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HOT WHEELS DETECTIVE! RSOTCAKCINEY’, RDOALVLIDIN: ’, WRENCHINp’ .32 TRACK DOWN SPECIAL RELEASES ››› THE PASSION, PRODUCTS & PERSONALITIES Look Inside TSM’s Turbine-Powered JSEETTLotus56B 100OVER MODELS INSIDE Display until December 3, 2013 TRAGIC MAGIC BRUSH UP AUTOart’s 1:43 ’55 Detailing Diecast— Le Mans D-Type we show you how WINTER 2014 | DCXmag.com









contents die cast x | winter 2014 24 32 features 32 | David’s Goliath How to build an empire (hint: don’t be afraid) 40 | Wheel to Real Yes, these are Hot Wheels. No, they won’t fit your track. 48 48 | Detail This We get busy with Maisto’s C7 Corvette OUT OF THE BOX 24 | TSM Models Lotus 56B Spin Master The ultimate diecast community—DCXmag.com 28 | Paragon 1971 Jaguar XJ6 Series Like video? So do we. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be moving a ton of new model reviews (and some golden oldies) onto the Die Cast X YouTube channel and onto DCXmag.com. There Saving Grace are some great cars coming out this holiday season, and you won’t want to miss a single feature. And get ready to jingle those bells: we’re partnering with Amazon.com and eBay to 36 | Minichamps Mullin Xenia represent the diecast collecting hobby this holiday season — that ought to make those gift hints and Delahaye a lot easier to drop. Check DCXmag.com for details. Stay close to the keys: you won’t want to miss the regular updates we’ll be posting as we get ready for the first-ever DCX Superconven- Resin Rises tion in Vegas. To stay in the loop, check out DCXmag.com and the Die Cast X Facebook page (facebook.com/diecastxmag). February is closer than you think. 44 | AUTOart Jaguar D-Type “Le Mans 1955” Type Casting Die Cast X (ISSN 1551-854X) published quarterly by Air Age UP FRONT QUICK LOOKs Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Copyright 2013, all rights reserved. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage 6 | Editorial 56 | Auto World “Gene Snow” Prices is Pending at Wilton, CT, and additional offices. Funny Car Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008153. Calling All ... 57 | CMC 1955 Mercedes 300 CONTRIBUTIONS: All materials published in Die Cast X SLR “Fangio” magazine become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc., 8 | Scale Mail 58 | Esval Mercedes 260D unless prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. Pullman Landaulet Descriptions of products were obtained from manufacturers or Questions, answers, comments 60 | CMC Maserati 300S their press agencies and do not constitute an endorsement by Rolling Chassis the Publisher or guarantee their safety. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Call 10 | Inside Line 62 | TSM Models Tyrrell (866) 298-5652. Outside the U.S.: (386) 246-3323, or go to our 006/Belgian GP 1973 website: DCXmag.com. Rates one year (4 issues): U.S. $25; Events and industry news 64 | AUTOart 1958 Porsche Canada, $28, including GST; all others, $32. All international Speedster “McQueen” orders must be prepaid in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. 12 | Showroom Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. ON THE COVER: TSM Models’ Lotus 56B is a high-tech ADVERTISING: Advertising rates are available on request. New releases & first looks model of a cutting edge design. Think high detail has to be Please send advertising materials to Advertising Dept., Air high-priced? Think again. (Photo by Peter Hall) Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA; phone (203) REGULARS 431-9000; fax (203) 529-3010; email: sales@ airage.com. EDITORIAL: Send correspondence to Editors, Die Cast X, 52 | Hot Wheels Highway Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Email: [email protected]. We welcome all editorial submissions Super Sleuth but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. To authors, photographers and people 66 | Collector Profile: Dennis Koleber featured in this magazine: all materials published in Die Cast rebuilds history ... X become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc. unless a prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. CHANGE ... and might even sell you some OF ADDRESS: To make sure you don’t miss any issues, send your new address to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 USA at least six weeks before you move. Please include an address label from a recent issue, or print the information exactly as shown on the label. For faster service, go to DCXmag.com/cs, and click on the customer service link. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142- 0235 USA.

EDITORIAL Stacey David’s “Rat Roaster.” WINTER 2014 | VOLUME 10, NO. 1 Calling All ... EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Joe Kelly Jr. AS WE GO TO PRESS, there’s a caravan of sorts working its way across the outskirts of Deputy Managing Editor Katherine Pierpont Nashville. Some of that parade is fairly flashy — custom trucks, high-end sport and muscle Copyeditor Suzanne Saunders cars, and mega-buck hot rods — but most of the rumble is coming from bigger rigs, built for CONTRIBUTORS hauling. And haul, they have. Stacey David is relocating to a new studio/garage — all the better Bill Bennett, Wayne Moyer, Mike Zarnock to keep up his work spreading the post-Speed Channel message of just how cool cars are. Not ART just models, not just real cars. All cars. Creative Director Betty K. Nero Art Director Kevin Monahan at’s the kind of message we all need to spread in the coming year. From that first Hot Photographers/Videographers Joseph Arthur, Wheels to wild showmobiles like David’s “Rat Roaster,” cars are cool. ey’re fun. ey’re all Peter Hall, Johnathan Henninger, Fredy Perojo about great times, personal freedom, and, if they’re your home-built ride, solid craftsmanship DIGITAL MEDIA (or honest attempts thereof). Moments in our lives are marked with the cars we built, drove, or Web Producer Holly Hansen wish we could drive. Cars are at the center of the stories we tell each other, punctuated by tire ADVERTISING smoke or the crunch of steel; the night we got it right, or the morning we walked home. Advertising Director Mitch Brian ››203.529.4609 Senior Account Executive Ben Halladay We’re bombarded by a lot of negative car-based “reality” programming (quotes intentional) ››203.529.4628 these days. Too often, the guy with the wrenches isn’t the hero — he’s the get-over guy. e Sales Assistant Tracey Terenzi ››203.529.4637 one looking to slap something together and flip it at a huge profit, by some imaginary deadline, CONSUMER MARKETING/PRODUCTION to some unwary buyer. Only a few shows — a precious few — tell the story the right way, and with a light heart: cars are beautiful, cars are exciting. Cars are those things that transport us e Media Source, a division of Source Interlink in body and mind. When they’re new, they are our dream machines. When they grow old, their Companies, Inc seats and surfaces — their souls — are molded with our presence. When we restore them, it’s MARKETING & EVENTS with love; when that’s not an option, we’re sorry to see them go. Vice President, Marketing Laura Hagan Associate Creative Director Leslie Costa While this issue was coming together, we were behind the scenes talking to folks who Production Assistant Paul Streeto share our passion. ey come from different areas of the car hobby — builders, magazine Event Manager Emil DeFrancesco folk, Internet sites, customizers, and TV personalities — but each has a love of cars that PUBLISHING encompasses every type and every size of automobile, including the more than 100 pieces Group Publishers Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr., we’re featuring this time around, done in diecast, resin, steel, and plastic. Yvonne M. DeFrancesco We’re starting our own caravan, and our destination is our task: promote the lifestyle, the HOW TO REACH US fun, and the joy of cars ... all cars. Get in line. e ride is only just getting started. Enjoy the issue — and let me know what you think. EDITORIAL MAIL 88 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 USA Happy collecting! Phone (203) 431-9000; Email [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE (866) 298-5652, +(386) 246-3323 (outside the U.S.) or DCXMag.com/cs 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED If you are ever dissatisfied, you may cancel your subscription and receive a full refund for all unmailed issues. DCX is always a great gift idea! Just call us, or go online, and give a gift today. Magazine Publishers RCX.com of America Joe Kelly, Jr. | Editor-in-Chief PRINTED IN THE USA [email protected] 6 DCXmag.com



Scale Mail YOUR FEEDBACK | WRITE TO US AT DCX AIRAGE.COM WE WANT TO HEAR Big Car. Big Bucks. Long Wait. Cheap Seats FROM YOU! anks for another great issue. I’ve always been a fan I really enjoyed your feature (and video) of the 1:18 Maisto Tell us what you like, what of Dean Jeffries, and your article on him and his career 2014 Corvette, and I wanted to thank you for including models you don’t and why Die Cast X were very tastefully done. I liked the Mantaray cover from every cost level. I like mine, but is anyone doing a more is the best diecast maga- and its review too. Are there any plans for Structo to detailed model of this car? And how come they came down in zine ever! Send snail mail to do any more of his designs? e Mantaray model is very price so fast from $40 to around $20 in some stores? “Letters,” Die Cast X, Air Age expensive, but I guess that’s what you get when something James McGuinness, email Media, 88 Danbury Road, is that limited and rare. I’d like to see the Black Beauty or the Wilton, CT 06897 USA, or Monkeemobile done in large scale, too, but more affordable. Hello, James. Glad you liked it. Maisto always seems to hit email us at [email protected]. Eddie Maller, e-mail the nail on the head, display wise, and for most collectors, We'll edit letters as needed, the car’s been a great addition to their Corvette shelf. and though we will read them Hello, Eddie. ank you. Dean was a great man, and a BBR makes a very detailed resincast model, with a sealed all, we don't have room to true gentleman — in all the ways that really counted. body, for around $325. And though we’d heard at first answer or publish every one. When we last spoke to Matt Tager of Model Power, the that another maker whom we can’t name (rhymes with distributors of the Structo line here in the U.S, we heard “Otto Smart”) was slated to do a mid-price version to that Structo has no plans for a Dean Jeffries follow-up. release within the next year or so, another close source said it isn’t happening. We’ll see. As for that price drop, ey will, however, be continuing with “Kustoms” and that’s the typical reaction to a mass-market model of a show cars — in large scale — and there’s a good chance car as desirable as the C7; collectors who want that car that the models will be priced accordingly. But don’t give and want it NOW (a tip of our hat to Mr. eriot) will pay up hope: AUTOart has the premium to have it in hand. Check out our “Detail is” reportedly measured article, in this issue. A little tweaking goes a long way. and photographed the original Dean Jeffries Black Beauty. e inside line is that the car will be done in 1:18, carry huge details — and that it’s already behind schedule. We’ll keep you posted. What’s the Deal? Why are resin cars so expensive? I keep seeing them more and more, but they don’t have any opening doors or hoods, and they’re still really high priced. I’d like to get some because they’re cool cars, like the (Lincoln 1955) Futura, but why do they cost so much? Billy J. Kalny, email Hello, Billy. at’s a great question, and we’re being asked is factory photo of ACME's that a lot these days. Here’s the short answer: though huge, museum-quality 1:8 resin cars cost a lot less to tool up (molds for resin cars are SoCal Belly Tanker shows usually made from silicone rubber — far less costly than how far resin can go, in the hardened, polished steel molds used for a diecast), the right hands. Check out and making the tooling also takes a fraction of the time acmediecast.com. (parts can be “mastered” right from the hand-built origi- nal), the molds don’t last, and have to be constantly re-cast. at means a run of around 100 pieces — maximum — before the mold loses detail, com- pared to thousands made in diecast. Also, the chemicals used to make the resin aren’t cheap or easy to handle. Metal can be re-heated and re-cycled; once mixed, resin is “pour and cure.” Factor in the limited market for some of these images — like the 1:18 Xenia and Delahaye in this issue, each of which will only see 1,002 copies made — and manufacturers have to strike a bal- ance that allows for profit. e best part is, we’ll see some pretty interesting cars over the next few years that would otherwise never be done. 8 DCXmag.com



inside line events & industry news hWahpapternesailnlvyegas There’s a buzz around the office these days, and for once, it isn’t the RC guys hovering a helicopter over our heads. Die Cast X has joined forces with DiecastSpace to bring out an all-new event: the DCX SuperConvention. It’s all happening this February 20-24 at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. What’s a SuperConvention? list of inductees that includes Chip Well, for one thing, it’s fun. The Foose, Carson Lev, Mario Andretti, show will be dedicated to diecast, and our very own Mike Zarnock resins, kits, slot cars, and all sorts and Joe Kelly, Jr., among others. of wheeled replicas. We’ll have custom models — in 1:1 and in scale Upstairs, there will be in-room — as well as celebrities, car folks, trading and selling — literally thou- designers, and manufacturers all sands of cars, all for sale, all ready under one roof. Collectors will get to be haggled over, swapped, and the chance to speak face to face brought home. And in between, with the folks who make the cars there will be autograph sessions, we love, in every scale, in a family- meet-and-greets, and the chance friendly place where the whole to take in some of the local flavor crew can find things to do and see. that Las Vegas offers. And did we mention it’s in Vegas? Stay tuned to DCXmag.com and Just making sure. the Die Cast X Facebook page for updates and details as they One of the highlights of the show become available. For ticket, hotel, is the induction ceremony for the or vendor information, check out Diecast Hall of Fame, where noted toycarconventions.com. We’ll see designers, entrepreneurs, celebri- you there! ties, and collectors join a growing 10 DCXmag.com



