Aston Martin DBR9 Head to Head Review - Model Factory Hiro vs. Reniassance

freakmech · 08-18-2006, 05:53 PM

Well I promised a review so here you go. Both kits are very nice in my opinion. Both have pro's and con's. I will not go into them but i paid $125 for the Renaissance kit from Stradasports.com and i paid $160 for the MFH kit, also from Strada. I feel the Reniassance kit offers more value in parts count, price, and detail but many will dissagree with me. I have both so i have no complaints but if i had to buy just one i would probably get the Reniassance kit. It looks to be a fun kit to build, though the MFH will be alot easier of a build and will probably be built first. Please note the MFH is on the left, Ren on the right in all pics.

Box: MFH wins!

Intructions: Renaissance wins! MFH has very nice plastic kit like intructions but Ren kit has lots of reference photos in addition to nicely drawn instructions.

Body: MFH wins! For obvious reasons... Also note that my Ren body was miscast and im waiting for a replacement.

Photo-etch: Reniassance wins! Lots of neat little details in different thicknesses and finishes. Im always impressed with Etienne's PE.

Glass: MFH wins! This is purely my opinion, im not fond of the precut flat windows that come with the Ren kit.

Wheels: MFH wins! MFH has nice machined wheels but there kind of flat, Ren wheels are nicely shaped but require some clean up.

Other stuff: Reniassance wins! Lots of goodies all in resin, all other parts in MFH kit are metal.

Decals: Tie There both equally nice in my opinion, both are nicely registered with not much carrier film.

Well make your own choice about them. Reniassance kit would have been absolutely perfect if Etienne would have just spent a little more time on the body. Im out,

Chad

Technoman · 08-18-2006, 06:28 PM

Nice, although I have to say the Ren body looks horrid in comparison to that beautiful looking MFH body. Difficult to tell from pictures I guess.

So which one has the incorrect dash? They appear quite different from each other.

Jay! · 08-18-2006, 07:18 PM

Thread title expanded and thread added to review index.

Thanks!

MidMazar · 08-18-2006, 07:28 PM

great review, the mfh body does look a lot better. Thanks for sharing, ecpecially because the kits are soo much money. What is wrong with the ren body?

You have both so lets see em built!

sjelic · 08-19-2006, 02:21 AM

Thanks for this one Chad, I also can't see the problem with Rens body, light us up

And guys don't be blinded with yellow resin, it usualy kill all the details and make the body look much more ugly, if both bodies were cleaned and primed in same colour difference would be much less obvious.
Edit: now I see the problem, second row of front hood intakes, am I right?

sportracer02 · 08-19-2006, 02:49 AM

Hi Chad,

interesting comparism. Isn´t there a roll cage in the MFH kit??

klutz_100 · 08-19-2006, 05:24 AM

Thanks Chad!

You promised and you delivered

BTW, does the MFH kit include the (in)famous telephone? Looking at the instructions on 1999.com it seems that it does but I remember someone saying that it doesn't (which surprised me).

Seems that the bottom line of your review is: "Get 'em both!!"

EDIT: Sasa, IIRC Micha did a very nice review of the Renaissance kit and highlighted some issues with it.

sjelic · 08-19-2006, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klutz_100

EDIT: Sasa, IIRC Micha did a very nice review of the Renaissance kit and highlighted some issues with it.

I sure remember that one, it was very throughout review, just when you look at the picture with those two body, Rens doesn't stand the chance if it is all yellow and ugly without primer on.
It is certain that MFH proportions are more symetrical but "that something" is the most valuable thing.
I couldn't chouse if you ask me but Chad made good choice

freakmech · 08-19-2006, 10:10 AM

Well the difference in the bodies is the main comparison to most but as i said my Ren body is miscast (hood vents and front openings not open) so when i get the new one ill do a more in depth comparison. But all in all when looking at both bodies together they dont differ that much detail wise. MFH is very crisp compared to the Ren body but all the details are in place. The Ren body is a little tall on the sides and not as curvy and the roof looks a little mashed down. Ill post some more pics of all the detail bits later today. The MFH does have a phone but it seems to have been an after thought, its an oval blob in a holder. The Ren kit phone is nicely shape and has a PE face plate. The MFH rollbar is a multi piece metal cage much like the SP roll cages. Im just not a fan of metal parts as they require more work to clean up which is why i prefer the Ren kit but the MFH body is a good bit nicer then the Ren if that is the most important factor to you.

D_LaMz · 08-19-2006, 10:53 AM

great review, when are you gonna start building them?

Hiroboy · 08-19-2006, 05:30 PM

I have (and sell) the the Model Factory Hiro one's and I think it's great, The body detail is superb. I can't wait to build mine up (could be a while yet).
I a few weeks they are issuing the 2006 Le Mans version.

Technoman · 08-20-2006, 12:16 AM

On the MFH body there appear to be correct recessed areas over the front fenders. I think I can see the panel lines around these on the REN but are they also recessed?

sam01contact · 08-22-2006, 08:33 PM

I have seen both kits, and I have to disagree about the photoetched sets...

There is no "crucial" detail you can not find in the MFH set. Renaissance have little extras, like the phone, but nothing really relevant is missing from the MFH sets..

fola · 09-03-2006, 01:38 AM

great review, i have built the Ren kit http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t570166.html, and am in the process of building the MFH as i write.
As already metioned both have pros and a few cons, but IMHO, the Ren kit is more fun. The small parts included are just amazing. The MFH seems to be complete, or is complete "enough" but the Ren kit offers so much more.
Body detail wise , the MFH appears to be crisper than the Ren, but built and painted that difference is no longer noticeable. The Ren kit has a flatter roof, I and many of you guys (gals too) have never seen the real thing and cannot really tell which is correct.
Not to forget is also the fact that Etienne from REN was the first to offer this great car as a kit and the others had thus a "Platform" on which to work off.
Also, the Resin parts in the Ren kit are better and prferable to the Metal of MFH - The MFH wheels are a different story (Fantastic).

Thanks for a great review and thanks for reading!!

Will post pics of my MFH (Silvestone 2006 # 7) ASAP

Can anyone help with the artwork??

Fola

fola · 09-03-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fola

great review, i have built the Ren kit http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t570166.html, and am in the process of building the MFH as i write.
As already metioned both have pros and a few cons, but IMHO, the Ren kit is more fun. The small parts included are just amazing. The MFH seems to be complete, or is complete "enough" but the Ren kit offers so much more.
Body detail wise , the MFH appears to be crisper than the Ren, but built and painted that difference is no longer noticeable. The Ren kit has a flatter roof, I and many of you guys (gals too) have never seen the real thing and cannot really tell which is correct.
Not to forget is also the fact that Etienne from REN was the first to offer this great car as a kit and the others had thus a "Platform" on which to work off.
Also, the Resin parts in the Ren kit are better and prferable to the Metal of MFH - The MFH wheels are a different story (Fantastic).

Thanks for a great review and thanks for reading!!

Will post pics of my MFH (Silvestone 2006 # 7) ASAP

Can anyone help with the artwork??

Fola

Regards,
Fola

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