MAISTO 1/18 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE DIECAST

 

Maisto makes terrific die cast models. This one is no exception. If you own a Chrysler Crossfire, or wish you did, you might enjoy having this highly detailed model to park somewhere indoors where you can admire it when you're not enjoying the real thing. 

The details are very good - hood, doors, and hatch all open. But that by itself doesn't guarantee a great model. Fortunately here, the details are all correct, with even the smallest parts faithfully modeled in the correct colors. The steering wheel moves together with the front wheels that may be posed in a range of positions. 

I like that Maisto even with to the trouble of making the wheels and tires the right sizes - with the correct proportioned smaller front wheels and tires and larger rear - to give the model the same aggressive appearance sitting on your shelf as it has at the curb! 

This model is of the normally aspirated, six-speed manual, so SRT owners go begging (or face the challenge of finding a 1/18-scale set of upgrade parts to make it so)!--Paul Mark Provencher "ppro"  Shop here

EFE 1/76 BRISTOL RELH D/P COACH - EASTERN COUNTIES NBC

This popular fleet vehicle dates from 1975 and carries the rather nondescript NBC livery. It has the fleet number RLE 742 with a registration of GCL 344N. The vehicle is working route 851 to lpswich. NBC fleet collectors will be pleased with this rendition. Shop here

AUTO ART 1/18 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CABRIOLET

Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible Diecast Model Orange 1/18 Die Cast Car By Autoart

It's amazing just how good the larger scale models are these days. All the opening features are provided - doors, boot, bonnet - but they are all perfects fits, so do not detract from the overall appearance of the model. Particularly impressive is the way the boot opens.

VANGUARDS 1/43 MORRIS MINOR VAN CARDIFF CITY POLICE DOG SECTION

The Morris Minor based van found favour with many UK Police vehicles as a general utility vehicle, FUH 167C was delivered in 1965 and was one of several used by the Cardiff City Police Dog Section throughout the vehicle's production life. See more

AUTO ART 1/18 RANGE ROVER 4.6 HSE

 

Is this the first time a Range Rover has been produced in this scale? Whatever, it looks superb. Particularly good is the interior, with seat trim and operating arm rests. Sporting superb paint finish, and excellent detailing, this will be very impressive on display. Shop here

K17 - FORD D800 ARTICULATED LOW LOADER WITH BULLDOZER

This model released the Matchbox King-Size K-17 Ford D800 Articulated Low Loader with Case Bulldozer in 1970. The tractor and trailer were always painted green all over except for the yellow fuel tanks which when lifted would uncouple the tractor unit from the trailer. The baseplate was silver painted and it included the grille as part of the casting which meant it did not need silver trim. The cab was fitted with green tinted plastic windows and it had a red roof beacon. Both tractor and trailer were fitted with red plastic hubs with black plastic tyres which included a spare wheel mounted to the top of trailer.

The bulldozer had a red painted body with a yellow baseplate which included the engine and dozer blade as part of the casting. It also had yellow plastic rollers and a removable yellow metal cab roof and it was fitted with green rubber tracks which were replaced by black rubber tracks on the later issues. Both the the Tractor unit and the Bulldozer had decals for 'Laing' but later 'Taylor Woodrow' decals were fitted including extra decals applied to the back of the tractor cab and to the back of the Bulldozer cab.

MATCHBOX COLLECTIBLES: VOLVO 760 AND FERRARI F50

Two more from the series of The World's Greatest Automakers Collection have been seen. As before these are models from  the Matchbox Miniatures series but with much higher levels of paint finish and decoration. As stated before, we feel these are let down by the Superfast wheels.


The cars involved are the 1986 Volvo 760 and the 1995 Ferrari F50. Shop here