Review: The Vintage Casting, Splittin' Image

Second colour of the 2008 Hot Wheels Star Splittin' Image. The green colour variance has the better appearance, furthermore with the latest 09 packaging.

Read the earlier post if you missed the 1st colour story. YeoCP//

I like:
Real Classic casting, 1st debut in 1969 before I was born.

I Dislike:
Can't really comment on the down side, it was technology 40 years ago.

Verdict:
Investment value 2/5, although it's vintage casting, the reproductions did not give a good value.



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Variation or Error?

I found this Revealers Buick Grand National on different wheels, it seems normal as variation but it is unusual to team series.

None for the sites I searched have a recorded for this variance, so is it an error or variation? You tell me.

Revealers Buick Grand National

Mtflk. Gold, w/Brown, Black, White, & Red tampos on sides, Black Malaysia Base, w/OH5SP's

A short variation of Buick Grand National 2007 First Edition already cost US$125.00, so how much will this worth then? YeoCP//


Source: South Texas Diecast

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Volkswagen Fastback, what so great about it?

Many collectors have asked, what so great about this VW Fastback?

See the price guide from southtexasdiecast.com, the loose is USD5.00 and the carded USD10.00. You can cross check the bidding price in Ebay too, It shouldn't fetch so high price for the new release.


The collectors believe this fastback will follow the Chevy Panel not returning to mainline.

Thanks to Phil Riehlman made it so heavy, it came not cost effective to package it in the regular line-up. We will have to see it again in other series, so bye bye for now.

It is just lucky for those who got it retail, if you saw 1 but didn't take it, please bang your head to wall now. YeoCP//


Pictures from Wikipedia.

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Scalping, what does it means to you

This is an interesting article posted by the Singapore Tomica Collector Starscream a.k.a SS. I quite like his way of describing scalping.

Scalpers do exist, there are good and bad for scalping.

Good = Buy and resell to collectors at reasonable price, the intention is to help other collectors who has no reach to the collection at that time.

Bad = Resell to collectors at ridiculous price for huge profit.

From scalper perspective, it is an investment and Investment do have risk. To become scalper, you need to possess below:

1. A lot of money, scalping is expensive, and also need to keep stock in worse case.
2. Connections to insiders.
3. Time and efforts.
4. Sensitive to Market trend, buy only the correct models.
5. Distribution channels, where to sell.

Of course you always have choice not to buy from scalpers, but if few of them covered the whole market, you are doomed. To counter this, you need to ahead of them.

That all from me, please refer to SS blog for this interesting article. T3: Scalping

☺YeoCP//

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Which Model worth Investing?

If you ask me what is my number 1 choice regular model will preserve value in the future? My answer is always no.114 JSDF, but it no longer possible gets it locally in Malaysia. If you want to know more about JSDF, I have some write-up in my earlier posts.

Investment
Let’s buy something possible today will make you richer in the future. I will recommend you non-Japanese models will have better market value in the future. Tomica Ferrari, Volkswagen and Rolls-Royce explained.

Recommendation
My 1st runner-up choice is no.43 Mini Cooper light blue colour, follow by no.15 Hummer H2. I dropped H2 due to recent reproduction model with awful quality. To prove my point, you can examine those H2 with “Takaratomy” logo yourself.

Here are my views on Mini, you may not fully agree with me.

All time favorite
You can not deny this is an all time favorite model, I have missed the No.88 Classic Mini in the beginning of 2000s, which it worth not less than USD15.00 if you purchase from Ebay and this hasn’t calculate in shipment.

I believed, when No.43 becomes discontinued, its market value wills shoot-up just like its predecessor.


Hidden Features
There are some specialties about this model you may not notice, please correct me if I’m wrong. For all current regular models, it is,
- The only regular model has side mirrors.
- Has a metal base, and it is heavy. I have not come across any others have metal platform too.
- The model number is printed instead of embedded on the base.


Drawback
However, the only downside is the wheels; it is not with the Tomica racing wheels, otherwise, it will looks more sporty. But, I’m not too worried on that, because I could change it myself.

Up to here, has it changed your mind somewhere? Would you still hesitate to buy if you see it in the future? ☺YeoCP//

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Why Tomica Limited?

Have you wonder why "Tomica Limited" called Tomica Limited?

Tomica Limited introduced by Tomy in 2001 targeted Tomica collectors. The models are produced with higher details and realistic looking wheels with rubber tyres. These models are packaged in open cardboard boxes surrounded on four sides with a transparent plastic sleeve.

So, why limited? The reason been is because when the new Limited released, the older models immediate became discontinued.

This make make good investment for toy investors on Limited Series compares to regular series. A good example will be Limited Evo X, which now categorised at discontinued model after Limited Civic Type R was out.

So, if you are toy investor, please stock up your TL0097. ☺YeoCP//

*** Enjoy your weekend ***

Remark for Malaysia Tomica Collectors: We still have a lot of earlier released Tomica Limited in the local stores. I still see many vintage models in display, this could be a good opportunity if you are a Tomica investor. Always us Ebay as your reference site to estimate your ROI (Return of Investment).

Related Post:
Are You Toy Collector or Investor?
Featured Car: Tomica Limited Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Tomica Honda Civic Type R, how much does it worth?
Tomica Collection and Investment Guide
Added Tomica Discontinued Catalog
Ebay: Tomica Limited, sorted by higher price

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Are You Toy Collector or Investor?

Did you ask yourself this question before?

A friend of mine, Liam is influenced by me, now he is also into Hot Wheels and Tomica. He is more into American Muscle and vintage cars. For Tomica, he collects trucks and construction vehicles.

