[Phantom Phan1200]

Im a big fan of endurance & sports cars racing GT class cars, such as the Corvette C6R & C5R as well as the Aston Martin DBR9, Ferrair 575M & more.
I have collected a few 1/18 scale models by Auto Art but I really dont have the funds & space to collect these on a larger level.

I have seen IXO put out a few of these models in 1/43 scale, the price seems right & the detail in the pics looks pretty good.
Can anybody here tell me how good IXO cars are compared to other 1/43 brands & what are some good brands to look at in 1/43 (that wont cost me a arm & a leg)?

Thanks
Gerry

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by Phantom Phan1200

Im a big of endurance & sports cars racing GT class cars, such as the Corvette C6R & C5R as well as the Aston Martin DBR9, Ferrair 575M & more.
I have collected a few 1/18 scale models by Auto Art but I really dont have the funds & space to collect these on a larger level.

I have seen IXO put out a few of these models in 1/43 scale, the price seems right & the detail in the pics looks pretty good.
Can anybody here tell me how good IXO cars are compared to other 1/43 brands & what are some good brands to look at in 1/43 (that wont cost me a arm & a leg)?

Thanks
Gerry

Gerry, like with anything it all depends on a model. For example, I prefer IXO C5R over Minichamps one. IXO Maserati MC12 is also a very fine model. However, I do find IXO Ferraris underwhelming (they cut back on detailing due to licensing issues). Audi R10 is also worse than Minichamps one. Rally models represent IXO bread and butter. IST brand of IXO devoted to the cars of the Eastern block (yeah, Soviet LADAs, East German Wartburgs, etc.) proved to be so popular that next year IXO will venture into 1:18 world making models of LADA 2101. Yet, I can't get a decent Yak or La.

That being said, I consider IXOs to be the best bang for the buck, but other folks detest this brand preferring Spark and Minichamps to them. However, compared to their planes, IXO car models are very good and then some.

If you like sports car racing, Spark and Bizarre are the darlings of collectors right now. Personally, I'm not that big of a fan because QC on Spark models is hit and miss from the same batch.

In short, wait for tomorrow Independence Day sale at Replicarz, where you'll be able to pick up slow selling 1:43s for peanuts in bargain basement section and be able to decide for yourself. Last time, I cleaned out IXO Aston Martins DBR9s and some MC12s for like $12USD apiece.


Regards,

Sergey

[Phantom Phan1200]

Sergey thanks for the info & honest opinion.
The blue 2003 LeMans Corvette C5R was the model I wanted the most. I don't plan to collect a ton of these things, just a few of the GT cars I have seen in races on T.V.
How do these little guys stack up to their 1/18 counterparts?

[Old Crow]

I am not a collector of these but I see them all the time when I am in Burbank's House of Hobbies. I agree that IXO offers great value and, to me, the quality is excellent. So much so, in fact, that I succumbed and picked up a beautiful Ford GT40 (one of my all-time favorites) in gorgeous baby blue and orange, the 1969 Le Mans winner. I absolutely love it!!!

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by Phantom Phan1200

How do these little guys stack up to their 1/18 counterparts?

Nowhere near. Even the sealed AutoArt models blow away anything in mass produced in 1:43 scale by IXO, Minichamps, Ebbro, and Spark.

The only exception is Porsche 956 from HPI (yes, of RC fame). However, HPI models are much more expensive than others with prices comparable to 1:18 AutoArt, Minichamps, and Kyosho models.

I also like Classic Cralcetables (Aussie cars only) and AutoArt 1:43 models, but the selection ivery limited from these two brands in smaller scales.

I've disassembled a lot of mass produced 1:43 models, and the shortcuts like paint and decal simulated detail will become painfully obvious vs. separately cast parts on even mid-level AutoArt models like Corvette C5R

Regards,

Sergey