Update of 1/43 Mercedes W10 (Minichamps)

Minichamps have released a US GP version of the same model, commemorating when Lewis drove into a painted spot at the end of the GP reserved for the 2019 World Champion. This means the car is facing the other way in the box.

Minichamps 417191844

Having bought both models, I thought it would be a good opportunity to compare both cars in a bit more detail, both cars being diecast.

From the front of the car, there's not really any noticeable change, other than the front wing endplates which you can't quite tell from this angle. There is a change to the winglets in around the bargeboard area, but we'll consider that later.

Moving to the back of the car, and I know it's been three years now, but I still love the wider rear tyres. Mercedes have very high rear suspension mounts as they do on the front, with the driveshaft covered in a wing shaped cover reminiscent of the Williams FW16. It's great to see even at this scale, the detail that goes into the rear brake ducts and all the tiny wings they squeeze in there. In terms of the two models, I can't really find any differences to spot.

Another area of highly intricate details is the bargeboard region in front of the sidepods. Reduced in size that they're able to develop, hasn't stopped the complexity, with teams managing to get their boomerang wings in. The main difference is on top of the sidepod, with the winglet not connected to the vertical outboard vane, although all the vertical vanes have changed slightly. The new version cleverly incorporates the mirrors, which are vented, hence the increased black region. It's still great to see the winglet on the halo get such good definition, and the different number of gills on the side of the cockpit which is race specific.

The final comparison is from a kind of T-Cam position. I like how the model has the saw-tooth shaped visors in front of the cockpit, and the models feature an accurate steering wheel shape with nice stickers on. As noted above, the US GP car makes an attempt at the vented mirrors.

1/43 Model Review: 2019 Racing Point RP19 Review (Spark)

After all the issues with lack of money in 2018 when the team were still Force India, it was clear that the 2019 challenger would not be doing its usual punching above their weight. But the team steadily improved as the season went on, and after the summer break Perez finished in the points at all bar the Singapore GP where his car retired with an oil leak, with many of them from lowly starting positions.

Stroll struggled all season to get out of Q1, but had a few highlights, such as finishing in the points in Canada. His best finish was at the chaotic German GP, where he was so far behind, he was able to pit at the right time and propel himself to the front of the grid and in with a shot at the podium. In the end, he finished a credible fourth.

The team did well to secure a seventh placed finish in the Constructors' Championship, not far behind Toro Rosso and Renault, but comfortably ahead of Alfa Romeo. Considering their issues at the end of last year, that's a positive improvement, and I suspect they will be looking to be in the mix at the front of the midfield in 2020.

Spark released their version of the Racing Point based on the Chinese GP. The car has a lot more blue in deference to SportPesa, and the livery just looks a bit too messy for me. I'm really not keen on the darker pink on the inside of the rear wing endplates.

Spark S6086

Spark S6085

Anyway, back on track and onto the model itself and it's a solid model again from Spark. Proportionally everything looks good, the detail looks strong as always, and from the side, it looks fantastic to me. 

Force India/Racing Point have run a unique nose for a number of years now, and the continue to have those two slotted channels nicely integrated into their front wing supports. There's nice detail on the livery on the front wing. The bargeboards have a number of slots along the top, nicely modelled here and the winglet arrangements at the front of the sidepods is also accurate and nicely modelled.

After testing, they introduced large slots on along the edge of the floor and you can just about see that on the model from this angle. If i was really nitpicky I think they left a bit too much pink along the top of the engine cover, and the blue on the rear wing endplates to wrap around the side a little more.

Again, if I was being picky, the airbox needs a little more carbon colour around the front, if you see it from the front, there's only a very tiny circle of pink visible.

All in all, I'm pretty impressed with this offering from Spark. I think if perhaps Minichamps did this model (I've not checked if they will yet) I think they might offer a better finish on the paint and decals, but in terms of the shape, I think it's a top quality model.
Score: 8/10

1/43 Model Review: 2019 Ferrari SF90 (Bburago)

Ferrari's second half of the year began brightly as Leclerc took two emotional victories in a row, at tracks that suited their high power and low drag concept. Vettel also won the Singapore GP after more strategy criticism. Leclerc repaid Ferrari's faith in him and was firmly established as a future star, if he isn't that already, and he's been rewarded with a big fat new lengthy contract. After Vettel's appalling mistake in Italy, he has shown signs that he's not done with the sport yet and could figure in the 2020 title fight.

In recent years Bburago have released some budget F1 cars, and whilst the first couple of attempts were quite bad, they are starting to produce some reasonably passable models in the last couple of years, though they do cost a little more now.

Bburago BU36815V

One of the problems before was simply bad proportions, but the Ferrari cars seem to have more effort put towards them than other teams. For me, there's no complaints about proportions here. The question about Bburago models is whether they are toys or whether they are models. I'd say most of their cars were clearly toys first, that's why there was a lot less detail and the parts were very bulky.

Bburago BU36815L

Now it seems that they are being presented more as budget models with a suggested age of 14+ for owners. For a budget model, it's really not bad.

