CUSTOMS OFFICE Features the first lady of customs

all the way from maui

SUNSTAR MODELS
SENDS US A GORGEOUS
PORSCHE 356
1500 COUPÉ

CITY
X-MAS A DIECAST
DEDICATION
SLICKERS PANDEMS
IS COMING! RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF
LIBERTY WALKS
TONS OF GIFT IDEAS WHAT'S THE
FROM CASTHEADS STORY?
ALSO: OUR ALL-NEW VOLVO EXPERT TELLS ABOUT THE GLOBAL LOVE FOR THE WORLD'S SAFEST CARS
Porsche GT3 RS - Kinsmart 1:36
Photo by Lance K Müller

Editor’s Notes
Nigel J DE ZILWA
As always life at CastHeads is a rollercoaster ride.
We’ve had our first road trip (plane), experienced
our first Diecast Event, ate some chips and got back
behind the desk for some keystroke action.
This issue is a double-edged whammy. One, we have
Porsche celebrating 70 years and we can’t let that slip
by, because in every collection you are very likely to
find a Porsche or two in some scale or brand. It’s one
of those car brands that have been heavily decorated,
celebrated and re-created in Diecast. From standard
to special every Porsche holds the dream of some
young human desperate to own a sports car.
Second, tis the season to be merry, jolly and bloody
broke. So, we have very kindly whipped up some
money wrenching, heart-breaking, divorce-inducing
list of goodies to get yourself. We can hear the
children crying over empty stockings and vacant
Christmas trees. But our magazine is free and that
should count for something.
We have YouTube, Instagram and Facebook please
visit them all frequently we work hard on our content
and we appreciate the numbers. True, our shows do
not compare to Jimmy Kimmel but we try.
Enjoy Issue 003, enjoy the season and do not drink
and drive your family will never know the true value of
your collection and might sell it for dirt cheap.
003
November 2018
Lance K M Ü LLE R
Third times the charm. With this issue, I really believe
it. The third offering is bigger and badder with more
content, reviews, interviews and lovely lovely diecast.
In this issue, we celebrate 70s years of an iconic
brand and look at its journey through scale models.
We not only look at the pure side, but also explore
the meaner machines that are spawned by tuners and
customizers across the world.
We have come up with a few gift guides, for when
buying for someone else as well as for yourself. The
holiday gift guide should make your life easy when it
comes to getting that perfect diecast for your loved
one this season.
We had our first event solely organized by CastHeads
Magazine, and we had a hand in contributing to an
inaugural international diecast expo in Malaysia with
designing the logo, printed material and running the
digital campaign before, during and after the event.
CastHeads Magazine also launched CastHeads
Social Plus (Social+) to help our friends and partners
across the world manage their social/digital media
activities and also design services to diecast/model
related entities.
So read on, share your views and comments on our
Facebook.com/CastsHeadsMag page or follow us on
Instagram.com/castheads.
 10%
DISCOUNT FOR
CASTHEADS READERS!

ch10
Valid 28-02-19
 in this
06 DIECASTING COUCH
Epic new releases that you can look forward to or get your hands on now. We look at whats available
Issue
The CastHeads Magazine team would like
to thank the following brands for all their
11 CASTING REMARKS support and encouragement. It acts as fuel
to our fires and we are just getting started,
Nigel brags about his love for Porsche, and the size of his... er... collection thank you:

17 70 YEARS OF PORCHE
DNA Collectibles
Nigel goes down memory lane in miniature
Sunstar Models

21 GARAGE TORQUE Tarmac Works

After the pandem-onium from Tarmac Works, its going to be a rough ride this year and the next JL Hobby
Collectique
22 customs office Nastars
Miika Thoeun aka Ratchet_Girl talks about her world Mattel
AutoCult
24 CASTING CORRESPONDENT
Bert-Jan Nijhuis talks about his love for Volvo on a global scale Contributors:

30 CASTING REMARKS
Lance K Müller
Just WTF are Pandems, Liberty Walks and Hako Toras
Nigel J De Zilwa
32 EVENTS Bert-Jan Nijhuis MEd
We look at some of the events that happened past few months Ashraaq Wahab
Miika Theoun
34 SHUTTER CASTERS Gregoire Brun
The poetry of Porsche 356a
Photographers
40 DIECAST REVIEW
Nigel waxes lyrical about the 1960 Mazda R360 Coupé
Lance K Müller
George Kinson
46 SPARE PARTS
Omesh Perera
These wheels roll bro! We review the sweet sweet rollers from JRota
Bert-Jan Nijhuis MEd
46 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Alberto Jorge Rodríguez
With the season almost upon us, Lance comes up with a few diecast-based gift ideas
Creative Direction / Design
48 GREAT GIFT IDEAS
The season to be merry, Nigel looks at gifts every model car enthusiast should consider getting Lance K Müller & Nigel J De Zilwa

56 CASTHEADS IN CONVERSATION
We speak to the poster boy of RAUH-Welt Begriff on what makes him go-go

58 DIECAST REVIEW
Hot off the factory, BMC Models Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 boggles the mind

62 THE LAST ONE LEFT

Autocult brings us a Porsche that never was

66 guest casthead
Asraaq Wahab from Motor Mag Sri Lanka tell us about his facination with a bus

70 spot CAST
A world in three dimensions. Gregoire talks to us about his facination with 3D printed models

74 THE CULTURED CASTHEAD

We review what is billed as the definitive visual history... of cars.
DIECASTING COUCH
New Releases & Hot Picks

Maisto Design - Tokyo Mod

1971 Datsun 240Z
Just as the season rolls we highlight a sweet
JDM model from Maisto that has seen some
major upgrades since it was first shown in March
of this year. This bright red 240Z features carbon
fiber fenders, fully open-able doors and hood
with a highly detailed engine. That’s not all it has
matte black rim wrapped in Toyo Tires, and full
decals all around.

Scale 1:18
Status: Available now

www.maisto.com

AutoCult
Audi Berlin-Rom Stromlinien-Coupé (D, 1938)

AutoCult, the purveyor of unique models brings you this Audi from the 1930s
that was built specifically for long-distance racing, in this case between Berlin
and Rome. This "Streamlined Sedan" was conceived by the Audi group and
set around the Type 920. The design of the aluminum bodywork came from
Paul Jaray and the coachbuilder “Hornig” built the aluminum bodies for
two AUDIs. According to internal records the AUDI was able to reach
a top speed of 160 km/h, thus about impressive 30 km/h faster
than the standard Type 920.

The model is available through the website and

selected retailers.

Scale 1:43
Status: Available now

www.autocult-models.de
 FuelMe Models
RWB + Army Girl Porsche 993 - Pearl Purple

RAUH-Welt Begriff is synonymous

with ultra custom Porsches out of
Japan. This model was custom-
built for Hitoshi "Hossy" Hoshino, the
boss of Army ♥ Girl, a Japanese street
fashion brand.

FuelMe Models has recreated this

scale version to utter perfection. It
arrives in a matte-black box, set in a
white acrylic base with a metal plate
featuring the model name, company
logo and signatures of both Nakai-
san (the author behind RWB) and
Hossy-san.

