DIECAST COLLECTIONS AND THE DINKY TOYS STORY

DIECAST SCALE MODELS are traditionally a collector's market, rather than one for builders. But there are plenty of times when ready-built models make perfectly good sense.

DEFEAT THE DREADED DUST WITH EASY AND QUICK STORAGE SOLUTIONS

ONCE UPON A TIME my school-age model-maker gang used to meet up each Saturday morning, then go pack-hunting for the latest model kit.

HOT WHEELS FIFTY YEARS OLD - FIVE 'SWEET SIXTEEN' CARS RELEASED TO CELEBRATE

THE FIRST HOT WHEELS CARS were released in May, 1968. Known as the ‘Original Sweet Sixteen,’ those cars all had redline wheels, and original paintwork and style that directly challenged existing diecast toys such as Matchbox cars.

FUTURISTIC CUSTOM PICKUP TRUCK: 1:25 SCALE AMT DODGE DEORA

THE DODGE DEORA is an original concept from the 1960s, available now as a 1:25 scale AMT kit reissue.

BEAT THAT! AMAZING WORLD'S BIGGEST HOT WHEELS CAR COLLECTION

LOOK AND LOVE this collection of more than 3500 Hot Wheels cars, with a video that visits a specially-housed million-dollar display of miniatures.

HOT WHEELS X-WING CARSHIP TAKES OFF - AT GROUND LEVEL

THE CLASSIC STAR WARS X-WING has been reimagined as a high performance Hot Wheels racing car, powered by a 2.0 litre 16-valve DOHC engine.

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO - MODELS THAT MADE IT BIG

WE MOSTLY THINK OF MODELS as miniature versions of the real thing, 1:72, 1:48, 1:87 and so on. Well, every now and again, the models get their revenge and make it the other way round - from small-size original to full-size 1:1 realization.

HOT WHEELS - INTO MIDDLE AGE, YET STILL AS FRESH AND TASTY AS EVER

In a few months time, Hot Wheels will be 46 years old, yet the 1:64 scale line is still going strong, with cars like the Chevrolet Camaro above helping to keep the range fresh, fast, and up to date.

NEW FOR 2012 - CANNON-ARMED BATMOBILE TUMBLER STARS IN UPCOMING BATMAN MOVIE

SMN report:

The final part of the current Batman ‘Dark Knight’ movie trilogy is heading our way next summer, and The Dark Knight Rises will bring a host of techno-treats by way of new and updated crime-zapping machinery for our caped crusader. And that means there'll be new movie tie-in Batman kits, collectibles, diecasts, and RC equipment on release soon. 

LIMITED EDITION HOT WHEELS BATMOBILE

SMN report:

Mattel’s Hot Wheels line has released a treat for Batman fans, with the latest Limited Edition Batmobile. “Not another Batmobile...” I hear you sigh, but read on, for this is a biggie 1:18 scale diecast model, with opening sections that reveal enough inner details to make it a unique entry for the Batman memorabilia shelf.

HOT WHEELS FREE CHEVY CORVETTE OFFER

Here’s an offer for US collectors from Hot Wheels - a free 1:64 scale 1962 Chevrolet Corvette. It represents a ’Vette from the last year when America’s own sports car came with a wraparound windshield. Add to that the handsome ultramarine blue paint plus a pair of racing stripes and you have a nice addition to any collection to this scale. The Hot Wheels ’62 Corvette is packaged in a ‘Collector Edition’ blister card, and comes in a delightfully-named ‘Kar Keepers’ clamshell pack.

Mind you, there’s free and ‘free’. You do have to buy 20 selected cars from the range at selected Kmart stores in order to qualify for the offer, and all before April 17, 2010. So it really amounts to just 5 percent off - but that Corvette looks terrific, and Hot Wheels prices are not exactly wallet-busters, so who’s complaining - not SMN, that’s for sure.

Visit the Hot Wheels offer here.

If you like Corvettes in other scales, there’s a tasty selection here.

Thanks to Autoblog for the offer heads-up.

