Following on from my first review of the 1:18 Autoart BMW 635CSi #10 Genuine Parts car, I bring you another overly detailed review of another classic 1980's racer. I hope you've got a bit of time for a read, I took loads of pictures so this may take a while.
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Now, I am one for getting a good deal on my models, usually buying more undesirable cars or getting them a bit cheaper any way I can. So, very unusually for me, I paid probably a fair bit over the odds for this model, just because I fell in love with it when it came out a few years ago and I just had to have it when I saw it on ebay for the princely sum of £160. I believe this is a 'recycled' mould from an old Carousel 1 series of 935s from the early 2000s; this particular model was released around 2009ish.
To quote from this article - http://www.cultofmac...an-actual-icar/
"The car itself was a beauty, boasting an 800 horsepower, 6-cylinder, twin-charged boxer engine. Driving the car were Allan Moffat, Bobby Rahal and Bob Garretson as part of Dick Barbour's racing team. Apple sponsorship, a killer car and a driving team that consists of some of the legends of the sport? How could the first iCar fail?
Yet fail it did. Spectacularly. Dick Barbour's team was forced to withdraw from the 24 hour race with 13 hours to spare, due to a melted piston. It raced a couple more times, but it never did particularly well, coming in 7th place and 3rd place in its next two races."
So, a somewhat unfortunate racing career for this car, but it certainly makes for a striking diecast, with TrueScale giving a memorable diecast experience. Let's take a look, starting with the box.
20150326_100908 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
This box is a pretty thing to look at. Whilst this example is a bit shelf-worn, I think you can still appreciate that it is nicely illustrated and looks very classy with the dark red background colour scheme and simple detail shots on the rear.
20150326_100920 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Upon opening, this little display plaque is the first thing that comes to hand. A neat touch for sure, colour coded for this model with all the info you need to know.
20150326_101010 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
You also get a little card of certification, with the production number of the model displayed in the bottom corner.
20150326_101046 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
The styrofoam clamshell is held together with these little plastic squares, something I haven't seen before. Sandwiches the car nice and secure inside.
20150326_101110 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
The bonnet/hood and the engine cover/trunk lid are separate castings that are not hinged, but removable, and as such are packaged in their own little wrappings up top on the inner box.
20150326_101146 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
There's an aerial hiding in there too.
20150326_101238 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Opening the shell up reveals the car securely wedged in place with a couple of bits of foam. The details are looking promising from here...
20150326_101327 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Unfortunately my model came with these two grilles for the rear ducts detached from the car and floating around in the box. This appears to have been caused by weak glue trying to hold these flat metal pieces in shape around curved rear fenders, so they just popped off after time.
20150326_101523 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
For an older model, there are some crisp details in this engine bay.
20150326_101605 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Detailed throttle linkages, separately cast fan and fan shroud, and the real metallic braided hose and appropriately coloured AN-style fittings are all very nice touches.
20150326_101701 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Some lovely details up front with the bracing, fuel system and other ancillaries.
20150326_101733 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_101746 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
You can almost read the battery label and it's even got it's own power cables!
20150326_101811 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Moving round to the interior, it's fairly basic in here but the dials are very well represented, along with real fabric seatbelts, a nicely textured dash and tiny little stickers for the switchgear to the left of the steering wheel.
20150326_101847 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_101859 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Another sweet detail here is the soft-touch coverings and separate metallic clamps on the roll cage bars around the cockpit. The grey bits are squishy.
20150326_101921 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_102027 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
These stickers on the rear side windows are very well done in my opinion, considering just how small they are.
20150326_101950 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr77
Much like these stickers.
20150326_103518 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
The front bumper area shows a nice bit of mesh grille covering the cooler intake, and some nicely done driving lights on the corners.
20150326_102345 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_102353 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Decals on the bonnet. The decals used on this car by TSM don't exactly blend in well with the surface, they're so shiny, but the colours are so vivid and it really isn't too noticeable unless you get catch it under the right light.
20150326_102401 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
It is a shame the front fender vents aren't cutouts. The decals don't conform well over the contours of the slats either.
