DiecastTalk Fifth Anniversary Models

Where were you in the diecast hobby five years ago? Did you just get started? Maybe you were midway through a closet purge. Perhaps the explosion of ‘premium’ brands redirected your collection from binging mainline Hot Wheels to more focused purchases. I can’t remember what I bought yesterday so don’t expect any input from me.

“DiecastTalk started with taking on Y.E.S 1/64 Evo as an official distributor for this brand,” Issac Chan told me. “We also became the pioneer of carrying all the Chinese brands to the US market.” For the record, DiecastTalk is more than just Issac, but run by a small group of like-minded collectors.

I recall Lamley covering the Evo IX way back in January 2020, even directing people to the DiecastTalk website to preorder it (it’s now a 404 error link, so don’t bother). To think of how much the diecast universe has expanded since then is hard to comprehend.

While becoming a distributor, ordering product and setting up a Squarespace shop might not be beyond the skills of your above average person, getting to the point of releasing your own exclusives takes time, talent and the right amount of self-discipline to keep the operation shiny side up.

“It is always difficult to start something from zero,” says Issac. “It takes a lot of hard work and patience to see some results. For now, I have created my own pattern and am very disciplined following the steps. It began as a hobby but turned into a career, but ultimately I want to be an airline pilot and still run this shop.” Talk about lofty goals. I’m happy just getting some writing done here and there on terra firma.

It was 2022 when DiecastTalk announced its first exclusive casting release – the then current generation Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. The Army Green four door was limited to just 804 units and sold out rather quickly. In fact, I added the Tacomas to my Top 10 for 2023. The preorder opened September 19, 2022, but the first Tacoma didn’t arrive until six months later (helping it to land on my 2023 list). I said it then and I’ll repeat it now – it was worth the wait. It also opened the doors for future releases, some in quick succession.

A week later the Milkteacoma preorder launched, with production increased to 1008 pieces. Again, it sold out quickly. This overland featured off-road accessories, including larger flares and a different front bumper. There was a roof rack and a cap and a rear-mounted spare tire. I believe this was also the only time standard taillights were used. Just 40 raw chase pieces were produced.

At some point the Voodoo Blue TRD Pro was released (again 1008 pieces with 40 raw chases). I’m thinking it was sometime in March 2023. That split the releases of the Front Runner Outfitters overland collaboration in White (1008/42) and the Front Runner Outfitters in Cement (804/32).

April 1 brought a prank posting that eventually materialized into a fungible truck – the Pink Taco! Just over a month later a boxed sample was shown with the promise of being very limited. It ultimately went on sale May 23, 2023 and promptly sold out of whatever quantity was pre-loaded. Just 600 were made, including 25 Chrome Chases. This was the first chase I scored. Ordering four might have upped my chances a bit.

Towards the end of June is when the Tacozilla preorder opened. The overland was based off the 2021 SEMA presentation camper. It had a similar set of off-road parts, including a canoe and roof-top tent. Of the 1000 pieces made, just 50 were raw chase models.

Based off my extensive research of past emails, it seems there was a lull in preorders until DiecastTalk introduced the 4Runner casting in October 2023. It was initially in white and limited to 1200 pieces, with 50 raw chase models. Army Green was released in December in a more limited 1008 pieces. The chase model was specially painted an almost iridescent green. It was very cool with only 42 made.

February of this year (2024) saw the introduction of the third DiecastTalk / GCD casting collaboration. The Tacoma Pre-Runner wide body was licensed by Tacomabeast and KC HiLights, and based off of PUGZ 1:1 Tacoma, built by Dimitri Justice. This badass baja monster featured posable front wheels and working suspension. Included in the 1008 issued were 42 ‘dirty’ chase models. This is also the first release that included the DiecastTalk logo cast into the base.

Valentine’s Day was coincidentally the same day the VIP Membership went on sale. Limited to just 200 spots (with a max of three per household), it afforded the recipients membership to the DiecastTalk Discord channel, an exclusive Voodoo Blue 4Runner with the DiecastTalk logo on the lower front doors, an individually numbered metal plate membership card, and early access and VIP discounts for exclusives in 2024.

The last 4Runner [for now] was a 40th Anniversary in black with the tricolor throwback stripes. It was the most limited at 504 pieces with just 21 raw chases – which looked great with 40th graphics. When the 4Runner returns, it might just be sporting some overland gear.