SHOWROOM NEW RELEASES & FIRST LOOKS Fine China MATTEL HOT WHEELS ELITE Ferrari 458 Italia “China Special” 1:18 | $120 Here’s a big surprise: Ferraris are wildly popular in China. If that last thought actually caught you off guard, here’s another: wealthy folks living there are willing to pay huge amounts of cash for special edi- tions of the cars — which Ferrari is only too happy to supply. us the small run — 20 cars — of Ferrari’s “China Limited Edition” 458 Italia, replete with a dragon motif, special gold trim, gold-toned wheels, and even a golden start button, marked with the Chinese character for ... um, “start.” Given Mattel’s strong ties to both the country and the car maker, this spe- cial edition of the Italia in scale was a no-brainer; done in a beautiful dark metallic “Marco Polo” red with equally well-applied gold accents and special “dragon-horse” artwork, the model rolls on gold-toned wheels, using the same high-grade body and trim molds as the regular release. at means tight, straight fitment on the opening doors, boot, and rear hatch, impressively clear butyrate glazing, and photo-etched markings all over. Inside, the dash, door panels, and center stack wear special paint treatments, and out under the rear glass, the 458’s 562-horsepower V8 holds court among metallized, textured, and photo-etched pieces. e real car tags for a $251,000 premium over a “standard” China market 458, totaling out at around $879,000 bucks. If you like your models niche-y, this is the year of the dragon. — Joe Kelly, Jr. hotwheels-elite.com e Full Monte BOO BOO YOU AUTOART Lancia Delta S4 “Monte Carlo” BROOKLIN Buick-Based Ambulances 1:18 | $259.99 1:43 | $159.95 each It may be wearing “Martini” livery on its wild and wedgy body, but lux-level e Flxible Company (yes, the spelling’s correct) won a refinement was never part of the Lancia Delta S4’s DNA. is spawn of the hairiest days of Rally racing was born of loose Group B regulations and high am- contract to build ambulances on stretched 1938 Buick chassis bition on the part of Lancia, who went fairly crazy on the car, adding twin-charged for the 1939 World’s Fair, and of course added Flxible-Buick induction, NASA-spec materials, and bleeding-edge technology to bring out a ma- ambulances to their catalog. Brooklin has done the same with chine that was a terror from day one. is AUTOart “Signature” series example of the a pair of Flxible-Buicks from their Community Services Vehicle lethal little runner is a thundering good model car, even if you’ve never seen its 1:1 counterpart series. Flxible had to raise the Buick front end 5 1/2 inches with slamming over hill and dale (that’s why there’s YouTube). e look, stance, and decoration of the piece sheet-metal extensions at the bottom, to match their taller is stunning and got us engaged on sight, much like the 1985 RAC Rally winner we looked at in our Fall rear body, and photos show that Brooklin has matched the ‘13 issue. ough the larger part of the front end is sealed shut, everything else opens, from the huge work. CSV-14 is a very accurate model of the Flxible-Buick tail section above the 550-horsepower four banger to the doors, front boot, and wee vent flaps up top. Sterling ambulance built for the 1939 New York World’s Fair; the shape matches photos very well, and the correct glossy e wheels steer, and like the detail-rich layered motor, the interior is a slam-dunk of high-resolution blue paint has authentic orange “World’s Fair” graphics. Brook- castings, neat applied texturing, and wiring and lin has done the beltline molding with thin plated wire, plated cabling all around. Screened vents, meticulously- the windshield divider, and added the roof-mounted flasher treaded rubber, and top-shelf build and paint to make this one fully detailed. e rear compartment has a make the model an eye-grabber. Its history detailed gurney, “wood-grain” supply cabinet, and seat for the (Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto, who won nurse, while the driver’s compartment has accurate relief-cast Monte Carlo in this car in 1986, died in it while dash detail but lacks inner door panels. CSV-15 differs only leading the Tour de Corse later that year) makes in its more conventional bright red ambulance color with gold it a must-see, must-have image for rally fans. — “Friendship Fire Co., Winchester VA” decals and twin flashers Joe Kelly, Jr. faired into the roof above the windshield instead of the single autoartmodels.com unit. Both make fine additions to any service vehicle collection. - Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com 12 DCXmag.com

A Special Buick Fine Grain Brooklin 1954 4-Door Station Wagon Brooklin 1954 Mercury Monterey Wagon 1:43 | $125 1:43 | $125 1954 saw Buick, like most of the industry, switch to all-steel bod- Although 1954 was the final year for Mercury’s stretched 1952- ies for their station wagons, while the entire line got wrap-around 54 Ford-based body styling, the whole line got a face-lift (and “Panoramic” windshields and new front fenders. The entry- tail-lift) that resulted in a look that was more Lincoln than Ford. level Special was built on a new 122-inch wheelbase, too. Give Add the new McPherson strut front suspension and the new 292 Brooklin’s research team very high marks on this model; the boxy “Y-Block” OHV engine, and the ’54 Merc became a slightly down- body’s shape is right any way you look at it, and only the tailgate sized version of the “Mexican Road Race” Lincolns. At the top of handle is missing. Brooklin’s glossy Casino Beige paint matches the line was the Monterey station wagon, the subject of this really chips well but does have some minor surface ripples. While a lot eye-pleasing, white-metal model by Brooklin. To start with, the of the trim (beltline molding, window surrounds, vent windows, lines are very accurate, as are the dimensions, and there are lots and name badges) is cast in crisp relief and painted over, the major of carefully applied bright trim. But it’s the really well done faux brightwork is all done with separate plated metal parts. The rocket wood panels over a smooth, glossy Siren Red finish that make this mascot is very well done, and the Special’s three “portholes” are one stand out. The entire framework is done with separate, neatly recessed into the body — nice work. The interior’s tan and beige fitted cast parts painted in a realistic shade, while the panels are seat upholstery has the correct pattern, though inner door panels darker wood-grain decals just as on the real car. Beltline and lack handles and cranks. All Specials had a unique two-dial instru- windshield moldings, along with the vent window frames, are ment panel that Brooklin has modeled accurately, though none painted over, so a bit of foil trim will add even more realism to this of the dash details have been picked out. There’s good-looking beauty. Typical for Brooklin, the seat upholstery and all-new ‘54 chassis detail in relief on the baseplate, and the red ring around the dashboard details are right on the money, but no details are picked authentic wheel covers is a very nice touch. — Wayne Moyer out and interior panels are pretty plain. — Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com brasiliapress.com Could Better Berlinetta Have a V8 Mattel Hot Wheels Elite Ferrari F355 Berlinetta “Piston Power Pack” Cooler 1:18 | $120 Ferrari was on an upswing in the early 1990s, having weathered the storm of emissions $19.95 vs. performance that had hit the industry throughout the late 70s and early-80s. In 1994, In the “Why didn’t we think Maranello rolled out the successor to the 348, with a larger V8 engine, mildly smoother styl- of that?” section is this ing, and a new name: the F355. The car was a serious performer, with up to 380 horsepower foam and plastic beverage available from the midship V8, now toting a trick 5-valve head, Motronic fuel injection, and exotic internals. The combination was success- cooler in the shape of a ful, and the wind-tunnel proven Pininfarina design — which ultimately sported the first-ever F1-style shifter in a production automobile V8 engine, straight from — became one of the best selling Ferraris ever. Hot Wheels Elite’s mold set shows some true finesse; the doors, vented and screened rear the clever folks at U.S. hatch, and the “frunk” (front trunk ... “froot” if you’re on the other side of the pond) all open on great shut lines. With button-activated Imagineering headquarters pop-up headlights, lensed neatly with faux projector bulbs and bezels, neat taillights, and real metal discs passing through the “Ferrari” in Wisconsin. Big enough brake calipers at all four corners, the model pops on display like a much more expensive piece. The proper buff-color interior is crisp, with to hold 12 cans of your a deeply-gauged dash, a scale-textured floor, and fabric favorite drink (eight in safety belts; out behind the curvy rear glass partition, the “cylinders” and four the 3.5-liter V8 is very nicely and neatly done more in the well below), with sharp, cleanly painted and built-up this thing is all kinds of fun, castings visible both above and below even before you stow the the model. The hardest decision to energy drinks and hit the make? What color to grab. car show. Two clear “valve They’re all sweet. — Joe covers” protect the tops Kelly, Jr. of the cans from sand, grit, hotwheels-elite. or shredded rubber, and at com the press of the red button on top, the unit says “Driv- ers, start your engines.” For something this light, it’s remarkably sturdy, and can handle a healthy load of ice. Pop those tops, boys. - DCX Staff v8cooler.com FALL 2013 13

showroom Adieu, Ettore IXO 1951 Bugatti Type 101 Gangloff Coupe 1:43 | $30 When Ettore Bugatti passed away in 1947, the creative spirit and driving force of the company died with him. When the long-rumored “new Bugatti” appeared at the 1951 Paris Show, the “Type 101” turned out to be a mildly revised Type 57 chassis with rather uninspired Gangloff bodywork. It even carried a T.57 serial number: 57454. That Paris Show car is the one IXO has chosen to model, and photos show they’ve done it very well. While the body was first built with a higher, more cluttered hood line, IXO has the shape and all the details correct for that Paris Show version, wearing a glossy French Blue to match the car’s current shade. IXO has used hot-printed chrome in all the window moldings and side trim, with plated bumpers, light bezels, and photo-etched wipers and wheels to completely detail their T.101. There’s well-done interior detailing, with silver-printed door hardware; the primary gauges have detailed faces but smaller ones are just painted black. IXO hasn’t missed a thing; even the panel lines for the sunroof are there. This is the first new Type 101 in 25 years — and it was worth the wait. — Wayne Moyer ixomodels.com Delahaye Way Atlantic Cruise Boat Tale Minichamps “Mullin Collection” Minichamps “Mullin Collection” PremiumX 1972 Buick Riviera Delahaye Type 145 Chapron Coupe Bugatti Atlantic 1:43 | $37 1:43 | $95 1:43 | $95 Buick introduced the third-generation Riviera in 1971, Delahaye built four cycle-fendered, V12-powered Types Jean Bugatti’s “Aerolithe” body for the shortened, with a boat-tailed fastback body that you either loved 145 for the French Ecurie Bleu racing team in 1937, and lowered, and supercharged Type 57SC chassis is easily or hated. It certainly was different from any other coachbuilder Henri Chapron bought two to re-body as his most striking design. Its lightweight Elektron alloy American car and bore much more than a passing re- fast Grand Tourers in 1939. However, with a World War, body couldn’t be welded, so the body and fenders were semblance to the 1963 Corvette, at least from the rear. declining economy, and a non-paying buyer, this one, made in halves and riveted together, giving the car its It’s obvious that PremiumX has done their homework chassis 48773, wasn’t completed until 1951. Chapron identifying vertical spines. When the car went into pro- on this one; the Riv got a very mild facelift for ’72, with had obviously seen a Bugatti Atlantic, but his longer, duction as the steel-bodied “Atlantic,” it retained that a new egg crate grille and a bright rub strip along the flowing fenders do give the car a more graceful look. feature, and most of the striking machine’s looks. Mini- sculptured side line. This model has both, with these Restored to its original condition (except for the rare champs latest “Mullin Collection” model is the very first details, as well as the rockers and wheel arch molding, T.145 engine), the car is part of the Mullin Collection Atlantic, Chassis 57374, delivered to Lord Rothschild in done with very thin, hot-printed chrome. This sample and now available as a superb 1:43-scale resincast 1936 and forever known as “the Rothschild Atlantic.” does have a couple of spots where the chrome didn’t from Minichamps. Photos show that they’ve modeled When delivered it had low-mounted headlights, small quite cover the trim though. The tiny photo-etched the flowing lines perfectly; the flawless body has crisp rear windows, louvers over the doors and a few other “Riviera” scripts on the nose and deck are fully legible panel lines, Chapron’s graceful sculptured sides, and details that differed from the three that followed it, under magnification, and even the Buick badge on the dozens of perfectly spaced louvers. Minichamps’ glossy and over time it was “updated” to match the later cars. stern is a “3-D” photo-etched piece. Give PremiumX gray paint has exceptionally fine metallic pigments Happily, it was restored to its original configuration for high marks for the interior, though; there’s accurate and is set off by bright plated and photo-etched trim. the Mullin collection and photos taken by Jean himself upholstery on all four seats, with wood-grain decals Photos show that nothing has been left off; grab a show that the car, as Minichamps has modeled it, is and silver-painted trim and handles on the side panels. strong magnifying glass, and you’ll see “DELAHAYE” on exactly as delivered to Lord Rothschild. Suffice it to say The engine-turned panel with its rectangular bezels the tiny hood badge. There’s realistic faux red leather that the metallic blue paint is perfect, every bit of trim and decal gauges matches photos very well. Thanks upholstery, with plated inner handles and silver trim, a is there and in scale, and the interior, with its delicate to Wild About Wheels for this sample — and to Premi- beautiful wood-grain dash with detailed instruments, wood-grain wheel, wood-grain dash with authentic umX for a very accurate ’72 Riviera. — Wayne Moyer a delicate wheel and shift handle, and photo-etched instruments, and realistic upholstery, is as good as the premiumx-models.com pedals inside. Dimensions are a very precise 1:43 scale. exterior. Shape, details, and dimensions are excellent; What a beauty. — Wayne Moyer this is the best 1:43-scale Atlantic I’ve ever seen. — carvillemodelsshop.com Wayne Moyer carvillemodelsshop.com Otto Power CMC Mercedes 300SLR Display Engine 1:18 | $135 If there’s anything wrong with the models coming from premium maker CMC, it’s that a lot of the coolest details are lost beneath the cars’ skins. The good news is that this maker occasionally releases a stripped chassis (like the Maserati 300 Bill Bennett reviews in this issue), or uncorks one of their engines and pops it onto a plinth for all to enjoy. This amazing little motor is the exact same piece that you’ll find under the hood of the company’s built-up 300SLR, with the only difference being a warm-toned wood base, a clear top - and the opportunity to scope out usually unseen details. In and around the tidy, well-finished castings, there’s tons of those; the intake side of the 3-liter 8 is a snake pit of induction, injection, and electrical controls made from bent steel, soft vinyl, and rubber. There are clamps and fasten- ers everywhere, with the former used to hold sections of rubber tubing in place on the intake logs and water pipes, and the latter including pinhead sized rivets holding pieces like the engine’s build tag to the cam covers. Amid all of that, our favorite details are the things we could never have seen with the engine in place - like the sixteen spark plug leads run to the valley between the cam covers, and the cross-drilled and geared flywheel. Wow. — Joe Kelly, Jr. cmc-modelcars.com 14 DCXmag.com

