The Nissan Silvia S14, by Ottomobile (1/18)

Here's a first. Finally, someone decides to make an eighteenth-scale model of every aspiring-drifter-teen's favorite FWD sports car line, and it's by none other than our favorite resin brand. This is Otto's rendition of the S14-generation Nissan Silvia.

First off, the color - wow! Perfect choice. Thinking back at some of the famed Midnight Purple Skylines, it's pretty clear that purple is the ideal color for Nissan sports cars. I've already fallen in love; there's really no need to continue the discussion. But anyways, one of the things you'll also notice about this S14 is that it's bone stock, like it's straight from a 1993 showroom. Good luck finding an example this clean on the streets today. But that's also what makes this model all the sweeter. The beige-ness of it is admirable. The simplicity of 90's-era Japanese automotive design is well-captured here, from the economy-car wheels to the dull finish on the exhaust. 100% nostalgic.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series, by Ottomobile (1/18)

Hardly a month goes by without me having to place a pre-order with these guys - they just keep churning out the good stuff. Part of Otto's May selection of new models, this is the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series.

Keeping in tradition with producing models that have not yet been done at this scale, at least not to my knowledge, Ottomobile continues to fill the voids for the obsessed model car collectors. While other companies have largely focused on the flashy, instant-appeal exotics such as the SLS and the AMG GT, the best resin model company today has been giving us everything else Mercedes, from vintage machines like the AMG Hammer to modern classics like the Black Series shown here. As an avid AMG fanatic, I'm game to pretty much anything from the Affalterbach tuner's wild creations, so here is yet another one.

Dressed up with massively flared fenders, an aggressive rear diffuser, decklid spoiler, and stylish 16-spoke wheels - amongst a host of performance tweaks - the Black Series is clearly the evil child of Mercedes' CLK lineup. It looks pretty wicked here in miniature form too. Sure, the ride height in the back might need a little work, but everything else looks accurate at first glance.

When viewed up close, the model starts to break down a bit, if only because Otto has set such high standards for itself with its consistently high-quality, high-detail products. Solid grilles up front - you know the drill. What I didn't like the most were how side gills and rear spoiler were done; they're molded directly into the casting and then coated with black paint. The effect comes out fake and unrealistic, not to mention that they should be carbon-fiber patterned as well. If this had been branded as a more upscale GT Spirit, I imagine we would have gotten individualized plastic parts with carbon fiber decals instead.

At the end of the day, this is a 60 Euro model that easily beats out most anything in its price range. It's also a Black Series, which means it should be a welcome addition for anyone who is even remotely a fan of cars. This one shall sit nicely next to my C63 and SL65.

The Honda Integra (DC2) Type R, by Ottomobile (1/18)

Honda has officially joined the Ottomobile/GT Spirit lineup, and they chose a good one to start off with. This is the second-generation Integra Type R, otherwise known as the DC2, and it paves the way for the EG Civic hatchback that will arrive in late June.

Japanese cars will always be welcome with open arms around here, and the Type R has a lot of fans excited for the direction that Otto/GT Spirit is heading in. While European cars will always be their bread and butter and arguably the fan favorites, this Integra, among others, proves that they can do JDM just as well. One of the advantages to resin models is the low production cost when compared to diecast models with opening parts. Fewer parts, lower tooling costs. Therefore, as a resin model company, one of their greatest strengths is in their ability to cover all bases with regards to vehicle selection and diversity. Outside of maybe one or two other small brands, this is your go-to option for the DC2, and it does not disappoint.

You can tell right off the bat that Otto nailed the proportions and overall look of the car. The ride height is just perfect, the wheels look great, and the model is well-detailed throughout, with exceptional attention to detail on the lights in particular. They chose the white-on-white color scheme for this general release, which is really the quintessential color combo for Honda sports cars. There is also an Asia-exclusive colorway that is yellow-on-white and is limited to just 300 pieces. I would have to say that one looks just as nice, but it sold out before I even found out about it.

One area of the model I did not like were the front grilles, which are simply painted in. It's the one evidence of cost-cutting, and given the simplicity of the front fascia, I feel it could have been easily done with perforated mesh instead. However, at this price point, it's more or less a non-issue; there are plenty of models out there that cost twice as much and still have solid grilles. Otherwise, there are no other glaring quality issues. This Integra makes a great addition to any JDM fan's collection and is sure to be highly desirable somewhere down the line.

The 1/18 BMW M3 (E36) Coupe, by Ottomobile

It seems that with each successive month, the releases from Otto keep getting better and better. Collectors have noticed, and new models are selling out more and more quickly, to the point where pre-ordering directly from the manufacturer has become the safest option to ensure that I get these before they're gone. The month of April brings us a recolor of one of their fan-favorite castings, the E36 M3, this time in a sunny Dakar Yellow.

This just so happens to be my favorite generation M3 paired with my favorite color for that particular car. This is also the fourth time that the E36 has been in Otto's lineup, after the lightweight CSL, the GT, and the base version in Estoril Blue. Therefore, not much has changed with regards to the qualities and the build of this model. Some would argue that this iteration could have been spiced up with some new wheels, or at least something to differentiate it from its blue twin. Like the old saying goes: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Clearly, seeing as how the value of the Estoril Blue model has skyrocketed over the past few months, it's safe to say that Otto will be just fine.

There are some minor things you could nitpick about: the solid front grilles, the paintwork on the black trim lines, and the fact that the car does not sit perfectly flat on all four wheels. However, all of these are acceptable given the relatively low price point of these models, so take it for what it is. The detail is still very good, and the proportions are still virtually exact to the real car. Otto can do no wrong when it comes to the accuracy of the wheels and the realism of the badges, two areas which have received commendation from me since day one. Bottom line: it's still the best E36 you'll find at this scale.