DIECAST JAPAN!

Hot Japan Tomica Giftsets and a bike

2011-11-28T16:39:00.001+08:00

I've been out the blogging scene for a while but the collections are always piling up. I'll keep the words to a minimum and let the cool photos do the talking.

I am into running and lately also into biking hence I have such limited time to blog. This is my latest diecast, A STRIDA Sport Duo, a dual speed bike.

Vintage Tomica Dandy Vws!

2011-09-05T10:24:00.002+08:00

Guys. I've been busy with work and with different hobbies. Pardon me for not updating my blog recently. I've got lotsa new items and I'll be sharing most of them here.

Check them out, my August hauls.

ChoroQ! The Taiwan Nostalgic Set and Transformers ChoroQ

2011-07-18T19:51:00.001+08:00

I went for a little shopping a few days ago in Japan and these are what I got. The ChoroQ is the best of the bunch. I've never seen one in Manila and will probably never will.

Made in Japan Tomica box set

Made in Taiwan ChoroQ set with 3 rare VW Beetles

Mitsubishi Lancer 1992, Evolution I Street Version. Japan exclusive by Norev

The best is the last, an II Ado commissioned Tomica Dandy 240Z, Made in Japan 1973

For the transformers fans out there, a ChoroQ and Tomica transporter truck with Bumblebee and Optimus as decals.

Thanks for checking my site! Comments good or bad are always welcome.

Brian Vespa

VW Egg

2011-07-08T17:46:00.001+08:00

I've been busy with my Vespas, my camera and work and that is the reason for my very few postings with my blog. Here's one photo that i really like. VW Egg by Kintoys.

I know the VW boys will like this.

More posts soon!

Brian Vespa

Vintage Corgi Batmobile!

2011-06-13T11:51:00.001+08:00

I've been busy lately but my diecast hunts are always fruitful. This is one of the many I scored in the past few weeks of shopping.

A rare very good condition almost mint Corgi Batmobile.

Better photos soon!

Vintage stuff I bought yesterday in Japan

2011-05-02T12:09:00.000+08:00

I went toy shopping and bagged a few neat stuff of course :) Thank you Japan for all the immense joy you give me every time I shop for old toys. Thanks also to collectors like us who take care of these toys and give us newbies to appreciate the toys from the past. They don't make em like they used to.

ICHIKO friction Patrol car in 16 scale, Mint in box with a good grade complete box.

This is a brass 1970's 280Z cigar holder. When yo buy the real car in the 70's, you get a replica like this to put on your table. This is the original DEALER SPECIAL back then.

Of course, my new Lesneys.

Thanks for all the views, comments are always appreciated.

Salamat Po! ( Thank You)

Cadillac by K.K. Sakura of Japan

2011-04-25T13:38:00.001+08:00

I've always wanted to bag a rare Cadillac and i got this one through a swap with a friend. I gave him a white metal hand built Datsun 240Z by FINE Model of japan and in turn I got this beauty.

I hope you guys like it.

Honda Civic Tomica Limited Vintage Neo and a visit to Tomica Shop Osaka

2011-03-31T07:07:00.000+08:00

I've been waiting to get my hands on these beautifully crafted Honda Civic SIR hatchback and I finally got one yesterday. I made a quick video and i hope you guys like it. I am still in Japan as my flight out got cancelled the last minute. I am leaving this noon for Guam.

My Civics. Got 3 pairs.

TOMICARAMA! A TLV diorama

TLV Nissan Skyline Silhouette

Isuzu Gemini

Comments are always welcome.

Brian

The most exclusive Tomica Trueno InitialD

2011-03-28T00:22:00.001+08:00

I was fortunate enough to purchase this book set which includes a lot of Initial D items. I'll keep the typing to the minimum and let the pics do the talking. This book was released in Japan 2001, ten years ago. I bought the bookset sealed and I was surprised to see a Tomica Trueno, two figures, stickers and a postcard inside. I was just expecting a rare InitialD book and the add ons were just a bonus. Looks like the bonus was better than the actual book.

Add caption

the rest of my Tomy InitialD collection

Tomica Land Cruisers, TLV and some other stuff and my finished project Vespa

2011-03-06T00:51:00.001+08:00

I finally had the chance to get these hotly anticipated Tomicas and they are now in Manila. I got em in Narita a few days ago and most of these are for sale in the shop of my friend Martin Estrella who owns the newest toy shop in Greenhills , San Juan, Philippines. ( Shoppesville)

Check em out guys!

My finished Vespa!

Minichamps Merc 300SE 6.3 and my Vespa project update

2011-02-23T21:19:00.000+08:00

I've been so busy lately with my real Vespa project and sourcing parts, bits and pieces are eating up a lot of my free time. however I had a few free moments with my toys so I shot a few of my latest acquisitions.

The most beautiful Merc for me.

And this is what is keeping me very busy

before pics

current

Zaugg-Modelle Serie Empire Dodge Challenger 1970

2011-01-23T13:01:00.002+08:00

Lately i've been busy with restoring my real Vespas and my time with diecast has seen a drastic change. Most of my funds are now diverted to the expensive restoration of my two rides. However my thinking have changed when I saw this beautiful and rare hand built Dodge Challenger Convertible. If I am not mistaken this American car diecast was hand built in Switzerland, bought in Japan and is now in the Philippines.

Just like my other post, i'll let the pictures do the talking.

Here's my update on my Vespa restoration

Thanks for visiting! Comments are always welcome my dear friends.

Bri

Vespa's new project Vespa PX

2011-01-04T18:47:00.000+08:00

I haven't updated the blog for the past few weeks because I am busy with my first love, the Piaggio VESPA! I already have a couple Italian scooters at home but I was lucky enough to get a sort of barn find in the city. I got two pre loved Italian Vespas and I saved them from oblivion. The original owner bought a pair of VESPAs and decided after a few years that they don't want it anymore. The Vespas were untouched for almost a decade and I brought them home to my house.

These Vespas are gonna go to some serious restoration and I think am gonna spend around US$1,000 each to make em look brand new. I'll be flying to Singapore next week and I'll be visiting Tong Aik Vespa shop there to buy all the parts needed for the restoration. One Vespa is already running and the other one will be running soon.