Bburago BU36814L

Bburago BU36814V

They also released a version with the driver inside, these being based on the Australian GP. Personally I can't see any difference in the models other than the driver figure.

Score: 6/10

1/43 Model Review: 2019 Red Bull Racing RB15 Minichamps

Dr. Helmut Marko predicted that Red Bull would win 3 races in 2019 in their first year partnership with Honda, and that is exactly what they achieved, though he would argue they could have won more. Max won brilliantly in Austria, and then in a rain soaked chaotic race in Germany, and a brilliant head-to-head victory against Hamilton in Brazil, somewhat payback for losing out on victory in Hungary where Hamilton passed him on fresher tyres near the end of the race. Verstappen had a few off races, colliding with Raikkonen twice in Belgium. In Italy he started from the back and knocked his front wing, and eventually finished 8th, and he was punted off in Japan by Leclerc. Verstappen truly established himself as a credible title challenger if his car was competitive throughout the year, something they hope will be the case in 2020.

New team-mate Albon drove the second half of the year, and had a slightly easier task of a more developed RB15 than Gasly had. He seemed to do a lot of come-back drives, showing potential and good overtaking. It remains to be seen if he can get closer to Max in 2020, but he was unlucky to be punted off a podium finish in Brazil by a rare mistake from Hamilton.

Minichamps released their version of the early season car with Max and Pierre in respectively.

Minichamps 410190033

Personally, I think the matte paintwork on the Minichamps model is spot on, I don't think the Spark model is quite as good. The only other bigger difference between this and the Spark model is the size of the airbox above the driver's head, the Minichamps one being much larger and for me more accurate.

Minichamps 410190010

A great effort from Minichamps in my opinion, these newer models are fantastic.
Score: 8/10

Verstappen Collection Models

Whilst Spark have been releasing a number of special versions, the Max Verstappen shop have released two versions already, one based on the Australian GP, which is the same as the standard model, albeit with different tyres, and they have done a pre-season shakedown livery which sold out almost instantly.

Minichamps 4131999333 Max Verstappen Collection No. 40

Minichamps 413190133 Max Verstappen Collection No. 42

Minichamps 413190933 Max Verstappen Collection No. 44

Minichamps 413191133 Max Verstappen Collection No.45

Update 2 of 1/43 Model Review: 1994 Ligier JS39B Renault

Well I couldn't help myself to some new 1994 models, and with Spark and Minichamps both releasing the 1994 Ligier, when Schumacher tested the car, I couldn't resist getting them both, taking some pics and comparing the two. If you want to see my other posts about this model and my GP4 car, then you can see the articles here.

Spark

Minichamps

It's nice how Spark have put on most of the tobacco decals leaving just a little bit to finish off, but both cars come with the decals to update the cars, not that I trust myself, particularly when these models are so expensive when new now. Almost immediately, playing spot the difference, there are quite a few to spot and from the wide shot, there's quite a few differences in proportions.

You don't get the difference in the modern models, as I believe they get geometric data from the teams, which is why the quality and proportions are very accurate. I can only assume they don't have that data for these models. As noted in other reviews, the front wing is massive on the Minichamps model, but what is there is a lot more refined. There is also much more curvature on the Minichamps model, which I think is a bit more realistic. The rollover bar and sidepods are very basic and quite similar on both models, the only real difference is right at the back of the engine cover, there is a square cut out of the Spark model to allow for the rear wing supports.

Spark

Minichamps

Spark have done some more squat mirrors, which I think over exaggerates the real car a little bit. Bot cars model the round cockpit well, but the Minichamps driver figure and seat fit into it better. Though I prefer the Minichamps helmets, they clearly didn't look at photos of the test as Schumacher ran an early season version of his helmet without the red 'wings' and elf logo. In terms of the overalls, Spark seem to have created some Ligier colours with Benetton logos, odd. On that front, I much prefer Minichamps. 

Spark

Minichamps

The Spark front wing looks so boxy, and the endplate doesn't quite have the unique contours, which I think Minichamps does a lot better in capturing (if it wasn't for the fact that it's huge!). Again the Minichamps wheels and rims are for me much better proportionally speaking. 

Spark

Minichamps

I do prefer the Minichamps suspension, just the points where it attaches to the chassis is much more accurate. However in terms of the lumps and bumps on the monocoque, Spark do seem to have them more prominantly.

Spark

Minichamps

I remember when I was doing the GP4 car that the rear of the engine cover around the Renault logo was not easy, but both manufacturers have done it well, but as I said earlier, the Spark version does have a better trailing edge. Notice the great difference in depth of the main rear wing plain, the Spark car running a particularly low downforce configuration. 

Spark

Minichamps

It's clearer from the above angle the rear wing differences. The bigger difference is in the diffusers, with Spark sporting the early season diffuser whilst Minichamps have produce the end of season version. 

Spark

Minichamps

My, the front wing is huge on the Minichamps car, did I mention that already? Minichamps have added a visor, which is a nice touch, whilst Spark have painted it in the colours of the chassis. The steering wheels are fairly standard and dull, but I prefer Spark's aerials and pitot tubes. 

