HOT WHEELS: FERRARI DINO 246 GTS

Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Diecast Model Red 1/18 Die Cast Car By Hotwheels

The Ferrari Dino 246 GTS is a stunning model, fully demonstrating once again how fortunate are those whose collections feature Ferraris, for they are so often presented with excellence. The review sample is in the familiar red, and fully illustrates the high quality, from the wheels and windscreen wipers to the various lights all represented as separate plastic fittings. A review such as this cannot really do justice to this model: better that you inspect an example, and you wll undoubtedly decide to include it in your collection.

BBURAGO: DODGE VIPER WITH HARD TOP

1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe Diecast Model 1/18 Blue Die Cast Car by Bburago

The model is from Bburago have always been well respected, being at the forefront of larger scale model production. Bbrurago models hae always been of the highest quality, and at an affordable price. This model is the Dodge Viper in metallic blue, with white stripes, comes the 1996 car as a hard top, which is equally good, and comes complete with spare wheel, the opening parts such as the doors, are a good fit and thus do not spoil the lines of the model.

ERTL - 1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR

The large scale models always look good, and certainly impressived when the items modelled are American cars.This model offerings by ERTL are the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air in red and black. In each case, the model is accurate and well detailed. See more.

MATCHBOX: THE 5A BUS

It was not until the London bus, 5a, was added to the range in mid-1954, the sales of the newly-launched Matchbox Toys expanded rapidly. The 5a bus initially advertised ‘Matchbox series’ but later models featured ‘Player Please’ for a comparatively short time and for a long time ‘BP Viscostatic’. The BP company was one of a number which paid for the privilege of having its name advertised on Matchbox vehicles. The bus had paper labels advertising the ‘Matchbox series’. It was by far the smallest Lesney bus, as it measured only 52mm. The bus had paper labels advertising the ‘Matchbox series’. It comes with or without a number plate recess at the rear. The undetailed grille was decorated with gold trim.

CORGI TOYS: CHARLIE'S ANGLES CHEVROLET VAN

The Chevrolet van was the basis of quite a few TV related models. The first and by far the best was the bright pink ‘Charlie’s Angels silhouette logo emblazoned on each body side. Opening rear doors and transparent roof panels served to display the cardboard custom interior of this 1/40th scale van which could be found with either solid or four-spoke whizzwheels. A very tastefully produced model that lasted until 1981. See more.

VANGUARDS: VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET

The first of the new range of Vanguards has been seen, and it is clear that Lledo is setting a new standard with these models. This initial release is the Volkswagen Cabriolet, which comes in maroon with cream interior and black hood. The first impressions are good: Lledo has captured the look of the vehicle extremely well, and such aspects as the silver trim, door handles and windscreen wipers are well portrayed. Dashboard detail is provided. Particularly good are the wheels and the glazed windscreen.

This model are being offered at an advantageous price, but perhaps Lledo might consider for the future making the headlights plastic, rather than chrome, and painting some of the interior detail.

Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the Vanguards are going to prove to be extremely popular models.

Lledo has changed the packaging with these models, making for a much more attractive presentation.--Model Collectors See More for VW Mania

CORGI: SCAMMELL HIGHWAYMAN 'CARTER' IN THE SHOWMAN's RANGE

The first of the Showman's Range of models has arrived in town, namely the Scammell Highwayman hauling a closed pole trailer and caravan.

On opening the box one finds a part of a card kit which will build into a Super Dodgems. With this series will come a number of such kits building into various fair ground attractions. Also included is a numbered cerfiticate, showing the total production of 14,300, plus a ticket to enjoy a free ride at Carters.

The Scammell Highwayman is well known and the decoration has been very well applied, although it is a pity the rear number plate is a sticker.

The pole truck is perhaps a little disappointing, since the decoration is in the form of labels. Probably it would have been difficult to have printed the large expanse of orange. Understandably the posters at the rear of the stuck on the vehicle.

The caravan is delight, particularly in relation to the gold trim.

This is certainly a colourful start to the range which will look good either in a display cabinet or arranged as a diorama with the kits assembled. See more.

MATCHBOX: LOTUS EUROPA

The Lotus Europa was a low, mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied sports coupe produced between 1969 an 1974. It was originally intended to be a Lotus/Ford GT racing project, although Ford pulled out late in the day, and the car was released as a Lotus. Early models were powered by Renault engines, but later examples had Ford Cosworth motors. The Europa was quite expensive and, as a result, only around 9000 were sold. However, it was extremely popular in toy form, with models produced by Matchbox, Dinky, corgi, Diapet and many others.

