Not many other things could be said about the McLaren F1. Is a legend and every petrol head knows and loves it. But here, I will have more things to say about the McLaren F1, because I will take a look at the 1:18 AutoArt model. First of all I must say, this isn’t the first scale replica of this iconic car, being already replicated by various manufacturers in many versions and scales. AutoArt released their model in a period when it was hard enough to get one of the already existing models, the poor Maisto or the rare and expensive UT. The McLaren F1 came as a model in their Signature line, a limited edition of course for each color and having some accesories included: certificate, a magnifying glass and a micro fiber cloth for cleaning it. Inside the box is available a little manual, which inform you how to operate the little functional parts.
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Opening the traditional package, branded with “McLaren” logo, you’ll see for the first time the best model that AutoArt put in 1:18 scale ever. Are 4 years now, since they've released it and I still can say that, this is the best road car model in the Signature level. The stance and dimensions are spot on and the paint job is perfect and has a mettalic effect, without any difference between the painted plastic and metallic parts.
Let’s begin from the front, where the lights are nicely made and the turn signals are attached with visible stubs having the same color with the plastic cover. The interior doesn't look bad , but the silver plastic used for the reflective parts looks cheap. On the front bonnet, the house logo is tampo applied, crafted to look like a raised piece and moving along, the model keeps place for few fine details: separate developed pieces for the tank cap and the door's bolt, realistic rear lights and perforated grills. On both sides, the luggage compartments are functional and can be operated on real hinges and functional struts. Inside, the carbon fiber pattern is visible like on the real counterparts and a single magnet for each compartment will keep the panel closed. The manufacturer provide some beautiful accessories here, two pairs of different size suit cases, that can be removed from their place.
The wheels are beautiful made in scale with precise designed rims and a realistic brake system incuding metallic and dimpled brake disks, painted Brembo branded calipers and a second pair of calipers on the rear for the hand brake. The tires are made of soft rubber with a realistic profile,but without any mark on their side walls.
The doors are opening on real hinges and have struts to keep them open, revealing the same very simple interior from the real car, but extremely well detailed. All the structure surrounding the driver seat is carbon fiber replica and the effect is amazing, the buttons are raised metallic pieces and are individually marked. For the main indicators they’ve used a legible sticker and the few buttons around, are each marked and painted. Of course, the interior is carpeted and the seat belts are textile made.
The front bonnet is opening on real fine hinges and has its internal panel covered with carbon pattern like on the real item. In the compartment, some containers individually painted, wired and having some labels applied on, took the place, along with the car's black box inscriptioned with the electronic F1 partner's name, Kenwood.
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The true level of detailing and craftmanship is under the rear bonnet with transparent windows and real meshes for the air vents, opening on real hinges and kept in position by a functional strut. The engine is a masterpiece of detailing having the superior parts covered in the same perfect carbon replica, is marked with the name of the car and the engine manufacturer and provides a lot of wires and hoses. Even the rivets are finished to look like raised parts. A beautiful detail is the the superior surrounding part of the engine bay, including here the frames of the 2 little windows, which separate it from the cockpit, covered by a perfect replica of the real aluminium textured the same as on the real car.
The model provides full acces and functional parts exactly like on the real car, so a second lid can be operated on discrete hinges and has replicated a minuscule functional strut to keep it open. Once opened, lets visible the exhaust pipes finished in a perfect metallic look and some single parts separately painted and completed by wires. Another beautiful and accurate detail from the real car is the gold cover, applied on the internal part of each lid, including here the functional spoiler, too and under the exhaust pipes. This cover, real gold film on the real car, was made and precisely applied to create a unique detail and a correct look of the entire area.
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