Review: 75912 Porsche 911 GT Finish Line
Posted by CapnRex101,
Following on from our reviews of the four smaller sets in the Speed Champions line, we are now turning our attention to the larger ones. 75912 Porsche 911 GT Finish Line is the second largest set of the wave, priced at £39.99 and containing 551-pieces. Immediately the good value of the set is striking, as is the variety of models included, with just about all the equipment required to stage a race.
These two Porsches stand out among the best of the Speed Champions cars in my opinion, capturing the shape of the real vehicles quite well and recreating the colour schemes very nicely too. Add some excellent racing accessories to the mix, and you have the makings of an excellent set.
Box and Contents
The box is typical of the Speed Champions theme, with the two cars racing across the start/finish line and past the chequered flag. The Porsche logo appears in the bottom corner and on the back, where we also find a shot of the real vehicle along with some facts. Apparently the Porsche 911 RSR (the white and grey model) has a top speed of 186 MPH, 470 HP and goes from 0-60 MPH in 2.7 seconds.
Otherwise the back of the box shows off the features of the set and some more shots of the cars in action. You may notice that the three flags displayed are those of Germany, the UK and the US. I wonder whether this is based on the relative market penetration in each region as I recall reading somewhere that Germany has the world's foremost market for LEGO, followed by the UK and USA respectively. I am probably just reading too much into it though and those flags were chosen at random.
Inside the box are four numbered bags and three instruction manuals, which are packed in their own wrapper. I have not seen booklets this small contained like the larger ones are before, so this was a nice surprise and I hope to see it more often. A rather nastier surprise however was the inclusion of no less than three sticker sheets, containing a grand total of 62 stickers! I don't ever recall a set containing so many stickers relative to its size, so if you really dislike stickers this may pose a problem. I was relieved to find that none of those stickers are very difficult to align and the results look brilliant, but it is still a nuisance having to apply them all.
Minifigures
Four minifigures are included, the first of which are the drivers of the racing cars. Their uniforms are fairly similar, both featuring the words 'Porsche Motorsport' on the front and back. The driver attired in white is emblazoned with the Mobil 1 logo and is equipped with a red crash helmet, while his counterpart's uniform features orange highlights and a blue helmet. Both also come with a dark blue cap to wear on the podium.
The third minifigure is a track side marshall, who wears a red baseball cap and sunglasses. The striped blue torso is quite common and the legs are plain black, but he serves his purpose of waving the chequered flag, which has a sticker on both sides unlike in 75910 Porsche 918 Spyder. The photographer's torso is far rarer, having appeared in only three other sets. She is equipped with a long lens camera.
The Completed Model
Although the two Porsche 911 GTs are almost identical in construction, the colour schemes vary dramatically and both look fantastic to me. The white and grey model is based on the Porsche 911 RSR, the winner of the 2013 Le Mans 24-hour race, and is probably my least favourite of the two, though that is simply because I prefer the brighter colours of its counterpart. The accuracy of the decoration can hardly be faulted and the inclusion of small advertising decals shows impressive attention to detail.
The orange and white model is based on the Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid. The colour scheme is obviously very different to the RSR, but they are nigh on identical in shape as you can see above. Both are very accurate to the real vehicles overall and are easily recognisable, but some compromises have been made to take account of the scale. For instance, the relative length of each car compared with its height has been reduced so a minifigure can be seated inside but they do not look too long. I don't consider this a major problem at all as the reasoning behind it is clear, and each model still looks very sleek to me.
Another slight inaccuracy is the absence of pillars on either side of the windscreen. These are printed on 75909 McLaren P1, so the same could have been done here, but again this is not too important in my opinion as the overall model looks superb, drawing the eye from slight issues like this one.
My only real disappointment is with the front of each car as the air intakes look rather untidy compared with the rest of the bodywork. I would have liked the nose to be entirely constructed using SNOT techniques, perhaps with a sticker or two used to capture the grille.
The start/finish line is a basic build, but it looks great nevertheless. I like the lap time sticker and the feature for revealing the red, amber and green starting lights is superb, despite its simplicity. As you remove the light bluish grey pin at the top, each pair of lights drops down which is very satisfying, if not entirely realistic. There is easily enough room for two cars to pass side by side beneath the archway.
