WELCOME
TO THE RAT FINK
ONE64
JAPANESE POLICE
FEATURE - THE REAL CHASE CARS
INNO64 DATSUN 200ZX
HOTWHEELS RX7
SAVANNAH
TARMAC WORKS SUPRA
PARA64 GTO
TLVN RX7
TLVN MAZDA BONGO
ERA CAR LEXUS INNO64 NISSAN 300ZX
CASTHEADS COUTURE PUMA AND SCUDERIA FERRARI HP UNVEIL DESERT SUN COLLECTION 058 FULLSIZE _AVENUE
ART OF EDDIE CASTROFEATURE CASTROART ONE24 GREENLIGHT CADILLAC
SIKU SURPRISES USWITH
SIKU is correct; it is probably one of the cheapest players in the 1/64 market, but this year, their castings have shown some massive improvements. Of course, there is a bit of inconsistency in things like the lights; some have plastic, but some have tampos. Could it be a market test? Whatever it is, the new casting range is out, and we are excited to see what 2025 will bring. Out of about 100 potentials, these four examples show SIKU's potential and ability if they want to make an impact.
TSM REDLINE –FERRARI SP3 MODENA YELLOW
Thisisprobablyoneofthemost awaitedreleaseseversinceMINI GTandBBRannouncedtheir1/64 partnership.Judgingbythepast releasesthisisgoingtobeperfect andFERRARIfansaregoingto befallingoverthemselves tryingtogetthismodel. Thankgodwehavemore optionsfor1/64FERRARIs thatlookasgoodasthis.
TSMparentcompanyofmanybrandsincludingMINIGTandKAIDOHousehaveastunninglarger scalebrandcalledTOPSPEEDwithresin1/18scalemodelsthatruninthesamedetailcirclessuch asIGNITIONMODELSandGTSPIRITwithasolidLBWKlicensetobackthemup.So,ifyouarewaiting forthenewLAMBOCOUNTACHfromlastyearsLBWKdrop,TSMTOPSPEEDhasgotyourback.
In the masterful “John Wick” series, Mr. Wick’s 1969 Ford Mustang isn’t merely a car; it’s a roaring emblem of past tranquility. Linked to memories of a life with his late wife, the Mustang catapults into the limelight when it becomes the target of a heartless act. Ripped away and violated, it evolves from a cherished relic to a symbol of vengeance. The electrifying loss of his beloved Mustang and the tragic death of his dog propel John Wick into an exhilarating pursuit of retribution, transforming the car into a dynamic and pivotal force in the film’s gripping narrative. The stage is set for an action-packed tale of redemption. “Baba Yaga” is back.
Auto World replicates John Wick’s “Hitman Grey” Mustang in exquisite detail worthy of the boogeyman himself...
WJOHNNYLIGHTNINGPOP MINGUP
Mecum Auctions release featuring a SIGNAL RED 1967 SHELBY MUSTANG 350 is something every Mustang fan should look forward to. AN exact replica of the auction version and will feature an opening hood and detailed engine.
Guess the movie? Expect to be looking at a highly detailed wreck on wheels. This jalopy was owned by a man who was searching for something and we think he found it in the end. Still haven’y got a clue? The owners name is Joe.
RAT FINK – DODGE WC54 AMBULANCE
More Rat Fink madness and now we are on the hunt for Rat Fink pieces wherever we cam find them. It brings as great joy that the new JL POP Culture line will be introducing another Ra Fink product into their line. And, it is another Rat Fink Ambulance, looks like the collecting budget just blew up.
GEORGE BARRIS ICE CREAM TRUCK
An - other really cool casting to look forward too! Based on old Model Kit Model that was released in the 1960’s. A hot rodbased ice cream truck seems like a really quirky thing to have like the supercar POLICE but it really looks like a collectible or a 1/64 ornament. Again, these are the sort of cool casting to give you collection variety.
75 DODGE MONACO POLICE CAR
MUSTANG
JOHNWICK–69 FORD
Collect allthe scales from Round2,
If you are looking t recreate one of the most epic car chases filmed and put on Screen you would have to buy 100’s of these. It was only one of the most epic chase ever seen on screen. Satisfy that culture vulture in you and add to the movie POILCE CAR collection that you have on the side.
WANTED
Anyone who cAn cAtch PInK SLIPS WAVe 12.
FERRARI312
PilotedbyJackyIckx
These handcrafted beauties are spectacular pieces of history that Brumm makes come alive in your hand with such loving detail. We are always amazed at how consistently Brumm creates such perfection at home.Ofcourse,thesearenotcheap,andtheytakealongtimetoassemble.Obviously,thepricereflectsthepassion.
Becausethesecarshadopenengines,yougetagreatviewofthedetails that have gone into creating this model, from the bodywork to its heart. Ferrarifansshouldnotlettheopportunitytodosomethingpassby.