This is my Blue Vespa and it was fixed yesterday by my mechanic Joseph aka ProjectV

The barn find VESPAs
My Mod themed Vespa

My barn find Vespa

Showa Volkswagen Beetle and a :40 scale friction VW

2010-11-18T01:25:00.008+08:00

The original toy with original box, photo taken from the web.

Hello my cyber friends! I've been busy the past few week hunting for vintage stuff and i bagged a few from Tokyo. Those hauls are another story and I'll start with my vintage VW tin toy.

I got these tin toys last year and I never had the chance to photograph them because they went straight to my showcase. It was a gift from Technophobia last Christmas 2009. I believe these toys were his for a very long time and he gave them to me to add to my growing vintage collection.

I'd love to tell more stories about these awesome vintage toys but for now I'll let the toys do the talking. I hope you guys like it the way I love them.

Viva vintage!

Blue VW tin toy in 1:40 scale, still in very good condition.

Comments are always welcome and I am still looking for info regarding the small 1:40 scale friction tin toy.

DRAGBUS! Tomica Dandy Volkswagen VW Transporter, Made in Japan

2010-10-23T14:39:00.001+08:00

A lot of Hotwheels collectors are into the Dragbus craze and I am just wondering if this Tomica Dandy VW bus was the first one to equip a wing on a VW bus. Could this be the precursor of the Dragbus? I wonder which one came first. This Dandy is a vintage made in Japan specimen in perfect condition. I got it sealed with a tape and I was the very first one after the factory to open it. This baby could be at least 20 years old. This model is really old but is still very mint condition. Even the rubber band is original that holds the 2 bikes on top of the roof.

Let me know what you think guys!

Brian

Mitsubishi Pajero by Diapet Yonezawa Collection, Part 2

2010-10-11T23:37:00.001+08:00

Hello guys!

After a few days of rest, I can finally upload some more Pajero pics as promised. These are a few more of my Pajeros and more are coming soon.

Thanks for checking out my site!

By the way, the scale is close to 1:40 if case you guys are wondering.

My Singapore Formula One 2010 Experience

2010-09-27T15:56:00.002+08:00

I've been dreaming of one day going to Europe and watch the Formula one live in the stands with the legendary Michael Schumacher on the podium and raising his trophy. That dream was from the recent past and no longer a dream. Ferrari won but not under the wings of MSC but from a great Spanish driver Fernando Alonso. The race was not even in Europe but in beautiful Singapore.

My dream became reality when I saw MSC, Webber, Alonso, Kubica, Massa and Hamilton racing past each other three meters away from where I was standing.

I've always wondered how it feels to be in the stands cheering the drivers as they blaze through and see them blur away with the heavenly aural symphony of their F1 engines roaring past me.

Here are some of the pictures I took and I hope you like them.

I think I am now in love with F1!

More pics soon!

Mitsubishi Pajero Collection, Part 1

2010-09-16T23:35:00.000+08:00

I've been collecting Pajeros and I only buy the castings that I like, which means the old ones. I'll start with the Diapets. I love these models especially the ADVAN versions.

Diapet 1;43 scale.

Diapet with a Tomica Pajero version

Beauty shots

The Tomica

Tomica and Norev in 43 scale

I'd like to write more but as always, I'll let the models do the talking. I hope you guys like 'em! More to come in the coming days.

Ferrari Pininfarina Mythos. Hand built. White metal. 43 scale

2010-09-09T01:52:00.001+08:00

Ferrari.

Every serious collector I know have at least one Ferrari die-cast. Ferrari die-casts are always in demand all over the world from little kids to adult collectors like us. Some have hundreds of tiny Hotwheels and some have dozens of Kyoshos and BBRs. I've got a few Ferrari BBRs in 43 scale and a few Kyoshos in 18 scale, a few other eclectic mix of 43 scale Ferraris. If I have to let go all my Ferraris and only choose one, I'll be keeping this baby.

My 25th Anniversary Diapet Yonezawa Ferrari Mythos. This model does not come in a fancy box, just a carton and two pieces of hand cut styro to keep it from moving in the box. The model itself has no opening part, no suspension, no fancy paint and the craftsmanship is akin to a diecast made from the 1950s.

Why do I like it so much? I really can't explain it but maybe because I know that a real person has painstakingly detailed this die-cast by hand. Maybe because I like the way it feels when I hold it, knowing it is made from a solid block of white metal. The Ferrari Pininfarina Mythos ain't even popular and maybe even unknown to some. I like it maybe because I know that very few people would appreciate it and I am the only one crazy enough to buy it.

Well, enough of my story and here is my low tech Ferrari.

Hope you guys like it. Feedback is always appreciated.

Salamat Po!

Thank you!

Below in the box are the two uninstalled wings.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Handbuilt Kawabatakikaku J43 Toyota Crown

2010-08-29T14:19:00.003+08:00

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I've always been a fan of these hand built J43 models from Japan. I looking at them because of its beauty knowing that these diecast are works of art. This model was hand built in Japan and it does carry a premium price for a 1:43 model. I do have some BBRs and the detail of these cars are awesome but the sparse detailing of this Kawabatakikaku makes it more special. Sometimes less is more. One more thing I love about this model is the weight, for me it seems to weigh as much as a small 1:18 cars with the weight packed in such a small scale. The only plastic component in the construction is the windshield. The rubber too is the other non metal component of the car.

My cyber friends, check out my J-43 Kawabatakikaku Toyota Crown.

Thanks for checking out my blog, I hope you can share my link to your site too.

Comments and feedbacks are always appreciated.

Brian

Vintage Diapet Yonezawa No. 214, Toyota Corolla Sprinter TE-27

2010-08-17T15:34:00.001+08:00

A few days ago, I 've been contemplating on buying a very mint in box early edition old style wheels Diapet Toyota Crown but the price tag was way up to Y14000. I really liked it so after 2 days I went back to the store but unfortunately the car was gone. I knew I should have bought it but I saw on the corner of my eye was a very rare mango Toyota Corolla Sprinter, a cult fave of Toyota fans. My sadness returned back to elation and without batting an eyelash I whipped out my cash and bought it.

My dear cyber friends, meet my Diapet No. 214, Toyota Corolla Sprinter TE-27

Thank you for looking! Comments are always welcome.

Brian Vespa

Hard Chrome by Auto Pilen of Spain

2010-08-05T12:05:00.000+08:00

I haven't posted for a while because I had too much vintage diecast 2 months ago and I kinda need to slow down. I've been hunting for something to catch my fancy but the stuff I see lately is a bit on the ordinary side.

