u/Rbmui13

So the hunt continues but I’m still very pleased with this latest find.

Trying to narrow my collecting interests in the interest of keeping my limited space so I don't usually pick up the Johnny Lightning "Tow n' Go" series any more but something about this one just spoke to me. No... really, it spoke to me. Literally what it said was " buy me and take me home with you..... or else!" Seriously, I'm trying very hard to ignore the voices but with threatening tones like that, I could be on my way to an absolutely stellar collection. Now I just need to convince my wife so wish me luck fellas!

Just putzing along doing my usual searching, I get to my local Target and I run across this Matchbox mainline that sticks out like a sore thumb due to the older style packaging. The car however, the "Ridge Raider", #50 in the mainline series of..... get this now....... of 2022. You can see for yourself, it's a pretty bad ass looking casting. How did it time warp to 2026? Did someone really return this car? I just don't understand. I mean Geezus, if you're that desperate for $1 in return store value (they don't do cash returns after 90 days) wouldn't you at least return something that had been a peg warmer. The only alternative theory I have is that someone from the past is time warping us these great castings from yesteryears.

The series was called "First Shots" by Johnny Lightning and each Zamac casting came with a finished counterpart. So it came with two cars. One was the raw Zamac and the other was a finished version but finished in a highly polished metallic type paint. Here is all I have to remind me of these unique JL sets. This set was dedicated to Corvettes.

I'd really like to know if anyone else out there has one of the JL sets from their "Surf Rods" series that I have
shared tonight or maybe even a set I haven't been made aware of yet.

I'll call this set #02 hope you enjoy!

Does anyone else here remember the JL "Surf Rod" series? Does anyone here still own a set? I am aware of two different sets from this series. I'd love to know if anyone else has any of these. I still have the original boxes they came packed in too.

I'll call this set #01 and I'll post #02 shortly after this one.

I really did try to resist but hey, can you blame me? Just look at that sexy casting in all of its free wheeling glory, loose from the blister that would bind it and free to pleasure the senses of sight, sound and of feel that would have otherwise deprived the collector taking possession of this lusciously large and beautiful casting of a truck and its ability to stir the traits of manliness lying quiet and dormant even amongst the most feminine of girly-boys. Now is that powerful stuff, or what? Git sum!!c

My case in point for this situation was a set of CarTuned die cast from their recent Liquid Death collaboration series 1 release. Those of you who know me wold also know me hat I swore off this brand when it first became known to me early in this year. They just put off a bit of a childish vibe to me. Fast forward o the present where I run across this collaboration set that CarTuned had teamed up with the folks from Liquid Death create. I think it almost impossible to ignore the incredible art work that comes emblazoned on the card of each die cast. So I get this idea, it's definitely an impulse buy on my part, but hey, I can consider it justified if I can help just one of you, my fellow brethren collectors, avoid making an impulse buy like I am showing you all right here, right now. Bam! So I did it for you guys, I took the hit and bought the six castings here for the express purpose of making all f your lives just a little bit better. I hope it worked. I'll just leave these pictures here as part of the lesson for you all. Love ya guys and have a great evening!

I found my first ever Greenlight chase, a Green Machine and it came in the form of a 1963 Harvester Scout no less. What a beauty she is! I found it a few hours ago and the dopamine dump still hasn't completely flushed outta me yet.

Does anyone else here have a Green Machine the y found and would you share a picture of it here?

I found my first ever Greenlight chase, a Green Machine and it came in the form of a 1963 Harvester Scout no less. What a beauty she is! I found it a few hours ago and the dopamine dump still hasn't completely flushed outta me yet.

Does anyone else here have a Green Machine the y found and would you share a picture of it here?

It took a bit of digging to find it but I found that I actually had two! Duplicate surprise!

They were well received and getting along with all the other JL's just fine. The "Day of the Dead" Volkswagen bus is the real show stopper though. It's pretty hefty when in hand too. I'm digging' it!

Anybody else get this VW bus on the pre-order sale a couple months back? Mine was on the slow boat but finally arrived yesterday. I placed the order with Auto World on June 16, 2026.

It's not a very big collection yet but I sure do cherish for all the detail and graphics. Don't quote me but I believe that Ed Roth is the artist for these very recognizable graphics.

What I have to date is what's in this picture. I'm always looking for more or new Rat Fink die cast. I really enjoy them. I have a mountain of traders if you have any Rat Fink die cast to sell or trade. I even have a few RF traders.

Anyone else impressed with or collecting RF examples or am I the only one?

First time I've ever bought a Tarmac brand die cast. I like what I see in this photo andcasting. It looks almost like an art piece. It's all white with shading lines accentuating the curves. I thought it was silver when I ordered it. The only drawback I see in all of this is that I would have to place orders to obtain these because I have never seen this brand in all my travels and hunts. Can this Tarmac brand be purchased off of a shelf anywhere in the states?

I'm very impressed with this casting. Anyone else collect this brand?

Now I just need to track down the one missing casting to complete this eclectic set. Wish me luck!

I never really paid much attention to Matchbox power grabs, but this year for some reason, my attention has been drawn to them in a big way. I've actually started collecting these, but the reason for that is largely because of finding examples like the one I found today this is an absolutely amazing looking casting and I hope they keep up the good work.

This is approximately four to five years in now.

TLDR: On a scale from 1-10, what would you rate this display method used for a small diecast collection?

So here is my latest idea. The shadowbox frame obtained from the Goodwill store. White Styrofoam poster board to fit four layers deep into the shadowbox frame was obtained from the Dollar store.

I traced the cars and cut out the silhouettes in the styrofoam that enabled me to effectively mount my funny cars. I like it but what do you think? It was only large enough to fit a small fraction of my funny car collection but I can always go bigger in the future and repurpose the frame using new styrofoam poster board.

The guys at Matchbox just don't ever seem to let up in their efforts to be Mattel's #1 die cast manufacturer and there are some that would argue that in many ways they already are.

The "Sherp" I found today in a power grab box contained a vehicle I had not even heard of prior to today and is just one more feather in the cap of Matchbox for bringing yet another unique die cast to the collectors world. Not only is the Sherp unique but it also looks absolutely fantastic in the rendition that Matchbox has provided. All in all, for $1.35 at Fred Meyer, it left me happy as a lark at having found this unexpected treasure.

But alas, it was just a beautiful paint job on a whimsical casting. I am still very happy with this little beauty nonetheless. Isn't it just so vibrant and pretty?