September 2nd Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Dirk Schleuer...

Ambassador Update 02 September 2015

Hello Matchbox friends,

Summer time is vintage car time...at least for me...several smaller and bigger meetings, rallys and lots of fun.

Beginning in August, I went to a small place near the river Rhein called Hitdorf and did that with a very special car – see pic below.

Sorry – pic is from a local newspaper so you normally do get a better quality from me! You know that Matchbox sold a model of that vehicle only some years ago?

(Check: http://www.mbxforum.com/11-Catalogs/00-Software/jnmb75nds.php?uSeries=ClassicEuropean Economy Cars&uCatalog=3002)

With the special protection the trips to follow will surely be safe!

Having fun with our Messerschmitt KR200 Convertible – my Mom and me!

But know show you some new stuff coming:

New models from the 1-120 series:

New color for the very sought after Tesla:

And a new layout for the police Dodge Charger:

Even better from this angle?

All these pics will surely also turn up on Johns and David's Lamley Group (http://lamleydlm.blogspot.de/).  My friend John Nijhuis has devoted an extra page for my updates and report – check: http://www.mbxforum.com/01-News/900-Ambassador/jnambassador11.php

Rather sad news is that the supreme heroes series has been canceled. Only wave A with four models was produced and the other models shown from coming waves were just samples and not produced. But don’t be too sad – the best of world series is coming and surely fill the gap – check pics of three more models coming:

Lets start with the bike – surely special even in this very special set:

 

Printing on the seat proves that it is still before production and the pic came in really hot from the design team at the ToyBox at Mattel.  I include big pics so you don’t miss a detail...

And it surely would be wrong to miss a detail on this Land Rover with emergency layout!

One more pic to enjoy!

Also we need a Cadillac – check out this beauty:

But we are not finished yet – highlight surely is Michaels 5.000 design – the bus:

And the other chocolate side...

But also the front view is nice and shouldn’t be missed:

Last time I did ask you about new Matchbox Originals to do and I still keep that question alive. I do get several ideas of licensed vehicles to be produced and surely everybody can name on the point 5- 10 castings never done before and surely worth doing. But I think these ideas will help the design team even more!

Oil field pipe truck:

Timberjack log skidder:

And on my lunchbreak a had one of these on my pedestrian way: Nilfisk City Ranger – surely a great challenge to create:

Because it bends in the middle to turn quicker:

Sometimes you find funny things on the way/road. This time a plane pulling kind of car...

If you know the wheels – yes – it is a duck (Citroen 2CV). At least the most useful and needed parts of it and surely it pulls a plane – prove picture!

I did take the picture on my rallye last weekend – the rallye was called “GoldRace” and took us from Jülich near Aachen (Aken) into the Netherlands and back home. Good weather and lots of fun:

Every team do get a Matchbox model Duesenberg with their own race number on it – so ours was number 2...

From time to time I play with the little explore the world model ;) You surely can guess its purpose?!

We had lots of fun at the rallye and I wish you also lots of fun with the best hobby in the world... 

Dirk 

A Complete Look at all 10 Matchbox Ambassador Routemaster Buses (plus one completely encased in acrylic)...

Last month, at the Matchbox Gathering in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a new Matchbox Ambassador was named.  Dirk Schleuer of Germany was chosen to take on the responsibilities for a span of twelve months, replacing Larry Scaduto.

If you are a regular reader of Lamley, or any Matchbox-related forum, you know that the term "Matchbox Ambassador" is thrown around a lot.  Many of you probably know what it is about, but I am guessing many of you don't.

The Matchbox Ambassador position was formed a little over a decade ago as a way for the Matchbox team to maintain a direct link to the collector community.  It was a way for the Matchbox team to disperse information simply, and have questions and feedback passed directly back to them.  The Ambassador would release regular reports from Mattel, which at first were distributed through email and then posted on various diecast forums.  In turn, any comments or questions from collectors would be sent directly to the Ambassador, who would pass them on to the team.

