Expo exposes diverse models

Well that went well. Hundreds of model car enthusiasts descended on the Rydges Hotel in Parramatta, in Sydney, to meet up, do some buying or selling, to nd out what’s coming up and maybe to get hold of some exclusive models.

I did some of most of the above. Bought me a pair of 1:64 John Bowe Mustangs, checked out some coming attractions from the model makers, ran into some old mates and generally had a good time.

One of the features of these events is ‘room trading’. You stay in the hotel and convert your room into a model car shop. It’s amazing some of the models that pop up at these events. I was able to ll a couple of gaps in my collection, too. But my very modest efforts in modifying Hot Wheels models paled alongside the modi ed cars on display this time around. Something I’ve never tried is a ‘distressed’ model. How about this Monaro? Rusted-out A-pillars, windscreen held in with tape, missing headlights and the aircleaner jammed into a corner of the engine bay. I’ve probably got a few donor models for this sort of project, but my interest lies in going the other way – making them better, not worse. Or so I like to think.

There are some fantastic new models coming soon. Let’s start with Biante’s three versions of Pete Geoghegan’s Mustang – the second car in the white with green Castrol livery, as it ran in the ATCC in 1967, ’68 and ’69, before the ared guards and radical negative camber.

There’s a 1:18 and 1:64 (yay) Preston Hire Commodore, running the retro livery from Sandown and Bathurst this year. This livery pays tribute to the 1968 Bathurst winner and looked a treat.

Classics had prototypes of their Johnson Group

A Mustang and Brock 1979 A9X Torana in 1:18 scale – both look fantastic, especially the Mustang. Authentic Collectibles had some interesting prototypes too – DJRTP, 23 Red and Todd Hazelwood-driven Falcons and Erebus Commodores.

Trax have a model of Allen Boughen’s Customline Group N racer coming – he’s now winning more fans driving his Mercury Comet in Touring Car Masters. And on a personal level, I’m hanging out for a Trax Gemini. Not exactly a muscle car, but I had a couple of these that I raced and rallied and had a lot of fun (and a little success) in.

But it was in the room of a trader, Neville Davis of Diecast4U, that I saw the prototype of a 1:18 resin Holden Dealer Team ‘Beast’. The Torana Sports Sedan will be about $300 and there will not be very many of them made; indeed they’re nearly sold out as I write.

Neville has a couple of other models planned, but isn’t set up to do more than one at a time. At some time in the future, look for a 1:18 HDT LH Torana-Repco Sports Sedan and/or one or more Chev Monzas. He’s promised to keep us in the loop.