GP4: 2011 Ferrari 150º Italia - download

 

I proudly present to you my scratch made version of the 2011 Ferrari 150º Italia. This was a car I started from when the car was originally launched, way back in 2011. Ferrari brought some updates to the Spanish GP in Barcelona, and I updated my car shape to match. The project was a slow one, and eventually the Codemasters cars were being released and converted to GP4. I was pleased that when measuring my car up against the Codemasters car, there was good correlation of shapes, angles and proportions. 

At the time, I was winding down my GP4 activities, whilst completing some of the 1996 car shapes. In fact this was the first contemporary F1 car I had at attempted since 2008 (I did start a 2009 car, but that project was never finished). I took my time over this car, as many authors released their version of the car. The car was mapped but at the time I really only wanted to concentrate on shaping cars, so I released it prior to my hiatus to see if anyone would paint it. 

It's been nearly 11 years now, so I thought I'd come back to it. I did add some 3D bodylines and bolts similar to the method I've been using on my current contemporary cars and has under 35,000 polygons, which, again, is a similar standard to my 2022 models. 

Anyway, I hope you like it. 

After a strong end to the 2010 season, where Alonso predicted and delivered on a strong end to the season, Ferrari were hoping to build on a strong debut season with the Spaniard. Well it didn't, it managed only one victory at Silverstone and that was more because of a temporary ban on off-throttle blown diffusers before the ban was rescinded. That rule majorly hampered Red Bull, and Alonso made the most of it. The season didn't get off to a great start because the name F150 was disputed by Ford who have an iconic pick-up truck of the same name. Ferrari claimed it to be short hand for Ferrari 150º Italia and that was that. The car was a podium contender at best, and Alonso managed fourth place overall and Massa a distant sixth in the Drivers' Championship. 

The car is available to download with tweaker settings included in the read me. 

But what mod can you play it in? 

I hope to have more news for you on that front soon, but until then, here's the download link to this car.

1/43 Model Review: 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2007)

Background

Following Schumacher's first retirement, Raikkonen was signed as his replacement and won at the opening race in Australia. The two Ferraris and the two McLarens would battle intensely for both titles, with McLaren and their drivers holding the upper hand as the season developed. Ferrari and Raikkonen seemed out of the title race, but at China, Hamilton's McLaren had worn his tyres out and slid off into the gravel when entering the pit-lane, and Raikkonen took his fifth victory, reigniting his title campaign leading into the final race, though still 7 points adrift. It was Ferrari's 200th victory and 600th podium, which this model commemorates. In Brazil, Massa dominated the weekend, though out of contention for the title, whilst Hamilton was battling a number of issues on the way to seventh place and Alonso was powerless against the Ferraris in third. Massa let Raikkonen through to win the race and the Drivers' Championship by a point from both Alonso and Hamilton.

Interestingly, Massa revealed in the F1 podcast that it was at the Belgian GP where it was decided that the driver ahead at the end of that race would be the backed driver for the Championship. Coming to the prior race at Monza, it was the Brazilian who had the advantage but for reliability to strike and Kimi took a podium and the initiative for the remainder of the season.

Hot Wheels

The Hot Wheels car is presumably based on the race opening Australian GP, with the Marlboro red and the straight engine cover trailing edge. Hot Wheels continue with their generally good proportions, mixed with bulky appendages, but even the bargeboards are getting more detail, as is the front suspension and sidepod winglets. The helmet is a let down, but oeverall, not a bad little model. 

Score: 6/10

Mattel Elite

The Mattel Elite car is based on the Chinese GP, where Kimi earned his 5th victory of the season, the 200th Ferrari win, the 600th podium, the penultimate race of the season. From the Monaco GP, the F2007 ran in a darker metallic red, which I personally loved. The car features more refined details than the Hot Wheels car, though the exhaust looks clumsy. With the wheel covers front and rear masking any difficiencies, this turns out to be quite a nice model. The cockpit has a nice steering wheel too. 

Score: 7/10

Formula 1 Car Collection / Ixo 

As usual, the model is the Mattel Elite car, but this is dubbed as the Australian GP, even though the shape is clearly based on the end of the season (for a start, the rounded fin on the engine cover). The front rims are terrible, and you don't get a nice sticker for the steering wheels. For the lack of attention to detail, I have to award this a lower score than the Hot Wheels car. 

Score: 5/10

Redline

Redline RL140

Redline have produced a number of quality models, starting with Australian GP version. Good attention to detail on the track specific parts, the bright red colour scheme, no front wheel rim covers and the straight engine cover. Nice holes in the rear wing endplates, lovely bargeboards, good mirrors, very nice details, a great model.

Redline KBR002

We also get two late season versions, firstly the Japanese GP version above.

