Ever since Minichamps lost the licence to produce contemporary F1 Ferrari models, collectors have suffered at the hands of Mattel’s Hot Wheels (or Cold Wheels as many call them!) range. Outside of the brilliant Tameo kits, it was difficult to source good quality modern F1 Ferraris – until now.
Red Line Models now offer a range of 2007 Ferrari F1s in various versions. I purchased the Filipe Massa Bahrain GP winner a few weeks back, but it arrived pre-crashed. The front wing was broken off with several pieces floating around inside the box.
Biante was brilliant with the damaged item and posted out an Express envelope for return of the model and replaced it all within a few days.
So, at $145 this model is over double the price of a typical Minichamps F1. Is it doubly as good?
Frankly, No.
In fact, in many areas I feel Minichamps are still better.
The Red Line does have nicely crafted bodywork gaps, but in general does not have the “fineness” one would expect and can see in a Minichamps F1 model. The paint is excellent, the markings are fine and overall it’s certainly better than the Hot Wheels offerings of recent years (not hard to beat…). I’m guessing the excessive price is related to small production numbers and possibly high Ferrari licencing fees.
Comparing the model to published figures of the race car, the model is a fractionally longer and wider, but much shorter in the wheelbase and a bit wider in front track than what it should be. The height is spot on if taken to the top of the roll hoop, discarding the camera pod. The published measurements were revealed by Ferrari at the pre-season launch of the car. Who knows whether they are actually true, or if there had been changes to specification by the Bahrain round?
If you are into collecting different types of packing, you’ll love this model because the packaging is a total overkill. The base and perspex cover (both nicely done) fit inside a foam lined cardboard outer case. This matt-black case features magnets in the front flaps to ‘snap’ the box closed. The whole lot is then encased in a plastic film sleeve. As evidenced by the drama with my first model, this expensive packaging does not stop a model from being damaged!
Seriously, some of these manufacturers need to take a peek at the Minichamps package formula – small, clean, easy, cheap, stackable. Keep it simple and spend resources on getting the *model* done properly…
So, is it a good model? Yes. In fact, it’s a very good model. But for the price, one expects much much more.
wixy500 rating
- Collectability – 4.9
- Finish – 4.4
- Accuracy – 4
- Value – 2 (waaay over priced)
- Overall – 3.8