1 31 2 2 3 4 Flame the Frame Pipe Dream Those screw tabs that hang down from the frame ruin the profile, and unless you’re A chromed exhaust is cool — but a dab of silver will go a looking to ship the model somewhere, they have to go. Use a rotary cutter to slice long way to make this Maisto’s pipes play a lot sweeter. through the tabs. There should be enough clearance for a multi-angle approach, so work Chrome can be tough to paint onto — work front to back, slowly. Once you’re done, use the sandpaper to dress the area smooth, and follow up along the length of the pipes and mufflers, and you’ll get with some flat black paint. good results. Don’t have a Dremel-style tool? No problem. Mask off the sides of the body with a few layers of that painter’s tape and use a hacksaw blade to shave those ugly bumps away. You may not get all the way flush, but if you work neatly, you’ll see a big improvement in the car’s side view. 12 Metal Mania Wrap-Up There’s a lot more detailing Tread Head Adding a toothpick- that this slick little car sized drop of any could benefit from, but Though they’re treaded well, the tires are too glossy. Take the 120-grit and work from color to a bit of silver we’ll let the pictures speak side to side across the treads (you might want to mask the body with more of that tape will make for varying for themselves. True, first). Once the treads are scuffed, the tires will look like they’ve been driven on, which is shades and a more we could have used any a good thing. realistic look under a computer word processor hood or on an exhaust. and a home printer to Just mix it well and add manufacture a more a little at a time. realistic license plate to replace that “California” tag. But something about Corvettes and California just seemed too good to muddle with. Hope you had fun. 50 DXCMag.com
1/2H.indd 1 8/6/13 12:04 PM
HOT WHEELS HIGHWAY Of course, unless you’ve perfected teleportation, or you’re planning to fly cross-country, networking BY MIKE ZARNOCK is necessary too. I’ve got friends who live near certain stores, and we help each other out. Sometimes it’s Super Sleuth them looking on my behalf, other times, it’s me doing the crawl through the pegs at my local Hot Wheels Sneak, and ye shall find haunt. en, of course, there’s always the last resort of getting cars online and paying two, three, or more More and more stores are offering exclusive Hot Wheels for collectors, times the original cost, plus shipping, for them. and in recent years, Ohio-based Kroger Stores has joined the fun. In 2012, Kroger took over some of the exclusive lines at’s good news, but not all of us have these stores where we live, that Walmart used to carry. ey now have the “Clover and that makes it harder to add these cars to our collections. If you Cars,” “4th of July,” “Mardi Gras,” and “Halloween.” ey like a challenge — and want to get a little cloak-and-dagger about it — also had an exclusive color for a Main-Line release: the you can do like I did and go online to find “sister” stores. For instance, 2012 New Models Series 9/50 ‘12 Camaro ZL1, in yellow. Kroger’s is called “Ralph’s” in California, “Fry’s” in Arizona, and “Smith’s” in Utah — and that makes doing a little research a good idea. is year (2013), one of the Kroger exclusive releases is called “Super Speeders.” Super Speeders are cars 15 in a blind package, just like the “Mystery Cars” that you see in little bags at Walmart. ere are 12 cars in the set along with stickers and a collecting poster. e packages have a peep-hole, so you don’t have to open anything to see if you already have what’s inside. ey’re cool — but that’s a story for a later issue. Along with the “Super Speeders” for 2013, Kroger also released two carded sets, “Superman” and “Sunburnerz.” e Superman set includes six cars along with a chase car. Each of the six card faces in this set has different vintage Superman artwork, and each car is decorated in exclusive colors and tampos. is will definitely end up being a cross-over collectible, attracting Superman and diecast collectors alike. 26 e cars in the “Superman” series are: (1) Buick Riviera, (2) ‘65 Pontiac GTO, (3) Custom ‘11 Camaro, (4) 8 Crate, (5) ‘05 Mustang GT, and (6) Jaded. e seventh car, the Phastasm, is the chase car, and is not mentioned on the back of the card. It has a transparent green plastic body with green and yel- low tampos, green tinted windows, and green tires with chrome fte wheels. 3 4 7 52 DCXmag.com
3 ere are only five cars in the “Subnburnerz” set, the 4 card faces are all the same, and there isn’t a chase car. Here’s the lineup as it shows on the back of the card: (1) Deuce Roadster, (2) ‘56 Mercury, (3) ‘65 Chevy Impala, (4) ‘67 Chevelle 396, and (5) ‘67 Pontiac GTO. All of these releases are a nice addition to any collection — especially since they’re the same price as Main-Line Hot Wheels. at gives the collector an opportunity to snare all the cars in the set at an affordable price — even if it takes a little sleuthing to get the job done. 2 5 1 FLA2SH0B0AC8K Since 2000, Hot Wheels has given collectors lots of variations to look for every year, and 2008 was no different. Some of the lesser known things to look for are cars with silver painted bases — an easy thing to miss on a quick walk