Scale 1:43
Status: Available Now
Limited to 120 pieces
www.facebook.com/FuelMeStudio

TomyTec - Limited Vintage Neo TLV-N177a

Mazda Anfini RX-7 type RZ (Black)
With the great response to the 40th Anniversary commemorative edition Mazda RX-7 (Type I) that was released in
September, TomyTec will release the 1997 FD-7 Type IV in by the end of the year. The car features three tail lamps, a flatter
wing, mesh wheels and the interior features the two-seater version. The side mirrors will have to be installed by the owner.
The model will also be available in White (TLV-N177b)

Scale 1:64
Status: December 2018

minicar.tomytec.co.jp
 DIECASTING COUCH
New Releases & Hot Picks

Hot Wheels Basic

Mercedes-Benz Unimog 1300 (New Casting)
One of the plus sides of Hot Wheels restarting the Mercedes-Benz
line-up is the release of the Unimog 1300 this October. The first casting
comes to us from their HW Hot Trucks line, in a fiery red paint job
sporting some amazing tampos all around. It rides on dark grey
BLOR wheels with two more spares in the back. Would have loved
to see this on a metal base, but alas its plastic.

Scale: 1:64
Status: Available now

Hot Wheels - Car Culture 2019

RWB - Porsche 930
Most of the RWB (RAUH-Welt Begriff) diecast models out there tend to
be larger scales and higher prices. Versions from brands like FuelMe,
AUTOart, GT Spirit and others tend to be in the hundreds of dollars
and severely limited. But now Hot Wheels collectors can also rejoice
knowing that RWB is coming within their grasp. This RWB 930
(a very close copy of the "Stella Artois" branded one
created by Nakai-san will be included in a yet-to-
be-named Car Culture assortment in early 2019.

Featuring all the hallmarks of RWB designs,

including the extra-wide rear, the branding
across the windshield, the super big wings
and the rivets make this a valuable addition
to any collectors stable. The matte black
paint really pays homage to the real world
model and it sits on RR6SPM wheels in the front
and deep-dish wide wheels in the back.

Scale: 1:64
Status: TBA, Expected 1 quarter 2019

DNA Collecitbles
Mazada MX-5
It seems like 2019 is going to be the year of the Mazda.
DNA Collectibles have sent us the first exclusive look at
the upcoming Mazda MX-5 design study and if their
current lines of models are to go by, this is going to be a
smashing piece of miniature automotive history.

Scale: 1:43
Status: TBA, Expected 1 quarter 2019
 CASTING REMARKS
Words + Pics + Design | Nigel J De Zilwa

I OWN 42 PORSCHE
MODELS!
And what’s not to love. A plucky little sports car company
born from post-war Germany battling with the likes of Ferrari,
Lamborghini and Ford for racing dominance. It was the races
that were the proving ground for most sports cars and the
winners went on to be highly sort after mainstream models. But
it is German, and Germany has a way of being systematic in their
approach to overcoming obstacles.

Das Genie
Replizieren
Das Genie
replizieren

So back to my opening admission, fortunately there is a

never-ending supply of Porsche replicas in the diecast
world. They came in all shapes and sizes from
virtually all the brands we know, and it is
impossible to keep track of all the models
that keep coming out. In fact, if this entire
issue contained all the Porsche models
available in the world, it would span
volumes. So, instead we chose a few
1:64 scales that we think are worth
getting your hands on.
 356
91
TYPE A
HOTWHEELS

CARRERA RS 2.7
TOMICA PREMIUM

A popular casting from Hot Wheels, due to their

collaboration with the ‘Urban Outlaw’ this being
the nicest rendition. Straight from the Air Cooled
series this casting is nice and heavy and uses real
rider wheels (Rubber tires). The paint finish is a dark
metallic navy blue with tampos on the front and two
sides of the car.

Biggest Gripe: No headlight tampo. Why? Why not

go all the way?

ROADSTER
HOTWHEELS As far as iconic cars go this is
one from the Porsche stable. A
monster 2.7 liter rear mounted
6-cylinder engine and lightened
car gave the RS 210bhp of
raw power and balanced fun.
Tomica’s Premium take on this

356
car is fantastic.

For a premium it is pleasantly

One of this year’s most pleasant surprises from the
Hot Wheels Hauler series comes this 356 Roadster
complete with its own V-Dub hauler. Metallic grey
with simple racing stripes that extend on to the
hauler. Urban Outlaw badging, J5 5-spoke wheels,
headlight tampos, rear tampos etc.
surprising the level of detail
they have gone through, right
down to the Fuchs wheels, red
highlights on white paint job
and Carrera painted down the
sides. This is definitely a must
have in your collection.

This car made the cut because of its slickness.

There is a FORZA version of this casting as well
which is also quite nice, but this coupled with its
own hauler is magic.
11
901 S
TOMICA LIMITED VINTAGE

TLV’s have become the new big thing to collect

especially for those who are looking for a more
detail in the 1/64 scale. This 901 S is simply

550
beautiful. The alloy wheels are designed to look
like the original 1:1 version complete with rubber
tires. The metallic blue paint is perfect and so
is the ‘Porsche’ stamp on ether side of the car.
Considering the detail, it’s been pretty hard to
find any flaws.

SPYDER
Kyosho

Yet another casting Kyosho got completely correct. Simple, yet elegant the 550 Spyder was born to race.
The Furhmann Engine was an all aluminum naturally aspirated boxer engine that produced 180hp in
1953. It was built low and had a pretty good center of gravity thanks to the engine being mid-mounted.

The models by Kyosho exude an air of elegance and entitlement almost conceited even as if built to be
admired and adored. Having them both in black and white is an additional bonus.
 C E L E B R AT I N G 7 0 Y E A R S O F S P O RT S C A R S

Visit us at Liberty Plaza & Majestic City or shop online at www.nastars.com

CASTHEADS

G
GOES RACING!
CastHeads Magazine and Collectique have always
had an awesome relationship from the inception.
This year it was taken to the next level when the
#17 Volkswagen Polo Mk1,
driven by Sithara Peiris and
sponsored by Collectique
carried the CastHeads
Magazine sticker on the car.

It was quite a proud

moment for us to see our
name on an actual 1:1
racecar and we hope that
this is the beginning of greater things. We'd like
to thank Oshan Samaranayake at Collectique for
the opportunity afforded us. We look forward to
podium finishes in the future. CASTHEADS
LeMans
962 C
Kyosho

By way of castings, this is by far one of the simplest, but the wheels
are just knockout. They actually make the car look like it’s the
business. A Singer designed Porsche in the hands of Derek Bell, five-
time Le Mans winner meant the team would have 21 wins with this

Daytona
beautiful beast.

993 GT2
Hotwheels

907 GULF
Kyosho

In 2016 Hot Wheels

wanted to pay tribute
to long time friend and

GT1
supporter GULF racing.
Another time machine of speed the 907 was built to run with likes of
FORD and Ferrari at Le Mans. Unfortunately, although the long tail So, they took a Porsche
993 GT2 decked it out in
and vented disk brakes helped improve performance it was severely
GULF livery put it in some
beaten by the larger engines of FORD and Ferrari. This is a great wonderful packaging and
piece of history by Kyosho a simple and small creation perfect for the result is a stunning
the 1/64 collection collectors piece.

Limited to just 3,600

911 GT1
Kyosho pieces this car is
currently retailing for
USD 100/- online and it is
no wonder why. Acrylic
case, orange, and black
base and of course a
beautiful car inside.

The car features full

tampos has real rider
This was a winner in its GT1 Class in Le Mans with a water-cooled, wheels and the famous
turbo charged and intercooler 3.2 liter flat six engine now embodied metal base. The GULF
livery looks stunning and
in this Kyosho. A street legal version was built as well so as to exploit a
the overall presentation is
loophole in the racing scene and was quickly disliked by authoritative just spot on.
figures who want us to drive slow all the time. Another well-detailed
piece that embodies Porsche’s racing spirit and pedigree.
W OR D S + D E S IGN + PICS | NIGEL J D E ZILWA
 01
YES! Porsche history timelines have been done to death, especially this
year since Porsche is celebrating ITs 70TH anniversary. But, we thought
we’d do it with diecast cars and we thought we would stick to the main
ones instead of trying to feature every single Porsche ever made. And
so we began at the very beginning where we started at one.

