Another variant of the CMC 1:18 Ferrari 275 GTB/C series is the item presented here, welcome the Ferrari 275 GTB/C Chassis #09057 in pictorial form. The owner, Mr. Vincent Gaye was actually truly instrumental in the R&D period. And the results are pretty good. Love the interior fine-tuning here!
Product# M-212
I don’t know about the interior, but the rear window frame really arouses “admiration.” For the money that collectors pay “SMS”, one could try hard.
Again, not something I’d spend money on. The rear window looks like a hatchback. The interior looks awful. The “leather” grain is way over scale, the gearshift is underscale, the steering wheel looks awful and why can’t they paint the handles and nozzles on the fire extinguisher silver, like the real thing? Sometimes CMC is a little too determined to use close to authentic materials when that just doesn’t work.
Yes. Thank you. I see no reason to use real materials if it doesn’t look real in that scale. The leather grain is one of the worst offenders imo.
I suppose CMC have their own niche. It seems like they’re not going for a scale accurate exact replkica of the original car, something that with good photo technique could pass for the real car. Instead it feels like they’re trying to give a flavour of the real car in terms of complexity of build and richness of materials used. In a way it could be considered a charichature of both the real car and the concept of a scale replica.
On that respect it may not be all that relevant that real leather is inevitably out of scale in a model car, and the same goes for their overly complicated windows trim and their signature wire wheels, much like on a usually cheaper way it’s not perhaps so relevanti that Autoart puts tiny, but terribly out of scale, screws on some visibile parts of their model if it is to signify something like:” look we didn’t just glue these pieces together, we actually used some very tiny screws, and someone actually had to screw them in place”.
Spot on my friend. CMC does it for the luxury, not the accuracy. Unfortunately with this one the lack of accuracy makes the luxury hard to appreciate. I’m a CMC apologist, but this is one I’m going to pass on.
Not impressed. CMC still sticks with using materials that are way out of scale, and look heavy handed, plus there are always some fit problems, and wrong finishes on some parts. Also some over sized and under sized pieces, and some poorly finished parts…always. It’s disappointing that they don’t understand about improving these areas which they should and could do. Prices go up, but the quality/value does not. I know there are plenty of CMC enthusiasts, and I expect they’ll be happy, and that these models will sell well for CMC…BUT… these models still do not qualify as *truly* great high quality models or high end. I won’t be buying or recommending their 275 GTB/C models.
It’s strange nobody has commented anything about the hood problem. The more versions I’m seeing the more confirms that the hood does not fit propertly. As yo can see It has a bigger gap near the windshield. It’s like the plate used is too thick.
Although I like it very much, the price is very expensive.
It is. But rather one of these, than 10 sealed ones from KK-scale or something like that.
I would like to compliment CMC for initiating some design and detail changes that i have taken notice of on my 275 gtb-c’s m-212 blue #55 and m-213 maroon #4 model cars. I share the concerns of the many posted above concerning CMC’s lack of accurate detailing of the 275 gtb-c series. It is my opinion that the wire wheel race livery versions have thankfully undergone some revisions that I and other have requested The most obvious and welcome correction I see on both M-212 and M-113 is that of the windshield rubber. It is better scaled and inset front and rear into the windshield frames with a lower profile. CMC has additionally corrected the wind wings to open rearward instead of opening forward as noticed on m-210. Less than excellent but much improved opening direction, the upper wind wing pivot is located at the top frame instead of 3/4th up on the forward frame leaving out the small pivot frame bulge you see on all Ferrari’s of this era. CMC has also taken note and corrected the all red rear taillights that are correct only for 275 gtb-c #26 m-199 by fitting their new beautifully modeled amber and red with center reflector tail lights on m-212 and m-213 as pictured and correct for the blue #55 and the maroon #4 full size racers. Door, hood, trunk fit and seam lines on these two race versions along with the paint sheen and micro metallic paint application without blemish is perfection. In scale this is masterful attention to detail. In lighted inspection I am impressed how exacting the model body shapes are considering these die cast bodies are prepared by hand by filling and shaping. I see no flat spotting to the smooth rounded body forms. I am happy to noticed the front grill left and right bumpers are being attached level as requested with out the out sides bumpers slightly lifting. Ferrari’s do not smile.
