This channel is all about #diecast cars in 1:64 Scale. I'll show you my collection of brands like Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Mini GT - and all new additions. So you will see a lot of #unboxing here - but from time to time I do some specials on certain topics. And by the way: I live in Bavaria in Germany - which is important to know for example when I'm talking about pricing.
I like the recent trend of Mattel re releasing some classic and highly coveted - and thus highly overpriced - castings. It Could be one way to get a handle on the scalping craze. Yes the originals will still be valuable but perhaps come down to more reasonable prices the average collectors can afford. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad they re-released the 993 GT2. It's another chance to get the model. And there have been 11 years in between releases, unlike other re-releases, for example in the F&F line, where it is only 1 or 2 years. And they made a differentiation between the old and new model, so the loose versions of the 2013 release will mostly keep their value. The 993 GT2 is one of my favorite castings, so I hope I will get one soon. I tried to get the 2-pack on the Smyth's toys website, but it was sold out already... The Cayman is awesome too!
Got it from the ST-website, too. But it seems they don't do an "online-restock". Wonder if we see these 2-packs in the normal stores. My impression is, that they get huge amounts of some sets... And very small amounts of other sets. And what's really annoying is, that they don't have Matchbox any more...
there is a code number at the chassis or backside of cardboard, where the last two letters (like WB, WS, 2X) are the OEM of greenlight. Greenlight has different OEM, and WB is the most common OEM with the most QC issues
The Alphatauri NSX is really gorgeous, as a Tsunoda fanboy it was a must have. Did notice on some review copies that the Honda badge had a bad tendency to be printed off-centre and it drove me absolutely crazy, so it'll remain boxed for now to keep the old OCD at bay haha. Schrödinger's NSX if you will. Great review as always 👍
There are facebook groups in Hungary and people started to buy these Volvo and the Optimus Prime trucks. They saw a few "look what I have" pictures, and they wanted the trucks. Just to have the same they saw on the picture. That was the only motivation. Scalpers noticed it and started to buy all these Volvos and Transformer trucks. Now the price is 2X... Crazy.
Absolutely... These scalpers are so annoying. I was in a toy store today and the pegs were fully loaded - but all good premium models like the RS6 were already gone. It's really frustrating...
Can’t go wrong with Mini GT they just never miss even with “less desirable” castings. Pop Race is really up and coming, similar to mini GT but somewhat sturdier on some castings. I recommend getting one of the Skyline drift models to get the real gist of what the brand is doing. Agree with you on Tarmac. Look great but feel cheap or chintzy. Nice haul. Keep up the great work!
Some nice stuff there! I expected that World Tour set to be a lot more popular than it is, especially the Supra. And I agree on what you said about the prices for premiums in Europe these days, you basically have to pay the same price as a MiniGT for a premium, and MiniGTs are way better in quality. But it is what it is, I guess.
Nice haul of MB mainlines which have been just as scarce over here in the States this year, at least here in Florida. I love the recolors of the Porsche the MR2 and the Eagle, which yes was an all American car complete with fake wood paneling from the American Motors Corporation no less lol. Oh and the Tuk tuk is really cool, too. Nice to see Mattel and MB go outside the box even though it’s through a major licensing deal! Thanks for sharing and giving collectors hope the drought might end soon!
I just picked this pack up because thought all 5 models were pretty decent. I love the Subi casting so I had to add it to the collection despite the ridiculous livery and the Volvo is another casting I had to have. Regarding the set name not only is it crazy no German cars included but I would not take that Jag on the Autobahn in any era lol 😊
Saw the Toyota in the box packs at the mall, but was unsure on the colour and couldn't find a good review of it to clarify for the life of me - much appreciated!
The Golf is fantastic 🤩 I found them at the "Action", don't know if you have this chain in the Netherlands too... But it was the first MBX restock there in, at least, 4 or 5 months
@@plainbutpunchy That's good news. We had MBX in the Action here in NL too, up to about 4 months ago like you said. I'll go check if they have restocked at my local Action right now, thanks!