NISSAN HAKO SKYLINE POLICE CAR
The TOMY TEC team just made us weak at the knees.ForalltheSkylinesouttherewithamazing details and qualities, this is going to break the internet next year. Capturing the shape of the car perfectly in the casting TOMY TEC is about unleashtheirmostbeautifulSkylineeverbuilt.
The release is expected to come in two colors, with at least one color being the POLICE livery version. In whicheveryonewillbeguaranteedtobeclamouring togetandownintheirSkylinecollection.
TOMYTEC EXTENDS THEMAZDARXLINE
TOMYTEC kicks off 2025 with a gorgeous follow-up to the famous RX-7, which dominated sales and is one of its most successful castings. The spectacular, detailed casting continues with a new line of RXs, and the 8 continues TOMYTEC’s reputation for getting it spot on.
One of the brand's standout features is the precision of the shut lines on opening parts. You can see the difference between the two colours being released in our photos. I accidentally left the bonnet open on the blue-speckled paint version, but instead of a reshoot, I decided to highlight how the car looks with the bonnet wholly shut. The precision is so impeccable that you would think the car has no opening parts.
Another detail that TOMYTEC has captured exceptionally well in this casting is the rear lensed lights. On the RX-8, the rear lights were distinctive, making it instantly recognisable from the rear.TOMYTEC has gone to great lengths to achieve the usual detail standard, leaving no stone unturned to get it right. This level of attention to detail is genuinely appreciable.
Another case would be the detachable engine cover under the opening hood. The problem is that the cover is so tiny—about the size of a nano sim—that it is hard to hang on to unless you have excellent slender figures, unlike my fat party sausages that clumsily flail in the air trying to get a grip. It's a neat party trick by TOMYTEC, however.
THE TREADED RUBBER TYRES, THE IMMACULATE PAINT JOB, AND THE SUPER DETAILS, RIGHT DOWN TO THE BADGING, ALL LEAVE YOU IN AWE. THEY ARE SO IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU ASK YOURSELF: WHERE DID I PUT MY ATM CARD?
SUPER ADGING, SO OURSELF:
MAJORETTE Extends Range!
I hope the joke is clever, but Majorette is not joking around. They have a lineupofnewcarscomingsoonandlooksettomakeasignificantimpact in 2025. This stunning shooting brake design represents the new AUDI E-TRONGT.Itsshapeandunderstandingofsimpleaerodynamicssuggest ithasanaturallylowdragcoefficient,whichallowsforimprovedrangeas itglidesthroughthewind.
This casting is beautiful and offers plenty of customisation potential. Even in its original form, I love the 5-star spoked rims; the only thingmissingisdrilledbrakediscswithredAUDI callipers. The side skirts also have the potential tobeenhancedwithcarbonfibreaccents.Some websitesoffer1/64scaledcarbonfibrestickersin differentweaves,whichcanbecutandtrimmed towraparoundyourcasting.
Majorettevehiclesalsofeatureopeningparts;in thiscasting,thedoorsopen.Thisisjustaheadsupincaseyou'replanningadioramashootthat requiresopencardoors!
Fortunately, Majorette's price point doesn’t require any long-term planning, financial advice, or home re-mortgaging, so you canpickoneupguilt-freeassoonasithits the shelves in your area.
MADE FOR BRE FANS
BRE AND DATSUN ARE AS SYNONYMOUS TOGETHER AS PEANUT BUTTERANDJELLY.TOCELEBRATETHISNEVER-ENDINGCULTCLASSIC PARTNERSHIP,JOHNNYLIGHTNINGDROPPEDTWOOFTHESEDATSUNZ CASTINGS COVERED IN THE BRE LIVERY AS A TRIBUTE TO THAT LONGLASTINGANDICONICPARTNERSHIP.
This is all good news for hardcore Datsun fans, for whom fandom of BRE comes as second nature since it is one of the racing teams that accidentally put Datsun on a pedestal in Motorsport. (In our past issues, we discussed how Datsun became the darling of BRE.) The livery on the originalDatsunZwillbeafabulousadditiontotheBREcupboard.
Apartfromthelovelydetailsanddecentprice,thecarsalsocomewitha matchingstoragetintokeepthemwarm,safe,anddust-freeduringthe winter.Andyouwon’tfindyourselfrunningaroundthehouseshouting,
“WHOMOVEDMYBRE”!
REALLYNICE CASTING, BRILLIANT LIVERYAND LOVELY COLLECTOR STORAGETIN THATSLIPS ANDCLIPS.
We have the good fortune of cracking open a double pack, which is something of an exclusive with TOYEAST and SPARKY, which is very cool because you get the opportunity of getting the entire team in one go as opposed to buying one car and then having to hunt the teammate down, alreadyofftoagreatstart.
We have two other boxes in the box, each holding a PORSCHE RSR 911 that participated in the Petit Le Mans 2018. You are probably jumping the gun by thinking PetitLeMansisasmallerversionofthebig race that may run for 12 hours instead of 24. This is incorrect. Petit LeMans is held in theUSofAaspartoftheIMSA,nottheFIA.
