The Model
While detail is always more impressive on a 1/18 scale model, this 1/43 is sharp and certainly up to Replicarz’ earlier models’ standards. The car’s shape and markings, plus the fluorescent Marlboro orange/red is dead on and help the PC18 stand out in any display.
Details are strong front to rear with fine photo-etched metal suspension struts front and back and the rear wing’s thin metal-look supports are well detailed. Naturally, the car is a sealed body, so all you see is the silver drivetrain exiting the car’s rear, just in front of the wing, with its strut bolted to the back.
Tires are racing slicks with Goodyear branding and Eagle logos.
The windscreen is typical low-profile with two white side mirrors and the fuel filler hookup is just below the rollbar on the driver’s left. Sidepod panels feature black indents representing fasteners.
The cockpit is black with red shoulder harness and seatbelts including a photo-etched metal clasp. Behind the black steering wheel you can see a bit of the dash gauges, but really, on a 1/43 scale car it’s the exterior that makes it a winner or DNF.
Emmo’s winner comes without the Marlboro decals attached, due to sales regulations of tobacco-related products. But the decals are included on a separate sheet. It took me about 10 minutes to attach them all with warm water. All the other markings look great and are true to race-day setup.
I also like the square-edged acrylic display case that Replicarz encloses its models in. This looks great and is easy to stack with other cases. There’s also a mirrored metal plate engraved with “1989 PC18 Winner Indianapolis 500” on the base just ahead of the car’s nose, to help your friends identify what they’re gawking at. Nice touch!
Whether you collect 1/18 or 1/43 Indy cars this is one you’ll want to add to your collection! And collectors will want to keep an eye out for its next two 1/43 models, the 1986 March 86C that Bobby Rahal drove to his only Indy win, and the 1990 Lola that Arie Luyendyk drove to his first win.
Vital Stats: 1989 PC18 Indy 500 winner (Emerson Fittipaldi)
Maker: Replicarz
Scale: 1/43
Stock No.: R43029
MSRP: $99.95
Link: Replicarz.com