PACE YOURSELF BILL BENNETT’S PREMIUMX 1975 “Freetown Police” “Lifestyles of the Auto Obsessed” AMC Pacer X Once again, our intrepid man on the scene has been testing accessories 1:43 | $37 and gadgets for car folk. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. AMC created “the first wide small car” in 1975 with the AMC Pacer, a sub-compact with compact car FLY TIE NOT FADE AWAY interior space. In addition to its wide track and excel- lent visibility (or goldfish-bowl styling, take your pick) AUTOart Silk Tie | $39.95 AUTOart Brake Rotor Mirror | $49.95 the Pacer’s passenger side door was longer than the driver’s by 4 inches for easier curbside access to the What could be more fun than going to a AUTOart keeps making cool “car parts” into even cooler acces- rear seat. Unfortunately, PremiumX missed that detail high-profile meeting sporting a classy sories. is one — a mirror looking like a cross-drilled brake rotor on this 1975 Pacer model, but they’ve nailed just about floral patterned silk tie — especially when with a huge red 3-pot racing caliper — is great for the back of everything else. In 2000, a Freetown, MA, business the “floral pattern” is really a bunch of your office or closet door. refurbished a Pacer X and donated it to the police brake and suspension parts? Yep — you Not too big, not too department for use in their D.A.R.E. program; that’s have to look twice, but that’s the fun of small — just the the subject of this resincast model from PremiumX. it all. AUTOart loves products that subtly right size to Its paint is as good as you’ll find, and the neatly applied (and not so subtly) proclaim the wearer’s check your decal graphics match photos well, but there should “carness” to the ‘do or make be blue flashers above the bumper and vertical black world. e two sure your tie nerf bars as well. e bubble car shape is exactly right ties are made (see below) and all those big windows have thin bright chrome from the is straight. printed moldings. Rocker panels, light bezels, door finest 100% It looks handles, and even the lock cylinders are done the Chinese silk, great too, same way, while the tiny Pacer X badges are ultra-thin screen printed thanks to photo-etched pieces. e all-black interior has the with disc its stainless X-package bucket seats and floor shift, but the model brake calipers steel disc, and has DL-package wheels. Nits aside, a great addition or coilover shocks. faux “caliper” to any service car collection. anks to Wild About Prepare for a slew of wearing the Wheels for providing the sample. - Wayne Moyer double takes; these AUTOart logo in premiumx-models.com are “buy one, get white. Here’s the one free.” Knots best part — no fading. to you. GOTCHA CASE CLOSED GREENLIGHT “Hot Pursuit” Series 11 AUTOart Laptop Case | $49.95 1:64 | $5.99 each As an alternate to the everyman backpack, this molded nylon case It’s nice to know that someone’s looking out is meant to carry a laptop computer in car style. e case comes for you — unless you’re a bad guy, of course. with a handle and carrying strap, and closes with a double-sided GreenLight is continuing a celebration of the folks zipper. Here’s the cool part: functional quick-release hood pins who wear the shield with release 11 of their “Hot with lanyards. With an inner dimension of 14.5 inches by 11 inches, Pursuit” collection. Once again, these pinpoint- it will handle all but the largest notebook computers, and its accurate little cruisers are a mix taken from rugged construction assures your rig will arrive at its destination, different counties and towns, with this selection ready for business. A large three-dimensional AUTOart logo lets sporting an army base piece, for good measure. everyone know where you got this cool piece of personal gear. Two Crown Victorias — one hailing from Westwood, Power up. MA, and the other a trooper’s ride from the Indiana State Police — join a ‘77 Dodge Royal Monaco, also HIDEY HOLE from the ISP, a 2010 “Scottsdale, Arizona” Dodge Charger, a 1977 Chevy G20 from San Francisco, and AUTOart Piston Canister | $74.95 a 2012 Ford Police Interceptor Utility — a heavy duty Explorer — in Fort Meade Military Police deco. e Jelly beans, dark chocolate, the keys to that Indianapolis Crown Vic — tagged as a 2008 model old Jag you scored last month ... we all have — is the “Tenth Anniversary” chase piece, acknowl- something worth hiding away. How about edging GreenLight’s decade of making model cars, stashing the goods inside what looks to but each of the models, with their immaculate be an aluminum piston from a four-valve paint and decorations, are worth chasing down. race engine? e piston wears ring And yes, you may make “woot-woot” siren sounds grooves, and up top are the impres- while doing so. We won’t tell a soul. — DCX Staff sions for four angled valves; the crown greenlighttoys.com screws off and exposes a tidy com- partment for whatever you choose to squirrel away from prying eyes ... like the repair receipts for that old Jag. autoartmodels.com FALL 2013 15

showroom Caddy Shack Cat Power IXO 2010 Jaguar XKR-S PremiumX 1980 Cadillac 1:32 | $35 1:43 | $37 After introducing the sleek XK Coupe in 2005, Jaguar upped the ante with the supercharged 420-horse- Cadillac advertised the bustle-backed 1980 Seville as powwer XKR in 2008. That was followed a year later by the 540-horsepower XKR-S, with a revised nose “Quite possibly the most distinctive car in the world,” a incorporating vertical fins, carbon-fiber front splitter and rear diffuser, and a carbon-fiber rear wing. The description hard to dispute. But the bustle-back trunk “S” wasn’t available in the U.S. until 2012, so IXO’s diecast 2010 version correctly has European details and and down-turned side spear also made it look as if the right-hand drive. This one’s not flashy, but the more you look at it, the more you realize how dead-on accurate body had broken at the rear axle, and sales dropped and well-detailed it is. Photos show the sleek shape is right any way you look at it, the metallic paint is truly by almost 30%. Regardless, PremiumX has done a fine excellent, and the trim (mostly pad-printed black) is just as it should be. The tiny leaping cat trunk emblem job with this bargain-priced resincast model. Overall and even smaller “XK” and “R-S” badges are very thinly photo-etched, but how did IXO do the chrome stripes lines are right from all angles, and every piece of trim around the mirrors? There are bright disks and red calipers behind the accurate wheels, which have silver lug is there and in scale. The glossy upper color is close nuts and 3D-etched crests on the hubs. The interior is done to the same level (yes, the nav panel and upper to Cadillac’s “Sandstone,” but the lower color doesn’t arcs on the tach and speedo should be blue) and even the buttons on the steering wheel have been picked match any chips and is semi-gloss at best. Like the out. IXO’s XKR-S looks to be among the best models priced under $50 this year. Wild About Wheels supplied Riv, all the body trim is hot-printed with bright chrome this gorgeous Jag. - Wayne Moyer over relief-cast detail, but it’s much better on this ixomodels.com sample, and a big improvement over the flat photo- etched parts that some manufacturers use that don’t conform to body curves. The delicate grille, Cadillac crests, and Seville scripts are bright, thin etched parts. All the “glass” fits perfectly and looks to be injection- molded. Interior detail features accurate upholstery with a realistic sheen, wood-grain trim everywhere it should be, and detailed gauges, radio face, and an A/C panel. Even the relief-cast pedals have been picked out. Check out the fake wire wheel covers; there’s a tiny Cadillac crest in the centers. Nice work, all around. Thanks to Wild About Wheels for providing this sample. — Wayne Moyer premiumx-models.com Escape Artist Dream State Road Ready Hot Wheels Elite “Batpod” Minichamps LaSalle II Roadster Minichamps 1934 “Edsel Ford” Model Concept 40 Speedster 1:43 | $70 It took a small army of special effects people, an 1:18 | $295 1:18 | $295 adventurous stunt driver, and a couple cubic yards You have to hand it to Joe Bortz. Not only is he one of This sweet speedster represents the second finished of hard drive space to make the Batpod escape the car world’s most influential collectors, he’s also piece from Minichamps’ “Dream Cars” lineup, and sequence in The Dark Knight Rises convincing one of the best “carchaelogists” around. It was Bortz we’re thinking that established collectors who love on screen. From the look of it, Hot Wheels Elite’s who located the cut-to-pieces wreckage of GM’s serious studies of offbeat machinery will jump in with take on this breakout hero bike took a little doing, 1955 “LaSalle II” roadster moldering in a Michigan both feet. Edsel Ford obviously had flair — and he also too. This down-scaled version of the 1:18 ‘pod we junkyard. And it was he who immediately got elbows had the incomparable Bob Gregorie on staff, who reviewed in the Fall 2013 issue is a good-looking deep in the arduous task of putting all the pieces back designed the car not once, but twice in its lifetime. bit of business with many of the same visual together to resurrect the glorious machine in time for This production sample replica of the car as it exists cues of its larger linemate, and once freed from its an unveiling at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours. We today is nothing short of spectacular; the fine-grained plinth-mounted harness, it rolls on the same mas- looked at a pre-production sample of Minichamps’ “Pearl Essence Gunmetal Grey” is flawless and deep, sive meats, scaled to a convincing nubbiness. The resin bodied 1:18 of the car in our Spring 2013 issue, hugging the resin casting not only on the broad areas parts count is down, but the metallics, mattes, and and this finished production piece maxes out the of hood and trunk, but around each curve, line, and well-placed weathering effects are all here, with a potential that still-tweaking model had. Arriving on detail. The wide whitewall tires and cycle fenders are a decent relief wash applied to the castings to give a Motorama-themed, vinyl-covered base, the pearl stunning setup to the car’s sweeping boat tail shape, them depth. The cannons and guns up front are es- white car is incredible looking, with blue coves, finely and the close-in notes, like the elegant, metallized pecially cool and menacing, despite their size, and cast and metallized wheels, and photo-etched mark- dash and gauges, the impeccable windscreens, and the topside of the machine is done with delicate ings all over its flawless shape. The six-vent grille — a the twin exhausts and bullet taillights at the car’s stern struts, elbow rests, and even a smattering of soft feature shared with the roadster’s sedan variant, also are proof positive that this maker can elevate what is vinyl cabling to the hand controls. All in all, a neat currently under Bortz’ roof — is flanked by beauti- essentially a mass-produced piece — 999 will be made effort, and a model that will fit the bill for collectors ful chrome bumperettes and brilliant lensing. Behind — to a level of fit and finish that rivals, even surpasses, of smaller-scale Batmanania. — Joe Kelly, Jr. a distortion-free butyrate windshield, the cockpit is the work of commissioned artists. The heavy-as-hell hotwheels-elite.com ‘50s-era righteous, with a rolled and pleated dash car arrives on a vinyl-covered stone pattern base, top, great gauges, and seats cast to look like leather. with an etched, serialized plate — and given the lack of We’ve had the chance to speak with Joe Bortz about underside detailing, that’s where we suggest it stays, the model, which debuted at Amelia alongside the real for safer handling. This is a beautifully done, serious car. He’s thrilled. So are we. - Joe Kelly, Jr. collectible, best enjoyed with the eyes. — Joe Kelly, Jr. carvillemodels.com carvillemodels.com 16 DCXmag.com



