Have you ever wondered what the inside of a typical resin model looks like? What makes the upper class of scale resin models tick? Our friend and DiecastSociety.com member Brian did. The catalyst for the dissection here was a loose seat on his new Fronti-Art/AvanStyle 1:18 Koenigsegg Regera. As you can see from the multiple images, there isn’t much to the under side of this model. We count 14 pieces in total, 11 of which are screws to hold the undercarriage in place. Yes we’re being a little overly pragmatic in our methods, but the proof is in the pudding…
We must give credit to Fronti-Art where credit is due. The fit and finish of the exterior is top notch as well as the individual parts that make the model whole. Based on other resin models that our team has seen dissected into parts, they are one of the cleanest in design. Other popular brands on the lower end of the spectrum such as OttOmobile, GT Spirit would make certain individuals cringe.
So the next time you offer up $300, $400, $500 for your favourite resin piece think of what you are actually buying. In our opinion there is no replacement for scale models with opening parts, sealed resin depending on the brand is a good place holder, nothing more.
This makes me even more determined to not spend big money on what is really just a plastic toy.
Exactly. Max resin price I am willing to pay for are GT Spirit prices.
There you see what a simple thing a resin model is: Shell on wheels! A mere stop gap before a fully opening model becomes available and then you bitterly regreat having spent the money. In my case: An MR Sesto Elemento and a Top Marques Lykan Hypersport. The better the diecast by which it is replaced the sillier you feel about having bought the resin.
Really? Is that what you do when you buy an expensive piece of furniture? Take it apart to see it is just a bunch of wood, padding and fabric? An expensive suit maybe? A bunch of threads? A telescope? An empty tube with a piece of glass? Should I go on? Are you really that ignorant? Why don’t y’all grab a hammer and start feasting over it? Just to make your day. To celebrate your diecast supremacy. I think you hit an all time low here.
Did you read the article? Or did you large ego get in the way again? I’ll define you as a keyboard hero, nothing more.
Yes, that´s what I do when I buy something expensive, there is no guarantee on it and something´s loose: I don´t just accept it, but try and fix it. And in order to do it, I take it apart if necessary. THAT is what Brian has done! What do you do? Throw it away, buy another and pay the same price?
And believe it or not, there are those who will open up a model to ADMIRE how it is made. There are models made to be opened, moved, operated, so that you can admire more than the outward shell. Try it some day with a CMC model and see the difference, the beauty of it, enjoy the hands-on experience. Or are you the one who is too ignorant to see the difference? Of course there is absolutely no fun in opening a solid resin model and we all avoid it like the plague. Because there is absolutely nothing to admire that cannot be experienced hands-off. but despite the utmost care feels like breaking it. That´s the whole point made here, and you´ve convincingly proved it by your ranting.
very well said KARSTEN. It is very sad seeing more manufacturers turning toward resin these days. For obvious reason, it is just way way more profitable.
Moondawn your arguments make no sense at all. The items you describe are functional and their functionality is well fulfilled by the construction and materials used.
Models don’t serve any purpose other than what we the customers want. They are a mix of purely decorative items and “toys” that we can play with. For some all they want is a scale representation of the outer form of the vehicle, and for these folk resin models are perfectly adequate. Others such as George K or me crave not just outer shape accuracy but overall accuracy including the actual “stuff” that makes up the model. In this sense a resin model is hardly a scaled down replica of the real car. All the body panels are not even close to the thickness of the actual panels. Looking at the underside of the resin body makes it clear it is nothing but a shell placed on top of the undercarriage plastic piece. Contrast this with a good diecast model which has hundreds of parts (1500+ in CMC and Exoto XS models) with all parts replicated. A diecast model is not just an outer-body shape representation but a full replica which has scaled down everything that makes up the real car. Engine, suspension, working windows, doors, trunk etc to name a few of the major items that nearly every decent diecast model has.
The problem with resin models is not that they are sealed “shell models” but rather the prices manufacturers ask. The argument is of course that resin models are limited production runs and hence with smaller economies of scale each model ends up being more expensive. So resin might be a viable approach for non-mass produced models, especially at the price points such as proferred by GT Spirit and Otto, but it can never compete with full opening diecast for sheer modeling accuracy and detail. The fact that BBR had released the Ferrari 3675 Plus in diecast and cost less than their resin models speaks volumes about which approach is more profitable to manufacturers, at the expense of collectors who lose proper diecast models thanks to the evergoing push towards resin.
What the fuck kind of snowflake name is moondawn? Shut up and get back under your bridge. LOL Moondawn. How many hours did you sit in traffic to watch the eclipse?
My compliments to the OP on the perfect example of how silly a waste of money $400 resins truly are. You are to kind to call them a placeholder.