The Matchbox version was first painted a dark metallic blue, with an off-white interior, clear windscreen and an unpainted metal base. It featured opening doors and a towing hook, features extremely popular with children. Early models featured narrow Super wheels and squared wheel arches, while later models had the base altered to accommodate the wider wheels, and the body casting was modified so as to have larger, rounder wheels arches. In 1971, the colour scheme was changed to what many collectors call ‘metallic pink’, which is more of a lustrous fuchsia shade.

It was revived in 1977 in a new colour scheme for the Japanese series. It was painted black with tampo-printed gold coach lining, representing a limited edition JPS sponsored car.

In the late 1980s, the Europa casting was revived again for inclusion in the el-cheapo ‘Super GT’ range, although this time without the opening doors or interior.

THE RENAULT ESTAFETTE FROM NOREV

It is always good to find a vehicle being modeled which has not previously been seen. This is the model with the Renault Estafette from Norev, which is being made in two versions: van in both cases with either low roof or high roof. The model captures the shape and look of the actual vehicle.

The van version with low roof comes in blue. Norev has release a 1/18 replica of Renault Estafette van from 1959. See more.

The high roof van version comes in yellow with an ivory roof. Made of diecast, opening doors, opening trunk, wheels roll and steerable wheels. See more.

An interesting choice of vehicle which offers the modeler something different for the cabinet.

MATCHBOX: FORD ZODIAC MARK IV

The first release for 1968 was the Ford Zodiac Mark IV (53C). this model featured an opening bonnet which included a spare wheel next to the engine. The body was in a light metallic blue with a cream interior. A tiny rear view mirror had been moulded into the plastic windscreen for the first time. A rare version of this Zodiac with regular wheels may be found in mettalic light green, a cross-over with the Superfast colour change which occurred in 1970. The standard regular wheel release is shown together with the three Superfast versions, the rarest of which is the mettalic blue model fitted with Superfast wheels.

There were two casting alterations associated with this car. The engine blocks are located under the dashboard such that they hold the engine in place. The wide blocks are 3.5 mm wide and the narrow ones are 2.5 mm wide. When present, a small tab is to be found between these blocks. Two base castings were used for this model with slightly different tow slot sizes at 5.5 mm and 6 mm respectively.

MG 1100 BY MATCHBOX

Matchbox have produced MG models in their '1-75 Miniatures' range. On February 1966 , it was the MG version of the MG 1100 saloon (64b), a common sight throughout Britain in the 1960s. MG 1100 was finished in mid green with a very good off-white moulded interior, 4-door sports saloon, painted in a flamboyant maroon, it was in fact released in green with the usual features of windows, ‘unbreakable towhook’, seats, steering wheel, spring suspension and brightly plated bumpers, grille and headlights. These ‘usual features’ were improved by the addition of a driver and a dog lying on the rear seat with its head through the rear side window.

The mode was revised in 1970 with the substitution of ‘Superfast’ low friction wheels of the original, and the colour was changed to a sort of blue/turquoise metallic. The scale was 1/57th.

DETAIL CARS: FERRARI F355

Detail Cars: Ferrari F355 Coupe


Detail Cars : 1/43 Ferrari F355 Spyder

Two basic cars have been added to the Detail Cars range (distributed by Corgi). This is the Ferrari F355 of 1994, which comes in two versions. This is certainly a very fine models, with some good detailing touches and accurate reddition of the look of the actual car. The version being offered are the Spyder and Coupe.

MGB ROADSTER BRITISH RACING GREEN

From its announcement in 1962, it was obvious that the MGB was going to be a big success. The extremely attractive styling, masterminded at Abingdon by MGs chief body draughtsman Don Hayter, was bang up to date and covered MGs the monocoque structure, which was if anything stronger than it needed to be. You did not get scuttle shake in an MGB! It was produced for over eighteen years and in that time 513,272 were made, making it the best selling sports car in the world for many years. The 1800cc B-Series pushrod engine produced only 95bhp, giving a 0-60 time of 12.2 seconds, so it was not the faster vehicle in the world but it had a great competition career nevertheless.

The MGB Roadster was a joy to own as it was beautifully balanced to drive, reliable, comfortable, economical, pretty and above all fun. Today its very popularity means that it is one of the easiest classic cars in the world to look after, as every component can still be bought new, including the bodyshell.

