Chinese Diecast - Farm Suitable Models Reviewed

[Stabliofarmer]

I thought this might prove a useful topic to those looking to add modern cars/4x4's to their dioramas or collections. There seems to be new diecast models appearing on eBay daily of vehicles from China, and if you're prepared to wait a few weeks on delivery there are some great models to be hand at good prices. I'll kick this off with models I've had and hope others will add anything they've had through. 

I'll provide the basics that you don't get from the eBay ads which is the real scale, as we know they'll badge anything up as 1:32 in the hope of shifting a few. To do this I'll compare with what I have always seen as the benchmark for model farm 4x4's, the Britains Defender Model. I've never measured it up but think scale wise it sits well with other farm models.

To kick things off I'll go through the Defender options that are out there, remember everything here is marketed as 1:32.

First the modern Defender vs the old three series. 

Removing the rose tinted spectacles of childhood the modern Defender is clearly the better scale model representation, much more crisp details and finer items regardless of any inaccuracies Defender nuts may notice. The modern defender is also a slightly smaller model shorter, narrower and not as high. Play wise the old model is that bit better with its sprung suspension and more tactile features.

Moving onto the Bburago offering. This model actually comes out cheaper than most of the vaguely branded Chinese diecasts. The detail is good although slightly below the Britains model lacking separate wing mirrors, mud flaps or windscreen wipers. Its also smaller than the Britains model, considerably narrower and while a 110 not a 90 it feels short. Until recently this was the best option for a 110 far exceeding the rather expensive to acquire Siku pickup version.

The Bburago has been knocked off its post recently by the Tayumo offering. These come in at the same price as a Britains model, as you can see they are a little bit bigger than the Britains, this is a combination of the wheel size and the actual castings. Sat next to the Britains they feel closer in scale than with the Bburago. The Tayumo is a nicely finished model very close to the Britains, as a kid I'd have been over the moon with the roof rack and snorkel, kitting out for a diorama these would be relatively easy to remove, the blacked out privacy glass would be a less easy cure. This is the first model in this selection that features opening doors with all four doors, the boot and the bonnet opening. While the panel gaps are noticeable they're not excessive and don't distract from the model overall. This is the current Defender model I'd go for.

 

[Stabliofarmer]

One or two last bits on the Defenders, some wheelbase comparison.

From left to right: Bburago, my own conversion of a Britains to a 110 wheelbase, Tayumo

My conversion will have the scaled down wheelbase from a catalogue so take what you will from that.

The Tayumo next to the early Britains LWB model, a little bit more than the scale 1 inch difference there should be.

Profile wise they're a nice match.

[Stabliofarmer]

Moving onto the rest of the JLR range.

One of the oldest models in my collection is this Range Rover, it's stamped as 1:38 scale and even as a young child I recognised that it was abit on the small side, it did once have an interior too but was one of the first models to be sacrificed as part of the learning curve that is model making.

Britains Discovery 2, a lovely model that sits nicely next to the Defender both scale and detail wise, from photos online this is a much better finished model than Britains Discovery 1, it is also better scaled than a cheap Chinese Disco 1 I had as a child, a Newray model I think.

A Jackiekim Discovery 4 next, ever so slightly undersized next to the Defender. but sits nicely. Opening front doors and bonnet along with lights and sound (Tayumo Defender also has lights and sound which I forgot to mention, it's fairly standard on the Chinese diecast stuff). Good panel lines on the doors, helped by being a black model. Would be nice to sit it next to a Britains Disco 3 but the price of those has been a bit to high recently to acquire one.

Finally the New Defender marketed as 1:32 scale. Now I know the real thing isn't small but this thing is huge, definitely 1:30th scale if not 1:28/1:29. Not a bad model with all the features of the release edition vehicle, lower half of the doors open along with the bonnet and boot, the panel gaps are noticeable in the silver colour. I think this will be converted to a commercial spec one and sat in the corner of a truck diorama as it doesn't sit well next to cars.

The new defender next to the largest other defender offering, still dwarfs it.

 

[Stabliofarmer]

Moving away from the British marque to its European competitors.

Kicking off with the VW Amarok. These were a well welcomed model when released as the first pickup model you'd actually see in the UK. However the marketing varies from 1:32 to 1:30 and they're definitely closer to 1:30th scale. I'm tempted to say they're stamped 1:30 underneath too. Opening bonnet, front doors and boot are a nice touch, nice printed details too when you don't slap orange paint over it!

 As you can see it's closer to the New Defender although the Defender is still bigger.

An Audi Q7, this is much more of a 1:36 scale model and I imagine its marketed as such most of the time. Looks more like one of these new RS Q3's scale wise. A nicely detailed model though with opening front doors, boot and bonnet. Just a bit too small.

The Jackiekim Volvo XC60, now this is probably the best Chinese model I've had, good details, sturdy, all doors and bonnet and boot open. The panel gaps aren't half as bad as the photos make it look either. Nicely sized, maybe slightly on the small side but sat on it's own it looks great.

