1/43 Model Review: 1999 World Champion Mika Hakkinen (McLaren MP4/14 Mercedes)

Background

In 1999, Adrian Newey and the McLaren team produced another competitive car with refined aerodynamics from the previous contender and a powerful Mercedes engine. They had the best car, with the car almost completely overhauled from the almost dominant MP4/13. Whilst the 1998 car was smooth and sleek, the MP4/14 looked more aggressive. However reliablity, and driver errors hampered what should have been an easy championship for them. After Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone half way through the year, Hakkinen was left fending off Irvine in the Ferrari and Frentzen in the Jordan for the championship. He spun at San Marino, Germany and Italy, where he was filmed weeping behind some trees. But 5 wins, including an impressive win fending off Schumacher in Suzuka, and another 5 podiums would secure the Finn his second Drivers' World Championship, but the Constructors' title would go to Ferrari.

This season for McLaren was a bit of an enigma. Somehow, Schumacher was able to claw his way into the 1998 championship which was decided at the last race, when McLaren should have walked away with it. If there were signs of frailty in reliability in 1998, they were worse in 1999. It wasn't until the fifth round that both McLarens made it to the end. Hakkinen also made errors, crashing out of the lead in San Marino and in Italy. Schumacher would have taken the Championship had he not had a brake failure that lead to his leg injuries keeping him out for most of the season. But McLaren made hard work of it, struggling to see off the threat of Irvine's Ferrari (who was still well off Schumacher's pace) and even Frentzen's Jordan (a midfield car for crying out loud!). Coming into the final race of the season, it was Irvine who was leading the championship.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530994301

The initial version released was part of the McLaren Collection. The shape is OK, but I don't think it quite captures the car as well as the 1998 MP4/13. To me, it just doesn't quite look as aggressive as the real car and I suppose that's down to the finer details. But the car is still of reasonable quality as you'd expect from Minichamps.

Minichamps 402989901

The car that comes with the MP4/13 two-car set comes with a livery from later in the season, which I personally prefer. The car is the same though.

Minichamps 436990001

For the World Champions Collection version, we get an updated livery and decals, but I have to admit that I prefer the original. If you look at the sidepod in particular, the blending of the silver into the black is too clean for me. I also prefer the red on the nose from the previous model. But the updated driver figure decals are a nice touch.
Score: 7/10

Formula 1 Car Collection / Ixo

This is not a great model in my opinion. The textures are really not good at all. The nose and monocoque section is not too bad, but the sidepod opening is too wide, the airbox way too big, and the upper rear wing element seems huge, or maybe it's just the size of the Mika decal. And on this version, everything seems to be slanted forward, like it's going to fall over nose first.
Score: 5/10

RBA

The RBA car is very similar to the IXO one, but there are enough differences to conclude they are different models. I don't think RBA have done a particularly good job with their other models, but I actually think this one isn't bad at all, and I prefer it over the Ixo car, both in terms of the overall shape and the detail on the decals. It's not Minichamps standard, but it's still not a bad model.
Score: 6/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK276

This Tameo version is based on the Spanish GP. This model is truly stunning, and what I missed from the diecast Minichamps car is all included in this Tameo offering. Once again the details on this car are fantastic. 

Score: 9/10