Just 3 years after the Second

World War, Porsche drops
its bomb into the automobile
world and doesn’t look back.
Simple aerodynamics, air cooled
engine and designed by Erwin
Komenda made this car the
beginning of all the beautiful
356s to come. Bearing the
license plate K45-286 the first
356 made its maiden voyage
and is the first and last 356/1
ever to be built.
MAISTO 1:48
356 550 356
Iconic, loved, with one of the biggest car
clubs in the world dedicated to it. Restored
by enthusiasts, driven and owned by
celebrities the Porsche 356 is one of the
most popular classic cars in the world.
Ranging models went from the 356 – 356
C. Pan floor and Uni Body construction
powered by a 1.6 Litre, 4-cylinder which
was naturally aspirated.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
917 911 911
LANGHECK
The 917s were true nut jobs. Fast yet
severely unstable feared by the factory
drivers and ultimately killed LeMans driver
John Woolfe in a devastating accident
that caused LeMans to ban the traditional
standing start. For the 1970 season one of
the teams that got a stock of 917s was JWA
GULF Racing who modified the tail section
increasing stability being increasing
downforce. They were called the Kurzheck
and the Langheck
HOTWHEELS 1:64
SPYDER
This was Porsches multi-purpose jewel. A
car that could whip it round the track, win
and then drive home all in the same day,
same car. James Dean nicked named his
550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was adept
at driving it on track and off. Unfortunately,
he met his untimely death in one of the cars,
he loved the most.
KYOSHO 1:64
CARRERA RS 2.7
Probably the most loved and iconic Porsche
of the 911s. The Carrera RS 2.7 was a dream
package. It looked good, went really really
fast and handled like a fairy. Lithe and nimble
yet extreme stable the Carrera RS used its
revolutionary duck tail spoiler to keep the
car locked on the ground with added grip to
tame that 2.7 litre RennSport engine.
EBBRO 1:48
SPEEDSTER
Perfect for cruising down Boulevard
Street this was the darling of Beverly
Hills. As cute and quick as the 356A but
a drop top version for the lovers and free
hair flyers of the 1950s.
Janis Joplin had one, complete with a
psychedelic paint job. Hmmm, sounds
like a custom waiting to happen.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
TARGA
Porsche was always quite proud about
their achievements in the racing world
and embodied them onto the names
of their road cars. Carrera comes from
achievements in the Carrera PanAmerican
race and similarly Targa comes winning
the Targa Florio race. The Targa was
Porsche’s removeable roof option with a
full roll hop to increase structure stability.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
 901 906914/6
911S
Thanks to Peugeot being French the world
got the 911. Originally called the 901,
Porsche turned up at the Frankfurt Motor
Show in 1963 and Peugeot went “Sacre-
bleu” stating that they owned the 901
number and any number with zero in the
middle. Porsche shrugged their shoulders
and added the ‘1’.
PORSCHE MODELS 1:48
930 934/5 964
SLANTNOSE
Known as the Flachbau Porsche the
slant nose gave the Porsche added
aerodynamics and coupled with the
performance kit could go from 0-60 in
4.6 secs and could hit a top speed of 278
kmph. These specs made it the fastest
production car in Germany.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
CARRERA 6
When Ferrari dropped the Dino 206,
Porsche knew the 904 was in trouble
(LeMans). So, the R&D team put together
a 2 Litre SOHC air cooled, 6 cylinder
engine, pumped by a Dual Webber
46IDA 3C triple throat down draft carbs, 5
speed manual and quad disk brakes. The
result were decent top 10 placements
in both the Le Mans and 24 Hours of
Daytona. All this while FORD was beating
the pants off Ferrari.
HIGH SPEED MODELS 1:48
The mutant Porsche designed purely for
racing was the pariah of the track with so
many complaints against it. But it flew. 3.0
Litre engine and KKK turbo dropped 590
HP without skipping a rev. 10 were built
to take part in the 1977 IMSA Series and
promptly got banned. Then they went to
the SCCA Trans-Am Series winning 6 out
of 8 races again, only to be complained
against and stripped of its title.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
VW PORSCHE
A confusing time at both and Porsche
and Volkswagen. There was a contractual
obligation to be filled by VW and Porsche,
the death of a CEO, change of focus for
VW and so on. The result was a car with an
identity crisis which was solved with two
different engine version. The VW had a flat
flour cylinder engine known as the 914 and
Porsche dropped an engine from the 911 a
2.0 litre 6 cylinder job calling the car 914/6.
MATCHBOX 1:64
CARRERA 2
The 90s 911 with the factory code name 964
came in three versions. The Carrera 4 was
the first Porsche to feature all wheel drive,
the Carrera 2 was rear wheel driven with a
Tiptronic gearbox followed by the TURBO
version. The standard non turbo engine
could produce 250 Bhp from 3.6 litres.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
928 911 986
The is was the GT luxury car in Porsche’s
line up which featured a V8 engine,
gearbox from Mercedes and Weissach
Axle setup that gave the car more grip
through the corners. It also came with all
the luxurious trappings and technology at
the time. The 928 also gained notorious
popularity after Tom Cruise drove one in
the movie ‘Risky Business’
HOTWHEELS 1:64
918 911 981
The 918 can easily be described as the
next-Gen Porsche with its mid-engine
plug-in hybrid. With the current energy
crisis’ Porsche takes a leaf out of the
future and builds its first hybrid supercar.
The combined power of its naturally
aspirated V8 engine and the two electric
motors deliver an earth shaking 875 Bhp.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
993 TURBO
Featured in the movie Bad Boys
the 993 or 911 Turbo S is a twin
turbo, all wheel drive beauty that
everyone wanted in the 90’s. It had
an impressively quick engine going
from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and could
hit 322Km/h at 7000 Rpm making it
another Iconic model in the 911 range.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
GT3 RS
One of the most intensive cars on track but
packed with so much gadgetry to be easy
enough for anyone to drive. The entire car
is a different animal to the GT3 with almost
everything souped up to make this meaner
and stickier on track.
KINSMART 1:48
Boxster
It’s the Porsche that brought Porsche
back to life! At a time when Porsche was
struggling a bit they re-invented the
wheel so to speak and launched an all
new designed Porsche. Boxer engine,
and roadster design gave it the name
Porsche Boxster. It was fresh in design, it
handled well and it was fast the factors that
changed Porsches fortunes.
REVELL 1:24
Cayman
The most recent offering from the Porsche
line the Cayman has all the Porsche
goodness that enthusiasts love wrapped
up in technology. Far curvier than its
predecessors with a longer tail the Cayman
carries the accolade of being one of the best
handling sport cars in all the price range.
HOTWHEELS 1:64
 After the PANDEM-ONIUM
this is CURRENTLY the
most-awaited line from
TARMAC
WORKS
Lance tries hard to 'will' this
beautiful little creature into
his bum bag...
2018 has been a busy busy year for Tarmac Works.
MiniCar festivals, Event special editions, limited editions all
contributing to their slow but sure penetration into the global
1/64 market. Then the PANDEMS (a collab with Ignition
Models) came and now everyone’s standing up and noticing.
Also, TW’s close relationship with Mercedes see’s a slew of
awesome GTR’s including the F1 Safety Car (Coming Soon).
However, the RWB line is next and the anticipation is killing
us! We got a chance to see the entire line in production at
the MiniCar Festival in Malaysia and Lance got the chance
to touch the first model to be released. What we can say for
certain is the prototypes were the ones used in the shoot and
the actual car nails it in real life.
Lance didn't wash this hand for days
until he accidently held a wet wipe
 the

of

Ratchet Girl

Miika Thoeun aka Ratchet_Girl, who hails from the sunny

island of Maui styles herself a "Part-time badass, full-time
idiot", card-carrying petrol-head, a dabbler in all things
diecast and to us, the undisputed of Queen of Customs.

