Matchbox Monday finishes off the fifth E/F batch of basics

As you know, when I started the 5th mix of 2026, I provided a long explanation as to how it technically is batch E and batch F. Yes, they missed 6 of the models out in the first run, added them in and changed box codes. These things happen. So, as the 5th mix had a whopping 15 models in it, I split it into 2, and ran the first 8 2 weeks ago. This time out, we concentrate on the latter half. 

Now, when Wheel Collectors first got these in, they only received power grabs batch F. Their delivery of long cards were delayed. It appears this is something that is happening in the USA with quite a few items, as many places appeared to have been delayed in getting items. However, between me writing the first half and writing the second half, I received a delivery.

Batch F long card. So, now I can switch pictures between boxes and blisters. If you have a preference for how you like your models to come, Wheel Collectors will eventually get both. I don't know why long cards are running so far behind power grabs. Anyway, the first of the 7 models to finish off the batch is the MB1521 Blaze Blaster III. It takes the MB53 slot in neon yellow.

Now, this does feel quite familiar. When this casting debuted laster year, it was red with yellow chevrons. 

That is a very similar look. The only difference is that the shield on the side is a little different. The pattern on the side is a complete match. Which is pretty cool, for the most part. There is one minor issue. Do you see there is some white writing on the side of the red one.

Do you see it on the yellow one? No? Well, it's there. Yes, the same white writing that adorned the red issue, and easily stands out against a red background is still the same. Had this been a darker model, the white writing would have stood out, and I would have been going on about how cool it was to have an alternate colour with the same look. However, they made a mess-up by leaving it white. With yellow and red flipping, white should have flipped to, I don't know. What is the opposite of white? Black! A very simple change could have made a huge difference. Holding the model in hand, and bringing it up close to your face, and you can just make out the white writing is in place. But, it was not a good choice for a bright yellow fire truck. 

Having the window section in red instead of blue last time does work. I think red goes better with the yellow. So, I don't have an issue with that. But, I do think they needed to check the mix of colours in use to ensure they stand out better. So, it does lose a point. A 9 out of 10. Next time, I am sure we are going to get a new look. I wonder if it will be a recurring theme?

Next up is the MB1425 '23 Citroën ë-C4. This is the models third year in the range, yet this is the second time we have seen a blue release. It takes the MB54 slot for 2026.

Of course, this is a totally different type of blue to the one it debuted in.Citroën calls this Eclipse Blue. It is a very nice shade. I am still not a fan of the window forming the roof on this one. I don't like that method of construction. But, I do like the colour. We see that it gets a standard front end tampo print. 

As well as the standard rear end treatment. You cannot go wrong with a simple depiction like this. Coupled with the 5-star wheels and the smoke window, I honestly cannot fault the look. I may fault the casting for a lack of a proper roof, but this end look is as good as they could do it.

And you can find a small shade. I do enjoy my shades. But, wait, it's not just on the body.

The window section itself has a lighter and darker smoke tint. Yes, I am a nerd. I do spot these things. I do like the colour. I am giving it a 10. 

I much prefer this blue to the original 2024 debut blue. Icelandic Blue. A proper colour. But Eclipse Blue, a much nicer colour. 

While last year, it came in orange. Something a bit different. 

I love the consistency with the tampo printing. Hopefully the next one will be Elixir Red. That is a cool colour on the model. I am also hoping that we see the MB1379 '23 Citroën ë-C4 X again in Moving Parts, as that debuted in 2023, but has not been seen since 2024. I do prefer that casting. Because Eclipse Blue also is an option on that model as well, and I think it would be cool to see it in Moving Parts in this blue look.

The third model I am looking at is the MB1437 '63 Mercedes-Benz 230SL. This is the model's third outing in the basic range, and for 2026, takes the MB55 slot in blue.

This is a very nice colour for the Merc. Dark blue was a popular colour choice back in the 1960s, so it seems logical that they went with one. I like the blue window on this one, as they sometimes give a blue tint to windows on classics. This one really works. We see a dark tan interior, which was a popular choice in contrast to the dark blue on real Mercs, and the disk wheels are always a great choice for this one. It comes with the standard front and rear end tampo prints that all other basics have seen. I can see absolutely nothing wrong with this one.