DUHAAAAAAAN! DUN DUN
ThissetistheteamthatrepresentedthePorscheGTwithcarsnumbered#911 and#912.Ifyoufeelthisisallaninformationoverload,don’tworry—it'sdigital andwilllastforever,soyoucantakeabreakandreturntoit.
Aswesaidearlier,adualpackmeanstwocarswithonepurchase,soyougettheteam to fit into your collection and admire the quality of detail on two vehicles, not just one. Thefirstthingyou'llnoticeaboutthetwoistheconsistencyindetailandqualitycontrol— a clear sign that they keep getting it right. The mother company, Spark, is known for its high-end models that cost somewhat of a penny; it says that Sparky is its pocket moneyline.Iwanttobefriendswiththekidrockingthissortofpocketmoneybudget.
BUT IT IS AN EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF MOTORSPORT LIVERIES AND SOME OF THESE LIVERIES REALLY MAKE THESE CARS STAND OUT AND AESTHETICALLY COLLECTABLE. FOR SOME COLLECTORS, IT'S FANDOM; FOR OTHERS, IT'S ART, BUT FOR EITHER PARTY, THE IMPORTANCE IS PLACED SQUARELY ON THE DETAIL AND PRODUCTION NEEDING TO BE 100%, WHICH IS WHAT SPARKY IS GOOD AT.
Irememberatimewhencollectinganything in Formula 1 on a 1/64 scale was almost impossible. There were limited brands like SPARK and Kyosho, which didn’t have excellent distribution, and no one wanted to invest in the tooling because the sport wasn’t that popular. Fast forward to today, and things have changed dramatically. Literally, with a media company owning F1, wegettoseethesoapysideofF1,whichhas newfansandviewersenthralled,alongwith exposure to the tech side and more team coverage. More entertainment has led to more fans, and the diecast production communityhasansweredtheclarioncall.
ONE BRAND BUILDING UP ON ITS F1 COLLECTION (AND YOURS) HAS BEEN THE MINI GT; THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY RELEASE OF F1 CARS, INCLUDING SOME CLASSICS. THIS PLEASES MANY 1/64 COLLECTORS, AND IT IS FURTHER HELPED BY THE FACT THAT THE REVIEWS ON THESE MODELS ARE TURNING UP ACES AND SPADES.
The latest offering from MINI GT is the 2023 Alfa Romeo KICK C43 car driven by Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. And the details are incredible. We love how the cherry metallic part of the carlooksfantasticwithflawlesspaintwork,andthentherestofthevehicleiscoveredincarbon fibre. Honestly, the last few years have spoilt us for choice in terms of detail and technology to gettheseexquisitedetailsright.8yearsago,wewouldn’thavedreamedofthissortoffinish,but nowitmakesitorbreakitbecausethedemandforthissortofqualityhasbecomethestandard.
Also,withtheendofthe2024season,bothdriversarenolongerundercontract,andthischapter intheirFormula1careerisover,possiblypermanently.Thismeansthatalltheserepresentations willstarttobecomecollectoritems.
CLIMBING F1 MOUNTAINS
ONE OF THE BIGGEST RIVALRIES ON TRACK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE BUT IS NOT AS HIGH-PROFILE AS MAXVS LEWIS OR MAXVS LEWIS AND, OF COURSE, THE FAMOUS MAX VS LEWIS. AND THAT HAS BEEN THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE DRIVERS OVER AT THE FRENCH TEAM ALPINE: PIERRE GASLY VS. ESTABAN OCON. TWO DRIVERS WHO ARE UNAFRAID TO THROW DOWN THEIR HELMETS AND SLAP EACH OTHER WITH THEIR RACING GLOVES.
But the very essence of the sport is rivalry, and who is better than who? And there you have it on a 1/43 scale with SOLIDO waving the chequered flag on well-priced 1/43 F1 cars with decent detail. As with 1/64, the 1/43 scale for Formula 1 cars has exploded like a V8 combustion chamber, with many brands jumping on and giving us affordable models with great detail. And since the sport is also about team spirit (except forthe drivers), you can get the pair of cars in this case that raced in 2023.
What’s cool about these replicas is that Solido included the drivers' helmets in the cockpit with a modicum of detail and presented a very lovely display package for the rest of the car. In terms of detail, the casting is excellent, and so is the paint job. Detailed graphics alongwiththe brand sponsorlogos onthevehiclewillmake some Formula 1 fans’ day if gifted to them.
UNDERDOGS The
In the realworld, it is evident that team Alfa Romeo in F1 is stilltrying hard to find its footing and return to their racing roots. Also, they haven’t had much luck with their drivers, who have been struggling to compete against other drivers with far superior machines. But they have some nice liveries and colours, and like the ALPINE we spoke about, which appeared in 1/64, so does team Alfa. Hardcore Formula 1 fans prepare to break out the end-of-year bonus.
