1/43 Model Review: 1997 McLaren MP4/12 Mercedes

Background

McLaren kept the Mercedes engine for the third year, and the combination of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard for a second year. The biggest change was the livery, having lost Marlboro sponsorship, the cars were no longer the distinctive red and white  for the past 23 years, but in recognition of their relationship with Mercedes ran a silver livery with West sponsorship. The team ran in traditional McLaren Orange before the livery launch. The car was very promising, but the unreliability of the Mercedes motor masked their potential. Hakkinen retired from leading positions on three occasions and Coulthard suffered the same fate in Canada.

Coulthard started the year with a race win, the second of career, and the first for McLaren since 1993. Coulthard was able to convert another race victory at the emotional Italian GP, dedicating his victory to Princess Diana's death the previous week.

The car was found to have two brake pedals for brake steering after a photographer snook a camera into the cockpit at the end of the season. The technology was soon banned, but was put in the MP4/12C road car which featured many of the F1 cars technology. Hakkinen finally won his first Grand Prix at the finale in Jerez, after coming to an agreement with Williams who was nursing a damaged Villeneuve after Schumacher tried to take him out.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530974390

Minichamps 530974310

I remember back in 1997 when one of my friends was on a family holiday in London at the same time that Mika Hakkinen was doing a signing session at the Alex Reade model shop and he bought this model and was able to get Hakkinen to sign it, I was obviously well jealous. Anyway, the model comes in the new silver race livery, which Minichamps have done a great job with, and also the pre-season orange livery. The model is a good representation of the car, no real complaints from me. I particularly like how they integrated the sidepod into the winglet and onto the rear endplate.
As with other McLaren cars, the main car is available in Mercedes box and also in Team McLaren editions.

Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK237

Tameo TMK238

Tameo have likewise produced a pre-season orange version as well as the race car. This high end model is superior to the budget diecast Minichamps model, featuring much more detailed modelling, finer details. It's nice they have made an effort around the fuel cap opening, all the cameras on the car and the rear end is just beautifully modelled. My only tiny nitpick would be the lack of body lines around the cockpit head protection. Otherwise this model is pretty much perfect to me.
Score: 9/10