Category: Miscellaneous

New category in the Road Cars page

After my latest RWB Porsche, looking over the Road Cars page I thought things were a bit confusing. That being so, I decided to add a Customs/Modified section to the bottom of the page, where I’ll list my customized models from specialized shops around the world. Yes, I’m aware that I wrote MANY times that I’m not into modified cars and the “toonerz scene” 🙄. While that may still be true, I will have a select few modified car models in the W-143 Garage basically for aesthetical reasons. I’m definitively a function-over-form type of person; however, some silly stuff does float my boat 🙃.

Therefore, I moved all the RWB and TECHART stuff down there.

Top 5 – 2021

This year I decided to do something different to close the year. Well, I almost did this last year, but with the COVID pandemic raging the idea kind of floundered. Anyway, the intent is to show the Top 5 models I reviewed in the year. Not just the best models from a craftsmanship perspective but models that for some reason have special significance to me or the W-143 Garage. So without further ado, and in chronological order, here are the Top 5 models of 2021:

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR #104 – Spark

Not only a FRIGGENTASTIC model from Spark, also the final “factory” Silver Arrow for the W-143 Garage.

BMW 3.5 CSL #43 – Ixo

Though a so-called “budget” model, probably the best bang-for-the-buck I found in 2021.

Porsche 934 “Jägermeister” #68 – Spark

Not a winner, however being a Jägermeister car (the only one at Le Mans), a very dear model to me.

Porsche 935 #40 – Spark

A class winner and a special one for the Garage – the second of the X-Ray cars. And, Spark-goregous.

Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 4 RAUH-Welt Begriff “Waikato” – Tarmac Works

The nice surprise of the year – I was genuinely impressed by Tarmac Works. A GREAT model on a budget price.

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

Last week (October 1st to 3rd), on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, happened the annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The event takes place annually on the grounds near the Villa d’Este hotel in Cernobbio. It usually happens in May, and is possibly the most famous of all the world-class Concours d’Elegance. Petrolicious, as always, wrote a great essay on the event, with some SPECTACULAR photos.

If you want to drool a little, it is worth checking out the link.

Buggers, I forgot!

This Monday was W-143’s third anniversary 🍻! I first uploaded a page (“About W-143”) here on June 14th 2018, at 4:13am to be more precise. I worked on the site throughout the previous night, and was eager to get things rolling. Despite the god-awful time, I was ecstatic to finally see W-143 online. On that same June 14th, later on in the afternoon, I also published my first post here. About six (!!) new models that my dear friend Gary Blythe had helped me get…😥 Back then, most of my reviews were published at Scale 143, and for the next couple of weeks I had a bear of a time “translating” that material to the format I use here. Boy, that was a lot of work (almost 200 reviews!), but good times.

It has been a long road this three years. Heck, we even went through a pandemic! Nonetheless, a very gratifying road for me. I can only hope to have many more June 14ths to celebrate. And I also hope to next time not forget the date 🙄.

New section added

Something that was bothering me was that my “Le Mans P-Z” page was getting too long. And that’s because I have a LOT of Porsches. Not my fault that Stuttgart’s cars are popular at La Sarthe…😋 So on top of the page I added a “Le Mans Porsche” link where you now can find all my Le Mans porkers. With that, the “Le Mans P-Z” will only be for manufacturers from P-Z other than Porsche.

Sad news

Earlier this morning I received some very sad news. My great friend Gary Blythe passed away last night 😥

I knew Gary since around 2003. An avid diecast collector, we met through DiecastXchange, at the time the biggest diecast forum on the web, when I started to collect 1:18s. Since we were both pretty active in the community, in about one year we both became moderators on the forum. And by then we had become good friends, even though we had an ocean between us. Around 2008 I had to stop collecting, and a little later so did he. Unfortunately I drifted away from the diecast community and we lost touch. But in early 2017 I was back, but this time collecting 1:43s. Coincidentally, he also shifted to 1:43 some time earlier. Through S143 (a now defunct 1:43 forum) we got back in touch, and instantly rekindled our friendship.

Gary had a lot of health issues, but had a heart of gold. Despite the distance between us I’m privileged to consider him a friend. The Oaf (Earl of Northumberland, His Smeliness or Mr. Ugly) will be truly missed.

Rest in peace, my friend 😥.

Happy New Year!!!

Out goes 2020, and here comes 2021. Man, what a crappy year… 😣 I’m more than glad it’s over, and probably everyone feels the same. The pandemic hit us hard, but thankfully me and all my family stayed healthy. On the other hand my income was drastically affected, so things got a lot tighter around here. I think you all certainly noticed from the very few new model reviews I’m posting. The passion is the same, and so is the interest, but since money is shorter… Even so, I should not complain. Everyone I love is healthy, and that’s all that matters 🍺.

So let’s hope that things get better in 2021. Happy New Year!!!

🍹🍾🍷🎉

New 1:18 917K from Amalgam

Thankfully it’s 1:18, therefor too big for the W-143 Garage. Because it’s EXPENSIVE – US$ 1300,00 (Classic Driver) 😲😲😲. Ultimately, however, it’s g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! Though I’m not a big fan of weathered models, for a jewel of this caliber I would easily open an exception.

Amalgam will only make 100 models of the 1970 Daytona winner 917K, so don’t wait too long to go after yours.