@ratchet_girl

My father is/was a mechanical
engineer so I learned at a young age
the desire to see and learn how stuff
worked. He always showed me there is
a solution to EVERY problem... even if
you don’t know what it is yet.
I have been asked on many occasions
how I got into collecting Hot Wheels
and my answer is simple.. my sister
and I used to play with my brothers
Hot Wheels when we were kids. We
would take them out into the backyard
and dig little roads in the dirt. This
was a time when kids actually played
OUTSIDE! I guess that dates me. I will
be 45 in November!
Words + Pictures - Miika Theoun
Building customs was just a logical
progression from collecting. Being a
car fanatic, I loved the idea of taking
a 1/64 scale base car and creating
something I would actually drive or
something you might see on the road.
I see so many other very creative
customizers out there and I wish I had
that kind of imagination. However, my
creations are more clean, simple and
practically speaking... perhaps, more
road worthy.
I would LOVE to meet Jay Leno and/or
tour his garage(s) full of beautiful cars.
Hot Wheels customizing is a continual
CUSTOMS OFFICE
learning experience. Always striving to
be better. And when confronted with
a design or fabrication challenge, I ask
myself, how would dad solve this!
Best advice to future customizers?
Keep at it. Keep failing... ask questions,
but more importantly, get your hands
on the tools and don’t be afraid to fail...
many times.
Success is only sweet when you have
failure to compare it to!
Mahalo!
 CASTING CORRESPONDENT
Words + Pics | Bert-Jan Nijhuis MEd • Design | Nigel J De Zilwa

VO
L
OV
MODEL CARS AND
GLOBALISATION
Words + Pics | Bert-Jan Nijhuis MEd
 "When I was
a little boy
and started to
collect Volvo
Model Cars, I
had a difficult
task."
Volvo was not as popular as
it is today and there were
almost no Volvos available in
the model car stores I knew.
Tekno from Denmark had
a nice line-up and so had
Dinkey Toys from England.
These brands developed their
model cars and produced
them as well in their own
factories. Most of
these
cars
were
sold
as toys and ended up in
the toybox, all scratched and
dented. For a serious collector
a sad sight.
Brands like Matchbox, Spot-
On, Corgi and Norev made
Volvos too, in factories in
Western Europe: England,
France and Scandinavia.
In the second half of the
1980s we saw the first signs
of outsourcing. Volvo cars
ordered a series of 850s,
480s, 440s and 460s from a
COMING SOON 1:18 SCALE In those days Spain was still
VOLVO 780 considered a low wage country
by DNA Collectibles and transportation costs
and wages were lower than
production in The Netherlands.
Some producers stayed in
Europe, despite the higher
costs. Collectors paid a high
price for these model cars
With all the earlier models we’ve seen from
and still do.
DNA Collectibles there is no doubt that this is
going to be an awesome piece. Not just their André Models, Brooklyn
attention to capturing all the tiniest details
but for also including fans and followers to be and Somerville made
part of their building process. great and exclusive
Crowdsourcing ideas is what has led DNA Volvos, but they couldn’t
to build the 780. An iconic symbol of power, survive the competition
prestige and of course safety. This is not the
first VOLVO to be done by DNA and certainly with producers in Asia.
not the last. There are reliable rumors that the
next will be the P1800.
The modern model
D I N K E Y/ car producers, like IXO,
TEKNO & Minichamps,
SPOT ON
MODELS Motorart,
Norev,
AutoArt and
many others act
like all other producers of
consumer goods: they develop
and design their products in
"Globalisation
Western Europe and assemble
and produce them in low wage
also makes it countries like China, Indonesia
or Bangladesh.
easier to meet
fellow VOLVO
Volvos new merchandise
partner Kyosho from Japan
enthusiasts."
produces the all new Volvo
XC40 in a factory in China,
Ixo’s Volvo’s come from a
large factory in Bangaldesh.
model car company in The Labour intensive work like
Netherlands. AHC/Doorkey the assembly of model cars
produced the merchandise in is too expensive in Europe
a factory in Spain. or America.
 OTTO
MODELS

VO LVO
740 TURBO
RED/BLACK
In the meantime we see a
new phenomenon: the China
based brand CSM came with
a wonderful series of modern
Volvos in 1:18.
These Volvo model cars are
approved by Volvos Head
Quarters in Göteborg, 100%
genuine and rather expensive.
The Volvo model car world is
desperately waiting for their 1:18
Volvo V60 in Pebble Grey!
Globalisation and outsourcing
helps countries to develop,
despite the darker sides
likes exploitation and unsafe
situations that might occur in
these factories.
Globalisation makes it easier for
collectors to find missing cars
and know what is released in
all parts of the world. Searching
through eBay pages to look for
new Volvos for the collection
is much easier than waiting for
model car magazines was, 25
years ago. An idea by Japanese
Volvo dealers to make a simple
give-away XC40s resulted in a
successful quest for that
wonderful Volvo. Within
a few weeks the small
urban Volvo was added
to my collection.
Globalisation also makes it
easier to meet fellow Volvo
enthusiasts.
I started a Facebook group in
2013 and now more than 6000
passionate Volvo model car
collectors from all over the
world discuss the latest Volvo
model car news, show their
collections or help each other
to find missing links.
The Instagram account has the
same purpose. These people
come from the six continents
and from over 100 countries
and they all share at least one
thing: the passion for Volvo
Model Cars, big and small,
cheap and expensive, toys and
collectors items. Volvo for Life!
Volvo model cars is booming.
Like I told you before, it was not
easy to find new Volvo’s when
I started collecting in the early
80s. Nowadays it is very hard
to keep up with all the new
releases. Scale 1:18 is the new
standard, as it seems. CSM,
OttO, Minichamps and
SOMMEERVILLES
ANDRE'
ROBEDDIE
AutoCult Models have all
come up with wonderful
modern and classic 1:18 scaled
Volvos this year.
Obviously these big cars are
more expensive than their 1:43
opponents. A bigger problem
might be the enormous amount
of space they take in the
display cases.
Nevertheless I can’t wait
for the new CSM and
Minichamps releases
later this year! The first
new Volvo in November
will probably be the 1:43
Kyosho Volvo XC40!
If you`re interested in more news
and the latest models: sign up
at www.facebook.com/groups/
volvomodelcars or at Instagram
@volvomodelcars! Welcome!
Bert-Jan Nijhuis MEd
The Netherlands
 Chris
t
shar ian Couji
ed w n of
the H ith u RAU
o s t H-
relea t Whee hese aw Welt Be
sed ls e g
throu RWB Po some pi riff
ghou rc c t
t 201 hes tha ures of
9. t will
be
casting remarks

CITY SLICKERS
Design | Nigel J De Zilwa

Car modifying fanatics, tweak freaks and tuners have
finally taken the main stage and have their creations
immortalized through the diecast community, which
is great news for us CastHeads. Up until the Fast & the
Furious phenomenon most diecast manufactures just
did the regular cars, race & rally models, then suddenly
Dominic Toretto and gang hit the screens with their
street racing beasts and indulgent underground car
shows and then as fast as an 11 second Supra the world
woke up to the city slicked modified cars. Then came the
‘ricers’ (check the urban dictionary for the meaning of
ricer) and all hell broke loose.
Importantly though, a new breed of diecast model
builders appeared, leaving the old school scrambling
to change their ways. These guys started making
highly defined models based on the world’s more
popular modifying crew kits like RWB, PANDEM,
Hakotora (aka HAKO), Liberty Walks, Rocket Bunny
and ROUSH to name a few. The following three are our
pick of what who we feel are replicating the madness
out of these 1:1 models

RAUH
Welt
BEGRIFF
During our research we discovered FuelMe Models in China and
got to talking with the guy behind Fuel Me. He said the mantra
behind his company refers to the fact that all cars made by them
have a background story usually about the owner of the actual car.