showroom Bedazzled To The Moon TSM Model 2012 McLaren P1 1:43 | $78 M2 Machines “Moon Pie” Haulers TSM’s McLaren P1 is covered by the deepest, most fiery metallic finish we’ve ever seen on a 1:43 model... 1:64 | $25.99 and as if that wasn’t enough, the stuff smells great. Southern folks love moon pies. Mobile, AL, is so en- No, really: this is the scent of top-quality paint, and amored of the chocolate-covered graham cracker and it took us right back to our building days. If you were marshmallow confection that they hoist a 12-foot- lucky enough to be at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, wide replica of one to celebrate the new year. You’d then the model will take you back, too, to the McLaren understand if you tasted one. We were laughing out display where the 1,000-horsepower plug-in hybrid Character Building loud over this trio of classic trucks — a ’56 Ford COE, supercar was revealed to an excited (read that: drool- a ’58 Dodge COE, and a ‘58 Chevy LCF — all hauling ing) crowd. The TSM resincast miniature has all of the Auto World Dodge Challenger “Moon-Pie Brand” trailers. The tractors are typical P1’s dramatic angles and sweep, not to mention all of SRT8 M2 — outrageously well-detailed in this scale, with its eye-grabbing eccentricities. The anthracite-toned 1:25 | $25.99 great chrome, delicate grilles, and sharp, tamped-on wheels are here, in front of brake discs and McLaren If you pine for those days of promo models, stop decorations. All three have great wheels and tires calipers; so is the McLaren logo-shaped lensing, pining and start pointing and clicking. Auto World — another M2 trademark — but it’s the black and exquisitely thin-cast air diffuser at the rear, and the is offering a built-up AMT Dodge Challenger SRT8 chrome Chevrolet that gets the nod as the snappiest carbon-fiber inserts all around. It takes a great eye that’s been cast in color and glued up for you — looking, thanks to the bright truck rims and redline to render something this small and retain the correct just like the neatly scaled handouts you’d get in rubber. Mopar fans will love the retro-feel Dodge the stance, shape, and presence — which TSM has, from the car showrooms when you were shopping most, thanks to the Moon Pie Race Team Charger every aspect. If after all that effort, the paint seems a with pop all those long years ago. That makes the Daytona parked out back; the other two trailers — one tad too flashy to be scale correct, it is, but for the best line’s “Showroom Replicas” handle a lot easier to distinctly vintage, suggesting Moon Pies as the best possible reason: it’s the same finish that was used on understand. This particular sample came here in lunch in town for 5 cents, and the other more current, the concept — with the same sized metalflake as the lightly metallic “Brilliant Blue,” rolling on polished right down to the symbolic “I Love Moon Pie” slogan, full-sized car. That’s a beautiful thing. This is well worth five-spoke factory mags with brake discs and red spelled out with an eye, a heart, a crescent moon, and sniffing out. — Joe Kelly, Jr. SRT calipers behind. There’s a full interior, but no the symbol for “pi.” It doesn’t matter what part of the tsm-models.com engine detailing — as per promo car rules, it would country you’re from, these little haulers are sweet. — DCX Staff seem — and the chassis has some good, if shallow, m2machines.com detailing of its own. The topside markings in the grille, taillight bar, and rear spoiler are right on the Scale Nailed money, and the sharp lensing at the front and rear looks good too. If you love the new-genny Chal- Auto World “True 1:64” lenger, but haven’t got the time to build one in this Mustang and Camaro scale, go for it. It’s a sweet Challenger, without the Hail, Victoria challenge. — DCX Staff 1:64 | $3.50 each Automodello 1938 Packard Twelves autoworldstore.com Auto World keeps re-inventing themselves in the smaller scale. First, it was the “True L.E.” series, 1:43 | $119.95 with its promise of the model’s tooling being Automodello makes impeccable models of well chosen subjects — like this pair of Packard Victorias. In 1938, Pack- destroyed after each production run. Now, it’s this ard only made a handful of the gargantuan Model 1608 drop-tops, powered by a 473 CID / 175 horsepower V12 neat “True 1:64” series of painstakingly scaled engine so refined that a nickel could be balanced on the motor’s intake while it was running. “Convertible coupes” miniatures of classic muscle cars. To which we like these proved to be the rarest — and we’re happy to report that Automodello has crafted an exceptionally well say, “wow.” These little beasts are extremely nice, done homage to the penultimate Packards. The resin body castings are flawless, and the finishes on the Ivory and if our specially-carded Car and Driver 1971 White and Chinese Red samples have been accented with a mix of hand-applied detail castings, photo-etched Mustang Mach I and 2013 Camaro ZL-1 top-up metal, and sharp tampos. Out front, the car’s impressive prow is a masterful recreation of the Packard’s ox-bow convertible are any indication of what the rest radiator shell and grille, done in relief-detailed photo-etched metal, and set between Trippe “safety lights” and of the line will bring, we’re in for owning them all. individually-lensed head and marker lamps. Inside, the pleated seats, micro-scaled handles, and a more than The models are tightly cast — sharp edges, great convincing steering wheel and dash look great, and out decorations, and crisp paint and tampos — and back, more lensing accents the car’s grace — and speaks have incredible chassis and interior detailing. yet again to what wonderful models this Interesting to note that the Mustang has an un- maker provides. From the whitewall- painted metal base and the Camaro rides a black shod and beautifully trimmed-out plastic one. Nothing prepared us for the great wheels to the jewel-like red inserts in engine detail under each car’s tightly-fitted hood. the bumpers, these special edition Coolest detail? The correct, beautifully scaled releases are amazing to behold wheels and tires these roll on. Little things really — and they’re getting do mean a lot. — DCX Staff scarce. Don’t miss autoworldstore.com out. — Joe Kelly, Jr. automodello.com 18 DCXmag.com



showroom Gimme Shelter Pit Players Sunstar 1960 Plymouth Fury Hardtop TSM Model Pit Crew “John Player” 1:18 | $90 1:18 | $66.50 A while back — Summer, 2012, to be precise — we got a late pre-production sample of Sunstar’s then-new 1960 We can’t recall who it was who wanted to thank the Plymouth Fury convertible, and there was much rejoicing among the masses (okay, there were only a couple of us “little people,” but we’re happy to see this bunch of here, but we were really happy to see it). The reasons for the bliss were simple: this company makes killer models of small folk, thanks to TSM Models. This is the latest it- American iron, stuffed with detail and features, in a scale that makes all the finger fun easy to enjoy. And frankly, the eration of their very cool pit crew accessory set, done real ’60 Plymouth’s predilection for crumbling into a pile of rust makes these outrageous looking rides a rare sight on in “John Player Special Lotus” costume. The cold-cast the street. With opening doors, trunk, hood, working steering and suspension, working visors, and articulated seats, resin maquettes are caught in mid-move, crouch- this Turquoise Poly and Oyster White hardtop version of the car has all the features of the ‘vert, of course, save for ing, grasping, holding a pit signal board, talking on the the front seats; on the ragtop, they’re swivel-mounted buckets, and here, the front perch is a split-back bench with radio, or holding a clipboard. The two radio headsets a high backrest. The model’s got a huge helping of detail, with a carpeted floor, an “Aero” style steering wheel, and are neat, with steel microphone booms, and the hand- even a floor-mounted record player. Under the hood, the 361cid/305-horse “Golden Commando” V8 is mounted painted faces and small details on the clothing, right with all the wiring, plumbing, and markings of the real car. From the grille to the tail fins, the chrome trim is done with down to the “Valvoline,” Good Year,” and John Player well-fitted hard plated plastic, photo-etched steel, and foil badges (attached better than on Sunstars of yore). That team markings on their shirts, add a lot to the visual. top looks great, but it’s still being test fitted at the factory; once sorted for production, this one will make the perfect All you need to add is an appropriate model car. Here’s partner to any of the hard-to-top “Platinum Collection” models that Sunstar offers. Great stuff. — Joe Kelly, Jr. the best part: the sets are also available in 1:43, and in sunstarmodels.com other teams, too. Little people is a big idea. - DCX Staff tsm-models.com Movie Magic Z Best I Love, Loosely GreenLight “Hollywood” Series 5 Minichamps BMW Z1 Sunstar 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible 1:64 | $5.99 each 1:18 | $139.95 We’re pretty convinced that nobody ever gets a mo- The BMW Z1 was built as a design study for the 1:18 | $90 ment’s rest at GreenLight, what with their incredible 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, but the crowds loved Pontiac’s 1955 Star Chief convertible was the upper- knack for coming up with the coolest little (and some it so much that BMW decided to take the car crustiest offering from Flint, and though it wasn’t not so little) cars. On the small side of showbiz is into production. As the first drop-top roadster to exactly a performance machine — remember, Bunkie this latest batch from their “Hollywood” series, and emerge from Ingolstadt in 30 years, it was loaded Knudsen and the “wide track” days were still in the it’s a riot. Not only are the castings for each model with groundbreaking design features, including future — it was a great-looking car. Sunstar thinks dead-on, but the cars themselves — the ’79 Trans Am doors that dropped down into the sills and a sleek so, too, and this isn’t this mold set’s first time at the from Rocky II, the Ford Crown Vic from Twilight, the aerodynamic body with swappable body panels rodeo. By our count, there have been more than 10 ’87 Mustang GT from Ghost, the Crown Victoria from that allowed for damage repair or color changes iterations, including a special I Love Lucy version CSI: NY, the 1977 T/A from Old School, and even the at (almost) a moment’s notice. A bit more than with resincast figures of Lucy, Desi, Fred, and Ethel, Dodge news van from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron 8,000 were built between early 1989 and mid-1991. as seen in the “California, Here We Come” episode. Burgundy are detailed and decorated with a great eye Minichamps’ latest 1:18 offering of the Z1 is painted If that’s a little too past tense for you, consider this: for completeness, right down to the eye-scrunching a deep metallic “Swimming Pool Blue.” Only one given the palette of colors and two-tone combina- little wheels they roll on. We like the packages and Z1 was painted this color, and it was presented to tions available in ’55, and the different body styles card art, too, because it replicates the movie posters Dr. Ulrich Bez, the leader of the Z1’s design team that Sunstar will offer — hardtop, top-down ragtop, associated with each film or show, and gives an at BMW Technik GmbH. This is a sweet little model and closed convertible — there’s plenty of life left almost-complete view of the models. Even better, with the Z1’s signature doors fully scaled and in this old Poncho’s bones. And that’s good news; we scored a “Green Machine” — a special chase car operable. The stance and paint are close to perfect, Sunstar’s gotten everything right, from the browed with green wheels and chassis — in the factory-boxed and the badging, glass, and wheels are dead-on. headlights to the stylized “V8” badges on the car’s assortment. Yep — it’s the Rocky II car. Can we get a Open the articulated bonnet and the engine is nascent tailfins. Everything opens on real-aspect “Yo”? — DCX Staff beautifully detailed with wires, hoses, cables, and hinges, including spring-and-scissor units under the greenlighttoys.com a hyper-realistic fuse block. The cockpit is a muted hood. The first-year OHV 287 V8 is all there, and it’s 20 DCXmag.com black, but the detailing on the console and central got enough detailing and markings to keep fans of stack is quite nice. Under the short rear deck, the “mint”-level replicas entertained. This pre-production boot is flock carpeted; flipping the car over reveals sample’s Persian Maroon and Avalon Yellow paint a textured black undertray covering most of the contrast beautifully with the white boot and seat tops, car’s bottom, with a few “alloy” pieces of the and at the end of each spring-loaded axle, the wire drivetrain and suspension finished in flat aluminum. wheel covers and whitewall tires set the whole thing Altogether, a very nice model. Dr. Bez, your ride is off perfectly. Sunstar always gets these all-important waiting. — Bill Bennett notes right in its top-shelf “Platinum Collection,” but carvillemodelsshop.com somehow, the clear and red lenses look even prettier and more authentic than usual on this one. Keep ’em coming, guys. — Joe Kelly, Jr. sunstarmodelcars.com