A very strong competitor for best is the recent release, a VW T6 van/minbus. Great scale wise, opening front doors, bonnet and boot as well as a working sliding side door, a nice touch. Available in all black and all white it would make a great service vehicle. I think this one will get a repaint including the rear windows to see whether making it look like a panel van is that easy.

Finally the Aoshima Jimny. Supplied as a snap together model kit it goes together easily and means it benefits from better defined details than the diecast models. Small and light being made from plastic I think it's quite close scale wise, maybe a little small. A coat of automotive paint over the coloured plastic would enhance the look greatly.

[Stabliofarmer]

I hope this proves useful to people at some stage. Please feel free to add any of your own spots or buys to the topic. I'm currently eyeing up the BMW X5, Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruisers, there's also a new shape high roof Transit, a Merc Sprinter camper van, and Fiat Ducato Ambulance (Which would be great for a horsebox) I've had my eye on but I'm fairly certain they'll all be under scaled.

 

[Stabliofarmer]

Logged onto Facebook to see my pondering about the VW being turned into a panel van answered. This nicely finished Jenz service van was on there

[Tractorman810]

having done 70k in a  fiat ducato, couldn't even bring my self to buy a 1/32 one 😀😀 

great topic though, could do with some older ones as well in 32nd , have a second mk2 transit sat waiting to be added though, 

[justy 46]

Liking the Landcrusier and Mitsubishi. Any chance off a Ford Ranger and Hi-Lux. 

[fordmajor]

Great topic . No new Ray ones. Im a died in the wool britains fan ha ha!

 

[Stabliofarmer]

5 hours ago, Tractorman810 said:

having done 70k in a  fiat ducato, couldn't even bring my self to buy a 1/32 one 😀😀 

great topic though, could do with some older ones as well in 32nd , have a second mk2 transit sat waiting to be added though, 

Hahaha, sadly I don't think theres too many classics, particularly towards to the commercial side. Saico are probably the only brand I can think of with anything classic in their range.

[Stabliofarmer]

4 hours ago, justy 46 said:

Liking the Landcrusier and Mitsubishi. Any chance off a Ford Ranger and Hi-Lux. 

I think the Pajero looks like the best option for a farm run about. Another pick up would be great, there's the vintage Hilux but that would be abit too aged for any modern diorama these days.

[Stabliofarmer]

4 hours ago, fordmajor said:

Great topic . No new Ray ones. Im a died in the wool britains fan ha ha!

 

Hahaha, sadly Newray really haven't kept up with the quality of everyone else

[Stabliofarmer]

As mentioned in another topic, 1:32 new defenders, which one to buy? I have now had all three models land from China. The options are as follows, Newao Toys (Silver), Meipo (Blue) and MSZ (Green). I doubt you'll find much searching the brand names so I have included the links to each item.

Newao - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001832321442.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.43.5d3795bebBTDxx&algo_pvid=12065466-66e1-4174-8230-2c3553e7a032&algo_exp_id=12065466-66e1-4174-8230-2c3553e7a032-21&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"12000017789249317"}&pdp_npi=3%40dis!GBP!15.56!11.51!!!!!%402102172f16761276872635742d0674!12000017789249317!sea!UK!3876688018&curPageLogUid=jAG7KHwTJhCg

Meipo - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004916011342.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.17.5ac01802GvWSmP

MSZ - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004661439402.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.11.5ac01802GvWSmP

So which one to buy, to cut a long story short, the Meipo! But if you are interested in the long story carry on reading.

Starting with scale, as this topic set out to show, the Chinese are fairly liberal with their tape measures and calculators. So taken from the Land Rover website the new 110 Defender has the following dimensions

• Length:4758mm (5018mm with spare wheel)
• Width: 2008mm (Not including mirrors)
• Height: 1967mm (No roof rack)
• Wheelbase: 3022mm

This translates in 1/32 to the following target dimensions

• Length: 149mm (157mm)
• Width: 63mm
• Height: 62mm
• Wheelbase: 95mm

The Newao is visibly very big and the dimensions confirm that it's overscale, taking the wheelbase as datum it is 1:29th Scale. Its not a bad toy but lacks the definition to be a model, just overall it doesn't feel right. As with all three models the doors, boot and bonnet all open.

• Length: 163mm (173mm)
• Width: 70mm
• Height: 65mm
• Wheelbase: 104mm

The MSZ is a much nicer looking model, better paint, more Tampo printing enhancing details and decent rims. It does however feel a little small and taking the wheelbase suggests 1:33.5 scale.

• Length: 143mm (150mm)
• Width: 55mm
• Height: 56mm
• Wheelbase: 90mm

The Meipo is the goldilocks of the bunch. Aswell as opening doors the ladder on the roof rack folds down and the locker opens, it also comes with a figure, surfboard and jerry cans, something I've not seen with Chinese diecast before. Dimension wise it feels spot and and comparing the figures says its pretty spot on, wheelbase scales out at 1:31.5 scale.

• Length: 150mm (158mm)
• Width: 62mm
• Height: 62mm
• Wheelbase: 96mm

To most probably some pointless information but hopefully helpful to someone, I've attached some comparison

photos of all three along with comparisons to the britians 90.

