1/43 Model Review: 1997 Prost JS45 Mugen-Honda

Background

Alain Prost returned to F1 as team owner taking over from the Ligier team. The team was in transition for 1997 as Prost looked to build an all French team. The team retained the Mugen-Honda engines and Olivier Panis who was partnered by Shinji Nakano at Mugen's request. The team was amazingly competitive for the first six races, Panis offering a true title challenge, but a crash at Canada broke both of his legs, and he would not return until the end of the year. Prost quickly hired impressive Trulli from Minardi and they continued to show good speed. He finished 4th in Germany and lead much of the Austrian Grand Prix.

Minichamps

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This model was one of the earliest models I owned, with reasonably good midfield runner, Panis making an unlikely title challenge. Truth was he was in the best position to make the most of the new Bridgestone tyres that were particularly strong during the race. It's a shame Panis had his accident, I doubt he would have maintained the points scoring rate for the rest of the season, but I certainly think he would have added to his two podiums he had already secured. I remember the particularly long nose on this car, and compared to other cars, the rear wing endplates were as small as they could be. Other than that, the shape of the car is a development of their 1996 car, but I did like the simple all blue livery. The Minichamps model was reasonably well done, no real problems with the dimensions, and they've done a reasonably nice job at the rear of the car where the detail is.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK246

This Tameo model is based on Trulli's Italian GP car, with low downforce wings, and it also comes with a removable engine cover. The detail underneath is fantastic and a plus for me is the asymmetric detailing, and you can see more it opens up more than on the Stewart car. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed by the rest of the model, the nose and monocoque section looks too square. The front top edge of the sidepod should be more rounded. The rear wing endplate looks like the normal season one, but the Italian GP version was even more cut down and minimalistic than this model.
Score: 7/10

1/43 Model Review: 1999 Prost AP02 Peugeot

Background

After a disappointing 1998 campaign, the new Prost AP02 Peugeot was more competitive. Trulli managed a podium finish at the European GP, but Panis' season was more disappointing with only two sixth placed finishes, though there were promising qualifying performances, but strategic errors and bad luck hampered good results.

It's perhaps telling that both drivers left the team at the end of the year, looking for a better team more suited to their obvious talents, with Panis taking a test driver role at McLaren and Trulli heading for Jordan.

The car features unique front sidepod design with flaps on the top, however this design never caught on and was dropped on the AP03.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430990018

At the time, I thought the Prost was one of the longest F1 cars and I wondered whether there was quite enough space to fit it in the old smaller Minichamps box. Obviously it did, but Minichamps had to make longer boxes from 2010 onwards.

Minichamps 400990119

At the end of 1999, Jenson Button tested for McLaren and Prost before taking up a race seat at Williams for 2000. This car was updated for a 2017 release in a limited edition run of just 648. The updates are on the colour which is metallic blue now, and sharper sponsors, though there are no barcodes, but a blank space for you to apply your own tobacco decals.
Score: 7/10

1/43 Model Review: 1993 World Champion Alain Prost (Williams FW15 Renault)

Background

The Williams was already the dominant team since the middle of 1991, with its perfected active suspension and other driver aids. The FW15, originally intended for the 1992 season, was shelved because the FW14 still dominated the 1992 season. The FW15B was a conversion to 1993 rules for pre-season testing, whilst the FW15C was used during the season. There was an FW15D in testing too, as well as the revolutionary CVT car.

The car continued to dominate F1. Alain Prost was signed, with the French engine connection in the middle of 1992 after a season out of F1 having fell out with Ferrari. Mansell, the 1992 champion, refused to work with Prost again after their time at Ferrari, and left for Indycar. Damon Hill, the test driver, was eventually called up to take up the second seat.

The car dominated the season, with Prost able to use his experience over the young Hill to take 7 wins in early and mid season. Hill took 3 wins in a trot, his first in the sport, towards the end of the season as he got used to the car and bad luck left him, and the team won both titles, Prost winning his fourth Drivers' Title.

This was the last car with driver aids until the early 2000's when traction control was allowed again, and it was Prost's final season in F1. He had signed a two year deal, but after Williams signed Senna for 1994, Prost refused to work with him again, and agreed to leave the team for Senna's arrival. He did flirt with coming back with McLaren after another year out, but it was uncompetitive and the team were going through a rebuilding phase.