showroom Foose II Mud Run M2Machines “Chip Foose” series 2 Hot Wheels Elite “Dirty” A-Team van 1:64 | $7.99 M2’s Chip Foose Design collection had us at 1:43 | $125 “hello” in its first release. The six cars were all TV fans are hardcore when it comes to related either to the master designer/builder’s collecting images from a favorite career, or episodes of his Overhaulin’ TV show. show. Viewers of a certain age will Now, the cars are back, in secondary colors for remember the misfit semi- release two — and we’re liking them all over again. criminal do-gooders in the Suckers? Hardly. These repaints are true to what A-Team series back in the Foose did with each machine to start with, done in 80s. The show featured alternate hues. The best part is that these finishes an a-list of TV actors, have been applied beautifully to the cars, and the including Mr. T as decos, including the striping and color separa- B.A. Baracus, who tions, are faithful to the originals and are really drove the team well done. The six car set includes the 1932 Ford from job to job “Foose P-32” roadster, the 1970 Ford Mustang in his 1983 GMC “Gambler 514,” the 1967 Chevy “Cherry Nova,” G-series van. We the 1969 “Foose ’69 Camaro,” the 1968 Pontiac saw a 1:18 version Firebird “Uncle Sam’s Nephew,” and, of course, the in the Spring 2012 1956 Ford F-100 “Overlord.” Each has separate issue of DCX, and headlight lensing (where applicable), an opening we even had the 1:43 hood and well-detailed engine and interior, and in hand a while ago in all its pris- comes on a diamond-plate plastic base. If anyone tine glory. Now, Hot Wheels Elite is throw- was going to overhaul this lineup, M2 was. Hello, ing mud — actually, very judiciously applied airbrushing — to the model to create this “dirty” version. The wee truck again. — DCX Staff beneath all the crud is the same highly detailed piece, with every crease of the G-van done in high-grade diecast, m2machines.com with wire antennas, flawless windows, complete lensing, and even a full interior, visible through the sunroof and dirty “glass.” The turbine wheels and tires are crisp and completely filthy. This isn’t just a slap-on job; the quality of the medium used and the technique are actually very good (check out the masking on the windshield to replicate the arc of the wiper blades). Like the other versions we’ve seen, the exhaust is wrong, but that nit aside, this one is filthy fun. — DCX Staff hotwheels-elite.com Stolen Moments Mercurial Ultimate Shine GreenLight Black Bandit Series 8 Sunstar 1956 Mercury Montclair Fujimi “Ultimat Vodka” Ferrari 458 convertible 1:64 | $5.99 each 1:43 | $90 No matter what the machine, black cars look cool, 1:18 | $90 In a world of “Absoluts,” it’s refreshing to know that period. If you agree, you’ve probably been pulled in Mercury may not have had the fastest or most there’s an alternative for those who imbibe the clearer by GreenLight’s slick as hell “Black Bandit” series powerful cars in the mid-50s, but they sure had some spirits. Ultimat vodka (what is it with these guys and of menacing rides. That color, or lack thereof, great-looking machines. Up top in 1956 was the Mont- a final “e”?) ran this chrome and blue Extreme Motor extends to more than the cars’ bodies; the models clair, offered in hardtop (50,000 made) and convertible Sports 458 Italia at the Petit Le Mans in Atlanta in Oc- — a 2012 Chevy COPO Camaro, a 2012 Shelby (around 8,000 produced). In a world where gorp was tober 2012, and won in the GT class, placing 12th over- Mustang, a 1974 Dodge Monaco police car (replete king, these cars were relatively sedate — but far from all. This one is hard to miss, with its chromed resincast with contrasting “Black Bandit Police” badging), a invisible, thanks to wild two-tone paint schemes and body slathered in race day decals. All of the lensing 2008 Champ Car World Series DP01 (seen here in just enough chrome to cause momentary blindness and glazing is correct for the car as it raced at Road “Green Machine” chase decoration — cool), and a on a sunny day. It’s exactly that kind of forecast that Atlanta, and the screened sections at the car’s nose pair of midnight Mopars — a 1965 Dodge Coronet this Sunstar Platinum Collection Merc is aimed at, and and tail have even more detail lurking behind them. 500 and a Chrysler 300K, both top-down con- the top-down ‘vert is rolling with a Persimmon over From the dash, to the cockpit electronics and belt- vertibles — wear black on their interiors, and even London Grey scheme, atop wide whitewalls and not- equipped race seat, to the piped-in topside engine their wheels. Chrome trim, where it’s needed, is yet-finalized wheel covers (it’s a pre-pro, straight from and structure visible beneath the glass, we loved the done in sharp tampos, and as always, the cars are the factory overseas). The menu of features is typical interior. It’s pure competition Italia, and done very well. pin-point detailed with great grilles, profiles, and of this series — heavy — with opening doors, hood, True, the decal film does get noticed here and there body shapes. Most have opening hoods, too — all and trunk, steerable wheels, a working (spring-load- against the chrome, and we had to do a bit of buffing the better to see their miniature (and occasionally ed) suspension, a working glove box door, and a set with a cotton swab in a few spots to get the model monster) motors. Don’t be afraid of the dark. of tilting sun visors (missing on this factory sample). looking its best, but the overall detailing, race rubber — DCX Staff The added-on “Continental Kit” is a bit of 50s fluff that and wheels, and stance of the car are terrific. And who greenlighttoys.com somehow looks right on this drop top; the cool thing wouldn’t love a chromed Ferrari? — Joe Kelly, Jr. 22 DCXmag.com is that the piece pivots out of the way to allow access sunrichtoy.com to the matted trunk. The interior is a carry-over of the car’s outside colors, and the door panels, tilting seats, and working armrest are trimmed out with a ton of chrome and detail parts (even a complete heater box, under the dash) above a carpeted black floor. The 312 V8 is wired and plumbed more comprehensively than the motors on some models costing twice this one’s price; there’s even an overflow tube on the radiator. As always, Sunstar keeps the age of rock and roll rolling along in scale. — DCX Staff sunstarmodelcars.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY DCX STAFF SPIN MASTER TSM MODELS LOTUS 56B 1:18 | $195 C ar folk are a funny bunch. Winning machines are cool, but the underdogs and hard luck cases seem to dwell even deeper in our hearts. at’s only part of the reason we’re so enchanted with TSM Models’ high-end replica of the Lotus 56B that Emerson Fittipaldi ran at the Italian GP in 1971. e model is a winner — but the brilliantly engineered car it’s based on never was. It wasn’t for lack of trying ... TWISTS, TURNS, AND TURBINES the Pratt & Whitney-powered, money went up in smoke with it. In the beginning, there was four-wheel-drive “STP/Paxton Meanwhile, Lotus was back Ken Wallis, the British engineer Turbocar” on the grid at Indy in who decided that placing a 1967. e car literally ran away in the UK, working on their own gas-turbine powerplant into an from the competition, howling turbine — the wedgy, angular IndyCar would be a jolly idea. around the course with Parnelli Lotus 56. Slated for 1968, the And he was right. At least Andy Jones at the wheel. With just new Lotus had a shovel nose, Granatelli thought so, and in under eight miles to go, it was and its in-line engine only 1966, he put Wallis to work, doled Parnelli who was howling when slightly shifted to the right to out a pile of cash to Studebaker’s a $6 bearing gave up, and Jones’ allow clearance for its Ferguson Paxton subsidiary, and put guaranteed half of the prize four-wheel drive. Granatelli once again invested in the 24 DCXmag.com

TSM Models (formerly TrueScale Miniatures) has waved their magic detail wand at yet another hyper-important race car, and all it took was one look at the Lotus 56B’s chassis to start us squinting and poking around. We still are. “Whooshmobiles,” and though Joe Leonard stuffed the number rules restricted their intakes, 40 “Silent Sam” into the wall. the four new Lotuses and the Leonard was fine, but the car was returning number 40 Paxton car toast. With Spence gone, and he brought back to Indianapolis the loss of Jim Clark that April, were seriously fast. ey weren’t Granatelli was short drivers. alone. Carroll Shelby had a pair of his own GE-powered gas turbine en Jackie Stewart tapped out cars on deck. with a broken wrist. Granatelli had three cars left and only two ings started badly for drivers: Graham Hill and Art Granatelli and the STP team. Pollard. Joe Leonard tried again Parnelli Jones decided that the in the number 60 turbine car, car he’d driven to almost-victory went 170.422, and signed up. He the year before didn’t stand and Hill parried track records a chance, and quit the race. back and forth — and found themselves on the pole and en, a crash in a Lotus turbine second starting position. claimed the life of Mike Spence. at day at Indy would provide at caused Shelby to pull his more disappointment for the cars — and drivers Denny Hulme turbine cars. Hill stayed in the and Bruce McLaren — out of top five until he wrecked on the contest. It got worse when lap 111; in an eerily quiet repeat of 1967, Joe Leonard’s almost prospective pilot certain victory was crushed when his car simply flamed out SUMMER 2013 25

OUT OF THE BOX after a caution technology in another arena: on lap 190. Art Formula One. And it almost Scale fidelity is a big thing with this crew, Pollard’s did, worked. and the utterly complete front end — too, and a turbine replete with flexible cooling ducts and of another kind — e Lotus 56B ran a 600-shaft cabled-in battery — proves it. one inside Bobby Unser’s horsepower Pratt & Whitney turbocharged Offenhauser — STN 6/76 — 150 ponies more took Indy for the first time. than even the stoutest Ford V8 — and it was lighter and didn’t LOST FORMULA need a radiator. What it did After that, the rule makers at need was fuel — lots of it. And despite the aerodynamic edge Indy crushed the turbine of the 56B’s profile, that extra under a pile of paper and weight, and a complete lack ink, reducing inlet size of engine braking — not major again, and then banning concerns on the sweeping turns four-wheel drive. But at Indy — were detrimental on road courses. e four-wheel that didn’t stop Lotus’ Colin drive helped at the rainy Dutch Chapman and Maurice Philippe Grand Prix in 1971, but didn’t from trying to max out the Above left: Glossy-faced gauges, a completely plumbed and wired dash, and an hour meter and build tag affixed to the side walls bring on the “real” in the cockpit. Above right: e model comes to an abrupt end at the rear, but the details keep hitting hard. e oil cooler and aerospace-grade hardware woven into the car’s chassis are a kick. Right: e 600-horse engine idled at over 15,000rpm, and the force of air from the turbine’s chimney-like stack gave these racers the nickname “whooshmobiles.” e photo-etched metal, detailed plastic, and complete plumbing on the Pratt & Whitney unit are excellent. THE LOTUS 56B RAN A 600 SHAFT HORSEPOWER PRATT & WHITNEY STN 6/76 150 PONIES MORE THAN EVEN THE STOUTEST FORD V8 26 DCXmag.com

get the car to the finish. The dry piping, and As this trick X-ray track at Silverstone ate the car’s bulkheads at either photo shows, there’s driveline. Then came the Italian end. The engine GP, with Emerson Fittipaldi at the sent its power an awful lot to see wheel — and an 8th place finish. forward; we started under this model’s A week later, Emmo brought the out back, where the beautifully painted, car in second at a non-F1 event anodized fittings wedgy bodywork. at Hockenheim, but by then, the and stainless At this price, it’s a book had been closed on the braided hoses are turbine. Further development of sweet. Point a light groundbreaking a racing gas-turbine car was put at the screened-in effort. on the shelf. intake, and there’s the air horn and compressor sub-assembly. summer 2013 27 Formula, Found Just ahead of that is the ring of TSM Models is very good at fire and a metallized chimney. giving collectors high-caliber At the very front is the gear replicas in scale, without reduction/torque converter demanding arm-bending prices. unit that sent power to all four We’ve always been a fan of that wheels. At the car’s extreme formula, and this Italian GP 56B rear is another mind-blowing came out of its clamshell looking vista of pipes, struts, springs, like a piece that some makers and linkages. Want to talk would happily ask $500 or more about fanatical detail? Bring a for. Presentation was a big part magnifier to the rear bulkhead of that initial impression, since and check out yet another hour the top half of the car’s body and meter, a dazzling photo-etched/ its nose piece reside in the upper accordion-folded oil cooler half of the styro and the chassis screen, and a special, aircraft- — and lordy, what a chassis it spec cover wearing a serial is — gets revealed when you number and inspection date, all open things up. tucked, tacked, and fastened in We took a while poring over amongst the rear suspension, those exposed parts of the brakes, cooling scoops, and model. The front end is incredible, frame bracing — built up, as in with delicate linkages and struts front, with pressed joints, for pressed into place, and real steel scale fidelity. coil springs. We did a bit of photo It almost seemed a shame to comparing with Fittipaldi’s ride cover all of this hi-po pulchritude in race-day paddock pics, and up — but we did, by first replacing TSM’s nailed it all: the battery, the ducting above the turbine, fire bottles, and flexible air ducts fitting the top half of the body are here, all cabled in, and in onto the tub, and the right colors. Back a bit, the then sliding the dash has been wired and piped, nose into position and turning the wheel gets the with its locking gear-driven steering linkage tab notched into to work. We flexed the front place. When we suspension, but didn’t push too were done, the hard — this is delicate stuff, and it finished result, includes perfect little disc brakes under a beautiful, and complex half-shafts to the smooth, and lively front wheels. In the cockpit, the metallic gold and molded seat wears fabric belts black livery, had with photo-etched hardware; we shut lines that match the real broke out the loupe to check out car’s, and looked great on sweet, the build tag on the side wall and scuffed Firestone race rubber. the hour meter on the opposite TSM is a crew that takes their side — then headed farther south time on their releases, and this to the main event. Lotus was in the pipe for a long The ducting over the engine while. The wait, trust us, was lifts to expose the heart of the worth every minute. Highest car, and TSM has brought the recommendation. turbine out in a marvel of fine metal and styrene castings, SOURCES metallized finishes, and thin section photo-etched and TSM Models tsm-models.com stamped steel for the screening,