Now, it may be just me, but the artwork shows the model to be a much lighter blue. Sure, the dark is real, but so is the lighter, and I think it looks nicer. I think they should have gone with a lighter hue for the actual model. Sure, on a blister card, you can still see the model before purchase, but if you were to buy a power grab box, and open it up to find the model is much duller in shade, would you be a little disappointed? I am not 100% sure. 

This is a gorgeous model, and it still gets the chrome base. I do not have any particular problem with it, but I do ponder over the artwork versus end result. Is that enough to chip away from receiving top marks? Yes, if I am thinking about it, I am not going to end up with a top score. So, it gets a 9.5. Completely down to the contrast between actual model and artwork. I am a fickle person!

For those looking for a recap, let's do one. As we know, this is the model's third year in the basic range. Its debut was in 2024, where it appeared in white, and saw the blue tinted window.

It was then given a premium treatment for the 2024 Leipzig Convention, where Dirk Schleuer commissioned not 1 (the all-red was the standard look, as Abe Lugo created a little pagoda to sit on top). By the way, if you didn't know, I am attending the 2026 Leipzig Convention, which takes place on the first weekend of October. It's the first one I have made it to in 7 years, as I was last there in 2019. I am very much looking forward to the event, and the annual Modell-Hobby-Spiel which runs at the same time. I hope to see some of you there, and if you want to head out to Germany on the first weekend of October, please get in touch with Dirk. His email is info@moyshop.de for anybody interested. More details are here. It will open in a new tab.

200 of them came with a red roof, but a special version of only 25 saw a pink roof instead.

With the rarest of all being an actual pink car, with this one sporting a white pagoda. This was limited to just 18 examples.

In 2025, it appeared in gold in the basic range, and this one was good for a shade or 2. So far, it is the only 230SL I have found shades on. 

Which means we are now up to 3 basics, and 3 promotional issues. I wonder what the next one will look like?

Model number 4 this week is the rejuvenated MB302 '69 Chevy Camaro Convertible. After being sidelines for a while, it was retooled to better match the other Camaro casting from 1969, and has been used a few times in basics lately. It is good to see it in use again. It takes the MB56 slot in white.

Ooh! Stripes! I do love a model with stripes. I think I may have mentioned that a few times. Classics like this are always so cool with them. And orange? That's a little different. We have not seen orange stripes before on this casting. It goes very well with the orange interior as well. For those who may not know, this is a very real look. Back in 1969, Chevy provided the Camaro Convertible as the pace car for the 1969 Indy 500.

They first did a Camaro for the 1967 Indy 500, and ran a limited run of 100 examples for people to buy. But, when they returned for the 1969 event, they created a white with hugger orange stripes and a houndtooth orange interior, and then produced 3,675 examples for people to buy. So, this is a model based on the 1969 Indy 500 pace car. How cool is that?

Sure, it didn't have the official pace car writing on the sides, but I am not fussed about that. The 3,675 examples made for the public to buy didn't either. Sure, a few people added the side design to their replicas, but this is the standard look for the limited run. And I love it! I can't believe it has taken them so long to produce such a cool model like this. I mean, this Camaro has been around since 1997. That would technically make this the 30th year of action for it. Which is a pretty long time. But, if they keep coming out with examples like this, I will continue lapping them up. A perfect 10!

Yes, I even managed to find a shade of white. Now, if only they could bring back the MB336 '71 Chevy Camaro Z-28 for more outings. They have rejuvenated the '69s, but the '71 is still languishing in the doldrums, barely seeing the light of day. 

Let's do a dive back. We might be here for a while. 30 years of archive to scroll through. As I said, it debuted in 1997, and came in blue with dual white stripes. I also found a shade to that one. 

In the USA, a limited run of 10,000 were to be found mixed in with basic range assortments, all in plain gold.  