I also love the podium structure included, which features diagnostics equipment and tools on the lower level, with the podium and chequered wall at the top. It closely resembles the podiums used in Formula One and many other motor racing competitions and is nicely detailed, but still remains sufficiently generic to be useful for any form of race you might like to hold. Two trophies are included, one for each driver. A third one would have been ideal, but you can always use the one in 75908 458 Italia GT2, which combines well with this set.
A wheeled tool chest and spare wheel are included too, as well as the typical selection of spare alloys which allow you to customise each vehicle.
Three flags can be raised above the winners, with Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US all represented. It is easy to switch out the flags, which are attached by a pair of Technic pins to their mounting, and they can be raised or lowered together by turning the gear on the right of the model. As you can see, they are entirely concealed when lowered, but personally I like to keep them raised for display as they add a bit of additional height to the podium area.
Overall
Of the six Speed Champions I own (all but 75912 F14 T & Scuderia Ferrari Truck), this is my favourite. The two cars are excellent and the racing equipment is very useful for the entire series. I have one or two changes I would like to make to the Porsches, and it would always be nice to get more flags, but I am very happy with the set as it is.
£39.99 or $49.99 seems like a very good price to me, and of all the Speed Champions sets, I think this one offers the most playability as it contains everything you need for a race. For racing fans, I think this is a must-have set.
With all six super/hyper cars assembled, I am having a difficult time choosing a favourite. For me it comes down to the 458 Italia GT2 and the Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid as they are arguably the most accurate to their real-life counterparts. I love all the racing decals applied to each of them, even if that does mean that they each include around twenty stickers. I hope you agree that all six look marvellous lined up together!
Do you have a favourite Speed Champions set? Let us know below.
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26 comments on this article
Nice review, again! This set looks fantastic and I really like the SNOT sides of the cars.
In answer to your last question, I really like the look of the LaFerrari. I don't own any of these sets, and didn't intend to get them all, but your reviews are really pushing it now...
Will I get a complete collection...?
And will they be good enough for a Special Display?
Well, on the real cars they also apply loads of stickers!
I already wanted most of these sets, but seeing those six cars side by side at the end has made me even more excited. Of course I'd love fewer stickers and slightly more accurate (in most cases, larger) builds, but they really look great anyway. Thanks for the reviews!
Are the flags printed? Makes it a must buy for me if so.
^ Unfortunately not.
I'm not sure I want to apply all those sponsorship stickers--amateur car racers have far fewer sponsors and I think the pro cars look terribly cluttered. But the lineup of all six cars looks great and my wallet is already screaming in anticipation of what's soon going to be done to it....
^^ Ah that's a shame. Cheers for letting me know.
Does anyone think that the new windscreen would work as a more accurate snowspeeder canopy?
These cars look a lot better than the Ferrari's. I would have preferred one or two Porsche's without the finish line stuff as it adds a good bit to the price.
What type of sticker sheets are these? The white paper like material or the clear plastic?
it's interesting that they use yellow minifigures again (unlike the last licensed racers)
@ Necofurtim - It is the White paper sticker sheets with all sets.
I bought all sets and surprisingly received the free polybag of 30259: Azari's Magic Fire.....i thought you had to purchase Elves sets of €30+ to receive this polybag?
Personally, I don't really like this cars. I mean, they're okay, but I want more of a "what I think is awesome car" than what qualifies as a "cool" car. To me, I don't care about being cool, I just think what ever I like is awesome. So no offense, but I don't really like these cars. I liked the racers line better, because they focused on is the set fun, and play. These sets are more collector, but racers were more like, let's race, crash some cars, and have fun. The racers were focused on not real cars, while these are expensive and you can't really crash them like the racers. The racers were just more fun in my opinion, the only bad thing was I only have a few racers sets, I wish they brought them back instead of these sets. Anyway, I don't like F1, and football is better and more 'murican for those in the USA.
Luckily, to me though, the flags aren't printed. I had been using a similar 2x4 SNOT plate from Best Lock, but it's great to hear Lego now offers one.
