REVIEW: Apex Replicas Nissan Altima Kelly Racing

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wotda
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REVIEW: Apex Replicas Nissan Altima Kelly Racing

Post by wotda » Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:53 am

When you mention the car manufacturer Nissan to a motorsport enthusiast what model does that come into mind? Nismo, Skyline R32 - R35 GTR, Zed cars and the Silvia. Nissan has done very well with these models throughout the motorsport scene, from touring car racing like the old Group A rules to current GT3, Japan’s super GT, super taikyu and the D1 series. However there is another model that Nissan used which wasn’t successful in a long running campaign. That model is the Altima which they used in Australia’s V8 supercars series. Nissan ran the Altima in the series between 2013 - 2018 with Kelly Racing (with factory backing) and then 2019 with Kelly Racing(without factory backing). Throughout its time it only won 3 races. Whereby the skyline used in group A and siliva’s in D1 ran the same mechanicals and drivetrain as the product car, the Atima didn’t. Due to the change in regulations back in 2012 by V8 supercars, it allowed other manufacturers to enter provide they run a 5 litre v8 engine and its a 4 door sedan. The chassis however is V8 supercars controlled chassis including the suspension. They changed the regulations to become silhouette racing cars. The production nissan Altima is a fwd with 2.5 four in line 4 or a 3.5 v6 compared to the “racing” car which was rwd running the VK56DE (reduced from 5.6 to 5 litres) v8

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All the 1:18 cars are made by apex replicas and are all seal. What we have in this review is the 2015 car (Jack Daniels livery) and the 2018 cars (Castrol and Harvey Norman)


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The paint finish in some areas are not bad but in other areas such as where the side skirt meet the front guard, its really rough.

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The cars raced in 2013 -2014 had the T wing spoiler. Post 2015 have this type of large wing and its very fragile.

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The underside are the same as the volvo s60 v8 supercar that they make.

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You can easily tell that this is a sealed diecast from the lack of gaps between the panels and the door lines. In some areas it seems they over painted.

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The stance of the car seems ok.

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Some issues for the eagle eye are some of the graphics applied are incorrect. For example The headlights graphics is suppose to be NGK spark plugs not NGK ignition coils. Other items missing includes a cylinder pieces on top of the roof which they houses a onboard camera.

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Just like the volvo s60, the bonnet pins look flat. The windscreen wiper is attached to the windscreen to stop it from breakage.

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2015 Jack Daniels racing

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2018 Team Harvey Norman

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2018 Castrol Racing Winton SuperSprint race winner

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2018 Castrol Racing Sandown 500 retro round

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2018 Castrol racing Bathurst 1000 retro livery

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There is a 4 year difference between the 2015(produced in 2016) car and the 2018 car(produced this year), you would expect the quality to have improved. Not to mention apex replicas been brought by biante in 2018 they might have more funding to improve on these. However looks like the tooling to make these hasn’t changed or updated and the quality hasn’t changed. I can see why it hasn't improved as the nissans throughout the years was always produced in very small numbers. As an example only 120 was produced for the team Harvey Norman livery and the retro sandown livery hence they get sold out very quick.

If you compare the cost vs the quality and accuracy its ok but not the best. Unfortunately they are the only company that make the altima's that raced in the v8 supercars so they don't have the competition needed to improve.

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[KRAFTIG]
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Re: REVIEW: Apex Replicas Nissan Altima Kelly Racing

Post by [KRAFTIG] » Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:13 am

It's tough when you're a fan of a certain race or street cars and the pickings are limited. In some cases, something is better than nothing. Would you buy them again?
suppose to be NGK spark plugs not NGK ignition coils.
It still amazing how something like this is missed? :scratchhead:

wotda
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Re: REVIEW: Apex Replicas Nissan Altima Kelly Racing

Post by wotda » Sun Jul 26, 2020 5:00 am

I have seen other issues raised by collectors here in Australia. They include the v8 supercar and Rabble logo missing on top of the no 15 graphic for the 2018 Castrol Racing Sandown 500 retro round car. Lucky the one that I got has that. Quality assurance for the diecast company here isn't that good currently.

As for buying them again, I would but only if they lower the price. Unfortunately like you said something is better than nothing.

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