Mazda RX-7 RE-Amemiya

Brand: Ignition Models
Material: Resin
Type: Sealed
Model: Mazda RX-7 RE-Amemiya
Limited Edition: No
Release RRP: £269.99

Straight out of the box..

This is my second model from Ignition Models, if you are unfamiliar with this brand, they mostly retail in Japan where they are made, so if your outside Japan your probably going to pay a premium from anywhere else, for example in the UK a very small amount retailers will have them in stock and they will be around £270 mark. That said their models are mostly always Japanese cars, either stock or modified and they are very well made. The Ignition model comes in a plain cardboard outer with a pop-out carry handle, and inside is a clear windowed sleeve housing the carboard inner and plastic plinth with supports, the plinth is finished in carbon effect with a small engraved plaque with the cars emblem on it. The car is screwed to the base.

In detail the exterior.

This model of the Mazda RX7 comes in several variants and normally this is colour and wheel combinations, I opted to grab the baby blue version of the model as its a colour I have very little of. This RX-7 is tuned by Amemiya and differs immensely from the standard variant even the AutoArt tuned version is tame in comparison. The front of this model features a front splitter / canard setup which has removed most of the bottom of the smoothed front bumper with big air intakes. Two indicators are the only feature on the bumper, to keep a nice clean aesthetic.

Gone are the trademark pop-up lights of the RX-7, instead a pair of twin lights reside where the pop-ups lived, smoothed over with a clear body shaped lens, The bonnet with 8 vents is finished in a carbon effect with racing bonnet pins and a large ‘REsuper G’ Decal between the pins, peeking through the bonnet vents gives you a glimpse at some engine parts which normally we don’t see in sealed resin models.

The side reveals just how road hugging the RE-Amemyia RX-7 must be in its in real form, its low stance and adapted front wings (fenders) that allow the large alloys to turn full lock uninhibited whilst in a full drift mode, captured perfectly by the modellers at Ignition Models. The side has some decals which read backwards on one side, which is on purpose I think, to keep the design symmetrical. Racing wing mirrors are added in replacement of standard jobbies! The rear quarter is a Pandem style of riveted on over fenders or wide arches depending on which terminology you like to use.

Those aforementioned arches are needed for the large diameter alloy wheels, a five spoke configuration with a 5 stud pattern, painted in silver. behind the wheels sit Brembo brake callipers with grooved brake discs which have the metallic used finished which always looks good on a model car. The wheels don’t turn and I wouldn’t force them just in case.

The back end of the model, you’ll find a huge rear wing, which looks really thin and detailed, set onto the boot which has the rear lights in that continuous lens, it is heavily smoked but you can make out the individual lenses and the third brake light out in the right light setting. Just below the boot is the rear RX-7 Efini badge which is nicely positioned and the Efini Badge and boot lock in the center. The rear fog lights are from the standard model which are inset in the bumper. The rear is finished off nicely with a big diffuser setup, definitely not a standard affair.

In detail the interior space.

Inside the RX-7 is just a wild as the outside, Bride bucket seats and cloth Sabelt harnesses and a full roll cage can be seen through the front window. The dashboard is well moulded with some additional gauges and a stereo delete has been done, the flor however doesn’t have carpet or flocking which is a little bit of a cop out, unless its not been added as the 1:1 car may not have had carpet, but then I expect to see blue chassis instead? still a great interior moulding and which some nice detailed touches.

Verdict?

If your remotely interested in Japanese cars, drift or modified cars you’ll maybe want to look at adding an ignition model to your collection, they are well made and probably have the best windows of most mid range models, they are more on par with a diecast model probably vacuum formed too. They also paint the panel gaps which make the cars panels look more prominent. This Mazda RX7 is a very good model and the Japanese RRP which I think is around £190-£200 makes the models UK price point of £259-£279 a fair one as buying from overseas incurs import duty and extra postage costs. My verdict , honestly I love it, its well presented in its box, intricate with great stance and makes a nice center point.

For this same price point you may want to consider the composite range like the Honda NSX-R from AutoArt, yes its composite plastic but its a great model with opening features.