Hot Wheels Dodge Charger R/T - 2011 stylee -

I think that the Dodge Charger has been given a new lease of life since the film Fast 5. The short clip below gives a overview of what went down.



Hot Wheels also give homage to the car as well in 1/64 scale. Most of the HW models just come with a single paint colour for the bodyshell, and then the appropriate tampo's added. This model is no exception. I had a go at adding a bit of silver touch up to the headlights using a Tamiya paint marker - failed miserably as you can see.

I also think HW and the goons at Mattel marketing are missing a trick here - why not get Fast 5 packing for such Americana and the paint job to match? I am sure that these would fly off the shelves.

Hot Wheels Ford Focus RS

You have to look waaaayyy back to around 1994 to see the last hot Ford RS model within the Matchbox 1-75 range - that was MB52 Escort RS Cosworth.

Telling times and a massive sign that the matchbox brand is starved of investment and then all of a sudden, Hot Wheels produces this gem in the RS Focus.

As with most HW these days there is ample room for adding additional detail such as rear lights, and you could even go as so far as to paint the rear spoiler matt black. Also look at the RS badging - a nice touch I think.

IMHO, I think that this a fantastic casting. Beautifully done and just the right amount of detail for enable it to sell at the CHF2.70 price point, but yet be able to be put on display as well.

I was thinking about sending this one back to the UK to join his fellow HW's but I am tempted to add this to the work desk car park.

What annoys me the most is that this is a prime candidate for the 1-75 range from Matchbox. Instead we get generic BS and other old castings for 2012.......WAKE UP MATTEL, FFS!

Hot Wheels 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge

With a little detailing on the headlights and the rear end, I reckon that this is an absolutely blinding casting by HW.

I cannot remember for the life of me if HW have already done this casting as I might have well have this one within the garage.

But this is an example of what Mattel do best - Americana. And for those on the MCCH who want their beloved Americana in 1/64 then look no further - you are not going to get in a Matchbox model.

Bburago 1/43: Ford Focus ST (2005)

This ST Focus just caught my eye in Migros the other weekend. I am getting a bit of a collection going with these Bburago 1/43 models. And yes, I have a little zoom zoom session every now and again (just a couple of mins mind to keep my own sanity!), but don't go to the extent of Matchbox Luke within the MCCH forum who tends to create some dodgy city on his bedroom floor with his 1-75 models.

I really like the tampo detail on this model more than anything else. Crisp and accurate, it really enhances the appearance of the model. The orange colour scheme is accurate to that of the road car.



What I am still not impressed with are the wheels used - generic and added to any model seen fit, and the way the chassis is attached to the body via a coupling system within the number plate - very dodgy.

Again, I have stop insisting and start accepting - these are toys, not collectables, and therefore I should not ask for more, especially at a price point of around CHF3.90. And at the end of the day, they are fit for purpose - and that is a toy car for little people or big people to play with.
 

Hot Wheels Aston Martin One-77

Matchbox get the DBS Volante, and Hot Wheels get the one-77.

It first appeared at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, although the car remained mostly covered by a "Savile Row tailored skirt" throughout the show, before being fully revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
There was a limited run of 77 units as delivery started in October 2010

Prior to the One-77's Paris Motor Show debut, various details about the car had been leaked, but official specifications were not fully revealed until the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
The One-77 will feature a full carbon fibre monocoque chassis, a handcrafted aluminium body, and a naturally aspirated 7.3 litre V12 engine with 750 hp (560 kW). Aston Martin claims that this will be the most powerful naturally aspirated production engine in the world when the car is delivered.

The car will also use a strengthened version of the DB9's 6-speed automated manual transmission and height-adjustable pushrod suspension coupled with dynamic stability control. It will feature Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30 ZR20 rear) and Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes.

The top speed was estimated to be 200 mph (320 km/h) but actual tests in December 2009 showed a figure of 220.007 mph (354.067 km/h), with a 0–60 mph time of approximately 3.5 seconds.
The engineering and build source of the carbon chassis and suspension system is contracted to Multimatic of Canada.

I doubt that MB will produce this model, so it is a pleasant one to have as a diecast version and within the HW section of the garage. Not a spectacular model, but happy to have it.

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

Big,bold and totally irrelevant.

Internally codenamed LB834, the Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old Murciélago as the new flagship model in the Lamborghini lineup starting in 2011. Soon after the Aventador unveiling, Lamborghini announced that it had already sold over 12 months of the production vehicles, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2011. The suggested retail price is €255,000 in Europe, £201,900 in the UK and $379,700 in the U.S.

Interesting that the Muira was recently re-created by Matchbox yet not a modern Lambo....VW are happy to allow Mattel to have a R8 in the line up, but why no new Lambo - and more importantly, why only to Hot Wheels?

I am not a massive fan of the newer supercars - as regular readers of this blog know, I prefer the classics - but always a good casting to have in your 1/64 garage.