The Godzilla Bug

They don't make them like they used too - series

Years back I had the chance to meet this fascinating duo; Pinoy father and son who shared the same hobbies as mine; VW, miniature cars and bicycles.
We both have 1:1 VW to enjoy, drive, and that was the start. Theirs was a Kombi, mine my old-school watercooled Vdubs. Theirs was a VW miniature model to dream of having, mine is the longing for one.
When the son has to leave for the US to study, I thus pursued his childhood treasure and hoped he’d allow me to be its new keeper. Upon much convincing he did let go and the Godzilla Bug was mine.

I did promised him among others, that I won’t sell it. I wouldn’t …
Here’s why?
I saw this giant of a bug in one of the VW magazine (US publication) and it was in the Top 20, Rare of the rare. Didn’t believe it until I checked the internet…. this Bandai Wireless Remote Controlled Litho Tin VW Beetle can’t be found…..yet.
Most of the Bandai are bump’n’ go or cable remote controlled. Could be, it’s uber rare indeed.

The Godzilla Bug aka ‘Latang Uwang’ (Tin Giant Beetle)

For scale purposes it is pictured with the tiny Tomis


Opting for a tatami looking backdrop for the following photos (ooops… it’s a Belgian made rug actually…LoL)….. to go with the Japanese origin….
The instruction manual, antennae, remote are all intact

Box is still complete. ‘ Wireless Radio Contol’ & 'Kingsize' printed on it.

Operable sunroof and see thru motor reveal rotating fan.

Lovely Lithograph on Tin.

A bit of tidbit. Thanks to Brian’s Radicon bug post, it made me remember to feature my non-diecast giant bug.

Bay-window years

They don't make them like they used too - series

The Kombi is the VW Bus that I have seen more often when I was a kid.
The name even became a house-hold name during the 70’s and was highly popular.

I’m very fond of these two versions of the Bay-window (VW T2) bus.
The early version as modeled by that of Matchbox, from their Superfast transitional years.
Note the front signal markers lights located below the headlamps.

Tail lights are smaller, similar to that of the T1 bus


The latter version’s as done quite well by Tomica, from their F-Series range.
Note the front signal markers lights were located along side the headlamps.

taillights are now larger.


I’m not sure though, which exact model year were these 2 versions modeled after?
What is sure nonetheless, that these are my from my childhood era!

Tale of Two Gamas

Side-by-side feature

1969 is a peculiar year.
For one it has two numbers flipped.
That year was the release also of two peculiar cars;
the quad-lamped VW 411 and the VW Porsche 914.
Noticed too, that two of their numbers are similar,
yet flipped in arrangement. Coincidence?

The mother of peculiarity is that these two shared the same
4-cylinder Type4 engine!

The VW 411, the very first 4-door VW mid-size sedan

Very first VW to sport MacPherson front strut/rear coil
suspension and first to use monocoque body.

Love the opening features of old 1:43.

When Gamas were still labeled ‘Western Germany’ products.


The 914, the very first official joint venture car of VW & Porsche.

Very first mid-engined production car for Porsche.

Operable parts are appealing in 1:43, including pop-up lamps and removable top.

Made, prior to the unification of Germany. So Cool.

Vintage Galgo Racer Find

Holy Grail Series

This has been on my want list,
since 4 years back.
It was very elusive and all the more,
made me crave for one very bad.
Why?
Reasons being;
1st it’s a legendary Porsche.
2nd a delightful 3” Can Am 917-10.
3rd painted in German racing silver.
4th the Martini livery is a favorite.
5th a driver is on board.
6th it’s made in Argentina.
7th a not so common brand.
8th I just yearn for vintage stuff!

Mint in box…

Martini Porsche 917-10 by Galgo.

Appealing chunkiness

old stuff is...

way cooool!

Rescued to be a 1968 Winner

Received this from a great guy.
This Majorette is in a much loved state. The wheel caps (covering the bent wires) were transferred to complete a similar car in blue with good original state.
I think it’s the only known model of the Porsche 907 L (longtail) in 3”.