To keep things fresh, and to give certain collectors a chance, it was decided that each Ambassador would serve for twelve months, from July to July to correspond with the Gathering.  Dirk is the 11th Ambassador, continuing a long line of prominent and very knowledgable collectors who have served.  (With one exception. Some doofus with a blog and a willingness to write - a lot - got the gig for one year back in 2012.  Thankfully order was restored with Nigel Cooper being named the year after.)

If you talk to each Ambassador, I think all would say it was a blast to do, and created a much different perspective on what Mattel deals with in creating and releasing an entire year of product.  I think all will also say it was nice to hand the reigns to someone else after doing it for a year.  It is hard work.

But for all the work it takes, and for all the grief that can be directed an Ambassador's way, there is a huge payoff.  At the end of their tenure, each Ambassador is handed a Mattel-produced gold-plated Routemaster Double Decker Bus attached to a plinth and encased in plexiglass.  Each Bus includes the Ambassador's name, years of his tenure, and the number of his term.

They are very special models, each a one-of-a-kind, but also part of a unique subset of models, released as a one-off every year.  When Dirk gets his next July, it will be the 11th released.

With 10 buses now handed out, it seems like a good time to get them all together.  Actually putting them in one place would be extremely hard to do, as some are in the US and others in Europe, but thanks to Matchbox guru and historian Marcel Colign, we now have a photo collection of all 10.

Marcel was kind enough to share the photos he has compiled with Lamley, and has given us permission to post them here.  You will see that over time the buses have changed slightly, but they maintain the same theme and bright gold color.

But before I show them, I should probably pass along the story of one additional bus that was made as part of an elaborate and very successful prank pulled by the Matchbox team for Ambassador #3 - and my Lamley cohort - David Tilley.

David is well known in Matchbox circles for two things - his love of the most minute shade variations (another story for another time), and his role as the DLM (Diecast Liberation Movement) supreme leader.  He will open everything.  And I mean everything.  David has destroyed preproduction and test packaging, plexiglass cases for event models, and anything else that houses a model, no matter how rare.

Knowing this, and knowing that David Tilley's Ambassador Bus would be opened the second it was given to him, the Matchbox Team came up with a plan.  I will let recently-retired Matchbox Design Director Michael Heralda tell the story:

The Gold Routemaster Bus has become the iconic model given to all outgoing Matchbox Ambassadors as a parting gift. The very first Gold Bus was given to John Yanouzas and since this was sort of an experiment with our production team in Asia (to produce a gold plated bus) they made two samples - each one slightly different in body coloring due to the prep and plating process. We gifted John the better looking of the two which meant that I was the keeper of the other one where it rested happily on my shelf with a hundred other samples and models I liked.

When David Tilley's term as 3rd Ambassador (2007-2008) was coming to an end I revised the original artwork to include his name on the bus and sent it off to our production team. Then the idea of playing a trick on him hit me. David, as many collectors know, is the poster kid for the Diecast Liberation Movement (DLM). Wouldn't it be funny if David could not liberate his gold bus at the dinner presentation! That second spare gold bus came in handy when it was decided to encase it in a solid block of acrylic!

I remember how reluctant and nervous the guy in the model shop was thinking that the chemical reaction of the acrylic catalyst would eat away at the gold plating and destroy the model. I kept reassuring him that it was worth trying. Eventually he agreed and I was with him when he placed the bus in the mold and was there when he removed it. We both smiled to see that the only flaws were with some bubbles and mold marks. Once it "cured" completely he glued a black base to the bottom of the acrylic block making it appear like it was a regular presentation acrylic case with a gold bus inside. Visually, I knew it was good enough to fool David Tilley! And it was!

When the time came to present the gold bus to David, during the dinner event at the Collector Gathering, everyone in the room started laughing as David tried unsuccessfully to remove the gold bus. He did however manage to remove the black base that was glued to the bottom of the acrylic block. The look on his face was priceless when he realized there was no possibility of removing the bus without the aid of a hammer! Quickly I handed him the real gold bus and confiscated the one in acrylic.

Its a great conversation piece and one day I hope to see it displayed in a (Matchbox) museum along with its story - this one is dedicated to all members of the DLM army everywhere!

We are hoping, tucked somewhere deep in the Mattel storage facility, maybe near Indiana Jones' Ark of the Covenant, this acrylic-encased bus remains.  And that someday it will be pulled and displayed. Such a cool model attached to a fantastic story.