These guys have a long line of RWB and Liberty Walks models
in 1/43 scale with fantastic attention to detail on Porsche,
Lamborghini and Ferrari. Prices are quite steep for 1/43 scale
starting from USD 210/ upwards but these also highly limited
with production runs of between 30 to 90 pieces only, never to be
replicated again. Which means prices will go up making them a
good investment.
 In all fairness the PANDEMS from TarmacWorks is a collaboration with IgnitionModels but mentioned
in this month’s Garage Torque are the RWB Porsches from TarmacWorks. The PANDEMS are probably
the most sought-after cars in the diecast model world right now. Insane details and paintjobs for 1:64
scaled cars only 999 are produced per model (except for the Malaysia Diecast Expo Exclusive that
has only 300)
HAKO

Ignition Models are probably the Big Daddy of this game, they’ve been at
it for a while and have amassed a pretty insane line up of JDM cars tricked
as Hako’s, Pandems, Rocket Bunnies and Liberty Walks. They also have the
widest line up of scales as opposed to the other brands starting at 1:64 then
1:43, 1:18 and finally 1:12. Again, not the cheapest option but the detail and
quality of craftsmanship is reflected. They also come in limited quantities
which heightens the prices especially everything is sold out.
EVENTS
Nigel J De Zilwa + Lance Muller + Omesh Prerera

Its been a busy last few months for the team at

CastHeads magazine. We have been places been
involved with foreign diecast events and played
host to our own event in October which was the
Diecast and Coffee meet up at DeVos Café.

It was a small affair with a few people displaying

their collections but the collections themselves
were absolute beauties. Rarities, old toy cars,
limited edition models and scales starting
from 1/81 to 1/18. We also had the pleasure
of Collectique and Jolly Rogers Toys giving
collectors both young and old the opportunity to
expand their collections with some nice pieces
after being inspired by the displays.
 EVENTS

One of the most rewarding parts about being CastHeads Magazine is

the opportunity to meet and work with new people. For the Malaysia
Diecast Expo 2018 CastHeads Social+ worked with JL Hobby as the
social media partner.

We were given the opportunity to design the event logo, the event
displays and run the Social Media for the event. Another terrific
opportunity to work with fellow collectors in the region. We have many
more tie-ups and exhibitions planned for 2019 so keep checking out
events pages in the magazine and on Facebook.
 The
Poetry
of
Porsche

W O R DS + D E S I G N | N I G EL J D E ZILWA · PICS | LANCE K MÜ L L E R

Authoring this article is
probably one of the hardest
things to do, considering all we
have said about Porsche in the
previous pages it really is hard
to write something without
sounding clichéd. So, we’ll park
our Porsche worship and talk
about another brand name that
continuously impresses us with
every model they send.
This time it’s our cover hero the
1957 Porsche 356A 1500 GS
Carrera GT Coupé in black it
also comes in sky blue but the
black with red interior takes
the cake. This is not the first
time we have looked at a model
from Sun Star and looking at
their catalogue it won’t be our
last because so far Sun Star
has impressed us with their
products and available choice.
Out of the box, it’s immediately
understood that taking arty
instagrammable pictures is
an absolute must and that is
exactly what I did rolling on the
floor looking for that right angle
where the sun set glints off the
smooth curvy lines of the 356A.
Then co-creator of Castheads
Mr. Lance jumps in with his
camera and start clicking away.

All models pictured here are available

on the www.sunstarmodelcars.com
website and through select retailers
across the world
Porsche’s famous 1500 CC air cooled engine
 The interior is duo tone in red and white very tastefully done. Detailed
steering wheel with the logo on it, the dials are photo etched so you
can see the numbers in green on black background. Gear lever, pedals
are there. The door panels have all the handles and levers and the
radio that never goes past 90 FM.

The spare wheel is always an important part

of ones travel, especially if the travels are
spread between sunrise and sunset
Exterior details are pretty spot on
as well. The logo on the bonnet is
a raised metal sticker the chrome
pieces are unblemished the
lights look realistic and the front
wheels both turn and roll. We
also like the white wall tires that
aren’t over the top but instead
classy from that time period.

This a definite must own and

with Christmas right around
the corner, this would make a
perfect present for yourself or
for someone who is a hardcore
Porsche lover.
軽自動車
M A Z D A R 3 6 0 C O U P E 1 9 6 0
Just look at what DNA Collectibles
has gone and done. They have
taken a Mazda KEI car from the
1960s and recreated it perfectly in
a 1/18 scale.
So perfect, it was the star at the recently
concluded Diecast & Coffee event held by
CastHeads Magazine.

In real life the car looks like it has been carved

out of ceramic. It is a resin model but because
of its ceramic look when you pull it out of the
box you will be taken aback by the actual weight
of the car.

We love everything about it. The two-tone exterior

and interior, the teardrop headlights, the Mazda
branded mud flaps at the back and of course
those wheels and 60s hub caps. The detail is
immaculate which is word now we use very
liberally with DNA Collectibles, if Jujiro Matsuda
were alive today he would have this on desk.
The R360 was the first car Mazda produced in 1960 with
a rear mounted air-cooled 356cc V-twin engine with a
four-speed manual or two-speed automatic gearbox. It
was cute quick and nifty to drive around which was how
it captured the KEI car market in Japan. It went on to
inspire a range of 360 vehicles which subsequently made
into the export market.
PHOTOS BY Alberto Jorge Rodríguez
FB/Impressive:Cars
SPARE PARTS
Diecast Accessories and Other Things

Customizing 1/64’s right now is

hot S*$# these days. Customizers
in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia

THE and Indonesia are constantly

WHEELS
upping their game and so are the
entrepreneurs. Like, J-Rota from
Malaysia. A bunch of guys who do
ass kicking deep dish wheels for
1/64 scale cars.

ROLL BRO! Even for the casual modder who just

likes to get a wheel swap done these
babies will give you good stance
and a killer look to your model unlike
those standard boring wheels that we
are forced to look at. Check them out
on Facebook and get ordering now.
Gift Guide
HOLIDAY

Getting gifts during the holiday season can be a mite little stressful for some.
So we here at CastHeads Magazine decided to do a little guide to make your
buying decisions, and life, just a teensy weensy bit easier.

W O RD S + PIC S + DE S I G N | L A N C E K MÜ L L ER
 1 The
Any
Fan
Car
This is the easiest person to shop for. If they
like 1:1 scale cars, huge chance that they will
love the gift of a scaled version of European
and Japanese exotics, Italian or German
supercars or American muscle. You can find
most of these models from 1:64 model brands
like Tarmac Works, Hot Wheels, Matchbox,
Tomica (LV/N), Majorette, Ignition Models,
Kyosho and autoART. Prices start from $1

2 The
Motorsports
Fan
Motorsports can vary, anything from F1 to
MotoGP and rallying. Luckily most of the
brands have you covered.

