1/43 Model Review: 2012 World Champion Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8 Renault)

Background

Having had the quickest car in the field since the middle of 2009, the RB8 did not start the season as the quickest, being hurt by rule changes that banned exhaust blown diffusers of which the previous cars were heavily designed around. Vettel still won at Bahrain and scored strong points finishes as seven different winners won the first seven races.

In Valencia, Red Bull brought an upgrade package that saw him dominate only for an alternator failure to occur just after a safety car period causing him to retire from the lead. It wouldn't be until Singapore that Vettel would have the strongest car again, when designer Adrian Newey and his team perfeced the Coanda effect, which used exhaust gases to gain more downforce. Vettel delivered four wins in a row, reminiscent of the previous season.

Vettel had the lead of the championship going into the season finale at Brazil. With changeable conditions, he was caught out with a crash with Bruno Senna's Williams, and the RB8 was lucky to continue, so the race swung to Alonso's favour and then Vettel's and so swung between the two as the laps went on. But despite Alonso finishing second, Vettel did just enough to clinch the championship by 3 points. It is his third championship in a row, becoming the youngest triple World Champion, and demonstrated once more what a great racing driver he is.

Minichamps

Minichamps 410120001

For 2012, there were not a huge amount of track specific RB8's to choose from, the above being the standard model, and below the Brazilian GP version. The standard car is based on the early season, with the stepped nose and the early version of the coanda effect exhaust. Again, another nice metal model from Minichamps.

Minichamps 410120101

The Brazilian car features all the up to date specification changes to the car, with nose cameras on the tip of the nose, a slightly different front wing, new rear wing endplates and updated exhausts. But the best thing about the car, besides the intermediate tyres, is the damage to the floor near the exhaust area, with a big chunk of the floor missing and some bodywork damage exposing the metallic exhaust.

Minichamps 413120201

There is this limited edition tall box version of the Japanese GP and features the late season changes to the shape as discussed on the Brazilian GP version, but obviously without the damage.
Score: 8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK407

This is the early season Bahrain GP version from the beginning of the season. Another fantastic shape from Tameo, a lovely sheek shape, lovely detail on the rear endplate with the slot gaps. Fantastic work again from Tameo.

Tameo TMK 408

This is the Monaco GP version, which is very similar to the Bahrain car.

Tameo TMB011/TMK411

And finally we have the Brazilian GP version, though there's no attempt at the damage incurred on lap 1, but again we get the car updates from the early season car. 

Score: 9/10