[Stabliofarmer]

[Paul Palmer]

Any links for these on ebay i cant seem to find any

[Paul Palmer]

3 minutes ago, Paul Palmer said:

Any links for these on ebay i cant seem to find any

Just the meipo one would do👍

Edited February 11, 2023 by Paul Palmer

[Stabliofarmer]

1 hour ago, Paul Palmer said:

Just the meipo one would do👍

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295350725132?hash=item44c4466a0c:g:ckcAAOSw84ljeQre&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoAG6rt67VeCyRPS1uQocMOxQ2E%2BJ2WFxaD4OLOz4bG83C9G9xGqVhYG67ge7N%2Ff0vlJP1UG5ONPAPHM1IaANugbshCUNnAkRwycrwr9i89oblJaapN2V8Iu8Sthy32buNc9qfHPuRb8MAn%2FglfQjHaBx7%2BmyvlwlB6JHveObhX1m5LLZuGfGhtN4pXCQ8f23EZQpp97nhcAfsRW98%2BFUPJI%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR8qoiZnIYQ

There you go Paul, alot cheaper on AliExpressthough. I've had no issues buying on there, you get updates emailed when it ships, lands in the country and has been delivered, think delivery was under two weeks, and as far as I'm aware the Chinese government haven't messed around with my data but I can't be sure on that one!

[Paul Palmer]

13 minutes ago, Stabliofarmer said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295350725132?hash=item44c4466a0c:g:ckcAAOSw84ljeQre&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoAG6rt67VeCyRPS1uQocMOxQ2E%2BJ2WFxaD4OLOz4bG83C9G9xGqVhYG67ge7N%2Ff0vlJP1UG5ONPAPHM1IaANugbshCUNnAkRwycrwr9i89oblJaapN2V8Iu8Sthy32buNc9qfHPuRb8MAn%2FglfQjHaBx7%2BmyvlwlB6JHveObhX1m5LLZuGfGhtN4pXCQ8f23EZQpp97nhcAfsRW98%2BFUPJI%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR8qoiZnIYQ

There you go Paul, alot cheaper on AliExpressthough. I've had no issues buying on there, you get updates emailed when it ships, lands in the country and has been delivered, think delivery was under two weeks, and as far as I'm aware the Chinese government haven't messed around with my data but I can't be sure on that one!

Thanks James, very helpful of you👍

[JEP]

Interesting info James.

Thanks for the time/effort posting. 

Being a bit of a scale freak, l often cross check a models dimensions against the actual dimensions....and it seems quite rare for models to be bang on scale. A little out, l can understand - but sometimes they can be a few percent out, which when advertised as a given scale (say 1:32) l think is unacceptable, especially given the price of models now.

Slightly off topic - but it will be interesting to see the difference in size, between the Britains MF 760 combine, and the UH one (if it appears..) as the Britains one (in most aspects) is more 1:35-1:36 scale.

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by JEP

[Stabliofarmer]

Scale seems to be a very tricky thing to pin down, I have added the info I have as a rough reference. I recall reading an article once that explained how if you just took the raw CAD files from a factory and scaled them down to make a model it wouldn't actually look 'right'. The way we view perspective ect means we have a skewed view on what something should look like so you may lengthen a bonnet or widen a wheel arch to get the feel of the real vehicle. Therefore model making is as much making it 'look right' as it is getting every dimension bang on. Sometimes though this goes completely wrong, I believe the Wiking John Deer 6930 is quite a good representation of things not going quite right.

I think the original article may have been about Matchbox cars.

[James Joe Dewar]

1 hour ago, Stabliofarmer said:

Scale seems to be a very tricky thing to pin down, I have added the info I have as a rough reference. I recall reading an article once that explained how if you just took the raw CAD files from a factory and scaled them down to make a model it wouldn't actually look 'right'. The way we view perspective ect means we have a skewed view on what something should look like so you may lengthen a bonnet or widen a wheel arch to get the feel of the real vehicle. Therefore model making is as much making it 'look right' as it is getting every dimension bang on. Sometimes though this goes completely wrong, I believe the Wiking John Deer 6930 is quite a good representation of things not going quite right.

I think the original article may have been about Matchbox cars.

You could well be right about "tweaking" models to get them to "look" right, I'm sure I read that quite some time ago.

Regards

Joe.

[JEP]

Didn't realise that was the case, (tweak a shape or a size) and I suppose the very fact that something is many times smaller than the real thing, can alter the perspective - and how we perceive/view it, so it does make sense.

That said - some of the high end models state on the box - "exact scale replica", so in that case you would expect them to have gone off dimensions alone? 

Interesting subject - perhaps not quite as simple as getting the dimensions correct, although from a scratch building point of view - dimensions is the main goal.

[Stabliofarmer]

Indeed, I don't think you can mess with core principles, wheelbase, width etc. But ratio of say windscreen to bonnet may need messing with, at least that's the gist of it if I remember right.

[Egbert]

I've seen a few 1/32 models of Lada Nivas and Rivas on eBay. Doing a very weathered one of either of those might look good on a "down at heel" diorama. As others have said though, until you actually get one, the accuracy of the scale (as well as the quality, generally) is a bit of an unknown.