In 1998, it did see a white basic range outing. But this one had black stripes and a red interior. A bit different. Plus, a red with white stripes model appeared in a Roadside Assistance Adventure Pack (which is what they were calling the twin packs at the time).

It also saw 2 different Premiere premium outings. A green look in series 17, and orange in series 20. 

After 4 different 1998 outings, 1999 was much quieter. We just had this orange Open Road 5-pack issue.

2000 saw just the 1 outing as well. This time it was premium. A Coca-Cola themed model. This was white, and had dual red stripes and interior. 

It then lay dormant for a few years. It returned in 2003, as part of a Nickelodeon themed licensed 5-pack. The orange model from the 5-pack was also sold as a single, and was switched to blue.

In 2004, it was given another 5-pack outing. This time it was part of a Halloween themed Haunted House 5-pack with a ghostly design. 

While it also saw further 2004 outings. A Looney Tunes 5-pack saw it in teal, and again, it was chosen to be a single, now in green. 

And was also given a realistic look for the first time since 1999, as part of the 2004 Superfast series in green.

2005 marked its first appearance in the basic range since 1998. This time, it was blue, just like the debut, but now had white flames on the sides. 

We also saw another Halloween themed 5-pack that year, and it reappeared, this time in red with the same ghosts as before. 

In 2006, it was simply used in the Superfast series. A pale tan was sold in the USA, limited to 15,000 examples, with every single market outside the USA itself taking a white version, limited to 7,500 only. Although packaging for both added 500 to the number and used "up to" in the wording, just in case they miscounted, and somebody could prove it. Yes, that was a thing at the time. 

In 2006, it was given 2 releases. Superfast was now back as a US exclusive, and we just had a red one. But, a black one appeared in a licensed One Piece 5-pack. By now, adding 3 singles in alternate colours no longer happened. 

2007 saw an orange look, not too dissimilar to the 1999 Open Road 5-pack. However, the tampo on the side for this US Classics 5-pack outing was a little different, and it was a dark orange. 

By now, Superfast was exclusive to Walmart, and for 2007, a smaller set of Superfast America models was sold there. And the Camaro came in green. 

Yes, this model did see quite a few licensed 5-pack outings. The last of them was in 2008, when it was included in a SpongeBob SquarePants pack in black. After this, the model went on anonther hiatus. 

It returned in 2011, as part of a series of 10-pack exclusives. Until 2010, we were seeing 4 batches of 10-packs a year. Each batch would see a pack with all-exclusives, themed in a series (Real, Action, Adventure, 1st Editions). Alongside each pack would be 2 non-exclusive packs that featured a single exclusive. 2 models would be chosen, and they would get 4 different looks. However, 2011, things went weird. The first 3 batches saw only the non-exclusive packs with 1 exclusive in the corner. The last batch only saw the 1st Editions pack, and no other non-exclusive packs. So the Camaro only saw 3 outings. Yellow was the first batch, black for the second and red in the third. 

After taking 2012 off, it returned for a 4th outing in the basic range in 2013 in tan. I did see a little shading on that one. After this, the model went on a longer hiatus, and was subsequently retooled to better match the hardtop Camaro variant. 

It returned in its new look in the 2022 Target Retro series in orange with flames. 

And in 2023, was given a 5-pack outing in the Blue Highways III pack in tan, which I did see much better shading than the last tan outing. 

It was also a part of the US Muscle series in Walmart stores in the USA. Technically a carry forward, it reused the 2007 5-pack look, but as the tooling was updated, it was an instant variation. Plus, I did see a little shading there as well. Although that was partly down to the fact they also put it as a carry forward in the exact same look the following year in the Walmart Convertibles set. 

2025 saw the model's 5th basic range outing, and 1st since the retool. This time, it was back to being blue with dual white stripes. 

Can you believe that this year, its 30th year since creation, is only the model's 6th basic range outing? It is also the 5th look (including the carry forward) since the retool. I do think we will still see more of it. But, again, dig out the MB336 '71 Camaro. That also deserves more love. 

Phew! After all that, we now move on to the 3 new castings in the batch. The first of them is the MB1603 '19 Toyota 4Runner. It debuts in the MB57 slot in grey. 

