and JONSIBAL who have been doing incredible artistic things to cars as canvases. The result has been cars that are astoundingly beautiful, in high demand, extremely rare and of course drives everyone who is into car culture into a pant wetting frenzy.

RE.IMAGINED - S-KLUB SPYDER 500

CASTING REMARKS

GT Spirit’s 3rd S-KLUB release and of course no expense has been spared to make sure it looks stunning. GTS are master at doing resin cars with interiors that makes us weep at the door windows, so with an open roof model we are treated double to both a brilliantly moulded car with realistic interior. Right down to the 1 kg bar of gold mounted in the centre behind the gear shift. Everything that you see on the model has been faithfully recreated from the original and you get to some really interesting details that you would have never seen or known about this particular model. Like the gold bar.

It’s also worth comparing it to pictures of the real thing because you discover details on the pictures and then find joy when you that its there on your very own S-KLUB Spyder. The other aspect that is really noticeable in terms of looking beautiful is the paint finish. The caramel brown is so rich and deep that for the first time in my life I want a brown car and I would never have pegged it to be a great colour for a sports car even if it is a designed restomod.

GT SPIRIT

S-KLUB Spyder 500

The amazing thing about this little hottie is, how much detail it has even though its quite simple in design. The original Spyder was probably one of the simplest sportscars produced and of course this pays tribute to that clever design. But there are subtle additions that can only be enjoyed if you had one of these sitting on your desk looking gorgeous.

RE.IMAGINED - S-KLUB SPYDER 500

RE BUILT PORSCHE

RSR 964 3.8

PORSCHE builds a successful car known as the 911 RS Type 964 3.8 which is an amazing hit due to its power, handling, and of course stunning good looks. Then someone gets into the car drives it work one day and says in a thick heavy German accent “Wir müssen das noch verrückter machen”. Meetings are scrambled, engineers say good bye to their families and development work begins.

THE RESULT:

They strip the car down to bear minimum, tweak the brakes, tweak the engine and with the same displacement eek out a bit more horsepower, increase the power to weight ration and an RSR is born.

No according to factory specsthere were a few important interior changes to the RSR model and we checked them off with this gorgeous Grand Prix White version but GT Spirit. Fully welded roll cage, check. Single RECARO racing seat with 6-point harness, check. Fire extinguisher system, check. 9.5” front wheels and 11.4” rearwheels with 18” rims and slicks, check. Unfortunately, the rest of the factory setting pertained to engine and suspension modifications but seriously for sealed resin car that’s a lot of detail you can’t get too, can you image the detail of what you can get to?

GT SPIRIT

PORSCHE 911 TURBO RSR

Yep that’ right this one is another banger from GT Spirit and when I mean banger I mean hard hitting gorgeous and must have on your shelf. Mega attention to detail as we have seen right down to the sweet gold BBS Rims with their deep dish ways wrapped in slicks. Really decent of GT Spirit to make sure they got that detail in as well.

Is it a 1/18 model worthy of your PORSCHE collection? I say your PORSCHE collection is not worthy without this piece. JK! But yes of course its worthy, every dripping detail makes it worthy and as a PORSCHE fan I don’t see how you could let something like this go.

RE

TUNED PORSCHE

RSR 964 3.8

No, it’s not a famous movie director from New Zealand, that would be WAITITI not WAIKATO however RWB WAIKATO is from New Zealand and as it turns out the New Z chaps love there RWB’s and they have plenty of space to let them engines rumble.

RE.TUNED - PORSCHE 911 RWB

Yet another car culture classic that we have the fortune of being able to fill our shelves with. Ever since getting themselves the RWB license SOLIDO has been relentless in giving us large scale packages of beauty in the shape of 1/18 scale RWB’s. And of course, the quality is once again nothing to complain about.

Opening doors give you a glance of the interior and you will be shocked at how well Solido is doing their car interiors these days. The wheels turn giving us ample photography poses with classic attitude shots and also a chance to highlight their well designed and recreated deep dish wheels.

We have resigned ourselves to the fact that owning an RWB may be a pipe dream especially a CastHeads RWB, but it doesn’t mean we can get on board with collecting as many of them as we possibly can and we kind of hope that SOLIDO will end up producing every single RWB ever made.

THAT WOULD BE AN INSANE COLLECTION TO HAVE.