Fortunately,
with Solido and its wonderful prices, you won’t be breaking the bank, and you can still pick some presents forthe rest of the family. However, attention to detail isn’t compromised, and as a collector interested in F1, you get nice details, such as the drivers' helmets, added to the casting.
written by David Johns
OZ Wheels Series 2 is here and as good as advertised! If you are unfamiliar with this newer Australian diecast brand, now is the time to get caught up. Jesse Marios (Creator of OZ Wheels) set out to bring the cars of his childhood to true 1/64 scale and to tell the story of some of the most iconic automobiles ever produced “down under”. While Series 1 concentrated mainly on Holdens, Series 2 has a fantastic mix of Holden and Ford makes that are distinctly Aussie.
Collectors will note that these models have blacked-out windows (and no interiors), along with full lamp details and metal bases. Jesse says this allowed OZ Wheels to offer more castings early….and the lineup is incredibly strong right out of the gate. We suspect that future series will have interiors, but as an added bonus these current models include rubber tyres (with detailed treads) and realistic wheels. No matter what type of Australian car enthusiast you are, you’ll find one of your favourites in this mix. Series 2 includes Ford Falcons, classic utes, Rozzers (police cars), sedans and panel vans.
I was blown away by how accurate and detailed the wheels were on these beauties. Check out the white wheels on the John Goss Ford XB Falcon! This vehicle was a tribute to the Bathurst 1000 winning vehicle released in 1975. OZ Wheels absolutely nailed this car that is an enormous source of pride to Australians. When I spoke to Jesse, it became quite obvious he wanted to give fellow Aussie collectors vehicles that are not always available in this scaleandsomethingtobeproudof.I’dsay“missionaccomplished”!
Now, personally I prefer street/stock versions of vehicles in my own collection. I certainly get those in this release. What I did not expect, however, was how appealing the “Slammed Edition” castings would also be. OZ Wheels knows how important the custom car culture is to Australian petrol-heads and made sure to includes some releases that are full-on gnarly. So no matter what type of Australian cars you like, OZ Wheels has you covered. Take it from this Yank, these are a must for your collection.
I got your call, Lysander. What's up?
We got ourselves another job, Nic, Let's go!
We're meetin' the Castheads Crew. They're havin' a Tomica Event.
We just gotta fetch some cars. What could possibly go wrong?
I found this event planner team online. I think there's a reason they were cheap
Hi Nigel. How's it goin'?
It's one of those days.
I found this event planner team online. I think there's a reason they were cheap
We're all done now, apart from the dogs.
Dogs? What dogs? And where are the refreshments we ordered?
Refreshments? You said the dogs in the park are hot and need a drink.
NO.. no..
I said we're having hot dogs and drinks where we park.
GOOD JOB my mate was nearby with his Suburu Hot Dog Truck.
Nic fetched the cars too, so we're ready to go.
Well that worked out well.
Who'd have thought you could fit that many hot dogs in a Suburu
Sambar eh?
You staying for a hot dog then Lysander?
Nah, i'm off home to have beans on toast. Mayber next time.
LV-N267d Mazda RX-7 Type R Bathurst R 2001 (Yellow)
LV-N333a NISSAN Silvia Q's Aero 1995 (Black)
LV-N300c MITSUBISHI FUSO Aero Bus Nihon Kotsu
LV-N332a NISSAN Gloria Van River Patrol Car
LV-156c Alfa Romeo GT1600 Junior (Red)
LV-N343a MITSUBISHI FUSO CANTER Garbage Truck (White/Blue)
– JAPANESE FIVE OH SAN
WHILE THE HOBBY WORLD IS GOING WILD FOR CHASE CARS, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NICE TO LOOK AT SOME AUTHENTIC CHASE CARS INTERMS OFCOPSAND ROBBERS CHASE CARS. IT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT SUBCULTURE OF COLLECTING IN SCALE MODEL CAR COLLECTING, AND AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, PLENTYOFBRANDS HAVE NO PROBLEM CATERINGTO IT.
DATSUN FAIRLADY240Z byINNO64
Too cooland old-schoolthis sweet ride is spectacular up close and underthe magnifying glass.This is a perfect 1/64 replicationofwhatisknownasthe240ZG,whichisthefastestgradeoftheNissanZwhenitwaslaunchedasthe240. Ithada2.4-litreenginethatdropped150Bhp,whichin1972wasprettyhardcoreforastockengine.Thecarisalsoaerodynamicallystunning,makingitperfecttocutthroughheadwindsontheexpresswaysintheKanagawaPrefecture.
THEREALCHASECARS
Thisisaperfectreplicationoftherealthing,pureandsimple.Welookedatthiscarallaround,comparingittoasmany pictureswecouldfindonline,andthereisnoquestionaboutit—thisisbrilliant.ForthoseintothesubcultureofcollectingJapanesepolicecars,thishastobeonyourbuylist.Thisthingistoolegittoquit.
SA22C MAZDA RX-7Savanna byHOTWHEELS
Not looking to be outdone by anyone, Hotwheels has been on a year-long campaign to bring collectors back into their honey trap. And to be honest, I think it’s working. After not buying Hotwheels for several years, this month alone has seen a massive uptick in my personal collection and the new 2024 models have been nothing short of blood marvellous.