Now, people may be wondering why we are getting a 2019 4Runner, when a few years back, we had a 2018 4Runner. Especially as both are technically part of the 5th generation 4Runner, which ran from the 2010 through 2024 model years. And there is now a 6th generation which launched at the end of 2024 as a 2025 model. Well, this is actually a modified 4Runner, and was created as part of the new Matchbox The Movie castings. You will see one of these in the film when it debuts on Apple on October 9th. But, they have also thrown it in the basic range as well. The movie models don't have to just be for the movie. 

This is also why we are seeing this roof element. I am sure that when we see the movie, it will make more sense. But, from what I can see in initial thoughts is that this is sort of representing a roof rack. Toyota does have a roof rack option for the 4Runner, and they appear to have created it by utilizing the window section to create it. This does mean that the window is pretty dark. It was either that, or have this pretty light. Could they have done it a different way? I am thinking Chevy Brockwood, Land Rover Gen II Safari, Trailer Trawler style, with a slot in piece and leave the interior out. I do like those slot in pieces, as they are removable and can switch between models. Would it have been more fun like that? This is quite a simple roof rack. The Landie had a lot of items on their roof piece. But, I think it still could have worked better. 

You can just make out the interior inside. It is there. From the side, you can also see that the window is not completely black, nor is the roof rack. So, they did a decent job in getting the tint right. But, I don't see this getting a pale enough tint to really see the interior properly, hence me thinking the alternate construction method could have been better. However, kudos for keeping the main body section around it on the roof. I am thinking of the Nissan Ariya Pole to Pole, with a roof piece on a roof that were all part of the window section, and just looks blobby. This does create a colour break and makes it stand out much better.

The front end of the casting has some extensive alterations beyond a standard 4Runner. I am guessing these are to bring it in line with the look of the one used in the film. Again, until I see the film, I cannot pass judgment on that. I can only assume that this matches the modified 4Runner used in the film. To better prove it, let's bring in the standard 4Runner. 

That is how the front end would normally look. The 2018 and 2019 are not really different, but this is obviously a modified model. 

Thankfully, unlike that Nissan Ariya Pole to Pole which was much smaller than the standard Ariya casting, this one has the proportions very similar to how they were for the older MB1302 '18 Toyota 4Runner casting. And to me, that is a great thing to see. It sets it apart, but keeps it real. You almost feel like these 2 could sit next to each other in real life, and look just like this. I think that was very important, keeping the proportions the same. 

The new one is fractionally wider, but I think the wheel arches look a little more flared. Plus, this is the TRD Pro. It's not the standard 4Runner. And it has been modified. I assume upon seeing the film, this model will make even more sense, so being slightly wider, I am not going to deduct points. Being the same length and height, I think there is a possibility it is wider. That 4Runner was the red 2022 issue.

Which was followed by a blue 2023 look, before taking 2024 off. Yes, 2 years, then a year off. 

Although it did double up on 2025. A white basic range outing. 

Plus a second, Super Chase model. Although the Super Chase was technically in an earlier batch. 

It had never been done in grey, so this one stands out anyway. 

With simple lights at the front, and this lovely detailed rear end, I cannot argue the final look is well done. 

And I am even seeing different shades of grey. Something that always appeals to me. So, how do I score this?

Inclusion. Okay, it is the second 4Runner of the same generation, but is a different version of the 4Runner. To me, that does mean it stands out as a different entity. Obviously, when they debuted the original in 2022, the Movie had not been made. They didn't know what vehicles they were using. So, I do not have a problem with this one. I can see it as an alternate 4Runner. So, I am giving it a 10 for inclusion. It's a movie car. Casting. As I said, I think I would have preferred to leave the interior, and create the roof element as a unique piece. Have it removable, and have fun switching it with the other models that use the same technique. Play value! A 9 out of 10. Design. Sure, grey, a bit boring. But, every other vehicle on the road is now grey. In fact, half of everything in the world feels like it is grey. So, it fits right in. And I cannot deny the tampo print. Black wheels, black base, they match the rest. Yeah, another 10. Which gives it a 29 out of 30. A very decent score and a good debut. And, from what I am seeing, this is not hanging around. So, the kids are obviously liking it. 

