Apex
V8s Galore!
With factories going bust in China (or whatever the reason was), there has not been much in the way of 1:43 V8 Supercar models for the past couple of years. Well, that’s all changed in 2016! Both Apex and Biante have been busy churning out multiple releases over the past 6 months or so. Apex Vs Biante The models from both manufacturers are, generally, pretty darn good. One could argue the Apex models are a little more refined and detailed, however several of the pieces I’ve bought are let downRead More
Jim Richards’ 1985 ATCC Winning BMW
Spark recently did a run of 500 pieces of Jim Richards’ Group A 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship winning BMW 635CSi (Spark item # AS017). When the 6-cylinder Bavarian bullet arrived in the post the other month, there was a glaring assembly issue with the car – the rear axle was ajar, the left wheel was poking way out past the bodywork and the right rear was buckled with massive toe-in. I communicated with the importer/retailer, Apex Replicas, and they were happy to swap it as they still had newRead More
Spark & DJR Team Penske Announcements from Apex
Apex Replicas has added a huge list of new models to its site. From Spark there are 49 new 1:43 scale items, the first of which are scheduled to land in Oz in March. The list includes lots of classic F1, LeMans, Dakar, Indy, GT3 and a selection of classic road cars. Of particular interest to Aussie collectors will be Spark’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of 2015 Australian Carrera Cup Champion Nick Foster in Bob Jane T-Marts livery. Of particular interest to me is Johnny Rutherford’s 1974 Indy 500 winningRead More
Review: Russell Ingall’s 2014 VF Commodore by Apex
Apex AR40705 – 2014 Holden VF Commodore Russell Ingall THE CAR: This is Russell Ingall’s last full-time V8 Supercar ride, the Repair Management Australia backed Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport entered VF Commodore. Many considered the livery on this thing as not particularly exciting, however I reckon it works ok. Apex has modeled a 2014 ‘season’ version of this car (ie, not from a specific race), which is not what Apex usually do with their contemporary race cars. Ingall finished the 2014 championship a dismal 18th after a lackluster final year inRead More
Apex Falcon & Ferrari Announcements
Late last month, Apex Replicas announced they were ready to produce the 2015 range of Prodrive Racing Australia FG-X Falcon V8 Supercars, plus the 2014 Bathurst 12-hour winning Ferrari 458 Italia GT3. 2015 Prodrive Racing Australia – Ford FG X Four versions of the PRA Ford FG X V8 Supercar will be made – the two Pepsi MAX cars of Mark Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert, the Bottle-O David Reynolds car, plus the FG-X Launch version. All four will be produced in 1:18 (diecast with sealed body) and 1:43 (resin). Read More
Videos: 2015 Diecast Model Expo
Videos of some of the new release models on display at the 2015 Diecast Model Expo in Penrith on the weekend. Some nice looking items in this lot! Apex Replicas Biante Classic Carlectables ARMCO/Models56 Trax Ace Model Cars “Show Specials”
New Release Updates – Trax/Spark/Models56
Some updates on new and recently announced models: Top Gear / Trax Top Gear has confirmed the upcoming Holden LE Coupe will be 1:24 scale. I’m sure the regular Trax collectors would have preferred this in 1:43, but I guess there is still that option (for them – or another manufacturer) in the future. This will come with a mirror-backed display case and judging from the Top Gear pics below, should look pretty good. More on the Top Gear site HERE. Apex Spark will produce the stunning black “test car”Read More
News Briefs
Various updates from various places… Models56/ARMCO The car transporter truck and trailer (limited edition of 300 pieces -does not include the cars) is set for an early 2015 release. The organisation says the Landau Coupes and “some other surprises” are very close. Apex Apex Replicas will produce Marcos Ambrose’s Sydney 500 DJR/Penske merger V8 Supercar in 1:18 and 1:43 scale. The model can now be pre-orderd on the Apex website, however I’m waiting to see what it actually looks like before I place an order. The livery is setRead More
New Releases From Top Gear & Apex
Top Gear and Apex both announced new releases today; from Top Gear, a 1950 Ford V8 Custom ‘Single Spinner’ as the next Trax Select Series model, and from Apex Replicas, a huuuge number of models (108!!) that have come in to stock from various suppliers.
New Models Coming From Apex & Biante
Latest Aussie model news and releases Apex Sample of the 1:43 scale Efijy showing the car in production colour and special premium display box. The box will change for the final production (the carbon fibre panel will be replaced with something much lighter to make the car stand out more) and each model will have a metal plaque showing the model description and serial number.
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 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 fromRead More
Apex 2012 Bathurst ‘Retro’ Cars
Back in April, I blogged about Classic Carlectables’ 2012 Bathurst cars, including the two ‘retro’ racers from FPR and 888 (click HERE to view). Well, the two Apex FG Falcons arrived a while back, so a direct comparison can now be made. Put simply, the Apex version is clearly the winner… and it would want to be at about 30% more expensive; RRP is a hefty $70(!). Production figures for these ‘one off’ resin race versions are: Moffat/Davison ‘Tru-Blu – 840 pieces Reynolds/Canto ‘Bottle-O’ – 720 pieces wixy500 rating (outRead More
Tobacco Conversions on 3 x ATCC Cars
Some tobacco conversions on ATCC race cars: Above & Below: Gricey’s Craven Mild LH Torana from 1975 (Biante 1/43, aftermarket decals) Above & Below: Bathurst winning Benson & Hedges Ford Sierra 1988 (Apex 1/43, aftermarket decals) Above & Below: Jim Richards’ JPS BMW M3 (Apex 1/43, aftermarket decals). Some of the JPS logos are really really small and a total pain to apply, such as the ones that go inside the emblem on the C-pillar.