Creator: Yogi Kartono
Country: Jakarta, Indonesia

Greetings from Jakarta, Indonesia! Thank you for having me. Jakarta Diecast Project (JDP) was established in 2018, right here in Jakarta. It’s my passion project, born out of my lifelong love for anything automotive, especially cars. My name is Yogie Kartono, and ever since I was a kid—about 30 years ago—I’ve been customizing toy cars. Back then, none of us had a name for what we were doing. It wasn’t until I was an adult, looking at my son’s Hot Wheels collection, that the memories of my old hobby came flooding back, and I realised this activity had a name: Custom Diecast.

Greetings, Yogie! Can you tell us a little about yourself and the Jakarta Diecast Project?

Your customs are admired worldwide. Do you sell any of your creations?

Before diving into this world full-time, I worked in finance. Due to personal reasons, I left that job and found myself drawn to the creative world of custom diecast cars. Today, JDP is my main focus, and it has grown into something I never expected.

Thank you for saying that!  Surprisingly, no, I don’t sell my custom diecasts.  There have been many enquiries, but my focus isn’t on selling.  Instead, I channel my energy into creating content for YouTube which has now 1.7M followers.  I want to share knowledge, inspire creativity, and show people how they can turn their dreams into miniature automotive art.  JDP is about spreading the joy of custom diecast cars, not commercialising them.

For someone starting out, what advice would you give to aspiring diecast customizers?

That’s a great question! Here’s what I’d say to anyone interested in diving into this hobby:

1. Love Automotives – At its core, diecast customisation is about passion for cars. I think if you want to start, you need that foundation.

2. Be Eager to Learn – This hobby is huge, and there’s always something new to discover. Look for DIY tools, study others, and experiment with techniques as you feel it's right for you.

3. Dream Big – Imagine what your custom car could look like and think about whether it’s something that could work on a real car then start with your diecast.

4. Just Start – Don’t overthink it. A mistake is just a mistake, nothing more! Use the tools you already have at home and start modifying, even if it’s one of your favourite diecasts. The beauty of this hobby is transforming something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Your creations have a distinctive style. Do you follow a specific genre in your designs?

At Jakarta Diecast Project, it’s all about sharing—knowledge, dreams, and creativity.  My goal is to inspire others to see the potential in this art form and to show how toy cars can become valuable collectibles through imagination and effort.

Not really! I don’t confine myself to one specific genre. As long as the car looks beautiful and makes sense design-wise to me, I’ll love it and work on it. My designs are driven by creativity and what inspires me at the moment. They are unique to me.

What’s the vision behind JDP?

Thank you, Yogie! Any final thoughts?

Thank you for having me!  Custom diecast is a unique hobby, and I hope more people around the world can experience its joy.  If anyone has questions about JDP or wants to start their journey, feel free to reach out.