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Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Sorry. Another 1/18: Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard

I don't typically buy 1/18 scale models, but OMG, lowered 510 wagon with surfboard has that Toriyama Akira goodness you just can't resist....

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard

It took approximately 8 days for it to arrive from Hong Kong.  So fast.  

Ignition Model  Surfboard

Ignition Model   Datsun Bluebird   Wagon

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird  Wagon

Ignition Model  Datsun Bluebird 510

Ignition Model  Datsun 510

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon wheel 14 inch small diameter dish wheel

14 inch small diameter dish wheel ignition model

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard
 
Ignition Model  Surfboard

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird (510) Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard online web exclusive

Ignition Model IG2223 Datsun Bluebird 510 Wagon Light Blue With Surfboard

This is my first IG 1/18 scale, also my first IG vintage car model.  While I have some 1/64 cars from IG, they are all newer vehicles like R35, RX-7, etc.  I do have Hakosuka I already paid for at amiami, but shipping from Japan's still very strained, and despite their efforts, it's been taking them months to get cars over to me.  

I've always admired IG's vintage JDM cars & they certainly didn't disappoint!  :)


Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Mini GT/Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG Green

WTF is Kaido House?

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

I still buy hot wheels & minicars here & there, but I'm like a seldom, or casual collector these days.  I saw somewhere how Jun Imai was no longer making Hot Wheels, but I had no idea that he started a shop of his own.  Kaido House seems to be a really cool online store where you can buy diecasts, JDM/Hot Wheels related art & even some really cool threads.  Had I not just spent couple grand on guns & hot wheels, I'd be buying all over their cool t-shirts.  😭

Anywho.  Statement on their website by none other than Mr. Jun Imai:

KAIDO HOUSE® by JUN IMAI

Born out of a love for CAR CULTURE FOR ALL SCALES®, KAIDO HOUSE® was created for fans addicted to the 1:1 to 1:64 lifestyle. With world class partners in automotive and consumer products, the KAIDO gang go 100% in everything we do. We take pride in hard work, the culture we create, and honoring the street bruiser spirit.


Thank you for joining the KAIDO HOUSE® movement and sharing your communities, stories and collections with us.

Jun Imai, Head Chef

By the way, I bought this particular model from exemplarmodels on eBay & I highly recommend them.  These cars by Mini GT/Kaido House has chase models & while lot of the listings show sellers already having poached the chases, exemplarmodels is one of the sellers shipping out factory sealed units.  Sure, chase is always a long shot, but it's still kinda fun to get a shot at one I think.  These guys also packaged the car real well, so they are my recommended seller.   ****WARNING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

These are the chases:


kaido house mini gt 510 zamac chases
image borrowed from hotwheelshunters.com



Pics:


Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG box


When I saw the Kaido House box online, I thought it was like Tomica box?  Not exactly.  Kaido House box is huge, but also very high quality box.  Much sturdier than Tomica boxes.


Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG box

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG green


I paid $25.99 for it(shipped).  I would say the quality is just okay for the price.  However, premium Jun Imai JDM styling adds serious value to minicars like this.  Totally worth it.  I also ordered purple(from another seller on eBay), and I'm very glad I did.


Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG green


Not gonna lie.  When M2 Machines FINALLY released their JDM cars, I was hoping for something like this.  Unfortunately, M2 JDM cars, along with Greenlight seemed poor quality or awkward sometimes.  Especially the M2 510/Bluebirds.  They did so good, but probably due to cost, front end always seemed like a wreck to me(rest of the car were great).


Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG


Under the hood looks gorgeous.  Nice finishes.


Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Mini GT Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

Green & purple's all I wanted from this lineup.  I especially want the ZAMAC chase, but I can't really afford $100 secondary market pricing right now after spending $1,000+ on hot wheels & minicars in last couple of weeks.  💩

Mini GT Datsun 510 Pro Street OG

This is a fun one.  I would definitely recommend it!


Edit: ****Unfortunately, second eBay seller either poaches chase/hunt models, or someone working there does.

poaching robbing hot wheels chases treasure hunts online ebay

Green 510 from exemplarmodels on eBay was great.  You buy new "sealed" models, it should come that way.  Kaido House went out of their way to shrinkwrap & seal the boxes so collectors will have a fair chance at the chase models(equivalent of "Treasure Hunts").  

If they are breaking the seals & going through them, taking the chases out, reputable sellers will disclose this in the listings.  I saw many dealers putting this information in the listing pages.  

minineopet is a respected dealer on eBay, with great prices.  I would still recommend them if it's just a straight up purchases with no chases involved.  It's not fun to see professional sellers stoop to this level though.  This is the listing I bought from:

poaching chase models hot wheels diecasts online ebay



 I have sent them return request Friday, have not heard anything from them yet.  Their return policy is 25% restocking fee + buyer pay return shipping.  

Instead of new, sealed goods, I received a model someone already broke seal & went through, so I'm hoping to get the full refund.  I'll let you guys know how this will go.  :(



Edit2: UPDATE: Pretty Sure They Tried To Scam Me

My return asking for the full refund of $25.97 went through & this is the refund I received from minineopet:


minineopet eBay scam


I gave them a benefit of doubt before, I take that back now.  Instead of full refund, they sent me roughly 40% back claiming "damaged item".  😂 

Clown's gonna clown, but my disappointment came from eBay. While they got me another $14.98 for the full refund, they retracted the negative feedback I left warning other collectors of minineopet's practices.  What are you gonna do.  *sigh*   I wish you guys better luck!





 

 

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car


I grew up with Tomica minicars.  In fact, while this post is about Camaro police car, it isn't the first old Tomica I've added to my (adult) minicar collection.  I just remembered I paid around $30 for one of these few years ago:

tomica f4 lincoln continental ford mark iv
*Not my image*


This is the oldest minicar I remember owning.  When I begun collecting Hot Wheels, I wanted to get this particular model, in same yellow color.  I don't know much about vintage Tomicas, but it seems domestic Japanese cars came in "black box" & foreign imports in "blue box".  I'm sure most of my childhood Tomicas came in black boxes.  Two that I ended up buying as adult are both American & blue boxes.  Go figure.

Anywho, I am a late 80's Camaro fanboy.  As a kid in Japan, I was crushing on IROC-Z's.  They may as well have been Lamborghini or Porsches, I knew little about cars.  Few years ago, I discovered these Tomica Camaro police cars & I started shopping for them on eBay.  Problem:  Asking price tended to be around $100.  😭

Earlier this week, I sniped a loose one for $23 & change...... but I really wanted the box.  I'm a sucker for artwork on boxes Japanese toys come in.  Knowing that market exists for "reproduction" Tomica boxes on eBay, I searched for & found a box for $30.  Seller has tons of feedback & he claims that it is authentic Tomica box.  While box is in excellent condition, it certainly has some marks, dents, like they are real.  I sent a offer for $15 & both the car & the box arrived at the same time:

トミカ No. F34 シボレーカマロポリスカー 外国車シリーズ 日本製 青箱


Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car

Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car

Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car iroc-z

Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car z28 iroc-z

Tomica F34 Chevrolet Camaro Police Car

Tomica  Chevrolet Camaro iroc-z z28

Tomica  Camaro

トミカ No. F34 シボレーカマロポリスカー 外国車シリーズ 日本製 青箱

Going by what I've seen on eBay, Tomica seems to have produced this Camaro police casting for years & years.  I saw some that came with newer red and white boxes.  As for the car itself, they seem to be identical, regardless of which box they come in, or when they were manufactured.


Loose car came in clear plastic box that was designed for Tomica boxes.  Perfect amirite:

トミカ   青箱