OUT OF THE BOX BY DCX STAFF Saving Grace PARAGON 1971 JAGUAR XJ6 SERIES 1:18 | $100 Powerful, agile, fragrant, and alive, old Jaguar sedans exemplify — or, define — classic British sporting saloons. Back in the maker’s “Grace, Space, and Pace” days, the beauty came by way of low-slung “SS” four-doors fitted with an OHV six making 125 horsepower. ese were special animals, capable of pleasant touring when driven lightly, and roaring, skin-crawling performance when given the boot. Slavered in leather, fitted with wooden dashboards, and crafted beautifully, the cars nonetheless represented something of a bargain when compared to contemporary sporting sedans. en the war came and went, and not-yet-Sir William Lyons and Co. decided to drop the “SS” moniker (for obvious reasons), and concentrate on making the Jaguar name one to remember. In 1949, the sporting XK120 debuted in coupe and roadster form, and a new Mk. V saloon topped the line — but big changes were afoot. 28 DCXmag.com

Like any good saloon, this one’s got swinging doors — four of them. Paragon gives a lot of detail in a fairly priced package, and the textures and colors in here, as on the real car, are very nice. UP THE MIDDLE horsepower, gave the portly little In 1956, a new, smaller sedan was Brit some much-needed pop. debuted. Called the “2.4,” after Zero to sixty now came at around its 2.4-liter, six-cylinder engine, nine seconds — fleet enough for it was meant as a shot up the the growing market in America middle, between the hard-edged that wanted a bit more beef sport XKs and the posh Mk. VII. underfoot. e humble little unit-body car e 3.4 soldiered along as was Jaguar’s first of the kind Jag’s best seller, as constant and gave only 112 horsepower as bangers and mash. en, in — but it was nonetheless a 1960, a stronger “3.8” joined in. Jaguar, and that meant it was Powered by a 220-horsepower a stylish piece, with an ovoid version of the same 3.8 liter that grille, gently rounded sides, and would power the new E-type a semi-formal roofline. For 1957, a year later, it replaced the 3.4 the mid-sizer got some grunt, altogether in 1961. Now, the Mk. thanks to the availability of the II saloon was a tough, nimble, XK140’s 3.4-liter six. Of course, it somewhat exotic alternative to was called the “3.4,” and yes, that the big American sedans it was motor, though detuned to 210 running away from in the curves, SUMMER 2013 29

out of the box especially in its IRS-equipped “S” to a wave of positive press. for the opening hood, doors, variant. The Mk. II and the 3.8S It was an easy car to love, and and trunk. Up front, the quad Great shut lines, smooth paint, hollow- designations got swapped out in the XJ6 had a few tricks up its headlights and grille are done in tipped exhaust pipes, and lenses — lots of September 1967 for lower-cost tailored sleeve. It was attractive, exquisite castings, utterly clear, lenses — make the car “read” like a much variants called the 240 and the thanks to a design by Malcolm perfectly chromed, and placed pricier piece. Carefully placed detail and 340, both of which were replaced Sayer, who had worked with into the body seamlessly. They solid build are why Paragon continues to by a stunning new model in Lyons penning the C-Type, join fully lensed parking and impress. September of ’68. D-Type, and E-Type. Though the directional lamps and equally well-rendered taillights for an Yes, this is the “base” 2.4 liter — a popular From Sir, With Love standard Euro engine was a 2.8 all-over look of quality. Little engine in the Jag’s home market - but That new model was the XJ6, liter making 180 horsepower, things dot the scenery, like the that hasn’t stopped Paragon from lavish- and it changed everything. the U.S. version was fitted with tamped-on cloisonné at the car’s ing a few neat details under the hood. For Gone were the multiple lines a leonine 4.2-liter six, tuned to grille, and the foil-based “2.8 fans of the hairier XJ6, there’ll be a 4.2, of sedans; this new, top-line make 246 horsepower with 8.0:1 Litre” badge on the rear. Most soon. Keep watching this space. offering was introduced by no compression and two carbs. remarkable is the fitment of the less a stalwart than now-Sir Through the four-speed manual, doors and their trims, where they William Lyons himself. The car zero to sixty took only a tick meet the roofline, and each other represented major hopes for under nine seconds, as compared — it’s tight, neat, and smooth. the marque; British Leyland had to the E-Type’s 7.6 average haul; Behind those doors, Paragon recently merged with Jaguar’s the sedan topped out at a rapid used crisp castings, a great parent company, British Motor 124 miles per hour, while the leather-look textured paint, Company, and they both wanted slippery E-Type crawled past at and a healthy dose of faux a solid return. Sir William was close to 140. With stout swaybars wood-grain to render the plush also nearing retirement, a fact and lowered unsprung weight interior. The floor is carpeted, the that was made much of in the thanks to inboard discs at the headliner detailed, and the four- media as this new car — one of rear, handling was impressive, speed center stack fitted with a his final designs — was released and more than one reviewer chrome bezel and a radio; above felt the car was “alive” — a that, the E-inspired walnut dash paraphrase of a description Sir wears switches, gauges, vents. William himself once used, and It’s all so well done, you can one that is still heard today in almost smell the thing. Behind it Jaguar ads. all, beneath a detailed lid, is the trunk, done in high-quality black Fit Brit plastic. No drama ... and truly, Paragon’s very pretty model of none needed. a LHD 1971 XJ6 in Regency Red The forward-hinged hood comes from a limited edition has a prop attached — a good run of 3,000 pieces in this color, thing — and the DOHC six is a and as a follow-up to the last neat sub-assembly all its own, Paragon replica we had here even if the sharp castings for — the excellent 1968 Rolls- the block, cam covers, and carbs Royce Silver Shadow Mulliner have been hobbled — just a little Park Ward coupe we reviewed — by a two-toned approach of in the Summer 2012 issue of black and silver. Still, it’s wired DCX — it’s a lot of model for not and piped, and they’ve even a lot of money. Straight up: this gone to the trouble of dressing thing reads like a much more the edges of the body casting expensive piece, on sight, and to look like weather strip. More the build, finish, and execution all of the same applies to the car’s over is top notch. nicely done chassis and driveline, The body casting is fluid, with its metal suspension bits graceful, and beautifully painted at both ends, full-cast engine up, with tight, even shut lines and shaft, and a well-done dual exhaust that passes realistically around and under the IRS to poke through the rear splash pan in hollowed-out trumpets. Like the original XJ6, there’s a lot to love about this model — and, as the releases continue to arrive, Paragon themselves. They’re proving to be a solid source of great cars; more proof should arrive shortly in the form of the on-deck 4.2-liter XJ6. If classic old Jags are your thing, don’t walk. Run. Highly recommended. SOURCES Paragon Models jadi-modelcraft.com 30 DCXmag.com

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David’s Goliath How to build an empire (hint: don’t be afraid) by Joe Kelly, Jr. 32 DCXmag.com

All you need is love. The Beatles knew it. So does Boise, Idaho’s own Stacey David. Like any good kid from the Gem State, Stacey loved his folks and his family, and always had a smile for the neighbors — but two sounds always got Stacey smiling the brightest: the rumble of a glass pack muffler and the wail of an electric guitar. Those are sounds that Stacey gets to hear a lot, these days, as one of the trickest car builders on the scene, and as the host, producer, and occasional riff master on his own series of automotive-themed shows — most recently, Gearz. We caught up with Stacey one night after he’d spent the day moving cars, equipment, and parts between his old shop and a new, larger facility. Despite the long day, Stacey sounded just as happy, relaxed, and genuine as he does on camera — and the story of how he got where he is today was inspirational. fall 2013 33

Left: Stacey with the real Mach 5. Right: e SL-C gets an engine. Far right: Stacey gets snakebit. Race Stacey. Nashville. '64 'Vette — and no ramps. A V8 Miata - priceless. day at e Davids. EARLY YEARZ Years of building model cars had given Stacey the e custom- ere’s a picture somewhere in the David family archives basic knowledge he needed to put the real things built \"Rat\" together, but he yearned for more. en one summer, guitar. of a one-year-old Stacey with a marshmallow in one in his early teens, his dad — who was not mechanically hand and a model truck in the other. “ ey were the only inclined — iced the car-guy Stacey's famous \"Rat Roaster\" things that would keep me quiet,” laughs Stacey, “and I cake by surprising Stacey is available as a Revell kit, always had a good set of lungs.” e gearhead bug had with the opportunity to including a scaled version of the a firm grip on Stacey for as long as he could remember. learn the ropes from an real \"Rat Roaster\" guitar. “First, it was Matchboxes and Hot Wheels, then plastic old high school buddy who kits,” he remembers, “and that’s how I learned the basics knew his way around a about suspensions, drivetrains, paint, and how a car goes shop. “Jim Williamson was together. When someone young asks me how to get a genius, who worked out of started in car building, or a dad asks how to get his kids a small garage in our town. into it, I tell them to go build a model kit!” He was probably one of the greatest fabricators I’ve By the time he was six, Stacey had supplemented ever run across and wasn’t his infatuation for four wheels with an equally powerful afraid to try anything. I was affection for six strings. Glued to the radio, he was a go-fer in his shop, and I soon hammering out licks and chords as fast as he’d was like a sponge, learning heard them. “I remember one night, an ‘oldie’ called as I watched him work, ‘Johnny B. Goode’ was playing on the radio — and I was doing crazy things like mesmerized but I’d missed the intro! Wouldn’t you know adding flip-up headlights it — they played the song again, and I got another shot at and a rotary engine to an E-type Jag (this was the early learning it!” Before long, Stacey’s parents not only had 80s). During this time, I had an epiphany: Never stop him playing in church, but they were also bringing the learning new skills and don’t be afraid to try new ideas. up-and-coming axe man to local clubs so he could sit in Some of those “new ideas” were a little scary — like the with the musicians on stage. “ I was fortunate to have a “Dune Bug” go-kart that Stacey had built as a kid, which strong Christian upbringing, but my parents didn’t try emerged from Williamson’s shop powered by a 350 and hide real life from me either,” says Stacey. “I went to Kawasaki motorcycle engine. Stacey still laughs at the grade school on an Indian reservation, and my Dad was a memory. “ at thing was so cool — it was just a seat and cop ... It doesn’t get much realer than that!” an engine. No seat belts, no roll bars, six forward speeds, and no reverse ... man! Stacey’s father also introduced him to another kind of rock and roll show — this one, gas powered. “My dad took me to the drag and sprint car races when I was really young. is was in the days before they had wings. ey’d shoot fire out of their exhausts, and man, were they loud. I told him that someday, I’ll drive one of those on the street ... with the proper lights and mirrors, of course. When you look at my first car, I guess I wasn’t really too far off!” Above: e V8 Interceptor. Right: (left to right) Walker Evans, Stacey David, and Aaron Flurio at the Mexican 1000. 34 DCXmag.com

