Race/Series: Le Mans 24 Hours 2005
Result: 9th Overall, 3rd in LM GT1 Class
Drivers: David Brabham (AUS)/Stephane Sarrazin (F)/Darren Turner (GB)
The model is in 1/18 scale by Solido, and sells in the UK for a retail price of £24.99, placing it in budget territory in the UK market. Packaging is a window style box. To place the model in context, Autoart also produce a 'premium' quality DBR9 in a selection of race numbers and liveries, which has finer exterior detail. However, the Autoart versions are released under their Motorsports range, which means they have sealed doors and bonnet, and no engine detail. In addition, they cost between £40 and £50 from retailers.
Exterior
Solido have done a good job on the whole of capturing the lines of the DBR9. The shape looks accurate, although the car could ride a little lower to the ground. The only other flaw is that the front wheels do not really fill the wheelarches as much as they should. If the front ride height on the model could be adjusted it would improve both of these slight issues. The model is correct 1/18 scale. Panel gaps around the doors and lift-off engine cover are good, if not quite up to a premium standard. The doors open on realistic hinges, although the only way I can open them is by tugging the wing mirrors which I don’t like to do. Fortunately the hinges, although sturdy, are not very stiffly sprung. Large scoops, intakes and openings are of course cut right through, and very neatly, but the mesh areas in the front air dam, front wings and bonnet are only textured plastic. The headlight fairings are nicely done, and the bulbs themselves look reasonable, although stubs are a little too obvious. Unfortunately these bulbs should be tinted yellow rather than clear however, as is compulsory for the GT class cars at Le Mans. Rear lights are again neat though with apparent mounting stubs, and the auxiliary brake light is a separate plastic piece. Other exterior details are reasonable, although lacking the finesse of a more expensive model. The antennae for example look a little crude, and the hood release catches are painted moldings rather than separate pieces. The exhausts are not perforated very much, and the badges are only decals. Nevertheless, these are only small details, and overall the model is not found wanting because of them.
Score: 6/10
Paint
The green base colour is applied smoothly and I have found no flaws on my model. The metallic flakes are tiny, giving a lovely realistic appearance. The only possible downside I can find is the colour of the paint. Although it is impossible to say for certain due to different lighting conditions in different photos and places, the model does not quite seem to match the colour of the real car in photos. However, I am not certain of this, and if not correct the colour is very close anyway. It certainly doesn’t really detract from the model.
Score: 8/10
Tampo/Decals
For me this is perhaps the weakest area of the whole model. There seems to be a combination of tampo painting and decals, and all logos seem to be present and in the correct position. However, it appears that several of the logos are not the correct size. The most obvious examples are the Castrol logos on the front of the car, and also the yellow strip on the windscreen. This is a pity, as it is hard to imagine that scaling of decals is one of the more difficult stages in producing a diecast, and it does detract from the whole exterior to a degree. Perhaps these flaws wouldn’t generally be noticed unless compared to the real car, but they are still defects. I also think that the yellow parts of the livery could be a slightly more fluorescent colour. Slightly mediocre overall.
Score: 5/10
Tyres and Wheels
The racing slick tyres are replicated reasonably well, although they appear a little too shiny. The sidewalls are correctly marked with Michelin logos, although the size of these is again questionable. The wheel rims themselves are very nicely done, with a fairly convincing ‘gunmetal’ finish to them, and nice molded details including the wheel nuts and tyre valves. The spokes could perhaps be a touch finer, but not to the extent that I would call it a flaw. Although they lack branding, overall the wheels compliment the rest of the exterior nicely.
Score: 7/10
Brakes
A very good area for Solido here. The grey brake discs mimic carbon well, and spin independently of the calipers, which are also very impressive for a budget model, with Brembo branding front and rear. The copper coloured calipers and middles of the discs are nicely made, although I am not sure how accurate the colour is. Perhaps it should be more of a gold colour. Overall though, far more than you could expect at this price point.
Score: 8/10
Engine
Solido have done a nice enough job on the engine in this model. The plastic used to replicate the airbox and part of the engine block is supposed to replicate carbon fibre, but it lacks the shiny finish of the real thing. The main elements of the engine bay are present, and modelled nicely, though fine details are generally lacking or at best molded in one big plastic shape. However, such fine details are not really to be expected in this price range, and overall Solido have given an accurate and pleasing representation of the real car.
Score: 6/10
Interior
The interior of this model is once again an accurate replica of the real car, with all major controls and features being correct. The seat has separate seatbelts, but both the seat and the belts are only plastic. The same applies to other details. Although positioned and coloured correctly, parts are all plastic. In fact, the interior is much like the engine. The real car of course features hundreds of tiny details and parts, but for the price the model offers what is to be expected – a good representation of all the major elements.
Score: 5/10
This was a difficult model to review. There was much hype surrounding the release of an opening model of the DBR9, and Solido lived up to it beyond what could have been expected in most areas. It's still no premium model, and I hope the overall score fairly reflects that, but it excels as a budget one, and for my money it is infinitely better value than the sealed Autoart version.
Overall Score: 6.4/10