by, unless the car formerly had a different color, or a plastic, base. And because the silver paint looks very close to bare metal, it can be doubly easy to mistake the two. One of the easier ones to spot was the 2008 Other than the $uper Treasure Hunts, which Variation Picks for 2008. Want to see more? All Stars #62 Go Kart. It came in candy lime green, as we all know are hard to come by in stores, Check out my book Hot Wheels Variations, e and the base was painted the same color, so it only because people snag them whenever they Ultimate Guide 4th Edition. really stood out when built with a silver painted see them, they are really not hard to find and base. is one actually came in two variations with can be readily purchased if you want to pay the the silver painted base — one with the 5dot rear secondary market prices. Below are my Top 10 wheel and the other with a 5-speed rear wheel. ZARNOCK’S TOP 10 VARIATION PICKS OF 2008 e 5-speed variation was, and still is, very hard to find. 10 7 Custom ‘77 Dodge Van — 2008 New Models 7/40 5157 Mustang Funny Car — TEAM: Drag Racing 1/4 Pearl magenta, chrome Malaysia base and front grille, Semi-gloss black, silver painted metal Malaysia base, 5sp Something a lot of collectors forget to look at blue tinted windows are the headlights. Sometimes, they’re painted, 410 Canyon Carver — 2008 New Models 10/40 and sometimes they’re not. is year, the #29 9 6 Dragtor — 2008 New Models 6/406 Dark candy blue, silver painted metal Malaysia base candy red metallic ‘70 Pontiac GTO from the New White pearl metallic, silver painted metal Malaysia base Models Series came out first with silver painted 3162 ‘70 Plymouth Road Runner — headlights, then they stopped. at’s a variation 829 ‘70 Pontiac GTO — 2008 New Models 29/40 $uper Treasure Hunts 2/12 that’s happened a lot over the years on a lot of Candy red metallic with silver painted headlights, black Spectraflame lime, silver painted metal Malaysia base, cars, and you never know which is going to be the plastic Malaysia base, asw-5sp chrome Real Riders® harder one to find. Sometimes a few go unpainted, sometimes a few get painted that weren’t 773 Sling Shot — 2008 All Stars 2'62 Go Kart — 2008 All Stars necessarily supposed to. It all depends on how the White pearl metallic, metal Malaysia base, pr5 Candy lime green metallic, silver painted metal Malaysia designer wanted the car to look, of course, and base, 5sp rear, mini 5sp front whether that design actually makes it all the way 639 ‘65 Volkswagen Fastback — through to the shipping dock. 2008 New Models 39/40 18 Corvette Grand Sport — 2008 New Models 8/40 Candy dark blue metallic, blue tint metal Malaysia base, 5sp Red enamel, chrome Malaysia base, y5 wheels 2008 was a year of many changes for you base variation collectors. ere were cut-outs that had a plastic HW logo sticking through them and others that went without the opening and displayed just the logo. Here is an example of what the base variations were like: 187 Lane Splitter (Med Evil) — 2008 Mystery Car a. White pearl metallic, metal Malaysia base with a red HW logo cutout, red, silver, and black stripes, “MEDEVIL 68,” gray plastic driver, red interior, red chrome fte wheels b. Same as (a) with no red HW logo sticking through the cutout in the metal Malaysia base c. Same as (a) with dark blue hood tampo, “MALAYSIA” in place of the red HW logo cutout on base d. Same as (c) with light blue hood tampo WINTER 2014 53
2008 Hot Wheels Mainline ❑ 001 ‘07 Shelby GT-500 New Models ❑ 071 Toyota Off-Road Truck All Stars ❑ 141 Ford GTX-1 Team: Ford Racing ❑ 002 Spector New Models ❑ 072 Saleen S7 All Stars ❑ 142 Ford F-150 Team: Ford Racing ❑ 003 Audi R8 New Models ❑ 073 Sling Shot All Stars ❑ 143 Mustang Cobra Team: Ford Racing ❑ 004 Rat Bomb New Models ❑ 074 Super Tuned All Stars ❑ 144 Deuce Roadster Team: Ford Racing ❑ 005 ’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee New Models ❑ 075 Sweet 16 II All Stars ❑ 145 Chaparral 2D Team: Hot Wheels Racing ❑ 006 Dragtor New Models ❑ 076 ’62 Chevy All Stars ❑ 146 Dodge Charger Team: Hot Wheels Racing ❑ 007 Custom ’77 Dodge Van New Models ❑ 077 Chevy Camaro Concept Web Trading Cars ❑ 147 Double Vision Team: Hot Wheels Racing ❑ 008 Corvette Grand Sport New Models ❑ 078 MX48 Turbo Web Trading Cars ❑ 148 Nissan Silva Team: Hot Wheels Racing ❑ 009 ‘09 Corvette ZR1 New Models ❑ 079 So Fine Web Trading Cars ❑ 149 Pit Cruiser Team: Custom Bikes ❑ 010 Canyon Carver New Models ❑ 080 Meyers Manx Web Trading Cars ❑ 150 Airy 8 Team: Custom Bikes ❑ 011 Acura NSX New Models ❑ 081 Nissan Skyline Web Trading Cars ❑ 151 Scorchin’ Scooter Team: Custom Bikes ❑ 012 Prototype H-24 New Models ❑ 082 Whip Creamer II Web Trading Cars ❑ 152 Hammer Sled Team: Custom Bikes ❑ 013 Custom ’62 Chevy New Models ❑ 083 Austin Healey Web Trading Cars ❑ 153 Buick Grand National Team: Engine Revealers ❑ 014 Fast Fish New Models ❑ 084 Mega-Duty Web Trading Cars ❑ 154 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C Team: Engine Revealers ❑ 015 Hummer H2 SUT New Models ❑ 085 Cadillac V-16 Web Trading Cars ❑ 155 ’57 Chevy Team: Engine Revealers ❑ 016 ’08 Dodge Challenger SRT8 New Models ❑ 086 Pony-Up Web Trading Cars ❑ 156 Sooo Fast Team: Engine Revealers ❑ 017 ’69 Chevelle SS 396 New Models ❑ 