| |
Without question, this is Franklin Mint’s finest C6 Corvette iteration. In fact it may be their best, highly teched-out Corvette to date, period! Worthy, in my estimation, to be on any learned collector’s top 5 Corvette list, this 1:24th scale newbie is out and out astounding. TFM has come about as far as today’s tech will allow in refitting this C6. And I’m here to applaud their awesome efforts. This is not the previous FM C6 beefed up on steroids to grow those bulging fenders and sprout those rear brake ducts. The new Z06 wheels and exhaust system weren’t just add-ons either; this is an all-new tooling. They’re subtle but I can’t wait to tell you about all the differences. Let’s start up front and work to the back of the car.
FM retooled the front fascia. It sports a wider bottom nose-piece and grille opening to allow for greater air flow. Front marker lights spread further to the side. You will now see a lower air dam lip and an air scoop on the top of the nose fascia. Don’t miss the all-new chrome metal foiled cross flag emblem. There’s its match on the rear valance and those side-mounted, “Z06” badgings, as well as the tiny, “GM” buttons are also metal foiled. The wheels are bigger than the standard Vette’s and they are sculpted beautifully to scale. Take a moment to examine the awesome brake calipers and rotors. The calipers, in red, are properly printed with, “Corvette” and the rotors are drilled and actually turn within the multi-piston brake calipers. Now go ahead and open the door to take a peek inside; but wait. Notice anything different or unusual?
The doors have now been hung on super-realistic inner-sprung hinges! See what I mean about teched-out? Sorry you can’t take the roof panel off to fully inspect the gorgeous interior. A flaw on FM’s part? No sir; they got it right. The Z06 has a fixed roof. C5 Z06’s, as you recall, were made on the “Fixed Roof Coupe” platform and called hard tops. The structural rigidity of the former cars lent themselves well to the first C5 Z cars but a third variant was not needed for the C6 Z. They simply cinched up the roof panel and this made the body structure just as strong. The cockpit is spectacular. The dash and seats, belts and console all look well detailed and authentic. And while the sunvisors do not fold down, they are plenty detailed. Looking in from behind, with the hatch up, reveals a better view of everything.
The detail of the door sills and the door jamb of the driver’s side is rich and realistic. Moving further back we not only see the rear fender bulges but the addition of the correct black fender flaps. They are flexible on the 1:1 but not so needed here, thanks FM. There’s a slight modification made on the Z’s little duck spoiler and FM nailed it. The nuance is only barely perceptible but done perfectly. Underneath, all was fabricated properly as well. The exhaust was changed correctly and the trans and engine bottom half are fashioned well. The suspension is operational but in need of an update at a later time. I cannot take off major points for it though and the stance, as a result, is spot on. Engine bay detail is back to a whole new level too. Wiring, sticker usage and plumbing all look great.
Yeah, FM has a winner here; the proportions are perfect, the car sits accurately and the color is gorgeous on the new Vette. It’s possible that so many Corvette fans and buyers have made FM rethink in terms of Al Pacino’s role in the Godfather Part III: “Just when we thought we were out; they PULL us back in!” HA! Good thing too, this is a very welcomed little machine indeed. Exclusively commissioned in gorgeous black with black and red interior from the Franklin Mint by Mint Models, Michelle has a fantastic color combo here. Orders may be emailed to: service@mintmodels.com or you may call Mint Models at: (800) 341-4699.
(10/10/2007)
|
|
