1/43 Model Review: 1995 Ferrari 412T2

Background

The 1995 Ferrari challenger was a development of the 1994 car, the Ferrari 412T1, and this would be the last V12 powered Ferrari in Formula One. The car was reasonably competitive, scoring several podiums throughout the year, but was not on par with the Williams or Benetton of that year. They competed for victories at various Grand Prix, such as European and Italian GP, but it was Jean Alesi who would score the only win of the year at the Canadian GP, his only win in Formula 1. They finished 3rd in the Constructors' Championship.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430950027

The Minichamps car sits very far forward in the box. I really like this model from Minichamps. I thought that the shape is pretty generic and simple, but as we will see from other model makers (and my own first attempt at modelling the car for GP4), it's perhaps not as easy as it seems. Anyway, the proportions are great on this car, the front wing has the turning vanes behind it, the rear wing and its stepped double winglets are nicely done. It's a shame that the helmet was so large and for some reason looking down at his legs. For a model of its time at a reasonable budget, I think this is a little gem.

Score: 8/10

Onyx

Onyx 237

Onyx and Minichamps produced the same car back in 1995 offering us a direct comparison. The Onyx car is based on earlier in the season whilst the Minichamps car was based on the mid-season. So just a two element front wing, a sticker for the hole in the engine cover, and only one set of winglets near the rear wheels on this model. The cockpit sits a little far forward, and so the engine cover is elongated as a result to compensate. The model also seems like it was made on a ball rather than a flat surface, with the front of the car pointing down and the rear of the car similarly pointing down, with the middle of the car slightly raised. Because of that, the shape of the nose needs to be higher around the suspension area, and so that looks weird as well. For me, this isn't really that good a model from Onyx.

Score: 4/10

Mattel Elite/Ixo

Mattel T6286

The Mattel car is based on the European GP the exiting race in mixed conditions where Alesi's great car control allowed him to put slick tyres on earlier than anyone else. He was leading the Grand Prix until the final stages when Schumacher forced his way past on a chicane that Schumacher had an input in designing.

The Ixo car is not based on any particular GP. In other blog posts, I've split the two, but as we've noted on multiple occasions, they used the same moulds, so I've combined them in this review. I was hoping for more, considering modelling had come on since the mid-90s, but I was left really disappointed with this model. The car is in general way too tall, particularly that giant airbox. The Mattel car features better decals,  but their attempt at the late season version of the rear wing winglets is laughable, it's truly terrible in how shallow it is. It's all because the sidepod does not taper down at the rear so the modellers couldn't produce an accurate winglet because the rest of the model is so ill-proportioned. The plus side is that the cockpit of the Mattel version is quite nice (of the budget cars I've reviewed so far) and the vents at the rear of the car are nicely detailed and painted.
Score: 5/10

True Scale Models / Fujimi / Looksmart

TSM TSM11FJ012

From what I can tell, these three brands have all released the same version of the model, and I can't really tell them apart. Here is the TSM/Fujimi car above.

Looksmart LSF_ES1701 

Looksmart produced a special limited edition run of 1000 for the Japanese market, this one based on the Canadian GP. The car seems too small for the wheels and tyres or vice versa. I find the nose and monocoque area a little too bulbous and not enough nuance to the actual shape. The front and rear endplates look oversized, with the rear wing so tall it looks like it was still made for the 1994 rules. The camera's are nicely done, the suspension has nice details, the bargeboards are well done and have nice chrome supports. The sidepod is really nice, particularly around the rear of the car and the rolloever bar is really nicely done too. The cockpit detail is nice, and within itself, the proportions are great, but it's a shame they are let down by the rest of the car. The vents at the rear of the car are a little over emphasised for my liking but the diffuser details looks nice. There are parts of the car I'd like to give a 10/10, but the let downs are almost as bad as some of the budget models above.
Score: 8/10

BBR

BBR Met47

This is the Italian GP version, and you can also get the Brazilian GP and Canadian GP versions as well. I do like the Italian GP specific car as it's got a stripped back front wing and rear wing, which are all nicely done on this model. Proportionally, this is of a similar standard to the Minichamps car, nicely done. There's some better details, as you'd expect from BBR on this car, but I feel it could do with a bit more attention to detail and refinement. The shape of the nose is fine, but could be better. The rear vents don't have any detail, but you do get a nice cockpit and seat. Overall, it is better than the Minichamps car as you'd expect and especially for the price, but I suppose I was expecting and hoping for more which would have propelled my mark to a 9.
Score: 8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK193

Tameo TMK202

The first picture is the Brazilian GP version and the second is from the Canadian GP. I love the Ferrari 412T2 and it's a shame I've spent so much time modelling it, that I'm left deflated by many of the models, with the original mid-90s Minichamps version being a strong contender for my favourite of the lot so far. But trusty old Tameo have knocked it out the park again on their model. For me, it's not perfect, but it's close enough for the scale. The front wing is a masterpiece, the nuances of the front fins, nice separated front wing elements and turning vanes, the nose is spot on. The cockpit is really nice, and all the minor bumps on the headrest and airbox is nicely done too. The opening of the sidepod could be better from top-down view, but that's only a very minor point. The rear of the car is beautifully done, the rear wing and diffuser area is lovely, though, again, I think they could have put a bit more detail into the vent on the engine cover/rear sidepod.