087 Dodge Concept Car Web Trading Cars ❑ 157 Mustang Funny Car Team: Drag Racing ❑ 018 Croc Rod New Models ❑ 088 Pikes Peak Celica Web Trading Cars ❑ 158 Jaded Team: Drag Racing ❑ 019 ’69 Ford Torino Talladega New Models ❑ 089 At-A-Tude Web Trading Cars ❑ 159 Dragster Team: Drag Racing ❑ 020 Bad Mudder II New Models ❑ 090 1/4 Mile Coupe Web Trading Cars ❑ 160 Fiat 500 Team: Drag Racing ❑ 021 Custom Ford Bronco New Models ❑ 091 ’70 Chevelle SS Web Trading Cars ❑ 161 Chrysler 300C HEMI Treasure Hunts ❑ 022 Rocket Fire New Models ❑ 092 Greased Lightnin’ Web Trading Cars ❑ 162 ’70 Plymouth Road Runner Treasure Hunts ❑ 023 2008 Lancer Evolution New Models ❑ 093 ’70 HEMI Challenger Web Trading Cars ❑ 163 Rockster Treasure Hunts ❑ 024 Duel Fueler New Models ❑ 094 Maelstrom Web Trading Cars ❑ 164 2005 Ford Mustang GT Treasure Hunts ❑ 025 Pass’n Gasser New Models ❑ 095 Ford GT-40 Web Trading Cars ❑ 165 Hot Bird Treasure Hunts ❑ 026 2008 Tesla Roadster New Models ❑ 096 Splittin’ Image Web Trading Cars ❑ 166 Qombee Treasure Hunts ❑ 027 ’65 Mustang Fastback New Models ❑ 097 ’69 Camaro Z28 Web Trading Cars ❑ 167 Dodge Challenger Funny Car Treasure Hunts ❑ 028 Impavido 1 New Models ❑ 098 AMG Mercedes CLK DTM Web Trading Cars ❑ 168 ’06 Dodge Viper Treasure Hunts ❑ 029 ’70 Pontiac GTO New Models ❑ 099 What-4-2 Web Trading Cars ❑ 169 16 Angels Treasure Hunts ❑ 030 Amazoom New Models ❑ 100 Brutalistic Web Trading Cars ❑ 170 ’64 Buick Riviera Treasure Hunts ❑ 031 ’08 Ford Focus New Models ❑ 101 Nitro Doorslammer Track Stars ❑ 171 Drift King Treasure Hunts ❑ 032 Urban Agent New Models ❑ 102 RD-02 Track Stars ❑ 172 ’69 Chevy Camaro Treasure Hunts ❑ 033 Ferrari FXX New Models ❑ 103 Supdogg Track Stars ❑ 173 ’69 Corvette Mystery Cars ❑ 034 Madfast New Models ❑ 104 Rogue Hog Track Stars ❑ 174 Bon Voyage Mystery Cars ❑ 035 H2GO New Models ❑ 105 Motoblade Track Stars ❑ 175 ’66 Chevy Nova Mystery Cars ❑ 036 Carbonator New Models ❑ 106 CCM Country Club Muscle Track Stars ❑ 176 Cloak and Dagger Mystery Cars ❑ 037 Camaro Convertible Concept New Models ❑ 107 Vulture Track Stars ❑ 177 Jester Mystery Cars ❑ 038 Ferrari 288 GTO New Models ❑ 108 Battle Spec Track Stars ❑ 178 Altered State Mystery Cars ❑ 039 ’65 Volkswagen Fastback New Models ❑ 109 Chrysler Firepower Concept Track Stars ❑ 179 Ballistik Mystery Cars ❑ 040 Twin Mill III New Models ❑ 110 Lancer Evolution 7 Track Stars ❑ 180 ’70 Mustang Mach 1 Mystery Cars ❑ 041 CUL8R All Stars ❑ 111 Accelium Track Stars ❑ 181 Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept Mystery Cars ❑ 042 La Troca All Stars ❑ 112 Trak-Tune Track Stars ❑ 182 Hooligan Mystery Cars ❑ 043 Sand Stinger All Stars ❑ 113 Lotus Esprit Team: Exotics ❑ 183 Shoe Box Mystery Cars ❑ 044 Arachnorod All Stars ❑ 114 Enzo Ferrari Team: Exotics ❑ 184 Monoposto Mystery Cars ❑ 045 ’63 Corvette All Stars ❑ 115 Porsche Carrera GT Team: Exotics ❑ 185 Lancia Stratos Mystery Cars ❑ 046 Night Burner (new name) All Stars ❑ 116 Zotic Team: Exotics ❑ 186 Super Tsunami Mystery Cars ❑ 047 Honda Civic Si All Stars ❑ 117 Hummer H3T Team: Surf’s Up ❑ 187 Lane Splitter (new name) Mystery Cars ❑ 048 Fire-Eater All Stars ❑ 118 ’40s Woodie Team: Surf’s Up ❑ 188 GT-03 Mystery Cars ❑ 049 ’32 Ford Sedan Delivery All Stars ❑ 119 Switchback Team: Surf’s Up ❑ 189 Callaway C7 Mystery Cars ❑ 050 Aston Martin V8 Vantage All Stars ❑ 120 Surf Crate Team: Surf’s Up ❑ 190 Scion xB Mystery Cars ❑ 051 Swoop Coupe All Stars ❑ 121 Jet reat 4.0 Team: Jet Rides ❑ 191 Corvette C6R Mystery Cars ❑ 052 HW450F (new name) All Stars ❑ 122 Shadow Jet Team: Jet Rides ❑ 192 Saltflat Racer Mystery Cars ❑ 053 Screamin’ Hauler All Stars ❑ 123 Firestorm Team: Jet Rides ❑ 193 Ford Mustang GT Concept Mystery Cars ❑ 054 Mad Propz All Stars ❑ 124 Jet reat 3.0 Team: Jet Rides ❑ 194 ’57 T-Bird Mystery Cars ❑ 055 Semi Fast II All Stars ❑ 125 T-Bucket Team: Rat Rods II ❑ 195 ’58 Corvette Mystery Cars ❑ 056 Hyper Mite All Stars ❑ 126 Dieselboy Team: Rat Rods II ❑ 196 Technetium Mystery Cars ❑ 057 Roll Cage All Stars ❑ 127 Rat-ified Team: Rat Rods II ❑ 058 ’65 Chevy Impala All Stars ❑ 128 Way 2 Fast Team: Rat Rods II Michael Zarnock has been collect- ❑ 059 Split Decision All Stars ❑ 129 Volkswagen Beetle Team: Volkswagen ing Hot Wheels since 1968; he ❑ 060 ’71 Plymouth GTX All Stars ❑ 130 Volkswagen New Beetle Cup Team: Volkswagen is considered by many to be the ❑ 061 ’41 Willys Coupe All Stars ❑ 131 Baja Beetle Team: Volkswagen ultimate variation historian. If you ❑ 062 Go Kart All Stars ❑ 132 Volkswagen Golf Team: Volkswagen would like a complete checklist ❑ 063 Covelight All Stars ❑ 133 ’69 Pontiac GTO Team: Muscle Mania II of all 2005 mainline variations, be ❑ 064 Buzz Bombs All Stars ❑ 134 ’68 Plymouth Hemi Team: Muscle Mania II sure to pick up a copy of Michael’s ❑ 065 ’07 Cadillac Escalade All Stars ❑ 135 ’69 Dodge Charger Team: Muscle Mania II ❑ 066 ’Tooned Enzo Ferrari All Stars ❑ 136 ’68 Nova Team: Muscle Mania II book Hot Wheels Variations the ❑ 067 Track T All Stars ❑ 137 Boom Box Team: Hot Trucks Ultimate Guide, now in its fourth ❑ 068 Ferrari 360 Modena All Stars ❑ 138 Dodge Ram 1500 Team: Hot Trucks edition. Copies are available from his website, ❑ 069 ’40 Ford Convertible All Stars ❑ 139 Nissan Titan Team: Hot Trucks MikeZarnock.com. ❑ 070 ’65 Pontiac GTO All Stars ❑ 140 Custom ’69 Chevy Team: Hot Trucks 54 DCXmag.com
