Well, Star Photo was on reasonable form tonight so here you are! Shame about my photographic abilities!
The three cars pre strip down
As has been said before, the finish and detail is of a very high standard. Perhaps a bit too shiny, whereas the SCX cars look like they have
been in a rally, the AutoArt cars give the impression of show pieces. My prowess with the camera isn't great enough to show you the finer details like the printing on the 206 mirrors but it is very impressive. Looking at this made me realise that the Lancer doesn't have any door mirrors at all, a bit of a glaring omission if the 1/1 car has them.
Note on the Subaru and Lancer the motor/light/guide wiring links the body to the chassis permanently. Bit annoying really. The motor is nearly perfectly mid mounted with a solid shaft to each axle. The directional switch is mounted alongside the motor a la Carrera.
On the 206 the addition of a simple one way only multiplug means the body can be completely removed. No directional switch at all! The motor is now fitted more to the front of the car with a shortish direct drive to the front gear and shaft and spring coupling to the rear as in Fly and Hornby front motored cars.
This picture is intended to show the large difference in the wheel/tyre dimensions. The 2 early cars have wheels and tyres of a very similar size to their SCX counterparts, yet the 206 has very tall thin tyres. Possibly more like the real car but they do look strange when you are used to the "normal" SCX/Ninco/Hornby offerings!
This is intended to show the new approx 50% deeper guide fitted to the 206, though you can't actually see it very well. But if you notice how the chassis is sitting so much higher while resting on it's guide blade, you should get the idea! Strangely though, using this odd yardstick, the Lancer seems to sit lower than the Subaru.
So, in summary and definitely in my opinion:
Plus points for the 206 in relation to the previous releases;
1. Wiring plug to remove body
2. Deeper guide
Negative points compared to the earlier models;
1. Front motored with propshaft spring and bearing, not a great setup for non mag rally fun
2. Narrow wheels and tyres
The reversing switch is not important for me so I haven't considered it a good or bad thing.
The deeper guide will fit into the earlier two, and as this was something that disappointed when I first tried the Subaru, I hope that they will be readily available as spares. As AutoArt cars, like Hornby, come with two spare guides on the bottom of the box, the spare Peugeot ones will be fitted on the Scooby and EVO before I put them back together.
Another couple of plus points with AutoArt in general are the boxes! Colour coded to each manufacturer, even the plastic mounting lugs are done in the co-ordinating colour. All for a very reasonable price!
As a fan of historic sports cars, the announcement of C/D/E-type Jags by AutoArt has really set my mouth watering.
Cheers Mr.M
Spoke too soon 'bout Star Photo