I am OK with Indiana Jones 5, but I love the Tuk-tuk! Nice shades of purple today too. Kind of sick of Matchbox doing police cars that don't look like police cars, though - the models are good, but it's like they never saw a US police car before, only heard descriptions, and insist on making them silver and orange or green with flames...
Another nice 5-pack, the only ones I'd not really want here are the GT40 and Subaru. At least the Subaru seems more realistic-looking than the Japanese police one - do German police drive Subarus? I expect there were a handful of roadgoing GT40s but I think of it purely as a racer.
@@plainbutpunchy There are both Police WRX Imprezas and Lancer Evos in the UK, but we killed all our domestic car industry so it's more understandable. I always imagine police forces/government organisations try to procure domestically-made cars first.
I agree. I think Hotwheels is (generally) doing great in the Premium department, but the Mainlines are getting gradually worse. I think the N case is actually a fairly good case, one of the best of 2024. And castings like that Merc you showed are really cool and creative, but I think collectors want to see more realistic cars and less modified/fantasty cars. I think the period of 2014-2020 was a great era for mainlines, in which we got a lot of great castings and clean, realistic versions of those castings. Anyway, great video!
Thanks, man 🙏 My hope is that things might get better in the course of 2025 after all. Normally, the better cases come towards the middle/end of the year... We'll see 🙈
I'm disappointed by the last 12 months of Hot Wheels, but probably not for quite the same reasons you are. I think there have been some fantastic models this year, several of which were in this video. Another channel I follow asked for people's new casting of the year. and I chose the Hirohata Merc. It's a beautiful car with a great story behind it. I don't have a problem with HW doing more US cars; In fact, that's what they're known for historically. My main issue has been the change I've experienced in shopping for diecasts. A year ago I lived in Japan, where many (but not all) individual HW models are available through Amazon for preorder, meaning if I wanted something it was just a matter of checking regularly, and if it didn't show up on Amazon I could usually find it in local toyshops. Additionally, there was Mercari, a flea market app which had a deal with Japan Post for cheap shipping, and many people sold loose HW cars on there for very reasonable prices. Since this was the environment I started collecting in, when health problems forced me to return to the UK I was faced with the fact that most of the world has a very different experience. No individual HW on UK Amazon, and few toyshops or local shops with toy departments, and no Mercari, only ebay with their stupid high postage costs. I've been hurled into the deep end of peghunting to discover the many problems of Mattel's distribution system, basically - and boy does it suck. Once I saw the list of all this year's cars, I made a list of 63 cars I wanted, and of that list I've found 36 of them. Some cases have been completely absent. We've had N case around here, but I've seen zero Roughroads Porsches, zero Huracan Sterratos, and of course no R33 Skylines. You showed the M3 Wagon, which is probably the car I wanted most all year, but I haven't seen one, in blue or red, nor any sign of D case at all. No hint of the quattro in red or black, or nearly any of the Japanese cars - all the ones everyone knows will be most popular. I just don't get why they limit the number of cars everyone will want just to fill cases with unloved models. Of the cars I've managed to get, I wouldn't say I was really badly disappointed by any of them, but there's more plastic bodies with minimal metal, which is a trend I don't appreciate much; another thing that's really aggravating is the 'printing on 3 sides maximum' rule which means so many cars get no front or back detail. The Kowloon'd Hypervan is a model worth singling out here, I like the sculpt a lot but with the only metal on it being the roof and one side having no printing at all just so the destination board can get lettering, it's a letdown. One other thing I do really dislike is the move away from underside detail and toward having a big flat featureless lozenge-shaped panel for all the model information. I think every new car this year has had this; I like seeing exhausts and transmissions and suspension components when I flip the car over. It does feel like we're seeing some Hot Wheels shrinkflation in action here - the price stays the same, but the product gets smaller, or in this case more cheaply made.