At least we have the actual 10 out there to show, including David's actual bus, that you will see below was removed within seconds of hitting is hands.

A special thanks to Marcel for compiling these, and letting us share.  Here they are, all 10 buses, from first issued to last:

#1 - John Yazounas (2005-2006)

#2 - Jim Gallegos (2006-2007)

#3 - David Tilley (2007-2008)

#4 - Terry Ozima (2008-2009)

#5 - John Nijhuis (2009-2010)

#6 - Chuck Wiersma (2010-2011)

#7 - Shabbir Malik (2011-2012)

#8 - John Lambert (2012-2013)

#9 - Nigel Cooper (2013-2014)

#10 - Larry Scaduto (2014-2015)

Cool collection eh?  I hope to one day get them all together at a future Matchbox Gathering and get them all photographed.  Maybe next year when Dirk accepts his.

In the meantime, let's hope they all stay happily where they are, avoiding that unknowing relative that picks it up by the plexiglass.  Yikes...

July 22nd Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Larry Scaduto...

This is the final Matchbox Ambassador Report from Larry Scaduto, who finished his term as #10 at last weekend's Gathering.  We at Lamley want to thank Larry for his great reports, and look forward to the upcoming term of our 11th Ambassador, Dirk Schleuer of Germany...

Thanks again Larry!

Ambassador’s Report July 22^nd, 2015

By: Larry Scaduto

INTRODUCTION

Good day to everyone! This report is the one you have been waiting for! We all get to see the new product for the rest of this year and into the following year. 2015 has been a year of change! There’s a new Matchbox Team in place, although the faces may have changed, the desire to improve the brand has never been more of a priority than it is today. Dave Weise, Michael Heralda and the rest of the gang set the wheels in motion to put Matchbox back on track. Gerry Cody and his team will keep going what these fine gentlemen started. 2016 models are already selected and 2017 is now the focus with collectors in mind. The proof of this is in the desire of Matchbox to listen to our ideas. The results of the Collector’s Poll are in this report. These are the models voters decided they would like to see made and the candidates will be posted in the War Room for consideration. Well I’ve talked enough for now. Onto the Gathering Report. Thank you for reading…..Larry (Ambassador #10)

2015 Matchbox Gathering Report

                     

(Matchbox Dinner Presentation)

2015 & 2016 are looking great by what I’ve seen and heard. Not only did the dinner presentation provide us with a lot of information, but the seminar before that hosted by the Matchbox Team was an informal meeting of the minds that revealed even more information! Let’s jump right in shall we???? Matchbox is now under a new umbrella (or group) that is called The Toy Box! What that means to us is that we are no longer associated with the blue brand and that will give us freedom to pursue just about any model we wish without approval from them. Now it’s up to Mattel to let MBX accomplish this without restrictions. Are you listening Mattel??? To start out in mid-August there will be an exclusive Jeep Collection available at Wal-Mart. These models will have realistic decos and a picture blister card. The Power Grabs will be changing for next year. They will no longer be the blind bag assortment of 24 models. Now they will be a complete collection of all 125 models from the 2016 Basic Lineup. The big difference is that the models will be in collector’s inspired picture boxes with a counter display that will make this series easy to place in areas other than the toy isle. I’m impressed!!! 2016 will feature 25 new tools. Also in spring of 2016 there is a new premium series called Best of the World that will feature 10 models such as the Cadillac One, Austin Mini Van, Dodge A100, Routemaster Bus, and the Fox Body Mustang. This series will feature 2-part wheels, premium decos, and a collector’s box. And another series is coming in 2016 for the 75^th Anniversary of the Jeep brand that will feature collector’s boxes if my memory serves me correctly. For 2016…..(8) 5-Packs, (9) 9/10-Packs, (6) Sky Buster Mission Force Sets, and 5 new toolings for the Sky Busters Range: A new Bat Plane, Honda Jet, Speed Seaplane, Heavy Metal Bomber, and a Multi Rotor Devise.

