Review: 30657 McLaren Solus GT
Posted by CapnRex101,Polybags have been produced annually since the scale of Speed Champions vehicles was updated in 2020, now including 30657 McLaren Solus GT. The sweeping curves of the car are troublesome at minifigure-scale, so this polybag was probably difficult to design too.
However, other Speed Champions polybags have been fun and I imagine this addition to the series will prove similarly satisfying.
Summary
30657 McLaren Solus GT, 95 pieces.
The tiny McLaren Solus GT looks good, although too closely resembles other models
- Accurate design, for its size
- Striking colour scheme
- Six stickers
- Too similar to previous Speed Champions polybags
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Reference
Source - motor1.com
The Completed Model
As usual for these Speed Champions polybags, the model is five studs wide, which suits such a low profile vehicle. The proportions therefore seem very accurate and I like the colour scheme of white, black and yellow. Interestingly, the larger version from 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM features orange accents instead, but the Solus appears with yellow highlights in the Gran Turismo Sport video game, as shown above.
The sweeping curves of the bodywork are the McLaren Solus' characteristic feature, even more so than comparable modern sports cars and hypercars. These are actually quite well suited to the small scale of a polybag model because LEGO produces a wide variety of small curved slopes, wedge slopes and curved tiles.
The bonnet therefore looks superb, but the wheel arches on either side lack appropriate flow. On the other hand, recreating the bonnet and splitter was more important, in my opinion. The shape of the windscreen is also quite effective, although the obvious lack of contrast between these black pieces and the neighbouring bodywork is not ideal.
Furthermore, the presence of six stickers is perhaps excessive for such a small model. All the included details are completely accurate, but I am not convinced the metallic silver streaks on the bonnet or the numbers on each side of the spoiler were necessary. However, I do love the tail lights and the twin exhausts, represented by Zobo's head from the Friends theme.
Overall
Considering the limited detail possible at this scale, I think 30657 McLaren Solus GT is a good addition to the series of Speed Champions polybags. The curved bodywork is fairly accurate and I like how the vehicle narrows towards the middle, corresponding with the real McLaren Solus.
However, lining up the four cars in this series leads me to question why this vehicle was chosen. After all, a McLaren has appeared before and the general shape of the Solus resembles 30434 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro at this scale. For that reason, I think the more angular McLaren F1 or perhaps the Porsche 963 would have been better options, but I am quite pleased with this design, nonetheless.
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24 comments on this article
I don't typically care about these, but this one really does look good. Drop a few stickers and it's a great kids toy.
This is the first time the mini model didn't match the speed champs minifig design color scheme. The used Orange on the minifig scale one, and yellow on the polybag model. I'm kind of surprised this wasn't mentioned in the review.
These are great, they remind me of tiny turbos. Although they don’t have nearly as many stickers as tiny turbos had.
@medleyj said:
"This is the first time the mini model didn't match the speed champs minifig design color scheme. The used Orange on the minifig scale one, and yellow on the polybag model. I'm kind of surprised this wasn't mentioned in the review. "
It's literally the 3rd sentence after the break if you actually read the review: "Interestingly, the larger version from 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM features orange accents instead, but the Solus appears with yellow highlights in the Gran Turismo Sport video game..."
It was a real shame that this wasn't the yearly June GWP, that the other 3 were. Had to pay over the odds (i.e. more than £0) at Amazon. Couldn't leave a gap in the Speed Champions collection though!
@betapi1674 said:
" @medleyj said:
"This is the first time the mini model didn't match the speed champs minifig design color scheme. The used Orange on the minifig scale one, and yellow on the polybag model. I'm kind of surprised this wasn't mentioned in the review. "
It's literally the 3rd sentence after the break if you actually read the review: "Interestingly, the larger version from 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM features orange accents instead, but the Solus appears with yellow highlights in the Gran Turismo Sport video game...""
Personally, I'm surprised the reviewer forgot that there's a new polybag, 30657 coming out for this exact model.
The profile is too similar to the Valkyrie, IMO. Something that would have been more distinctive in the lineup would have been preferable.
I bought four! I love these and trying to build other mini versions of speed champion cars.
Make this all black and it could be a Batmobile.
I love the recent bunch of five-stud-wide Speed Champions minis. It's amazing how much that extra stud of width improves the look and shape as well as the variety of what can be done with them.
I disagree with the assessment that this is too similar to the previous models—they seem very different to me.
@sjr60 said:
"... "Couldn't leave a gap in the Speed Champions collection though!""
@CapnRex101 said:
""lining up the four cars in this series leads me to question why..." "
I love when the review provides photographic and descriptive comparisons with other sets. However, it does stoke feelings of FOMO and completionism.
@oukexergon said:
" @betapi1674 said:
" @medleyj said:
"This is the first time the mini model didn't match the speed champs minifig design color scheme. The used Orange on the minifig scale one, and yellow on the polybag model. I'm kind of surprised this wasn't mentioned in the review. "
It's literally the 3rd sentence after the break if you actually read the review: "Interestingly, the larger version from 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM features orange accents instead, but the Solus appears with yellow highlights in the Gran Turismo Sport video game...""
Personally, I'm surprised the reviewer forgot that there's a new polybag, 30657 coming out for this exact model."
The review is about 30657. The clue is in the title.
@Lyichir said:
"I disagree with the assessment that this is too similar to the previous models—they seem very different to me."
Same here. They are different enough to have both. I also disagree about the stickers. At this scale, leaving them off is not a big deal if you don't like stickers. The general shape is great and they make great Matchbox / Hotwheels style cars for kid to push around.
Love the Speed Champions series. I can't wait to not find this in stores.
Cool little model. As an old-head, I'm still struck by the fact that the little polybag cars are wider than the original Town minifigure-scale cars - and trucks! - were. :-)
Racers 2.
Somehow, I can't find these in stores. :/
@StyleCounselor said:
"I love when the review provides photographic and descriptive comparisons with other sets. However, it does stoke feelings of FOMO and completionism. "
I need there to be a bad Speed Champ to see if FOMO (AKA greed) kicks in. There are a few that bear precious little resemblance to the source, but look good anyway.
@BaconKing said:
"Somehow, I can't find these in stores. :/"
At this point, I don't think they actually exist. I've never seen a polybag in the stores near me, and I'm not in like, a small town.
@tmtomh: I hadn't thought about that, but that is amusing. Although those four-wide vehicles I was playing with in the '80s and '90s had other priorities than proportional accuracy. Even modern minifig vehicles in City and Friends have other things to worry about.
@Zoniax said:
" @BaconKing said:
"Somehow, I can't find these in stores. :/"
At this point, I don't think they actually exist. I've never seen a polybag in the stores near me, and I'm not in like, a small town."
The easiest way I have gotten polybags is from Target online. Search Lego, sort price low to high, and scroll till $4.99. And if you are lucky enough to have it in stock at a local store, drive up order and have them get it. I have spotted them in the store, but only Targets. They tend to be on the side of the end cap of the Lego aisles (where it’s lego on both sides of the aisle, not just one side). And as a data point, my location is 40 miles north west of Baltimore, Maryland.
My note for this says I picked it up at Target while looking for Spic-and-Span. They did not have the cleaner. I had to go to a locally owned hardware store.
This is a great polybag. It’s got a lot of great parts for a reasonable price.
It looks like the fenders were formed with a mortiser.
Love this set! Bought 2 of them as it's a great parts pack, so many different and interesting pieces.
Phenomenal little car.