Onyx

Onyx 172

The 1993 Onyx cars were another step in improvement from Onyx, with mirrors, new tyres, and slightly more accurate shapes. The sidepod inlet is very angled, whilst the car in real life was more curved. The car is labeled the FW15B, which never raced in 1993, but they raced the C spec version of the car initially designed to be used in 1992.
Score: 5/10

Quartzo

The Quartzo car comes in two editions, one with the driver figure in the car, the other with a standing figure and a podium. The car is the same base as the Onyx car, the one with the standing figures has slightly different mirror mounting points.
Score: 5/10

Minichamps

Minichamps 430930002

Gode 338.002.4

The original Minichamps car comes in the new chequered flag box which has become standard for their models. But Gode also produced a number of German GP versions of their 1993 cars. Whilst Onyx had angled sidepod inlets, the Minichamps have a straight version.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 402929301

The car received a bit of an update when it was included in the two car World Champions set, which has better decals and an updated driver figure.

Minichamps 436930002

When the New World Champions Collection version was released, I was hoping for a new resin model, but instead we have the original car heavily updated. At least the rollover hoop has a 3D hole rather than a sticker. The update is nice, the helmet shape is much better, the colours more vivid, the decals are of better quality.
Score: 7/10

Formula 1 Car Collection / Ixo

I'm personally quite disappointed with Ixo's attempts at the 1992 and 1993 Williams. It's just quite basic from some of the other angles of the car, and doesn't quite capture the essence of the car. In that regard, I'd say that I'd prefer the early Onyx/Quartzo versions over this.
Score: 4/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK167

By far and away the best version of the FW15 is to go for this Tameo car. I don't think its perfect by any means, I've seen better Tameo models. You shouldn't be able to see the steering wheel, that was covered by the top of the monocoque for example. But it's still a very good model.

Score: 8/10

1/43 Model Review: 1989 World Champion Alain Prost (McLaren MP4/5 Honda)

Background

Following on the dominant 1988 season, Neil Oatley designed the 1989 McLaren challenger (and the B spec used in 1990 as well) winning both of the championships. The MP4/5 was quick and reliable, and Senna took 6 wins and Prost took 4 wins in 1989. At the height of the inter-team rivalry, Prost quickly announced that he would quit the team at the end of the year. Senna was out-performing his team-mate, but reliablity issues and accidents meant that Senna was behind on points.

Coming to the Japanese GP in Suzuka, Senna needed to finish ahead of Prost to keep the championship alive. Senna followed Prost, and attempted an overtake into the tight chicane near the end of the lap when Prost appeared to shut the door on Senna, causing both cars to be interlocked and sliding off track. Prost retired, but Senna had kept his engine running, rejoined the track and went on to win the race. Later on he would be disqualified for not attempting to take the chicane, gifting the championship to Prost.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530894302

The first release from Minichamps, much in the same way as the 1988 McLaren MP4/4, was one of the first made by Minichamps. So it's a basic diecast shape and was perfectly acceptable at the time.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 436890002

Just as with the 1988 car, the model was revamped and released in various collections, the main one being the World Champions Collection. This is a nice update, new decals, new driver figures, better mirrors and rear wing. Again it's a nice update to an older model, but I'd rather a completely new model. 

Minichamps 539894302

I found it difficult to get a hold of the World Champions edition, but I did manage to pick up a Suzuka Legends edition, with the barcode instead of the blank space vacated by tobacco sponsorship.

Minichamps 08MDC-HER-APWC

In my research, I stumbled across this version which comes in a Honda box, but with the details you'd find from the World Champions Collection edition.
Score: 7/10

Onyx

Onyx 022

Onyx produced a model of the MP4/5 around the time, and was perhaps more toy than model at that time. There's no mistaking what the car is, but obviously lacks the refinement of modern day editions.
Score:4/10

True Scale Models

TrueScale Models TSM154337

TSM produced a number of versions of this car from the middle of the season, this one from the British Grand Prix. Again, another lovely model with good proportions and fine detail from TSM, but it is expensive.
Score:9/10

Spark

Spark MS-ES-1622-08

Spark produced this rare small run of the MP4/5 as part of the 50 years of McLaren collection. Though perhaps not as nice as the TSM offering, this is an excellent car at more affordable prices and a driver figure and Spark's signature helmet and visor combination. My other issue is that the tyres are a little too big. I've not seen too many photos of this car, so it's hard to give it a higher score without a proper look.
Score:8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK112

This is another gorgeous model from Tameo from the British Grand Prix (although this modeller has applied tobacco sponsorship). Similiar to the TSM model, this has good proportions and good details too.
Score:9/10

1/43 Model Review: 1988 World Champion Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/4 Honda)

Background

This is the first McLaren designed by Gordon Murray, who had been designing championship wining Brabhams in the early to mid 80s. Though there are traits of the Brabhams evident in the design of the MP4/4, there is still some debate as to whether Murray was the pioneer of this successful chassis, with some in the team saying it was a natural development from their 87 car.

The team also hired highly rated Ayrton Senna, who helped secure the team the excellent Honda engines. The Honda engines were in a league of their own. So with the potent combination of a great chassis, a top class engine, and two of the best drivers to grace F1, it is unsurprising that the pair of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won all but one Grand Prix that year.

