Regular readers of this blog may now start claiming they know the answer. Well my friends, you are wrong yet again! As much as I love the Skyline GT-R, this car ranks well up there with it – and that is the Toyota Crown Comfort.
One of my first blog’s was about how the Crown Comfort was becoming and endangered species, esp. with the likes of the Korean contingent in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong.
Finding diecast for this car is rather difficult. Especially in 1/43 scale, but thank goodness for the chaps at IXO to have produced the Singapore and HK versions of the taxi. The Singapore version is within the Japan display section of The Garage.
Upon my return from Bali, there was a wee “toy”/model shop within the Denpasar airport departure, as blogged here: http://keefyd.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-believe-in-miracles.html.
The standard Tomica 1/64 has been replaced with a model from what I would class as the TLV range on the desk at work. And from the pictures below you can see why with the side by side comparisons (FYI the black version is the standard release from the Tomica line).
Plastic wheels have been replaced by rubber tyres. The level of detailing is simply incredible for a 1/64 scale model – and puts the Matchbox Lesney editions to shame (Mattel should be quite embarrassed at their half-arsed efforts over the last few years – yet people seem to lap them up as they have the Matchbox moniker on them – I pity the fool…..).
With detail right down to the Japanese number plates and even to the white coated seats (normal for a taxi within Japanese prefectures). And more to the point these models ARE diecast which will please my good friend Jono Crellin. Both chassis and bodywork are full metal castings with only the necessary inserts and interior being of plastic. A joy. A real joy. I have got the green version sitting next to my Norev 205 GTi and you can immediately feel the difference in weight when they are picked up.
You pay a premium – and I am happy to do so. It is a shame that these models are not readily released outside of the APAC markets (why should they – I cannot see the blinkered USA crowd ever appreciating these models as they are not American) so eBay or worldly travels is the next best way to procure – the latter being a tad expensive.
I have had an eye on these four taxis for the last 2-3 years, but never had the bottle to buy them. Fate must have been smiling on me that day……
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