Nicoisme

If there is a "holy trinity" of modern 1:64 JDM culture right now, it might just be the Toyota GR-86 , aggressive Pandem widebody kits , and the legendary black and red Advan racing livery . Pop Race has managed to bottle that exact combination with their recent release, the Pandem GR86 Advan Livery (PR64-0228), and it is an absolute stunner on the desk. The first thing that grabs you, naturally, is that livery. The asymmetrical red and black Advan design is deeply rooted in Japanese motorsport history , and seeing it wrapped around the ultra-modern, aggressive lines of the Pandem-kitted GR86 creates an incredible contrast. Pop Race has executed the paintwork beautifully; the lines are sharp, the colors are deep, and the sponsor logos, from the Advan triangles to the smaller technical sponsors are crisp and legible, even in this small scale. Besides the amazing paintwork. Pop Race has done a fantastic job capturing the brutal stance of the Pandem kit. The riveted wide fen...

In Part 1 , we admired the stunning of the Pop Race Calsonic R32. We looked at its perfect stance, iconic blue livery, and race-ready wheels. But what really sets this 1/64 scale model apart is what lies beneath the surface. The Pop Race Calsonic R32 GT-R (PR64-104) is a masterful execution of a 1/64 scale race car. The combination of a legendary subject, flawless exterior execution, and the bonus of detailed opening parts makes it a must-have for any Nissan or touring car fan. The ability to display it closed up, looking sleek, or opened up, showing its mechanical guts, gives collectors fantastic versatility. Openable engine hood Lifting the hood reveals a surprisingly detailed engine bay for this scale. The legendary twin-turbo RB26DETT engine is present, complete with a silver-painted valve cover, intake plenum, and hints of piping. While not photo-realistic at 1/64, the depth and presence of the engine block add a whole new dimension to the model.   Peering through the windows,...

The Birth of Godzilla If you mention "Japanese Touring Car Championship" to any motorsport fan, one image instantly springs to mind: a blue R32 GT-R tearing up the track. Today, we are taking a close look at the 1/64 scale tribute to that legend—the Pop Race Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Calsonic IMPUL JTC 1990 No. 12. Pop Race has built a reputation for packing incredible detail into small packages, and this release (PR64-104) is no exception. Replicating the car that earned the GT-R its "Godzilla" nickname by winning all six races of the 1990 JTC season, this diecast is a piece of history in the palm of your hand. Category: Diecast Reviews / 1:64 Scale Model: Pop Race Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Calsonic IMPUL JTC 1990 No. 12 Part Number: PR64-104 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Calsonic IMPUL No. 12 JTC 1990 (PR64-104) by Pop Race The Calsonic blue paint is vibrant and accurate to the period. Notice the distinct "CALSONIC" branding across the windshield banner and the de...

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving into the guts of something many of us rely on daily: a portable SSD. Specifically, we're taking a look inside the Transcend ESD380C 1TB that I picked up in September 2023. Now, before anyone gets nervous, this drive isn't broken, and I'm not suggesting you do this to your own working SSD! This is purely for educational (and a little bit of curious) purposes to see what makes these speedy little devices tick. This drive has been a faithful companion since September 2023 and is still running strong until now (as of November 2025)! It's seen countless file transfers, backups, and probably a bump or two. The Transcend ESD380C is known for its ruggedness and fast performance. I'm truly impressed with its endurance, especially considering it's marketed with military-grade shock resistance. Today, we're going to peek behind that rugged exterior to see the engineering that has kept it ticking for over two years. What kind of int...

Wow. Is this thing still on? taps mic. It’s hard to believe I’m writing this, but my last post was way back in 2020. Life got busy, Covid-19, things changed, and this blog went quiet. After a long vacuum, I am absolutely thrilled to be back at the keyboard in 2025 and ready to start writing again. You might also notice a small change in the address bar. My old home on the web was nicois.me. In a classic story of "oops, I forgot," the yearly renewal slipped past me and the domain was gone. So, please allow me to reintroduce myself: Welcome to my new blog at nicoisme.com ! It feels great to have a fresh start. And what better way to kick things off than with some new tech? I was genuinely excited to share this unboxing with you all as my comeback post. It was supposed to be a triumphant return with a fantastic new gadget. But, as you’re about to see, it didn't quite go as planned. I'm Back! And My First Laptop Unboxing of 2025 Was... a Sad One. Today was supposed to be ...