So,intheveinofnotbeingoutdone,theyhavemadetheircontributiontotheJapanesePoliceCarsubcultureofcollecting,anditcomesintheshapeoftheMazdaRX-7Savannah,whichismorepopularlyknownastheRX-7SA22C.Thiscar were used in the Akita Prefecture as the ‘fast team’ on the highway. Of course, comparing Hotwheels with the rest of thecarsinthisarticleislikecomparingagranitechipagainstrubiesanddiamonds.Butthegranitechiphascharacter, priceandeverlastingbrandloyalists.Theycan’tlose;ifyoucan’tbeatthem,surrender.
TARMACWORKS MKII87 SupraPatrolCar
Would this not be a great petrol/cast head vacation idea? An all-expenses-paid trip to Japan, a sports car of your choice, a set of missions to accomplish, and all the while chased by some of the cars we can only dream of having? Well, one can only dream. But TARMC Works, with its detailed models that fit anyone's purse, brings us one step closer to reality.
Ifyou were travelling around the Saitama Prefecture in the 1970s and 1980s,you would have seen manyofthese Supra’s running in black and white, ensuring no one was abusing the speed limit on the highway. It’s unfairhowthe bad guysinJapangetchaseddown.
PARA64 MITSUBISHI “INTERCEPTOR” 3000GT
Sometimes chases are not about the long games and have to be shut very quickly. That’s when the interceptor comes in. The car used to break the flow of the getaway car. The qualities of an interceptor is quick burst of speed achieved bythe GT’s twin turbo’s, stabilitywith AllWheel Drive, and of course shoving strength achieved through heavy body work.
What’s interesting to note is that none of them were stock produced and then modified into police cars. They had a separatefactorycodewhichshowsthatonly27ofthecarswereuniquelybuiltforthepurposeoflawandorder.
TOMICALIMITED VINTAGENEO THE FAMOUSFD
This is a repeat review, but there is no waywe could bust out the Japanese Police Patrolunits and not recognise the RX-7 by TLVN. This has become a cult classic, and its title and name are mentioned in hallowed whispers at diecast expos and conventions. But to remind our readers and possibly anyone else reading this for the first time, we ran out of adjectives the last time we reviewed this model. It is that good.
For new readers and collectors, TLVN has been setting the standard in detail for a long time, and like all things Japanese, the quality is consistent. This is an absolute must-have and own if you can find one because these are pretty sought-afterinthediecastworld.Intherealworld,theRX7wasusedasahighwaypatrolcarintheSaitamaPrefecture, NiigataPrefecture,andTokyo.
MAZDA BONGOBRAWNY LAWDYby TOMICALIMITED
VINTAGENEO
Thehardworkerandthemessenger.TheJapanesePoliceusethesevanstocarrysignsintraffic.Sometimes,thehighwaysaretoobroad,orpeopletravelathighspeedtoseesigns,sothesevansusuallyactassignsandguidesonthese highways. The MAZDA Bongo was highly efficient and could spend longer on the roads before refuelling, making it popularacrosstheJapanesePoliceforce.
WithTLVN, you can see very plainlythat the details are phenomenal. In addition to excellent information, this casting also includes opening parts.The reardooratthe backflips open, andthe rearpassengerdoorslides open.Thiswillbe ahitwithcollectorswholikeopeningparts,givingthemmorerealismfortheirshoots.
Openingthe sliding doormight be difficult ifyou don't usethe little opening switch underthevan. Keep an eye outfor that.Overall,thisisalovelypiecetoaddtothecollection.Alittletrivia:theboxonthetopofthevandisplaysmessages andiscurvedinthefronttomakeitmoreaerodynamic.
ERACARAND LEXUS REPRESENTSWITH THELC500
If you were a criminal being chased by this, you would feel critical. It is not every day a criminal gets chased by a Lexus. Does the FBI roll up to an arrest in Rolls Royce’s? No! So, to be chased down by a luxury sports car is pretty flashy. Thank God for the police. Someone in the Tochigi Prefecture has a soft spot for their highway police team and felt a Lexus as the company car would be a good step up.
ERACaris anotherbrandthat quietlygets onwith making excellent casting, andtheirLC500 casting istheirsignature dish. What’s cool about this casting is that it has a miniature police figure to fit into the car and a policeman in your scene.Allotherdetailslookexcellent;thiscastingisanothermust-havewinner.
DOUBLETROUBLE FORSPEEDERS INNO64 NISSAN300ZX
Why would anyone go up against a POLICE 300ZX? The car is a literal beast. It has a twin-turbo V6, multilink suspension, four-wheel steering, and 300Bhp on tap stock. If I knew this was after, I would be afraid, terrified.
What isn’tfrightening is INNO64’sversion,which looks spectacular. Eventhe most hardened criminalwould havethis modeladornhiscell,especiallyifhelivedintheKanagawaprefecture,wherethisbeastwasknowntoroam.