A really good question... After a detailed look, I can tell you: The whole nose/front wing (the part between the headlights) is one transparent piece of plastic. And on on top of that are some decals. So: yes and no. The headlights are transparent plastic, but part of the front wing. Not that easy to explain 😉 but that's how it is
I agree this is a pretty good 5 pack, but not excellent. Speaking as a Brit, I don't think it represents British roads that well, though. I love the Morris Minor in this pack, it's old but even in the 80s they were pretty common on the roads. I don't live in London, so I can't speak for the colour of the taxi, but where I am, there are no London taxis like that, or the older diesel version; mostly they are black, but I've not been in London for years so maybe that's changed. My main complaint with this set is the Mini - I hate the BMW Minis, especially convertibles. I recognise they are good cars, I just really dislike the aesthetic, and I really don't appreciate the fact they are so big - Minis are not mini any more! The old Issigonis-designed Minis from the '60s to '90s were proper tiny do-eveything people's cars, but the BMW Minis are simply cartoonish hatchbacks. I like the Land Rover as a car, but I feel the Matchbox version is lacking in detail, especially like you said with the roof. I have a Majorette one which has a second piece of white plastic as a roof, but just leaving it clear looks terrible; even a tampo/printing of some kind on the roof would improve it in my opinion. My favourite is the Jaguar, though the interior is indeed odd. I always used to be lukewarm about this car until one passed me as I was cycling - it's one of the best sounding cars I've ever heard. I heard it coming from behind and thought "ooh, wow, what's this!?". Since then it's become one of my favourite modern cars. My overall impression with this set is is not really 'for British people', but it's kind of like the tourist version of Britain - I'm surprised there's not a red bus plastered with Union Jacks in there. I wonder if you feel the German sets represent the cars on German roads accurately, because this one... it's a bit 'theme park'-ish.
I definitely agree with you - in several of your points... The " German Autobahn"-Sets also don't really represent Germany. I understand your complaints about Mini... For me it's the same with the Fiat 500... And yes: The sound of the Jag is fantastic
All gorgeous models from MINI GT as usual but I’m waiting for some new castings I’ve had enough of all the Porsches Lambos and IMSA cars. I got that trio of special releases too and haven’t opened them either the card art is too beautiful lol. Thanks for sharing. 👍
New Matchbox main lines have been scarce here in my section of Florida most of this year. Everywhere. Stores that used to heavily stock them have had the same handful of castings on the pegs throughout the summer. Have seen new Moving Parts and 5 packs but not cards. So strange it’s happening overseas too. I wish someone who understands the diecast distribution system would start a RU-vid channel! As for the Teslas I agree they’re not exciting castings for the most part but I do pick some up especially the Roadsters because as you said some of those are pretty damn sleek. Thanks for sharing. 👍
I don't go for SUVs much but if I were to go for an e-tron the Polizei version appeals most. I miss when Matchbox used to cast licence plates. The Porsche is a nice casting but I hate the colour, exactly the wrong colour for the car IMO. They should swap colours with the Fiat, that's the sort of car I might expect to see in brown whereas a minty green would be nice on the Porsche. I love the Alfa, personally, in the flesh these are beautiful cars. The VW is pretty cool as well, and things like variant interiors/luggage loads are a detail I'd like to see more. I have lots of sports cars with beautiful sloping back windows showing...nothing. MB tend to reuse a lot of their detail elements like the chains but even so it's way more interesting than nothing at all. Definitely a good deal for €6. My local supermarket is literally overflowing with these 5-packs, you can't rummage in the HW and MB bins without knocking them over - they need a sale to shift some stock!
