Capital Diecast Garage: December 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Motor Max - mutated Holden ute

When is an homage an insult ? Perhaps when its an imitation that looks like it just doesn't quite carry it off. Thats the feeling I get when I look at the Motor Max utility. It has to be a Holden ute - but it just looks weird.

The Motor Max ute

5 strange cars for $5 - where I first saw the strange ute

I first saw the Motor Max ute when I was in Toys'r'Us looking for diecast. Normally I dont even look at the rows of Fastlane cars. They are generic and designed for kids to flog to death. They are dirt cheap as well. But the strange ute caught my eye. What was it ? I initially thought it might have been a Chev SSR. Was it a copy of the Matchbox Holden Ute ?

Big 'M' in the grille. Bizarre headlight styling.

I bit the bullet and forked out my $5 for the five car set and extracted the Motor Max ute. It was very light for a diecast, and the glass fitted very poorly, no interior either. The paint was pretty good though, and a nice colour too. Wheels are very over the top.

The base is surprisingly detailed

When you place it next to a Matchbox HSV utility the differences are obvious. While the general styling is the same, the Motor max ute is larger and more 'compressed'. It's as if the designers stretched it out and then pressed it back in with the body 'rising'. I dont even know what scale it could be - it is in the three inch category, but who knows.

It is clear that it is not a copy or replica of the Matchbox, Motor Max have actually created their own casting. For general kid play use, this car will be fine. For an adult collector, I'd say it will be overlooked or collected as an oddity. You couldn't really place it in a Holden collection, and it looks nothing like the Falcon utility.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Revolution Models Holden Torana GTR-X in white

Revolution Models have just released their 1:43 scale Holden Torana GTR-X concept car in white. It is a very limited edition of 300, and 100 have already been sent to a UK supplier - so if you want one I suggest you contact Revolution Models quickly. I will be reviewing this model for the next edition of Detail, but thought I'd post a few photos now.

Attention to detail is as always - spot on.

Beautiful lines. This is not the same casting as the Models56 GTR-X from a few years ago.

Nice fliptop presentation case and certificate

You can contact Revolution Models by email anthonywhanna@hotmail.com or by phone 07 5522 4741.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Questions answered - Code 3 acquisition by a non-collector

Occasionally I receive emails from people with questions about models, so I've decided to post the odd one every now and then. The first one is from 'Sarah'.

Hi there,

I have been searching for ages for a model replica of the :
"CODE3 TRAX TR12B HOLDEN HZ PANEL VAN PETER BROCK RALLY SUPPORT VEHICLE 'MARLBORO' WITH BULL BAR AND ROOF RACK 1.43 SCALE"
And am hoping you might be able to help me.
I'm looking for it for my partner, and I myself do not know much about this sort of thing.
I look forward to hearing from you, if you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks,
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

That is a Code 3 model, which means its not an official Trax model, but one that a person has modified to be a Peter Brock support vehicle. The original Trax TR12B is a HZ Holden panel van in red with Ampol livery.

Trax TR12B Holden HZ panelvan in Ampol livery. Released in 1993

I'm not familiar with the Code 3 model in question, but in my experience Code 3 models vary in quality from amateurish to exceptional. My advice is to actually hold it in your hand and assess the quality with the naked eye before handing over your money. Even I have been fooled with photos of a code 3 model which looked great - and when the model arrived I then saw how poor it was.

cheers

Damien

A pair of 'Code 3' Trax TR13 Holden utes, modified to be 'Brock Support vehicles'.

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