NOREV - Chevrolet WTCC racer - Race trim.

How great is this, The Chevrolet WTCC car, and was one of a large number of Norev models i purchased on a visit to france earlier this year, and with Hot Wheels and Matchbox becoming less and less available, I had to find something to replace them, so, along with Majorette, Norev was the other brand i chose, and this is the first of many i will be listing

Slightly larger than both matchbox and Hotwheels, the details are better, and on this particular model, the decals are as near to perfeect as can be on a small scale model, the white alloy effect wheel, is indicative of the actual model, which sets it apart from the smaller model brands.

MATCHBOX - Ford F-550 Super Duty - Yellow

Matchbox, since being taken over by Mattel, has introduced more and more US specific products, at the expense of other worldwide brands, personally i am not keen on that, but if they think the market is not there in the rest of the world, which it is not, because they made a concious effort to limit it, then i suppose US products will be the norm.

So, what do we have here, well, a Ford F-550 Super Duty,one of the then huge E-Line of trucks, with this being a small fire tender, it is basically plastic apart from the yellow diecast piece, so again this shows the way that Matchbox is going, but it is a really nice re-production of the Super Duty double cab.

MATCHBOX - Porsche Panamera - Silver

Now, in a recent Ambassadors report, it was clearly stated that Matchbox and Hot Wheels would not do the same models, yet here were are, with the Matchbox version of the Porsche Panamera, and considering that they both do the same model, they have both done it differently, meaning double costs on one model, haw pathetic and wasteful is that,

The Matchbox is by far and away the best of the two, but not quite as good as the Realtoy version, in this Silver colour, it is the best colour they have produced so far, the darker ones hid some of the detail, whereas this one picks out the shut lines and gap lines between bumper and body quite well, and the black five spoke wheels give it some sportiness too, a nice over all model.

MATCHBOX - MBX Fire Rig - Yellow

For a generic, this is not too bad, and with a working ladder too, this is a rare Matchbox that has moving parts, and decent decals too, and the modern version of the old style dot dash wheels finish this off perfectly, NOW, i know i have gone on about loathing Generics, and I do, i don't agree with them, they are a way to screw money out of the child, or collector, which has no basis in reality.

But very occasionally one pops along, like the old British Ice Cream truck, that just looks right, even if the basis of the Ice Cream truck was based on an old Bedford, this Fire truck is a really good attempt, and one i am happy to have in my collection, but i cant say that for all generics.

HOT WHEELS - Custom '12 Ford Mustang - Red + Graphics.

Not one of my favourite models, and i really do not know why i purchased this, maybe i was having a weak moment, and just picked it up, who knows, but this Custom'12 Ford Mustang is in my mind truly awful, from the horrid looking wheels, to the tacky graphics, grrrr, why the hell did I buy this.

END

HOT WHEELS - Pagani Huayra - Green.

An odd one this, the Pagani Huayra, a Hyper car, and extremely limited in appeal, but in small scale it works, and is a great little model to have in the Hot Wheels range, now, as much as I loath Mattel and the way they have screwed matchbox into the ground, they have taken steps to improve the Hot Wheels ranges.

Which is a concern, as the HW range consists of generally 400 models, including recolours, and just lately they have been ding far more newer, real cars, whereas matchbox, has had some horrid plastic generic rubbish, see where i am going here ? but that does not take away from the fact that this model is truly a nice one, and i do have it in other colours too.

MATCHBOX - Seagrave Fire Engine - Red

As much as i will slag Mattel off, the current owners of Matchbox, they do still produce one or two really great castings, and this is one of those, that deserve to be congratulated , The Seagrave is a really good US Fire truck, they have also this year release another old classic fire truck, I will post that when, or even if i ever get one.

From the disc wheel to the perfectly tampoed area's this is one that has to be part of any collection, but, i have to say that matchbox are really going down hill, they have over the years gone from making 75 models per year to 120 now, having great realist casting to having awful plastic generic rubbish, with dire graphics, and now, we are getting blacked out windows, so they don't have to put in place interiors, ye they still want us to pay far more than brands like Majorette and Realtoy, whose realism and price point craps on Matchbox.

The bean counters need to make some drastic changes, if i were in charge, i would make a few significant changes.

