1/43 Model Review: 1997 Stewart SF1 Ford

Background

Three Time World Champion, Jackie Stewart would be funded by Ford to start up a Formula One team on their behalf, running the team with his son, Paul Stewart, and hiring current Autosport analyst, Gary Anderson as designer with Alan Jenkins. The team, through its various incarnations is the current Red Bull Team who are double World Constructors' Champions. Rubens Barrichello drove all three years for the team, and finished second in the Monaco GP in its debut year. The car was able to battle for points positions, but poor reliability hindered the team from scoring more points.

I remember in the UK when the F1 broadcast moved from the BBC over to ITV and I wasn't looking forward to the race being interrupted by adverts, but they did some special features in the build up for the first race, one being a documentary on the new Stewart team. I remember enjoying watching that quite a few times when I was younger.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430970022

Minichamps 430970023

I do miss the days when there were more differences between teammates so from a longshot you could identify which car was which, Magnussen running with a blue headrest and blue on the nose cone. The model itself is quite nice, but it could do with more defined shapes, like the airbox and hte sidepod openings, it's just a little simplified. The tartan looks good and the chrome wheel rims are nicely done. A solid budget model for the time.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK250

The Tameo kit model is based on the Monaco GP with removable engine cover and wet tyres. A fabulous model, with fantastic detail, even underneath the engine cover is nicely reproduced. I can't find many pictures of this model, so I can't review the model in any detail, but knowing the quality of models that Tameo produce, it looks like a great model.
Score: 9/10

1/43 Model Review: 2004 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004)

Background

The 2004 Ferrari was based on the F2003GA which was an evolution of the F2002. It dominated the 2004 season, with Schumacher winning 12 of the first 13 races, securing his fifth Drivers' Title in a row, the team's sixth Constructors' title in a row, and Schumacher's record breaking 7th Drivers' Title. Ferrari were left pretty much unchallenged for the championship, with Button and BAR being consistent podium finishers.

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels B6206

Hot Wheels have produced another reasonably shaped car with good proportions with the usual slightly chunky appendages.
Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

Mattel Elite X5515

The Mattel Elite car is based on the German GP. The front wing endplates are too tall, but their aerials and bargeboards are much better on this model. The overall shape isn't as good as the Hot Wheels model with it just lacking a bit of refinement.

Score: 6/10

Ixo / Formula 1 Car Collection

The Ixo car comes in various sets, but it is essentially the Mattel Elite car, without the fine aerials and lacking red wheel nuts. The Formula 1 Car Collection version is actually of Barrichello's car rather that Schumacher's. They have had to add an extra support behind the front wing under the nose which is a shame.
Score: 5/10

BBR

BBR BG265

This BBR car is from the Canadian GP.

BBR BG278

This one is based on the Hungarian GP. I don't know if there are others, but I find the nose a bit too bulbous at the front. The rest of the monocoque is nicely done and there's nice detail on the suspension arms, the bargeboards and the aerials. Good cockpit detail, nice sidepods and airbox. The Hungarian GP version seesm to be running too little rear wing, which sits a little too rearward for my liking. It's a really nice model from BBR, but that nose just puts me off straight away, that and I think they could have done better on the rear wing.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK343

There are a fair few variations to feature, the first being from the Australian GP, with nicely sculpted 3D gills on the sidepod.

Tameo TMK347CHI

By the Chinese GP, the sidepods now had a chimney rather than gills and the tobacco sponsorship on the airbox is much neater.

Tameo TMK347

And finally I wanted to feature the Japanese GP version but is essentially the same as the Chinese GP spec. The proportions on this model are superb, and the refined details are lovely. The detail on the rear wing is superb to me, with the separate elements and the curved edges are vey well done. The bargeboards are nicely defined and very neat, the exhaust area is beautifully recreated. The cockpit is outstanding, this is a real triumph of a model.
Score: 10/10

1/43 Model Review: 2003 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2003-GA)

Background

The Ferrari F2003GA was a development of the F2002, which was used for the first few races, and the new car was the quickest in the field, however it tended to use up their rear tyres quickly. McLaren and Williams were then able to mount a championship challenge, but Ferrari found a problem with their rivals tyres causing them to be redesigned and giving the Ferrari shod Bridgestones the advantage once more. The team won 7 races and scored 5 pole positions. 