MONSTER TRUCKS VIDEO

Talking of the Hot Wheels Monster Truck, here’s a short clip that shows a full-size pair of them in action at a country show last summer. Great stuff - the plan is to have a drive in something of the sort when things warm up after this extremely chilly winter.

If you feel the same about these big beasts, check out the nitro machine here.

BATMOBILE EVOLUTION - FROM LINCOLN FUTURA TO MONSTER TRUCK

The famed Batmobile has a long history, and more design changes than we can count. The tale of this fabled vehicle began with the 1955 Lincoln Futura 'dream car', touted at the time as: ‘A $250,000 laboratory on wheels’, complete with twin plexiglass canopies, hooded lights and air scoops for cooling the brakes. However, after successful display at various auto shows, the car was sold to the ace of auto-customizers, George Barris, who a decade later worked with stylist Dean Jeffries to produce the Batmobile of 1966 we know so well from the successful TV series.

Before that however, the Futura had been modelled to 1:25 scale by Revell as part of the Modern Car Kit series and the pictures we show here are of the kit's 1995 reissue. It’s simple enough, containing just 36 parts plus a pair of metal axles. The wheels were moulded in two halves as standard hard-plastic components - car kits had not yet evolved to include separate tyres. The box art is typical Revell of the time - drop-dead gorgeous, with a very happy pair of middle-class consumers under those twin canopies.

The instruction leaflet doesn’t stop at assembly notes, but also includes display suggestions, such as modding the Futura to make a bookend, an ash tray, or a TV-top decoration. Ah, those were the days!

Coming up to date, we show a recent Hot Wheels 1:64 scale Batmobile in the form of a ‘Monster Jam’ truck. Hot Wheels designers have had a field day with the swoopy finned design to produce a nice little model, with satin-finish paint, lots of chrome (even if it is somewhat overbright), and those huge tyres. A nice feature from Hot Wheels is the steering mechanism - just lean the vehicle to left or right and all four wheels twist and turn to match your movement.

You’ll have to hunt around a bit for the Lincoln Futura. We found one for sale on eBay here.

The Monster Jam truck is widely available, and we also found one on eBay here.

BATMOBILE 1:1 REPLICA SEEN IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

This little movie is doing the internet rounds at the moment, and according to reports elsewhere it cost more than $1 million USD (£630,000 GBP) to construct. Hmmm... that sounds a bit of a hyped-up figure to SMN, but short of seeing the till receipts, we won't quibble. The vehicle, built by Stockholm resident Leif Garvin, is apparently based on the running gear from a 1973 Lincoln Continental, typical current asking price a definitely non-stellar $3000 USD (£1893 GBP). However, Leif's Batmobile took over three years to build, and as you can see, it’s a very impressive piece of work, packed with technoid gadgets, and with a paint job that Batman would be proud of - and in SMN satin-finish too ;)

Our own AMT Batmobile refurb is coming on a storm, and we’ll be able to show her off very soon. Meantime, there are lots of Batmobiles out there, and don’t forget that the Batman franchise has churned out many variations over the years.

SMN current favourites are both 1:18 diecast models. The Hot Wheels 1960s-era Batmobile is the TV-series design, created by customizer-king George Barris from a Lincoln Futura concept car. The other is a pricey but interesting Corgi bare-metal casting, based around a 1940s comic design, and an unusual addition to any collection.

Pictures show, from top:
1 Hot Wheels 1:18 1960s Barris Batmobile.
2 Corgi 1:18 1940s bare-metal Batmobile.

Video courtesy 'Simonize82'.

View the Hot Wheels Batmobile model here.
The Corgi bare-metal Batmobile can be seen here.

DODGE DEORA - DIGGING UP SPANISH GOLD

BY MAT IRVINE
Today, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is hosting a sale by RM Auctions that includes one of the most famous custom pickups of the 1960s, the wildly original Dodge Deora pickup truck. Designed by Harry Bradley and built by the Alexander Brothers, Mike and Larry, the Deora went public in 1965, when the magazine Car Model ran a competition to name it while still under construction. This was in the September issue, and by February 1966, the mag had a winner. This was a freckle-faced 13 year-old, David Hagedorn of Tacoma, who came up with the winning name, part-based on the Spanish for ‘gold’ (‘oro’), his efforts earning a pile of over 40 AMT kits and a stopwatch.