- FEATURES
TURES -
EDDIE CASTRO
Being a part of CastHeads Magazine has given me the incredible opportunity to meet some exceptionally talented individuals in the field of entertainment creation. For me, toys represent entertainment, and hobbies play an essential role in how we find joy and amusement in our lives. We all need happiness, fun, and light-heartedness.
Eddie Castro is one of those individuals who brings these joyful moments into our lives through his designs at Maisto and Bburago. As a designer of remarkable collectibles, he creates items that captivate and entertain us, continuously coming up with new designs that keep us engaged and eager to pay the bills for the collectibles we sneak past our partners, often hiding them in plastic storage boxes.
So, what does Eddie Castro do when he finds a moment for himself? He creates CastroArt—a hobby that fuels the passion of someone who consistently keeps our enthusiasm for collectibles alive.
AND THE WORLD OF CASTROART ART DIRECTOR
ART DIRECTOR
An essential part of creating collectables for hardcore hobbyists, regardless of what category of collecting they are into, is the creator’s ability to tap into pop culture. As in Popular Culture, a ceramic plate painter must know whose face will sell more than others on a collectable plate. So, follow the designer and see his art. You get a keen sense of where his inspiration draws.
For example, this famous piece of Eddie speaks volumes about his upbringing through the 80s and 90s and what sort of entertainment shaped his car dreams. From movie references to hip-hop and fashion, there is so much to pick up from. If you miss it, you’re Insane in the Membrane. It’s all there in one picture. And if you don’t know who Dr GreenThumb is, we will have to visit your home.
Asyoucansee,thisiswherethatpopculture reference bleeds into. If you have recently looked at the Maisto Catalogue under the 1/64 scale Muscle Machines category, you will notice that we are the beneficiaries of such clever inspiration utilisation. The famous RTR Mustang, given the Castro effect, is on our shelves at home across the globe.
But for those who have bothered to read this article this far, have we, as collectors, taken for granted the fantastic skills and inspiration that artists like Eddie Castro put into their work, opting for more quick-release pre-order models created by people who grab pictures of the internet and make us promise our hard-earned money to them without even having the assurance that they have the proper licensing? I’m not complaining; indeed, I am as complicit, if not more.
But how can we change that? More dialogue and fewer unboxings? Do we talk to designers and creators and tell them what we want more unitedly? Do we display more variety in our collections instead of showing off gigantic empty prop boxes? Whatever the answers are, we shouldn’t lose respect for those who have a process; we don’t need to compare apples and oranges because sometimes you get the same rotten orange in a different peel, and once in a while, the apples drop perfection. And we can connect more with people like Eddie Castro through his art. It speaks a wealth of street knowledge, the sort of shit you won’t find on TikTok.
AS A PARTING SHOT, I CHOSE THIS PICTURE BECAUSE, TO ME, IT REPRESENTS A SIGN OF RESPECT AND TRIBUTE TO THE ARTISTES AND CAR CULTURE CREATORS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR LOVE FOR DESIGN, MACHINES, AND MADNESS. THE CHAOS OF CAR CULTURE AND THE PEOPLE IT TOUCHES IN EVERY LITTLE WAY, RIGHT DOWN TO 1/125 SCALE.
BIG R
THE ART OF RA
BIGDADDY ROTH
RAT FINK AND THE JOHNNY LIGHTNING SERIES
For years, as I explored various sellers from different countries in search of exotic pieces that would make fantastic eye candy for Instagram,
I kept encountering a character that intrigued me, yet I didn’t know enough about him to incorporate him into my collection.
I have a personal passion for collecting art cars or vehicles adorned with colourful graphics, particularly racing liveries.
Recently, we received a new batch of samples from Round2 in the Johnny Lightning POP Culture series, which included a Chevy featuring a Rat Fink graphic that completely amazed me. While that may sound like an exaggeration, it genuinely sparked my curiosity enough to prompt me to learn more about this Rat Fink character and why he consistently appears in the Johnny Lightning line.
EDROTHwasborninBev wasaprolificrenaissance worldofKustomKulture. RWB’sandLBWK’sthere RodCustomizersthatw someoutrageousmachines. Rothwasoneofthepioneer thisKustomcarmovement. soanti-establishmentin that hecreatedanalter toAmerica’smost ‘Mickey’andthec Fink’wasborn.An sitetothewholesomeness Disney’screation.The artalsobecamethecorner whatwasknownasHot WeirdoGraphics.
BeverlyHillsand renaissancemaninthe ulture.Beforethe therewereHot werecreating machines.Ed pioneersof ement.Hewas inhiscreativity, alteregoversion mostlovedmouse character‘Rat
Anexactoppowholesomenessof TheRatFink cornerstonefor HotRodARTand
By
BIG DADDY ED ROTH AND ME AT HIS HOUSE IN ANAHEIM LA
Handcrafted, built, and painted by Ed Roth in his home garage, his work is a testament to his incredible creative drive for cars and car culture. He has also inspired count less builders and customizers who travelfromafartoseehiscreations.