A few suggestions about detail improvements to CMC’s Ferrari 275 gtb-c series.
1. Front suspension should be lowered, leveling the car.
2. The dash vent controls should be shortened.
3. Pebbling dash paint should be smaller in scale.
4. Shift lever and knob need to be more accurately modeled.
5. Knock off for both type wheels are too large and out of scale
I consider correct scaled knock off’s more desirable than wheel bearing hubs.
6.I recommend CMC replace their metal tweezers with a plastic handled shaft with
a hook and a wedge at the ends to avoid marring the paint when opening doors
hood and trunk and that CMC add a logo fine bristle cosmetic brush for dusting
windshield and body parts.
7. I believe CMC logo gloves to carefully handle CMC models would be more useful
than their metal logo key chain that might get loose in their model box during
shipping and if its a key chain it needs to have a stainless ringed with only leather
logo.
8. I would prefer fine woven fabric seat belts instead of the heavy grain leather used.
9. CMC should consider replacing their small Philips head screws for hex head
screws especially in the doors, suspension, fender skirts and under carriage.
10.I would recommend that CMC be more conscious of steering wheel and turn
signal scale than adding leather covering.
Whale appreciating the remarkable detail these two new models present, I have to
thank and celebrate the commitment and dedication by CMC and their many skilled artisan that have made these limited works of automotive art available to the discriminating collector. They join the list of CMC treasures.
We’re glad you are happy with it. Thanks for sharing the insight and feedback!!
Nice review Tim Hodges. I was a bit reluctant to purchase after reading the poor reviews but I took the leap of faith and bought #4 maroon, it has none of the early issues and looks great, it is a diecast car with the inherent scaling issue of leather etc.Seeing the escalating prices of older CMC models convinced me to buy now, NOT pay more later, and I’m close to buying the #55 blue soon. That’s all, I can’t afford a third $650 diecast.
tim hodges says:
November 25, 2022 at 7:51 PM
Dennis, Until i received #55 I thought it was my least favorite of the race versions. In person it is beautifully delivered especially the paint pearl with no heavy metallic, different rear view mirrors, well done and correctly positioned race fuel filler, and a black steering wheel without the heavy black leather covering shown on the prototype. As can be read, CMC worked closely with the present owner/caretaker and racer of this very successful GTB-C. Some of the actual racing photos of #55 show it with slotted disc wheels. I prefer the disc wheels instead of wires to compliment the silver blue body of M-212. Below is a post about changing wheel types between the red M-210 and M-212 that might interest you.
I would like to post this comment on your posting of CMC 275.gtb-c’s models to get members feedback on the process of changing wire wheels to disc wheels between m-210 and m-212. I am one of the collectors of CMCs 275 gtb-c’s that requested that CMC engineer the wires and disc wheels to be exchangeable. Unfortunately m-210 red version slotted disc wheels will not thread onto m-212 blue #55 shafts, and conversely mounting m-212 wire wheels on m-210 will not thread on to the front disc shafts. I have found that the threaded wheel hubs model specific have different length to meet each wheel type off set position and are specific to each type wheel design. I am guessing two solutions might be successful to accomplish the disc wheel wire wheel switch. 1. Remove the disc brake with threaded assembly and exchange by unscrewing the tiny screw at the center of each hub that has the correct thread length and is used for the wheel you want to change. The brake lines might need to be separated and reattached after the switch. 2. Or unscrew the chassis on both vehicles and exchange each model body onto the wheel chasis set up desired. M-210 red version does have a wood grain steering wheel which seems to be the only interior difference between m-210 and m-212. I don’t know yet if the tiny Philips screws strip out or can to removed especially the tiny ones in the center wheel hubs. If anyone has a better approach to suggest or has successfully accomplished this exchange, please post how they accomplished it. On CMC Models Enthusiasts there is a picture of the blue m-212 #55 with slotted disc wheels and I have seen the CMC red m-210 once with wires on line, both are exceptionally appealing.