• Reduce the amount of modes back to 75 per year
• Decrease the amount of generics over a 5 year period to zero
• Increase the realism, better decals and Tampoing.
• Have seven distinct ranges :-

1. LUXURY - cars from Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Mercedes and so on
2. SPORTS CAR - Morgan, TVR, Lotus, Ferrari, Aston Martin and so on
3. COMMERCIAL - Ford Transit, trucks, vans, delivery trucks, pick-ups, 
4. OFF ROAD - Range Rover, Escalade and other similar models
5. STREET - cars you fins on the normal street, Focus, 3-Series, A-Class, MG6, VW Golf, Peugeot's etc
6. CLASSIC - all the classic stuff, cars,trucks etc from the 50's though to the 80's
7. SERVICES - Fire, Ambulance, Police, Army, Navy, Air force etc

• Get the models back into more stores, have better marketing, produce, posters, catalogues and other material all to push the brand.
• Have special market driven editions, in better packaging.
• Push for more corporate specials, and tie In's with real car launches
• Make the websites far superior, have each model listed, have print offs, have info on the real cars from the manufacturer.
• Have info on the websites about design, mould, produce market and sell, on select products

Thats just my idea's they will never get taken up, but the whole odea of more integration with the buyer via teh website, should be a no brainer, but they really dont seen to like the buyer to have any info, which to me is just pathetic.

CORGI TOYS - Tractor - Red

Another apology, poo picture, but i don't pretend to be David Bailey, don't know who he is, look >>HERE<<, but back to the model, another in the Corgi Toys "Built to Last" range, this time a tractor, in pretty red, it is a generic model, so not intended to look like a real tractor, however, they have played a blinder here, it is just spot on, it looks good and real.

Like the others the heavy duty model, and good well made packaging is just spot on, and to top it off, these models are available in loads of places, I am loathed to mention matchbox in the same breath as these stunning models, but Matchbox used to be like this, available everywhere, from corner shops, national newsagents, big supermarkets and more, but not anymore.

And that's where Corgi are cashing in, I just hope that they carry on with this range, and add to it each year, they don't need to add many, if they have various colours or tampo's, the Scania truck is available in numerous versions, but only one truck, and that's where Corgi will win, and long may it last.

CORGI TOYS - Helicopter - Air Ambulance

Sorry for the dodgy picture, but you get the idea, another one of the Corgi Toys re-birth models, and another that gives them scope to utilise it for police, air Ambulance, modelled here, Army, air force and so on, they have chosen wisely the type of vehicle that's made, so that they can utilise numerous styles of tampo and usage.

Again, like the other Corgi Toys models i have this is an very well made packaging, both the thick card and thick plastic give an air of robustness, in fact sometimes it is downright difficult to get the model out of the packet, so out come the scissors, but that's good, like the "built to last" model, everything shows a well made, heavy and good looking model.

CORGI TOYS - Combine Harvester - Green.

The return to small scale production for Corgi, was a surprise and delight, they had in the past given us some really great die cast models, and when that all finished, albeit with a brief stint re branding Realtoy models, it was a sad day indeed, but now they are back, and with a vengeance, the models that they produce now, are significantly well made, heavy metal products.

They retail for £2.00, and give or take a penny or two, all shops that sell them have been around that price, even Hamleys in London, which are traditionally a rip off place, this one, is obvious, a combine harvester, and is one of a number of farm based models, the packaging is strong and robust, like the models, and with more new models to come, it is looking like Corgi Toys small scale is back to stay.

REALTOY-TESCO - Honda S2000 Yellow

It is so surprising how a model in this price range can be so authentic, and it is also strange that it is not an odd one or two, but the entire range, it is this range from Realtoy, but branded TESCO, that continues to produce some really beautifully made models, and this, the Honda S200 is one such version, with the lights coloured and a further side Tampo, it makes this a stand out car.

But its not just the colour, the wheels also have a vast part in making the car look right, and again these look the part, and the Yellow definitely makes it stand out, and it definitely stands out as one of the best Realtoy-TESCO models available, but they never stand on their laurels, as recent additions of the new Ford Focus, and Mercedes E-Class, shows that they are bang up to date with releases too.

CORGI JUNIORS - Rover 3500 SD1 Police Trim.

MMMmmmmm, heaven, that's all i can say about this model, it is perfection, it is the best small scale SD1 there is, the bloated podgy Matchbox version, pales into insignificance compared to this one, and with a full metal base, it is one of the rarer version also the SD1 comes with an opening tailgate, the roof light is rather large, but over all it is

I don't know why Corgi stopped doing their own small scale models, as they produced some really cool ones, from Kojak's Buick, Mercedes Saloon and Ambulance, AMC Pacer, Fords, Ferrari's, Triumphs, Austins, Range Rovers, Citroen's and Lotus cars, and so many more, but out of all those the Rover SD1 is my favourite.

CORGI JUNIORS - Jaguar XJS British Racing Green

Another stunning model from Corgi, in the juniors range, some manufacturers are better than others, and some when a number all produce teh same thing, there wll always be some better than others, but this XJS is one of a very few number of manufacturers, that made this model, and the reason why others didn't, well, maybe, Corgi got it so right first time, that it became obvious to others not to bother, that said, Corgi's Volvo 760 and Jaguar XJ40 were dire, whereas Matchboxes versions were superb.

The British Racing Green track car, is just so perfect, that i do have a number of them, in various trims, this however is one of my favourites, the Jaguar font, with the leaper on the bonnet, is great, and is one of many different Jaguars I have.