This set is definitely one to skip IMO, I kind of like the Sentra and the 620 but I've always thought the 510 estate has a strange stance. But beyond that, I feel like these are not credible cars - BRE is a racing team, but none of the cars even has a race number? I know they raced Fairlady 2000 roadsters, 510 saloons, 240Zs...but did they race the 510 estate? The 1991 Sentra is way too late, since the team was disbanded in 1972. I can believe the 620 as a support truck, but: a transporter, a support truck, two tribute liveries but no actual racing car...WTF? They do put reissues in these dioramas sometimes, so why not the iconic #46 red and white 510 saloon? Or a Fairlady 2000 roadster would be damn cool. It feels like HW are treating the BRE livery as a kind of default old datsun/nissan livery while ignoring how it was actually used. And the transporter - the diorama sets seem a perfect use case for the newer 'second story lorry' as it will fit 3 cars, but no...ANOTHER sakura sprinter. I also agree the white tampos are too thin and let the base colours through. They aren't terrible but are not great either.
The worst HW diorama set of this this is the upcoming one... With the Moon-Eyes-Boat... This will be sitting on these shelves until next summer... Definitely gonna pass on this one... Except they reduce the price to 15 euros or less..
@@plainbutpunchy Hadn't heard about that. I don't really get Moon-Eyes generally, AFAIK it's the hot-rodding/Americana side of HW that I just have little interest in as a Brit (though where I used to live there was a Nissan Cube with a Moon Eyes sticker that lived near me - if there was ever a car I don't see as fitting that brand...). I like some American cars and American car culture, but that just doesn't appeal - that's OK though, the output of HW overall is vast enough that they absolutely don't have to please me with every product. If it's good quality, I'm sure many people will enjoy it. But if it's both niche and poorly thought out like this BRE set, that's a wasted opportunity.
I Always wondered who it was buying all these Teslas - turns out it's you! All power to you if you like them; I have exactly one tesla in my collection, a HW cybertruck, for comedy value. The others all look like scenery cars from videogames that are not about cars. Plus I have no love at all for Musk. You couldn't give me a Tesla. Credit to Matchbox, though, these are very good models for those who want them. Fewer places stock Matchbox compared to HW where I am (UK), and I think they probably don't sell that well because of the lack of variety and odd choice of vehicles. Only 100 models vs. 250 from HW is not enough variety to sell them in cases released through the year. Every time I go to a MB stockist it's mostly the same dozen or so cars people don't want, often Teslas, weird stuff like a trailer with a motorbike on it, police cars with unconvincing liveries or odd americana like a 1950s pickup, so I rarely buy them, where HW has enough new constantly coming out that I can get at least one every week or so. I know they have a really big back catalogue they could pull from and yet they seem to stack the cases with duds. As for 5-packs, both HW and MB have a talent for sticking one good car in with several OK ones and at least one that I really don't want to spend money on. I've only ever bought one 5-pack - though them being in a decent sale would likely change that.
Basically I agree with your opinion. Teslas aren't that exciting in reality. But the Tesla-Roadster that MBX did is just great, especially the first one in red. And it's pretty rare that MBX does 5-Packs with models from just one brand. And yes: often there's only one or two cars in these Five packs, that you're really after. I can't really explain it, but there's something I like about MBX-5-Packs nevertheless. HW-Packs are mostly horrible compilations, in my opinion. That's why I normally don't buy them. And the last thing: yes, could be that many stores don't restock MBX single packs because they don't get rid of some pegwarmers. Especially the cheap "One-Stores-Stores" sit on these - and it seems like the get very old cases (that aren't very popular) again and again....
@@plainbutpunchy I agree HW 5 packs are mostly terrible. It's the fantasy cars, for me, they just can't stop themselves from mixing in some absolute bottom-drawer junk in every theme. The relative scarcity of terrible fantasy MB models means their 5 packs are at least relatively unobjectionable. That said, the one 5 pack I got was a HW Fast & Furious one. Came pretty close to getting the one with the Polizei Audi e-tron and orange VW Transporter crew cab pickup, though, that's a pretty good set. Do you collect Siku at all? As a kid in the 80s I thought Siku were even better than Matchbox, but they seemed to dip in quality pretty significantly from the mid 90s on. I've only got a few recent ones. I'd be interested to see your thoughts.