I hate to admit it, but a lot of the line just looks proportionally off. However, there just too much charm in Lego built licensed sports cars. So, guess I'll end up picking up at least the 458 Italia.
If they released that podium by itself, I would buy it without any hesitation.
If only I could get both this and the Brick Bounty...this set looks amazing, even without stickers, and 551 pieces for $49.99 is almost unheard of these days. Darn it.
My fav is still the Ferrari 458, but I understand anyone who disagrees--the 911s in this set look great, too! Overall, I think they're all a little too tall/not long enough, but as cody6268 mentioned, the lego charm wins out. :)
Lol, of COURSE you put the UK as the winner :P
I've gotten every set but the Ferrari F1 one so. I will though lol I've been prepping to make a custom Speedway with multiple different types of racing. With Pit Stops area and everything. This came out in the perfect timing too cause it will help save parts needed later and also the realistic like cars brings more fun to it. The FLAGS you see here DO NOT have to be the country ones. You can easily make custom ones including maybe the Cars Brand as a background sticker instead. This set is really kool. They purposely got it set up to to where the trophy area does not have to be where it is. You can easily take it off and make it ground level instead. I am really hoping this Speed Champion series goes for a long time. We've have Formula and Super GT Racing types of cars, why not go further. KNex is talking about dropping Nascar, that would attract alot of fans if they came here to this list. Also the different types of cars too that could be brought. I got tons of pictures of Custom made cars including the Ferrari Enzo, Ford GT, Peugeot 908 Race Car, and many others. With the attraction that this is getting already and the sell outs LEGO has been receiving all over the place, expect this to truely continue with a 2nd drop. So far too, the MOST popular set to be grabbed is the Mercedes F1 set. This one is 2nd.
Very nice. I think these are definitely the most accurate of the series, which is a shame, as Porsches aren't my favourite cars out of the bunch. Still, they look very good.
Off topic, @Huw, I've been getting Vanilla Forum "Over Capacity" messages when trying to access the forum this morning. I was able to get through at one point earlier, but can't ATM.
I picked up all 6 and built the Porsches today. I have to agree with Huw on the Porsche Hybrid - it's easily the best looking, but I rank the Spyder number 2. I realize these could be more realistic in a larger scale, but I like the fact they can integrate with older city sets and add to a serious race track scene. I'd love to see a historical series with classics from the 60's and 70's like the Ford GT, Cobra Daytona, Porsche 904, 908, 935 and the like. I'm sure I'll be spending time on Bricklink collecting curved parts to try my own versions.
The two Porsches look great IMHO! I already suspected I will like them most out of these sets. I'll definitely need to pick this up in the near future.
I think these two look very accurate. I doubt I will pick it up, but I like the new car designs. I may try to get one eventually.
Hmm... I have mixed feelings about this one. Two cars are fine, but since they're essentially the same and take up about 150 parts each, we're left with not a whole lot of finish line. I do like the little features with the lights and flags, but to be quite honest, the podium doesn't do it for me. I'm going to pass upon this one. $50 seems too much for twin cars and fifteen dollars-worth of podium.
I love this one, I agree, the GT3 Hybrid IS one of the best Speed Champion models - though I have to add, I'd love to see even more SINGLE car sets when the next LEGO® Catalouge comes out later this summer... For instance, they already have license for Lamborghini & Mercedes - lets see the Asterion or maybe the AMG GT as an add to the already epic line-up...? Then, ofc being a Swede - how about putting a Koenigsegg Regera in the mix? I'm sure Christian wouldn't mind having one of his cars immortalized in LEGO®, right? =)
I didn't know they had the Lambo license. I picked up a Mega Bloks 95777 Need for Speed Lamborghini Gallardo because of my love of the Lambo brand. It looks ok, but you can tell it's a toy car broken up and stuck on top of some bricks, rather than a brick-built car.
Would love a Lego Lambo. As for these, I'm waiting for a one car set that "looks right" when compared to the real vehicle. It's a weird combo of 'just enough' SNOT, plus proportions plus detail. The porsches in this set would be it if it didn't have all the gubbins. I could give the other car plus bits to my children - but then they would wonder* when they saw the other car was sitting on daddy's desk, rather than in their hands! :-)
* complain and then 'accidentally' snaffle!