But the majority of these tend to be the larger

scales, from 1:43 upwards. Brands like Spark
Models, Maisto, Bburago, IXO got you sorted.
Tarmac Works does a lot of 1:64 sports cars
like BMW E30s, AMG GTs and Civics, Racing
Champions does a lot of NASCAR models while
Sun Star, Otto Models has a large selection in
1:18 scale covering a cross section of classic and
modern rally an motorsports cars.
 3 The
Marque
Fan
Does this person have a passion for Ferraris?
Almost all brands and scales has a model
or two. Starting from $1 for a Hot Wheels
to almost $12k for a 1962 Ferrari 250GTO
from the aforementioned Amalgam and
Some people love brands, for all sorts of
everything in-between.
reasons, from nostalgia to what feelings a
certain carmaker brings out in them. Luckily
all the brands, from Hot Wheels, Matchbox,
Majorette, Welly, Maisto, Bburago, Siku and
many others at the lower end of the scale, to
Tarmac Works, Ignition Models, AutoCult,
MiniGT, Tomica Limited Vintage/Neo
in the middle to CMC, GT
Spirit, BBR and Amalgam
(models run to thousands
of dollars) at the very top
end of the spectrum got
you sorted.

The
Movie/TV
Fan
4
Many people love movies (a movie?) or a TV
series or two. Want to get them something
that reminds them of their favorite show or
film? The Hollywood series from Greenlight
Collectibles, Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment
has an extensive collection. KITT from Knight
Rider, The Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and
Hutch, most of the Bond cars, and even the
caravan from Breaking Bad are available.

Its not only limited to them, the 48 Ford

Super De Luxe from Karate Kid, most of the
Back to The Future time machines, Batman
Batcars/Tumblers, the Lincoln from The
Matrix, to almost every car from the Fast and
Furious franchise. They are guaranteed to
make a movie/tv buff happy.
 5 The
COMICS/Pop
Fan
culture
With comics/comic-based entertainment
going mainstream there are a lot more fans
of comic book characters now than we care
to admit. Hot Wheels Pop Culture series
has everything from DC,
Marvel to Street Fighter
and Star Wars. Tomica
has a range of cars from
Initial D, Doraemon,
Hello Kitty and
Transformers.

3 The
nostalgia
Fan
Few of the older generation gets fueled by
stories from "back-in-the-day" and tend
to take a chance to reminisce every chance
they get. We even have some tips for gifts
for them. Models can range from planes,
trains and automobiles. From the first car
they remember being into the model of the
aircraft they first flew in to the bike/scooter
they had as a young person. Maisto produces
a whole range of motorcycles and scooters.
So does Tomica and Welly. Train model
manufacturers range from Z Gauge (1:200
scale) to HO (1:87:1 the most preferred scale)
all the way to G Gauge (1:22.5), which is the
largest. Planes range from 1/200 to 1/400
and can easily be found online on ebay.
GREAT
nigel's seasonal

GIFT
IDEAS
or recipie for disaster...

Ah Christmas and end of year season, where we live in hope

and when we get extra money we lose our minds and spend
unreasonably suffering from buyer’s remorse and tight pants in the
new year but heck we live only once so here’s my take on what to
get yourself or somebody else for the Christmas.
 LIBERTY
WA L K S G T- R 3 5

Liberty Walks and the Powder

Blue MiniGT is sweet and I’m
kicking myself for not getting one
but oh well this grey one will suit
me fine and I’m sure you feel the
same way. Great detail for a 1/64 and a
great tribute to the Liberty Walks modders.
The orange rising sun on the spoiler the black
rims and the bodywork details all pop out
more on this color than I felt on the blue.

True Scale Models are a rare treat which makes

them great for gift giving. Especially to yourself
since our issue is our tribute to Porsche its only right
that I choose the 356A La Carrera Panamerican IV leather looking
hood straps, old school livery and white base this looks like a
cherished piece of history which is a great justification for buying it
for someone instead of a pair of socks or gift voucher.
The first delicious offering from Greenlight we think you should get from
Christmas is this Red beast called the Firethorn Trans Am in 1/43 Scale.
This representation of 1977s classic muscle car is pretty good detail as Greenlight has a pretty good
tooling of this model. You can expect to pay anything between USD20 – USD50 for this model but
it does come with its own acrylic display case which is always great storage and great display.

The other Trans Am I recommend from Greenlight is from its more serious line
called the Artisan series but it pleases both the Pontiac Firebird lovers while at
the same time tickling the fancies of Fast and the Furious lovers with Tego’s 1977 Pontiac but
features the wheel rims created for the newer revised Firebird. At 1/18 scale the detail is lovely and the
wheel combination is crazy. Prices range from USD50 – USD100
 The other stunning TSM goodie for the goodie bag
is the 190E EVO2 Mercedes driven by K Rosberg.
We love the paint job and finish on this model that exudes racers
vibes to fast for the shelf. I think the pictures speak for itself.

POR
SCHE
Sauter-Porscher Bergspyder
Porsche Spyders are such shapely
creatures, it's hard not to stare.
Autocult does some fantastic classics and
this is on of them. The details are really good
and the diecast body is one of the timeless
evergreen shapes that can be enjoyed by all
ages through the ages
CASTHEADS IN CONVERSATION
We speak to the poster boy of RAUH-Welt Begriff on what makes him go-go

ITS A
ROUGH
WORLD
OUT THERE
 CASTHEADS IN CONVERSATION
We speak to the poster boy of RAUH-Welt Begriff on what makes him go-go

RAUH-WELT Begriff is taking over, or rather already has taken over, the world of ultra
customized Porsches. Based in Japan, RWB combines the finesse of German automotive
engineering with an undeniably Asian aesthetic to produce cars that embody beauty
and brawn that’s in a class of its own. Akira Nakai, aka Nakai-san is the master artisan
behind these awesome road machines, and Christian Coujin, for all intents and purposes,
is the global face of it. An avid collector of wheeled art, automotive savant, edgy style
icon, and world-traveller, he is a major force behind the RWB tempest.