Cars. Celebrities. Vendors. Collectors. Friends. And, oh, yeah - it’s Vegas, baby. The first annual Die Cast X SuperConvention February 20-23, 2014 The Plaza Hotel / 1 South Main Street / Las Vegas, NV For information about joining the show, or to purchase tickets, go to toycarconventions.com or call 877-832-2779
QUICK LOOK AUTO WORLD “GENE SNOW” FUNNY CAR 1:18 | $79.95 byDCXstaff G ene Snow was a drag racer, engineer, and innova- Above: Like the cars that it rep- tor; the first racer to break 200 miles per hour in mid-scale flopper from the Auto World “Legends of the resents, Auto World’s “Legends a funny car, and one of the first few to stay there Quarter Mile” series. of the Quarter Mile” series keeps race after race. He’d gotten his start as a car salesman/ on charging along. is latest racer who took the “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” It’s a great lineup, and a very cool model. e Charger’s Mopar, done as Gene Snow’s credo seriously ... he literally sold the cars he’d raced, right shell is covered in a fine red metalflake — danged if it isn’t “Rambunctious” ’71 Charger off his lot. He was also one of the first to alter a wheelbase scale correct — wearing tamped-on livery and sponsor funny car, will look great along- in order to get a cleaner launch, and that made him one of decals and topped with a clear coat that’s been hand- side the previous models — and the fathers of the funny car. But Snow’s biggest contribu- rubbed to a wet sheen. e pre-pro sample seen here has those yet to come. tion was the direct drive system he co-engineered with all the right stuff, markings-wise, from the “airbrushed” Right: Aw, ’chute. One of the Crower Clutches — a development that allowed the enor- Charger grille to the beautiful fade in the flames and let- clever bits on the models is the mous torque of nitro-fueled monster engines to reach the tering on the sides. We did notice that the nose looks a parachute lines — they “unplug,” rear wheels without fragging a gearbox. little more squared-off on the model than in pictures of making the body easily remov- the real car, but the stance, the rake, and the attitude is all able. He’d started in the late Fifties as a Chevy man, but by here, on scuffed Good Year race rubber. Below: Bang for the buck: e 1962, Gene was finding success piloting “Rambunctious” Hemi is wrapped in a slew of Mopars. In 1971, Snow brought out a full-on team, and As on the earlier LQM cars, you can lift the body and pipes and wires, and that makes his lineup grew to include a pair of mini Dodge Charger brace it in position or remove it entirely by pulling the the motor a powerful focal point “funnys” — one of which is the subject of this very nice ’chute cables out of the bundles and releasing the shell for the tube-framed screamers. from the pivots at the frame’s rear. e show beneath the skin is very good for the price. A huge blown Hemi domi- nates the scenery, and the silver-painted block and heads are crawling with red ignition leads and a mix of steel and vinyl hoses; behind that, the driver’s area has all the right stuff — handles, linkages, and a (static) steering grip — set before a belt-equipped slingshot seat. Stamped metal sides and a metal floor finish off the cockpit, and the car’s front end features a chromed axle with poseable wheels and a photo-etched gas tank brace — an all-around mix of media that brings the model into high-value territory at a sub-$90 price. Clever design, great build, and a long list of potential images from the heyday of drag racing just might make this lineup one of the best things to happen to scale repli- cas — and this hobby — in recent history. Highly recom- mended. SOURCES Auto World autoworldstore.com 56 DCXmag.com
ESVAL MERCEDES 260D And then, there’s the interior. e chauffeur’s compart- Above: Esval’s second release - PULLMAN LANDAULET ment has an accurate wood-grain dash with three big, this Mercedes 260D — is beauti- detailed gauges, a delicate four-spoke chrome-and-black fully put together, and deeply 1:43 | $95 by Wayne Moyer wheel, a plated shift handle, relief sun visors, and map detailed from bumper to bumper pockets and silver-printed relief-molded handles and and everywhere in between. E sval Models plans to alternate releases of American cranks on the door panels. ere’s a wood-grain cabinet Below: e interior is easily and European classic cars in scale, so this follow-up with folded jump seats aft of the raised divider, an ac- viewed, thanks to the folded top to their 1941 Packard is a superb model of one of curate plush rear bench, wood-grain trim on all the door and clear glazing. What a neat the world’s first production diesel-powered cars — the sills, and more neatly painted interior handles. ere’s model car. 1936 Mercedes 260D (W138), in top-of-the line Pullman decent chassis detail in relief on the baseplate, too, though Landaulet form. only the chrome tailpipe has been picked out as a separate piece. “Pullman” is what the Europeans call a limousine with glass partition, while “landaulet” describes a top with a Esval’s Mercedes 260D has even more accurate, high- fold-back rear and a forward-sliding front. “Excellent” is