Review: 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Posted by CapnRex101,
Aston Martin's incredible production catalogue provides ideal inspiration for Speed Champions models. The designers have accordingly chosen appealing, albeit somewhat surprising, modern supercars for 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
These models undoubtedly recreate impressive detail, although the sinuous bodywork associated with the Aston Martin Valkyrie introduces potential design challenges. However, the Aston Martin Vantage is instantly recognisable in official images, resulting from the accurate recreation of various significant design features.
Summary
76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3, 592 pieces.
£39.99 / $44.99 / €44.99 | 6.8p/7.6c/7.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
These models achieve mixed authenticity, but feature incredible construction methods.
- Near-perfect Aston Martin Vantage
- Extraordinary building techniques
- Inaccurate Aston Martin Valkyrie
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Drivers are provided for both cars, as usual. Despite appearances, official images suggest the female minifigure sporting dark bluish grey overalls is intended to drive the lime green Valkyrie, while the male driver accompanies the Aston Martin Vanquish. I think that works nicely because the drivers are more visible inside their vehicles when wearing contrasting attire.
However, the minifigures are essentially interchangeable, since the decoration on their racing overalls is identical. That is unusual within Speed Champions, but seems reasonable as both cars are modern and their clothing should therefore be modern too. I like the simplified Aston Martin symbols on the torsos, with the realistic stitching typical of these minifigures.
Alternative hair elements are also a consistent inclusion. Both look great and this dark brown piece only appears in four earlier sets. Neither minifigure features a second expression, but a pearl silver wrench is supplied to remove the wheel inserts on each vehicle.
References
Source - TopGear.com
Source - Caricos.com
The Completed Model
Among numerous potential subjects, the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 was a good choice, in my opinion. The proportions of the vehicle are instantly recognisable here, featuring a long bonnet and large wing which are unique among recent Speed Champions models. The dark bluish grey and lime green colour scheme looks excellent too, differing sufficiently from last year's Corvette C8.R.
This model measures 16cm in length, which is fairly standard for Speed Champions cars. The design seems relatively simple when viewed from the side and I think slightly reduced ground clearance would have been ideal, compared with the source material. Nevertheless, I like the unbroken bodywork shapes that continue throughout the length of the Vantage.
The most distinctive feature of Aston Martin designs is usually the radiator grille. The Vantage definitely conforms to that tradition and lime green teeth are employed to good effect, creating an accurate shape. Greater realism could have been achieved with stickers or printing, but I am happy to accept compromises for the addition of more brick-built details.
Two printed 2x3 curved wedge slopes form the headlights, beside a stickered lime green stripe. These designs are excellent and I love the recessed vents on the bonnet, corresponding with the original subject. Moreover, this windscreen appears realistic and the dark grey decoration matches surrounding parts, unlike 76908 Lamborghini Countach.
The integration between the windscreen and neighbouring stickers is also quite effective here, differing from the Mercedes-AMG Project One in that regard. The rear windscreen looks good too, using the same construction method as the Corvette C8.R from 76903 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car and 1968 Chevrolet Corvette. The rear wing also seems familiar, which is hardly surprising since the Vantage and Corvette are both endurance racers.
Removing the windscreen reveals the modest interior, providing space for two minifigures. The steering wheel is accurately positioned and I like the stickered centre console, although details are otherwise sparse. The lime green backrests are appealing though, standing out among the muted internal colours and complementing the bodywork highlights.
I would characterise this Aston Martin Vantage as enjoyable but unremarkable, until reaching the back. Construction becomes substantially more complex here, as the distinctive rear lights are ingeniously assembled using trans-red tiles, teeth and 1x1 slopes attached in two directions! Slopes are fixed upside down with trans-black 1x2 plates, partially concealed beneath the wing. In addition, a printed Aston Martin sigil is located here.
The spectacular Aston Martin Valkyrie appears unlike any other Speed Champions model, as expected given its source material! The vibrant lime green and black livery, with red highlights, looks absolutely fantastic and I was surprised by the 18cm length of this vehicle. That exceeds most Speed Champions cars, but is accurately proportioned beside the Aston Martin Vantage.
However, this model includes the standard Speed Champions wheels, which appear relatively small on such a large car. Additionally, the decorated wheel caps are unhelpful in that respect because they make the wheels seem even smaller. The bodywork over the wheels should be narrower as well, although improving that would be impossible without producing a new wheel arch for the front.
Unfortunately, another instance of poor colour matching appears on the nose, with a noticeable difference between the lime green sticker and lime green parts. The shaping seems somewhat awkward too, as the nose should extend further above the splitter. Currently, the splitter seems to protrude too far. The black and red colour combination is appealing though.
The most important feature of the Aston Martin Valkyrie are definitely the dramatic slits around the cockpit. This model accordingly includes slits in the bodywork, creating a narrow structure between these gaps. Nevertheless, the design feels quite strong and incorporates trans-clear 1x2 plates to support the angled black and red panels, which are only otherwise found in 21180 The Guardian Battle.
The unusual structure necessitates unique construction techniques, distinguishing the Valkyrie from equivalent cars. The model comprises three segments, with the cockpit connected to the front and rear bodywork using Technic pins with click hinges. Such creative building solutions have become a consistent and welcome asset to the Speed Champions theme.
