Sharp Swords

Espada is Spanish for “Sword”, and the creased, crisp styling of the so-named Lamborghini car made a strong case for such an edgy moniker on this Marcello Gandini (for Bertone) design.

AutoART’s 1:18 version isn’t going to open any wounds, but it is a - pardon the expression - sharp model, with a surprisingly light body casting that’s thin in section and realistically proportioned over neat road wheels and no-name soft rubber tires. The shut lines on the opening doors, hood, and rear window are even, and the paint on the silver and purple samples the company sent is excellent. No surprise there - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a model from these fellows that wasn’t nearly perfectly painted and polished.

I’m equally impressed with the models’ interior spaces. That is, I was, once I was actually able to get into them. I’m all about tight tolerances, but jeez Louise, guys - how about allowing ingress for people sized fingers? The only way I found to get the portals open - barring the use of dental tools or some other guaranteed-to-maul-the-paint implement - was to use a bit of fun tack on a fingertip and pull. Once inside, however, the wood grained dash and readable gauges (which peg this as a late-’sixties Series 1 example), the sharply cast seats and door panels, and the steel-spoked “wood” rimmed steering wheel made for a realistic visual in scale.

Same deal under the tilting hood (which was a whole lot easier to heft, thanks); in the shadow of a cool diamond-patterned faux lining, the 4-liter, 325-horse V12 - a tight little sucker, if ever there was one - has been piped and wired, and lays surrounded by a sextet of side draft carbs. Take your time under here; the castings are mostly done in black, but they’re high-relief, well-detailed bits that are worth lingering longer for.

While contemplating the nicely turned-out chassis, I learned of two things on the model that may actually raise some blood - or at least, your blood pressure. No fooling; the hard to see (but wickedly sharp) radio antenna will do a nice job of puncturing an errant fingertip or palm… and the slick badging on the cars’ fenders will bend, pronto, if you handle the model carelessly.

Such is the price for playing with a sharp sword. Highly recommended.

AutoART 1:18 Lamborghini Espada, “Argento” (silver), item 74501, “Rosso Granada” (red), item 74503, each $114.95. Other colors available. www.autoartmodels.com

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