By Nick Ares from Auburn, CA, United States - 1961 Roth's Beatnik Bandit, CC BY-SA 2.0,
Of course, ED Roth’s more famous creations are the cars he made with some outrageous designs. In fact, one of the first casting from Mattel featured oneofEdRoth’smostfamouscreations.
1959 CADILLAC AMBULANCE
A great colour combination of bright yellow and turquoise blue doesn’t give you a sense of emergency but also makes for the most colourful Ambulance you would ever own in your collection. The wave lines on the bodywork look like heart monitor lines making waves. We have the 8-ball graphic, possibly denoting the magic doctors can do to keep us alive.
The ‘wanna race’ sticker is exactly what you should have on an ambulance for encouragement that both the driver and passenger would be happy with. After all, if you are in an ambulance, you wouldn’t want it to go slower.
1966 CADILLAC HEARSE
This is the sort of way you want to go out RAT FINK style! I love the Rat Fink Graphics on the side and the way the RAT FINK face adorns the black-bodied car. This is probably as anti-establishment as you can get, and Kudos to the guys at JL for coming up with this casting.
The white wall tyres and covered silver hubcaps cer tainly give the viewer an idea of period that the Rat Fink team was going with.
1965 VW TYPE 2
When it comes to art and vehicles the VW bus in all generations has been the perfect canvas. And over the decades it has not been spared the cultural revolution and the stories drawn on the famous VW bus. This makes it the perfect canvas for a little RAT FINK art.
These castings also come with a collector storage tin, which snaps into place and matches the graphics of the bus. Additional adornments include RAT FINK surfboards and shiny nickel-plated hubcaps famous on the VW Transporters.
FLIGHT OF THE RAT FINK
You can almost hear the orchestra playing "Flight of the Valkyries" while also seeing Rat Fink preparing to swoop down from atop an eyeball. This is one of Ed Roth's classic Weirdo T-shirt designs, which is widely used on the Rat Fink merchandise from Johnny Lightning.
Even though the art containssomegrotesquevisual elements, it's more of a shock-and-laugh approach to monsters than a shockand-horror approach. The colours remain bright and cheerful and don’t give off a vibe of impending doom. It’s quite clever of Ed Roth to juxtapose horror visuals withcutecampyvibes.
Johnny Lightning Zingers are JL’s special edition version, with a limited production run and unique details like unusual paint, rubber wheels, and greater detail. This gorgeous, outrageous Cadillac El Dorado will scream on your collection shelf, and rightly so. Dressed in Candy Purple, Rubber tyres, white-walled, low rider pin-
Limited to 2496 pieces, this model has a lot of detail and a lot of gold plating. The gold-plated engine is set in an open matt black engine bay area. The gold extends to the chassis like a reverse low rider raised at the back. And finally, beautiful gold wire wheels wrapped up in thick rubber profile wheels are surrounded by white. And not a crappy white. No, it looks like
print on the windscreen itself; it pays tribute to the man known as Big Daddy Roth and aptly named the Big Daddy Caddy. Closer inspection reveals that the superchargers' air intake is hollowed out instead of a solid tube. That takes some impressive machine work on a model with only 2496 releases.
1950 CHEVY SUBURBAN
Brand new from the latest release of the JL POP Culture set. The brand-new tooling and casting that got me on this journey would probably set me off on a new subculture to collect. In retrospect, this is perhaps the most subdued version in Johnny Lightning's Rat Fink collection. Instead of loud colours and graphics, this is a more sombre tone of brass gold with the Rat Fink graphics
COCKTAILS AND EYEBALLS
Johnny Lightning celebrates Rat Fink and Ed Roth with Cadillac because it was his favourite brand of car for stripping parts to create his outlandish designs.
There is a documentary called Tales of the Rat Fink, narrated by John Goodman, that describes Ed Roth’s life and genius.
The red-painted steelies make a nice addition, and the contrasting gloss black bonnet creates the visual lines of the old Suburban. Added to this lovely design is the bonnet opening to reveal the engine, the number plate at the back says ‘ROTTER,’ and the car has a red interior.
His creations made him a pioneer in fibreglass modelling, and some of them are iconic and ahead of their time, like the Beatnik Bandit.
Are you a fan of Ed Roth and his creations? Well you are in good company, so is Rob Zombie.
RAT FINK TRAILERS
Need some hauling? Auto World and JL have quite a few truck options with tow hooks at the back so that you can add your Rat Fink Trailer to hauling and some Rat Fink madness to your display or photography.
The trailers feature 360-degree Rat Fink Graphics and have doors at the back so that you can use them as storage pieces. They also have screw-type stands that allow you to sit them in place without a tow vehicle. Again, these make great background pieces and accessories.