Hinge plates are cleverly used to recreate the tapered bodywork around the cockpit, with the same angular design present on the original car. The black panels underneath seem similarly accurate, but the bulbous curvature above the front wheels is completely missing. The vehicle therefore seems unrealistically flat, interrupted by the rounded windscreen.
This element is new and was certainly necessary for the Valkyrie, especially since the cockpit must narrow to accommodate those slits towards the front. As normal, the windscreen may be detached to reveal the interior, which does contain seating for two minifigures, even though the shape is inherently restrictive.
An elegant fin extends behind the cockpit, recalling the Mercedes-AMG Project One. However, this example is simpler, with stickers applied on either side of a red Technic rotor blade. The resulting shape looks excellent and the red accent colour continues on a sticker behind the cockpit, as well as the extraordinary rear wing!
The undulating curvature of the wing is extremely unusual, taking inspiration from the updated Valkyrie AMR Pro unveiled last year. The shape looks brilliant, although this colour scheme is more closely associated with an earlier version of the car which featured a different wing and exhaust arrangement. This inconsistency is perhaps disappointing, but the LEGO rendition is impressive.
Overall
Appreciation for 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 will be determined by one's priorities, concerning both Speed Champions and LEGO more generally. The accuracy of the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is surprisingly poor, despite recreating the slits which distinguish this subject. The construction techniques are amazing though, rivalling anything LEGO has produced of comparable size.
The Vantage GT3 seems mundane by comparison, although only because the Valkyrie is so remarkable. This model includes numerous details from the original vehicle and the rear lights are outstanding, in particular. I think the price of £34.99, $39.99 or €39.99 seems reasonable as well, but your enjoyment of the set depends on whether you consider realism or creative design methods more important.
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17 comments on this article
Everything looks great! The one thing that I am not sold on is the turned-on headlights on the Vantage. The four white dots just feel strange in relation to everything else.
The 7 wide windshield is especially interesting. I wonder if there will be more variants in the future. Its a nice way to get a closer proportion between the body and greenhouse.
The LEGO Valkyrie just doesn't look good to me, and I haven't even seen a real one in my life.
Wish the Vantage was standalone, I think it's maybe my top pick for one that can be done with no stickers at all and still look great. The Valk, just...no desire for it whatsoever. Given that the Merc dual pack is $30 and this is $40, that's definitely coming first (along with the 512M, Countach, and maybe the Lotus).
Having seen some other reviews before, I'm so on two minds on this set. Even when it's more accurate, I don't care much for the Vantage, it just looks rather uninteresting, dare I say even somewhat boring? The Valkyrie though.....in itself it looks great and some of the building techniques are truly mindblowing....but it just doesn't look anything like the real thing. If that was a set on its own I might still have bought it despite the glaring flaws, but this being a double pack doesn't help either.
I wasn't super excited for these when they were announced, but after building them I really like them both. The Valkyrie is quite a bit longer, but the Vantage is a tidier build overall. The colors are great too, although one of them should be that dark AMR green. My only real con is the wheels on the Valkyrie, they look too small. Another solid SC set, although it's definitely the lesser of the dual packs
My only complaint about the Valkyrie are the wheels. They looked fine from the official renders and all, but seeing it built now, the wheels just look too small for it. They really needed to make new wheels for that car. Or maybe it should be just 1 stud shorter in length.
It is strange, because I didn't got this feeling from the Mercedes F1 even though the real thing also has bigger wheels.
That canopy for the Valkyrie is the real prize. I hope to see it in unadulterated forms and perhaps different trans and solid colors.
It’s a part I’ve wanted for quite some time now.
@peterlmorris said:
"That canopy for the Valkyrie is the real prize. I hope to see it in unadulterated forms and perhaps different trans and solid colors.
It’s a part I’ve wanted for quite some time now. "
I'm frankly disappointed by the shaping of it, actually. It's my least favorite part of the Valkyrie. What annoys me is that it makes the front window look like it's narrower at the bottom than the top. The "crease" at the top of the side windows sweep forward/down and smooths away. I think it would have looked soo much better if that crease wrapped around to the other side, possibly blending into a larger radius at the forward most point to get a smooth looking side profile. In general, I want to see better shaped canopies / windscreens, it would take the SC line to the next level.
Frankly, I’m shocked at how close LEGO gets these bubble cars looking like the actual cars. That’s an awful sentence, but hopefully you get what I mean.
Lemme try again…Within the limitations of the parts…to get as close as they do get to matching the look of the body on these cars that have insane bulbous curves is remarkable.
For me they just look weird, somehow. They are just a slight off, for me. I can't really pin point where or why, but... it bothers me. So perhaps these are not for me. I'll get me coat.
......."insane bulbous curves".........No not you the wife! I was reading about the Aston Martins!
That Valkyrie has more hinges than I expect to see in a Speed Champions car...
> In addition, a printed Aston Martin sigil is located here.
Do they printed the side of a plate? This is pretty cool.
I suspect eventually Speed Champions will reach the size of Creator Expert cars at some point.
If you're buying this, don't spoil yourself by looking up the Valk's instructions.
If you aren't planning to, read those instructions. The final result may fall short, but you need to see how this car comes together.
@peterlmorris said:
"That canopy for the Valkyrie is the real prize. I hope to see it in unadulterated forms and perhaps different trans and solid colors.
It’s a part I’ve wanted for quite some time now. "
The front of the Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter appears to use the piece in light grey
@kyrodes: Lego's been doing that for a few years.