All the Initial D Truenos

If you're a fan of Initial D, you will want at least one model car sitting on your desk. The simplest and relatively inexpensive is the Dream Tomica AE86 Trueno. This happens to be the most basic one with permanently popped up lights, opening doors and working suspension. Aimed more at kids, it can take loads of falls from your desk and a few hundred drifts around your coffee mug. I got mine for 600 taka but expect to pay more now.

If you want the best, nothing beats the 1:18 model by Autoart. Comes in both Stage 1 and Final versions with latter having the upgraded 4AGE, racing bucket seats and a carbon hood. Exquisitely detailed, these models have carpets, accurately bent hood support and a gorgeously detailed engine. And they come with a cup holder with a cup of water as well as a box of Tofu in the trunk. The original is now discontinued but the Final version is available for $200. You do not want a kid playing with it.

In between, you can have slightly unusual scale of 1:28 by Hommat Simulation which is some random hitherto unknown Chinese manufacturer. Their AE86 has working pop up lights, opening hood and doors. Music, too. Slightly poor paint and decals but does look the part. Kyosho makes a lot of 1:64 and 1:43 some of which are available on our local DCCCCB group.

If you want to make your own, nothing beats a 1:24 kit. I love building them as they offer more freedom to customise. What? You wouldn't want to customise an Initial D car? Fujimi makes a lot of variants but the proportions are ever so slightly off and so far I do not know of any variant that comes with an engine. Aoshima makes some fantastically details versions where the rear lights alone are 6-8 pieces. Full engine details and all the variants. Prices range from Taka 2500-4000. Patience required to cut, shape, paint and glue all the pieces.

More Initial D reviews coming later. For questions regarding sourcing and building kits, email me at ronnyraza@gmail.com.