A version of the MGB Roadster sees this model in the very prominent British racing green. As previously mentioned, this is a fine looking model, with a good paint finish. See more.

LLEDO: AUSTIN 7 MINI

The Mini is of course another of the modelled car, and one of which the shape is not always totally captured. Lledo, however, has performed an extremely good job in getting the shape and propotions of this car right. They have chosen the 1959 Austin 7 Mini as DG74, which comes in either dark red, or as a white Police version, complete with roof sign and blue light. Lledo is planning to offer both left and right hand drive versions of the Mini.

Clearly Lledo is offering these models at a competitive price, so finer detailing points are not included. However, if the Mini is the standard to be set for future releases, then there will be much to look forward to from lledo.

LLEDO: VW BEETLE WITH SPLIT REAR SCREEN

This model is DG72, the 1952 Volkswagwen Beetle with split rear window. While it is true this is a car frequently modelled, this is a pleasing rendition, which captures the shape, and yet is reasonably priced. Two versions have so far been produced: in patel green and in blue.

LLEDO: VW KOMBI VANS 'CINZANO' AND 'BOSCH'

Volkswagen, this time the 1955 Kombi van, comes as DG73. As a sign of the added attention to detail now being offered by lledo, one version, in the livery of Cinzano, has let hand drive, while the second, in the livery of Bosch ( in Hendon, London), has right hand drive. Again this is pleasing model with attractive liveries.

GO BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH SUNSTAR

Back to the Future I version

Back to the Future II version

The railroad version of the DeLorean as seen in Back to the Future III

The way I figured it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? –‘Doc’ Emmett L.Brown.

In 1985, teenager Marty Mcfly accidentally found himself behind the wheel of Doc Brown’s lastest invention, a super customized DeLorean retrofitted with a portable plutonium-powered nuclear reactor which sent him hurting through the veil of time 30 years into the past to help his parents fall in love. Doc explained to Marty that the car’s stainless-steel construction helps with flux dispersal, an aid necessary for time travelling. When he later travelled forward to the future, Doc took the DeLorean concept to all new heights. Modified and futurised with a simple hover conversion from the year 2015. Enabling the DeLorean to defy gravity as well as the time barrier, and later in the Wild West it a railway.

A trio of terrific models from SunStar accurately portray the amazing DeLoreans for the Back to the Future trilogy. These gorgeously detailed 1:18 cars show the original car and the modified high-wire-catching pole version from the first film, the wheel swiveling version from the second film and finally the railtracked version from the third episode. See more

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD II

During 1985 the James Bond film, A View to A Kill, was given its premiere. To coincide with this, Matchbox released a silver Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II with a grey interior and a plated base in a special presentation box. Three other models were intended to accompany the Rolls Royce as special issues, but in the event only the Renault 11 taxi was issued. At this time the models were not part of the range and it was not until 1986 that a recolored Royce Royce in cream became available, initially with a ‘Made in England’ base, but soon altered when the whole range moved to the Far East to be manufactured in Macau. Incidentally, apart from the GT range, this was the last 1-75 model made in England. (Model Collector 1988)

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW MARK II

Following the gap of five years a red Rolls Royce Mark II (MB39) with yellow interior was shown in the 1979 catalogue. In July of that year the model became available in America and in September it appeared in the United Kingdom. However, the catalogue version proved to be a pre-production, for in the even it came in silver with red seats, opening front doors, a chrome plated radiator and an unpainted base. In April 1981 the car was colored to metallic red with an ivory interior. Light and dark tan interiors were also found.

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW COUPE

Although the Rolls Royce Silver Shadows joined the 1-75 range in 1967, one of the first Superfast models to be produced in 1969 was the Silver Shadow Coupe (MB69). It lasted for four years but during that tome it was colored metallic blue and several shades of gold. The interior was either in Brown or ivory. The tonneau cover came in tan or black and the base came in many colors. In order to accommodate the wider Superfast slicks its wheel arches were soon adapted. Hence this model also comes with thin or wide wheels and narrow or wide wheel arches. The full listing shows the range of variations.

MATCHBOX ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW

In March 1967 the Rolls Royce was continued with a Silver Shadow (MB 24) painted in metallic red. This model also included an opening boot. Another new aspect was the fitting of silver hubs to make the wheels appear more realistic. Later the hubs became silver wheels with separate tyres. Newer versions of the model included a patent number on the base as well as a facility below the number plate to make towing easier.