One fine day I asked him whether he is collector or investor, he replied collector without second thought. Immediate I challenge him by asking him how many Hot Wheels he had opened, the answer is none.

If you are a collector, you shouldn't have bother to resale the die cast in the future. You passion should come from the intensity and quality of your collections. In other word, if you wish could sell it at higher price in the future, then you are obviously an investor.

Between us, it is hard to distinguish in clear cut. In most cases, people buy at least 2 or more for open loose and extra for investment at the same time. Carded or uncarded? Let's leave this question to Hot Wheels collectors.

Fortunately for Tomica, the die casts are packed in the paper box. After displayed, you still can resale it at higher price as long as the box remain. If you don't, the die cast will consider loose item.

Luckily our Tomica does not sale in carded form like the picture below, or else the question on carded or uncarded continue...

** Have a good weekend **

Regards,
YeoCP//

[Pictures courtesy of prawnking]

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Tomica Honda Civic Type R, how much does it worth?

My friend sold his Tomica Honda Type R at RM45.00 yesterday. The ROI he generated from this model is 470%.

The highest asking price in Ebay is USD9.99 + shipping USD11.00, or equivalent to RM70.00 in total. He sold at RM45.00 seem reasonable to the market acceptance.

If you plan to do the same, you will not able to get it anymore at present market. Confirmation from Malaysia Tomica sole distributor, the model already finished distributed few months back, nothing left in warehouse.


Do not feel sad if you miss the boat, the next potential model you may consider is #67 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, the highest asking price already gone to USD32.00 in Ebay. You know what to do now? YeoCP//

Related Post: Tomica Collection and Investment Guide

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Tomica Collection and Investment Guide

Isn’t it a good idea where your collection also your investment? Of course collecting Tomica event models, limited series, box sets and etc persevere better value, but there are generally more expensive and difficult to get.

But, this does not mean there isn’t any good model to keep in regular series. If you have a copy of Tomica catalog, you will notice some numbers have been canceled out.

These models are licensed models from the brands’ company, e.g. Coca-cola and Yamazaki. It usually distributed in Japan domestic market, limited quantity will be available in overseas.

Please be noted also, agreement between Tomica and Coca-Cola already end. There will be no Coke models until next license renewal in future. Last Coca-Cola models issued on regular collection are #37 Coca Cola Event Car (22/07/2006) and #105 Coca-Cola Route Truck (18/11/2006).

Besides, you can consider those hot pick models for your shorter term investment. These usually you need to stock in quantity to gain margin from turnover.

Do keep track on manufacturer movement on their actual production cars. You may get some clues on what going to happen in Tomica Products line-up. A very good example is General Motor might drop Hummer from its portfolio after last annual meeting. This could hint to Tomica may not authorized to produce H2 anymore.

In conclusion, your collection should includes all models you love the most, but you won't mind if it generate you extra money in the future. It is all depend your investment intelligent, do remember economy rule-of-thumb, supply and demand. Cheers, YeoCP//

Authorized licensed models
#7 Alsok Security Transport Car
#37 Coca-Cola Event Car
#49 Yamazaki Delivery Truck
#105 Coca-Cola Route Truck
#114 JSDF Light Armoured Vehicle

Top pick Models
#15 Hummer H2
#54 Honda Civic Type R
#67 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

Up Coming Models
#50 Nissan GT-R race car (YellowHat)
TL0097 Mitsubishi lancer evolution X
TL0098 Honda Civic TYPE-R
TL0099 Nissan GT-R

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Tougher ahead

BNM has reduced our GDP projection for FY2008 from 5.9% to 5.1%. Although it is just a floating point difference, but it actually meant a lot to the country. This means besides oil & gas and palm oil, the rest of the industries may not do well this year.

Next is our inflation rate jump from 2.8% to 4.9%. We know this is due to the high oil and food price in the global markets. Government can’t do much by putting more control on the foods subsidy and ceiling price. But what concerns you should be your salary increment. If your increment is lesser than the Inflation rate, you wouldn’t maintain your living expenditure.

Speculation anticipates BLR rate will increase to 8%. This will kill us by extra money you need to commit to your loans with BLR calculation, this normally includes your housing, overdraft and personal loan. But of course to the bright side, if you have tons of FDs in banks, they will make you richer by paying more interests to you.

Lastly, although is tougher ahead, there are still people turned into millionaire. There is no secret formula for millionaire, instead, you need to know how to reserve your cash and invest to the right fields.

So, if you ask me whether our toy collection is correct field? I will leave the answer open to you. Cheers, YeoCP//

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Battle with Inflation

Our inflation rate has risen from 3% to over 5% after new petro price. There is no exception regardless whether you are student or worker. As this is just started, you will soon feel the impacts of how does it changed your life.

The meaning of Inflation is a rise of the price of goods and services over time, in other word is decrease in value of the unit of currency.

Our inflation generally caused by high crude oil and food price. The trace of the problems is believed due to the US Federal Reserve decreasing interest rates, so that money is no longer a means to preserve wealth over the long term. Investors invest in food commodities, which causes an increase in demand and therefore push the price higher. But of course, growing population and economies in Asia are factors too.

Saving is definitely not the method to against the inflation. No matter how much saving you have in banks, your FD interest will not catch up with Inflation rate. Value of money will depreciate over the time, and it will be too late until you realized it.

Keeping money is not the solution, instead, we need to keep assets that will appreciate over the time. Since this is not an investment blog, I will not go further into this. My next posts will discuss whether collecting toys could make us richer. So, stay with me, cheers. YeoCP//

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