近年在網上看到不少關於Exoto的傳聞，其中一個比較震撼，說Exoto所有的1比18 F1其實都是抄自早年田宮 1比12的模具。

開始還不太相信這個傳言，但是細想之下，Exoto早年肯定不可能有如此龐大的財力和人力去進行模具開發。而且Exoto這些年經常陷入版權紛爭的官司，所以近十年在世界各地的車模型展銷會上也從來沒有見過Exoto的蹤影(因為沒版權的生產商是不能參展的，所以早前國內的Frontiart也屬於此類)，也就是說明Exoto這麼多年根本就是個地道沒版權的山寨牌子。另外在其最新XS系列D-Type的包裝盒子上面也很清楚地列明了這點:

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最後為了這個疑惑我還特別請教了一個香港的資深車模前輩，以下是他的回應:

It is not a rumour but hard fact.

Tamiya models are the best in those old days so many other model manufacturers copied their molds one way or another.

There is nothing Tamiya can do because as long as the real cars existed, they can’t blame Exoto being a copy from their plastic model.

In those days, nearly all 1/12 F1 racing cars and the Porsche and Lola racing cars from Tamiya are copied by Exoto in 1/18 scale. They didn’t copy the Wolf WR1, Honda F1 and Brabham BT44 though.

They has saved a huge amount of money in R&D as well as mold making.

Later they also copied the Ferrari 312 variants from 1/12 Protar F1’s such as the 312T2.

They did have a few original molding though. The best racing classics from them are the Shelby Cobra GT series and the Ford GT40MkII series but I think they copied the GT40 MKIV from someone else, probably AMT( can’t remember well).

BTW, if I remember correctly, I don’t think those early days Tamiya F1 models have exclusive licence either.

They sort of got the good cooperation of the manufacturers or car museums to measure and take photos of the real car then research the details by available books and plans. I think exclusive licencing was started by Ferrari and that is why Tamiya stopped producing the big scale F1 models as well as other racing cars probably they find it difficult to accept this new culture.

It was after quite a long period of emptiness that Tamiya began to produce the F1 cars in 1/20 scale again.

In the old days, there is no such exclusive licensing requirement for producing the models. We have lots of excellent model cars by various models manufacturers such as AMT, Monogram, Linberg, Revell, Airfix, then later joined by many other Japanese model manufacturers.

I personally don’t like this licensing fuss as it adds cost directly to we collectors.

以下是網上找到的田宮 1比12的F1模具: