White Booth Wednesday #90

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: '67 Custom Mustang

Series: 2016 Hot Wheels Garage (Walmart set)

Boulevard rating: 9

How I feel about this release: Sadly, I don't have that many releases of this casting in my collection. I really wish my younger self would have gotten more. Anyway, among the releases that I have, this one is my favorite. I mean... who wouldn't like a dark blue fastback Mustang with a nice white stripe design. I know it all comes down to personal preference, but you have to admit that this is a pretty nice release. I, for one, would definitely spend all day cruising around in a '67 Mustang that looked like this, which is why I gave it a nine. 

So collectors, what would be your rating for this release? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. As always, happy diecast collecting.

My Other Hot Wheels Boulevard Releases

Hello, and welcome to today's post. Last month, I published a post where I talked about how I was able to finally get all five vehicles from a Boulevard assortment. Well... those are actually not the only ones in my collection. When I do happen to find Boulevard releases on the pegs, it's usually just the remnants. They might be the ones that were left, but one things for sure, they are all welcomed additions to my collection. I just haven't said anything about them since Boulevard isn't really a priority for me. I mean... premium releases are hard enough to get as it is, and it's nearly impossible to find Boulevard assortments.

Now then, today's post isn't going to be a review. Instead, it's going to be another one my post where I mostly let the pictures do the talking. I will still briefly talk about a few of them, but there's really no need to do an in-depth review of these. So with that said, you can begin scrolling now.

The 1991 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is definitely one of the ones that kept getting left, and I'm glad. Since Hot Wheels is able to legally make Mercedes-Benz models again, I've been trying to collect all of the releases. After all, you never know when they'll loose the license again. Now, I do have the first one, but this one is cool because it features a plastic hardtop.

The '69 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, is one Boulevard release that I was very happy to find. I don't say it as much as I used to, but I love the timeless look of these particular classics. That's why I ended up getting two of them. I mean... why not have multiples of this beautiful classic. Furthermore, this could ultimately end up being the only one that's plain.  

I was actually quite shocked when I walked up to the pegs and found the Nismo themed Nissan Skyline GT-R (BCNR33). This was the main one I wanted from the assortment it was apart of. Since I already had the Nismo R34, I figured that I'd need to have this one to go with it. Now all we need is a Nismo themed R32. And it'd be great if we could get an actual Nismo themed Team Transport Hauler too.

The Nissan Skyline C210 is up next. Before this release, I couldn't wait to see what the next one looked like. I was actually quite disappointed when I found out it was going to be apart of a Boulevard assortment. Thankfully, I don't have to try and get it off of the secondary. I really like how simple this release is. Personally, it's better than the Fast Rewind release. Some of you might not have an issue with that one, but I feel this isn't the right car for the design that's featured on it. 

One of the ones that kept getting left from the initial mix, was the Twin Mill. This is actually my favorite release of this casting. I do have a few other releases of it, and they look just fine. However, this release is the only one in my collection that's plain. It's also my only premium version of it. Besides the exterior color, I just can't get over how nice it looks with the LW5 wheels.

Up next, is the mighty Bone Shaker. YES! All I can say is YES! I love hot rods, and this release of the Bone Shaker is perfect. I think you can tell how happy I was when I saw how this was one of the other ones from the initial mix that kept getting left. A matte black exterior with flames, is one combination that will always work for a hot rod. And the Torq Thrust styled RR5SPs will always be the cherry on top. 

Okay, that's all of my other Boulevard releases. To some, these aren't the "cream of the crop," but they are for me. 

So, were you able to get any of the Boulevard releases you wanted? Feel free to let me know down in the comments section. Well... that's all for today. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting.

Today On The Boulevard: 2021 Matchbox Mix 3 - Found Two More

Alright everyone, welcome to another edition of Today On The Boulevard. If you read my Matchbox mix 3 three post, then you might remember what I said in the intro. If not, then let me jog your memory. Basically, I said that I would make a Today On The Boulevard post about the other mix three releases I couldn't find. Well... here's that post. So with that being said, let's get started.

In total, there were three releases from this mix that I still needed to find. Of the three, I was able to find two. The only one I'm missing now, is the white Honda CVCC. To be honest with you though, I really don't care if I'm unable to find it. White is an okay color for it, but I think the yellow one is better. Now, if I do happen to find it, I may or may not make a post about it. Now then, let's move onto the two I was able to get.