STACEY HAD When my Dad saw me hit over 100mph on it with the Stacey and axe man Billy Cox. SUPPLEMENTED front wheels off the ground, the tapestry of profanity he HIS INFATUATION bellowed out was so colorful and creative, I think it’s still So when you go to a shop and the guy gives you a price FOR FOUR floating over Montana. He put a stop to that really quick!” to do the work, you know what he’s doing, or should be WHEELS WITH doing — or you can try and do it yourself.’” AN EQUALLY After attending Boise State, Stacey headed to POWERFUL Nashville in his ‘65 Mustang with a little cash, two e show was a hit, but Stacey knew that nothing AFFECTION FOR guitars, and a Fender Vibrolux Reverb amp and started lasts forever. “I knew that TV shows, just like hit SIX STRINGS. knocking on studio doors. “ ere were ups and downs records, only last for so long. So, just like I’d learned — I was a hired gun doing studio sessions one day and about building cars, I started to pay attention to what then a live show the next, but I was very blessed to be it took to do a TV program — how to shoot it, edit it, all able to make a living at it for about 15 years. But the that stuff — because I had an idea for a show that would whole time, I had grease under my nails from working feature all things mechanical, not just trucks.” on cars in my little shop — e Rattletrap — and building and fixing hot rods and customs.” Soon, e Rattletrap Soon, the name that had hung over the door of a was the place to go for one-offs and creative designs, humble garage in Nashville was on the masthead of but oil changes and belt replacements weren’t on the a full-on television production company — Rattletrap menu. Stacey sums it up: “You want a tune-up for your Productions — and Stacey had his show. He called it Honda? ere’s a great garage down the block. You Gearz, and it didn’t take long for Speed Channel to want a V8 in that thing? Pull right in!” realize that it had a certified hit on its hands. e show, shot in an actual, working garage, featured Stacey’s SHIFTING GEARZ wild, hand-worked customs, all built by the man It was around that time (1995) that Stacey pitched an himself. In between progress reports on each machine idea for a new television show to e Nashville Network. — like the Veyron-battling 900-plus-horsepower “SL-C,” the military-themed Über-truck “Sgt. Rock,” e show would feature auto how-tos for regular folks, or the “Heavy Metal” tow rig replete with beer keg with a focus on fun. TNN — soon to be Spike TV — loved fuel tanks — Stacey demonstrated techniques, shared the idea. “I heard back from them, but they wanted tips, and told folks like us how to have fun in our to see a pilot, and I just didn’t have one.” e idea was garages and driveways — and, thanks to occasional shelved until a friend called to see if Stacey could segments centered around scale collectibles, on our come up with a special vehicle for a stage production shelves. “People seem to forget that being a gearhead of Grease. “I started to build a ‘57 Chevy with a full is supposed to be fun — that’s what cars are all about, custom interior, yellow paint, and flames. I also had to whether it’s Hot Wheels, a plastic kit, a diecast, or a strengthen the hood, trunk, and top so that dancers full-sized car like the SL-C.” Now that Speed Channel could jump all over it and not break anything,” says is gone, Stacey’s hard at work in his brand-new space, David. And then, Stacey had an idea. “I had a musician on a brand-new series — and this one promises to friend with a good video camera — and while I was entertain more than just the car guy in all of us. “We building the car, I had her record me, so I could explain can’t say much right now,” Stacey chuckled, “but we’ll what I was doing ... here’s how to paint flames, how to be using every square foot of this new facility, for sure.” hang a fender, how to install a piece of trim ... that kind of stuff.” A few weeks after that, another friend called It’s a huge space, but Stacey David is a huge talent. to tell Stacey about an ad he’d read in a local paper, In between all those words, the work, garage band jam seeking a host/mechanic for a planned show on Spike sessions, and the occasional set of smoking tires, there’s TV. at show was Trucks, and when Stacey showed the the lesson he learned back in Boise: Never stop learning, producers the cars he’d built, and topped off the audition and don’t be afraid to try. Jim Williamson got to see with the tape he’d shot while building the ‘57, the deed Stacey succeed before he passed away a couple of years was done. Stacey David was on national television. ago. He passed away proud. For eight years, Stacey was either the co-host or the host of Trucks, and audiences loved his easygoing manner, his knowledge, and his way of doing things the right way the first time. To Stacey, it was a lot like sharing secrets with his audience. “I felt like, ‘Hey, guys! I’m showing you these things that lots of folks won’t. e \"Rat Roaster.\" e Zebra's last stand. Sgt. Rock reporting for duty. WINTER 2014 35

OUT OF THE BOX BY JOE KELLY, JR. RESIN RISES MINICHAMPS MULLIN XENIA AND DELAHAYE 1:18 | $295 EACH “U rethane” isn’t a word usually associated with beauty and romance, but it can have a certain appeal in the right circumstance. For one thing, it’s pretty tough stuff. And it can be cast into some very detailed and complex shapes ... like those of classic French automobiles. Minichamps has long known the power of polymers, and they’ve started marketing resin- bodied 1:18 offerings from their “Mullin Automotive Museum” collection. e models, based on the priceless “French Curves” exhibit at the Mullin’s Oxnard, CA installation are big, heavy — and hands-down, drop-dead gorgeous. PRINCESS … money makers. Others, like the side. André Dubonnet was wealthy his forays into the then-new In 1932, he’d bought Hispano- (heir to the Dubonnet apéritif science of solar energy, weren’t. fortune), driven, brilliant, Suiza H6C chassis 103 after he’d and spent much of his time roughout his 73 years, he’d seen it at the Paris Salon, and inventing things. Some, like been a fighter pilot, an athlete, modified it with his “Systeme the suspension system he a car collector, a race driver ... Dubonnet” suspension. e H6C licensed to General Motors, were and, it would seem, an incurable had a potent, 160-horse, 8-liter, romantic. In March of 1932, six-cylinder powerplant and servo-assist brakes; when it Dubonnet married his second came time to clothe the chassis, wife, Xenia Howard-Johnston, André commissioned Jean who passed away shortly Andreau to design something special. e noted “aero thereafter. He remarried in dynamist” complied by creating 1937, taking the hand of a sweeping shape with a long one Ruth Obre. But little hood, low, tapered roof and a did Ruth know that André had a lady on

bat-wing rear. Jacques Saoutchik lesser car, they might have been of plain folk had learned about was hired to build the body — and tampos, if they were there at the drama and finesse of French when it was done, Dubonnet all. Here, they’re legible, deeply design. named the lady “Xenia.” engraved pieces — and proof of the length Minichamps went to Unfortunately, the fair’s is is a stunning model bring this beautiful lady out. optimistic “Dawn of a New Day” of that car. We’d seen it in slogan hadn’t done much to 1:43 — a very nice piece — but … AND FAIR PRINCE curtail the onset of World War II, in this scale, Xenia’s dramatic e story behind the 1939 and instead of being sent back shape — all 12 inches of it — is to France, the Figoni car stayed breathtaking. Fine-grain silver Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet stateside as a guest of the U.S. paint is laid on the resin with a isn’t as romantic as the Xenia’s Government. Eventually, the depth and fire that simply can’t — unless you consider intrigue, Delahaye went up for public be matched on the relatively subterfuge, mystery, and auction and was bought by a coarse surfaces of the average the boffo fun of putting a big fellow who shipped it from New diecast, and the shut lines American V12 into an exotic York to his Beverly Hills car — sealed, of course — for the French machine “romantic.” dealership. ere, he installed a airplane-styled doors and hi-po Cadillac V12 and sold it to Cord-inspired front end are Delahaye built six 12-cylinder a New Yorker who then drove perfect. So are the attached chassis as Types 165s, and the swoopy cabriolet (Cadillaye? trim pieces for the windows, each was meant as a streetable Delahac?) back to the Empire and the wild, serpentine twin variant of the Type 145 Grand State. At some point, the car exhausts under the car’s rear. Prix racer they’d campaigned was bought off a used car lot in throughout 1937 and 1938. In Hawaii and landed in California e glazing is done in butyrate, 1939, Figoni et Filaschi were again in the 1970’s. e now- shaped to conform to the curvy contracted to build a sweeping aged beauty was ungraciously side glass and windshield — body on chassis 60711, so that abandoned at a repair shop, and the bright grille, headlight the car could represent France then bought by a fellow named bezels, door handles, and at the 1939 New York World’s Al Brewer, a tow truck operator, hardware are all deeply chromed Fair. e car looked phenomenal, for $1,200. Peter Mullin bought separate castings. e interior but it had no engine: the the car from the undoubtedly is surprisingly easy to see, and 181-horsepower, 4.5-liter pleased Brewer in 1985 and the blue and grey seats, blue Delahaye V12 simply wasn’t gave it a full-on restoration, door panels, and multi-gauged ready in time, and the machine remarkably including its dash are all well-decorated resin left the dock sans cylinders. originally intended Delahaye V12. castings, along with a long floor- mounted shifter, pedals, a set at didn’t stop fair attendees of fitted luggage — and a heater from going slack-jawed at the motor affixed to the floor. car’s beauty, and by the time the fair closed in 1940, thousands Two things grabbed us: one was the impeccable finish of the car, and its feeling of quality. e other was the tiny photo- etched “Saoutchik” badges on the Xenia’s lower body. On a

Resin casts realistically, so every It’s a centerpiece of the Mullin fender trims, and farther down, seductive curve and every detail of the collection that took a “First in twin tear-shaped exhausts hang cars - not to mention incredible paint and Class” at Pebble Beach in 1992. below the car. believable textures - is on tap. It’s also a centerpiece model Between faux wood inserts for anyone who loves French above the dash and the door coachwork. e Xenia tops, the interior is nicely is a spaceship, but this finished off with a carpeted Delahaye, seen here as floor, steel-spoked steering an in-process prototype, wheel, and neatly cast and is a grand spectacle in decorated pieces for the seat and scale. Wider and lower door panels. True to form, the than the Hispano, chassis offers only those details its skirted, pontoon that matter in profile; all that’s fenders are complex, missing on this pre-pro are the whitewalls for the nicely placed curvy, and beautifully cast; the spoked wheels. distinctive chrome spear that Is this one a keeper? Absolutely. travels along the car’s lowest Like the Xenia, only 1,002 copies edge is flawlessly applied into, will be made, and from what and onto, the shell. Up front, the we gather, they’re moving at a grille, headlight fairings, and good clip into the collections of horn covers are deeply chromed; discerning car folks from all over. more chrome, in strips, flows to Minichamps has plans for more the running boards. Two photo- to come — and we plan to make etched screens ride the sides sure we’re here when they do. of the hood in stylized streaks, and on the back, a single fin SOURCES points down over the rumble seat hatch and trunk lid. Below Carville Models carvillemodelsshop. that, trapezoidal taillights are com set into the trailing edge of the Fast Fact Dubonnet’s Xenia was hidden during World War II to avoid being taken as a war prize. When it reappeared in 1946, it was to help celebrate the opening of a new tunnel outside Paris. e multiple show winning car (Pebble Beach and Goodwood) is still occasionally driven and even appeared in a webisode of Jay Leno’s Garage. e Xenia was seemingly from another world when it debuted, and as much as we enjoyed the 1:43 variant (check it out at DCXmag.com), the car is a well-chosen masterpiece in this larger scale. 38 DCXmag.com



tWo RHEEAELL1969 “THEREDBARON” |1999 THE“TWINMILL”|2003 THE“DEORAII” Yes, these are Hot Wheels. No, they won’t fit your track. BY MIKE ZARNOCK Most of the scale replicas and collectible model cars we all love so much have been based on real-life machines. From hairy old Camaros to some of the classiest, well ... classics, we’ve all spent a good part of our youths (and, for some of us, a considerable part of our adult lives) enjoying these mini-motors while dreaming of the real thing. ese lovely little gizmos have been around almost as long as their full-sized counterparts, but for collectors and enthusiasts who wanted more authenticity and realism, things really warmed up during the car- crazed 50s and got even hotter through the Kustom Kulture of the 60s and 70s. While kit modelers wanted to build or “bash” a model of the car that their dad drove (especially if dad was driving a Hemi ‘Cuda or a big-block SS), for some, it was the cars we saw hanging on the retail pegs — read that “Hot Wheels” — that really tweaked us. And for that, we can thank Mattel. ough some of the first Hot Wheels cars were based on actual machines to varying degrees, it wasn’t too long before Hot Wheels’ designers were coming up with outrageous original designs of their own. at flipped the formula topsy-turvy: these wild creations, with their space-age shapes, canopy tops, and (gasp!) multiple motors couldn’t ever be real cars, right? Well, yeah, they can. It took a while, but over the years, visionary car builders, some of whom are Hot Wheels aficionados, have decided to lend their tools, talent, and time (and the occasional bag of cash) to build a few full-scale replicas — running, breathing, streetable cars — from Hot Wheels designs. Yes — dreams really do come true. 40 DCXmag.com

2005 “WHATTA DRAG” | 2011 “BONE SHAKER” 1999 e “Twin Mill” Almost 30 years would pass before anyone would attempt to recreate the Ira Gilford-designed 1969 “Twin Mill,” and even then, things would not go smoothly. Gilford’s incredible wedge was powered by two blown 427 Chevy engines — hence, the name — and the build would represent the first attempt at bringing an in-house Mattel design to gas-guzzling, tire-smoking life. e plan was to bring the car out for the 30th anniversary of the Hot Wheels line as a running brand ambassador — and make thousands of fans happy to see a real, live Hot Wheels on the street. In 1996, Mattel commissioned Boyd Coddington of “Hot Rods by Boyd,” along with Chip Foose, to build the real Twin Mill. In 1998, the project got stalled, but not for long. In 1999, Carson Lev — then the director of adult licensing for Hot Wheels — joined with Bob Larivee Jr., Lobeck’s V8 Shop of Cleveland, OH, and Carron Industries of Inkster, MI, to get the car finished. It’s gone through a few color changes over the years, as did the Hot Wheel, but the Twin Mill still wows the crowds at shows and Mattel events. FALL 2013 41

tWo RHEEAELL 1969 “ e Red Baron” ough originally designed as a Monogram plastic engine. e heavy top, which was painted silver, had to kit, Tom Daniel’s classic over-the-top show rod be removed between shows, so that the car could be design became a Hot Wheels in 1970 — but not before transported from place to place without damaging its Chuck Miller was commissioned by Bob Larivee, Sr. body. After debuting at the Detroit Autorama, the Baron to bring the car to life, pickelhaube helmet and all, in toured for a few years and can still be seen in all its 1969. ough neither the real car or the plastic kit had outrageous glory at the Museum of American Speed, in Lincoln, NE. ere was talk in early 2009 of a German fenders (the latter, which sold two and a half million car builder who wanted to replicate the original design copies in styrene, remains the best-selling to its finest detail — using a completely hand-fabricated model car kit of all time), Howard Rees’ Hot engine and even a full metal roof/helmet formed using Wheels version of the design did. hydroexplosive techniques - but there’s no word on In addition to fake machine guns whether or not that project ever went boom or bust. on its cowl, the show car used a 60s-era OHC Pontiac straight six to recreate — as e best news? You can still get the vintage kit, or the closely as possible — the Red Baron’s Hot Wheel. Bring cash. Leave the explosives at home. down-scaled Mercedes aircraft e Red Baron — fenders or none — was one of the late Sixties coolest designs. 2003 e “Deora II” e Cadillac-powered Deora II is one of Chip Foose's signature builds — and still draws crowds wherever it rumbles. e two pivotal players in the Deora II’s life were once kids who played with Hot Wheels. One was Nathan Proch, who designed the diecast, and the other was Chip Foose, who built Proch’s design in 1:1. What’s even better is the back story, which puts the whole real vs. scale thing on its ear. Inspired by the Harry Bentley Bradley-designed, Alexander Brothers-built 1965 Dodge Deora — which became one of the “original sixteen” Hot Wheels introduced in 1968, after Bradley joined Mattel — the original Hot Wheels was a model of the full-sized custom Dodge. In a complete reversal, Proch’s 2000 homage to the Bradley design would be done first as a scale diecast, then get built up in ‘03 by Chip as a Caddy Northstar V8-powered show car. Synchronicity? Maybe. Both cars featured surf boards and both were extreme cab-forward designs. And, of course, both are now running, drivable automobiles. ere, the similarities end; Foose’s Deora build totes GM V8 horsepower; the original, which won the prestigious “Ridler Award” at the Detroit Autorama in 1967, utilized a warmed-over Slant-6.

