INNO64 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60

This one was roughly $25 with shipping.  surplusgoodies is a reputable seller on eBay & I highly recommend them.  Great experience, every single time.  Also see other recommended seller on the right side of the page.  

INNO I think is Chinese?  When I buy a INNO model, while I don't except perfect execution, I tend to expect a very interesting model + high level of detail & realism.  Even with somewhat rough looking headlights, FJ60 did not disappoint.  There even were couple of amazing surprises.  

 

Really sad photography.  Sorry.  It's been awhile I did macro diorama shots & I was rusty to say the least. 😭

Okay.  Surprise #1:  Roof rack.  It's not too skinny, it's not bloated.  I think it's the most well detailed & the best looking rack at this scale.  INNO nailed it.  👍

 

Surprise #2: Instrument cluster!  See those gauges?  In 1/64 scale?  Add the side mirrors(TLV would make you install it yourself most of the time).  I found it very impressive.

I thought $25 was bit steep, but after seeing those two surprises, I can recommend these to any collectors or Land Cruiser fans!  

 

Hot Wheels Red Line Club 1991 BMW M3

It's been awhile.  Couple of really cool cars made me want to slap together a new, original blog post... but I was very rusty with the photography.  😬  More on this later.  One of those cool cars is this Hot Wheels HWC/RLC BMW M3:

Old members know.  RLC(Red Line Club) website used to be a nightmare of site to deal with.  While we see lot less glitches as of late, when it came to this BMW, they didn't send me a sale notification email.  

As soon as these bimmers "presale" started popping up everywhere like on eBay & TTP, I knew that I had missed a RLC sale.  Funnily enough, while 2 other recent sale didn't sell out same day, this one did.  You don't take it personally though, most RLC members get screwed by the club every now & then.  😩

Anywho, I got mine from a TTP seller for $60, shipped.  I think it was $30 + shipping from RLC, but it is what it is.  Pics:

Shame about the left taillight tampo looking little ragged.

Opening doors & interior detailing looks really sharp..... but I really couldn't care less.  I personally don't care for opening hoods, doors & other gimmicks.  At least most of the time.  In my opinion, gaps, misalignment, etc., takes away from the aesthetics.  What made me pay the secondary market price was the basic casting design.  I don't know who designed it, but they nailed this one.

P.S. This blog saw original feature posts like this from 2014 to 2018?  After '18, there's been posts about random finds on pegs, old pics, cool imports from Japan, etc., but no features of new minicar "pics" as the blog name suggests.  Not that original photography was great to begin with, but I tried to recreate the magic on a whim this week(w/old iPhone even), and result was very heavy photo editing.  😅  

Anywho, thanks for reading & I hope you enjoyed the pics, or found them useful.

 

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....

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

 

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!  :)

Mini GT/Kaido House Datsun 510 Pro Street OG Green

WTF is Kaido House?

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:

image borrowed from hotwheelshunters.com

Pics:

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.

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.

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).

Under the hood looks gorgeous.  Nice finishes.

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.  💩

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.

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:

 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:

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!