Majorette, indicated Lemans on the base thus suggesting it was from the 1967 Lemans race in which the 907L was the 2-liter class winner. This particular diecast is likely appropriate also for the 1968 24-hours Daytona race since it has the unusual vertical air scoops on its tail. The #54 is the race winner, the team taking 1-2-3 finish for 1968.

Here’s the rescue:
I noticed the Majo is shorter between the door and rear wheel opening than the actual car, thus decal is scaled down to fit. It’s not meant to be a so accurate model…it’s a charming 3” diecast car I’m after. Wheels were reused and fitted with straighter axle.

Paint was applied thin to show the casting’s features ….nicks were intentional to give it the not so polished period look. Rear grill and tail-light details added…

and so were front nostril details, gas cap at rear fender…

and 4 tiny badges.

I opted to simulate aged number decals for the vintage look…

and left the base in its well loved state.

Fahrenheit Jagermeister

Lazy Customs Series

It’s rainy days here in the tropics….
not a good time for doing customs. (Yawn)
Squeezing time during rare hours that’s sunny,
I was able to do this one that is based
on the Golf GTI V Fahrenheit Edition,

Kudos to Matchbox for doing a spot-on version
and inspired me to transform one for my
‘Lazy Customs’ home-made collection.

Fast Orange VW

Komenda Racing GTI 5

I’m liking the all black wheels!

Again, “No rivet was harm” in the making of Lazy Custom :-)

Transformers Too?

When Hollywood brought the Transformers to silver screen life, a different morphing took place. The film’s version transformed the original cast into GM’s own. Some of us would have preferred the Bumble-Bee as a VW Beetle and of course, Jazz to be the Porsche 935 Martini ‘ Moby Dick’.

Gladly in 1/64, our desired morphing can still be possible…







On 1:1 though, this Pinas Optimus has yet to…

Tale of Two Blue Tails

Side-by-side feature

Back in the mid-70’s a kin who resided in Canada, sent boxed packages of assortments. One box contained all toys for the little ones; me, my sibling and cousins were delighted about the gifts. All of these toys were new to us then and didn’t even know they existed. Among other presents that I got, was a Corgi Whizzwheels Porsche 917 in metallic blue. The streamlined, long-tail and slender shaped car garnered my admiration from then on. A treasured diecast; having the distinction of starting my love affair with Porsche.

Three and half decades later, an admiration was rekindled. This time, a short-tail version of the 917 caught my fondness. It’s by Pilen of Spain, in heavy casted 1/43. The significance of it being my very first Porsche Gulf livery model!

Two treasured blue-tails

My very first Porsche diecast, the 917L




My very first Gulf Porsche, the 917K

Un-mint Appeal?

There is something eccentric having to do this.
Genuinely, I can’t discern why….
…but I’m drawn to this nostalgic connection.

To start with; rat rods are supposed to be,
rough and tough, down and dirty.
What’s the point of a polished model,
it wouldn’t be then a rat Volksrod.

To capture the spirit, I took a dead mint HW.
Scrapped the paint and chipped it at random.
Slapped some well-worn transitional & early
MB Superfast wheels. No more detailing
whatsoever, plain and simple retrograding.

Somehow this rat Volksrod brings me back,
and in touch with my first ever VW,
the Matchbox #15 red 1500 Saloon.
It was well played with and very much loved
that its remaining paint is no less that 60%
intact and the windows broken. Needless to say,
that one is a hands down all-time favorite!
Those front wheels are from that very same toy
I played with as a 7-year old gear head.
That MB VW, is now a Cal-look Bug and is my
most treasured diecast. (Watch out for it soon)

Something old, something new but made old.
I guess it was about lighthearted retrospect.
The aftermath of this reminiscing is an
‘un-mint custom’, a liberating fun exercise
contrary to the norm. A general norm that mint
is the better condition most of the time.
In this case, like a much faded Levis 501 jeans…
well-worn is definitely more appealing to me!

Transitional front wheels for my 1st MB Bug


Rear wheels from my other childhood Superfast MB