Die Cast reviews and comparissons

Hi, everyone.
I keep seeing mixed reactions, feelings and opinions about different models and brands. A lot of people having questions. A lot of people not sure if to buy a model or not, because they don't know what to expect.
There are plenty of extremely knowledgeable collectors here and just as many people who are just getting into the hobby. There is probably even more people who are somewhere "inbetween".
So I decided to start a new thread in which models are going to be extensively reviewed and when possible compared to the alternatives available. All their pros and cons are going to be brought to light and customization and modification options discussed.
I would appreciate everyone's opinion and respect it and answer any questions anyone may have. Sometimes you may not like the answers but in reality the truth is not always politically correct.
Since this is not about showing what I have, but about everyone's interest, I would like to know what would you guys like to start with. Here are the 3 options:
Mattel's 430 Scuderia
Kyosho's 575 GTC = many surprises ....
CMC's 500 F2
Let me know as soon as you can as I plan to start this tonight.
All the best
Michael

P.S. there are going to be lots of pictures, which I believe I can achieve because of my collection, but occasionally I might need someone's help.

 

I've written some reviews for my 1:18 cars, if anyone wants me to post them here, just ask
Vector W8 Twin Turbo by Ricko
Hispano-Suiza HS21-GTS by Guiloy
Lotec Sirius by Maxicar
Dodge Challenger Concept by Highway 61
Lamborghini Diablo VT by Autoart

If anyone wants me to write a new review for one of my cars (follow the link in my profile to see my cars) just ask

 

That is really great. However I mean to make it more of a Ferrari-only deal. Maybe we can trow some one off cars in the mix to keep it interesting.

 

I would love to see a review of the LOTEC, as it is a model that I don't have and have not even seen in real life. Please post (if known) the average price, availability and sources. And also please don't give us just the pros. I would like to learn about the cons too.

 

Let's start with the 430 Scuderia----I can post some pics tomorrow when I get home from work also...

 

Here is a review of the Sirius, very detailed but flawed in some areas

+Very heavy
+On scale
+Stance/shape is captured well
+Very impressive engine detail
+Comes with a prop to hold the engine cover open
+Exhausts look nice
+Seats feel soft
+Good looking dash and steering wheel
+Realistic looking brake calipers
+Logos are nicely applied, not stickers
+Good headlights
+All opening parts, which stay open
+Side mirrors reflect
+Spoiler is accurate
+No doglegs
+Insides of the doors feel soft and have good detail
+No unpainted spots on the exterior

-Large panel gaps around the doors, which messes up the side air intakes
-Visible screws are used to attach the wheels to the car
-Fake looking tail lights
-Spoiler is VERY delicate, it's broken off a couple times (but nothing glue can't fix)
-Unmarked tires
-The only 1:1 Sirius has the license plate "RO 06212" where as this model has it as "HK BZ 211"
-Side mirrors are too long
-Exhausts are too far out and should be black, not silver
-Inaccurate engine cover; there should be 2 slits in the glass near the top
-No carpet, instead, hard plastic is used
-Black from the spoiler leaks on to the silver paint
-Paint overall looks pretty thin
-Brake discs don't spin with the wheels

I got mine from allcarmodels.com and it was ~$70 shipped. To me it's worth it because I am crazy about the subject matter, and the actual cost of the car was actually around only $40 because it shipped from Greece. It's hard to find and I think the only US company that carries it is Exoticar which I avoid, but I think it is $40 there too. I'd recommend it, it will really stand out in any exotic car collection

 

How about some pictures?

 

