Case Report: Opening a 2015 Hot Wheels International Q Case...

The last case of the year.  Do you feel sad?

Probably not, as we all move on to the next case, especially since the mystery of what is coming in 2016 starts soon.  But enough of that, let's stay with the Q case.

Funny that opening this Q case means we are now one year removed from the frenzy that was the Datsun 510 Wagon Super TH.  Funny to look back on that time, which doesn't seem like that long ago considering the frenzy is essentially continuing.

This year, the Q Case may not have the Wagon's equivalent, but it does have a gorgeous Super TH and a new model that may be the most hyped since the Wagon.  And the case is bursting with other goodies.

So as always, to give you as idea of what is inside, we asked our friends at Wheel Collectors to randomly pick a case and document its opening.  So let's get to it.

Here is the Q case, opened and pulled 3-by-3.  Enjoy:

There are a few things that stand out with this case.

First, no Super, but that isn't a surprise.  Wheel Collectors did pull one in another case:

The real surprise is that there is only one 180SX in the case, and that was the same for every case.  That is a real bummer.  My guess is more will be in the A Case, but starting out in low numbers per case isn't great for all the folks that want one or a thousand.

Other than that, this case is loaded.  Tons of good stuff, a bit of junky stuff, but that is to be expected. I will happily keep the Toyota, Scion, both Nissans, the Escort, Tesla, and on and on...

What will you keep?

Case Report: Opening two Sept 5th Kmart 36-count cases, and a mystery continues...

Who else took advantage of Kmart's flub last week?

If you aren't aware, Kmart put the September 5th Collector's Event cases up for sale on their website last week.  That is very early.  Normally they pop up the week before the event so collectors can get them at about the same time as the event actually happens.  Not this time.

A friend sent me the heads up last week and I quickly purchased two.  It wasn't until later that night, when I was going to post the info for Lamley readers, that I noticed in the description it stated that collectors should return August 30th to order.  I dug a little bit, and soon found out that the cases were not supposed to be available.  The next day the item was no longer listed.

So a few of us got our cases early.  Cool, eh?  And there doesn't seem to be any reason to let them sit until September, so why not open them now and see what is inside?  I bought two, so let's show two.

As always, the case as we open it and pull the models 3-by-3.

Case 1:

Case 2 (opened upside down for your amusement!):

Outside of the fact that I opened the second case backwards, you will notice they are both the same.  These are P cases, so those lucky enough to pull a Super will pull the Superbird.  Here are the notables:

The for Kmart exclusives  - which we will give the First Look treatment later this week - on the right, and the first-to-market and two Treasure Hunts on the left.

Yeah, two Treasure Hunts.  You can only go on what you see, so here is the evidence:

Rogue Hog (symbol on the model and on the card):

And that Fiat 500 we have talked about before:

So now it is confirmed that both the International and US carded Fiats have the Treasure Hunt logo and message (for US releases) on the card.  Does that mean it is a Treasure Hunt?  Technically, of course not.  Most likely the Fiat was slated to be a TH, but for whatever reason was scrapped late, too late for the cards to be changed.  I am sure Mattel will let us know soon.

But it is up to us collectors to define it how we want.  Call it what you want, the symbol is on the card.  We will have to see if that continues throughout the model's run.  It's cool nonetheless.