The first release for today's post, is the 1979 Chevy Nova, which is the one you saw in my social media post. When I think of a 1:64 scale Chevy Nova, the first thing that comes to mind, are the various 1960s models. I never thought I'd see a '79 model year from one of Mattel's diecast brands. I don't know about you, but I love Matchbox because they give us stock looking diecast models. And that's why I'm glad Matchbox is the brand that's doing this car. 

I'm sure you all know how this car had a sedan version available. Thankfully, Matchbox made the coupe version. Four-door cars are okay, but nothing beats two-door cars, and the coupe version of this Nova model year looks way better than the sedan. Had Matchbox made the sedan version instead, I'd probably be talking about how I'd hope to see the coupe version from Hot Wheels.  

I don't think I have to say it, but this first release is flawless. I love it's light blue exterior color. The designers also made the decision to put white stripes on it's hood. In my opinion, this Nova looks a-okay with the hood stripes, but I do hope the next release of it is plain. 

The next release I got, is the 1957 Dodge Sweptside Pickup. Beautiful! That's all I can say about this one. I was speechless when I first saw pictures of it, and my jaw dropped when I found it. Like classic cars, I also really love the the look of classic pickup trucks. I especially love the ones from the 1950s. Last year, Matchbox gave us the cool 1956 Powell Sport Pickup, and now, they gave us this beautiful Dodge.

I absolutely love the color scheme that was picked of this first release. Cream and red, is one of the many color combinations that will work for a vehicle from the 1950s. I should also mention that it's exterior was finished in matte cream. Regular paint finishes are nice, but there's way less Mattel made releases with matte finishes. So basically, that's why my jaw dropped when I found it. I had no idea they chose to use a matte paint for this release. 

The next thing I want to talk about, are it's wheels. Now, I have no issue with the ones that were picked, as they are the best possible wheels for this casting. And I think we can all agree that they are period correct. Anyway, I wish Matchbox had a basic whitewall wheel like Hot Wheels. Since Matchbox is currently making beautiful classics from the 1950s, I feel they need to have a wheel like that. The appearance of this casting, as well as their '33 Ford Coupe, would benefit greatly from having a whitewall wheel. 

No details were applied to the front and rear of this first release. At the end of the day, that's perfectly fine by me, because the details along it's sides are good enough.

Classics like these two, are why I'm glad I found the white Alfa Romeo 4c, and the red Mazda Miata in the Dollar Tree many years ago. Had I not ended up there, I probably would have never got into Matchbox. And I would have gone through life missing out on all these nice models.

Okay... these two are most likely everyone's favorites from this mix. So I'm not going to ask which one you like the most. Alright, that's all for this edition of Today On The Boulevard. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting.

White Booth Wednesday #89

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: BMW M4

Series: 2015 Hot Wheels City (Street Power)

Boulevard rating: 10

How I feel about this release: It's no lie that licensed diecast models are some of the coolest toys to collect. But, being a licensed casting is not the only thing I like about collecting releases like this. These little cars are made even better when they are finished in colors that are based on ones used for the real-life counterpart. This design choice makes these some of the best models to have. So, with that said, I like how the Hot Wheels designers chose to use a color that's based on BMW's Austin Yellow. I've actually seen the real color a couple of times, and I can honestly say that it looks phenomenal. The wheels are the other reason why I gave this release a ten. As you can see, it was given split five-spoke wheels, which helps to further make this release closer to the real thing.

So collectors, what would be your rating for this release? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. As always, happy diecast collecting.

Today On The Boulevard: The Last Releases From Hot Wheels Case H

Welcome to another edition of Today On The Boulevard. If you read my Kroger exclusive case review, then you already know how I said I would post about the other releases I was missing once I found them. Well... as you can see from the title, I was able to find the other ones from case H. So with that being said, let's get this review started.

The first release for today's post, is the Mad Manga that's apart of this year's HW Art Cars mainline set. You won't typically see HW Art Cars featured here on the BLVD. I usually don't like the artwork that's applied to them. Now, there are a few rare occasions where I do end up adding one to my collection. Basically, I will get them if I don't have the casting, or if I happen to like the design that was created. 