20150326_102412 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Delicate details on the scuttle panel.
20150326_102711 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_102721 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
The edges of the decals are a bit rough all over the model, they seem quite thick and actually have an orange peel of their own.
20150326_102419 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_102807 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
But boy is it an attractive livery.
20150326_102437 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_102647 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Again, the wheels are a little 'rough' but still very cool to look at with the big sidewall lettering and centre lug nut.
20150326_102452 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Just try to imagine the original shape of the 911 somewhere underneath all this bodywork. What a beast.
20150326_102508 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
These adjustable rear winglets are well done, with real slots and crisply painted bolt heads. The lensing is nice too, but once again the roughness of the finish can be seen on the lens surround and the black inlays in the engine cover.
20150326_102558 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
If you're getting bored, the best of this model is yet to come... let's take a little peek underneath. Looks like quite a bit going on under there.
20150326_102611 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_103646 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Let's hold the engine for a moment and go to the front end of the belly-side.
20150326_103023 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Brake cooling ducts.
20150326_103047 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Back to the rear end, and to the very pretty engine hidden under here.
20150326_103124 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Awesome brake discs too.
20150326_103144 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
These little UJ driveshafts spin in the gearbox with the wheels - how cool is that! Note the two photos below show different angles of rotation on the shaft.
20150326_103211 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_103218 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Transmission and engine oil lines.
20150326_103229 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
20150326_103243 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Mmm, turbos...
20150326_103305 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Air intakes come down through the wheel arches. Also note the individual spark plug wires.
20150326_103324 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
As a finishing shot to show the dodgy quality control on this model, take a look at the lovely paint inside the big rear duct, alongside the coincidentally orange peely apple logo on the outside.
20150326_103655 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr
Well, that's where I stopped taking pictures so I guess this is where the review ends. Overall, it is a very cool model car, with an incredible livery and some really nice details. If the QC issues weren't quite so prevalent in the paint/decals all over the car then I'd say it was almost worth the price I paid, but this compulsive buy left me feeling like I should've waited for a better deal to come along.
Cheers everyone
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Now, I am one for getting a good deal on my models, usually buying more undesirable cars or getting them a bit cheaper any way I can. So, very unusually for me, I paid probably a fair bit over the odds for this model, just because I fell in love with it when it came out a few years ago and I just had to have it when I saw it on ebay for the princely sum of £160. I believe this is a 'recycled' mould from an old Carousel 1 series of 935s from the early 2000s; this particular model was released around 2009ish.
To quote from this article - http://www.cultofmac...an-actual-icar/
"The car itself was a beauty, boasting an 800 horsepower, 6-cylinder, twin-charged boxer engine. Driving the car were Allan Moffat, Bobby Rahal and Bob Garretson as part of Dick Barbour's racing team. Apple sponsorship, a killer car and a driving team that consists of some of the legends of the sport? How could the first iCar fail?
Yet fail it did. Spectacularly. Dick Barbour's team was forced to withdraw from the 24 hour race with 13 hours to spare, due to a melted piston. It raced a couple more times, but it never did particularly well, coming in 7th place and 3rd place in its next two races."
So, a somewhat unfortunate racing career for this car, but it certainly makes for a striking diecast, with TrueScale giving a memorable diecast experience. Let's take a look, starting with the box.
20150326_100908 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThis box is a pretty thing to look at. Whilst this example is a bit shelf-worn, I think you can still appreciate that it is nicely illustrated and looks very classy with the dark red background colour scheme and simple detail shots on the rear.
20150326_100920 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrUpon opening, this little display plaque is the first thing that comes to hand. A neat touch for sure, colour coded for this model with all the info you need to know.
20150326_101010 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrYou also get a little card of certification, with the production number of the model displayed in the bottom corner.
20150326_101046 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThe styrofoam clamshell is held together with these little plastic squares, something I haven't seen before. Sandwiches the car nice and secure inside.
20150326_101110 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThe bonnet/hood and the engine cover/trunk lid are separate castings that are not hinged, but removable, and as such are packaged in their own little wrappings up top on the inner box.