ROCK WEILER! THE BIRTH OF RWB

First, I would like to thank EDMUND WONG of the Singapore Diecast Community and Singapore Die- cast Expo organiser for being a massive RWB fan and clueing us in on this RWB build happening in Sheffield UK.

I have just moved to the UK and experiencing Europe for the very first time. Great Britains motoring culture has been something I have grown up watching and admiring from the tender age of 4 when I got my first CORGI James Bond DB7. There is nothing more British than that. Maybe the MIN and/or a Leyland Double Decker may come a close second. So, arriving to the UK I have had high expectations of immersing myself into car culture. And what better way to start than to head over to Sheffield and watch the legend himself Naikai -San build an RWB for Sam owner of Sam’s Detailing.

THE BIRTH OF RWB ROCKWEILER!

It was open invitation (god bless Sam) at Sam’s Detailing for anyone to spend the weekend watching a PORSCHE get chopped up and created into a brand new RWB. The weekend started with an early morning wakeup call, quick swig of RED BULL and took the train from London to Sheffield.

Bottom: Saturday crowd of diehard RWB fans skipping tea for this.

Bottom Left: Nakai-San looks for Sam’s lost chimoise,

Bottom Right: Shoes fir for a Queen

Extreme Bottom: Sam of Sam’s Detailing not happy about another lost chamoise

I arrived to Sam’s Detailing by late morning and there was already a crowd that had built up. I’ll be honest when I say, my heart was racing at around 6,500 BPM, entering that garage, and seeing NAKAI-SAN in the flesh was just exhilarating. THE MAN WAS HIS USUAL CALM AND COLLECTED IN THE ZONE SELF, IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT HE HAS WEATHERED THE ADORATION AND FANDOM AND IS CONCERNED WITH ONLY ONE THING. THE BUILD.

THE BIRTH OF RWB ROCKWEILER!

The focus that Nakai-San displays is almost zen like to the point that the crowd goes silent whenever he sits down to do something. A curtain of hushed respect falls over the crowd and that’s projected by Nakai’s sense of focus and experience. His confidence sweeps away the gasps and gulps made by some of the spectators who came to see if he would really cut up a classic PORSCHE and he delivered not just the act of defilement but also doing it by eye without tools or equipment for measuring.

For an entire day a group of car enthusiasts and RWB fans got to witness the creative abilities of NAKAI and his female companion who also plays a huge role in helping Nakai with some of the body work. It was nicely highlighted with the diecast community coming out with model cars from Ignition Models, Tarmac Works, Hotwheels, Autoart and many more all either PORSCHE or RWB’s for the man to sign. Unfortunately, all of my models were on the high seas braving pirates making its way to me at the time.

Top Right: “oops” Nakai-San thinks to himself Right Middle: Nakai-San walks away to a safe area after Nand’s

Bottom Right: Ignition Model Owner and actual RS owner fan boy.

Top: “Thta’s the last t ime he cuts me off” thinks Nakai before cutting the brake line.

THE BIRTH OF RWB ROCKWEILER!

A perfect Sunday dotted with brilliant, modified cars in varying colours, shapes and horsepower including a very rare grey 993 3.8 RSR. The day ended of course with the firing up of a brand new RWB which was christened ‘ROCKWEILER’ and of course 95% of people their thought to themselves ‘I want an RWB’

The next day, the crowd had exploded, and the detailing location had turned into a brilliant car show. One thing I realized, the Sheffield crowd are massive petrol heads and a lot of the people from the surrounding areas are huge JDM fans specially SILVIA’s and slammed Lexus’s so it’s no wonder that the crowd to see Nakai was insane.

FOR ME, IT WAS BACK TO LONDON WITH A MASSIVE GRIN ON MY FACE HAVING BEEN ABLE TO SCORE A PICTURE WITH NAKAI-SAN, GET HIS AUTOGRAPH ON A POSTER AND PRESENT HIM WITH A LIMITED EDITION GLOW IN THE DARK CASTHEADS PIN. I HOPE IT WILL GIVE HIM INSPIRATION FOR HIS NEXT BUILD LIKE A GLOW IN THE DARK RWB!

THE BIRTH OF RWB ROCKWEILER!

The Little Frenchie that could.

IN THE HALLS OF RALLY HISTORY,

there is one car that proved mighty and deadly. A highly tuned Group B monster that ate obstructions like PACMAN on RED BULL.