Obviously we will see this again. There is a move variant which I will talk about soon. And I assume it will return for more outings. While a movie vehicle as such, it has already proved that it works without the movie. So, I am sure we will see more outings in the future. I hope the original 2018 4Runner doesn't get forgotten about. Mind you, should they do the new 6th generation as well? Hmm!

While we ponder, here's a base shot, as this is a new casting.

Model number 6, and the second of the three new castings in the batch. This is the MB1594 '24 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Convertible. Yes, we have 2 different Camaro Convertibles in this batch. One classic, one new. One in white, and this MB59 is in matte black.

The thing is, we have the MB1036 '16 Chevy Camaro Convertible. This is, in essence, the start and end of the 6th generation of Camaro. As we know, the final Camaro rolled off the production line in December 2023, and the 2024 model year is it. There are currently no Camaros for sale as there is no 7th generation. At the moment. I am always hopeful. But, did we really need the start and end of the same generation? Sure, the real vehicle saw a facelift for the 2019 model year, and another for 2020. I am guessing 2019 wasn't good enough. But, it is still the same generation. I just ran through the 1969, which is a 1st gen. I also mentioned about getting the 1971 back, which is a 2nd gen. In the past, Matchbox have done a 3rd and 2x 4th gen models. I don't know if any of the castings are still around. However, here is a daft fact. Back in the early 1990s, Matchbox assigned 3 MAN numbers for cars that never made it. A 2nd gen Toyota MR2, a Toyota Celica and a 3rd gen Chevy Camaro Convertible. Recently, Matchbox has done the 2x Toyotas. But, I would love for them to make the Camaro Convertible. The 3rd gen Convertible debuted in 1987, 5 years after the 3rd gen liftback did. And 2 years after Matchbox made the liftback. I would have loved to have seen a 1987 Chevy Camaro Convertible, possibly even the IROC-Z? I do love Camaros, but I feel this is a little too similar to the previous casting to be justified. Matchbox only has so much space for stuff. Where the Toyota is visibly different to the standard 4Runner that I just ran through, this one has minor differences that you only see when you put the 2 together.

One of the main points is on the hood, where the interior forms part of it now. 

The older casting, at the rear here (I am using the 2021 Blue Highways II 5-pack release as it is also black), has a different upper hood area. You can also see that the rear tonneau section of the interior is now cast as part of the body section, not the interior. But, that is just the way they created the casting. It still looks pretty much the same. 

Obviously, the front end of the Camaro is now slightly different to how it was at launch. And it has been recreated very well. 

But, is it a major difference? No. Once shrunk down to miniature size like this, they are actually quite similar. 

And when it comes to the back end, it's like meh! The Camaro saw a facelift, not a new generation. They are very similar. 

Don't get me wrong, this has been crafted superbly. But, so was the last one. There was nothing wrong with it. It is actually one of my favourite Matchbox castings. Big fan. And, yes, I am a big fan of the new one. But, that's because it is a Camaro. I love Camaros. I really just don't feel that there was a need to redo this one. 

At a distance, you almost mistake one for the other. You instantly go over and check the hood, to see which one is which. The only real visual. It just didn't feel worth it to me. ZL1? It has slightly flared wheel arches to accommodate larger wheels. Something that you don't need on a model that uses a standard wheel. The front end has a slightly larger opening to allow more air in because the engine is larger and more powerful. Again, things that in miniature amount to nothing. I just can't justify the need for this one. Which is really sad, because I am a Camaro fan. But, I want something different. 

They did the hardtop in Moving Parts. Brilliant. Instantly different. A mild facelift and trim level variant. As I said, they should have done a third generation 1987 Convertible. That would have been freaking awesome. The MB1139 here is the 2022 Moving Parts release, with opening hood. Again, black. Had they not already done the '16 Convertible, I would have been all over this new one. Because it is different to the hardtop. But, they have done the convertible. And now they have done another one. It just feels like a wasted new tool. They only get so many of them a year. Make sure they are notably different. That is what I want. They could have done the '16 Convertible in this year's range in this exact colour, and it likely would have been just as popular. 