Here's some
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OK, guys. The reason why the first choice of 3 cars is what it is. Each car is made by a different company and each one fits in different detail level and price bracket.
Just as Robbie suggested lets start with the Scuderia. It is the latest addition to my collection as well.
I have mixed feelings about it. Over all I like the model. It is a cool car and well represented. For a change they got the wheels/tires size right, unlike on the F430/Spider where it looks like it is riding on 23" wheels.
The one thing that I instantly did not like is the color. They should have kept the "chrome" effect for the 60th anniversary editions and paint it rosso corsa. I admit however that it is starting to grow on me. It is very well executed and it definitely stands out within the rest of my red Ferraris. I guess the biggest positive of having the model painted like this, is that we can get a glimpse at what the "elite" F1s are going to wear.
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I really start to wonder, who develops the models for Hot Wheels and what are they on.
To understand better what I mean with my comments I am going to compare the Elite Scuderia with the regular (crappy) version and the "old" regular F430. You will be amazed.
On the original F430 (retailing for $30) the body, doors,hoods, were metal and the front and rear bumpers were plastic, but very well made and painted to a perfect match. On the F430 Challenge and now on the Scuderia the bumpers are not a separate part but molded in metal together with the rest of the body. However on both of them in regular version trim, the doors and hoods are plastic.
Something noteworthy is that Hotwheels were the first ones to change the way hinges work on their models and now they open just like on the real car. In that regard they are better than UT. I don't understand why they didn't just make new moldings for the bumpers instead making an entire new body. And they could have kept the hoods and doors metal.
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Lets start from the front. The reason why it is stupid to mold the front bumper together with the body is that this way there are limitations to the detail and thickness of the molding. Thanks to this the side vents in the bumper are worse than the ones on the regular F430 which is quite noticeable.There is barely an opening, thanks to how thick the molding is. Also the new stickers they are using on both Economy and Elite models for the Ferrari emblems, are a huge step back from the old much cheaper models. When the Elite and non-Elite are compared two things pop right out. The front grilles and the headlights. On the nonelite there is just a plastic molding with engraved mesh and on the Elite there is actually photoetched mesh. Here is where they messed up. On the real car the mesh has a little "frame visible around the edge of the "nostrills" and on the model is just mesh, just like if you put some mesh yourself. Before being blamed for being picky, if you are familiar with the process of making photoetched parts you should know that there is no difference in the effort or expense involved to be produced the right way. Main shock comes from the Headlights. On the non-Elite they are just some generic plastic shape with no detail.Under the fron hood, metal on the Elite and plastic on the cheapo, there is pretty much no differense except for some paint detail and a tool kit-not a big deal really.
As far as the brakes go they are virtually identical, except on the Elite the discs rotate with the wheels. Fantastic job on the Wheels and tires wich are identical on both models.
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Biggest shock to me personally comes from the interior. Really cool looking on the Elite and confusing on the non-Elite. First of all the non Elite has two different seats!? there is no way this saves cost as there is actually new tooling made for the second seat, wich is not found on any other model. In other words Mattel actually went out of their way and spend extra to make the regular version crappy in order to essentially blackmail us into buying the Elite. On the Elite both seats are the same and feature really cool looking red decals to mimic the real ones. The seatbelts look cool even tho they lack detail on the buckles. Main puzzle inside is the floor. On the Elite it has photoetched floormats which are too shiny and their pattern is wrong. Also the interior floor is painted the same dark(gunmetal) silver as the doors and the mirrors which are from carbon fiber on the real car and the interior is bare aluminum. On the other hand the non-Elite has the correct pattern engraved on the all plastic floor. What this means is that if painted properly, the non Elite's interior tub would be more accurate without photoetched parts = cheaper. The door panels are really great parts on both models and reflect perfectly the originals, something that Mattel messed up big time on their 360 CHS. The center console is also faithfully represented on both. I think that if it wasn't for the different seats the non-Elite's interior would be better if just detail painted. Something I noticed is that on the old original F430 ($30) they painted the black around the windows and on the non-Elite ($38 retail) they did not and did not even put in the rear window. Also on the Elite there are separate clear plastic side markers.
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At the rear things are also dramatically different and not so much in the same time. The Elite has a pretty good looking engine and the non Elite has a plastic blob in the same place, but the regular F430's engine can rival the Elite. Go figure how come the new non-elite crap retails for more than the original F430..
Again a welcome news is that they did not overlook the rear spoiler hight on this one like they did on the 360 CHS. The Scuderia has a lot more pronounced duck tail than the regular F430. On the Elite the rear grille is photoetched mesh and on the cheapo it is just engraved in the part. Mine came without the chrome cavallino but I can't hold it against the HW brand. The stoplights are great improvement over the non Elite and the F430. The black part of the rear bumper however is identical on both the non Elite and Elite.
The exhaust pipes are identical also but on the Elite are black inside- a simple fix.
On the Elite also the vents on the hood are open and have mesh.
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Overall.
Overall the model is great (save for the color) It has it's shortcomings but it is fair for the price. The non-Elite is worthless except just for the wheels and brakes if you want to use them to customize another model. In a way the Elite is overdetailed at some places which makes no sense since it would have been more accurate if left alone. If you want to work on the non-Elite (it was my intention when I bought it) -DON'T WAIST YOUR TIME It is just not worth it.
Well that is it if anyone wants more pictures or something specific, let me know.

 

Thanks for the review, I'm now know for sure I'm going to get the blue Elite soon. I have the regular F430 Coupe from HW, and I think it is actually a great model for the price, other than the 1:12 scale wheels

 

Hot Wheels made this one years ago and it is very hard to find. In my opinion their 575M (only made in regular) is better than some of their Elite models. The body is spot on and so is the interior. Pretty well detailed engine compartment with just little left to be detail painted in order to bring it to Elite level.
Just like with many other Hot Wheels models, they messed up the wheels. They are the right size, but their rim itself is too thick, leaving a too small of an opening.
My model is already slightly modified, so please someone post pictures of the stock model and then I'll add mine. Are you listening Robbie?

 

I will post them up when I get home from work. I am on the laptop in the police car right now....

 

Here ya go..
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Thank you , Robbie.
As everyone can see the wheels are pretty awful. Everything else tho is really good. I think it is one of HW's best models. the engine would need just some flat black on the engine bay walls and under the hood and some semi-gloss on the air filter boxes and it would be on par with the Elites.
On my model I put different more accurate wheels and brakes. The wheels are from the cheap version of the 575Z the brake discs are photoetched aftermarket and are attached to the Superamerica's moded discs. The front calipers came from a Superamerica and the rear calipers are actually the 575M's original front ones. The whole swap took like a day and it pretty much ruined two other models, now it looks like it should have in the first place.
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The interior is very well made. It could use some carpeting but that's about it. Also the molded stitching on the seats is kinda out of scale. However if you like you can correct that by installing the seats from the Superamerica which are much better. They would also give you the opportunity to install real seatbelts as they are not molded in like on the 575M. The carpeting is also a non issue.
By the way if anyone has one they are willing to part with I am looking as I want to also make one with optional seats and wheels.
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Here is the whole car with the new wheels. I still have not installed the Superamerica's seats and carpet, but it's coming. Also wile putting it back together I broke one of the exhaust pipes, so I cut them all off and made new ones from aluminum.
I think it looks a lot better now
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The new wheels on the 575 do look alot better...

 

I think it would be only natural to look at the 575 GTC next.
First of all if you haven't bought one yet, go get one wile you can. Considering the price on these gems, they put BBR's Enzo to shame.
Kyosho came up first with a matt black one, which represents the car as it was tested at Fiorano. It has very few sponsor markings and they are just enough to brake the monotonous flat black.
Next Kyosho introduced a red version of the same car as it appeared when it was first presented to the public. Both of this cars are greatly represented by Kyosho, but I believe that in real life the red one came ahead of the black one. Kyosho also came out with a yellow version, which I don't know much about and I am still pondering whether to buy or not.
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