With all the excitement of the German Toy Fair over the last 24 hours one could loose sight of the subtleties of this great hobby. What diecast collecting is to us in short is metal, good detail, and access to the inner working and heart of an automobile in scale. Quite simple isn’t it. With the shift to sealed resin, composite and whatnot it is a nice to see one manufacturer sticking to their core values, that is CMC.
Official production images of the 1:18 Talbot-Lago Coupé T150 C-SS Figoni & Falaschi “Teardrop” were made available today. We have the Sky Blue exterior paint with Red Leather interior, Silver/Red with Red Leather interior, Black with Red Leather Interior, and finally, a Racing Version from 24hrs of Le Mans 1939 #8. What beauties! We’ll let the photos speak for themselves…
Product# M-145 / M-165 / M-166
Nice models, and I was really looking forward to these, but once again, CMC has disappointed. Proving that they do NOT do proper, thorough research. Maybe they just don’t know how to? Yes, these models do look great, and yes they do have a lot of parts, but…..each model is flawed in terms of accuracy, some more than others. The only one that comes close is the race version (not shown here). Considering all of their claims, and with prices around $500. per model they should be accurate, which they are not.
IMO there is absolutely no excuse these days for poor research/flaws and a model company taking so much “artistic license.” I call that lazy and worse.
Please elaborate on the accuracy flaws.
This is just from basic examination. Based on my experience with CMC models, I know that if I look these over in person I would sadly find more mistakes. Each car was different…. No two were identical. Some differences were minor, but most can be easily seen – determined. CMC has ignored all of that.
Photos shown originally on their web site of real cars do not match the models, with the only Exception being for the Le Mans version. So the models do not exactly match any of the real ones. This has been a running them for CMC, and the prices keep going up.
Black Talbot and Le Mans racer #8.:
The black 1:1 car they show on their web site is NOT the car they have produced a model of (completely different Talbot). The model comes close to replicating Ch. No. 90117, which is Also the #8 Le Mans car they modeled. Chrome trim under doors is close, but shape and size is not correct. The red interior color is most likely wrong. Car was last seen in recent years at numerous Concours shows painted black with TAN interior, NOT red. Wheels were also chrome plated Not raw metal. Missing outside gas filler cap that should be on left rear fender. Missing large central rear chrome trim that should be on the trunk lid. Rear emblem is on the wrong side (should be on left) and also should Only read: Lago. The rear bumper is the Wrong shape… It should be a ‘V’ angle – NOT straight across.
LeMans race version:
This is the same Ch.No. As the black car. The blue color on race version is in question. Originally this car was ordered for Le Mans race, and was painted metallic Grey. The blue color was on a different Talbot (car #5) that also raced at Le Mans in 1938, and that car also had different lights and No sunroof. Seats are most likely wrong. They do NOT match any vintage Talbot-Lago seats of that era, and they look suspiciously like the same seats CMC used in their much later Ferrari 250 SWB models! In the records, there is no mention of these different seats. Same comment as before about misshaped chrome under doors.
Two tone Red & Silver:
Owned by J.W. Marriott, Jr. The model is supposed to be a replica of this car as restored today. Chrome trim along bottoms of fenders is completely wrong. It should go the full length between wheel openings. Wheels should be chrome plated Not raw metal, or with later fitted disc covers. Both the front and rear bumpers are the Wrong shape… Both should be a ‘V’ angle – NOT straight across. Missing the two little signal lights that should be on top of front fenders. Seat is not the correct shape/pattern. Dashboard face is wrong color – it should be painted silver. Trunk lid shape is wong and missing the large specific center chrome trim.
Blue version:
Well….. There seems to be little to no evidence supporting this version, except for a mention in R. Adatto’s records, which supports the blue and red color combination, but this car also suffered huge damage many years ago, and some later modifications, and then was stolen. This car has not been seen since 2001, and appears to be lost.
I compared some pictures and it’s true, there are differences that have been ignored. But I think the colours offered are just different colours of the same model, not meant to replicate a particular car. If every car is replicated accurately, then it’ll cost double probably. Blue it is then!
I have been in the specialty model car business for over 30 years, and have reviewed countless models for a number of magazines. I also consult with various 1:1 car restorers. Not meaning to be arrogant here, just that I know what it does and does not cost to get things right, etc, etc.
Yes, CMC did produce different colors of the same model, but they are supposed to be models of different cars, otherwise why bother….. Problem is that NOT one of these models is really a correct model of any of the real cars.
It would definitely Not cost more to replicate a specific car. They could have produced more accurately without having to charge any more. I don’t like to buy/collect fantasy car models, and neither do most of my customers.
What are your thoughts on the Minichamps resin version of this car? No opening parts obviously, but less than half the price and looks like a good shape.
Got my order in for silver/red. May not be perfectly accurate but will still look good on a shelf!
I’ll probably break down and buy just the light blue one, which at least matches the recorded original specifications of one car. Would have bought others too, but will not, for reasons already stated. That said, I think that most collectors will be happy with most any of these.
Come on ! Cars which cost around 200 Euro are not accurate either and not even closed in detail. And than, once upon a time, there was one company-well is still, which considered and still considering itself as the best on the market, named EXOTO, and to speak here about accuracy, is in most cases just a pure joke. So I think you were too hard on CMC. But generally you are right. I also think that for the given money level, I always pick more accuracy than various shiny details. But if you are in a bussiness for such long, you have to know, most peple – paying customers – are thinking differently
I’ve read these comments , and the so many other DS critical remarks about this CMC beauty as regards the accuracy of this build…….Well , I guess my first thought and question (in this era of the resin static model manufacturers) would be , would any of you be happier if CMC folded and no longer gave us their particular style of Diecast ?? I full well appreciate a collector’s wish to have a model that is a perfect replica of a particular car , with no deviation of any kind from the original vehicle ! I want to point out however there is another aspect of model building . That is the craft of miniaturizing. The design and application of scale, and cleverly making working parts that function and are sturdy enough to stand the test of time . I gotta tell ya CMC does that better than just about any other manufacturer out there……….With that being said, once when listening to Joe Kelly Jr.’s youtube review series titled “Heavy Metal” on the subject of CMC’s Aston Martin DB4 he said that CMC often chooses different features from varying iterations of a given car in order to produce one that has features from many of the same car , he also pointed out that in his view the designers will often slightly outsize small mechanical features to draw the owner/collector’s eye into engine bay to better appreciate the intense detailing of
mechanicals. This is their style , it’s what they must feel serves their build the best !! For those who don’t know Joe Kelly Jr. , he produced in my view the finest and most complete Diecast car mag I’ve ever seen called The Car Room and I had the good fortune to subscribe to it as long as it existed. I feel it didn’t last because Joe gave so much in each issue that he just priced himself out of the market , like a restaurant that gives gigantic portions of the finest available foods till they can’t afford to feed their patrons.. ..I cherish the 2 years of issues I possess and value Kelly’s opinion highly !! I tell you this because I hold him in high regard and recommend the watching of his 2 youtube series of reviews “The Car Room” and ” Heavy Metal” . Just to put a cap on this , my silver and red Talbot Lago is wending its way to me from Australia as I write. I know the Silver Blue is the most probable model and color that has accuracy in its appearance , but the 2 tone is what spoke to me , SO that’s what I went with !! I wish A Happy New Year to all my DIECAST ADDICTED FRIENDS
fortune to subscribe to for as lon