Gathering Models

2015 Gathering Dinner Models

’75 Mack CF Pumper

     

                1^st 75 models (without roof tampo)                            2^nd 125 models (with roof tampo)

If you were one of the first 75 to register and pay for your dinner you would get the Mack CF Pumper without roof tampo upon entry to the dinner/charity auction. The remaining 125 with roof tampo were sold to anyone else that paid for their dinner after the first 75 registrants. As you can see this model is exceptionally well done. 

Next up is the 2015 Gathering Dealer Model…. It is the Ford Bronco 4x4 in purple with the Gathering logo on each side of the model. The hood reads 13^th International Collector Gathering. This model was sold to the dealers who purchased tables at the toy show on Sunday. A big Thank you goes out to Jim Gallegos for getting these models made for the event.

2015 Gathering Dealer Model

Ford Bronco 4x4

                                          2015 Models

2014 Jeep Cherokee

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

           

                                                         (MB965) Attack Track

                                                        Cadillac One Limo

                                                   

2015 Ford F-150 Contractor’s Truck

                                             Airport Fire Truck Hardnoze

                                              All Terrain Moto Tractor

  

(MB926) Sea Spy

2016 Models

Wow…where do I start??? It looks like there is going to be at least 25 new castings for 2016 with at least 11 being licensed. I’ve pictured all the models that were at the Gathering and at the end I’m featuring a poster that was handed out by the team. There are pictures of other vehicles that are being made as well. The models pictured below are early mockups and are subject to change when released. Here is the list of models to be released in 2016 that are not pictured here in this report:
1971 Nissan Skyline 2000 GTX
2015 Dodge Ram Police Truck
2015 Volvo V60 Wagon w/carrier
4 Seater ATV

All images and articles are presented here with the consent and permission of Mattel and the Matchbox Team.

                                                        Amphibious Vehicle

3 Axle Explorer

1968 Mustang (Mud Stang)

                                            1990 VW Crew Cab Transporter

   

                                             2015 Chevy Corvette Police Car

      

Airport Bus

Big Rig Wrecker

2015 Chrysler 300

    

Coast Guard Helicopter

Freightliner Fire Engine

Double Wheeled Tractor

    

2015 Mazda Miata 

    

Heavy Freighter Locomotive Train (more train cars to follow)

Range Rover Evoque (might still be issued late in 2015, but 2016 release could be a possibility)

2014 Ford Transit News Van

X-Ray Truck

Horizontal Excavator 

Yacht (with separate clear wave stand)

Ice Vehicle

Side Tipping Dump Truck

Off Road Camper

Zamboni Ice Machine

Models We Would Love To See Made

(One Last Time)

Patriot Fire Truck (sent by a fellow collector – Awesome!!!)

Here is something never tried before. The Matchbox Team can be contacted directly through Instagram. Download the app and type in:   @matchboxworld  and then click on follow. This will be a new look into the Matchbox Team and the design process, “a day in the life” so to speak. This is a great chance for the collector community to get a behind the scenes look at our brand, see new products & ideas, and it will be a place to ask questions. Thank you for the opportunity to get us involved!!!

(Below is the 2016 poster handed out by the Matchbox Team)

DINNER PRESENTATION PICS 

10^TH AMBASSADOR’S BUS

   

PREPRODUCTIONS WON AT THE GATHERING

      

(MB846) Dodge Charger Pursuit (won by my wife, Gina)

   

(MB679) 2005 Ambulance 

   

(MB882) All Terrain Crane

(MB914) Ground Grabber

(MB918) Drill Digger

Another PrePro added to the Collection….

TV News Truck (with brown antenna & news camera)

                       

PREPRODUCTION CASE

Over the past year I’ve been showing you a selection of preproductions that are big part of my collection. You may be asking yourself…..where do I keep them all? Here is the Matchbox Collectables Case that houses a portion of my collection of PrePro’s. They say being in the right place at the right time sometimes pays off. I was at a cheese shop in the Wisconsin Dells last year and I remembered this place used to carry the Matchbox Collectables Line some years back. So I went up to the owner of the shop and inquired about the case that I last saw several years back. She said that the case was in the basement not being used any longer. So I asked if it was for sale and if so how much! After she placed a call to who I believe was her son, she came back and said I can have it for $250. I thought about it and came back the next morning to pick it up. So here it is below….