I was looking for some film cameras and later before boarding the subway, i decided to check out some vintage stuff and I saw this set of 3 Auto Pilens for sale. I wanted the chrome Benz the best but it was a set sale so i bit the bullet and brought them home with me.

I've never encountered this brand before and most likely the brand does not exist anymore. I know Guisval was made in Spain and this is a good addition to my made in EU collection.

The Auto Pilens

Corgi Mercedes Benz in 1:43 scale.

2010-07-02T22:30:00.000+08:00

A few weeks ago, I chanced upon this classic Corgi Mercedes Benz and I knew right away this diecast would be a very good addition to my vintage collection. I bought it and sent it home to Manila.

I brought the diecast out so that I can take photos of it with the real Mercedes Benz of a friend.

Here are some pics and thanks for visiting!

Retro Vintage Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste 1800

2010-06-17T21:22:00.000+08:00

I've been on the hunt for this cool diecast for 2 years now and I finally bagged it. This casting is special to me because my father drove a yellow one in the early 80's. I remember how h took good care of that car and he never let any of my brothers to drive it. This was his personal car and the Toyota Crown was the family sedan.

Diapet Yonezawa was one of the very few diecast makers who made a casting of this rare gem. I believe Hachete Fujinghano is gonna release a 1:43 model soon in Japan. What I like about this casting is that it came from the same era as the car, the late 70's.

Enough talk and my dear friends, meet my Mitsubishi Celeste 1800.

Comments are always welcome! Thank you friends from around the world!

My Massive Vintage Diecast Binge

2010-06-07T10:57:00.000+08:00

I am now poor but I am sure this blog will have a lot of subjects to talk about. These vintage items will fly with me tomorrow night to Manila. I may have to walk home from the airport.

I still have to open the boxes and still check what I have, lots of surprises in this magical box that i got in Japan.

Vintage Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 1300 by Century/AMR/Danhausen

2010-05-22T02:02:00.001+08:00

I love collecting Volkswagens but the casting of the VW Beetle is dime a dozen, all diecast manufacturers are sure to have their own rendition of the very lovable VW. I have a good collection of vintage and classic VW Beetles but I have always wanted to get a Karmann Ghia casting. I always try to get the rare items and I try to build my collection little by little by getting only the diecast that I really like. The things I like are the rare, vintage and a bit hard to find. I told myself before that if I concentrate on the vintage ones, i will only buy something like one or two diecast a month because of the rarity and the premium price these diecast commands. I was wrong. Here I am concentrating on vintage items and still buying something like 6 to 8 pieces a month. I do not do ebay and I buy all my toys in Japan. Sometimes the toys in EBAY are cheaper but I still prefer to hold, caress and bring home the item right away. I cannot stand the wait of a package to arrive from another part of the world, the suspense would kill me!

Now, back to my recent treasure find, a very desirable, hard to find CENTURY VOLKSWAGEN KARMANN GHIA 1300. I saw this box in one of my favorite hobby shop in Japan and I was curious on what was inside. I asked the salesperson and he told me that the item is a very heavy 1:43 diecast, the same league as KAWABATAKIKAKU models that I also love. The Century model I got was quite unique, The casting was made in France by AMR Paris and then was shipped to Germany for assembly and detailing. Hand made and hand assembled diecast is very special to me. Most toys are made by machines but this beautifully crafted Karmann Ghia started as a block of metal in Paris and ended up as a beautiful handmade item finished in Germany. This beautiful piece of work ended in Japan and probably stayed in a Japanese home for a while and now, this car is in Manila, where it will stay with me for a long time( or with a very serious VW collector).

Enough with my story, here is the real deal. My CENTURY VOLKSWAGEN KARMANN GHIA 1300 in 43 scale. (PS: the wipers are not yet attached to the model)

Andre-Marie Ruf (AMR) in action

Coming soon in Diecast Japan!

Comments are always welcome! Thank you to all my friends all over the world!

Brian Vespa

Vintage Opel Rekord 1900 Coupe by Dinky Toys

2010-05-13T16:26:00.000+08:00

I've been hunting for some oldschool JDMs but these cars are getting scarce and while looking for them, I saw this very special Dinky toy in very good condition and even the case was in great shape. No cracks, with literature inside and the car is beautiful. I was wondering if this car was released in Manila and a SMS message to Technophobia confirmed that this car was sold in the Philippines. I now remember that our neighbor Mang Juan had this car in rusty orange.

This is a rare diecast in very good condition and this will be flying home with me to Manila in the coming days. I love this casting and I am very glad to have one specimen going to my personal collection.

BTW I also bagged a VW Passat Estate Wagon variant by Schuco and an AE86 by Mtech.

Let's go RETRO!

Thank you for always checking out my site and as always, comments and questions are very very welcome!

Salamat!

Vintage Formula 1 by Eidai Grip, Tyrell Ford 6 Wheeler

2010-05-02T11:50:00.002+08:00

I've been eyeing this rare diecast in mint condition and my search for my very first big scale retro diecast in Formula 1 has finally been found. This example is a big at 1:28 scale and heavy because of the 95 percent metal construction. I found this beautiful Eidai grip in Tokyo and after thinking for 5 minutes, I told the salesperson to bag it! The opportunity to own this beautiful rare diecast may never cross my path again so i decided to bring this specimen home in Manila.

I hope you guys like it! Comments and queries are always welcome!

vintage look

videos

thanks for viewing!

Vintage Corgi Ferraris, Made in Great Britain

2010-04-17T22:28:00.000+08:00

I have always wanted to buy some vintage Ferraris but I seldom see them for sale here in Japan. If ever I get to see them on display, the prices are astronomical and I just look the other way. I have a few Corgis from the 70's and 80's but these Ferrari Corgis are the best in my lot. If I am not mistaken, these were made in the 60's and was still made in Great Britain. I have a modest collections of Ferrari diecast from Bang, Brumm Auto Story, BBR, Make up models, Art models and Redline etc but these Corgis are my new favorite. The real deal vintage diecast from the 60's.

I hope you guys like it the way I adore them. Thanks for checking out my site!

Thanks! Comments are always welcome!