Well, I do own a few Siku models. I think their quality is really good, especially the opening parts. You see them a lot in German toy stores. But this brand doesn't excite me - it starts with the boring packaging and ends with the most terrible wheels of all diecast brands. In my opinion these are good as toys - very robust. I think the brand maybe is interesting for collectors that are into tractors, construction machines and stuff like that. I'll stick to HW and MBX - and Mini GT.
Great haul this week I’ve only managed to snag a few of these castings including the Pagani Lotus and Lambo I’m looking for that TH the small block and of course the 180 and the trans am. Movement of stock has been slow this summer hopefully things will change as we near the end of the year. Thanks for sharing!
The Porsche and Benz sets are peg warmers here in Florida but I have yet to see the Honda pack. I love the new Porsche casting but it’s held back by the deco and the wheels as you said. Looking forward to seeing it in future iterations and hoping to snag that Honda at some point! Thanks for sharing. 👍
What Mini GT is doing at that scale and price point is nothing short of phenomenal. The company reminds me of the US microbrewery Sam Adams that started small but went on to have a huge impact on the industry. In a few years the brand will upend the diecast world at this current rate. Kudos to Glen Chou’s company for putting the pressure on Mattel to step its game up and to you for showcasing these beauties!
The BMW is a lovely casting but a horrible colour - I have several better E30 M3s so I skipped it. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the food cars but the Sushi Tuner is at least useful - supposedly it is designed to work as a chopstick rest (that's why the ridges are on the back, so they don't roll off) and holder (the little depressions between the wheels look like they will hold a pair of disposable chopsticks upright on each side). Is it just me or are there loads of cars in orange or teal this year? People's collections are going to look like Michael Bay movies...
Very cool, just picked up one of these myself - hope the engine cover isn't loose on mine as well, but the C9 is cool enough that it doesn't matter too much anyway. Thanks for the review 🫡
I love this car. I have only the silver one, money was tight when the set with the black AEG car came out so I missed it and money remains tight enough that I can't justify buying the Team Transport. From what I can see the blue and black one was indeed a test car used prior to Le Mans in 1989, probably used to test the new engine they debuted that year. The race version of the car hit 400 km/h in qualifying, one of the highest speeds ever in the race's history... Here's hoping HW do a Jaguar XJR-9 to go with it.
In my opinion, this series is a Matchbox with ster0ids. In fact, they are manufactured in the same factory in Thailand (like the Hot Wheel Premiums). I think that the models with metal base (2 for each serie) are the.... ¿Treasure Hunts of the Silver Line?. Anyway: EXCELLENT Paint Job, Loooooove the "silver rims" (i don't need the rubber for my showcase or track) but.... 4-5 € for only one step over a Matchbox.... with the plastic base... emmmmm. NO!. Thank for this video Bro, but - more important - thank for share your opinion with us!!!!. Greetings from Spain.
Those Mijo Mini GTs are packaged for the American market and sold through one distributor, with the number representing the total number of castings made for the US, supposedly. For the castings I really like-including that LBWK Skyline!- I usually buy one Euro box to open and one Mijo to display. Very convenient and a great sales and marketing strategy for Mini GT! Great haul this week considering the slim pickings lately. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Good haul this week. Nice to find the Porsche premium on the pegs that would never happen here in FLA lol. Love the Benz too though you bring up a great point about the sizes. It’s really noticeable when you compare models from other brands. And I always find it strange how some Mattel castings are so excellent and above average while others can be so sub par and lazy,lacking basic features like side mirrors and highly detailed graphics. But I guess that’s to be expected with such mass produced products and why so many collectors are gravitating toward Mini GT, Inno, Pop Race and others. Anyway, thanks for sharing this weeks’ finds! 👍
Those are cool, I love movie cars generally, whenever a film has a great car but there's no model of that specific car available it feels like a wasted opportunity. I would love to know where the Porsche appears in the Fast & Furious films, though, I just can't place it. Any Matchbox beyond the basic line are impossible to find where I am too (UK - original home of Matchbox...), and it feels like even they are getting harder to find. Even specialised toyshops don't have them, I don't understand where these are supposed to be stocked.
