Best F1 models?

[k-ink]

I want something medium sized (1/24th) or larger. Who makes the best models of 1980's & 1990's F1 cars?

I'm thinking real rubber tyres, die cast, perfect details

[Eric Mc]

Has to be Tamiya in those scales.

[norby1]

Hobbylink Japan www.hlj.com and Grand Prix Models www.grandprixmodels.com are 2 good sources of these models. HlJ's kit prices are good, but coming from Japan means that the shipping can be expensive.

[.Mark]

I got an old Jordan F1 car (model) kicking around the garage somewhere, it's either got H-H Frentzen or Damon Hill in it. Never been opened. I'll have a dig around if it may be of interest?

[k-ink]

I found Exoto which look amazing, with prices to match

[Nicholas Blair]

k-ink said:

I found Exoto which look amazing, with prices to match

seconded!

[dr_gn]

k-ink said:

I want something medium sized (1/24th) or larger. Who makes the best models of 1980's & 1990's F1 cars?

I'm thinking real rubber tyres, die cast, perfect details

Sounds like you want something pre-built?

Minichamps 1:18 or 1:12 perhaps?

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/models/diecast-mod...

[k-ink]

It's been a pretty hard task finding anything accurate. The vast majority of models have incorrect graphics where the tobacco logos should be. Or ruddy great panel shut lines. Even if you pay £200 per model! I have noticed a few people modify these, but there is no knowing how good they are until it's paid for and arrived. So I went for Minichamps 1:43 Mansell's Williams FW14B from 1992. At least it had Camel logo's on it. Mint used at £25. Now I need to find Senna's ride from the same year with Marlboro on it, for sensible coin.

Edited by k-ink on Thursday 28th January 10:45

[Red Firecracker]

k-ink said:

It's been a pretty hard task finding anything accurate. The vast majority of models have incorrect graphics where the tobacco logos should be. Or ruddy great panel shut lines. Even if you pay £200 per model! I have noticed a few people modify these, but there is no knowing how good they are until it's paid for and arrived. So I went for Minichamps 1:43 Mansell's Williams FW14B from 1992. At least it had Camel logo's on it. Mint used at £25. Now I need to find Senna's ride from the same year with Marlboro on it, for sensible coin.

You can buy replacement decals including tobacco ones online for Minichamps models.

It has to be said though, if you're after fine quality, you're probably looking at some of the more specialist kit manufacturers.

[k-ink]

Update. Since I posted this a 1:43 Minichamps arrived. It's pretty tiny and not very well made. The decals have been clumsily applied with wrinkles and not even straight. Junk!

[dr_gn]

k-ink said:

Update. Since I posted this a 1:43 Minichamps arrived. It's pretty tiny and not very well made. The decals have been clumsily applied with wrinkles and not even straight. Junk!

When you said "1:24 or larger", I assumed you wanted something physically larger (ie 1:18 or 1:12).

I wouldn't ever buy a 1:43 dieacst model without selecting one in person, they vary so much. The larger models seem much more consistent.

Regarding the size of your 1:43 scale model, it will obviously be about 1/43 the size of the real thing, so you can't really complain about that...

[k-ink]

As per my post above there is no 1:24 model with the correct graphics! So it is exoto or 1:43 only.

I wasn't complaining about the size! Just the shoddy build!

[Red Firecracker]

k-ink said:

As per my post above there is no 1:24 model with the correct graphics! So it is exoto or 1:43 only.

I wasn't complaining about the size! Just the shoddy build!

But the option to have the correct decals is there. There is a very lively industry of kit and specialist decal manufacturers offering correct decal sets, right down to specific races, as was mentioned earlier in the thread. There are even a few retailers who sell pre-converted models.

As dr gn says, 1:43 scale cars are very hit and miss, especially the older ones (who did you buy from, new or secondhand?) so it pays to inspect the model first or to buy from a reputable retailer who has either a good pre shipping inspection or good after sales, or indeed preferably both.

To be honest, you're not going to get as top quality a result in mass produced diecast as compared to a built kit, as Eric says above.

[k-ink]

Ok so you think the Tamiya self assembly route will be better than exoto? Assuming much care is taken of course.

[dr_gn]

k-ink said:

Ok so you think the Tamiya self assembly route will be better than exoto? Assuming much care is taken of course.

Not necessarily. You could buy a Tamiya 1:12 scale 1992 Williams FW14B and 1:12 scale 1991 McLaren MP4/6 (similar to what you were looking for I think), but spend more on the kits and materials needed to finish them, than the cost of a couple of Exoto models. When I built my 1:12 MP4/6, I had around 30 years' worth of modelling behind me, and, although I'm pleased with the result, it isn't stunningly good, probably just about the match of an Exoto example. People can and do spend almost as much on aftermarket detail kits to add to the base model as they do on the basic model. The results *are* then stunning, but building a model such as this is definitely not for the beginner.

It all depends on how much modelling experience you have. If you have little or no experience of building models, then getting a really good result isn't just a matter of taking your time. If you want something with 'perfect details' as you say, then a self-built Tamiya model almost certainly isn't the best route to achieve that.





These are not my models by the way, just random photos of 1:12 Tamiya kits.

[Red Firecracker]

k-ink said:

I want something medium sized (1/24th) or larger. Who makes the best models of 1980's & 1990's F1 cars?

I'm thinking real rubber tyres, die cast, perfect details

Going back to your original post, I think it's probably a good idea, especially now you've had some experience of the market, to set out which cars you're interested in getting and maybe what sort of budget you're thinking of.

Die cast suggests mass produced (I'm taking mass as a figure more than 250) which isn't really going to offer perfect details (depending on your definition) for a wallet friendly price.

[k-ink]

The FW14B and MP4/6 are the two I really wanted funnily enough. Just to sum up the era of Senna v Mansell in 1991 & 1992.

I have a lot of modeling rc experience, to do with nuts and bolts assembly, but not painting very much. The bodyshells I have masked and painted have come out very well as I spend a lot of time o the prep. I have painted a few plastic parts but I'd prefer a more professional finish I think.

[dr_gn]

k-ink said:

The FW14B and MP4/6 are the two I really wanted funnily enough. Just to sum up the era of Senna v Mansell in 1991 & 1992.

I have a lot of modeling rc experience, to do with nuts and bolts assembly, but not painting very much. The bodyshells I have masked and painted have come out very well as I spend a lot of time o the prep. I have painted a few plastic parts but I'd prefer a more professional finish I think.

In that case, go for the McLaren first: the masking is very simple, and there is some nut and bolt assembly. Here's mine, built straight from the box:





If I were building it today, I'd chuck a load of photo etch and carbon decals at it, but...I'm not.

[k-ink]

Looks good.



Btw, I made this alloy chassis a few months ago. This is more my experience rather than paints etc

[dr_gn]

k-ink said:

Looks good.



Btw, I made this alloy chassis a few months ago. This is more my experience rather than paints etc

Looks a nice job. If you spray the individual bits of the McLaren as per the instructions (ie no weathering or fancy stuff) you'll get a nice model at the end of it.