1/43 Model Review: 2019 Renault RS19 (Minichamps)

2019 is now over, and Hulkenberg is a former F1 driver after a pretty anonymous year, but that was probably more down to Renault's dip in form compared to the previous year when Nico was a constant best of the rest. Ricciardo showed more highlights, becoming more confident in wheel to wheel battles, but he still doesn't look as comfortable on the brakes as his Red Bull days.

The team were disqualified from the Japanese GP for their automatic brake balance management system.

The team finished in fifth place, with their best finish at the Italian GP when Ricciardo lead Hulkenberg to a 4 - 5 finish. The disappointing season lead to a change in the leadership of the design team.

Minichamps have released a limited edition run of Ricciardo's car from the Bahrain GP.

Minichamps 447190003

I think this is a brilliant little model, I prefer it to the Spark model. I think the Spark model if you inspect its separate elements looks nice, but when you bring it altogether, just ever so slightly looks disjointed. I think the airbox on the Minichamps model looks slightly bulkier which I think is more accurate to the car.

I think the car looked particularly good on the dark track under the floodlights, and I think this is a lovely model.
Score: 8/10

Minichamps 417190003

Minichamps 417190027

1/43 Model Review: 1997 Ferrari F310B

Background

When Schumacher joined Ferrari, he declared he would win 3 races in 1996 and challenge for the Championship in 1997, which he fulfilled. The season began with the Williams taking an early lead, but by mid-season, Schumacher fought his way up to lead the battle and carried a one point advantage to the final race at Jerez, the European GP for that season. Schumacher's car developed a cooling leak whilst leading, and Villeneuve eagerly wanted to pounce straight after the pitstop. Famously, as Villeneuve passed down the inside, Schumacher swiped at the Williams, but rebounded off into the gravel trap, as the Canadian brought the car home to claim his only Championship. Schumacher, however, was disqualified from the Championship for this move, though the team kept the points. Despite the costly momentary lapse, this was an impressive season from the German with five wins in total, including fine wet drives to victory at Monaco and Spa stand out to me in particular.

Irvine in his second year with Ferrari, partnered Schumacher in the last of the John Barnard designed Ferrari's. Irvine drove a better year than his first, chasing Villeneuve hard to second place in Argentina, and would have gifted a win to his team-mate at the Japanese Grand Prix to help him fight for the championship. Ferrari finished 2nd in that year's Constructors' Championship.

Minichamps

Minichamps 510974305

Minichamps 430970006

Though this Ferrari is dubbed the B spec version of the F310 from 1996, it bears very little resemblance to the 'truck'. Much more refined shape, much less bulky, much more conventional aerodynamics from the outside made this car quite a nice looking car. Sadly this was the first Marlboro red car, departing from the traditional scarlet red, which takes away from the beauty of this car for me.

Minichamps produced another nice model of this car, featuring two shape variants, well different rear wings at least. There are French GP variants of the non-tobacco livery, and the barcode version ran at other races.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK430

I've found two versions from Tameo, this one above is based on the car that won the Monaco GP, with rain tyres. Tameo have done another excellent job in recreating this car, from the intricate shape of the front wing end plates, to the cockpit and the extra rear wing elements, this is another find model.

Tameo TMK349

The other version is based on the Japanese GP, which comes with removable engine cover, showing some nice detail underneath of the engine, radiators, gearbox and rear suspension assembly. They've updated the airbox which is a nice detail, as well as a more boxy shaped front wing endplate, and of course the rear wing. A fabulous model.
Score: 9/10

GP4: 1994 Williams FW16B Renault WIP update 5

Well, I think I'm finished with the Williams FW16B based on the Australian GP in terms of shaping now, so just to update you on the last couple of changes I've made. 

I've updated the top part of my old 2D seatbelt, and made it much thicker, as it had quite a bit of padding around the shoulder area. Back when the cockpits were more exposed and you could see more of the driver, I felt it deserved something a bit more substantial, fitted around my driver figure. 

I mentioned last time about the inside of the sidepod without taking a screenshot where you can see it, so here it is. I took quite a lot of photos of the car when it was still at the Donington Park museum just before it closed, and it revealed to me this unconventional layout.

As I mentioned last time, I've completely reworked the rear of the engine cover. There's quite a few changes in gradient, some gentle humps, and it's not easy to see when a lot of it is white. If you look at photos, the Renault logo is slightly distorted as the engine cover is shrink wrapped around the internals. I think if I was to start this area again, I could get it to look a bit smoother, but this looks OK to me.

Finally, you can see a slightly different angle of the rear of the engine cover. I've added a fuel cap, on the right hand side of the car for the Australian GP, and you can see the extinguisher handle.

So that's it, after almost a year, the car is complete and here's some final shots of the car. This is by far the most detailed shape I've created to date, and there were areas where I held back a bit (just so that it will run in GP4). I would add the camera in front of the cockpit and a coil to fit behind the steering wheel, but I personally am not going to miss them. I'd also redo the mirrors, but these ones will suffice for now. Anyway, I hope you like it and I hope you enjoyed the journey with me. Drop my a line if you want to contribute to me making my 3D cars.

Now I have a back log of cars to map before I get too tempted to start my next car.