Redline RL148

And the Championship winning car from the Brazilian GP. Again you get lovely details on this model, along with good proportions throughout, including a nicely modelled nose cone.
Score: 8/10

Looksmart

Looksmart LSF-ES1707

There are a limited number of Looksmart versions around, but I believe it's the same as the Redline model but with a driver figure, this one from the Chinese GP as a special limited edition run of 200. It's a shame that the helmet looks little better than the Hot Wheels attempt, but don't let that take away from the rest of this beautiful model.
Score: 8/10

BBR

BBR BG311

This is the BBR model based on the Australian GP. The BBR car looks too long and low, which is a shame, because as usual, BBR do put some nice detail into their cars. But it's the poor proportions that let this down for me, even though the contours all look pretty accurate.
Score: 6/10

BBR BG344

BBR produced a mid-season version based on the British GP. The colour looks fantastic on this factory built model, and so does some of the details on the bargeboards, the cockpit and the exhaust area. I think the nose is a little too long for my liking, but overall, the proportions are much improved from the early season model.

BBR EX26

And we get a late season version based on the Chinese GP. Ignoring the slightly elongated nose in my opinion, this has slightly finer details than the Redline car and so I think I marginally prefer this one.
Score: 9/10

Tameo

Tameo TB010

Tameo have similarly done a selection of F2007s from the season, overlapping with other manufacturers, this model being the Australian GP car.

Tameo TMK367

And here is one from the Spanish GP, though this is Felipe's car.

Tameo TB015

The Chinese GP Version has full tobacco sponsorship rather than the barcodes,

Tameo TB011

Whoever made this Brazilian GP model obviously forgot to put the Shell V-Power decal on the rear wing endplate, but this is a beautiful recreation of Kimi's Championship winning car. It should have been Massa's race to win, but he let Kimi win and thus clinch the Championship by a point, and amazingly Ferrari's last champion. Tameo continue to set the standard for 1/43 scale F1 models.
Score: 10/10

1/43 Model Review: 2009 Ferrari F60

Background

The car was called the F60 to celebrate the 60th year of competing in Formula One. Having expended much resources contending for the 2008 championship which went down to the last corner of the last lap, Ferrari won the Constructors' Championship whilst Massa lost out on the Drivers' crown. That would work against them as other teams were much more prepared for the new rules for 2009. By mid-season, the car was regularly in the points and challenging for podiums, but Massa suffered a head injury during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix that ruled him out for the rest of the year. Long-time test driver Luca Badoer, last raced in 1999 for Minardi, took the second seat, but was off the pace, and Ferrari hired Fisichella from Force India for the rest of the season. Raikkonen took the team's only win of the year at Belgium, having started from 6th on the grid, being chased all the way by Fisichella, then driving a Force India.

Hot Wheels / Mattel

Hot Wheels P9963

The simpler shaped cars for 2009 should work in favour for Hot Wheels in creating the F60 in 1/43. The car still feels like a toy rather than a model, but the overall shape is not bad. The lack of effort on the driver helmets is bad. However there are growing levels of details on the aerials and the cameras. The suspension is not too bad either and they have put on the wheel rim covers too. So judging from some of the previous offerings from Hot Wheels, their standard is improving, but overall, it still feels too much like a toy.
Score: 6/10

Ixo / Altaya

When I first saw this car, I naturally assumed it was from the same mould as the Hot Wheels car, but on closer inspection this is a model from later on in the season. It has a different exhaust, rear wing endplates and includes the vents on rear of the engine cover. In terms of overall shape, it's of a similar standard to the Hot Wheels car, but when you get to the details and suspension, Hot Wheels has moved on a bit in this department. For me, the biggest let down are the textures. The T-cam is red, the front wing end plates do not have the silver highlights, and there's no Bridgestone logo on the floor near the rear wheels. Overall, it's not that bad a model, still toy like, but its let down by being a bit lazy.
Score: 5/10

BBR

BBR BBRC24

Available from BBR are various versions of the F60 including a Belgian GP edition where Kimi Raikkonen took the team's only victory of the year and this one (pictured above) from the Italian GP (driven by Fisichella).

BBR BBRC25A

As you'd expect, this is of a much higher standard from the previous offerings. The F60 is not a particularly nice looking car, so perhaps this captures it accurately. The finish on the paint, the decals to the shape itself and the details they have added is what you'd come to expect from BBR. This is a very nice model.
Score: 9/10

Where are they now?

Ferrari remains just as involved and just as prestigious and important as it always have been. 2019 should see them compete for the World Championship which they last won in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen. After being dropped in 2010, Raikkonen was rehired for Ferrari and drove for them between 2014 and 2018 and is about to commence the 2019 season with Alfa Romeo (Sauber). 

Luca Badoer remained Ferrari's test driver until the end of 2010, making the odd appearance at Ferrari demos. To read a bit more about his torrid time with the F60 you can read this fun article here:

https://wtf1.com/post/remembering-luca-badoers-disastrous-ferrari-comeback/

Felipe Massa thankfully returned to Formula 1 in 2010. Some say he wasn't quite as quick as before, whilst the team maintained that was not the case. After nearly retiring in 2016, he actually did retire from F1 at the end of 2017. He's back in racing for Formula E in the 2018/19 championship.