The BIG 1:24: Motormax 1979 Ford F-150 Custom and Maisto 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

One thing that you'll notice on some of the 1:24 scale trucks out there is that, really, they are not 1:24 scale at all!  The ballpack figure is around 1:27 scale in order for these trucks to fit in the standard diecast manufacturer's packaging.  This year, however, bucks the trend with tried and true 1:24 scale trucks.  While one company has designed a new box for a new line for the larger trucks, the other managed to squeeze this one inside their standard box.  From Maisto in their new 1:24 SE Trucks line is the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, while at Motormax is their latest classic American pickup, the 1979 Ford F-150 Custom.

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1979: Long and classy

Motormax is known for making a bunch of classic American trucks over the past few years, and the latest is likely the longest of the group.  It starts with a 1979 F-150 custom with a long bed, and that long bed really gives this truck some length.  It also has some width as well.  The F-150 was redesigned for 1978, two years before a new generation arrived.  The truck looked more modern with a larger eggcrate grille flanked by square headlights and signal lights relocated to below the headlights.  Other than that the truck remained the same since 1973.  Powertrains included the I-6 and V8 motors, with the 302 CID V8 that produced 130 horsepower through a 4-speed manual or a three-speed automatic.  Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive was offered, along with the I-beam front suspension on both of them.

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This motormax version comes in brown or dark blue and it looks good with the large chrome front-end with ginormous grille and separate clear headlight lenses to the sides of the grille.  The lower bumper has Michigan plates, while the hood has FORD letters.  The sides have detailed silver trim, F-150 Custom badges on the front fenders, chrome exterior mirrors, silver door handles, and dual gas filler doors.  The wheels are 5-spoke chrome caps that likely cover steel wheels behind, while the tires look a bit narrow for this truck.  The rear has detailed taillights with chrome trim, FORD letters on the tailgate, and a large chrome bumper.  The tailgate does not open, but at least this time the outer sections of the bed are metal and not plastic, with only the tailgate and inner bedliner being plastic.  The large bed will haul larger vehicles that a regular-size bed will not carry.  The separate bed and cab does create some sagging between the two but overall it looks pretty good.

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The base does not show much, and lacks a spare tire at the rear, but does have the correct drivetrain layout and some engine and transmission details.  The fuel tank is missing, but then again Motormax needed some space to put their logo and information.  the doors open up to a work truck interior with a flat bench seat for three people.  The door panels have the proper ridges, squares, and handles of the real truck. The dash layout is flat with three square pods for Lincoln-like gauges, with radio and HVAC controls to the right and AC vents throughout the dashboard.  The two-spoke steering wheel is too small and tends to tilt downward for some reason.  One cool feature is the dual shifters on the floor: one for the 4-speed manual transmission and the other for the two-speed transfer case.  Despite the skinny tires this truck has plenty of ground clearance for off-roading, and unlike other trucks today it doesn't have to show itself as a true 4x4: just a typical basic work truck.

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Maisto's big 2017 Raptor

Of course, Hot Wheels has already beaten the punch and gave us the 2017 Raptor well before it was even on sale, but us collectors want more and preferably bigger this time around.  When Maisto was first to release the 2010 Raptor in 1:64 scale many collectors asked for a 1:24 scale version.  Maisto never made a larger Raptor outside of the R/C versions, so Jada Toys took the cup with the SuperCrew version, as did Revell.  I reviewed both of those Raptor's and I was impressed, especially for the all-plastic Revell version, and with Revell planning on the 2017 version to come out along with its 2015 Detroit Show introduction I was excited.  However, the Revell kit has still  yet to make it to stores, plus the kit looks lacks the fine detailing of the 2012 kit.  Then Maisto announced in 2016 that the 2017 Raptor would make it into 1:24 scale as part of the new SE Trucks line that would also offered highly-customized versions suited for the extreme off-road ventures.

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I naturally chose the stock version in blue.  One thing that I noticed was the higher price over the regular 1:24 scale models (by about $5 to 7 dollars): at first I thought this was for the hype over the truck, then I got the package in the mail.  It was a big package!  Compared to a 1:18 scale box the new 1:24 SE Trucks box is only slightly smaller than the 1:18!  As the box says it is "true to scale!"  It dwarfs the 1:24 cars and embarasses the 1:27 scale versions of past Maisto trucks.  The Raptor is the second-generation of the popular off-road trim, now joining the aluminum-body 2015 Ford F-150.  For those who despise the look of the new F-series the Raptor improves on that with flared fenders, taller stance, and wider tires.  The powertrain is much improved from the weak 5.4 to the strong, but thirsty 6.2 V8 motors: the sole engine is now the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with twin turbo's and improvements to produce 450 hp. and 510 Ib-ft of torque through the industry's first 10-speed automatic transmission.  It still has the sturdy frame with part-time four-wheel drive and Fox racing shocks.  The base shows off the proper detailing where I added silver to the front lower skid plate, exhaust system, drivetrain, transfer case, and spare tire.  Note the cool dual exhausts that finally gives the Raptor some attitude at the rear and Maisto did a great job here.

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The massive off-road tires grip the black multi-spoke wheels and look good on this truck.  The stance is high enough for vast off-road capability (and if that's not enough check out the lifted versions that Maisto offers).  The exterior look already looks bold with the front featuring a black grille with FORD letters, three running lights at the upper portion of the grille, detailed headlights with black housing and LED outer strip that looks like its turned on, and a lower bumper with tow hooks and open bumper ends.  The hood has a vent, while the front fenders bulge out and give this truck some attitude.  The sides show beefy exterior mirrors, running boards, a roof with U-shaped upper windshield frame and sunroof, and flared rear fenders to match the front.  The rear window has a flush-fitting sliding window, clear third brake light, and a bedliner with protective bedrails.  The rear has detailed taillights with outer LED strip, black FORD tailgate with Raptor badges, and a smaller rear bumper to show off the dual exhausts at the rear.

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The bed may be small, but it has enough room to haul a bunch of stuff and it will fit most 1:24 scale cars.  The doors open up to an impressive interior with supportive front seats where I added some additional silver trim to the console and the sides of the seats.  The rear seats are a bit snug but doable (crew cab versions will still be offered for the real truck).  The door panels are nicely done, and note the patterns detailed on the seats and the center console.  Very nice.  The console houses the shifter and cupholders, and it pops out with the added silver trim along the sides.  The dashboard is similar to the F-150 with proper layout of the A/C vents, center MyTouch screen and HVAC controls, 4-spoke steering wheel, and detailed gauges, the latter not properly pressed back into the gaugepod.

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While both trucks are very nice, I love the level of detailing on the Raptor.  I was prepared to be disappointed by Maisto with cost-cutting and size that I've experienced in past Maisto 1:24 scale truck releases, but this time they really outdone themselves and it looks superb!


Update 12/19/17: Replacing the blue 1979 Ford F150 is the red and yellow two-tone version.  For 2017 most of Motormax's 1:24 vintage trucks get the two-tone treatment, and on this 1979 Ford it really works here by breaking up the large areas of flatness and enhancing the look of the truck.  While a couple of other colors are offered, this red and white was found only at Wal-mart.  Wal-mart founder Sam Walton owned a 1979 Ford in red and white.  Coincidence?