2005 “Whatta-Drag” Bruce Weiner's favorite Hot Wheel became a true As the owner of “Double Bubble” bubble gum, Bruce brawler, with a blown V8 Weiner had a good helping of ready cash and good taste — and a high rear wing. not to mention an entire museum dedicated to microcars — when he decided to bring Phil Riehlman’s 2000 Hot The Bone Shaker is a car that Wheels design to life. The car (number 213 in the lineup almost wasn't — in scale, or on that year) was Weiner’s favorite, since it was based on a the road. BMW Isetta; unlike the humble bubble, Riehlman’s Isetta had a blown, rear-mounted engine, three wheels, and a WINTER 2014 43 rear wing. The streetable Whatta-Drag was built in Winder, GA, in 2003 by Evermoor, Ltd., who stripped a 1959 Isetta of its 13HP engine (among other things), mounted it to a hand-built frame, and then proceeded to bolt in a 730-horse 502 Chevy crate engine with an 8.71 blower driving a single — and very busy — rear wheel, wrapped in a Sumitomo HTR Z II 285/35ZR18 tire. The entire project was done using only the original Hot Wheels model as a blueprint. In early 2013, Weiner sold off most of his collection, including the Whatta Drag, which purportedly fetched close to $100,000. 2011 “Bone Shaker” The scale “Bone Shaker” almost didn’t make it as a diecast — designer (and Diecast Hall of Famer) Larry Wood threw his original sketch away once it was complete. Thankfully, “Elwood” thought twice about his actions, retrieved the sketch from the circular file, and submitted the somewhat crumpled design for production. Fronted by a giant skull and headlights held by skeletal fingers, the 2006 release came along around the time Wood marked his 40th year with Mattel. In 2011, Picture Car Warehouse took up the task of building a 1:1 Bone Shaker, and did the job with a skull- and-bones steering wheel, a skull grille (done in metal), a spine-shaped shifter (topped with a skull, of course), and a 402 Chevy with fuel injection — just like the model. Looking every bit like the model it replicates, the car is driven frequently (often hard) and appears at Hot Wheels events and in Hot Wheels videos. Hopefully there will be more of these model-to- motor cars built as the years go by. Most collectors have a short list of Hot Wheels they’d love to see on the street — and a dream that someday they might actually be behind the wheel. As long as there are gifted designers — and talented fabricators — anything is possible. Dream on.

OUT OF THE BOX BY DCX STAFF casting Type AUTOART JAGUAR D TYPE “LE MANS 1955” 1:43 | $149.95 J aguar’s D-Type was more airplane than race car. Race cars had tube frames; the D-Type had an aluminum monocoque. Race cars had huge engines and needed great power to overcome their aerodynamic drag, the D-Type had been shaped by an aircraft engineer to slice through the air efficiently. Race cars were a handful at high speed; the D had a tail fin that kept it arrow straight at speeds other machines couldn’t hope to achieve. And when it came time to haul that speed down, where race cars relied on archaic, hard-to-cool drum brakes, Jaguar’s D used virtually fade-free Dunlop discs — like those on airplanes — at all four corners. Little of that would matter at LE MANS, 1955 second, had gone 172.8. Le Mans in 1955. A catastrophe June 11, 1955 was a tense day for Designer Malcolm Sayer’s — the catastrophe — would Jaguar. In 1954, the team had cloud Jaguar’s victory at the seen their Le Mans entries falter, math had shown that the cars Sarthe for years to come. But and delays from visits to the could do 178, if the conditions not forever. As years passed, a pits cost the team any chance were perfect — a 30mph renewed interest in the classic at victory. Two Jags had retired, improvement over the XK120-C Jag’s outstanding engineering, but first place was still plausible: “C-Types” of 1953. In 1955, Jaguar and an appreciation for just how the winning Ferrari 375 Plus had took streamlining to new lengths much of its technology found its clocked a top speed of just over — literally — and extended the way into other machines, was 160mph. Jaguar, which lost an D’s nose seven and a half inches. sparked. It’s about time. entire lap to the Italians, and took With larger valves and a trio of carbs for its dry-sump, 3.4-liter

six (canted eight degrees to the alloy body into the grandstands. fingers have been pointed at It was a dark day in June 1955 when side to allow for a better airflow More than 80 people, including Hawthorn, Levegh, Macklin — Jaguar took victory at Le Mans, but scale over the hood), the D-Type made Levegh, were killed, and scores seemingly everyone who was on collectors can explore the winning car in 270 horsepower. The Jaguar more were injured. Hours later, that straight that day. Hawthorn this full-on 1:43 from AUTOart. Works Team would need every while holding a two-lap lead, retired in 1958 and fatally ounce of it to face off against Mercedes pulled out from the crashed his tuned Jaguar 3.4 The level of detail and features is stagger- Mercedes’ awesome silver 300 race, leaving Jaguar to take the Mk I sedan on a public highway ing in this scale … and at this price. SLRs. contest. in January 1959. Ironically, he’d That all became moot early Mercedes left racing been dicing on a wet road with in the day. Three hours into the altogether after winning a Mercedes 300 SL being driven race, Mike Hawthorn had the Targa Florio. by a friend. Lance Macklin left the lead on Juan Miguel Over the Fangio’s 300SLR when years, racing after he hard-braked right seeing two to get into the pits for of his fellow fuel; behind him, Lance drivers killed Macklin in an Austin- Healey reacted by swerving at a Tourist Trophy directly into the path of Pierre race and lived to be 83. Levegh, approaching rapidly in The late John Fitch, who another 300SLR. In a horrifying was Pierre Levegh’s co- accident still being analyzed driver, became a champion for today, Levegh’s car contacted Macklin’s Healey, and became (and innovator of) airborne at over 150mph, race course and landing on an earthen embankment, exploding, and showering flaming bits of its suspension, engine, and magnesium-

OUT OF THE BOX highway safety equipment. e Jag’s spare tire well is empty — as it should be — and the magnetically Jaguar went on to win Le held hatch is hinged. Mans in 1956 and 1957 Below: Wired, plumbed, and painted before leaving motorsports pamphlet and serialized COA, Under the metal-hinged hood, beautifully, the 3.4 liter six is incredible themselves. and opened up the included the 3.4-liter XK six has been - even though one of the trumpets is a accessory kit (a wiping cloth and done to a nigh-on-startling level little off. RIGHTEOUS much-appreciated magnifier), of finesse. Amidst the bracing Bottom: Hood ajar, door open, hatch AUTOart has a very good we unscrewed the car from its (decorated with steel conduit), off — all that’s missing is a wee pit crew. thing going with Jaguar, and base. e diecast body and frame the DOHC engine is wired with the company brought out an of the piece make it heavier than scale-correct ignition leads impressively detailed and its size would seem to indicate, and plumbed with real copper feature-laden model of the Le and the Jag’s been painted up tubing and flexible hoses. Mans winner in 1:12 a while perfectly in BRG with tamped-on back. ese days, they’ve been race day livery and markings on ere’s an overflow coming developing high-detail, feature its tail fin. Tiny hood latches are from the radiator tank, fuel lines rich models in 1:43. at happy on either side, as well as faux going to the carbs, and even a change of direction has brought hood straps; the cooling louvers sextet of real metal trumpets — us to this small (3.79 inches), in the nose are photo-etched and admittedly, a tad skewed on this new, and utterly amazing replica painted in beautifully. Go farther sample — attached to the wee of the car. And we are positively forward and the headlight lenses Webers. Underneath, the car’s gobsmacked. are clear. Go to the rear and got a healthy dose of detail — jewel-painted chrome makes always a nice thing, in this scale Once we got the model out of for very decent tail lamps. More — and though the spare tire well its packaging, read the included clear plastic makes up the is empty at the rear, the Jag’s IRS windscreen, which reads as too is deeply rendered in a multitude thick, but wears rivet detailing of fine-cast pieces. where it attaches to the car’s cowling and opening driver’s It was while scoping the door. hand-written serial number on the car that we realized that the Yes, we said opening door. front wheels are poseable. at And we’re following with opening led to another thought: an entire hood, removable passenger-side lineup of equally important race lid, and a hinged tire hatch out cars, done to this level of fit, back. Under those panels and finish, and features, in this scale. pop-ups, the car’s interior is fully realized, and though the steel- ese models aren’t inexpensive, spoked steering wheel is way too but they’re certainly hammy, the dash has marked reasonable — and having some gauges, the seats are textured to contemporary machinery to look like bolstered grey leather, place alongside this impressive and the shift lever, electrical image might open up a whole boxes, and hand-brake lever are new vista of collecting. Sound all included. good, AUTOart? SOURCES AUTOart autoartmodels.com THEY’VE BEEN DEVELOPING HIGH DETAIL, FEATURE RICH MODELS IN 1:43. THAT HAPPY CHANGE OF DIRECTION HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS SMALL 3.79 INCHES , NEW, AND UTTERLY AMAZING REPLICA OF THE CAR 46 DCXmag.com

1/2H.indd 1 8/28/13 11:38 AM

Detail This We get busy with Maisto’s C7 Corvette | BY DCX STAFF ere’s something fun about tweaking and detailing an inexpensive diecast car. e heavy lifting — paint and assembly— has already been done, and with a few tricks and a little patience, a budget bomb can look like a much pricier piece. Since many of our readers (and we the paint will be a whole lot easier to MAKE A LIST ourselves) reacted so well to it, we match if the need arises. decided that Maisto’s 1:18 Corvette You’ll need a set of model paints — a basic set of was a good candidate for some home- We’re sticking to the outside. We’re enamels or acrylics will do. Make sure you have some spun detailing, mostly because it’s not going to repaint the car or take model paint thinner, not airbrush thinner. You’ll also the only mid-scale C7 game in town it apart. And we’re not “bashing” the need a small brush for tight details and a medium one for less than three hundred bucks model with steel tubing, added pieces, for slightly larger work. Got a rotary tool? Cool. If not, (BBR’s 1:18 resincast is beautiful, but wiring, or custom decals. ough some get a hacksaw blade. While you’re in the tool room, tags for around $325). At a real-world hobbyists can, and frequently do that get some painter’s masking tape and some 120-grit sticker that ranges between $40 and kind of work, we wanted to take a lighter sandpaper. Grab a few cotton swabs and a small lint- purportedly sub-$20, at some big box approach that would be friendly to free cloth, like an eyeglass polishing rag, then lay out stores, we knew that the Stingray had beginners, but familiar to the experts. In some newspaper and get ready to rock. Remember, good “bones” — a great shape, more than other words, don’t be scared: on a scale you’re working with sharp tools and chemicals, so decent paint, and a stance that looks of one to five, if “one” is cleaning and wear eye protection and make sure you’re in a well-lit, right. We shied away from the metallic dusting, and “five” is a teardown, repaint, well-ventilated area. red and blue versions and grabbed up and rebuild, we’ll be hitting the Maisto at our black sample for one simple reason: a solid level two. 48 DXCMag.com