Diecast Delights Special Edition: Scale My Ride (inc Ford Escape)

In a change from our regular format, today’s exclusive to Hooniverse episode of Diecast Delights is all about you.
Nothing delights us more than our own possessions. I can show pretty pictures of diecast models all day long , but if we can’t relate to the subject matter it’s difficult to form any emotional link to even the very best.
Getting the ball rolling, today’s Diecast Delight has survived a transatlantic crossing, fetching up in Mistley all the way from the Oak Harbor desk of our own Ray Lindenburg. Representing his very own Ford Escape SUV. Check it out and get ready for a show and tell in the comments after the jump.

Firstly, we need to establish whether this model is an Official Licensed Product or not.

Oh, good.
Onwards, then.

This is a 1:24 scale model of the 2001-2006 model year Ford Escape, brought to you by Messrs Welly of China. It lacks a few of the functions that 1:18 models spoil us with, namely opening rear doors and steering, but does that really matter? People spend hundreds of quid on resin models that don’t have any working features whatsoever.
I reckon the silhouette and proportions look pretty good.

The finish isn’t bad, either, though the metallic paint is a tad on the coarse side – but if you optioned your Escape with the seldom chosen Metalflake Clearcoat this replica would be pretty much bang on.
Externally the fine detail is varied in its execution. The Ford ovals are well drawn and accurate, but while the attempts at detail in the individually-moulded lamp units is creditable, they aren’t applied with a lot of care.

By contrast, the interior is modelled with a resolution that I really didn’t expect – even to the point of buttons on the stereo being picked out individually, and a neatly applied decal to represent the instrument cluster. It’s a better effort than the sorry sight under the commendably opening bonnet – the engine is represented by a messy splash of plastichrome a far sight from the magnificent Duratec found in the genuine article.
But hey, knock it off with the negativity. It’s doubtful that this was ever meant as anything more than a toy, and as fun-for-the-kids products go, it’s A Nice Thing. And it’s not even the quality of the model that matters in this case. It’s what that model represents that counts.
As scale representations of Ray’s Escape go, there can’t be a huge diversity of choices out there, so this was pretty much a must-buy. I would have done the same if it were my car.

And I’ve tried, but Rover 800 models are few and far between, and none of them reference the later type that I own. The best I’ve found so far was this Corgi which offsets its somewhat low material resolution by boasting an actual working sunroof. B5-generation Audi A4s are scarce, too, with the best being a touring car in racing livery, produced by UT models and now changing hands for handsome amounts of hard cash.
Of course, owning a model of your own car is made far more easy if you happen to daily drive  something from the Hot Wheels back catalogue.
So I hand it over to you. What model do you have of your own car? Or of cars you’ve owned in the past?
(All images copyright Chris Haining / Hooniverse 2016)