Toyota Automobile Museum, Nagoya , Japan

2010-04-09T16:58:00.002+08:00

I've always been planning to go to the Toyota Automobile Museum but I always end up going to hobby shops. Today I decided to take the MAGLEV train and take the journey to the best retro classic cars ever under one roof, the TAM.

I was expecting the TAM to be full of Land Cruisers, Corollas and everything Toyota but I was wrong, it was full of very rare and very important cars of the world. As my good friend Frank would say, I had a sensory overload of all things retro. This magnificent museum not only houses the most beautiful cars but everything important in the age of the modern machine.

Scooters, toys, pedal cars, cameras, clothing, special cars, and even an iron was there on display. Truly a peculiar mish mash of everything classic is housed under one roof.

If you guys are in Nagoya, Japan the TAM is a must visit.

I'll be sharing some pictures and maybe I can entice you guys to come visit Japan.

Thank you guys for visiting my site! Comments are always welcome!

DIAPET YONEZAWA BMW 3.5 CSL, Made in Japan

2010-04-02T00:33:00.000+08:00

Diapet Yonezawa, one of my favorite brands in 40ish scale finally gave me the break from collecting JDMs. I am always on the lookout for these Euro cars but most of the time I get to buy the usual Diapet Minis or the usual Lambo supercars. It was a welcome change to finally bag this very rare BMW 3.5 CSL in red, complete with a very pristine box and an A1 condition mint specimen.

This casting is very beautiful, well crafted and looks tough. This toy was meant to be played with and good thing one collector saved this rare gem from a kid and kept the car in pristine condition. Thanks to collectors like us, we safe keep the cool diecast of today and yesterday for the future collectors in the future.

These toys keep us young, at least young at heart.

Collecting these rare beautiful toys gives me joy, a special kind of high only a fellow collector would understand. More to come soon.

Mercedes Benz 300SE by Revell

2010-03-24T13:07:00.002+08:00

I got this cool 1:18 Revell from JDMike for a song and for that price, I can do anything on this cool ride and not feel guilty about it. I have two sets of GMP mag wheels for 1:18s and I've been itching to install these shoes on my 18 scale cars. The Ford Escort MK1 was a candidate since I have 5 Minichamps version but the wheels ain't a match, too big. When this Merc arrived with tiny wheels and puny tires, I knew right away this was a good chance for a wheel swap.

I was just experimenting and I am not really expecting something nice to come out of it but honestly, I kinda liked the result, a FINTAIL BLING of sort, a look more appropriate for an Impala than a Merc.

I know this ain't everybody's cup of tea but this my friend is my cup.

James Bond Aston Martin DB5 by Husky of Great Britain

2010-03-18T01:27:00.002+08:00

I am always on the lookout for a cool vintage die-cast. I seldom buy die-cast toys in Manila because the stuff I want are not available locally.

I always scour the vintage stores in Japan and hope to find some treasures. It might seem crazy but I always open the drawers of old cabinets in re-use stores in Tokyo and hoping to bag some die-cast. I've been lucky twice with those magical drawers and the owners usually give it for a song.

This beautiful and very rare Aston Martin DB5 by HUSKY was sourced locally in Manila. I've been on the lookout for this item but I know that this item would be very hard to find. I do check EBAY once in a while and I get astounded every time I see this price on this Aston Martin. A whooping $300! I know this might be a rip off but getting this for a mere $5 for a loose and near mint condition will do. I even got a gift from JDMike, an Aston Martin by Corgi.

Looks like Manila is gonna be hot for some vintage hunting. It's open season now!

Call the Police!!!!

2010-03-04T16:06:00.002+08:00

I am here in Japan on a trip and my wife asked me to look for a nice LV Papillon bag size 26 and being the good husband, i went out to seek that bag. However, disaster struck because it rained a little bit and i took refuge in a small shop and UNKNOWINGLY it was a vintage die-cast shop. I just perused at some toys and after 2 hours of hard rain( of course I have to stay indoors) I decided to buy a few toys for their kindness in letting me in their store for 2 hours.

I bought a few die-cast and unfortunately I never found the big LV flagship store in Sakae, Nagoya. I got lost and never found my my way to the bag store......
.
Will she believe me? hahahahhahaha! I better cross my fingers starting today.

Anyway here are some of the mint vintage stuff I got for my myself. A big 1:28 Eidai Grip Porsche 930, a big Diapet 240Z, a Yonezawa Hi=Ace, a Dandy Hi-Ace, 2 Yonezawa Toyota Crowns, 2 Yonezawa Fairlady 240zand a lonely Mazda Police.

I love Japan Made die-cast!

Porsche 930 in 28 scale by EIDAI GRIP

Comments and questions are always welcome!

Thanks for visiting.

Brian

Eidai Grip Toyota Celica LB 2000GT

2010-02-23T14:30:00.000+08:00

I bought this 1:28 scale die-cast together with 12 other items last month. I have some free time so I lazily took some quick snapshots of my current fave model of the moment.

This Celica is getting rare in this condition, almost mint and complete with box with minor weathering. I love hunting for these oldies and it delights me every time I get to purchase one. I actually purchased a few (seven Eidai Grips) and I'll be featuring them from time to time.

Holding these vintage items warms my heart, a tingle of happiness only a fellow die-cast collector can understand. I enjoy looking and holding this particular die-cast because of its heft and size. Just right.

I hope you guys like it, JDM rules!

Comments and questions are always welcome. Thanks for visiting!

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTi BY DIAPET YONEZAWA big and heavy 1:28 scale

2010-02-16T23:51:00.001+08:00

I am finally back in Japan after a 20 day mini vacation in the US and in Manila. February has been a very busy month for me because of my daughter's 5th bday celebration, our 7th year wedding anniversary, a week in the US and constant events and happenings in the month of LOVE :)

First thing i did back here in Japan was sleep. I missed my bed here in my hotel and and kinda liked the solitude after 3 weeks of rumble and tumble in MNL. After a 4 hour nap, I took my winter gear and headed straight to the vintage toy store. I was keen on buying the Lambo Countach Eidai Grip but the color was yellow....and here I am buying a yellow Volswagen.

I saw this rare Volkswagen Golf and I immediately fell in love with it, i have a lot of Tomica Dandy VWs but I never had a chance to see a vintage Japan made VW Golf! I remembered Komenda when I saw this cool VW.

I brought my point and shoot cam and here are some pics i took in the bathroom :)

I hope you guys like it!

