The subject of this review is a result of curiosity and desire to try something else, it wasn't anticipated to arrive, but sometimes, I give a bite to the forbidden fruit and some models in different scales find a place on my desk. For today I have a 1:12 scale modelcar from an important, but disputed, at least in the few last years, manufacturer. My review will be about the 1:12 Pagani Huayra from Autoart, since I missed somehow the 1:18 scale and never want to pay the craziest prices nowadays, this one came as a good opportunity to see how Autoart treat his bigger creations.
|
The model is made of composite material and has some weight if you consider there is no metal pieces - at least visible from the exterior. Because I've read several high positive reviews of the 1:18 piece, my expactations were high as well, especially when I've bought a 1:12 scale, bigger means more details, right? But, in the end, seems that was only my thought, because the manufacturer had a totally different point of view. The first disappointment came quickly with the model just unboxed, it has only two openable parts, the doors. Why? I can explain really. From the first contact, the proportion seems to be spot on, the height as well and the paint job, thanks to the composite material, is near perfection.
It didn't matter for Autoart that they made a 1:12 scale modelcar, priced around 400 euro when it was for the front spoiler, what should be a beautiful carbon printed piece is just a mold textured plastic part. Seriously?! At least the grills are perforated, leaving the cooling radiators visible and don't think at some photoetched parts, just an annoying ordinary grey plastic. The lights are replicated well, the rear ones keeping the original honey comb design on their surface. Like on the real car, the roof, the door frames, the skirts and the rear spoiler are naked carbon look alike. Is true, here they made an uniform tampo printed pattern, in scale this time, but if you're to ask me is missing something: not only the "deep" of the pattern, but the exterior finish as well. Being a big scale replica, with bigger visible surfaces the carbon should be shinier, to give not only the realistic factor, but the qualitative one, as well. I have better carbon details on models from their first years in the business, here I can see only a budget saving result.
All around, the emblems and the bolts of the doors are photoetched metallic parts, very nice looking together with the four metallic final exhaust pipes, the only qualitative pieces of the exterior, to say it right. The Pagani logo didn't received this treatment, unfortunately and was placed on the same disgusting textured plastic base trying hard to remember the carbon fiber look. The wheels look good, the rims are well crafted and received metallic air valves and soft and realistic rubber for the tires. There is a lot of work to do with the brake system, not bad, but lacks the specific details for the scale.
|
The doors are opening and are sustained by a pair of struts and kept closed by few magnets mounted on the door's frame. After the poor detailing from the exterior, Autoart thought to continue in the same way in the cockpit, the printed carbon on the chassis, present on the 1:18 model is missing totally here, being replaced by black plastic- I really don't get this-and everything means carbon representation on the dashboard is texture mould. As a contrast,the door's interior is carbon printed....The rest of the plastic is better finished than on 1:18, but can't save the poor representation around. The flock is missing, but I'm not sure if is presented on the real one as well, only the floor mats were molded.
|
Since from the bonnet a part of the engine is clearly visible and the exhaust pipes can be seen through the rear mesh, I'm curious if the engine was entirely replicated - maybe the only solution is to disassemble the model. I'm still wonder how they could miss this model in 1:12 scale so bad and if this is the true way they want to continue. Putting together in a superior scale only plastic, details specific to budget manufacturers and a semi closed body, Autoart follows the resin made manufacturers trend, trying to make small differences, but for considerable money.
|
No reproduction without permission. Copyright © Play Cars- Auto models biography 2021