Johnny Lightning Just Keeps Growing! | |
Once exclusively a 1:64 brand, JL released a series of 1:24 diecasts of popular muscle cars last year, and now it has done the same in 1:18much to our delight. As with the other scales, the idea is to provide dynamic and accurate reproductions of favorite cars at prices that will attract new collectors and allow long-time fans to be able to buy the entire collection. Representing the Chevy camp are a Chevelle SS 454 and a Nova SS 396 from 1970. The Chevelle is a solid choice, as its one of a handful of all-time favorites, and it looks great in silver with black SS stripes. More interesting is the Nova; with its 375-horse L89 motor, its the sleeper of the century among factory Novas, and we really like the Corvette-style scoop grafted onto the hood. There is a subtle two-tone to the silver paint on this car; the finish below the side stripes is a shade lighter. Overall, both are cool Chevys and welcome big brothers to the JL family. |
Buggin’ Out! | |||
Maistos G-Ridez line continues to roll merrily along, representing the modern custom scene, but custom VWs (mainly the Bug, but increasingly buses, Karmann Ghias, 1500s and even the oddand we mean oddThing) have a following so avid and widespread that they deserved their own diecast line. And so, V-Bugz. Presently, the line encompasses 1:24 and 1:18 vehicles, and a batch of 1:64s was just announced. Chopped tops, slammed stances and low and wide wheels are the order of the day, but the finish is what really makes V-Bugz shine. Bugz make up most of the lineespecially in the big scalesbut buses are coming on. Two-tone paint is another growing theme, and this is particularly effective on the rectangular bus. The 1:64 group are prototypes, and we dig the Karmann Ghia body style and the smoothie hubcaps. Theres 1500 sedan there, too, but no fastbackyet. |
Real Deal | ||
We liked the 1:24 Hummer H2s that So Real Concepts released last year, and we just got our first look at the companys sophomore effort: a pair of 57 Chevysa Pickup and a Suburbanat the 2006 DieCast X Collectors Expo (see coverage on page 56). They share a few thingsnotably the lifted suspension and roll-over-anything Super Swamper tires on Weld wheelsbut the 57 bodies with their curves and character lines are so much more interesting than the refrigerator-shaped Hummers. Also more interesting are their enginesstill small-block V-8s and still supercharged, but thats where the similarities end. The tall hood of the 57 gives clearance for a traditional roots-type blower topped by a pair of 4-barrel carbs. This old-school engine is more in character with a custom 4×4 image, and its more interesting than the densely packed nest of pipes and hoses on many modern engines. No word on final color choices, but the metallic red truck and the dark primer Suburban look good to us. |