Score: 9/10

1/43 Model Review: 1991 World Champion Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/6 Honda)

Background

The new McLaren MP4/6 now housed a V12 Honda engine but was no match to the Williams FW14's. The Williams suffered terribly with reliability problems, and Senna duly took victories at the first four Grand Prix, including an emotional Brazilian Grand Prix where he was stuck in 6th gear. As Williams began to dial their car in, Senna consistently scored podium finishes, ending the season with 7 wins and 5 other podium finishes, clinching his third, and final, Drivers' title and the team their fourth Constructors' Championship.

Minichamps

Minichamps 540914301

This is another early Senna Collection release with a nice but basic version of the McLaren MP4/6.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 540914391

A later addition to the original Senna Collection is this updated model from the 1991 German GP. This is a nice update, although I found these helmets a little small.

Minichamps 540914301

The updated car featured in the new Senna Collection, though it is back to the generic non-tobacco version, presumably from the British or French GP. Other than the decal changes, I can't see any new updates to the shape. There have been a fair few version of this updated model released over the years:

I don't know too much about this version at all, but it is unique in that it comes with wet tyres and also with blank spaces for the tobacco advertising. 

This fantastic tall box edition with a standing figure is a very nice update from the Brazilian GP mentioned earlier.

There was a very small limited run of 300 for the 50 years of McLaren series recently for the Japanese Euro Sports magazine.
Score: 7/10

Onyx

Here is Onyx's version produced back in 1991. It's a shame that the rear wing decals aren't quite right, but it's hard to complain for the price.
Score: 4/10

Ixo

Ixo have done a nice job in making this budget car, this particular version made for the Brazilian market initially which comes with a driver figure. I think I'd still prefer even the original Minichamps car, but this is not far off in quality.
Score: 6/10

TSM

TSM124333 - Brazilian GP

TSM134324 - Monaco GP

TSM144334 - Japanese GP

True Scale Models have produced a couple of race specific cars, and I do love it when modellers put some effort into some of the differences between races, especially on the shape with the most obvious change being the rear wings. These models are fantastic, you get a great shape, nice decals and good detailing.

Score 9/10

MakeUp Eidolon

FE017A - Monaco GP

FE018A - German GP

FE016A - Japanese GP

This Japanese kit maker have produced some excellent, top quality models and these cars are no different. The level of detail is exquisite, I can't find any faults. I love how they do the gurney flaps, the radiator, the suspension pickup points, the cockpit and the rear end.

I can't find any particularly high resolution of this car, but I've found some detailed shots here:

Score: 10/10

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.

Minichamps 403884312

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

FE013A

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: 1984 World Champion Niki Lauda (McLaren MP4/2 TAG)

Background

Niki Lauda was joined by Alain Prost, who narrowly missed out on the 1983 Championship, at McLaren for the 1984 season. John Barnard designed the MP4/2, heavily based on the MP4/1E, and used the TAG-Porsche V6 engine. The car featured carbon brakes and excellent fuel consumption, along with two technically minded and tactical drivers, the team dominated the 1984 season, with 12 wins between them, the highest of for a single team at that time. Though Prost took 7 victories to Lauda's 5, it was Lauda who would take his third World Championship by the closest margin in F1 history, only half a point.

The MP4/2 would go on to take another 2 titles (is that a spoiler? it was 33 years ago) and begin a period of domination by McLaren where, besides 1987, they won every championship til 1991.

Minichamps

Minichamps

Originally, Minichamps released the MP4/2 as part of the McLaren collection back in the late 90s. The model itself is pretty basic, but has a nice blend of good proportions and nice decals.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 436840008

A World Champions collection of the model was also released in the mid-noughties, coming with an updated driver and helmet. I'm not a big fan of the mid-noughties Minichamps helmets, but the driver figure is much better. Other than that, I've not noticed any further changes. It is quite a rare collectible model.
Score: 6/10

Atlas

Here's the Atlas version of the MP4/2. I'm not a great fan of Atlas cars, but I've seen them do much worse, but despite its cheap prices, I'm still not really tempted to get this one.

Score: 6/10

True Scale Models

TSM TSM12SS4

But if you do have cash to spend, this is the one to get and there's only 999 of them. A lovely resin model from TSM which captures the car beautifully for me. My only slight complaint, and it is a tiny complaint, is that more of the rear wing should be white.

Score: 9/10

For  more of the World Champions series, click here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/search/label/World%20Champions