AmiAmi Preorder Alert!

On the preorder is the Initial D 4-car set.  Only downside is the "Hachiroku" with the white hood(don't watch the anime, don't know the significance....).  Still, for $63 USD + shipping, probably a decent deal for 1/64 collectors.  Kyosho releases are kind of rare anymore, even if my buddy Andy on GTPlanet's not that impressed with the R32 Skyline. :D

Reminds me of their Yoroshiku Mechadoc set.  :)

March 2019: Tomica Limited Vintage NEO Ferrari F40

UPDATE###Tomica Limited Vintage F40 Shortage Update + Possible Hack - READ MORE AT BOTTOM OF THE PAGE###UPDATE

Finally that day is here.  The new 1/64 Ferrari F40.  I've coveted the Kyosho F40 for sometime.  Not the rough looking earlier model, but the later model(related post).  Unfortunately, so did other collectors.  Those things were no longer produced & always eluded me on eBay.  :(

Good news is that TLV is taking a crack at this beauty.  Bad news, perhaps is one of the reasons why I stopped actively collecting: Tomytec, in my opinion, they started pricing their TLVs to reflect the secondary market pricing(scalpers, eBay, etc.).  To me, TLV MSRP today are just flat out crazy.  Anyway, enough about conspiracy theories.

Here's a fun one.  By now, most collectors are aware of the Ferrari licensing & how Maisto/Bburago(May Cheong) bought out exclusive licensing, beating out the previous owner Mattel(really drove up the value of rare Hot Wheels Ferraris).  How did TLV manage?  Fine print at the bottom:

"Produced under license of  M.C.G.: Maisto and Bburago."  That'll do it.

TLV MSRP is at $60, U.S.  Amiami preorder is just under $50(plus shipping).  Is it worth it?  For me, a F40 fanboy, whose top of the line F40 looks like this, I'm going to have to do it.  lol  I am passing on their Dinos though, also due in March.  When the Testarossa eventually come out, I'll most likely have to break the rule again.  My "other" favorite Ferrari(I do have the Kyosho in the case of Testarossa).  Pics from Tomytec page:

Please don't **** it up like with the 787Bs.

P.S.  If you wish, check out the GTE version from the Kyosho Original series.  Slightly nicer than the Matchbox linked above.

###UPDATE###

I've been reading about the shortage of now released TLV F40 within international community.  My go-to store amiami doesn't even list the TLV Ferraris anymore, while they had those cars for preorders.....  EXCEPT THEY ACTUALLY STILL DO:

AmiAmi(Japan)

Rakuten(Japan)

Short answer:  Unless you use eBay, only sole alternative for most of us will be the package forwarding service.  For a fee & somewhat high shipping charge, there are services like Tenso who will receive your package in Japan for you, then reship to your home overseas.  There are exceptions, like Car Hobby Shop Answer, also on Rakuten Japan.  One of the few shops who will actually ship overseas.  I ordered the limited edition yellow TLV F40 from them & shipping was $20(EMS to US).  I was more than happy to pay.  Do the math.  Shop eBay, shop Japanese websites(amiami.jp, Rakuten) & forwarding services.  For beginners, I do still recommend eBay.  Buyer protection's pretty solid on eBay as long as you watch seller feedback record.

So why no shortage to be seen in Japan, at least online-wise, but so few F40s to be had in the international market?  I can't help but to think that it's Maisto/Bburago/Mae Cheong copyright restriction coming into play, lawyers telling exporters like amiami not to ship these items overseas.  Anyway, that's my observation & my conspiracy theory.  Happy collecting.  :)

F60's Kyosho Ferrari Collection - Early to Late

1/64 miniature cars.

Dino & V8 MR Ferrari. pic.twitter.com/bUAK2BSn8u

— F60 (@F60BB) December 1, 2018

I don't have overabundance of Kyoshos in my collection, but there are lot of Kyosho collectors out there & for good reason.  Hot Wheels, the indisputable champs of 1/64 market, as popular as they are, they don't qualify as "scale models" to many 1/64 minicar collectors.  TLVs, while they are now barely about to get their feet wet with exotics/supercars, they focused heavily, maybe nearly exclusively on everyday JDM cars. 

Today, I want to share photos from F60.  Collector of almost all cars 1/64 I befriended on Twitter.  His tweets of Kyosho Ferraris caught my eye, because he wanted to showcase some "old" versus "new".  I'll just let the pictures do the talking here.

Here, the difference is night & day.  I don't think it's so much that old Kyoshos are so horrible.  The later model Kyoshos are very well designed & crafted.

Here you can see the original 308 versus the remake.  New looks so refined!

This remake F40 in red is something I've wanted for long time.  Unfortunately, on eBay, other collectors are always willing to pay more.  I'm just glad that Tomytec/TLV is getting in the mix.  

【 #全日本模型ホビーショー 】

トミーテック:TOMICA LIMITED VINTAGE NEO フェラーリ F40#58模型ホビーショー pic.twitter.com/whLbsEK8j6

— aminews (@amiamihobbynews) September 28, 2018

While I quit actively collecting, there will be times I'll be making exceptions.  ;)  Back to the Kyoshos:

F60 mentioned here that Modena should have been renewed.  I think we can all agree.  XD

So frigging beautiful.  Let us conclude this post with his tweet of sweet classic Ferrari:

イケダの京商特売品フェラーリ第一弾が無くなりそうだったのでカリフォルニアを買ってきました。シルバーも好いなぁ。 pic.twitter.com/v5rVW5gq8x

— F60 (@F60BB) December 1, 2018

Check out his very cool Twitter here. 

Showdown! Slacker Strikes Back!! Spark Bentley Continental GT3 versus Kyosho

Let's be clear.  Slacker is me.  No original material in over two weeks.  I'm slipping, folks.

Luckily for us, my buddy Jarrod actually already got his hands on the Bentley Continental GT3 by Spark & not only was he happy to share his pics, he also did some side-by-side with the Kyosho!!  

First the front & back of Spark version:

Tight.  Tight.....  Especially the black one amirite.   but how will it compare to coveted Kyosho release!?

For me, Kyosho looks much better.  Casting & the parts quality on Kyosho, they just look more refined.  I was hoping that Spark would surprise us with a model superior to Kyosho, since they had the advantage of building their Bentley on top of what Kyosho had already done with theirs.... something like couple years ago now?  I don't know.  Either way, I think Spark did okay for the price($12-ish, plus shipping on amiami).  I wouldn't say that they are great buys, but if you like Bentley GT3 by Kyosho & missed out last time, at least going by Jarrod's pics, they look like a nice buy to me!

Special thanks to Jarrod.  Check out what other cars he's added to his collection this month here.