Because this colour is cool. Matte black with a gloss black stripe going over the top, and front and rear details. It looks amazing. I love the dual effect of the black. Gunmetal wheels look good. Clear window, black interior, all things that add to this look being amazing. This could have been put on the older '16 Convertible for the same effect. 

So, as much as I hate to say, when I score this, inclusion gets a 2. There is a 60-odd year history of the Camaro. Plenty of ideas to throw out something completely different. Yet, we get one just like the last one. Because, since we had the 2x '16s, they have not made a new Camaro casting until now. So, unless the '16 Convertible tooling was accidentally flattened at the factory, destroyed beyond repair, and they have given us a new one so we have a last generation, I just can't justify it. However, casting, it's been brilliantly done. I cannot fault the model. A perfect 10. And, as I love the colour, the design also gets a perfect 10. It is brilliant. It appears to be selling very well. But, the last one was doing just fine. It didn't need to be replaced. A total score of 22 out of 30. 

And, I did not get a great shot, but I do notice that some come out more satin black than matte black.

It is new, so we get the obligatory base shot. 

Which brings us to the last model, and the last of 3 new tools. Good grief! Oh, this isn't going to go well is it. This is the MB1608 '23 Chevy Tahoe ZL1. Another ZL1? This debuts in the MB60 slot in red.

I think you will know exactly where I am going to go with this. In 2020, Chevy launched the new 5th generation of Tahoe as a 2021 model. And for the first time, since they did a 1st generation in 1997, Matchbox created a casting. The MB1381 '22 Chevy Tahoe debuted in the Moving Parts series in 2023. It had an opening hood. We saw 2 looks, and red was the 2024 look. We never saw it in 2025, and now they have done the same casting as a basic. Yes, again, they have marked it down as ZL1. But, what does that mean? Front skid plates? That's nothing when shrunk down to miniature size. A beefier suspension for off-roading. That means nothing on a toy. It is just a trim level. Absolutely nothing that really makes a model stand out from another. Why didn't the do the 2021 PPV? A police version? That would have been cool. Notably different. Why not mix it up and do the alternate. You know, the GMC Yukon. Same vehicle. Different front and rear end. And a different name. I would have been okay with either of them. There is even the fact that in 2025, the Tahoe saw a facelift. It actually arrived in 2024 for the 2025 model year, so plenty of time for them to go with the upgrade. Similar to how the Camaro is a facelifted version of the old one. But, this is the same old Tahoe. Now without an opening hood. As I keep saying, Matchbox only gets so many tools to use. They allocate some for basics, some for Moving Parts, and even create a few specifically for premium use. I don't want to see the same old vehicles being used across multiple ranges. There are only so many. I don't want duplicates. If a model appears in either the basic range or Moving Parts, if they contemplate adding it to the alternate, come up with a different take on it. As I mentioned, the police or GMC versions would have been so cool. Having both the Moving Parts and basic range of the exact same casting just feels like a waste of a tool for me. 

Which is a real shame, because Tyler Charest has done great work with this. The shape has been captured extremely well, and I see nothing to complain about in the stance and the side view. 

And I am loving the roof detail. That notch for the aerial is spot-on! That's where it is on the real one. 

Now, bringing in the other, the MB1381 '22 Chevy Tahoe that Abe Lugo created in 2023, we can see that the new casting has no moon roof. Which, okay, it does give us a visible marker between the 2. They have been created at the same size, and they even get the same colour, as red was the 2024 Moving Parts release of the earlier casting. 

I didn't mention the front at first, because this is one area where the new tool does feel a little bland. It appears to be relying on the tampo print a lot to detail it. 

Where you can see the original tooling, on the left here, does feature a little more casting detail to the front grille area. Which does make it look better. Yes, you can see the skid block difference because the new one is a ZL1. 

The rear end casting and detailing is exceptional on the new one. I am very impressed with that. 

