GT Spirit's Dealer-Edition Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG (1/18)

Mind you, this isn't your "typical" S63 AMG; it's the top-of-the-line S65, the flagship sedan in the M-B fleet. This one, produced by GT Spirit, is in the dealer-edition white colorway as is typical with the vast majority of their Mercedes-Benz dealer models. While white is not the traditional Mercedes-AMG color, it certainly looks the most elegant. From a quick glance, this S65 appears to be quite the model.

Underneath the hood is the most powerful engine that AMG currently builds, a 6.0L twin-turbo monster producing 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. Basically, more power than 99% of owners of this car will ever utilize. This is a sealed resin model, so we can't see the heart of the beast anyways. Therefore, we look for a couple notable exterior cues, besides badging, to differentiate the 65 from the 63.

First: the wheels. There is an ever-so-subtle curvature in the spokes, giving it the appearance of a fan or a turbine. Unsurprisingly, GT Spirit nails the look perfectly and fits a set of super-realistic brakes behind them. The wheel design is a work of art, much like the rest of the car itself. In my opinion, from a design standpoint, the S-Klasse is unrivaled in its class.

The S65 also gets chrome trim and mesh on the front air intakes, in contrast with the black from the S63. While excessive chrome is usually frowned upon, it looks especially classy here and makes the S65 look every bit the expensive car that it actually is. The upper grille, while solid, has more than enough detail to trick your eyes into thinking it's not. The cherry on top is the three-pointed star hood ornament, an iconic design element that is unfortunately nearing extinction, with most modern Benzes switching to badge emblems instead. It's obviously the most fragile aspect of this model, but totally worth having.

I noticed a few quality issues in the paintwork around the B-pillars and some minor fitment issues with the tires and blacked-out front chin. Though not accessible, interior detail is very basic and cheap - dials and buttons are printed on flat surfaces rather than molded ones. Elsewhere, this model has plenty of detail to make you think it's life-sized, and it's one of my favorite M-B models to date.

The Ferrari F40 Lightweight, by Kyosho (1/18)

Ferrari's legendary F40 is the ubiquitous supercar that everybody has in their collection in some scale. This one, made by Kyosho, is my first in 1/18.

It's the Lightweight version, so it has different wheels (aftermarket O.Z. Racing) than your standard F40, but is otherwise more or less the same. Kyosho has made a number of iterations of the F40, the current one being a sealed resin model of the stock form, and thankfully this one is made of that heavy, durable material that we all love. That means there are opening parts all the way around, which is almost like a necessity given the type of car this is - of course you would want to see what's going on back there.

This is one of the more highly-detailed models I've come across, and it has just about every feature you're expecting for a top-tier 1/18 model. If I want to complain, I would say that the steering is too restrictive, which is unfortunately also the #1 reason why I prefer diecast models over resin. Otherwise, everything is there as indicative of this F40's extravagant price tag. Pop-up headlights that open up in sync. Working suspension - a feature that's becoming obsolete with high-end models these days. Fine mesh pieces behind every grille, vent, and duct. Brake discs with a realistic finish, as if it just came off the mill. A strut bar is included to hold the rear engine cover up while you examine the details. The front trunk even has a little Ferrari bag to top things off.

In short: glorious.

Norev's New BMW X6M (1/18)

The last post focused on the original, first-generation BMW X6M. Today, we have the current version, this time done by Norev in the same scale. The modern X6M has been updated with new bodywork but remains largely the same in its overall design. There are a few more kinks to the front and rear fascias, making it a little more overdone but also giving it a less aggressive look at the same time. In my opinion, it's not as attractive as the old one was, but this one wins as far as the scale model is concerned.

Shown here in Long Beach Blue Metallic, this Norev X6M is a middle-tier diecast model that looks and feels every bit as high-end as models from more expensive brands. The most obvious inaccuracy here is the ride height, which looks a bit ridiculous given that nobody drives an X6 to go off-roading, much less the ///M version. I've been told that many other Norev models have similar issues. The honeycomb lower grilles are solid plastic, but that is to be expected in this class. The wheels also look a bit off - they should be larger, and the split-spokes should be thicker and closer together.

Otherwise, there are two areas in which this model excels and are among the best I've encountered. This X6M has one of the most realistic paint jobs I've seen on a model. The metallic blue dazzles behind a thick layer of clearcoat and looks like it came off the real car. The interior, with full carpeting and neatly printed details, is A1. The inclusion of the cargo cover in the trunk is a much-appreciated added touch. Dark tan is a great interior color choice for any vehicle and gives this one more pop than the black interior from Kyosho's X6M. And for those who go by feel, the Norev is brick-like compared to the Kyosho.

Overall, very well done. Double thumbs up.