I think I will remain the unique evil layer here : there’s absolutely no scoop in this vindictive and stating the obvious speech. Of course manufacturers will never fill what is not intended to be shown, and we already know how profitable this (new) resin market is for them, specially when you think that selling models at this so high-range prices is a good idea.
But does a “normal” buyer will open everything he buys, and why a model designer should consider this ?
Something a pro diecast will never admit is that some users are considering opened parts only as a five minutes play, just looking for a “display purpose” model
which exactly looks like the real thing, when nearly all previous manufacturers did it like a toy. Is that so crazy ? Less than opening your girlfriend to check if she’s also beautiful in the inside (except if you are iFixit or James May :D )
No word here about the great accuracy and realistic shaping potential it offers when doing the same thing with zamac is quite impossible, with sometimes a very competitive, popular and honest price range like the so ”unliked” and messy (but so successful) brands GT Spirit / Otto. Quite unfair.
Want to talk about the so expensive experience of CMC, which sadly is only a (great) exception in the diecast world ? How long Kyosho or Norev would live with this business model and how many users to complain even more about the involved price increase ?
For “normal” buyers you describe there was already great option, that existed for ages. It’s called 1/43! They are great show, especially Spark, and the greatest things that they’re cheaper and take less place. Genious!
When I was becoming new to 1/18 I was pretty “normal” buyer. I started from Stratos from SunStar and then few muscles from Greenlight.
I always wanted an experience of fully opening, the model I can strip down completely, like GMP Fezza 312 or Exoto Chaparral. Or admire the engine, like in the Exoto’s Cobras with webber carbs.
That’s the glory of 1/18 for me, that’s for I’m willing to pay such price and dedicate my space for.
i must say i never heard so many people talking bullshit resin model maybe not open (most of them) but it’s not less time to develop it to make the model look as close as possible to the real car and this not just take a blue print and 3d printer and you good to go it’s much much more than that i try it.
this regera sold many times for less than 230$ so this not and can’t be compere to the more expensive resin models.
It’s quite a Mac or an iPhone : low quality pieces, made in China, but well finished and higher costs because of US developement (with so expensive designers), which should be even higher if Trump knows how to convince them to build iThings in US.
But even if the iPhone 8 was 2x costly, people would still buy it, just because it’s Apple.
Remind that diecast collecting is just a hobby, and collectible things has always been expensive.
I do beg your pardon, Sir??? Who of the above fellow members of this society ever put forward the arguments that you denounce as “bullshit”? Stop attacking people for arguments that they´ve never used!
UZAIR has given a balanced and fair account on the subject: Both diecast and resin have their justification to exist, but not at the same price. What I regret about having bought my only MR is that I bought it more expensively than the AUTOart that was released just a little later, because I wrongly thought, it would be the only rendition of this concept car. And now that I know that AUTOart will give us the Chiron, you´ll kindly excuse me for not making the same mistake again. If you … or anyone else for that matter … honestly prefer the MR Chiron over the AUTOart, well, by all means, go ahead!
Not every high price resin model has the same detail and quality.
And this regera is a low price resin.
A Bburago metal diecast have more details and full opening parts than this poor resin Fronti No Art.
I Have 2 BBR Models they are amazing! I know a resin is not more then AN metal shell with an interior but the quality is just much much better. It’s just stupid people say they don’t like it to havr a resin car. Because need to open every part. A modelcar is not a toy it’s to look at the amazing details. I like resin much more. I already have my third BBR here in a few short days. They are just much better even tho they only have an interior to look at.
There can be counter argument to what you’re saying, so looking at amazing crafted engine or the accurately modelled backsides of switches with all the wiring on Exoto chaparral, is a toy experience? And seeing in person some Look Smart models, I couldn’t help myself but only thought that came to mind was “what a plastic toy”. There was all right with proportions and detail, but the look of paint and especially interiors was really disappointing.
And again, why waste space if there are some closed/body 1/43 models with similar level of detail, which is even more impressive for that scale?
Having said that I love the little details manufacturers like Spark add to racecar resin models, like all the fins, handles and small antennas.
Something really great is coming from Replicars (or TSM, or is it the same?) soon, a resin-made Indycar with detacheable body panels and accurately crafted engine.
You can buy a 1/43 Looksmart/MRcollection Huracan Performante on the same day Lamborghini offical release the Real car(Geneva Motor Show 2017).
This is why the price get higher. They are working with Lamborghini/Ferrari directly.
If you want a better paint / build quity / interiors details of an Looksmart model.
1. Order the MR collection version of it.
2. Some paint color are too thick for 1/43.
But yes. Looksmart model are not the best option.
If you looking for a Ferrari model. Choose BBR
if you can wait or want to spend less money. Choose other brand.