550 Adventure

Even if only a couple of weeks separate us from the end of the year, is still time for some new models to come on the scene. The most expected models are and will always be, if you are to ask me, the metallic casted and full opening ones, since are quite rare products because diverse reasons, like costs, complexity, but we will never know the real truth. For me is just the major part of manufacturers choosing the easy way from developing to the final product ready to be sold in the short time possible. Fortunately, there are still some producers following the initial process and giving to the hobby some metallic models with functional parts and highly detailed. I'm happy to have here again, one of those products, offering all the ingredients that made this hobby popular and the big scale model cars so desirable.

Is the Brabus 550 Adventure, a car developed on the Mercedes Benz G-Class 4×4*2, a very though off roader destinated as the name suggests to the wildest adventures. Is an Almost Real branded model from the Sum's Model Toys company, that already surprised the collectors with their previous models, remarkable by quality and details, since the last year. Their new model is impressive from many aspects and I'll try to discover it in its every single part here, in this in depth review.
Is my first contact with an ARM model, so few words in the beginning about the package, a styrofoam shell covered in a card box, printed with a carbon effect and the Brabus and producer logo on its surface.

One of the box faces presents usual informations about model destination, manufacturer and the license data, because this is an official licensed Daimler product. A cerificate attest the license and contains the model's number,since this is a part of a limited edition. Inside, the model is well protected, you can unscrew it from the shell, using only your fingers and must take off the protection tape around the doors and some foam pieces inside.

From the first contact the model is promising a lot! Is very heavy and robust because of the generous dimensions and of the metallic body and chassis, the last one being a very cool feature and. The possible fragile parts as rear projectors and mirrors are put in place well and give some safety when inspecting the model. The paint job is wel done, having a discrete metallic effect inside, maybe hard to be noticed in normal conditions of light because of the color shade. The paint layer is uniform on both metallic and plastic materials, without any difference in strong light, deep and shiny all around. Is notable the quality and finishing for all the plastic parts, taking different textures in some places, a particular texture embodying the high adhesion surface on the roof, the aluminium on the sills or the carbon fiber around the LED projectors up to the front window.

The model provides real metallic meshes with real structure for the air intakes and separate badges, very good looking details overall. On the front side are featured some interesting details: a functional (pretty hard on my model) and automatic retractable winch, well realised lights

including visible bulbs and LED segments, parking sensors, a bull bar and protections for the lights and turning signals,carbon fiber pattern applied on the engine air intakes and good looking light signals included on the back of the side mirrors. On the other side are some components that should be improved, just a matter of taste here, not a minus în crafting: the lights( only painted plastic) in each corner up to the windshield and tampoo carbon print for the plastic structure around them,instead of the waves on the surface, some metallic strings would have looked much better and the turn signals on the fenders fixed without stubs, too.

All the operational parts are opening on real hinges, visible from the outside, too, as on the real thing and this is a cool feature. Under the front bonnet, sustained by a single strut that will block it when opened at maximum, the engine is complete, well made and nice finished. The details in the Brabus note and the labels all around give more authenticity to the entire ensemble.

On the rear side, I like the spare wheel carriage, opening separately and the presence of the magnet piece to keep it closed, the fog lamp included as a single piece and the visible under carriage shield. Again, the stubs used to fix the reverse and brake lights are pretty disturbing here.

To have access to the interior the stairs on both sides are functional and all the four doors are opening. Once more, the manufacturer did a great job in detailing the cockpit, all the parts are well finished, the seats present a deep texture, fabric made seat belts and metallic buckles, flock on the floor and individually marked switches. The trunk is accessible as well, the most notable detail is the textured surface of the floor and the tinted windows, same for the back seats.

The wheels are correctly and well executed and the same for the braking system, just to mention the disks with the metallic coat and dimpled to fake cross drilling. Maybe the most interesting and appreciate feature is the functional suspension for all the four wheels that operate very realistic. The double shock absorbers with metallic springs are well put in evidence and look very good, giving a strong note of realism.

Where the story ends for a lot of models, the adventure continues hard here, more precise, under the carriage. The chassis provides a lot of visible details from the direction, gearbox, suspension, a functional shaft on the front and rear side and a complete exhaust system, detailed by the heat protections and a particular paint effect. Again, ARM prove that they know how to detail a model car. ARM brought a lot of details and features, some of them functional and most important are present everywhere on the model. The manufacturing process is done with care, with great results and attention to finishing and little details. They succeed to put on their models what most of the producers are missing today: the pleasure of craftsmanship and of detailing over the limits.