The best 1/18 Thunderbird

It is a superb 1/18 diecast and it shows itself beautifully in the pictures. They did a fine job on this Authentics Series/ Ford Collection 1957 Thunderbird. I have a Yat Ming 1/18 and a MotorMax 1/24 and 1/43  and they are all really nice models, although, of course, not at this level of detail.  

What a great model!  I wish I had one in my collection. 

Your comment and photo of the tire being cut to fit raise thoughts in my head.  I'm asking myself, why doesn't it fit?  The answer might be a comment I remember Joe Kelly making on his YouTube show, "Playing With Cars." 

Joe said the model manufacturers purposely increased the size of the wheel/tire combination.  Apparently, our eyes and brain play visual tricks on us at that scale.  If the manufacturers accurately sized the wheel/tire combination to the actual scale, they would visually appear to be too small.  To compensate, the manufacturers slightly enlarged the wheel/tire so that visually, it would appear more accurate in size to our eyes.  Assuming I'm accurately recounting Joe Kelly's comments, this might answer why the spare doesn't fit in the spare tire well in the trunk. 

Totally agree with you @chris!  Big fan of the Ford brand, but mainly with Sports or Muscle cars.  I couldn't pass this T-Bird up, though...the color combo (mine is by AutoWorld) is fantastic & as you mentioned, loaded with details.

Posted by: @marty-johnson

The answer might be a comment I remember Joe Kelly making on his YouTube show, "Playing With Cars." 

Yes, I remember that particular episode very well and certainly that's all plausible, but I have noticed slight, accurately scaled differences regarding wheel/tire size.

For instance, Sunstar's 1959 Dodge should have "large" (OD) 14" tires, and they do. Also, you'll recall I had to cast my own scale 14" 1958 Ford steelie  rims because all existing steelies were scale 15"

You KNOW my penchant for a "quality"  trunk (spare wheel, etc.. ) in scale AND 1:1...

Personally, I think P-100  just simply made the trunk depth a bit too shallow AND the trunk plastic a bit too thick. The QUICK fix was to then shave tires! Remember me B*****ING about Exoto's  quick fix for making their Cobra spare wheel-well too small?   They simply tooled up a smaller (OD ) spare tire! 😬 😫 😡

@gavin THANK YOU Gavin for posting better pics than mine!!  With my "B level"  equipment, I just couldn't get decent pics of those keys & emblems. That color is really sharp, I have always loved it.  I noticed Autoworld  beat you out of a few trunk mat pieces .... 😒 😒 😒

@gavin That blue/gray color looks fantastic!