fidelity trim than the Packard — and that car was a home what we’re calling this freshman release from what is still run. While it will undoubtedly be popular in Europe, this a very new company. Four different versions of this model beautifully built, hyper-accurate scale miniature will find a are on tap, with different colors and the top in every pos- home in many American collections, too. We can’t wait to sible open/closed combination. is variant’s fully open see what Esval will do next. roof displays the old Merc’s interior to its best advantage, and the finish covering the body and fenders is a two-tone SOURCES cream and brown that earned a rare “5 thumbs up” rating (hard to do, because it takes three of us). Esval Models esvalmodels.com Textures are a big part of a great model car, and this one’s folded top sections have a realistic grain and sheen, along with convincing cast-in sags and wrinkles in the material. Nothing’s been passed over - check out the photo-etched tracks for the forward section, and the wiper arms. Another masterful sub-assembly is the grille, with its thin vertical and horizontal bars placed before an even finer mesh, all placed within a plated shell that’s been topped with a scale-correct ree Pointed Star. On either side are chrome-bezeled headlights, and the hood hinges and beltline molding are cast in crisp relief, then over- printed with bright chrome, as is the running board trim. Smaller parts, like the door handles, spare tire carriers, and the handle for the roof’s rear section are separate plated pieces. e base casting that all of this lives on is beautiful in its subtleties - like the twin rows of louvers along each side of the hood, which somehow have perfectly uniform black “openings.” Check out the luggage rack; it’s wear- ing more bright printed trim, and another photo-etched Mercedes star. More of those stellar elements live at the center of each of the six hubcaps, and there’s even a small rectangular hump in the outer edge trim of the running board - as there was in life. WINTER 2014 57
QUICK LOOK CMC 1955 MERCEDES 300 SLR “FANGIO” 1:18 | $370 by Bill Bennett Above: Gauges and leather and M ercedes-Benz entered the World Sportscar direct fuel injection. e car also was equipped with mas- plaid - oh, my! CMC’s cockpit is Championship in 1955 with a commitment to sive inboard drum brakes. indeed Oz-like in its complete- win rarely seen in motorsports. ey built nine ness. race car chassis, hired four of the world’s best drivers, and CMC brought us Sir Stirling’s car in 2007, and now, Below: e 3-liter 8 was an then proceeded to brutalize the competition. At the Mille they’re offering Fangio’s second-place winning 658 — as incredible piece of engineering Miglia, a run on a clockwise road course from Brescia in well as Herrmann’s and Kling’s machines, both of which - and so is this scale rendering. northern Italy to Rome and back to Brescia, the factory were DNFs that day. CMC’s model of Moss’ car was See this issue’s “Showroom,” entered four cars: Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson’s 722 incredible, and their version of Fangio’s car is equally for CMC’s standalone release of car, Juan Manuel Fangio’s 658 car, Karl Kling’s 701, and magnificent. Built using more than 1,500 individual parts, this engine. Hans Herrmann’s 704. the replica is awash with the kind of details usually found in only the extreme upper end of the hobby. e engine Fangio was the five-time Formula 1 World Champion in is a masterwork, with all the hoses, hose clamps, injector 1951, and then from 1954 through 1957. But at this venue, plumbing, and wires found on the real car (check out this fuel injection malfunctions hampered his performance, month’s “Showroom” for more on this piece, available and he finished a quite-respectable second — running on separately), and the detailing just couldn’t be any better. seven out of eight cylinders. e 300 SLR that the team had fielded was named after the street car for marketing e number 658 (signifying Fangio’s starting time purposes, but was really an offspring of the M-B W196 of 6:58 a.m.) and the other graphics are flawlessly Formula 1 racer. Built on a tube space frame chassis with tampo-printed on the deep silver paint. e three-piece a magnesium alloy body, the car featured a three-liter windshield and the scoops feeding air into the cockpit (2,981cc) naturally aspirated engine, laid over 33 degrees are held in place with the tiniest of rivets, and inside the to reduce wind resistance and lower the center of gravity. cockpit, the door sills are covered in delicate blue leather. More blue hide — and some great, dyed-yarn plaid fabric — e engine incorporated a desmodromic valve train and wraps the seats. e four-spoke steering wheel is made of photo-etched stainless steel and faux-wood resin, and the gated shifter looked so good it had us wondering if we could change gears. e head fairing hinges up, and within that piece is another hinged door for the fuel filler, which also opens. Once lifted, the fairing allows the boot lid up to reveal two spare tires — removable, for the very brave — on a tube- framed brace. ese match the also-removable wheels and tires all around the model. Once those road wheels are off the car, the suspension and brake hoses become more visible — a trick we suggest you try at least once, while compressing the springs and watching the pieces play together. CMC does it again. is historically important model shows how deeply a 1:18 can be detailed and featured, yet still remain reasonably affordable. SOURCES CMC Model Cars cmcmodelcarsusa.com 58 DCXmag.com
