Apex’s 2013 FG V8 Supercars

I received four 1/43rd scale FG Falcon V8 Supercars from Apex recently, and I must say, they’re pretty good!

left to right:

  • Alex Davison #18 “Jeldwen” FPR Ford
  • David Reynolds #55 “Bottle-O” FPR Ford
  • Tim Blanchard #17 “Wilson Security” DJR Ford
  • Chaz Mostert #12 “Wilson Security” DJR Ford

1/43rd scale FG Falcon V8 Supercars from Apex

They’re resin with quite low production numbers – 408 for Reynolds & Davison, 360 for Mostert (if Mostert’s stock keeps rising, this one could be hard to come by in future years) and 312 for Blanchard.

Price is $70 each direct from Apex (plus postage) so they’re not cheap, but they are certainly the best V8s we’ve seen for some time and waaaaaay ahead in quality compared to Classics.

The cars have great paint, good decoration and have an acceptable stance regarding ride-height and wheel camber.

Some of the finer detail is impressive: brake disc detail (even branding on the caliper!), branding on the wheel rim, interior detail and ‘race specific’ markings (all three are modeled as they appeared at the Darwin Skycity Triple Crown round).

I assume the interiors are the same (hard to see inside), but externally, there are differences: the FPR cars have different blanking in the front bar compared to the DJR cars and they also have different bonnet latch positions.

Nice wheel detail. My opinion is the wheel rim itself does not appear 'alloy' enough and should be shinier. Minor QC issues with spray masking (bottom of splitter) and decal overlap (near Ford logo). But remember, this is 1:43 scale, not 1:18.
Nice wheel detail. My opinion is the wheel rim itself does not appear ‘alloy’ enough and should be shinier. Minor QC issues with spray masking (bottom of splitter) and decal overlap (near Ford logo). But remember, this is 1:43 scale, not 1:18.

People have commented on internet forums that Apex messed up and forgot the fuel filler nozzle detail on the side of the car. Well, there’s a good reason for that – they didn’t run them at the Darwin round! (photos prove this for the DJR cars, and I’m 99% sure the FPR-mobiles are the same).

The tyre-to-guard clearance and overall stance is pretty good. In fact, it reminds me of the good old days when Biante had that run of VX/VY/VZ Commodores.

The only QC issues – and these are pretty minor – were some small misalignment of a couple of decals, plus a heavy mold line inside the rear wing end supports.

The Falcons from the two teams are not the same. Note the difference in the lower air intake, Apex including the bulge on the FPR version.
The Falcons from the two teams are not the same. Note the difference in the lower air intake, Apex including the bulge on the FPR version.

How do they measure up? Calculating the model’s dimensions in scale, the wheelbase and total width is pretty much spot on with what V8 Supercars have published. The wheels on the model are quite a bit oversize (by roughly 10% in both diameter and width) and this is probably the largest contributing factor to the height of the model being quite a bit more than that published for the COTF specs. Having said that, the over all look is still good.

Underneath, there is is only basic detail cast into the base plate with exhaust painted. This lack of detail infuriates some collectors, but I’m ok with it as I don’t display my models upside down.

Not much detail, and I'm not too sure if what's there is accurate. That looks a bit like a gearbox on the back of the motor...
Not much detail, and I’m not too sure if what’s there is accurate. That looks a bit like a gearbox on the back of the motor…

Similarly, the wheels are fixed in position (don’t turn), so the model won’t roll away and it can’t be pushed around like a Matchbox toy. Only downside is you can’t rotate the wheels to get the tyre markings matched up like what is often seen in posed press photos.

Blanchard's #17 DJR FG in the red Wilson Security/Shell colours it carried for part of the season
Blanchard’s #17 DJR FG in the red Wilson Security/Shell colours it carried for part of the season

Apex has employed an improved method of mounting the model to plinth. The silly lugs cast into the base of the car (like on Apex’s 2012 range, such as the Bathurst Retro cars previously reviewed) has been done away with, replaced with standerd screws and removable spacers.

Decal placement is generally not too bad, but there are a few small gaps or mislalignments, such as around the tail light. This one was easily fixed with a dab of black paint.
Decal placement is generally not too bad, but there are a few small gaps or misalignments, such as around the tail light. This one was easily fixed with a dab of black paint.

If I could improve one aspect of these models, it would be the finish of the rims. They need to be shinier (like Biante’s 2010 V8s) to replicate the machined alloy look of the real thing, though I think plating them chrome would be a total overkill.

I also have a feeling the green on the Wilson Security car should be a brighter fluro version (however, I have not seen the car in the flesh, so I could be wrong on that one).

Apex are yet to release their 2013 VF Commodore. In fact, none of the three brands – Apex, Biante or Classic Carlectables – have released the VF ‘Car of the Future’ V8 Supercar in 1:43. It will be interesting to see how they stack up…

  • All but one of the regular Main Game runners is scheduled to be produced this year
Top front view
Top front view
Top rear view
Top rear view

 

wixy500 rating (out of 5):

  • Collectability – Overall 4.1, mostly due to the low production numbers (maybe 4.3 for Mostert & Reynolds, 3.9 for Blanchard and Davison?)
  • Finish – 4.5
  • Accuracy – 4.5
  • Value – 3.3 (great models, but $70 is still a heavy price IMO)
  • Overall – 4.1

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