PUMAandScuderiaFerrariHPunveil
DESERT SUN COLLECTION
withCharlesLeclercandCarlosSainzinLasVegas
Yesterday, Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz made an exciting two-hourappearanceatthenewlyopenedPUMAFlagshipstoreinLasVegas.Thedrivers captivated fans, celebrated the launch of the Desert Sun Collection, and amplified the longstanding PUMA-Scuderia Ferrari HP partnership with an in-store experience packed with engaging moments and interactive fan opportunities.
The drivers kicked off the event with an entrance into the store as they greeted fans and media outside. Exclusive media interactions followed, where Leclerc and Sainz shared insights on their journey with Scuderia Ferrari HP, as well as the inspiration behind the Desert Sun Collection. Fans and media were then invited to experience unique in-store elements, including the “48 Club” area and sim-racing activities inspired by Las Vegas.
The drivers led a customization session for the Desert Sun Collection at the PUMA x YOU station, creating personalized items featuring their driver numbers, symbols like “Leo” for Leclerc, and a chili pepper for Sainz. The customizations will remain available for fans throughout the week. Twenty lucky fans enjoyed a personal meet-and-greet, collecting autographs and photos in a memorable fan session.
The first 100 fans who purchased items from the Desert Sun Collection received a limited-edition Las Vegas-themed tote bag, co-branded to mark the occasion. .
" Favoritepartofthecollection:
Carlos: “I enjoy the Varsity Jacket the most. This is a great high quality item and great to be combined with the Desert Sun Collection.”
Charles: “As I love hoodies, this is for sure one of my favorite items together with the Varsity Jacket. Aside of this, the Desert Sun collection style in general with the washed out look is fantastic!”
Favorite part of the activation:
Carlos: “To enter the PUMA store with the Ferrari Showcar at the entrance is a great way to start your experience. All the activities including SIM Racing, customizing our shoes plus to see the secret vault was really great.
Charles:“Thestoreismassive.Bigshout-outtoPUMAtobringthis store on the Las Vegas Strip to life. There is so much to explore with all the details to Las Vegas culture, exclusive collections I never saw before and great options with the SIM Racing and customization to enjoy your time.”
JADA IMPALA AND THE LOWRIDER CONTINGENT
You may not realise this, but vehicles have been at the centre of every significant revolution known to humanity. From the military to industry, music to the art movement, film and economy at every level of society, vehicles have quietly changed lives magnanimously.
Mexican Americans in the 40s would choose their cars as a tool for anti-establishment. In contrast to the American Hot Rods, which were loud, brash, and fast, they would customise carsthatwouldrideslowandlowtotheroad,paintedinelaboratedesigns,colours,andpaint finishes.Thehydraulicsuspensionscameintoeffectlateronwhenthelawchangedtorestrict cars from being ‘too’ low, so mechanic Ron Aguirre installed height-adjusting hydraulics to circumvent the law
Since these cars were required to be slow and arty, the Chevy Impala proved an extremely popular choice for these young men to modify. Itwasalargeboatwithwheelsandplentyofart reala estate for extravagant paint and design. The Impala was also a bit of a slow cruiser, which filled the other requirement for being classified as a low rider.
THIS HISTORY AND CULTURE ARE EMBODIED IN JADA’S LOW RIDERS. THE PURPLE ONE IS A 1959 CHEVY IMPALA DIRECT FROM JADA’S ‘STREET LOW’ SERIES, AND THE HOT PINK VERSION IS A 1960 IMPALA FROM THE PINK SLIPS 09 SERIES. THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY MODELS OR LOW RIDERS THAT JADA DOES. THEY HAVE SEVERAL VERSIONS OF THE IMPALA ALONE, SPANNING MANY GENERATIONS, COLOURS, AND DESIGN MOTIFS.
Both have some intricate designs layered on top of beautiful metallic paint, and these big, wide bodies sit on low-profile wire wheels like shiny floats. Of the two cars featured, the Pink Slips is far louder than the Purple Street Lows version, but JADA achieves a balance that provides fans with a wide array of choices.
IT’S EXCELLENT THAT JADA HAS CHOSEN TO CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CAR CULTURE, WHICH HAS MANAGED TO CROSS OVER INTO OTHER FORMS OF POP CULTURE, LIKE MUSIC AND VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT, AND SERVE AS A STRONG VISUAL IDENTITY FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE FAR FROM HOME.
I don’t know how many people who read this magazine are Elvis fans, and I’m sure an even smaller number of them would know exactly what colours Elvis had his 200 Cadillacs in. His most famous Fleetwood Caddy Series 60 was his pink version because it was the first Caddy he bought. He followed it up on July 5, 1955, by purchasing the same thing in blue with a black roof. He then had it painted in a custom pink called‘ElvisRose’andgiventohismother.Buthis mother didn’t have a license, so Elvis used the cartotransporthimandhisbandmatestogigs.
COME JOIN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY AND TAKE PART IN SPECIAL OFFERS, COMPETITIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN SOME COOL MODELS. LOOK FOR SHUTTERCASTERS ON FACEBOOK OR SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW