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels B1018

Hot Wheels continue with making these championship winning Ferrari's, and as the cars get more curves and complexity, it really begins to show on the cheaper range of cars. However, Hot Wheels have done a reasonable job on this car, I like the curves on the rollover bar, the sidepod is not bad. It's nicely proportioned, if not a bit chunky in parts, such as the aerials and the bargeboards.
Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

Mattel Elite P9944

Mattel Elite X5514

The Mattel Elite brand comes in two versions, a generic World Champion version and a low downforce Italian GP version. It's nice to get genuinely different models with different wing levels and dry/wet tyres. As with previous versions, this is not the same as the Hot Wheels car, with the appendages much more refined than the clunky Hot Wheels version. However, the front wing on the Hot Wheels car is more accurate, the nose and the supports and front suspension area are also superior on the Hot Wheels car. I think the engine cover and sidepods are a little more refined on the Hot Wheels model too. Though overall, I prefer the Hot Wheels car, it's not quite enough difference for me to give a different grade.

Score: 6/10

Ixo

The Ixo version of the car is as ever the same as the Mattel Elite car, but with different appendages. Whereas the Mattel Elite car has much more refined bargeboards, aerials in particular, are just as clunky as the Hot Wheels car.
Score: 5/10

BBR

BBR (British GP)

BBR (Spanish GP)

There are various versions available of the BBR model. For me, there are some strange proportions going on in this model. The nose seems a little off to me, and the front wing elements don't seem any better than the Mattel Elite car. The contours of the airbox are nice, if not a little over exaggerated. The bargeboards and sidepods are really nicely done for me, as are the 3D gills on the Canadian GP version, but the oversized front end plates and the rear wing that sits a bit too far back detract from the good points of this car.

Score: 6/10

Tameo

Tameo TB012

USA GP

Tameo TMK330

Spanish GP

Tameo TMK331

Monaco GP

Tameo TMK337

Italian GP

As you can see, there are many Tameo versions available, and to me they are all top quality. It's hard to nitpick the proportions or the fine details, the refinement into the detailed areas and accuracy in shape variations from race to race are fantastic.
Score: 10/10

Updated 1/43 Model Review: 1994 McLaren MP4/9 Peugeot

I bought a Heritage Racing McLaren MP4/9 this week and I was pleased when I received it that the car was of a better quality than I expected (I suppose I wasn't expecting much). Having assumed that it was one of the better Onyx cars of the time, I realised after looking at it in a bit more detail that this is infact a Minichamps car in an Onyx style box. I suppose that is why there is no serial number visible. And so I've snapped up a bargain, as the Minichamps version of this car usually fetches a bit more than I paid for this one. The only problem is that the car does not sit very tightly on the base and does move very easily.

So I've updated my original blog post about this car.
https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/2019/01/143-model-review-1994-mclaren-mp49_19.html

But I thought I would post a few more pictures of the car from a few more angles than usual.

You can really see how sleek and slender this car is with its minimal sidepods, angled like a dart perhaps a bit like the 1983 Brabham BT51.

The Onyx cars would usually have a single axle between the two front wheels, but Minichamps have found a way to do realistic suspension, with all elements attached to the main monocoque. The front wing includes the early season extensions that go behind the front wheel. These were banned mid-season as one of the measures to reduce speeds. Minichamps also use brown for their visors, where as Onyx tend to use a grey. Minichamps have also made the sidepod and airbox openings as actual holes in the car, whereas on Onyx cars of that time had stickers for the airbox.

You can see the front suspension more clearly in the overhead shot, and also the shape of the sidepods is nicely done. They have even modelled the small inlet just in front of the rear wing.

Minichamps also did some good bodylines, with the chassis having indents for the engine and suspension covers. There's also nice detail around the front of the cockpit, which is slightly more raised than the side of the driver's helmet.

