ST Well Upcoming 1:18, Lexus LFA! • DiecastSociety.com

ST Well Upcoming 1:18, Lexus LFA!

We hinted at a new 1:18 Lexus LFA from ST Well a while back, and the model is further along the early grey-wear stage as of today.  What we know, it is diecast metal for those still on the fence with alternative materials.  As for the features, a fully functional suspension and removable wheels are in the works.  ST Well claims their version will also exceed AUTOart’s classic rendition in terms of engine detailing with additional attention to the interior too and also highlight the correct rear window hinge work.  Functional exterior mirrors and corrected rear wheel track (some suggestion AUTOart was off) are in the cards.  We’re looking forward to the end results.

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24 Responses to "ST Well Upcoming 1:18, Lexus LFA!"

  1. Fede Roloff says:

    I’m very disappointed. Maybe it’s a little better than AUTOART’s products, but I will still choose AUTOART because STWELL has no attraction

  2. Marcel171281 says:

    Maybe it is me, but why are the (relative) new players on the market spending time on cars that you are already there or even being re-released by the original manufacturer? LCD with the Toyota 2000gt is another example. Wouldn’t spending the resources at something never released be better for a new company and create a bigger market for them? Or are they really doing what I suspect they are doing, and that is reverse engineering existing AA models?

    • Chall says:

      I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re re-engineering AUTOart molds. But even if they aren’t, their choices make sense.

      If the silly asking and selling prices for sold out models on the secondary market, especially old AUTOarts, are anything to go by, then there’s a hungry market and money to be made.

      The chances of them selling what they produced at a decent profit is higher, and at the same time, they give the collector world a direct comparison. If they version is better than what AUTOart made, they gain near instant brand recognition and clout. I’d imagine the tooling and production costs are still rough, so they’d much rather start with something that is likely to sell well.

      For example, I will never pay the current asking prices for an AUTOart Mclaren F1 on ebay. But I will gladly pay 200+ USD for even 90% of the quality of the AUTOart release. Because 1) I like the model and subject but got serious into the hobby late 2) There’s a small part of me that would buy this out of general spite at how ridiculous prices have gotten.

      • Marcel171281 says:

        I get your point about the F1 and you’re absolutely right.

        But in the case of this LFA, AUTOart already announced the re-release in Q1-2022 of their model. So second hand prices will drop anyway and why would I buy from a new manufacturer, when a can have the certainty of an established manufacturer? I have no idea how the ST-well will hold up over time. Have they been using poor quality Zamak to keep prices low, resulting in massive paintrash after a while? We don’t know do we?

        If they announce something unique, or, like the F1 something second hand very pricy, they leave the buyer no choice and have 100% market. Now they will have a portion of the market.

        Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that there will be competition and I certainly don’t mind buying from new manufacterers. But I don’t understand that they don’t choose models that are not already been announced by others for (re-)release. Other examples: AR with the Huayra Roadster (already an LCD and AA), LCD with the 600LT (also an AA), LCD with the Toyota 200GT (re-release by AA 2 years ago and still widely available), LCD with the Civic type R (AA release at the same time).

        But maybe it is just me ;)

        • Atalante says:

          ”But in the case of this LFA, AUTOart already announced the re-release in Q1-2022 of their model.”

          If I am not wrong the reissue of the AUTOart LFA was announced back in January this year. Engineering development (and for a new company like ST Well getting the funding) can take quite some time so it is very likely that decision to make this model was taken before the AA announcement. This is often the case when different manufacturer announce the same model not too far apart. I remember the owner of GTS/Otto explained this during an interview.

        • Benz says:

          I can tell you that when I heard ST Well was making the LFA, I pounced on it & paid up on my order. It was only some time later that Aa announced that they were also going to release the LFA in composite & that announcement by Aa actually made me question whether I should cancel my ST Well order & go with Aa instead but in the end I decided to stick with ST Well as the early bird price that I paid was something that I could never get back had I given it up.

          By the way, in respect of the McLaren F1, LCD has announced that they will be making it so, that’s another one I’m looking out for

  3. Pi Liu says:

    Undeniably, this is much worse than LCD and MH products

    • DS Team says:

      Please elaborate?

      • Pi Liu says:

        Because the number of parts is very small.About 200 disassembled parts,LCD and MH products have more than 300 parts.

        • x says:

          What a stupid thing to think about. It’s like expecting an econobox DOHC inline-4 engine to have the same number of parts like a DOHC V12. If you are comparing the parts count of an LFA to a Huayra Roadster they would have a different number. Same with comparing the number of body panels that a P1 have compared to a 918 Spyder. What kind o logic do you have? The important thing is that they are making an alternative option besides autoart. Another most important thing for me personally is the engine detail and accuracy of the exterior which the AA composite version has botched if you see the headlights of the proto ver. Also if you don’t want it then buy something more overpriced but contains less parts.

          • Pi Liu says:

            Haha.The number of parts of all super running models of LCD and MH exceeds 300.(600lt、R34……)More importantly, the 600lt price of LCD is only 120 USD.

  4. . says:

    And it will be also good for us people who missed it during AA’s first release as I was too young and broke to buy it back a few years ago. Hopefully they make it in blue and yellow though

  5. Yaron says:

    According to Carloverdiecast, this is by LCD! Check their Facebook page. They will open pre orders tomorrow.

  6. Giorgio262 says:

    Seems to me like they captured the lines of the LFA very well. Also, given this is still an unpainted sample, the panel gaps look remarkably tight and consistent all around.

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