1:43 Hot Wheels - new this summer!

I think one key is that a final determination would be made with the model in hand. Nothing, especially with on-line images, can be absolutely definitive, but that can be a step in the right direction. Negative views can also be more loudly and forcefully expressed (than an expected correctly built car) and also sometimes people display images of the vehicle in much less than optimal circumstances, thus giving a poor impression.

A banana-shaped vehicle is not acceptable, but possibly a better education of the work force people (who may be quite unaware of the proportions of the real car) _may_ help matters. But this may be after an already poor impression has initially been made. Correcting a situation by removing a body after it has sufficiently cooled could be all that is needed to correct a situation. But that step has to be taken and it should be known that earlier versions had construction problems and was later much improved.

However, you must have a dealer who is aware of this and will get you the correctly-done replica, ....... or you must be aware of what problem is present and obtain a nicely-done vehicle. All of this leads back to the idea that many people form (usually negative) ideas on first viewing an image and that is hard to overcome. 

Sounds like a great opportunity for a My Take. Do we have any idea when they will be available?

@jkuvakas Summer?

Posted by: @karl

I don't currently have any of the cars in 1/43 so someone will have to do a face-to-face, if the same Ixo/Greenlight/etc casting can be found!  I'll be on the lookout!

This discussion prompted me to compare two of my 2020 Stingrays; a yellow one from IXO, and a red one from Greenlight. They are definitely the same casting, even though some of the plastic parts and detailing are different. The "orange" stingray is actually an overlay of the red one on the yellow one, with the opacity dialed back to 50%. The images do not align precisely, but I'm sure that is attributable to slight misalignment of the model in front of the camera. They are close enough to indicate that they are both the same casting. Of course, this has nothing to do with the Hot Wheels Z06 casting, but I thought some might find this of interest.

As far as judging detail from a photograph, I can tell you that scale models will always look better to the naked eye than they do in a photograph. Keep in mind when looking at photo of a model on a computer screen, it is greatly magnified, and yes, it will show all of the warts. For example, these Stingrays look pretty crude in the photos, but they are very pleasing to look at when I hold them in my hand. 

@daveg The same baseplates and axles seem to confirm they are the same castings.  With CAD/CAM drawings, they should be very, very similar but if every crease, vent, seam, mirror, etc is the same, then they are from the same source.  It makes sense now adays to share tools and dies, to recoup as much as you can from the investment when sales are limited.  Hit every market you can.

Thanks for the detailed comparison!   I'll buy the HW and look at the baseplate right away!  😯  

Last week at our local Target!  The Mustang must be popular!

@daveg Sorry I did not reply before - the HW is a completely different baseplate!