1/2H.indd 1 8/28/13 2:56 PM FHIUNGEESTSEDLIEECCTAISOTNMOOFDTEHLES WWW.MINTMODELS.COM (800) 341-4699 Visit our Showroom: 166 Sparrowbush Rd., Suite 4 Latham, NY 12110 Porsche 917k models now available in various scales 1937 Delage D8-120 S 1962 Ferrari GTO Pourtout Aero Coupe S/N 3445GT in 1:24 Scale in 1:8 Scale SPECIAL10% OFF ALL ORDERS! Enter Code DCX at checkout on www.MintModels.com
quick LOOK CMC Maserati 300S thing got wrapped with an alloy body developed without Rolling Chassis the aid of a wind tunnel. Though done by eye, the intu- itiveness of the design — which grew a longer nose as it 1:18 | $159 byBill Bennett evolved — yielded a shape that was both aerodynamically slippery and extremely beautiful. Above: X-ray specs? You’re C MC has given collectors two amazing versions of CMC’s complete 300S was reviewed in the Spring 2013 close. CMC pulled the wraps off the 1955-1958 Maserati 300S draped in beautiful issue of DCX, and we were crazy about it, even though we its amazing Maserati 300S to Carrozzeria Fantuzzi bodywork, but the most im- could only guess at the details hidden under its impres- show the world what was under pressive version of the 300S just might be this one with a sively rendered skin. Now that the shell has been taken its skin, and the result is a testa- rolling chassis, on deck for release sans body. away, it’s apparent that our guesses were right: CMC’s ment to just how deeply detailed engineers build their models with details that go far these little critters are, even It’s an important car, and this release of a nuts-and- beyond what’s visible with the body in place. where you normally can’t see. bolts (and tubing, and rubber, and ...) chassis is the icing on This isn’t a surprise. We saw this kind of completeness a very quick cake. In 1954, Maserati basically re-config- in an earlier Maserati from CMC — the “Birdcage,” which Below: Every detail worth ured their highly successful 250F Formula 1 Monoposto also got marketed as a skinless, plinth-mounted museum seeing - and some you’d never into a two-seater sports car to contest the FIA’s World piece. In an evolutionary move, this 300S running frame imagine existed - is on display, Sportscar Championship for ‘55. Since the car would be takes that no-detail-left-unexplored philosophy a step and the whole thing is wired, racing on bumpy post-war European road circuits, using further: CMC has deleted the body, but left its supporting plumbed, strung, and uphol- pump gas and racing for up to 1000km, this redesign trellis in place. This allows a minds-eye view and rough stered. had to be made more robust than the F1 car. The chassis idea of the final shape of the car. Everywhere on this exquisite replica, details boggle the was widened and strengthened, and the engine was mind: tiny rivets are used to assemble the gas tank and opened up by a half-liter. The compression ratio hold pieces to the frame. Brass tubing runs from the stem was dropped to improve reliability, but to stern, lashed to the rails with rubber and steel clamps. yield the same horsepower as Even the hardware all over is staggeringly well done: the 250F, and the whole where most manufacturers might use a dab of paint to represent a chrome acorn nut or a brass bolt, on this car, these are actually separately installed parts. The seats are covered in real leather, the instrument panel is fully wired and plumbed, and everything, everywhere, seems to be wrought out of metal. If there is a piece of plastic any- where, they’ve cast, textured, and installed it in the model so seamlessly, we don’t know where it is. All we see is alloys of every shape and variety: photo-etched, diecast, machined, or otherwise fabricated into minute pieces that are flawlessly fitted. Are there pistons in the engine? Oil in the DeDion rear? We’ll find a small wrench and get back to you. Kidding aside, this is an amazing example of the modeler’s art, limited to 3,000 pieces, and highly recom- mended. Sources CMC Model Cars cmcmodelcarsusa.com 60 DCXmag.com
1/2H.indd 1 9/6/13 1:40 PM
QUICK LOOK TSM MODELS TYRRELL 006/BELGIAN GP 1973 1:18 | $140 by DCX staff Below: It may be a static display T SM Models’ Tyrrell 006 racer is a tight little replica time for the race. piece, but the Tyrrell isn’t lacking of Jackie Stewart’s final F1 ride; a sealed-body It’s a testament to the trio that they won that day; in dead-on detail. See the front marvel that pays homage to a great driver — and suspension and scuffed tires! the sport he walked away from when he parked the car for Stewart was first, Cevert second, and Fittipaldi third, in a Bottom: Much of the Tyrell’s the last time. Lotus-Ford. It would be Stewart’s only Belgian GP victory nicely detailed Ford DFV engine and one of his last races. On October 6, 1973, Cevert, and Hewland gearbox is visible e Tyrrell 006 first got raced in late 1972 at the Cana- Stewart’s friend, protégé, and