1/43 Model Review: 2002 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2002)

Background

The Ferrari F2002 would see Schumacher deliver the third Drivers' Championship with the Scuderia, his fifth in total matching that of Juan Manuel Fangio. This would be Schumacher's most dominant season, with McLaren and Williams unable to match the dominance of the Prancing Horse, scoring 11 wins (10 in this car and a new record), scored the most points between himself and second, secured the Championship with 6 races to go and finished every Grand Prix on the podium.

The F2002 was one of the few demonstrations models I've seen and touched at a show once and one of the first F1 cars I had the privilege of seeing.

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels 54618

The F2002 was quite a departure in shape from the 2001 car. The nose is sleeker, the bargeboards more developed, the sidepod is more shapely, and the rollover bar is also much sleeker. The rear of the car is much more tightly packaged with the exhausts now protruding out of the top of the sidepod.

Hot Wheels B7022

The final car of the 3 car World Champion set is the car based on the Canadian GP, this time with a single fist raised. The cars are of a very similar standard to when Hot Wheels took over, it would have been nice to see some improvements on their models year on year.
Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

Mattel Elite N5603

The Mattel car is also based on the Canadian GP. This car features additional winglets on the side of the nose, nice radiator grills, a better aerial and a bit more attention taken in the cockpit.

Mattel Elite X5513

There is a French GP version. This features a new front and rear wings, with multi elements as opposed to the single element wings on the French GP and other Ixo versions. The new front wing looks a bit more clumsy, but the rest of the car seems more refined like the aerials and a decal overhaul. Also the tip of the nose is rather bulbous on this model, where as the Hot Wheels car is much better defined.
Score: 5/10

Formula 1 Car Collection / Ixo

The rear of the front wing has an extra support on this model, and the front suspension area is not particularly neat either. It is otherwise the same model as the Mattel Elite version so this model receives the same score.
Score: 5/10

BBR

BBR BBRCS002

This BBR version is based on the French GP, though I do believe there are other versions available. It's another nice kit from BBR, but I think they've done better, like the F2001 was a better model than this one. The proportions don't seem quite right, though I can't exactly put my finger on what exactly, but I think it is just a little bulky.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK305

The season opening Australian GP saw Ferrari bring an updated version of their 2001, which raced until the start of the 'European season'. The 2001 car being so dominant it would still be competitive enough for the opening rounds of 2002 giving the team even more time to work on their F2002 challenger.

Tameo TMK308

This is based on the San Marino GP. Tameo have done another excellent job on this Ferrari model and you can get various versions featured below.

Tameo TMK310

Here is the Canadian GP version, with added winglet on the side of the nosecone, less rear wing elements and a low downforce trim front wing. The bottom of the bargeboards also have a saw-toothed shape.

Tameo TMK317

The 2002 German GP was the first Grand Prix on the modified circuit. No longer blasting through the forest on full throttle punctuated by a variety of chicanes. The front wing endplates have been updated, but not much else is new on the car from what I can see. Tameo continue to produce excellent Ferrari replica models.
Score: 10/10

1/43 Model Review: 2001 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2001)

Background

The Ferrari F2001 was a brand new car that bore little resemblance to its predecessors and improved the aerodynamics and tyre management greatly. It was not matched by its rivals McLaren or Williams, and Schumacher sailed to his fourth Drivers' Crown and a double Championship with Ferrari with 9 victories over the season.

After the tragic events in New York in 9/11, Ferrari ran with no sponsors and a black nose as a mark of respect for the victims.

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels 50213

With Schumacher winning championship after championship one after another, these reviews are going to sound pretty samey with Hot Wheels mass producing these models of his championship cars to a reasonable, but not particularly inspiring standards. The F2001 was a nice car, with its low dropping nose compared to the very high nose equivalents from the previous few seasons. The sidepods are also longer than its predecessor.

Hot Wheels 55602

The car is released in the standard Hot Wheels box and also comes in a two car Constructors' hampionship set. It comes with Schumacher having both fists raised in victory, of which he achieved 9 times.

