Minichamps F1 Releases November 2007

400 070077 HONDA RACING F1 JENSON BUTTON 2007 SHOWCAR 1:43 26/10/2007
400 070078 HONDA RACING F1 RUBENS BARRICHELLO 2007 SHOWCAR 1:43 26/10/2007
530984378 McLAREN MERCEDES MP4-98T 2-SEATER SHOWCAR M.HAKKINEN/DAVID COULTHARD 1:43 2/11/2007

New Minichamps Announcements 1/18 Scale Due 1st Qtr 2008

100 070110 BMW SAUBER F1 2007 SEBASTIAN VETTEL , 1st F1 RACE Due 1 Qtr 08 RRP 49.99
530 061884 Mc LAREN MERCEDES MP4-21 LEWIS HAMILTON, 1st F1 TEST SEPTEMBER 2006 SILVERSTONE Due 1 Qtr 08 RRP £49.99

Michael Schumacher 1/18 F2004 Engine Presentation photo!

Click for full size version.

Minichamps 1/43 2007 Race Cars

1/43 BMW Sauber Nick Heidfeld
1/43 Toyota Jarno Trulli

Hot Wheels 1/43 Ferrari F2007

The 1/43 scale version of the Hot Wheels F2007 has started to appear on eBay, and it doesn't look too good! Do they expect collectors to buy these, or are they marketed for kids?

If your a Raikkonen fan and have collected each car since his debut in 2001 I think it's fair to assume you won't be too keen to display this alongside your Minichamps Saubers and McLarens! So Unless you want your collection to end your going to have to look for alternatives! Luckily you've got a few options.

• Red Line will be producing an Australian GP version of his Ferrari. This will retail for around £70 in UK. Judging by the F248 in 1/24 scale the quality will be good. (BTW - the F248 GP Japan reported a few days ago is a worldwide release and has started to arrive with European retailers).

• BBR have so far only announced the F2007 Showcar but are sure to announce race versions in the near future. Quality is superb but they are pricey - usually retail around £140.

• BBR aren't the only ones to produce 1/43 kits of the F2007. Tameo Kits have released a couple of versions already - Australian GP & Spanish GP! Unfortunately they don't release factory hand built models. However there are several retailers online who hand build the models themselves and sell them in limited numbers. They tend to be more expensive but are more detailed than the BBR models and usually sport the correct livery. Here is an example from a seller on eBay.
  

• Of course if your a skilled model builder you can produce models like this one. I stole this photo of F1M Website - It's a Silverstone version of Kimi's Ferrari with the new deeper Ferrari paint and special wheel covers and it looks fantastic!
  
  

Schumacher 2006 Photo Comparison - Shanghai & Monza

I would advise anyone who hasn't yet picked up the 2006 Schumacher special editions from Hot Wheels to do so before they're sold out. Because in my opinion the Shanghai and Monza versions are perhaps the best F1 models Hot Wheels have produced to date.

Many people have been rightly disappointed with their F1 efforts and don't agree with the price of their special editions - the latest 1/18 Ferrari F2007 doesn't look great and the 1/43 version is a joke, but they must be given some credit when they produce something good. Remember that when Minichamps announce special editions from a specific race more often than not they just stick the standard car in a special box. But with these limited editions they've created completely new moulds for each version. Below are a few photos showing the differences between the two cars.

I purchased these 2 with the correct livery applied. You can buy the decals separately and convert them yourself or buy them already converted from some dealers (e.g. Toronto Motorsports / Sport Diecast) or on eBay! Get them before they disappear!

New RedLine F248 available.

It appears Red Line Models have produced a second version of the 2006 Ferrari F248 in 1/24 scale (to go with the Nurburgring GP Release). This one is a Japanese GP version limited to 600pcs. The model comes with Marlboro decals which you can apply yourself. So far it's only been spotted in Japan - perhaps it is exclusively for Japan - or maybe European / USA dealers will have them soon.

1/18 Hot Wheels Lewis Hamilton 1st Win Announced

Ltd. Ed. 6000pcs