I also bought a Tomica Landcruiser and if you guys are interested, send me a holler :) I got this for Y8,000.

Thank you for visiting! as always, comments and inquiries are always welcome.

Brian

My only Hotwheels car and it is definitely the hottest of all my diecast.

2010-02-07T04:37:00.002+08:00

Saipan Girl and Brian Vespa :)

yes my friends, the guy in the white shirt is me. I hope my missus won't see this post or I am gonna be in trouble hahahahahahah!

Looks like PHOTOGRAPHY is gonna be more fun :)

Comments are always welcome.

Thank you guys for always visiting my small site, more stories later!

Breaking the piggy bank hauls from Japan

2010-01-19T23:55:00.000+08:00

I've been very busy lately with my new hobby (photography) and all my funds are being channeled in buying new lenses, equipment and books to enhance my little knowledge in the field of photography.

I am currently in Nagoya, Japan and I visited the camera shops here and after shopping for some stuff, i decided to visit my fave vintage shop. I was not really impressed lately with the stocks they have but today was different. They pulled out a box full of vintage items and I chose the best of the lot. There went my budget for a Manfrotto tripod. ouch...

Here are some pics and i hope you guys enjoy it as much as I love these finds!

Enjoy! comments and questions are very much welcome

loose, abused and some cute stuff.

2010-01-05T22:09:00.002+08:00

These are some of the stuff i bought last December and I took some quickie pictures to share with you guys!

I am a Tomica collector and these are some of the loose stuff I acquired a few weeks ago. More detailed stories soon.

Happy New Year!

Ferrari by BBR, Handcrafted in Italy.

2009-12-21T16:13:00.002+08:00

I have always been fascinated by items which are rare and HTF. BBR is one marque brand which I am very proud to own. This is one of my few post on which I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Thanks for looking!

Vintage Asahi Volkswagen Beetle in 1:43 scale, Made in Japan

2009-12-11T22:04:00.002+08:00

A week ago I went diecast shopping and this very hot ASAHI VW 1302 Beetle was part of my haul in Japan. The car is very mint, the box is superb and I was the first one who opened the package after many years of just staying inside the box. This tiny 1:43 scale car is detailed with opening doors, boot and lid. My fave part of this diecast are the wheels because the tires are emblazoned with the BRIDGESTONE logo. Not painted but actually embossed on the tires itself.

Everybody loves a Beetle and I know you guys would appreciate this little bug.

Pics taken again in Tokyo.

Diapet Yonezawa Lamborghini Miura, Made in Japan

2009-12-02T19:34:00.001+08:00

Lamborghini, one of the most iconic car makers in the world and the Lamborghini Miura was one of the most beautiful cars ever created.

I 've been collecting made in Japan diecast and having an Italian beauty in my stable is a collectors dream. Diapet Yonezawa is known for making toys of Japanese cars and the Lamborghini is one of the few foreign cars that they made.

I took these pictures in the garden of Radisson Hotel. The pictures are not as bright as i wanna be because the sun was hiding in the winter clouds. I have a total of 4 Diapet Yonezawa Lamborghini and soon I will feature them all together.

Thank you friends for visiting my site!

Comments are appreciated :)

Custom made BATTLE DAMAGED MEGATRON!

2009-11-28T16:04:00.001+08:00

A year ago, i was into a custom diecast and custom toy mode. I always try to different and I want my collection to very unique that is why I commissioned the custom building of my ULTIMATE MEGATRON. This build took a lot of man hours because of the complexity of the details. I visited my modeler every few days to check on my DECEPTICON and I was very satisfied when I finally got it.

This used to be an ordinary plasticky TFTM Megatron and look at it now :)

My friends, meet my custom made battle damaged Decepticon, MEGATRON!

Custom made BATTLE DAMAGED HUMVEE

2009-11-16T14:26:00.001+08:00

A year ago my daughter rode this 1:18 Hummer and eventually destroyed it. I almost threw it out in the trash bin but I decided to have my buddy modify it. I wanted a battle damage HUMVEE and i gave him instructions on what i wanted to come out and here it is!

My one of a kind 1:18 BATTLE DAMAGED HUMVEE.

Volkswagen Camper Van Crisis! Vintage tin toy Made in Japan

2009-11-06T00:50:00.004+08:00

I saw the TV show Camper Van Crisis on Turbo Channel and this made in Japan tin toy reminded me of the show. All the wheels were damage and I just replaced this one temporarily while I look for a replacement wheel set. I dismantled the van a week ago and cleaned it inside out. I sprayed the insides with a flat black paint to avoid more rust to form from the inside. I also cleaned and re sprayed the chassis with flat black after removing all the surface rust. I also waxed this thoroughly to preserve the remaining paint on the body.

Some toys look better unrestored and for me this is a beautiful example of a weathered VW Van.

Thank you FRANK aka technophobia for this wonderful gift (he also gave me 8 other 40 year old tin toys which are very very mint and all are made in Japan)

Shot with Nikon D90

Diapet Mini Cooper and a Rover Mini Cooper, 1:35 scale, Made in Japan

2009-10-26T23:15:00.003+08:00

For the past few months, I've been going around all the camera shops in Manila and Japan, checking out the latest reviews on what camera to buy, checking out the pros and cons of each brand and I finally decided on one brand. A Nikon. Then the myriad of models to choose from and after perusing all the details that can match my very limited knowledge on self taught photography, I finally bought a Nikon D90 kit with a 105mm lens. I already sold my trusty old camera and now I miss it, macro photography with my point and shoot was perfect and with the zoom lens I cant do it. This month the first order on my to do list is buy a macro lens for my diecast photo session, a Crumpler bag and enroll in a photography class in the Metro.

I brought these cool Diapets here in Japan for a nice outdoor shoot but i was greeted with a rain. The whole day was windy so I just stayed in bed the whole day while waiting for the weather to calm down. It did not relent. I hope you guys can forgive my indoor shoot and as soon as the weather clears, a re shoot is in the order.

Thanks for always visiting my site and i hope you tell your friends about my tiny site on the web.

Brian Vespa

Mercedes Benz By Ichiko, Made in Japan.

2009-10-15T15:39:00.001+08:00

I promised Biggie that I am gonna post a Mercedes benz for him. This is a very rare and mint Ichiko tin toy from Japan. This specimen is approximately 1:16 or bigger but maybe my good friend Technophobia can help me with establishing the scale. I purchased this cool ride yesterday here in Narita, Japan and later tonight it will be flying with me all the way to Manila.