Senna and Prost developed, the now, legendary rivalry, and the title only went to Ayrton Senna at the last race in Suzuka. At that race, Senna bogged down at the start and dropped down the field. But a spirited fight-back saw him regain 2nd place, which perhaps wasn't too unpredictable, but the incredible thing was that Senna caught and passed Prost, who was driving the same car, to take victory and his first World Championship - remarkable!

Minichamps

Minichamps 540884312

This is the original release of the model as part of the original Ayrton Senna Collection and is Edition No.1. This model also features in the double World Champion set along with the 1989 World Champion, Prost's MP4/5, which is part of the McLaren Collection. It's quite an early Minichamps model, with the original driver figure and basic helmet shape. The diecast car was good for its time when models were much more affordable.

Score: 6/10

Minichamps 540884392

A later additional to the original Senna Collection is number 24 based on the Japanese GP version of Senna's McLaren MP4/4. This model receives a new driver figure, new improved decals and does not have the sidepod cooling chimney. This is a nice update to the original model, and this model, as far as I am aware, features in other collectible boxes...

Minichamps 436880012

Here is the car in the World Champions Collection, which traditionally features the car in the final race spec, which was the Japanese GP.

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I personally opted for the Suzuka Legend model.
There may be more versions, but these are the ones I am aware of.
Score: 7/10

Minichamps 540884312

The car was re-released in the latest Senna collection. I may be wrong, but I don't see any discernable difference of this car from the previous batch of cars.

Minichamps 543884392

The car was re-released again, this time in a large box edition, which is also from the Japanese GP, though this time, Senna has both fists raised. The car comes with decals for tobacco sponsorship which is a nice touch.
Score: 7/10

I completely understand that this is one of the iconic and legendary cars in Formula 1, a fascinating era of the sport. I get why they keep on bringing out more versions, but as a collector, there isn't too much point collecting the same car in a different box over and over again, especially when they are all from the Japanese GP. It devalues the other versions, not just in terms of resale value, but in terms of how special it makes the models feel to the collector. If they remade it in resin, or put more detail into the cockpit and diffuser area, then that would be great, but I don't need another overpriced remake of the same car.

Formula 1 Car Collection / IXO

I managed to get a copy of the Formula 1 Car Collection edition with tobacco decals applied, though the aerials fell off my version. A Brazilian edition exists that comes with a nice driver figure which you can see below. This is a fairly good model from IXO, owing to the relatively simplistic shapes from the 80s, and is comparable to Minichamps original attempt at the car.

Score: 6/10

Onyx

Back in the day, there was the Onyx version of the car and it's not really fair to compare this model to modern day equivalents. These were cheap and cheerful recreations, not necessarily there for accuracy, but good enough to get the essence of the shape and the colour scheme.
Score: 4/10

True Scale Models

TrueScale Models TSM134323

The TSM car is a very nicely done car indeed, but it is a costly model. This model excels in its details, though there aren't many areas where the detail is needed, but the cockpit and diffuser area (as mentioned earlier) are nicely recreated in this model.
Score: 9/10

Tameo

Tameo TMB005

Tameo, like TSM, have produced another beauty. I think I slightly prefer Tameo's offering to TSM's, but the reality is that I'd be very pleased with either.
Score: 10/10

Make-Up Eidolon

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This is a later addition, the Make-Up Eidolon models are just brilliant, it's hard to see how you could get any better than the models they produce. They are rare and super expensive, but they are some of the best F1 models around.

Score: 10/10

I've covered a fair few models of this iconic car, these are the ones that I'm aware of, thought I wouldn't be surprised if there are more.

1/43 Model Review: 1986 World Champion Alain Prost (McLaren MP4/2C TAG)

Background

The MP4/2 had already won the previous two years' championships and with the updated MP4/2C, and ex-champion Keke Rosberg joined Prost at McLaren. Rosberg struggled with the setup and running out of fuel however, whilst the Williams team were now the team to beat. Prost cleverly took big points finishes whilst Piquet and Mansell took points off each other in their own battle. Coming to Australia, Mansell was 7 points ahead of Prost, with Piquet a further 2 behind. Rosberg stormed in front, but a puncture on lap 62 caused him to retire. Mansell dramatically suffered the same fate as Rosberg and Prost went on to win the race and his second Drivers' World Championship.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530864301

Like the other MP4/2 cars by Minichamps, this is quite an early edition which is number 42 in the McLaren Collection. For its time, I think this is a lovely model. 

Minichamps 436860001

The car was re-released as part of the World Champions Collection and comes with some revised parts. Most of the changes look great, but to me, the rear wing seems to be placed much further back and that doesn't look quite right to me. Though it lacks some of the fine details of some of the newer models, it is still a nice model in its own right.