This release of the Mad Manga, is the one time where I actually got it due to the artwork that's featured on it. For this release, the designers created a cool manga styled theme that features some robots. The artwork on this release, gives me flashbacks to when I used to watch Gundam on Toonami way back in the day. 

I should also mention, that I really like how they decided to only decorate specific sections of this casting's body. Those sections are it's door, hood, and roof.

The wheel color is the only thing I don't like about this release. I don't mind the chrome blue that was used for the wheel itself. What I have a problem with, is the tire section. I know this is an Art Cars release, but I feel it's a really well done release, which is why I wish it had black tires. 

One of the cars in today's 1:64 Scale GT Circuit race, is the recolor of the BMW M3 GT2. Some of you might remember how I wasn't very pleased with the design featured on this release. Basically, I felt that the designers could have created a much better design. To be honest, I still kind of feel that way. However, my opinion of it is starting to change, and it's all thanks to this recolor.

There are two main things I like about this release. The first of those things, is the overall color scheme. This release is now sporting the exact colors that are seen on BMW's race cars. The second thing I like, is how the designers decided to add an additional real-life sponsor decal. Pirelli is the company that's featured. Having a tire sponsor, is a huge plus for me. In fact, I feel it should have been added to the red one. I feel the red one's color scheme is perfect for a Pirelli livery.  

There's one thing I would have done differently with the design. As you can see, it's racing number is once again three. Personally, when it comes to recolors of race cars, I feel they should be given different numbers. 

The last thing I want to point out, are it's wheels, which are different. I like when recolors are given different wheels, and it's even better when they aren't the same color. 

As usual, there are multiple 1:64 Scale GT governed races going on at Diecast BLVD. Drag racing is the other one that's being held today. Now, if you decided to participate, then I hope you're prepared to lose. Today, I'm driving this year's Treasure Hunt release of the Mustang Funny Car. I don't always get the regular Treasure Hunts when I find them, however, I will if I like the casting. And this is one casting I like. 

I like all of the design choices that were made for this release. Remember last year's release of the Baja Truck in the Speed Blur mainline set? Well... this Mustang Funny Car was given the same exact theme. And I feel the theme looks really good on this car. In my opinion, it's a really good alternative to the standard Hot Wheels Racing livery.

(Here's a picture of last year's recolor of the Baja Truck.)

The top of this release is decorated as well, and this is where most of the additional decals are. No real companies are featured on this release, which is fine since I like their fantasy decals. 

The second car participating in today's 1:64 Scale GT Circuit race, is the recolor of the 2016 Ford GT Race. Like a lot of recolors I get, I like this one more than the first one. The first color is still nice because it's based on an actual Borla themed Ford GT. I just feel this one is better because it matches a lot of the other Borla themed releases I have. And helping to make it match, are the side stripes, which are now red.

 

I know there's been a few different colored Borla themed releases, and I'll admit that they are nice. But, I feel the design looks much better on a black car. It's worth mentioning, that there two releases in my collection that made me have that opinion. They are the Car Culture Shop Trucks release of the '83 Chevy Silverado, and the Super Treasure Hunt release of the 2015 Ford Mustang GT. 

As you can see, the wheels are the same as the first one. I know I said I like when recolors are given different wheels, but I think this casting looks fantastic the J5s. So, I have no problem with the decision to use them again.  

Currently, there are only two Hot Wheels Tooned castings that I like to collect. The Manga Tuner is the first one, and the Mattel Dream Mobile is the second one. The latter is the last one I got from this case. Back when this casting made it's debut, I was hoping to see many different releases of it. And so far, I'm very pleased with the ones that have been released.

Like the first color, this too has a wild exterior and interior color scheme. The exterior is lime green, while the interior is red. I usually wouldn't like this, however, this is the one casting where I feel it works. This car already has a cartoon like appearance, so why not complement it with a wild combination of colors. 

I don't know about you, but I feel there are so many other great exterior and interior color schemes for this casting. In fact, I'd love to see one of these finished in yellow. And maybe it could have a white interior. The possibilities are almost limitless for this cool little car. So I hope to see many more releases going forward. 

