I can't say exactly what memories bring to me when I'm looking at this model: the blue of the italian sea or the curves of a beautiful woman surprised how only an italian artist can do. The intense color of the box, switches your senses to the maximum, but only for a short time, because once opened they go back and you feel relaxed by the unusual color shade and by the natural curves of its design. Is so simple, every line appears to be naturally there, the car and its representation inspires me silence and fluidity. Looking on it, you can almost feel the time stops, like right back in time, when the car itself managed so well to beat the seconds on road and in competitions. It's all by the design, this is the main reason to have this model today in the front of my eyes.
Built by Carozzeria Touring, only ten Lungo versions survived to time and that one who inspired this scale replica has found its place in the Alfa museum in Turin.
The model is hosted in a typical PMA folding box, elegant and special developed for it, featuring a shiny red color and silver letterings on its surface. Inside, on the cover we have a photo of the real car displayed at one Concourse D'Elegance and a short history of the model. With a compact size and a qualitative material, this box is a proper presentation for our exclusivist Alfa model.
Unscrewed from its base, the model replica appears to be heavy enough for this scale and well put together. Excepting the front bonnet, the entire body is metallic, featuring 4 opening parts and minimal gaps between panels. The paint job is very good, is uniform and keeps its brightness in the requested limits of a classic car. All the ornaments are in place, chromed well, but not finished how it supposed to be or how I like to be. This fact can be observed only from a closer inspection. The simple design from the real car makes the front grill to be the best detail of the exterior. Is represented by a delicate photo etched part, beautiful finished with the manufacturer name applied in the same manner. Since all the badges around, were beautiful developed as single pieces, I'm wonder why they chose to represent the most important one as a simple sticker: the front Alfa logo.
Looking to the accessories, the lights are carefully made and look real, but I have the feeling that something more could be done for the screen wipers. Are not bad looking or out of scale, just too simple for this car replica. If I could live with that so called trouble, than the rear "Museo storico" plate is really annoying. First, just because they represented it using a sticker that appears to be there accidentally or one of those QC stickers easy to find on different objects and which you remove from the first contact. Nothing else catch my attention, only if I should insist, I'll mention the air vents from the engine lids, made of plastic and cut trough and the real hinges visible from outside.
The roof is made from a rough plastic wanting to replicate the fabric surface from the real thing and can be easily removed. In this case we can have a better perspective of the entire cabin.
The roof is made from a rough plastic wanting to replicate the fabric surface from the real thing and can be easily removed. In this case we can have a better perspective of the entire cabin.
Both doors open easily and wide, only the left one remains unaligned on its superior part when is closed. A strong push makes the things a little better, but not perfect. Inside, we have a right wheel drive interior, well detailed and carefully finished. The same rough plastic covers the door panels, dashboard, the pillars and the roof, the floor is carpeted and the seats appears to be very nice finished. Again, I think the gauges deserve much more in terms of detailing, not a simple sticker and I totally disapprove the steering wheel. Is poor, boring and doesn't appear as a part of the same game here.
The front bonnet is butterfly opening, unfortunately the two parts do not stay opened in the same time. I like the realistic metallic hinge, visible from outside, too. Inside, the engine was nice casted and detailed with some wires, color accents and labels. A decent job in my opinion.
The rear lid is fixed with the same hinge and represents just a cover for the spare wheel compartment. The wheel can't be removed. I need something more here, maybe a functional back window to have access to the fuel gap, but the constructor stopped here.
The rear lid is fixed with the same hinge and represents just a cover for the spare wheel compartment. The wheel can't be removed. I need something more here, maybe a functional back window to have access to the fuel gap, but the constructor stopped here.
Underneath all the suspension parts, the differential and the engine were replicated, but kept in raw plastic. Such a pity, since there are enough parts to be detailed and the possibility to give the collectors a beautiful prove of craftsmanship.
Maybe the worst part of the model are the wheels....such a terrible mistake that make the model to loose so much realism. The wheels are poor replicated with heavy spokes, the lug seems to wear an inscription, looking more like a shadow and far away from the real Alfa Romeo lettering. Backside, the brakes keep successfully the same lack of interest from the manufacturer.
Maybe the worst part of the model are the wheels....such a terrible mistake that make the model to loose so much realism. The wheels are poor replicated with heavy spokes, the lug seems to wear an inscription, looking more like a shadow and far away from the real Alfa Romeo lettering. Backside, the brakes keep successfully the same lack of interest from the manufacturer.
I can't say I'm disappointed, because I bought the model for its design and from this point of view they nailed it. I'm thinking seriously to change the rims and then the entire aspect will change considerably. Overall, we don't have here a premium model, even if they used a fancy box and a beautiful shade to catch your eyes from the things that were ignored or made in hurry. This model lacks the fine detailing in its essential parts. Some parts are good, but not enough for the asked price, just take the engine in this case, others were developed to a budget level and used here to save costs, but all what they did was to underrate the product. Is a huge difference between the asked price from the release time and what it gives and even reduced, must be carefully how much you'll spend because is very possible to be not your best trade. Is a decent model how long you'll not expect to find fine details or craftsmanship.
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