I waited for a sunny afternoon to stage the photo shoot and good thing the sun was shining here in Japan. I was actually eyeing a Diapet model from the 60s but with a staggering price of Yen 26,000 ($240) I have to say no even though the very RARE Diapet Nissan was mouth watering.

This post is dedicated to Biggie and Technophobia, Mercedes enthusiast.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of my point and shoot. i hope to upgrade soon to a DSLR Nikon for better blogging pictures.

Thanks for visiting and as always, comments are highly appreciated.

Kawabatakikaku J-43, Toyota Crown 1974, Made in Japan

2009-10-07T01:10:00.005+08:00

This is one of my latest Kawabatakikaku in very beautiful deep shine black. Still the same heavyweight 1:43 die-cast. I bought this car a month ago and I brought this car to Japan twice for a nice photoshoot but for some reason, the rains won't go away. TSA (xray airport guys) has been unkind to this die-cast because everytime my bag passes through the X-ray machine, my bags need a special screening due to the very solid metal mass in my bag. They find it amusing when they find out that it is a "toy". I just ask them to be very careful when handling my J-43 and they just stare at me like saying "it's just a toy". The guys think am nuts but hey, this baby is getting hard to find.

Here are some pics I took a few hours ago before I leave for Tokyo again later at 8 am. More hauls later.

Thanks for visiting! comments are well appreciated.

Volkwagen Beetle with trailer by Midgetoy, Made in USA

2009-09-30T13:43:00.007+08:00

I just got back in Manila last September 28, 2009 from a week of cultural discovery and I am excited to post some cool stuff I got in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most of my friends are out shopping for GAP, Banana Republic, Walmart and touring the huge open air GATEWAY MALL. I did the opposite. I went out shopping for some antiques, hunted some cool vintage toys and went in a very hip bookshops and retro vintage die cast store.

I have discovered the mecca of antique vintage die cast cars and it was in Salt lake City, Utah. The very cool Jitterbug Antiques of Dee and Tami Jackman.

I just have to post some of the rare finds I got and here they are. I'll titrate the postings and I'll start with this rare VW beetle with trailer by MIDGE TOYS of ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

Here are the pictures!

Ransom

2009-09-19T15:58:00.006+08:00

Yonezawa Cherica Toyota Crown

Tomica Dandy VW with FIAT grill and a Mini Cooper Dandy

Mint in box MATCHBOX LESNEYS

Rare mint in box Toyota Dandys

Tomica Dandy Toyota Crown 1971

Tomica Dandy Toyota Crown 1974

Tomica Dandy Toyota Celica 1600 GT

I arrived back here in Japan yesterday and was kinda sad because I cannot attend the Die Cast Collectors of Philippines Swap meet this coming Sept 20th. I always miss it but I always make sure to make up for the loss.

Do you think these buys made up for the loss for not being able to go to the swapmeet?

I think these buys made up for lost time. Damn! I love Japan!!!!

These cars cost me a small fortune but worth it.

Enjoy! better pics soon.

Beauty and Madness

2009-09-11T14:51:00.004+08:00

I always have a camera in my bag. It has been my faithful companion for the past year. I brought my Tomica Dandy Beetle( Made in Japan of course) for this trip and the results were amazing. I was with the right die cast at the right time. I've been wanting to stage a unique photo shoot for some of my die cast and this was a great opportunity when I saw hordes of huge insects in the forest of Narita, Japan. These bugs are huge and I just stuck the Dandy there, shoot some quick photos and ran afterwards.

I hope you guys like the pics! The things i do for die cast..... :) Enjoy!

Brian Vespa

Rare 1:43 WHITE METALS and my latest August 09 hauls

2009-09-02T21:14:00.006+08:00

August has been a good month for me, I was with my family in Tokyo for 4 days and after a week, I was able to acquire a few more cool MADE IN JAPAN diecast toys.

I am now bitten by the WHITE METAL/ANTIMONY bug. I can't help but hunt for these rare 1:43s. These die cast models are very simple in terms of detail but touching them, caressing them, gazing at them is a totally different experience. The weight is totally different than the usual 1:43 because everything is made out of heavy and thick gauge metal. The chassis, interior and everything else is made out of metal except for the wheels and the simple windshield. The boxes are very crude and simple, the models wrapped in oldschool foam and rubber band. Nothing fancy but they are brimming with character.

I believe no two models are exactly alike because these models are made by hand. Not the usual mass produced perfect models available everywhere.

Like I always say, these models are beautifully imperfect and I love it!

PS: The boxed items are some of my ANTIMONY MODELS and the other pics are my current MADE IN JAPAN hauls.

Volkwagen Beetle Radicon , Made in Japan

2009-08-26T12:51:00.004+08:00

an actual RADICON VW BUG in YOUTUBE

Early this year on a snowy morning of January 2009, I chanced upon this very old RC made by Radicon in an old antique shop in Nagoya. I was very skeptical if I should buy it since this is an RC and not a diecast. It was so dirty and the dust was quite thick when i bought it. The only consolation was that the styro packaging was still intact and so was the controller. When i got it home in Manila, my wife commented that once again I brought home another trash from abroad. However as usual she recanted her comment when she saw the item after I detailed it and cleaned it from top to bottom. It was a diamond in the rough.

My friends, meet my 1:18 RC VW Beetle Radicon, Made in Japan.

Panning with my point and shoot camera

2009-08-19T21:29:00.008+08:00

A few months ago I tried to do some panning with my point and shoot camera, not a DSLR. I was happy with the outcome and here are the results. The Ferraris are all Kyosho 1:18s and the Ford Escorts are Minichamps 1:18s.

I hope you guys like it! No photoshop was used in the shoot.

Thanks!

VESPA and family touring Japan!

2009-08-16T22:51:00.003+08:00

I haven't updated my blog yet because I am a bit busy lately. I am still here in Tokyo and I brought my family for a 4 day visit here. I have a 4 day trip in tokyo and I decided to bring my girls with me since my trip is not really a busy one.

Any new rare model cars? of course! When we went to Disneyland, that triggered a detour to some fancy vintage diecast store and I bagged a very rare 1:28 Eidai Grip Mitsubishi Galant Lambda 2 door version. The car is mint in near mint box. One Kawabatakikaku and an Iado Nissan. Both are 1:43 in the very beautiful white metal.