20150326_101146 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThere's an aerial hiding in there too.
20150326_101238 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrOpening the shell up reveals the car securely wedged in place with a couple of bits of foam. The details are looking promising from here...
20150326_101327 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrUnfortunately my model came with these two grilles for the rear ducts detached from the car and floating around in the box. This appears to have been caused by weak glue trying to hold these flat metal pieces in shape around curved rear fenders, so they just popped off after time.
20150326_101523 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrFor an older model, there are some crisp details in this engine bay.
20150326_101605 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrDetailed throttle linkages, separately cast fan and fan shroud, and the real metallic braided hose and appropriately coloured AN-style fittings are all very nice touches.
20150326_101701 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrSome lovely details up front with the bracing, fuel system and other ancillaries.
20150326_101733 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_101746 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrYou can almost read the battery label and it's even got it's own power cables!
20150326_101811 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrMoving round to the interior, it's fairly basic in here but the dials are very well represented, along with real fabric seatbelts, a nicely textured dash and tiny little stickers for the switchgear to the left of the steering wheel.
20150326_101847 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_101859 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrAnother sweet detail here is the soft-touch coverings and separate metallic clamps on the roll cage bars around the cockpit. The grey bits are squishy.
20150326_101921 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_102027 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThese stickers on the rear side windows are very well done in my opinion, considering just how small they are.
20150326_101950 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr77Much like these stickers.
20150326_103518 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThe front bumper area shows a nice bit of mesh grille covering the cooler intake, and some nicely done driving lights on the corners.
20150326_102345 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_102353 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrDecals on the bonnet. The decals used on this car by TSM don't exactly blend in well with the surface, they're so shiny, but the colours are so vivid and it really isn't too noticeable unless you get catch it under the right light.
20150326_102401 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrIt is a shame the front fender vents aren't cutouts. The decals don't conform well over the contours of the slats either.
20150326_102412 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrDelicate details on the scuttle panel.
20150326_102711 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_102721 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThe edges of the decals are a bit rough all over the model, they seem quite thick and actually have an orange peel of their own.
20150326_102419 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_102807 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrBut boy is it an attractive livery.
20150326_102437 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_102647 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrAgain, the wheels are a little 'rough' but still very cool to look at with the big sidewall lettering and centre lug nut.
20150326_102452 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrJust try to imagine the original shape of the 911 somewhere underneath all this bodywork. What a beast.
20150326_102508 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThese adjustable rear winglets are well done, with real slots and crisply painted bolt heads. The lensing is nice too, but once again the roughness of the finish can be seen on the lens surround and the black inlays in the engine cover.
20150326_102558 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrIf you're getting bored, the best of this model is yet to come... let's take a little peek underneath. Looks like quite a bit going on under there.
20150326_102611 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_103646 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrLet's hold the engine for a moment and go to the front end of the belly-side.
20150326_103023 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrBrake cooling ducts.
20150326_103047 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrBack to the rear end, and to the very pretty engine hidden under here.
20150326_103124 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrAwesome brake discs too.
20150326_103144 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrThese little UJ driveshafts spin in the gearbox with the wheels - how cool is that! Note the two photos below show different angles of rotation on the shaft.
20150326_103211 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_103218 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrTransmission and engine oil lines.
20150326_103229 by svenicusminimus, on Flickr20150326_103243 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrMmm, turbos...
20150326_103305 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrAir intakes come down through the wheel arches. Also note the individual spark plug wires.
20150326_103324 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrAs a finishing shot to show the dodgy quality control on this model, take a look at the lovely paint inside the big rear duct, alongside the coincidentally orange peely apple logo on the outside.
20150326_103655 by svenicusminimus, on FlickrWell, that's where I stopped taking pictures so I guess this is where the review ends. Overall, it is a very cool model car, with an incredible livery and some really nice details. If the QC issues weren't quite so prevalent in the paint/decals all over the car then I'd say it was almost worth the price I paid, but this compulsive buy left me feeling like I should've waited for a better deal to come along.
Cheers everyone
