Just in time for Christmas, Mike Pigott presents a diecast model based on a real promotional vehicle used by a famous Christmas decoration shop in Germany.
Occasionally it’s possible to find unique diecast models in unusual places, and one of these would have to be a miniature bus in a German shop that specialises in Christmas ornaments.
Creepsters by Johnny Lightning
Halloween is coming, so get ready to quake in your boots… as Mike Pigott introduces us to the Creepsters, a monster-themed range of vehicles from the makers of Johnny Lightning. 
In a secret laboratory in Transylvania, the evil Doctor Creep performed a series of bizarre experiments on monsters, transforming them into mutated half-creatures, half-vehicles called the Creepsters…
…or so we were told on the packaging of this range of diecast vehicles made by Playing Mantis in 2004. Creepsters were a series of monster-themed vehicles that were probably influenced by earlier ranges such as Hot Wheels’ Zowees and Speed Demons. Like these ranges, Creepsters had diecast bases with a plastic, monster shaped ‘body’ attached. The top was made of hard, solid plastic with hand-painted details. The packaging claims that they ‘glow in the dark’; although the models are not made from luminous plastic, some luminous paint has been applied and certain parts glow, mainly the teeth and eyes. Continue reading “Creepsters by Johnny Lightning”
JAWS by Tomica
Mike Pigott looks at an exclusive Tomica model based on the blockbuster film Jaws, about a man-eating shark terrorising a coastal town.
Recently, Japanese company Tomica issued a model truck that was inspired by the 1975 film Jaws. Although this sounds a rather strange choice of subject matter, it was actually an exclusive model for the Universal Studios theme park in Osaka which featured a Jaws-themed attraction.
Dennis the Menace by Ertl
Mike Pigott looks at a pair of models based on the classic British comic book characters Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.
One of the most popular British comic book characters is the mischievous boy Dennis the Menace, and his canine companion Gnasher. In 1990, Dennis and Gnasher gained themselves a pair of diecast vehicles, although – surprisingly – these were produced by American company Ertl.
ZERO-X by Aoshima
Mike Pigott looks at another one Gerry Anderson’s TV-21 models… a spectacular model of the interplanetary spacecraft seen in the feature film Thunderbirds Are Go!, produced by Aoshima of Japan.
The 1966 film Thunderbirds Are Go was a feature-length spin-off from the popular TV series Thunderbirds. However, the real star of the movie was not one of the Tracy brothers or a Thunderbird craft, but an interplanetary spaceship with the code-name Zero-X.
Many years later, in 2006, Japanese hobby company Aoshima released an incredible diecast model of Zero-X that could perform most of the functions of the ‘real’ craft!
Thunderbirds by Corgi
Mike Pigott looks at Corgi’s models from 2003 and 2016 that were based on Gerry Anderson’s classic Thunderbirds series.
During the 1960s, Corgi Toys was the leader in TV-related diecast vehicles. In 1965 Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds was the top-rating children’s TV show, and Corgi was so confident of obtaining the franchise that a working prototype of FAB-1 was developed even before a contract was signed. In a surprise move, the Thunderbirds franchise was awarded to rival Dinky Toys of Liverpool, a company that had no history of licensed products. It wasn’t until 2003 when Corgi finally acquired the Thunderbirds license, with two models produced that year and a further two after quite a long gap, in 2016.
Matchbox Matchcaps
Mike Pigott looks at this colourful 1990s range of diecast cars from Matchbox which included a number of collectible ‘POG’ discs in each pack.
During the 1990s, one of the big collecting crazes was POGs, collectible discs that could be swapped or played with competitively. To capitalise on this massive craze, Matchbox produced a line of miniature cars in vivid colours which included four discs in every pack.
Hot Wheels Convertables
Mike Pigott looks at this range of Hot Wheels vehicles from 1991 that featured colour-changing and shape-changing bodies.
In 1988, Hot Wheels introduced a range of model cars with colour-changing paint, which turned a different shade when exposed to heat, returning to the original colour when cooled. These proved popular at the time, having been sold under various brand names including Color Racers, Automagic, Color FX, Colour Turbo and Color Shifters – these are still available today. Also produced in the 1980s was a range called Crack-Ups, which were cars with rotating panels that simulated collision damage. In 1991 Hot Wheels combined the novelty features of these two lines, and came up with the Convertables, which changed both shape and colour when exposed to heat and cold.
Siku Ships
Mike Pigott looks at the semi-waterline ship models in 1/1400 scale made by Siku of Germany.
In 2013, the long-established German company Siku introduced a range of cruise liners to its popular diecast line. These model ships were somewhat unorthodox, being of a semi-waterline design and made to the unusual scale of 1/1400, but were interesting replicas of modern liners not previously modelled.
Johnny Lightning Hot Rods
Mike Pigott looks at this range from 1997 that was based on real American street rods.
When the Playing Mantis toy company revived the Johnny Lightning marque, dormant since 1972, the first models made were reproductions of those from the 1960s, called the Johnny Lightning Commemorative Series. However, soon a range of new castings were introduced, including classic muscle cars and American dragsters. One of these early ranges was a set of ten street rods which was first released in 1997. Unlike Matchbox and Hot Wheels, which produced mainly fantasy hot rods, the Johnny Lightning Hot Rods were all based on real cars that were well-known on the American street-rod scene and had won awards in custom car shows. Some were quite famous cars built by big-name customizers. The vehicles modelled ranged from the 1920s through to the mid-’80s.
Mike Pigott's Diecast Toys & Models 