2017 Camaros: Maisto and Motor Max

[Snake45]

In these pix, the Maisto car is charcoal gray and the Motor Max is candy green. I bought the Maisto as a kit at Hobby Lobby (with 40% off coupon) and the Motor Max at Walmart.

As far as shape, external detailing, and overall “look,” there’s very little that differentiates these two models. Both look like a late-model Camaro to me. Seeing both sitting on the table, one could easily think that they both came out of the same mold.

The Maisto has an opening hood, with a one-piece plate representing some engine detailing. The Motor Max hood is closed solid. The Maisto’s interior is slightly more detailed, mainly due to the tiny stickers that you install yourself. The Maisto kit came with two sets of wheels, one set silver, one set black. I used the silvers just to brighten up the otherwise dark model a bit.

On my two examples, the paint finish of the Maisto is superior. The Motor Max’s candy green has some slight “ghosting” around panel lines, and a little dust. So far I’ve seen four or five of these Motor Maxes in this color and this was far and away the best of them, though not perfect. The others had significant “ghosting” and thin spots and areas that looked a bit like runs. I would NOT order one of these over the internet; I would only buy this color after examining the example in person. Motor Maxes I’ve seen in other colors don’t have this problem, just the candy green ones. Both models are available in several different colors.

Which is better? If you don’t care about the underhood detail of the Maisto, there’s little difference between them and I’d say you could make your selection based on color, price, or easy availability. I just happened to buy the Maisto first, and only bought the Motor Max because I kind of collect and build green car models and I liked the color of this one. If I’d bought it first, I wouldn’t have also bought the Maisto.

Very little Snake-Fu was needed on these. I think all I did on the Maisto was sand the tire treads. The Motor Max needed only tread sanding, some clear red (Sharpie) over the rear side marker lights (which were painted orange/amber), and some black inside the tailpipes.

 

 

 

 

[Gramps46]

Good comparison.  I had noticed the ghosting too and was surprised that Motor Max let this go like that.

[Geno]

Both look great, I have the green one as well because I too like green, my favorite color lol.

[randyc]

I have a GL convertible in Todd's stuff.   It is a pretty nice piece as well.  Amazing how nice and shapr the panel lines are the newer stuff.   And cheap as well.  Does the Maisto have any brake detail?  Looks like nothing behind the wheels.  That might make a decision for me.   

I like the green, but the ones I've seen are way worse on the paint issues around the lines.   Almost as bad as my first can of testors candy apple red.   Yours is the best I've seen on one of these.  

thanks for the comparo

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, randyc said:

I like the green, but the ones I've seen are way worse on the paint issues around the lines.   Almost as bad as my first can of testors candy apple red.   Yours is the best I've seen on one of these.  

It's definitely the best one I've seen, and it only barely qualified as "marginal/acceptable." If I ever come across one with a really good green paint job, I'll grab it and send this one down the road. 

[kilrathy10]

Awesome... I think I have every one of these they've issued... Maisto and Motor Max, alike... I even painted one of each version, orange (my favorite color)... It seems that the Motormax was the easiest to repaint, If anyone's interested, anyway... ? I like these, for sure...