The Deora was based on the Dodge A100 pickup, a workaday vehicle that the Alexander Brothers transformed into a radical low-slung cousin, painted a pearlescent gold. The Deora kept the Chrysler Slant-6 engine and running gear, but the standard cab was chopped right down. Most radical was the entry system - instead of side doors, the whole front opened up, much like station-wagon tailgate in reverse. To this end an actual Ford tailgate assembly was used - customizers never worry where parts come from. The upper section could lift, the lower section hinged on the driver’s side to open.

The Alexander Brothers were consultants to AMT at the time, so a 1:25 scale kit of the new custom was a natural, and this arrived on hobbyshop shelves in mid-1966. With over 100 parts, the kit built up in typical AMT style, with engine and chassis details, two different sets of wheels, operating entry doors and an optional clear roof for the pickup bed. There were some oddities though - the lower section of the front door didn’t open sideways: it folded down instead, presumably to make 1:25 scale operation easier. Also oddball was the empty pickup bed - the real thing was full of equipment to keep the vehicle working, a cover being used to hide it all!

The kit has been reissued at least seven, possibly eight times, the most recent being in 2001. It’s always remained basically the same, though some versions included surf boards, others changed the wheels, another was sold as a ‘topless pickup’ with the cab roof removed. A major option was added with the Vantasy version that supplied a stylish camper top.

The Deora didn’t escape the diecast market either. When Mattel introduced Hot Wheels in 1968 with a 16-model lineup, one of them was the Deora. As with the vast majority of Hot Wheels, each model was issued in a variety of colours and details, this initial issue running to ten different colours; since then, there have been many others.

The later Deora 2 was designed by Nathan Proch specifically for Hot Wheels, of which there are at least 30 variations known. However, Deora 2 was a Hot Wheels original, and only after that was it built as the full-size show car at auction today. AMT does not currently have the Deora in its lineup, but you never know, a future reissue could see it back yet again.

The pictures show, top to bottom:
1 Six of the nine AMT Deora issues, all to 1:25 scale. At top left is the very first 1966 issue. At bottom right, the most recent, 2001 offering. The middle pair have no wording on the tops - it’s all on the sides. So you know, they are the Lil’ Covered Wagon (left) and the Custom Cabana (right).
2 Two assembled AMT kits: the pickup is an original issue from 1966. The flatbed cover’s woodgrain effect was supplied with the kit. The yellowy-gold colour was probably Testor or Pactra paint, not one of AMT’s own. The camper was built from the Vantasy kit.
3 Cover of the September 1965 Model Car announcing the ‘Name the Pickup’ competition. The drawing was likely a Harry Bradley original, or one based on his work. It accurately depicts the intended ‘gold’ colour.
4 Two Hot Wheels issues: at left a Deora, complete with two surfboards; at right the curvier Deora 2.

Visit today’s auction here.

There are plenty of Hot Wheels Deoras about. Try this eBay selection here.

Visit Mattel for Hot Wheels info here.

Retro Americana: join the Sledster super-streamliner queue here

Designer Luis Tanahara has quite a name in the diecast custom-design world, where he has worked for the likes of Hot Wheels and Jada Toys. He’s now struck out on his own, with the Sledster, an amazing take on a 1950s-era heavy hauler truck.

The Sledster is made to 1:64 scale, so matching the popular Hot Wheels vehicles. Even so, the retro truck measures nearly 10 inches (254 mm) long. It may be to Hot Wheels scale, but the Sledster is no toy – it’s a beautifully made limited-edition collector’s item. The low production runs are in various finishes, from two-tone maroon or hot-rod flames, to the upcoming bright red Fire Department truck shown here.

Sledsters come in handsome display cases, and are available from The Custom Crew at $59.99 USD plus shipping.