Die Cast X

It Must be Love: Auto-Haulers Rolls New Releases in 1:64

Joe Kelly Jr. — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:56:03 +0000

M2 Machines’ Auto-Haulers seems to have struck a good nerve with collectors in 1:64, and the line is expanding with this Series 6 release. It’s sure working on us, right down to the retro-look logo M2 uses for the packaging on the wee trucks.

The series includes a 1956 Ford C-500 Cab-Over-Engine toting a 1970 429 “Drag-Pack” Torino Cobra, a 1957 Dodge COEwith “New ’59 Dodge” art work on its trailer, and a 1959 Chevy Viking LCF hauling a ’57 Bel Air. Like rarities? That last one is also available in a “chase” version, with chromed wheels.

The combinations work well, and the details, including lensed headlights, beautiful paint and trim, and exquisite tamped-on decos, deliver a heck of a lot of display in a small (well, not too small) package. These will be on the pegs soon. Get truckin’.

M2machines.com

Gallery > M2 Auto Haulers 6

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2012 Super Convention

Die Cast X Magazine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:34:21 +0000

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas NV
featuring the Die Cast Hall of Fame Ceremony

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

GreenLight Collectibles Daytona 500 Pace Cars

Andy Goodman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:10:08 +0000

Coming to the table with two new licenses, GreenLight is offering its first set of 1:18 Daytona 500 pace cars, the result of a team effort between GreenLight, NASCAR, and the Daytona International Speedway.

These detailed pace cars come from two very important years in NASCAR and DAYTONA 500 history; the 1979 Daytona 500 was the second race of the season – and this particular race would soon be considered the most important race in stock car history. A crash (and subsequent fist fight between the two leaders, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, along with Donnie’s brother Bobby) gave old and new fans something to talk about the next day. That gave this race – and the sport – national publicity.

1981 was also a momentous year. Richard Petty, after a gutsy call bypassing a tire change for only a splash of fuel with 24 laps to go, became the first driver to win the DAYTONA 500 in three different decades.

GreenLight.com

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Die Cast X Collectors Expo

Die Cast X Magazine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:32:49 +0000

Die Cast X Collectors Expo/RCX
Long Beach Convention Center
300 East Ocean Ave.
Long Beach, CA. 90802

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Die Cast X Collectors Expo

Die Cast X Magazine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:31:41 +0000

Die Cast X Collectors Expo/RCX
Long Beach Convention Center
300 East Ocean Ave.
Long Beach, CA. 90802

Die Cast X - The Ultimate Diecast Magazine

FIRST LOOK! Kyosho’s 1:64 Racing Ferrari Collection!

Joe Kelly Jr. — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:35:13 +0000

1:64 is going to get just a bit hotter this summer thanks to this new lineup of 1:64 Ferrari F1 racers from Kyosho, arriving soon in the form of pre-decorated kits.

Each kit contains approximately ten pre-painted and tampo-decorated pieces, and comes with an included screwdriver – everything snaps into place and final-fastens with the screws, and as we see from these advance factory images, the ease of assembly is matched by a super detailed display piece sure to please F1 fans and 1:64 collectors alike. The cars also come with a display base.

Why kits? It’s a long story that has to do with licensing and regional distribution of the Ferrari brand. Here’s the best news: unlike many of Kyosho’s 1:64 selections, this one’s got a sure pipeline into the US – DaBoxToys, an online retailer specializing in these hard-to-find models since 2003.

Check out the lineup card – pretty promising. We’ll have samples in hand soon, so stay tuned.

www.daboxtoys.com

Gallery > Kyosho 1:64 Ferrari Kits

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MEET DCX THIS WEEKEND: Join us at Motorama in Harrisburg, PA

Joe Kelly Jr. — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:21:33 +0000

Hey! What are YOU doing this weekend? Why not come to Motorama in Harrisburg, PA, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex? Andy Goodman, Mike Zarnock, and Joe Kelly, Jr. will be there, along with Kevin from The Radio Control Show and some of our pals from the Air Age staff! We’ll have giveaways, special prizes, and more. Stop in, say hello, and let’s talk about what makes you enjoy being a part of collecting – whatever it is you’re into, we’d like to hear it.