Okay everyone, that's everything I got. It might be a little shocking, but my favorite among the releases in this post, is the Mad Manga. Like I said, it gives me flashbacks to when I used to watch Gundam on Toonami. Of course, this doesn't mean I don't like the other ones just as much. After all, I did decide to put them on my want list.

So, what was your favorite release from this year's case H? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Today On The Boulevard. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting.

Looking At: 2021 Hot Wheels Premium Fast And Furious - Fast Stars

Welcome to today's edition of Looking At. Usually, I will try to find all of the diecast models I want at retail stores. However, there are some assortments with models that I have to have in my collection. This is when I'll decide to purchase a pre-order. So, it might have taken some time, but I finally received my Fast Stars pre-order. By now, every collector knows what this assortment has to offer. So this post isn't going to be in-depth like some of my other Looking At post. With that said, let's begin.

Throughout the years, I've heard all manner of hate towards the Fast and Furious franchise. Some want more street racing, while others could care less for the racing. I usually see the latter group respond with "the series was never about street racing." Now, that might very well be true, but I've personally enjoyed all aspects of the various movies. 

Whether or not you like the franchise, there's no denying the fact that it has given us diecast collectors some very cool, and new castings to collect. Castings like the S14, '95 Eclipse, and the '91 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, have all became Hot Wheels castings because of this franchise. And now, three more have been added to that ever growing list. One of the new castings, is the W Motors Lykan Hypersport, and I feel it's star of this assortment. If you think about it, there's a good chance we wouldn't have gotten a 1:64 scale version of this car if this franchise didn't exist. 

The other two castings that are new, are the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the Dodge Charger. Although the Jeep is nice, I want to skip ahead to the Charger. 

This is no ordinary Charger! After I pulled it out of the box, I noticed another one of it's features besides the widebody exterior. For those of you that don't have it yet, this is a mid-engine Charger. This is another great example of a casting that might not have been made if there was no such thing as Fast and Furious. I think we can all agree that this new Charger stands out (in a very good way) from the other Hot Wheels Charger castings.

I do hope these new castings end up being used for other premium sets. It would be a complete wast to not use them. I especially want to see different colors used for the Hypersport, and there's so many things they could do with a mid-engine Charger. The M3 E46 made it's debut in a Fast and Furious set, and it's had two nice releases after that. So fingers crossed.

Besides the new castings, there's also the ones that Hot Wheels already had. So thanks to this franchise, we get to see releases of older castings that are finished in colors that might not have been used. A perfect example of this, is seen with the metallic cyan '92 Ford Mustang from this set. 

Now then, the last car from this set, is Brian's Mitsubishi Eclipse. There are still so many cars from the various movies that have yet to be replicated by Hot Wheels. So this re-release was a little disappointing to see. The only difference between this and the first one, are the wheels.

As you can see, the new one was given ten-spoke wheels, while the older one was given six-spoke wheels. If you were to pull up pictures of this car on Google, you'll see that the car in the movie features seven spoke wheels that look very similar to the Hot Wheels six-spoke wheels. As such, the first release is a little more accurate. At the end of the day, this re-release is good for those of you that missed out on getting Brian's Eclipse the first time.

If I were to score this assortment, I'd give it a solid ten. It has four new replicas, and unlike the recent basic Fast and Furious assortment, it only has one that's a re-release. 

So, how did you feel about this new premium assortment? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments sections. Alright, that's all for this edition of Looking At. Till next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting.

White Booth Wednesday #88

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: '92 BMW M3

Series: 2016 Hot Wheels BMW set (Walmart)

Boulevard rating: 7

How I feel about this release: M POWER! When a BMW has a design like this, you know your in for a bad time if you brought a car to the race that's not as fast. And by the look of things, I'm going to win today's race. I mean... what were you thinking challenging me to a race, when all you have is a '97 Geo Metro. You should be ashamed of yourself for bringing that slow car to the track. All jokes aside, the stripe design on this release, is the main reason why I gave it a seven. It might be simple, but it's more than good enough for this '92 M3. The wheel color is the only real issue I have with this release. In fact, it's why I didn't score it higher. What I don't like, is how they decided to make the rim white. I don't know about you, but I feel this release would have looked a little better if it's wheels had a chrome rim. If it was up to me, I would have given this release black Y5 wheels.    

So collectors, what would be your rating for this release? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. As always, happy diecast collecting!