I know I might be insulted in the comments, but I’m ready. I assume it.
As a diecast collector, it is something that, in my opinion, one is entitled to wonder. Especially in mid 2020. Let’s have a quick look backward to understand the genesis.
How did it start ? Gran Turismo fever, Initial D, maybe some Bosozoku interest, Kyosho, Tomica Limited Vintage, Hot Wheels (…) mmh ok, the JDM mania is something we all know, and that is very established in the diecast word. Then later, the RWB mania came across with some Instagram hype of RWB’s a few years ago, then Need for Speed promotion, then some runs in 1/43 (that I was about to buy back in time), then Tarmac Works making it’s first model of RWB with the great 930 casting, then others 930 variations, then the 993 RWB, then 1 million of 993 RWB castings, while Hot Wheels made it’s own RWB in Premium line, and also in RLC, plus the 1 million little productions runs in resin from unknown brands (and most of the time unlicensed) like MCE, Fuelme … I’m only talking about 1/64 here, but you might know that almost each manufacturer did its must-do exercise of replicate a RWB (Auto Art, GT Spirit, Ignition Models, lately Schuco …).
Looking at LB Works, Aoshima seems to be one of the first model makers who did replicate them, with a cool blue Skyline Kenmeri (I have it and I adore it) ; let’s count MINI GT in the game, with cool GT-R castings, Lamborghini Aventador castings (soon Huracan castings), then 1 million of GT-R castings, plus soon BMW castings, while many little production runs from again some unknown brands like Timothy&Pierre did replicate LB Works castings in millions of forms, or CM models, Scale Mini, Time Model, JEC …
All this enumeration is of course non exhaustive, and my point today is absolutely not to criticize one brand or another, neither opening a debate on the licensed / not licensed topic. It’s not my fight.
I say it again : it is a great pleasure to be a collector in 2020. But …
The “but” is what all this article is about. Saturation maybe ? Lack of originality ? Don’t know.
I am not particularly a huge fan of RWB models, or LB Works models. I love to have some in my collection because of the execution (Timothy&Pierre replica of the Mini for example), or because I love to have diversity in my collection, or because I just like the model. Collect what you like, is the only advice I might give today in this post.
So maybe, yes, I might talk about saturation, when I look at all the new castings and models scheduled among our beloved minicar makers in the next months.
Would I prefer to have more obscure models from Tarmac Works or Mini GT ? Yes. Do I like the lines of the 993 RWB from Tarmac Works ? No. Do I love the lines of the 930 RWB from Tarmac Works ? Yes. Am I tired of variations of Mini GT GT-R ? Yes. I am forced to buy them ? No. Do I like the McLaren Senna from Mini GT ? Hell yes!! Would I prefer Tarmac Works to focus more on their DNA castings such as racing models and GT3 models ? Yes.
But all in all, maybe best sellers RWB castings are necessary in the process for us to have more obscure castings such as Volvo 850, or Hyundai i30 TCR. I’m also not complaining because it brings us more Porsche castings. But maybe sometimes a good old stock 930 Porsche would be nice.
Don’t misjudge me, I love the cars I collect (and some chosen RWB are still arriving in my collection) but sometimes, when ordering the news of the next month, I’m asking myself : do I need one more of these castings ? I’m not sure … And you ?
Maybe i missed it in the article, but who manufactures the red NAGINATA RWB?
I’d love to have an RWB in my collection – maybe I’ll order the Team Transport one – and I really like the clever way the legend of RWB was built up. That’s been said I understand the fatigue. There are a lot of great cars waiting to be casted. How about a Volvo Sugga for example? 🙂
The 993 looks slightly odd to me, which is fortunate for my wallet, as Tarmac Works’ RWB models are so eye-catching. I’m glad I found their RWB 930 Apple Computer Inc—it looks great next to Hot Wheels’ RLC RWB 930.
If you have any doubt we’ve had rwb overload, go to any Walmart in the Indianapolis area. I bet you can pick up 40 of those rwb team transporters. The same as the Datsun 510 transporter before.
I’ve been collecting for 50 years now. I have absolutely no idea what RWB or LB means. Overload??? Huh?
Here you go…. I had to look it up! LOL
RWB: Porsche tuning company RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF (RWB), which specializes in the design and installation of custom wide-body kits on older Porsche models.
Personally these have no interest to me, but I have full respect and admiration for the design and performance. As some may know… I am complete bias to certain types of Racing (Love Indy, Drag, & F1, PS: civics are not race cars! LOL) but still these machines are warmly remembered and have their place in Racing History due to their success and followers. So it’s nice to see them honored. Especially for the enthusiast that likes them. I came into collecting at the wrong time to tell you the truth. I came back into the into the scene after an 8 year stall. At that time JDM took off. If only Drag Strip Demons was going full… Id be in heaven. None the less… No, I believe things go in phases or cycles and others will need to wait their turn. Right now JDM and Wide-bodies are in full force and that’s fine with me. Every car and enthusiast deserves a turn! 🙂
Greetings,
Great reflection, acquiring my first RWB and LB now, despite collecting 11 years ago, I’m only now incorporating the first ones. In general they are beautiful, have very cool paintings and the changes in the bodies excite me, because I was tired of the traditional. But I’m also getting tired of basically watching ads for RW and LB, and interestingly, often the same copies, but from different brands.