Another new casting was revealed before the month of March came to an end. The Toyota Hilux was an uncredited star in the Back to the Future franchise, but DiecastTalk had other plans before they would release one in a black tuxedo. Again partnering with KC HiLights and Frontrunner Outfitters, the two truck box set (limited to just 1008 sets with 42 raw chases) featured TRD colors on both the Pre-Runner Tacoma and the new Hilux SR5 4×4 Xtracab casting. The latter had both an opening hood and tailgate.

A year after the first Pink Taco April Fool’s joke, the DiecastTalk team did it again with the Pre-Runner Pink Taco 2.0. This time, $1 from each of the 800 units went to the Breast Cancer Foundation | the Susan G. Komen to support breast cancer research.

April also featured the release of the Hilux in black, with the highest production number thus far at 1400 units. However, just 200 of those came with a Statler Toyota sticker banner to mimic the scene from BTTF and only 50 were raw chases. Naturally, this too sold out.

The Pre-Runner was outfitted with a newly tooled pop-up camper and slathered in Toyo Tires livery for an early June pre-order. To date, this is the only Pre-Runner still available on DiecastTalk’s website and you can find it HERE. Of the 1008, just 42 were raw chases.

Yet another new casting was released into the wild via preorder…the latest generation Toyota Sequoia. Just like the 4Runner, the bigger brother SUV will first be available in white. For the first time, Lamley Group is partnering with DiecastTalk and gets a logo on the back window. Don’t fret – it’s removable with enough determination.

After a display case’s worth of releases, we’ve arrived at the celebration of DiecastTalk’s fifth anniversary. The Tacoma Camper features the Pre-Runner wide body panels and a bed-mounted camper with detachable metal tent piece. It was released in 650 pieces of Black Chrome goodness. The chase model was in Silver Chrome to the tune of 35, while there were just 15 units of the Super Chase in Gold Chrome.

The packaging was created specifically for this release, with graphics recalling some of their previously releases, including the Tacozilla and a Statler Toyota callout. The LAX baggage sticker is a nice touch, as is the anniversary logo with the years. Overall, it’s a real nice piece whether displayed in or out of the packaging.

I was fortunate enough to get the trifecta – which photographed pretty nicely out in the woods with the high afternoon sun peaking through the canopy. One thing I did find unusual was that the DiecastTalk logo was missing from the chassis. Still, having the trio all lined up with the camper shells in place was a pretty neat sight. They’ll display just as well on a shelf or in a diorama.

Alright, so if you made it this far you should know that not all that shimmers is gold. GCD puts out some great products, but they’re not without fault. There are fragile bits, especially the mudflaps. A few of the ones I’ve opened had at least one left in the packaging – knocked off before I even had a chance to drop it. A little glue can reapply it, but it might just be better to leave off. Second, there is a thin metal frame along the top of the Tacoma’s bed that came loose on my standard Tacomabeast. Again, a small dab of modeler’s glue should keep it in place. Also, my Tacomabeast chase had the delicate antenna missing from the roof. I didn’t see it in the package, so maybe it broke off during assembly? Lastly for broken parts, the inside of the tailgate on the Hilux chase was floating around the package. You can’t see it in pictures, so it’s not a big deal, but it’s another thing that can break off. And I haven’t seen this often, but a few of the chassis on the 4Runners were crooked, leading to one side being way higher than the other.

So back to the pieces themselves – if you’re not one to open and display, DiecastTalk has put some thought and effort in the design of each package. They’re all different and have unique personalities perfectly matched to each truck. I think my favorite, along with Issac’s, is the Tacoma Wide Body Pre-Runner/Hilux box set. The artwork with the mountains and the corresponding colors, along with the placement of the sans serif text, it just works. “We have a team of professional designers to do all our unique designs,” Issac tells me. “Our team has great passion in design and cars, which makes our packaging look great.” And the TRD-inspired design on the vehicles themselves is a hit. I specifically enjoy the nod to MCI on the Tacoma, while the Hilux presents a cleaner tribute. The Iron Man tag on the Tacoma is another hidden in plain sight Easter egg.

I can wax poetic for a few hundred more words, but at this point it’s best to just look at the pictures. Here’s to what the future holds for the DiecastTalk brand and its exclusive models. What’s the five year plan? “Exploring new markets other than overlanders and Toyotas, lol. Making an impact in the market and getting more people interested in this hobby.” Sounds like a solid strategy.