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I suppose it was inevitable—people just got tired of trying to find a spot to park their Hummers—a vehicle that takes up one-and-a-half parking spaces—every time they went to the movies, or the mall. So, the company that makes Humvees (military) and Hummers (civilian) came out with the H2. It’s a smaller version with all the ruggedness and traction of its big sibling. I like the commercial slogan—“Try slipping into something a little bit more—metal.”
Maisto’s come out with a die cast of this vehicle in 1:27 scale (for some inexplicable reason—why not 1:24?) Being a lower price-point image, it’s lacking a lot of features. As usual, the image looks sharp. The paint job’s flawless, in this case, in yellow. The general proportions look good, but the steering doesn’t work, there are no working suspensions, and, though the front wheels can be pivoted, they can’t be left in the right or left turn position. The interior, though of the molded ilk, manages to have a decent-looking dash layout. I’m disappointed with the fact that the hood, rear doors, and rear hatch don’t open. Overall, the exterior details look good, both topside and on the undercarriage, in spite of their being mostly molded in. I just wish Maisto would offer a bit more in its Special Edition line, even if the price were a little bit higher. Maisto might want to reconsider its approach. Overall impression: another good-looking effort for the budget-minded collector.
I have a woman friend who drives an H2, for which she traded in a Jaguar. She absolutely loves it—wouldn’t drive anything else. Now, THAT’s brand loyalty!
(09/15/2004)
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