         

WHAT’S NEW – BATCH G

                    MB57 Ford Superlift F-350                                             MB66 Blaze Blitzer

                       MB3 2013 Ford Cargo                                          MB56 Spark Arrester

  

                   MB16 1966 Dodge A100                                 MB68 International MXT-MVA

  

                    MB111 Travel Tracker                                                   MB91 Terrainiac

  

                   MB36 Ground Breaker                                             MB34 Trail Tipper

  

                    MB53 BMW M5 Police                                          MB86 Volkswagen Saveiro

2017 COLLECTOR’S CHOICE POLL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzAfTmC3It0 

(Click on the link and then minimize it to view the poll. Just for fun)

Well….here is the results of the 2017 Collector’s Choice Poll!!! 

The response to this poll was very good with just under 100 voters. Thank you all who participated. As you will see, the final selections reflect a wide variety of vehicles new and old. The theme to keep in mind when selecting was to be Exploration & Explore your World. Let me just say that idea went right out the window when the final tally was realized!!!! Themes can be very restrictive and I truly believe that in the end, it’s the models that matter the most. You will see as I count down the top 20, there are some awesome selections for Matchbox to honestly consider for 2017 and beyond. Thank you Gerry Cody for asking us for our input. 

20. 2012 Volvo S60 Polest

19. 1953 Studebaker Starliner

18. 1973 Lamborghini Jarma

17. 1960 Chevy El Camino

16. 2015 Chevy Tahoe

15. 1954 Hudson Hornet

14. Airstream Trailer

13. 1948 Tucker Torpedo

12. BMW i8

11. 2015 Ford Mustang

10. 2014 Jaguar F-Type

(Wish Granted)  (2015 Release)

9. Mazda Miata MX-5

(Wish Granted)  (2016 Release)

8. 1962 Divco Delivery Van

7. Ford Capri II Turbo

6. 2016 Ford Transit

(Wish Granted)   (2016 Release)

5. 2016 Ford GT

4. 1958 Ford Edsel Corsair

3. 1954 Wills Jeep Wagon

2. 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

1. 1967 MGB GT

Models Most Requested that were not on my List

  

                2016 Alfa Romero Giulia QV                                          Alvis Stalwart       

      

                 Leyland Site Hut Truck                                      International Ambulance

2017 Collector’s Choice Poll (by the numbers)

• 1967 MGB GT
• 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
• 1954 Willys Jeep Sedan Delivery
• 1958 Ford Edsel Corsair
• 2016 Ford GT
• 2016 Ford Transit
• Ford Capri II Turbo
• 1962 Divco Delivery Van
• Mazda Miata MX-5
• 2013 Jaguar F-Type
• 2015 Ford Mustang
• BMW i8
• 1948 Tucker Torpedo
• Airstream Trailer
• 1954 Hudson Hornet
• 2015 Chevy Tahoe
• 1960 Chevy El Camino
• 1973 Lamborghini Jarma
• 1953 Studebaker Starliner
• 2012 Volvo S60 Polest

Miscellaneous

Everett Marshall Charities 10^th Annual Tournament

1975 Mack CF Pumper

Remaining 2015 Batch Release Schedule

Batch H

Urban Tow Truck – Mound Mover – Ground Grinder – Toyota Tacoma Life Guard – Deep Diver – 2012 Ford Explorer Police – 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT

Batch J

69’ Cadillac Sedan DeVille, - Ground Grabber – Dodge Charger Pursuit – Desert Thunder V16 – BMW  R1200 GS – Jeep Hurricane Concept

Batch K

Gator Raider – Garbage Gulper – 2015 Ford F-150 Contractor Truck – Trail Tracker Beach Rescue – Dodge Charger Pursuit – Ford F-350 Ambulance – All Terrain Moto Tractor – MBX Prospector – 4x4  Scrambulance – Sea Spy

Batch L

Cadillac One – Aston Martin Volante – Scholar Hauler – Pit King – Road Roller – Baja Bullet – Airport Fire Truck Hardnoze – Vantom – Torque Titan 

