1/43 Model Review: 1989 World Champion Alain Prost (McLaren MP4/5 Honda)

Background

Following on the dominant 1988 season, Neil Oatley designed the 1989 McLaren challenger (and the B spec used in 1990 as well) winning both of the championships. The MP4/5 was quick and reliable, and Senna took 6 wins and Prost took 4 wins in 1989. At the height of the inter-team rivalry, Prost quickly announced that he would quit the team at the end of the year. Senna was out-performing his team-mate, but reliablity issues and accidents meant that Senna was behind on points.

Coming to the Japanese GP in Suzuka, Senna needed to finish ahead of Prost to keep the championship alive. Senna followed Prost, and attempted an overtake into the tight chicane near the end of the lap when Prost appeared to shut the door on Senna, causing both cars to be interlocked and sliding off track. Prost retired, but Senna had kept his engine running, rejoined the track and went on to win the race. Later on he would be disqualified for not attempting to take the chicane, gifting the championship to Prost.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530894302

The first release from Minichamps, much in the same way as the 1988 McLaren MP4/4, was one of the first made by Minichamps. So it's a basic diecast shape and was perfectly acceptable at the time.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 436890002

Just as with the 1988 car, the model was revamped and released in various collections, the main one being the World Champions Collection. This is a nice update, new decals, new driver figures, better mirrors and rear wing. Again it's a nice update to an older model, but I'd rather a completely new model. 

Minichamps 539894302

I found it difficult to get a hold of the World Champions edition, but I did manage to pick up a Suzuka Legends edition, with the barcode instead of the blank space vacated by tobacco sponsorship.

Minichamps 08MDC-HER-APWC

In my research, I stumbled across this version which comes in a Honda box, but with the details you'd find from the World Champions Collection edition.
Score: 7/10

Onyx

Onyx 022

Onyx produced a model of the MP4/5 around the time, and was perhaps more toy than model at that time. There's no mistaking what the car is, but obviously lacks the refinement of modern day editions.
Score:4/10

True Scale Models

TrueScale Models TSM154337

TSM produced a number of versions of this car from the middle of the season, this one from the British Grand Prix. Again, another lovely model with good proportions and fine detail from TSM, but it is expensive.
Score:9/10

Spark

Spark MS-ES-1622-08

Spark produced this rare small run of the MP4/5 as part of the 50 years of McLaren collection. Though perhaps not as nice as the TSM offering, this is an excellent car at more affordable prices and a driver figure and Spark's signature helmet and visor combination. My other issue is that the tyres are a little too big. I've not seen too many photos of this car, so it's hard to give it a higher score without a proper look.
Score:8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK112

This is another gorgeous model from Tameo from the British Grand Prix (although this modeller has applied tobacco sponsorship). Similiar to the TSM model, this has good proportions and good details too.
Score:9/10