Most people spent 2020 looking for ways to make life seem “normal” even when that was not really possible. One of our favorite diecast projects, CastHeads Magazine, really hit that mark in 2020. For their ability to make the diecast collecting world feel a little more “real,” CastHeads is an inductee in the Model Car Hall of Fame for 2020.
It’s a purely digital magazine (except for the first issue, the only one ever actually printed) but it feels like an actual magazine. The layout and design are presented in a PDF format with “flippable” pages, so you can actually ruffle through an issue. The design is snappy and refreshing and makes a reader forget they are online for just a bit.
The photography is outstanding, often setting larger scale models in outdoor settings with natural lighting. The overall effect makes the reader look twice to make sure the car is indeed miniature. And the writing is informative and entertaining,
It’s a very international venture, which is reflected not only in the models profiled but the staff and contributors. Nigel J De Zilwa and Lance K Müller, both from Sri Lanka started the project as an extension of their passion for collecting diecast. In 2018, they launched the digital magazine with a 38-page debut (and the only one to be actually printed. Current issues now come in at about 160 pages.
Contributors come from around the world. Customizers from South Africa, Australia, and the United States, photographers from Germany, Indonesia, and readers worldwide. Before the pandemic, De Zilwa and Müller traveled to diecast conventions and trade shows worldwide to report on events. CastHeads is really the kind of community spirit we all needed in 2020 and beyond.
A bright spot like CastHeads Magazine deserves a spot in the Model Car Hall of Fame.