And don’t forget the real cars – hundreds of them, spread out in categories that range from race to customs and beyond. There’ll be Go-Kart racing, real car racing, and more – and it’s all indoors. If you love diecast, R/C, or any part of the collecting hobby, it’s a must see event, with a million square feet of cars, vendors, diecast, and gear. We’ll see you there!

www.motoramaevents.com

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Cover Cars : GreenLight’s ‘Zine Machines Series 2

Andy Goodman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:33:19 +0000

Just because a car magazine was issued in the 21st century doesn’t mean that the machine on the cover wasn’t a historic, high-octane legend from years past. GreenLight Collectibles’ ‘Zine Machines Series 2 features a plethora of cars from the ’60s and ’70s that your dad and his pals (and probably his little sonny boy) drooled over. It’s not all oldies; ‘Zine Machines also pays respect to the newer muscle cars roaming the streets today – like the 2010 Shelby GT500 featured on the cover of Motor Trend (March 2009), making an appearance in a blaze of Grabber Blue with Torch Red racing stripes.

‘Zine Machines Series 2 features magazine cover cars from Super Chevy, Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Vette from 1968 to 2011.

greenlighttoys.com

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Here Comes the Sun: Danbury Mint 1:24 1956 Ford Sunliner

Joe Kelly Jr. — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:47:02 +0000

Danbury Mint’s 1956 Ford Sunliner is a classic model of a classic car; a mold set that’s been around the scale block a few times, but was so good when it was first tooled that every fresh decoration makes it worth owning again. In this Sunset Coral and black, the car is one of the prettiest ’fifties images we’ve seen in a while in this scale, with opening doors, hood, and trunk, working sun visors, tilting seats, and the usual DM build quality. Yep – close to twenty years since the mold set first appeared, this variant comes out of its box tight, crisp, and beautifully screwed and glued together. The snap-on up top looks great, and goes on and comes off smoothly, as does the included top-down boot.

Comparing this release to an older example is kinda cool; the added details like the steel fuel lines under the hood, and the advanced, foil-based decos outside show how far Danbury Mint has come – and the mold set shows just how good they always were. Classics never get old, on the road or on the shelf. They just find new folks to appreciate them.

danburymint.com

Gallery > Danbury Mint 1956 Sunliner

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Look Back 1:24: Danbury Mint 1948 Chrysler Town & Country

Joe Kelly Jr. — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:54:57 +0000

In certain cultures, it is believed that wood is capable of absorbing and storing the essence of human contact, like some instant-on organic recorder. Perhaps it’s that mystical connection that makes old wood-bodied cars so attractive to car buffs… and makes the material so welcomed for use in a model.

Danbury Mint’s 1948 Chrysler Town & Country wears thin lumber on its sides, and another organic material – leather – on its seats. And while we can’t attest to any psychic emanations from the aging (circa 1994) model, we can say that the car is acquiring a mellow, soft-edged patina as the years go by.

It was a great release then, and it’s still a knockout. On display, the heavy sculpt wears a great deep “Regal” maroon, and the wood cladding is held in place by neatly tooled, cast, and painted “wooden” bracing made to look like the ash that the real T&C wore. A neat feature is the real pin hinges at the trunk – and the crisply cast, beautifully flashed chrome all around.

The opening doors, hood, and trunk all fit the shell on great shut lines, in spite of the added planking and decking. Under the hood, the “Spitfire” eight is only moderately wired and plumbed, but it wears authentic colors and a tampo’d-on instruction deco on its oil-bath air filter; follow the detail below and you’ll find a metal-intensive, nicely turned out chassis and drivetrain. Creak those deck hinges open for a look at the stowed spare affixed to the carpeted floor in the trunk.

The aforementioned leather in the interior is thin-sheet stuff – a good thing, as the material was stretched over the pleat-patterned seat forms to look (and feel) like one of the very few options offered on this top-of-the-line Chrysler. Above the carpeted floor there’s a great dash; below that is a pair of eye-scrunchingly complete heater blowers.

It’s long been retired, but not hard to find; new-in-box examples are still occasionally trading, and decently treated ones (like this auction-bought sample) going for a fraction of the original asking price of around $120.00, if minus the packaging or provenance. We’re considering adding another variant – Danbury’s 1942 Town & Country sedan, also with wood sides – to keep this one company. Call it, “once more, with feeling”.

danburymint.com

Gallery > Danbury Town and Country

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