The 1/18 BMW M3 (F80) Sedan, by GT Spirit

Yas.

Four is always greater than two. I'm always more partial towards 4-door vehicles. The overall shape looks more balanced. You get much more utility out of the extra space. What if you could have a sports car that you can actually bring all your friends and family (and their baggage) along for the ride, without them crushing each other to death right behind you? What if you wanted fun and practicality?

Well, that's exactly what this car is all about. This is GT Spirit's BMW M3 Sedan, 1/18 scale, in Yas Marina Blue.

I just can't get enough of GT Spirit these days. Their models are pure perfection. Perfectly crafted to look just like the real thing. Are they plastic? Yes, but there's zero evidence here of cost-cutting. The details are excessive inside and out. Do they lack opening parts? Yes, but how often do you really open the doors of your little toy cars? Moreover, do you actually display them open or closed? The wheels barely rotate, but who's going to be rolling these across their desks?

I was once a doubter, in the same shoes as many other collectors who gripe about the increasing shift towards sealed resin models. When I got my first one, I was actually surprised with how sturdy and weighty they were. I was impressed. Then, I got my second. And my third. Perhaps a couple more to add to that as well. And the more of these that entered my hands, the more I started to like them. In fact, besides AUTOart, there's no other brand I would take, at this price range, than GT Spirit.

If they all looked this good, I'd like to have more plastic, please.

The Other Half of Johnny Lightning's Classic Gold Series 2

Obscure cars for the win.

That's why Johnny Lightning and the rest of the Round 2 brands are so appealing. It's like you're building an encyclopedia of all the American cars ever made when you collect these. Here we have the '73 Pontiac GTO (not often done in diecast), Chevy Vega Wagon, and Dodge Warlock. Three more models that I didn't previously have. I've got a handful of GTOs but none of them are the '73. I've got the Vega, but not in wagon form. The truck, although one that I could've done without, is a complete unknown to me, but I expect this one will be among the most popular of the series.

These should either have arrived or be arriving at local stores soon. My local Toys"R"Us just restocked a new case of these a few days ago, after I wiped them out last week. The ones left over? The Monza, surprisingly, and the Vega Wagon.

Paragon's 1/18 BMW M5 (F10), in Silverstone II

There's always a lot of debate over which shade of BMW blue is the best. Laguna Seca blue? Interlagos blue? Estoril blue? Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

Silverstone Metallic is the best BMW blue.

It might not officially be "blue", but you would need to get your eyes checked if you can't see that it is. And that’s why I got this model. It’s Paragon’s F10 M5, 1/18 scale, in said shade of blue/silver that’s officially called Silverstone II. 

Most avid eighteenth scale collectors would know that Paragon has replaced Kyosho as BMW’s official dealership model producer. That's some big shoes to fill right off the bat. This is my first example from the brand, and I was able to pick this up for a deal as cool as the color on this car. Generally, Paragon models are priced between the mid-to-high end of the 1/18 diecast spectrum. Therefore, how does a model like this compare with the big boys?

First, you’ll notice on a lot of Paragon’s models that they opt to use the “standard” wheels on their ///M models. You would think dealer models are supposed to showcase the best of the brand (BMW). Guess not. Meanwhile, the non-///M’s get some of the sportier wheels. Weird. These don’t look as bad as, say, the wheels on the Paragon M4, but I would’ve preferred the five spokes. After all, have you ever seen a real M5 wearing these shoes? Certainly not me. It also doesn’t help that the wheel-to-tire ratio is wrong. That’s a problem that Kyosho had with its models, and it looks like nothing’s changed.

Overall, the level of detail on this model isn't bad. I would consider this middle tier as far as 1/18 goes, and that's just about right for its price. The front bumper vents don’t have perforation, though the signature kidney grilles do. The brakes are basic. The M5 badge looks to be a decal. The hood uses the dogleg hinges that every collector gasps at. It's really little details that are missing, and ones that I’m sure Kyosho would’ve nailed down.

Fit and finish are problematic, at least on this example. The rear door shown above leaves a gap because it’s misaligned. I actually have to push it up and in to get it to fully close, at which point you'll hear a very unhealthy snap and wonder if you just chipped off some paint from the panels. The trunk doesn’t open very smoothly. When in a neutral state, the wheels point to the right. Most of all, I don’t like the suspension because it creates the Maisto-esque sag on the front wheels, which creates the false impression that this is some cheap model, which it is not.

This is also my first 1/18, since my childhood days, with more than two opening doors. I’m not one to play around with opening parts, but it’s quite nice to have access the full interior for once. Grey interiors are the worst in my opinion, but it works well here with the Silverstone exterior. Oh, and being a 4-door, that weight. It’s definitely heavy, alright. 

For the $56 I paid? Pretty damn good. Your results may vary, but these don't go for much higher than that on the secondary market. I’m guessing there aren’t many fans of Paragon's models. Perhaps its the wheels. Please, Paragon, utilize some common sense and throw on some better kicks. Your Austin Yellow M4 would look rather delicious