I also think these two themes are cool, but I would like to see other models, and options for that exist in droves at car manufacturers.
Big hug from Brazil.
Yep, I appreciate what RWB/ LB Works does, sure I would spend my money elsewhere in 1:1 if I had that much as the styling is mostly a passing fad and will age questionably but it has been fun getting some in 1:64, and I am bound to pick up a few more here and there. Buuuuuttttt…… the market is just flooded with their stuff, too the point I have lost some interest (and there is just cooler stuff out there to do models based off of).
I would just rather have real racecar replicas anywho.
We need less RWB and more RUF in the 1/64 Porsche World. 😉
Absolutely it is. I buy almost all Porsche in 1/64 scale and just can’t do anymore RWB. I can’t believe there that many buyers of the real car to have this many variations. It is an acquired taste.
Sorry about my english, ill try to explain my self: Trends have never been organic, there is always money behind, so whose fault is it?. In a nother line.. who drives Fast & Furious mania?. Are we tired of 67 mustangs?, are we tired of 67 camaros?, how many variations of “some” models do we need, or want?. Each one move its threads to their convenience.. each one have their own taste. We have to be gratefull that we live in an era with lots of brands, and thats excellent, not only beacuse you can choose, but because competition is good for us, the customers. But, not all of the brands (companies) are big, or huge as Mattel for example… Most of them have to make great efforts to keep on the road, some of those efforts involve production, marketing and finance strategies. The one we should demand is to the big one, because it has all the resources, or atleast a lot more… RWB its a cultural succeed, something offcourse Asia is very proud of, im not Asian i may say but i feel proud, because he takes an already amazing model and creates a new marvelous model, same with LBworks. What i meant is that, we all have to understand this is a trend, that will pass, and that we all have to be proud for what we are living… feel the RWB and LBworks emotion while we still have them.
I felt the article was a little bit tainted, but that is normal, we all have our opinions and our taste… i think, for example that there is an over production of F&F, i also think that there are to many variations and repetitions… i also think brands do not respect enough the collectors.
Is there too much RWB in the market? I’m not sure. I only collect Hot Wheels and Matchbox, and don’t follow what other brands are doing, so it doesn’t really strike me as overkill yet. I only own 2 RWB models; the matte black/gold Porsche 930 from Silhouettes and the purple 930 from Team Transport. I wasn’t originally planning on picking up the Team Transport, not too crazy for the purple, but they were running a sale when I saw it, so grabbed one anyway.
I appreciate the 2 models I have, but tend to lean much more heavily towards realistic, stock, toned down, real race cars or conservatively modified tuner cars/weekend racers. For me the triple-stacked wing on the back of the 930 is a bit atrocious and some of the paint schemes and loud decos can be much too gaudy for my taste. Personally, I’d say I’m good and don’t need to see a ton more of these.
I’m not at all familiar with LB Works.
Hello from 2024! The amount of RWB has slowed down, but not for lack of trying: every model RWB seemingly has already been produced by Tarmac Works, PGM, and countless other studios. Strangely (rumor is licensing troubles) the matte black CC:Silhouettes, purple Team Transport, and RLC RWBs remain the only ones produced by Hot Wheels, but if leaks are right (via RWB licensor’s Instagram), we’ll see a sky blue RWB later this year.
Pop Race has been making Singer 911’s, but that hasn’t exactly caught on.
Both Mini GT and Inno64 have been producing Rocket Bunny cars (Mini GT has done Silvias, Inno64 has Silvias, Celicas, and other retro racers–which got some popularity in 2021/2022). The takeaway: Silvia S15’s are hot.
Hot Wheels released their own Liberty Walk Silvia S15 in mainline, and upcoming metal/metal Boulevard. Other LBWK x Hot Wheels: Kenmeri (2000GT-R), R35 Skyline (35GT-RR), R34 Skyline (LB-ER34 in metal/metal, 2022 Lamley Car of the Year!), Huracán, and Aventador (arguably the best Hot Wheels Elite64 release so far.)
So it seems LBWK is still going on strong. The stunning LBWK F40 by Inno64 got voted 2023 Lamley Car of the Year, and the re-painted 1:1 version for 2024 comes in an ink blue… with Mini GT logos on the front bumper! Coupled with the news that Mini GT got Liberty Walk exclusivity for their 1/64 scale price bracket (I wonder if that includes Inno64), I’ll be surprised if we don’t see a LBWK F40 from Mini GT this year. A detailed LBWK with rolling wheels? Yes, please!
Hot Wheels x Ferrari still not a thing. We’ve seen some fantastic Ferrari race cars from Tarmac Works, but I’m not much of a racing decal guy (I *love* that McDonalds Ferrari Italia event exclusive). And so I absolutely cannot wait for Mini GT’s Ferraris, sold under BBR (I hope them producing a LBWK F40 doesn’t mess that up–maybe a good thing that Mini GT is completely separate and missing from BBR prodcuts).
TLDR: RWB and LBWK still going on strong in 2024 🙂