Amongst the big names in power and reliability like AUDI, LANCIA, FORD, SAAB that dominated the RAC Rally which was quite gruelling was a tiny little French car from a tiny little French team headed by a genius in Motorsport Jean Todt.

PEUGEOT 205 GTI - RAC RALLYE 1988

From 1984 the Peugeot 205 Super mini-Turbo 16 would take on multiple rallies and win most of them in 1985 winning 7 of the 12 rounds and taking both drivers and manufacturers titles and winning the constructors in 1986. The following years saw the end of the Group B series due to safety concerns and the 205 was moved into the Paris Dakkar and other non-WRC rallies like the Wales RAC in 1988 sponsored Lombard Bank.

SOLIDO

PEUGEOT 205 GTI

This particular car that SOLIDO has brought to 1/18 scale has a tiny bit of history that collectors and rally fans might find interesting. Unfortunately, car No. 111 didn’t complete the race due to engine mount failure but the interesting thing about car No.111 was that a young Colin McRae was the driver. It was during rallies like these that iconic rally drivers like Colin McRae was moulded.

Agreat piece of RALLY history when you also consider the legendary wins that this model had over the years as well as the fact that this was one of the cars from Colin’s early rally stages in his career. This is definitely a great addition to Solido’s expansive rally line up and they have a few variations from other rallies that are worth checking out.

CULTURED CASTHEAD

Motorsport by nature is filled with unforgettable moments that can elicit a gamut of human emotions that often captured in moments of time through the lens of amazing photographers. With its foreword written by Rally legends such as Sebastian Loeb this book will instantly transport you into a world of grit and fury as well as a complete understanding into what Rallying is all about. It is an immersive experience that shares the pain and glory of one of the toughest sports that involve man and machine.

The book is filled with pictures that portray the personal experiences and lives of those who live the rally life. A behind the scenes look at the people support the gladiators and prepare them for battle.

Some of today’s race legends in the making come from motorsport backgrounds where their fathers paved the way to motorsport with their own endeavours like famous rally drive Carol Sainz Sr.

Our excitement is their pain, from exhilarating to crushing defeat all of it captured in a collection of amazing images that grip the reader.

A favourite part about enjoying this book is the gripping pictures of the cars that we love and respect in all their animalistic glory where machine is tested to the very limits and then a bit more.

PUMA CELEBRATES SUCCESS WITH NEW FERRARISCUDERIA DRIP

CELEBRATESWITH SCUDERIA DRIP

Drawing inspiration from Scuderia Ferrari's legendary victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1960s, the Scuderia Ferrari collection showcases an unrivalled fusion of racing heritage and contemporary design.

The collection celebrates the extraordinary journey on the world motorsport stage. Between 1960 and 1965, Scuderia Ferrari secured consecutive victories, the last one with the 250 LM Berlinetta GT. With a total of ten Le Mans trophies, including this year's with the 499P Hypercar; Ferrari's legacy is unparalleled.

HAVING A LONG AND STORIED HISTORY IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOSTICONICRACES,PUMAMARKS FERRARI'S RACING HERITAGE WITH A NEW COLLECTION

The Scuderia Ferrari Collection captures the spirit of Ferrari's triumphs with a striking blend of signature col-ors and cobranding. Embracing the iconic Rosso Corsa (red) and Giallo Modena (yellow), the collection offers a wide range of apparel choices that embody the essence of Scuderia Ferrari's racing heritage. From T-shirts and hoodies to statement jackets and shorts, every piece in this collection reflects the bold, fast, and stylish nature of the Prancing Horse.

Featuring an array of designs, the Scuderia Ferrari Collection

presents eight unique t-shirt designs, five dis-tinct hoodie designs, sweatpants, race shorts, and an exclusive ‘All Over Print’ monochrome design hoodie, track pants, and t-shirt option.

The attention to detail and incorporation of Scuderia Ferrari's heritage design cues make this collection an incredible representation of the brand's timeless legacy.

Gear up for success and get your PUMA for Scuderia Ferrari “A Story Of Success” collection now on puma.com, store.ferrari.com as well as selected retailers.

CASTHEADS COUTURE CASTHEADS EXCLUSIVE

RWB Bodykit YAJU| 1:18 GT Spirit

Photo by Lance K Muller IG @castheadsmag

come Join oUR gRoW ing commUnity anD take pa R t in special oF F eRs, competitions anD a chance to W in some cool moDels. look F oR shU t teRcasteRs on Facebook oR scan the QR coDe beloW