heir apparent to the Elf at the rear and sides. Sweet. dian Grand Prix. Stewart clicked with the car and won his Team leadership, crashed and died at Watkins Glen in his Tyrrell during qualifying for the U.S. Grand Prix. In a touch- third Driver’s Championship ing moment, Stewart — who could be seen prior to the in 1973, besting a stable of race discussing with Francois how to maneuver through talented pilots, including his the very spot where he later crashed — drove his Tyrrell teammate, the movie-star- to the scene, trying to determine what could have gone handsome, supremely tal- wrong. He retired from Formula 1 racing that day, having ented Francois Cevert. e already taken his third Driver’s Championship. Ford Cosworth DFV engine, Hewland five speed, and ZF TSM has done a bang-up job on the model. Not only is differential were a perfect the car properly proportioned and perfectly cast, it’s also match of power and gearing painted beautifully and decorated with tampos of out- for Stewart and his Tyrrell standing clarity and quality. Even where the white mark- cohorts, scoring five wins, ings are faced against the dark blue, the images are sharp, three poles, and two fastest glossy, and opaque. e scuffed tires, complete (and lap laurels in 18 races. mostly visible) engine and exhaust detailing, complex (but static) suspension bits, and the beautifully braced rear is is a great-looking wing offer up a ton of detail, despite the lack of a single model of the car as it ap- working feature, save for free-wheeling axles. peared when Stewart won the Belgian GP in 1973. It It’s always fun to compare a replica to archival foot- was a tough race even be- age of its full-sized inspiration in the hands of a master, fore it started; after walking especially when it’s a car as twitchy and light on its feet the circuit at Zolder scarcely as this one was. Watching Stewart bomb through corners a week before the contest, on the ragged edge of control had us looking between our Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, monitors and the tabletop, again and again, and celebrat- and Francois Cevert all found ing not only the model’s accuracy, but “ e Flying Scot” the track in terrible condi- himself for the treasure he is. at elevated TSM’s Tyrrell tion, with chunks of its sur- from display piece to something of a touchstone. Highly face loose enough to cause recommended. a hazard. So, they put their collective foot down: fix the SOURCES track, or we won’t show up. TSM Models tsm-models.com e course got resurfaced in 62 DCXmag.com
1/2H.indd 1 8/20/13 2:45 PM
quick LOOK AUTOart 1958 Porsche Speedster “McQueen” 1:18 | $140 by Bill Bennett Above: Stripped down, lettered S teve McQueen was a gearhead, pure and simple. Be 18 months Steve owned the real car, he added expensive up, and ready to race, AUTOart’s it car, motorcycle, or airplane, he could drive, ride, Rudge knockoff wheels, removed the bumpers and over- latest entry into the “Steve or fly it better than most, with the same confident rides, then added a 10-inch-high windscreen and roll bar McQueen” collection looks just ease he displayed in front of a camera. Over the years, for SCCA racing in Southern California. McQueen sold it like the famed actor/driver’s the vehicles that passed through his hands have come to in 1959 to purchase a Lotus Eleven to seriously scratch ride from the late 1950s. represent the coolest of the cool, and AUTOart has played his racing itch, and the Speedster ultimately ended up in Below: Lots of textures, seri- up that fact with a stable of 1:18 McQueen favorites, well-known car collector Bruce Meyer’s hands in 1965. ously sharp castings, and an including the Bullitt ‘68 Ford Mustang GT, the Porsche 917 Meyer had it for nine years and used it as a daily driver, overall excellence make the from Le Mans, his Jaguar XK-SS, and the Porsche 908/2, before selling it back to McQueen in 1974, after Steve Porsche worth exploring. had contracted a severe case of seller’s remorse and had as he raced it at Sebring begun calling Meyer weekly begging him to sell it back to 1/6H.indd 1 and Holtville (all featured him. in the Spring 2011 issue AUTOart’s version is pure race car, with roll bar, taped 64 DCXmag.com of DCX). lights, racing numbers, and a minimally-framed, chopped- Add this 1958 Porsche down Plexiglas windscreen. It’s as nice a Speedster model Speedster 1600 Super as we’ve ever seen, with deep black paint and tamped- to the above. The model on racing numbers looking exactly as they did in 1959 replicates the beauti- when McQueen was doing laps at Riverside Raceway. The ful black car he bought cockpit is complete with cast racing seats that may not brand new from John von be correct for this car, but are nonetheless stunning, with Neumann’s Competition wrinkles and added patina that carry over to the equally Motors in Hollywood, and convincing cast plastic tonneau cover. The instrument it may be the slickest binnacle features a center tach, bracketed by the speedo image from the “McQueen and instrument cluster, and the ivory-rimmed Ebonite Collection” yet. Over the steering wheel is correct down to the black horn button and Porsche crest. Under the rear deck, the engine bay houses a 1600cc engine complete with dual Solex carburetors, remote oil filter canister, and a blue Bosch racing coil. This combination packed in 75 horsepower at delivery, and it’s all executed beautifully here in scale. Ditto the opening boot, with its steel hinges, stowed spare tire, and tool kit. If you’re really into Speedsters, AUTOart is also selling a stock black version of this car, looking, we’d imagine, as this machine might have looked when McQueen took delivery. That one isn’t part of the McQueen Collection — but this one surely is, and we approve. SOURCES AUTOart autoartmodels.com 8/28/13 11:43 AM