Pictures of the car in a while and i'll just post my vacation with my family first. Work with a mini vacation and my girls flying with me completed this memorable trip. Tomorrow night we fly home to Manila.

This are some pictures I took this noon with my girls.

Enjoy!

1935 Model Datsun, Made in Japan

2009-08-11T17:51:00.005+08:00

A few days ago, I saw this beautifully crafted 1:43 Datsun in an online diecast forum in MNL and I immediately bought it. I've seen this item before in Nagoya and I knew this was an important model. The seller only showed the picture and no description whatsoever. I got this rare Japan made Datsun diecast for a song.

These are the actual pictures I took this noon with the rest of my recent unique buys. I got quite a few hauls the past few day and I promise you August will be exciting for our blog.

Thanks for visiting my dear friends! I hope you can bookmark our site and I really enjoy reading your comments.

Why Vespa?

2009-08-10T14:28:00.004+08:00

My handle name has always been Vespa because these scoots are my other passion. The Moss Green with mod look and mirrors is mine, so is the Blue green Vespa with the Union Jack. The Lone Italjet Dragster with Lambo Orange is my garage queen.

These are my rides. 1:1 Italian beauties

More diecast stories in the coming days, this is just my way of introducing myself.

Thanks for viewing!

TOMICA DANDY MINI COOPER, Made in Japan

2009-08-07T15:47:00.005+08:00

Tomica Dandy, Mini Cooper.

I'd love to tell you more about this beautiful casting but I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Photos taken in Hyatt Saipan, August 7, 2009.

I hope you guys like this one and I'd love to hear your comments!

1962 TOYOPET MASTERLINE KAWABATAKIKAKU, Made in Japan

2009-08-01T14:55:00.008+08:00

A few days ago in Manila, I showed this very beautiful made in Japan Toyopet Masterline in 1:43 to Manila's resident diecast expert, Atty. Frank Kho. He got wowed by the craftsmanship of this particular model and he also hinted that the model might be a WHITE METAL model. Upon further inspection, he noticed that everything was made out of metal including the seats and interior.

I love this model so much and I have to bring this car back to Japan, where it was made and stage a photoshoot in Narita. This is the story of the heavyweight Toyopet Masterline of KAWABATAKIKAKU.

Guam,Tokyo,Saipan,Atlanta,Nagoya,Manila,Osaka,Minneapolis,Saigon,Narita,

2009-07-30T20:45:00.003+08:00

These lucky cars have travelled all around the world!

updated version, SKYLINES!

2009-07-30T02:27:00.002+08:00

I decided to add more pics to the slideshow, hope u guys like it!

My Nissan Skylines

2009-07-29T14:23:00.003+08:00

I hope you guys like this!

Kawabatakikaku and Diapet Yonezawa and a GAMA Merc

2009-07-27T15:24:00.004+08:00

This is the end of my 5 day trip around Asia and CNMI islands and before I fly home tonight, I decided to get the vintage toys I saw in Nagoya 4 days ago. I bought the Kawabatakikaku Toyopet Masterline( handcrafted ANTIMONY diecast, made in Japan) and a Diapet Yonezawa Japan 240Z in an unusual 1:30 scale.

My car will be whisking me to the airport in 45 mins so further stories regarding these cars will be on a new post in the coming days.

However these are hasty pics i took and I hope you guys like it!

Lamborghini Countach LP500 by Diapet Yonezawa Japan

2009-07-24T14:58:00.001+08:00

Ah, the confusion i get every time I get to work. For the past few days all along my mind was prepared that I was going to SAIGON and when I checked my schedule, I was going to GUAM! Sometimes I just know what time to wake up and I forget where I am. All hotel rooms look the same to me. a

The good thing about this trip is that I was able to swing by Nagoya and that is where all the vintage die-casts are, few stops away from Kanayama and off to the hobby shops. I was able to bag some wallet devastating vintage models but the joy owning them gives me great pleasure.

From Nagoya to Guam to this blog, I present to you my Lamborghini Countach LP500 by Diapet Yonezawa. This iconic model has been to all the bedrooms of little boys in the 80's adorning their tiny rooms with the poster of this very exotic Lamborghini Countach. This model stood the test of time and still regarded as one of the greatest super cars of all time.

For vintage collector like me, Diapet has captured the beauty of this car in die cast form. What can I ask for? an Italian Super car, made in Japan and posing sexy in Guam Tamuning beach.

I hope you guys enjoy the pictures!

The joy of hunting for vintage diecast in Nagoya

2009-07-23T19:20:00.000+08:00

I am always excited everytime I fly to Nagoya, the city is vibrant, the people are nice and there are a lot of nice places to go to. The most important for me are the hobby shops that cater to collectors who love vintage and Made in Japan diecast like me. This morning, I was supposed to go to Narita but I ended up here in the beautiful city of Nagoya, my favorite city in Japan.

These are the items I bought these noon and these items are gonna be discussed in detail in the coming days. The Diapets are special editions. The 25th Anniversary Ferrari Diapet really made me lust for an oldschool diecast. It is beautifully imperfect and I love it. The one on the white box is a Dandy Skyline.

A few Tomicas too and a Mr. Bean Cooper.

Detailed stories in the coming days :)

Thanks for visiting!

Diecast I bought today, a cool mint Japan made Mini Cooper

2009-07-21T14:36:00.000+08:00

I went to my favourite hobby shop and I bought this hot Japan made Mini Cooper with the Union Jack roof tampo. I have this Cooper but not as mint as this one. JDMike made a custom Tomica Mini Cooper for me and soon i'll post it here.

I also bought 2 Tomica Filmores which was released here in Japan a few days ago and will send to to H aka martin of DCPH.

The TLV box is a special edition of TLV Tomica.

I'll be flying home tonight and these will be in MNL soon.

