MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
RodzillaA dragon with several very different finishes
Rodzilla is hard to mistake for an ordinary car. Its raised head and exposed engine give it plenty of character, but they also leave details hidden behind the blister or outside a tight side crop. Get the whole creature in the photograph before comparing versions.
Purple came before the silver release
The 1988 Speed Demons entry is purple item 4389 with Ultra Hots wheels. Purple #156 follows in 1990 with white teeth, yellow eyes and a purple Malaysia base; the 1992 entry has chrome Hot Ones wheels.
A loose purple car therefore needs more than a familiar color to establish its card year. Keep a clear wheel photograph and underside view with the rest of its identification.
What belongs on Silver Series #323
The 1995 Silver Series number 2 is chrome, with white eyes and teeth and a red Hot Wheels logo. Cataloged #323 combinations include unpainted or metalflake-silver Malaysia bases with Ultra Hots or seven-spoke wheels. A later 1997 chrome entry has a China base and five-spoke wheels.
Inspect the reflective finish under soft light. A bright lamp can make scratched plating look smooth; a dark reflection can make chrome look like another paint shade. Photograph the actual markings before assigning a special finish or error label.
The green dragon in the photograph
The pictured 2014 HW City Medieval Rides #066 is dark green with yellow eyes, a pearl-white Malaysia base and gold PR5 wheels.
Look around the head, teeth and body projections for damage, and examine the engine finish separately. Ask about glue or replacement parts at joints. Do not force a component to move simply because it looks as if it might turn.
For a packaged car, check the blister beside the raised head and around the wheels. The card’s condition and the toy’s condition deserve separate notes. Compare the Ratmobile guide for another Speed Demons casting with a very different shape.