CASTHEADS MAGAZINE:
THANK YOU FOR TALKING
TO US CHIRSTIAN; YOU
MUST HAVE A VERY HECTIC
SCHEDULE. WE WILL BE
AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.
SO HERES THE QUESTION
THAT’S BEEN ASKED A
MILLION TIMES, WHATS
THE IDEA BEHIND RWB?
Christian Coujin: It wasn’t
what Akira Nakai had
thought of, as far as how to
make money. But, on the
contrary, he spent money
that he doesn’t have much
off, to build a racecar to suit
his way of driving.
Being a really fast driver,
and for his love of air-cooled
Porsches, the old 911 finally
become to slow for him just
because he was faster than
the car now.
Slowly, he widen the car to
get more traction by using
wider wheels setup and
tires, better suspension so
he can lowered the center of
gravity to take that corners
in faster manner.
And you can guess where it
leads to at this point.
People at the track, saw
his first design, and didn’t
response much to it, because
it didn’t look that good,
although its very functional.
Nakai-san, love good looking
shape of the 911, slowly
improves the design of the
kit. And RWB was born.
CHM: WHAT MAKES THESE
PORSCHES UNIQUE?
CC: He didn’t want to
create a product that makes
money, but create a product
so good, that people want to
give their money to get one.
CHM: HOW DO PORSCHE
AFFICIANADOS VIEW
THESE ARTISANAL
ROLLING WORKS OF ART?
CC: Obviously you have
some people who aren't in
love with our cars; these
purists tend to view these
cars as good things gone
bad. But we view them
differently, and as we say
what the world needs is
rough, not in a gangster
way, but more in the sense
that rough is being more
honest and doing what we
love doing.
CHM: SO WE’VE SEEN
AND HEARD THAT MORE
COLLECTORS CAN GET
THEIR HANDS ON RWB
MODELS… THOUGH IN
SMALLER SCALE. WHATS
THE PLAN FOR THAT?
CC: We are working with a
few manufacturers around
the world and our team up
with Hot Wheels is going
great. We are releasing three
series in the coming year
with Hot Wheels. First will
be a RWB Porche in a Car
Culture series. Then there
will be one included in the
Team Transports series, and
then the most exclusive will
be one for RLC members.
CHM: HOW WAS THE HOT
WHEELS MODEL RECEIVED
BY COLLECTORS?
CC: I have the only Hot
Wheels model, which was
sent by Mattel for approval,
and everybody who sees
it loves it and almost all
are looking forward to its
release.
CHM: WOULD WE GET TO
SEE MORE HOT WHEELS
RWBs?
CC: Yes, it’s an amazing
feeling to have RWB
immortalized by Hot Wheels.
So we hope to have a long
and interesting relationship
C hr is tia n fo r le tting us in to see
Thank you,
th e R W B w or ld . We look forward
part of
e fr om N ak ai sa n, you and RWB.
more and mor
ca n fo llo w C hr istian on IG @chris
You
rwb.jp/
and RWB https://
with Hot Wheels.
CHM: IF YOU HAD ONE
THING TO TELL YOUR
FANS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
CC: I will say something, not
from me, but something that
Nakai-san himself would
say, "It doesn't matter if you
get your hands on the Hot
Wheels RWB, congratulations
if you do, but don't worry
about it if you don't, don't
forget to enjoy life, remember
to keep everything rough,
since what the world needs
right now is rough.
CHM: DO YOU HAVE AN
EXCLUSIVE BIT OF NEWS
FOR OUR READERS?
CC: Well, I know one thing,
and that is that I am going to
make sure that you guys get
one of the exclusive RWB
models. Its severely limited
and with an estimated sell-
out time of 15 seconds, I will
make sure that you get one.
CHM: OMG!!!
a small
to seeing
tiancoujin
 the (R)E
l
t
C
All models pictured here are available
through select retailers across the
world
)Evo
lU
There are few Japanese cars that
evoke various feelings among car
lovers all across the world. Feelings
of excitement, happiness and
downright awe. And one of these
will always be the Mitsubishi Lancer

tion
Evolution or 'Evo' its lovingly known.

COMETH!

WO R D S + PI CS + DE SI G N | L A NCE K MÜ L L E R

Born in 1992, it took the world by
storm with the first iteration of the
model known as the Lancer Evolution
I, a turbocharged 2.0ltr DHOC
engine with AWD and four doors! Its
subsequent models grew in power
and fan base around the world and
become the stuff of dreams and
legend. The last of the model line was
the Lancer Evolution X, which was
Al
g
n
released in 2005, it featured many
i
variants for most markets around the
world in both RHD and LHD.
The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
X FQ-400 was the top-rated model
in the line and arrived in both RHD
s
and LHD. It came with 403bhp and
387lb ft and could reach 60mph in 3.8
seconds, and cost a fraction of what
supercars from more storied
marques cost.
This model has been
brought to glorious life
in 1:18 scale resin by BM
Creations Company
(BMC) through its
VOLCANIC brand and
it is gorgeous. Finished
in the same Octane
Blue as its 1:1 model, it
features fine workmanship
le
ge
nd
in
scale
all around. From the engine detail
seen through the top heat vents, to
the carbon fiber scratch plates to the
The downside of this model is that it
doesn't sit on a base nor does it have
an acrylic cover. But that’s about it.
calipers and head-, and tail-lights. The
model also is available in candy red. This is a great addition to any collector
that is getting into the realm of 1:18
They have also taken to crafting resin models akin to GT Spirit and
the dashboard (with the nav screen BBR, though not as expensive, it
actually having a map on it) to putting almost has the same level of detail.
carbon fiber on the headrests of the
bucket seats.
THE L
ONE

All models pictured here are available

on the www.autocult-models.de and
through select retailers across the world
LAST
LEFT
THE PORSCHE THAT ALMOST WAS
BUT, WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE
W O R D S + PI C S | AU TOC U LT • DE SI GN | L ANC E K MÜ L LER
There might have been numerous discussions about the successor of the type 911 in the premises of
Porsche. In 1982, once again such an exchange of ideas took place. It was decided to test the model range
in various concepts for the future. Among these concepts was also the idea of a lightning Porsche with 370
hp, permanent 4-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.

The new test vehicle series got the designation

“965”. A high performance engine, which turned
out to be problem later on, was fitted in the rear.
Tremendous heat accumulation and insufficient
performance output were the keywords and the
constant companions of the engineers on the job.
Over the course of the further development the
project got the internal designation “969”. In the
meantime Porsche moved away from the idea to
fit a classic V6 drive and focused on a V8-engine.
A PORSCHE POWERED BY
AN AUDI V8 ENGINE
Porsche took a V8 engine from an Indy Car racecar
for tests and also worked on the development
of an own V8 engine. Finally the research work
ended with the decision to use a standard 3.6 V8
(PT) of Audi, therefore a third-party engine. But
the 234 hp-strong engine fitted only with various
tricks and adjustments into the tight rear end of
the car. In the end these compromises led to a
loss in performance of 16 hp, which was evidently
counterproductive.

End of 1988 the project was due to be

discontinued, which signified the end for
the Porsche 965 respectively 969. In total 16
prototypes for tests were built from which one
survived to this day.

CASTHEADS: Autocult has an affinity for

working on models that are not run-of-the
mill models that you find from most major
brands. Go have a look on their website www.
autocult-models.de and we are sure you'll find
something really interesting.
GUEST CASTHEAD
Words + Pics | Ashraaq Wahab, Deputy Editor – Motor Magazine

BU5 F4RE

運
MERCEDE S-BENZ CITARO KEISEI
ARTICUL ATED BUS BY TOMIC A
did pick up a few
Tomica models
in SG which will
be featured later,
including my first
“Long Tomica” –
but more on that

運
in future issues.

Yup, it’s a Mercedes-Benz. Nope, its not
a sports car, luxury sedan or G-class. For
those who don’t know, the three-pointed
star makes a variety of commercial vehicles
too, from panel vans to buses , cement
mixers to garbage trucks!
Spending some days in Singapore recently
(thanks to the better half winning a
Checking in to
Changi at 10pm for my flight back to
Colombo, I had two hours to kill so
amused myself by walking around all
three terminals and riding the Skytrain.
Of course, a visit to the toy shops in each
terminal was a must – I have picked up
many of my models at an Airport toyshop
- and it was at the one in Terminal 3 that I
came across the model under review here
– A Mercedes-Benz Citaro Articulated Bus
by Tomica in the livery of the “Keisei