Made in Japan and repaired in Manila

2009-07-20T22:58:00.000+08:00

Last June 2009, I was able to chance upon an old building in Nagoya in Osu Kannon area wherein 4 old men were carting out some old stuff. Everything that came out of that building was for sale. If you like antiques this is like heaven and it really was. The gentlemen were rounding up some stuff and I saw this Ford Capri tin toy. I asked how much and the old man said Y100. I gave him a tiny coin and away i went. The paint is in good condition however the car looked like Godzilla had trampled over this poor car. Most people would say this is trash but for me It was more of a challenge( not trash but trashed!). As soon as i got home in Manila, I dismantled it and tried my best with a rubber mallet to straighten it. The scale is somewhat 1:12 and these rare toys are HTF now without rust. My specimen may not have value in terms of collectibility since this one was bent out of shape but me fixing it made it priceless.

Thank you for visiting DIECAST JAPAN!

Martin Luther King and my travel buddy

2009-07-19T15:50:00.000+08:00

I was in Atlanta a week ago and that was Martin Luther Kings hometown. I was fortunate enough that his personal effects are on display and I photographed it together with my traveling diecast.

some pics

Tomica Dandy Volkswagen Delivery Van in 1:43, made in Japan

2009-07-16T16:51:00.000+08:00

Ah...my favourite diecast , Tomica Dandy VW Delivery Van in 1:43. I got this model a year ago and I bagged this item locally. A fellow classic car collector SYSTEMS offered this for $US8 ( P400) at that time). Some people will never pay a dollar for a beat up old diecast but I sure would. This Tomica Dandy is very hard to find even in Japan and even if you find one, cost would be close to $US90 to S100 in mint condition, pristine box. I am still on the lookout for a mint in box VW Delivery Van and if I find one, i would surely buy it and just look away when they swipe my credit card.

Some pics

Tomica Formula 1 and Formula 2 open wheel racers

2009-07-16T02:30:00.000+08:00

I've been buying Tomica F1s if ever I see one and lately I was able to bag a few at the same time. I just wanna share some of my Made in Japan Tomica open wheel race cars. These items are getting harder to source and I am just glad I have a few. They are all in Manila now, most of them I bought in Japan and some other asian countries. Mint made in Japan Tomicas make my heart beat a little faster.

I hope you guys like it!

Sakura VW Beetle, Made in Japan

2009-07-12T19:20:00.000+08:00

Ah, the VW Beetle, the most collected die cast car in the world. Almost all the toy and die cast manufacturer has it and this one of the most recognizable vehicle in the world. Even women and kids know what the VW Beetle is.

I bought this car in Japan about a year ago. My intention for this very rare 1 :43 SAKURA die cast was to travel with me but unfortunately the car is a bit too bulky for my travels. I have nice pics of this car with me and we have been to Saipan, Guam, Tokyo and lots of asian cities.

The pictures :)

Customized Tomica TLV Toyota Corolla

2009-07-07T22:17:00.000+08:00

A few months back, i was contemplating on modifying a Tomica TLV. Most Tomica collectors cringe at the thought of taking apart a Tomica TLV because of its high value and limited availability. I have a few examples of this TLV and decided to go ahead and give it a try. I took the wheels of a RealX and swapped it with my TLV Corolla and this is the result. I hope you guys like it as much as I enjoyed modifying it.

More surprises soon!

Diapet Yonezawa Mitsubishi Galant Sigma

2009-07-07T00:06:00.000+08:00

I bought this rare Diapet Yonezawa Mitsubishi Galant Sigma a few weeks ago in Narita and I was so ecstatic to have finally bagged this cool JDM model. This was one of the few times I've seen this casting and i finally decided to purchase it. I hesitated a few years back into buying this model and when I decided to get it, it was gone the next day. The second time I saw the same model in a different hobby shop, in gave in and purchased it. I was so glad that I finally bagged this rare model. The old MADE IN JAPAN Diapets does not have the styrofoam to hold the models but a roll of ordinary foam to protect the model. This car came with the original packaging and the original foam. The model has minor paint chips but is negligible for its age. this one is truly a classic original JDM diecast.

Tomica Lancer EX 2000 Turbo

2009-07-06T22:39:00.000+08:00

Tomica, my favourite 1:64 diecast brand. I have been collecting Tomicas and they are my primary objective when hunting diecast around Japan. This particular model is the Tomica Event Model. I just removed the flat black paint on the hood with a nail polish remover, swapped the wheels taken from a Kyosho Skyline R32 ( poor kyosho). I enjoy modifying Tomicas especially the TLVs and the Tomica FJ Land Cruiser.

Here are the pictures and i hope you guys like it!

Tomica Dandy Volkswagen Beetle

2009-07-06T01:24:00.000+08:00

I bought this HTF Tomica Dandy Beetle a few months back and is one of my best vintage item. What I like about this particular casting are the eyelashes on the headlight, kinda reminds me of my daughter's eyes. This Tomica Dandy is mint in box. I have 4 other Tomica VW Beetles and soon I'll share them with you. Here are the pictures.

I hope you guys like it! I love made in Japan diecast models!

Nissan Skyline by Diapet

2009-07-05T03:10:00.000+08:00

This is one of the die-cast i bought a few days ago in Nagoya, Japan. This Yonezawa Diapet Nissan Skyline was sourced in a flea market that opens only during a certain Sunday of the month. Diapet Yonezawa toys are getting hard to source nowadays especially those that are made in Japan.

This model is a special edition and from the looks of it, it could be a TV or a movie car as evidenced in the box.

More Yonezawa Diapets to come in the coming days! Thanks!

My Nissan Skylines

Travel Die-cast

2009-07-05T02:54:00.000+08:00

Atlanta , Georgia!

This ordinary Hotwheels has been travelling with me around the world, here are some of the places it has been.

Minneapolis

Tokyo, Narita

Saipan!

somewhere over Russia and Canada

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in the War Museum

more adventures to come!

Tomica Auto Club Nissan Skyline Special Edition

2009-07-05T02:08:00.001+08:00

A few days ago I flew to Nagoya and as soon as i settled in my hotel, I immediately hit the streets and started my die-cast hunt. Lately I've been drawn into collecting vintage and neo classic models. This is one of the items I bought, a rarely seen Tomica Auto Club Nissan Skyline made out of ANTIMONY. This die-cast is very heavy as compared to other 1:50 scale models. This item is handbuilt and is one of the very few made outside Japan in 1990. Most Tomicas are made in Japan during that time and shifted the production in China. This particular model is handbuilt in TAIWAN. I have never encountered yet any other Tomicas made in Taiwan and this could be one of the few.

My favourite model of the moment, the Tomica Auto Club Nissan Skyline Special Edition