And with the added licence plate detail, the new one seems to have the edge this time. Front end goes to the old one, rear to the new one. It's nip and tuck. Both Tyler and Abe know how to create a great casting. Way better than anything I could do. 

My huge disappointment is simply that, if they release a model in either Moving Parts or basics, please don't do the exact same in the other range. You only have so many tools. Make different ones. PPV? Yukon? 2 clear examples as to how they could have switched it effortlessly. And I would have loved them! 

But the exact same one, and to top it off, they debut it in the exact same colour as the last one was released it. It's called Auburn Metallic. One of 10 different colours that the ZL1 was to be found in for 2023. Black was another, which was how the 2023 debut for Moving Parts appeared, which means there were 8 other colours to go with. Honestly, they should have debuted it in white. Whether it be iridescent Pearl, or simply plain, which is known as Summit White. At least it was something a bit different. This one does feel like a let down for me. 

So, let's score it. Inclusion. I'm sorry, but this gets a 0. To me, they have just moved Moving Parts basically, to basics. Much like the Tesla Roadster/Model X/3 scenario, along with the Corvette C8 hardtop, Toyota Prius Prime, '68 Toyota Land Cruiser, and others, that will likely pop into my head after I finish writing. If you make a model in Moving Parts, don't do the same in basics. The same goes the other way around. Make a different version of it. Not a trim level. Unless that trim level gives us huge 4x4 wheels, or a massive spoiler on the rear. Something that makes it really noticeable. Or like the Toyota 4Runner I went through here. However, something that, when reduced to miniature size, really does not appear to be different without close inspection is really not worth doing. A ZL1 package compared to standard package is nothing in this scale. Casting. I will dip a point for the front end detailing. That grille needed a bit more definition in the tooling like the older Moving Parts casting had. A 9 out of 10. Design. I am giving it a 6, as this is the exact same look as the last release in Moving Parts. Dark red to dark red. No. Had the original Tahoe casting not existed, inclusion and design would have been top marks. It would still have dipped for the front grille. Had this been a GMC Yukon, debuting in red would have been awesome. The GMC version is called Volcanic Red, and putting this next to the older Tahoe, I would have had a lot of fun talking about them paying homage to each other. But, a Tahoe that looks just like the last Tahoe, in a colour that is the same as the last Tahoe, it did not gel. I feel like that was a waste of a new tool. Yes, this is one of the things I don't want to keep seeing from Matchbox. Create the same tools for basic and Moving Parts, or even just a slightly facelifted model (as in the Camaro). In the case of the Camaro, there is no new gen, so just go back. In the case of the Tahoe, it had options to not do the exact same, yet we still got the exact same. Which is why it ends up with a score of 15 out of 30. It's good, but it was great 3 years ago when we got the last one. 

So, things went a little south at the end there. As we finish with a base shot for the new casting, I do hope that we don't keep on getting repeated tooling across multiple ranges. Now, basics, 5-packs and 8-packs are the same. I do not mind seeing a model in all 3 in the same year. We had that with the Morris Minor a few years ago, and I loved getting 3 looks in the 1 year. But, basic tooling and Moving Parts tooling are 2 different things. I do not like seeing the same exact casting in both. A Camaro hardtop in one, convertible in the other, perfectly fine. A civilian Chevy Tahoe in both? Nope! As much as I was not a big fan of just updating the Camaro tooling with the facelifted look for basics, I still prefer it to getting the same in both. Had we seen an '87 Camaro Convertible and Tahoe PPV/GMC Yukon in the new castings to finish this off, this report would have ended up so differently. I hope it is not something we see more and more as time goes on. 

So, as this report finishes, I do look back on the new castings and think of Clint Eastwood. Hos 1966 film title, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly really does depict this trio. Not the castings. The inclusion. 10, 2 and 0. 

As well as another 4 that have returned for more outings.

So, as these head off to join the collection, I really should get on with doing more Moving Parts. I've only done 2 batches out of 8, and this has just finished the 5th of 12 batches of basics. Moving Parts is moving behind. Until next week, I hope everybody has a safe and happy week.