賃
fellowship at NUS), I used the public Bus Company, Japan”.
transport to get around – the MRT and
buses. Being interested in vehicles, I noticed Right off the shelf,
that the buses were mostly Mercedes- its sky-blue
Benz Citaro or Scania models in single and exterior
double-decker types (no articulated buses
sadly – Singapore phased those out mostly
by 2014). I was also impressed by
how the Citaros “knelt” by tilting
the entire left side of the bus
downwards the moment the
door was opened – making
the entry level with the kerb. I
運賃
screamed “you know you want me”, as well
as the fact that it was an articulated bus. It
also came in at a very reasonable SGD 13.97
-that’s about Rs. 1,600/- or thereabouts. Half
the SGD that remained in my wallet said
goodbye and the Tomica plastic-wrapped
box slipped into the depths of my hand
luggage, remaining there until well into
the next day.
On DLM’ing it, I marvelled at the level of
detail. Tomica sure know how to do fine
detail, which other manufacturers still
mess up. The bus company name was
printed clearly as was the headcode and
Mercedes-Benz logos, and I can read the
timetable on the side of the bus with a
magnifying glass! The roof detail includes
the two air-conditioning packs. Turning it
over reveals that the “B” axle (second axle)
is the powered one in the Citaro variant
modelled here – and a little Wikipedia search
reveals that the Citaro family includes up to
four-axle articulated buses. The side detail
is pretty decent too, and the windows are
lightly tinted so that the seats can be seen
too, and the doors are of the correct double-
leaf variety although they do not open.
The rubber “accordion” covering the
articulated joint is grey – articulated buses
typically have the accordion in grey or
black, so more points for accuracy here.
While playing with the model, another
feature revealed itself – The bus actually
articulates into three distinct positions!
You can have it fully straight, bent to the
left or to the right. You need to exert a little
pressure to bend it and a click signifies the
set position.
However, the articulated joint is also the
model’s Achilles heel. The mechanism
doesn’t feel like anything designed by the
Japanese. It has a level of play to it (in the
X as well as Y axis) that were this the case
on the real bus, the rear section would
be flopping about like a fish out of water!
In fact, I feel that the play has increased
slightly since purchase – I have bent it
several times for playing with and photos
for this article, but nothing excessive –
certainly not more than ten times.
The other disappointment is the wheels.
They are the “Tomica Regular” wheels, and
all axles have single wheels – while I am
sure that on the real thing, the B and C
axles have dual wheels. Why, Tomica? You
wow us with intricate body details, then
drop a brick on our heads with the wheels
and flimsy feeling articulation.
LIMITED EDITION "wheels don't, roll, bro!" red supra
(45 pieces only) RS 2,500
visit our store for sizes & ordering information
facebook.com/pg/CastHeadsMag/shop
Of course, it all boils down to a matter
of cost, but if that were the case, a small
trade-off on body detail would have been
acceptable in return for dual wheels where
present, and an articulated joint that felt
sturdier. The scale is 1:120 so we don’t need
to read the timetable, certainly not on a
SGD 14 model. Keep that level of detail for
the TLV series.

In conclusion, it’s a very smart looker and

certainly something that wouldn’t look out
of place on a shelf at home, or office desk.
Just remember it’s more for show than play
unlike some of Tomica’s other beauties.
There are times you have a want
that goes unfulfilled by diecast
manufacturers. Maybe its model
that they don't see a point in, or
an accessory that just isn't there
or event something out of your
life that you need to be brought
to life in scale.

We spoke to Gregoire Brun from

France who uses 3D printing to
make things that really add to his
collection
CASTHEADS MAGAZINE: Tell us a
bit about yourself

Gregoire BRUN: Hello I am

Greg and I am hail from France. I
have been collecting models for
the past 25 years now. I started
with Dinky Toys given to me by my
father when he was young.

CHM: What is your background?

GB: I have always had a dream

to make my own model since I
started collecting.

I am a mechanical designer by
profession, I’ve worked on 3D
model technology for over 20
years, like stereolithography1 to
make professional prototypes.

CHM: So what do you like to

collect?

GB: I collect several types of

models majority being 1/43
scale Dinky toys, Solido, all
racing cars with Martini Racing
or Gulf Racing liveries, Renault
cars and Trucks and Matra sport
cars and transporters "I have always had a dream
I like everything about racing cars
and I am really interested in Rally to make my own model since
Assistance vehicles and all trucks
that assist or transport racing cars. I started collecting"
 One of my
dreams to have
in my collection
was the Saviem
Sinpar used
by the Matra
Sport Team in
the 1960s.
"My collection includes over
2000 models"

CHM: So tell us about some of

your projects

GB: Due to my professional

experience and interest in 3D
printing technology, my wife got
me a 3D printer for christmas
about two years.

I remember thinking what I was

going to do with it?

I started by to trying to make

some doors to replace on some
old models I had lying around.

One of my dreams to have in

my collection was the Saviem I’ve had to cut two models to
Sinpar used by the Matra Sport obtain something close to the
Team in the 1960s. original model

But unfortunately, nobody Issues like finding solutions

had replicated this model, so
I decided to draw based on a
picture I found on the web.
Two months passed to make
the 3D models and several
months to print parts with a lot
of trial and error. For the cabin
to print parts correctly and
technical issues with the
machine took time, but at the
end it came out quite beautifully.
The second challenge was to
create a real trailer used by
Renault Sport.
You can find trailers to
transport racing cars but
every time it’s the same model
generally made by IXO models.
I wanted to have the exact
model used for the Renault
Five Turbo during the 1980’s
So after much trial, testing and error
I managed to print all the 3D parts
for the trailer I wanted to make.
Now I event 3D print wheels for
1:18s, and use printed parts to
repair lost or broken parts like
for example on the Mini where
the rear wing had been lost.
You can find more information on his FB page
www.facebook.com/racingcarmodel
or visit his website www.racing-photo.fr
My last project was to reproduce
a gas station that existed in
France with the name “L’etoile du
Sud” (South Star) sometime ago.
So I printed out all the parts
seperately for it and then put it
together and it was exactly what
I wanted. Now I make 3D printed
parts and dioramas for other
people and to sell.
Thank you Greg for taking the
time to chat to us. We await
more great models and ideas
from you.
Stereolithography is a form
1
of 3D printing technology
used for creating models,
prototypes, patterns, and
production parts in a layer
by layer fashion using
photopolymerization, a
process by which light
causes chains of molecules
to link, forming polymers
THE CULTURED CASTHEAD
There a bit more to it than collecting

As the book describes itself it is the definitive visual history of cars starting with the Pioneer vehicles
that pre-date the 1920’s all the way up to the modern era of machines we all love so dearly. For both car
lover and collector this is a fantastic resource that helps you track down timelines, understand how the
world influenced automobiles just as much as it influenced the world.
 Literally pages and pages of how the car became what it is
today. There are also a gamut of features stories that talk
about the history of certain iconic brands mixed in with
details on engine types and how they operate. For example,
on feature would be on Ferdinand Porsche and the rise of the
Porsche brand while later in the book you discover an article
dedicated to air cooled boxer engines.

While being a great research resource it is also a remarkably interesting

read with great images, clear descriptions, and car specs. It is a bible at
the CastHeads office. NOTE: The cheapest place to buy this book online
and ship worldwide (Shipping charges apply) is at Bookxcessonline.com
for RM39.90 (usd 9.61) Currently in stock.
THROWBACK
Vintage Diecast Stuff
Editor | +94 77 789 2006 | +94 76 625 9372
CASTHEADS MAGAZINE | castheads@gmail.com | www.castheadsmagazine.com
PHOTOS BY ALBERTO JORGE RODRÍGUEZ
FB/Impressive:Cars
1968 Porsche 911S - Tomica Limited Vintage 1:60
Photo by Lance K Müller

Await the next CastHeads Magazine

Issue #4 coming in January 2019
If you want your story or pictures featured, please send
us an email at castheads@gmail.com and we would love to do so