Batch M

International Armored Car – Seed Shaker – Acre Maker – Attack Track –  Blaze Blaster – Lamborghini Gallardo Police – Road Raider – Jeep Willys 4x4 Pickup – ATV 6x6 – VW Beetle 4x4 – MBX 4x4

For Collectors worldwide….check out this website!!!!!

hobbyDB, www.hobbydb.com, is a new site for collectors that aims to combine everything you need to build and maintain your collection.
First off, it’s an information database for cataloguing collectibles (one which any user can edit or add to, just like Wikipedia). It was designed to cover all the most important data points for different collectible types. For Matchbox, that means when you create an entry for a car, you can record the baseplate material and color, wheel type, window tint color etc. And everything is interlinked, so you can see with one click which models had gray plastic wheels and which had black. Variants are also linked to each other so they appear on each other’s’ pages, making it equally easy to see how many different versions of a model were made.

Page on the Romping Rabbit

As well as cataloguing individual products, there are also pages on subjects like Matchbox itself or the Superfast series or designers and personalities like Jack Odell – with all the items related to them also linked, so you can browse and discover what’s out there.

The page on Matchbox already shows 4,700 models and other products

On top of the catalog, however, there’s also a collection management system. If you’re tired of losing track of what you do and don’t have and find keeping written records or Excel spreadsheets time-consuming, you can easily and quickly keep tabs on what you have by finding it in our catalog and clicking the “Add to collection” button. You can quickly fill in some useful details like price paid, condition and where you store it, upload a picture and click save. Handy for events when you’re not sure if the Pontiac Firebird you have is in better or worse condition than the one you’re thinking about buying – just grab your phone, surf to hobbyDB and look yours up! You can also add items to your wishlist to keep track of what you need to find.

Lastly, you can also use hobbyDB to buy and sell. If your collecting interests change, just go into your collection, find the items you want to list for sale, click the “Sell” button and enter a price. Hit save and it’s up for sale. As soon as anyone buys it, it automatically moves to their collection too and hit the button. If you have stuff you just want to sell you can also list it straight from the item page by clicking the Sell button there without adding it to your collection first too. Pretty soon you’ll get an email alert whenever anything on your wishlist comes up for sale, so you don’t miss it!

The site is live, but Andrew (known from the forums as Baskingshark), Christian, Ron and the others are still working on lots of coming features (almost all of which have been suggested by other collectors). They had lots of great people helping with this project including Charlie Mack, Christian Falkensteiner and Jim Gallegos & love feedback so please check it out and let them know your thoughts and ideas at team@hobbydb.com!

Farewell and Thank You

Well we have arrived at my last Ambassador’s Report. This year has gone by fast!!! It seems like only yesterday I was introducing myself and now I’m saying goodbye. To say a lot has changed with regards to the design team would be an understatement!!! They say change is inevitable, but I wish it would not have happened on my watch (as they say). But I have forged a good friendship with David & Michael and now Gerry that extends past this wonderful hobby and that is more important to me personally. I set some personal goals when I first became ambassador and I felt I have achieved them! I said I would be accessible and approachable and I held true to my word. I know these reports could have only been a few pages long and just about the new models, but I had the attention of the Matchbox Team and I wanted to show them just what makes us crazy collectors so passionate (and sometimes frustrated) with regards to this hobby. There is a legacy to live up to and a wonderful history behind Matchbox collecting that I wanted to show them and the newer collectors reading these reports. So our new ambassador for 2015-2016 is Dirk Schleuer. I congratulate him on becoming the newest person to bring you the information from Matchbox. I just met the man this weekend and I’ve heard a lot of good things about him and wish him luck and good fortune. It has been an honor to serve as Matchbox Ambassador and represent the collector’s community. Thank you to all who wrote to me and sent in stories and pictures. A big Thank You goes out to Chuck Wiersma (Our 6^th Ambassador) for his wonderful and in debt articles about gift sets and models from the past.  I end this report with a collection of pictures from the gathering. Take care and thank you……. It’s been a blast!!!!

Larry Scaduto

(Your 10^th Ambassador)

Gathering Pics

(Friday Night Meet N Greet)

            

(Dinner Pics)

    

    

Gathering Pics

   

First Responders Display