Score: 7/10

Solido

Solido 14003

I'm quite impressed with this Solido car, and it's very reasonably priced too. It's comparable in quality to the Minichamps version and, though it doesn't come with a driver figure, it does have quite nice cockpit details. 

Score: 7/10

Altaya/RBA

As you'd expect with the RBA cars, these are low budget, low detail cars, so it's never really going to get particularly good scores. It's recognisable enough, but it looks more like a toy than a model. 

Score: 5/10

Spark

Spark Mc-ES-1622-06

This McLaren is part of the 50th Anniversary collection from Spark from the Japanese Euro Sports store. Like the 1985 version, there are only 200 of these made, so these are pretty rare or very expensive. Spark have done a great job on this car. Again the shape is simple but the details in the cockpit, the brakes and at the rear of the car are all beautifully done. The driver figure is good, and the helmet is OK, but I'm still not a fan of the visor. 

Score: 9/10

1/43 Model Review: 1985 World Champion Alain Prost (McLaren MP4/2B TAG)

Background

The MP4/2 was used to dominate the 1984 season with Lauda winning the Drivers' title by half a point from team-mate Prost. In 1985, in an updated MP4/2B, along with the same engine supplier and the same drivers, it promised to be another great season. It would be Prost who would prevail, but not without competition from Alboreto's Ferrari. Prost, the nearly man for so many years, would earn his first of four titles, with 5 wins, and the team their second straight Constructors' crown.

Minichamps

Minichamps 530854302

This is the 22nd edition of the McLaren Collectors edition. To date, this is the only model that Minichamps has released of this car, no World Champions Collector's edition yet. As with the other MP4/2 cars, it was made quite early on, and though basic, it was pretty accurate, just lacking in some of the finer details.
Score: 7/10

Solido

Solido 14002

Solido have made a couple of 1/43 F1 cars. This is of comparable standard to the early Minichamps offering. I like the 3D grills on the top of the sidepod and the brake ducts, but it does lack a driver figure. A nice effort on this model.
Score: 7/10

Formula 1 Car Collection / IXO

The Formula 1 Car Collection version of the 1985 car is quite a respectable one. It's when you get down to some of the details that you appreciate the higher quality and care taken by Solido to make their model a bit better overall.
Score: 6/10

Spark

Spark Mc-ES-1622-05

This model was sold only in Japan on “Euro Sports” as part of the “McLaren Team 50th anniversary” set and only 200 of these exist. As you'd expect, this was sold out quickly and resale prices are super high. The model itself is of great quality as you'd expect from Spark, and there's no major errors on it really. 

Score: 8/10

For more World Champion Reviews, click on this link here https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/f1-world-champions.html

1/43 Model Review: 1998 X Wings (Tower Wings)

In 1997, Tyrrell pioneered the tower wing, commonly known as the X Wing, because of the angle of the support struts when viewed from the front. Though this would be the final Tyrrell with Ken Tyrrell at the helm before being bought by British American Tobacco (soon to be called BAR), Harvey Postlethwaite still came  out with some unique design features on a shoestring budget, for example the nose along with the nose wings, and the skinny rear end, refined from the previous couple of cars. Looking to make use of every area in the rules to look for more grip, the side of the driver's head allowed for wings to be run. In fact the 1997 version was made from cut up bits of old front wings! You can read a bit more about it here: www.racefans.net

Minichamps 430970018

Tyrrell were the only team to run with the X Wing for the 1997 season and they continued with it on their 1998 car.

Minichamps 430980050

Soon, other teams started to adopt their over versions onto their cars. Sauber's solution looks particularly clumsy. Indeed one of theirs was knocked off in the pitlane by one of the air lines.

Minichamps 430980045

Prost's version was a bit more elegant with a curved support. What was unique about Prost's solution was that they only ran it on one side of the car because it got in the way of refueling (the Minichamps car having it on both sides), owing to their sidepods beginning further back.

Minichamps 430980041

Ferrari were the only top team to adopt the X Wing, and with such a huge support, it was probably the most intrusive and ugly.

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Jordan's version was perhaps the most elegant of the lot, not that they looked good at all. I mean it's like looking at a stool chart and picking your favourite.

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Most of the objection and outcry at the time was how bad they looked, but the FIA couldn't ban them because of aesthetics. It was bad enough we had to get used to skinny cars, smaller wings and grooved tyres, and these were just a step too far. So it was after round 3 at Imola, when the Sauber one got knocked off, that they were eventually banned on safety grounds.

Minichamps, as you can see above, produced versions from each of the cars and are fairly hard to find, which pushes the price up a little. I got them all as a point of interest, but quickly sold them because they are dreadful to look at.