Slot.It Audi R8C...

So, after a long delay, the new Audis are out and on show. But what is different, apart from the livery?

lets go see....

Initially there were two releases of the Audi R8C,

1999 Le Mans test car number 10 (used in this comparison)
1999 Snetterton 1st test 'Rollout' (the Darth Vader of the slot world )

Then production stopped and a long wait ensued, ending very recently with the release of the original 1999 Press Presentation version (also used in this comparison)

Initial differences, when comparing the cars still in the boxes, are impossible to see, apart from a box design change..


Well actually that is not entirely true but it IS very hard to see. Compare the two cars in the pic above and then take a look below..


You will notice that the newer model no longer has a gap between the drivers cab wall and the side air intakes. Is this an improvement? I am not sure as I like small details like this.

Time to look closer..

What has actually happened is that Slot.It grew unhappy with their initial model manufacturers and changed to a different Company. It is this Company that have produced the shell and chassis this time round.

Changes are small but make a big difference, in my opinion, to the overall look of the model. There are two exceptions to this, one I pointed out above and the other will come at the end.

The chassis is the same albeit I fitted a reverse motor mount to my original car.
More options for the chassis will become available, including a sidewinder option and the 'step 2' chassis allowing use of the new guide as seen on the Porsches (new car is on top).


Differences begin to show when comparing the cars together, here is the front, clearly showing the improved, clearer and sharper detailing of the light bezels, grille and Audi logo (new car is on the left).


The same can be seen from the rear, with the new perspex light bezels as opposed to tampo work, cleaner mold lines and the detailed exhausts (new car on left).


Tampo work is alot sharper and crisper overall, being especially obvious on the rear wing and in the alignment on the sides.
However, when it comes to the paint finish, again I am a little disappointed, the silver on the new version is not so well distributed and looks as if the paint mix was not set right. I am not certain the picture below shows this well and I hope it is just the particular car I bought. if it makes the point I am trying to make clearer - to me it looks more like a metallic grey than a silver (new car on bottom).


Overall I think the car is an improvement looks wise, which I am sure was the point of changing manufacturers, as for the complaints? well there is no pleasing some if us ehh?