8/20/13 3:08 PM www.DiecastMusclecars.com1/6H.indd 1 We specialize in 1/18 Scale Diecast Musclecars from Acme, Auto Art, Auto World, Greenlight, Hwy 61, Sun Star & More. Call (715)874-6037 for more info or visit www.DiecastMusclecars.com All cars are packaged very carefully and shipped out within 24 hours via UPS. We accept Mastercard and Visa on our Simple-Secure Online Order Form. “Mention this ad for a FREE SHIPPING OFFER on your first order” Serving the World Wide Web with Quality Service Since 1999 DMC_winter14.indd 1 8/29/13 12:09 PM Pete’s MODEL GARAGE INC. 5 Precinct St Unit 2 Lakeville, MA 02347 Phone: 508-947-5141 Fax: 508-947-5174 Email: [email protected] www.PetesModelGarage.com Cars/Road & Race – Trucks Buses – Aviation Construction – Military TV & Movie * ALL SCALES * CORGI FULL LINE RETAILER – USA & UK IXO SPARK OXFORD BROOKLIN NEO TRUE SCALE MINICHAMPS SCHUCO EFE AUTOMODELLO LANDS- DOWNE HOBBY MASTER FIRST GEAR NORSCOT TWH DCP SIKU MANY MORE LINES IN STOCK DieCast SPECIAL IXO MUSEUM SERIES $35. EACH
collector profile Dennis Koleber rebuilds history ... Whether it’s resin (like the “Stutz Black Hawk” kit above), ... and might even sell you some | by bill bennett diecast, or plastic, Dennis Koleber — seen here in his Preacher, documentary video producer, award-winning model builder ... Dennis studio — can make the ordinary Koleber is a man of many talents. And over the last 27 years, he’s used some of those extraordinary in scale. gifts to run a successful business modifying model cars (and the occasional plane) for some of the major manufacturers in the hobby, as well as for lucky individuals who want Tell us something out of the ordinary, suited to their particular tastes. what fuels Like many of us, Dennis started out by building customers haven’t been able to convince him to sell. your plastic model kits. His knack for working with styrene Those that do leave the nest occasionally make an passion! earned him trophies from the more than 500 local and additional stop — at a national contest, with the new national contests he’s won. He branched into his own owner’s permission — where, more often than not, the Is it the hunt? line of resin kits, too — but these days, Dennis spends cars will take a prize before they get delivered. That The purchase? the majority of his time customizing diecasts. gives the cars more provenance and gives the owners Or the display? Working out of his home workshop the bonus of bragging rights. Share your col- north of Dallas, Dennis specializes in Repainting a model race car inevitably lection and your producing well-worn “finish line” models, passion with and he also creates scale replicas of requires adding new livery, and Dennis thousands of other famous wrecks. Whether the medium is makes his own custom decals or gets them collectors just like resin, styrene, or diecast, his stock in trade from the top producers in the hobby. Most you. Die Cast X is authenticity and his client list reads like recently, he has come out with a line of magazine is look- a motor head white pages: Jay Leno, Paul “fantasy” cars for sale online. These creations ing for collectors Newman, George Lucas, Parnelli Jones, are based on cars that never existed — but who want to show Dan Gurney, Brian Redman, President look like they should have — and they’re the world what George H. W. Bush, and a bucket full of further proof of Koleber’s creative mind. fuels them. Visit others all have a Koleber creation on their shelves. In Visiting Dennis’ garage is fun, too, because DCXmag.com/cp, between commissions, he builds “spec” pieces and sells the models, including a large selection of brand-new kits answer the profile them through online auction sites. still in boxes, have supplanted his full-sized cars. These questionnaire days, his favorite re-dos are based on AUTOart’s evergreen and attach a few Some jobs are larger than others. This past year, Porsche 917, which Koleber re-envisions and modifies into pictures of your Dennis has been working on building more than 300 variants that AUTOart has not yet built. collection. It’s easy. 1:18, 1:12, and 1:8 models. These will constitute the main Based on reality or not, Dennis Koleber has a knack And who knows— displays for an international model race car museum for creating high-caliber things that collectors just can’t you might be located on the other side of the world. Dennis’ workshop live without — and that the hobby just can’t get enough featured in a future always has a number of projects going at any one time of. Keep up the good work. issue of Die Cast X! and his personal collection is limited to the models his denniskoleber.com 66 DCXmag.com
Search