Hot Wheels B7022

This Belgian GP version is part of the 3 car set spanning the first three of Schumacher's Championships with Ferrari. It has the same figure with both fists raised, but has less rear wing elements on the low downforce track at Spa.
Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

Mattel Elite V8374

This model is based on the Hungary GP. Again, this shape is the same as the Ixo shape. The nose on this car is a bit more bulbous, the winglet in front of the rear wheels is not as well defined and the exhaust area is quite different too. On top of that, the wings on the Hot Wheels car are better, as are the wheel rims. The model is similar in quality to the Hot Wheels, and it has better suspension, cockpit detail and carbon textures, but overall, I prefer the Hot Wheels version.
Score: 5/10

Ixo / Formula 1 Car Collection

One of the early Formula 1 Car Collection editions was this Italian GP version of the Ferrari with no sponsors and a black nose. I wasn't too keen on buying a conversion, so I got myself this one. After 9/11, many of the cars ran tributes, particularly at the US GP, but Ferrari made the largest change at their home race. It was nice to tick the box for my model collection, but it didn't stay in my collection for long.
Score: 5/10

BBR

BBR BG227

This model is based on the Malaysian GP. The BBR car is another good model from this Italian manufacturer. I've found BBR to be a bit hit and miss sometimes, but for me this model is definitely a hit.
Score: 9/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK298

This Tameo car is based on the Monaco GP. It is another masterpiece by Tameo. Again, I think the quality of the Tameo models exceeds an already very nice BBR version, but it's just that bit more refinement in the detail which makes the difference for me, the slightly sharper contours, the quality of the build, the detail on the smaller finer parts are all parts where this is marginally better than the BBR model in my opinion.
Score: 10/10

1/43 Model Review: 2000 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F1-2000)

Background

The 2000 Ferrari was a direct development of the 1999 car, which itself was a development of the 1998 car. With the base of the car refined, with a new engine and improved aerodynamics, Ferrari finally made a car that was a match to Adrian Newey's McLarens. Schumacher finally delivered the team's first Drivers' crown since 1979 and its second Constructors' Title in a row, with 9 wins in the season. It would be the first of four in a row, the beginning of a dominant era. Barrichello in his first year in the team earned his first Grand Prix victory, battling through the field in an impressive race in Germany.

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels 26748

Hot Wheels 26748

Apologies that my photo is so bad, so I've posted a second clearer photo.

When I heard that Hot Wheels/Mattel had taken the exclusive rights to produce Ferrari F1 models, I wasn't particularly optimistic. The cars produced were not of the quality of Minichamps models at the time. However, having seen some of the other budget options available, this is probably the best budget version available.

I like the multi-element rear wing, though it's a bit big and clunky, I'm impressed with what they have done on that rear wing. The front wing and bargeboards are similarly slightly bulky, but nicely detailed. The main shape itself is not bad, the detail is fairly nicely defined, like the sides of the monocoque and the side and rear head protection.

Hot Wheels also released a three car set with the 2000, 2001 and 2002 cars included in special versions. The 2000 car simply has black rubber decal markings on.
Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

Mattel Elite P9943

Mattel Elite V8379

This is not the same car as the Hot Wheels model, it is more clear from other angles, but in fact it's the same as the Ixo car (below). The second picture is of the Japanese GP version. The car is smoother than the Hot Wheels one, in that it fits together nicer but the proportions are a bit off, with parts of the car a little too rounded and too exaggerated like the sidepods and the rollover bar from front view. You get a much less detailed rear wing with this version, but the front wing is of a similar quality. Even the bargeboards are not quite as defined, but just smoothed out shape.
Score: 5/10

Ixo

As the car has been reviewed in the Mattel Elite section, I won't repeat what was said there.
Score: 5/10

RBA

I nearly didn't put this one in for how bad it was, but it's so bad I had to include it! Especially when one ebay seller says in the description this is a high quality detailed scale model. Sorry, I can't see any part of this car that remotely resembles the real car.
Score: 1/10

BBR

BBR 105167

This is the launch version, although I have seen Australian GP and Japanese GP versions too. This is a very nice model from BBR, a beautiful shape, good proportions, intricate detailing. A very nice model.
Score: 9/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK293

This Tameo kit is based on the Japanese GP. I'd personally be happy with the BBR version, but this Tameo kit is just slightly more refined and more polished.
Score: 10/10