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The phrase “high detail” usually doesn’t apply to 1:64, especially when talking about mass produced models. At least, it traditionally hasn’t, until now.

A new series from Minichamps is out to change the American perception of how detailed and collectible the scale can be, and after spending a little time with these five samples - a Porsche Cayman, a Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR roadster, a pair of Porsche Cayennes and an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider - we’re thinking they might be on to something. These little suckers are so good, they hold up even under extreme close up.

For one thing, the thin-cast metal bodied cars have impeccable paint, with superb assembly, and an advanced-for-the-size parts count - aided by the separate head and taillight lenses each is sporting front and rear. In the case of the Alfa, the units are actually two lenses deep up front, thanks to the 8C’s compound reflector/ clear cover setup. The SLR’s taillights are equally complex, with a reverse-painted lens wearing a clear backup light in its center. That would be trick in 1:18; on a model that’s hardly the length of your thumb, it’s practically voodoo.  So are the tampo decorations, the foil badging, and the photoetch brake discs behind each car’s wheels. The Alfa and all three Porsches wear applied chrome scripts on their rear decks; on the Cayman and the Cayennes there’s an embossed golden foil badge - literally the size of the head of a pin -  that’s been detail painted with red and black fields. No, I’m not kidding.

Each car has a full interior, with detailed seats and dashboards. How detailed? While we could only peer into the closed models, we commandeered a good photo magnifier and were able to make out the indicator needles and markings on the speedos and tachometers in the top-down Alfa 8C and McLaren SLR. Chassis detail ranges from aero-minded flat black bellies on the roadsters to the engraved, detail painted pieces the other cars skate on.

We’ll be making a point of keeping this lineup in our sights in the future. High detail 1:64? Yep - you got that right. - CRM

Minichamps 1:64 “Street” cars: Porsche Cayman 2007, red, item 640-065620;  Porsche Cayenne GTS 2007, red, item 640-066280; Porsche Cayenne S 2006, blue, item 640-066210; Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster 2007, black, item 640-037130, Alfa Romeo 8C Spider 2007, red, item 640-120530; each $12.50. www.minichampsna.com

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