Review: Panini F1 Model Car Collection & Issue 1

The Panini F1 model car collection is now available in Australia, issue 1 hitting the newsagents recently with the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 of Ayrton Senna attached.

What’s the model like? From a distance, it looks okay. But in reality, these are basic entry-level models at an attractive price. If you wanted a collection of iconic F1 cars, but didn’t want to pay Minichamps/Spark prices, this could certainly do the job.

Check out the review video and pics below!

 

Above: The UK television advert, which is actually quite misleading – that looks like a high-end 1:18 scale Mercedes in the opening seconds!

Wheel shape and detail is ok. No brake discs included, but there are brake cooling ducts
Wheel shape and detail is passable. No brake discs included, but there are brake cooling ducts
Rear-end detail shows diffuser, gearbox, jack point, rain light, basic suspension, fixed axle and wonky wheels
Rear-end detail shows diffuser, gearbox, jack point, rain light, basic suspension, solid axle and wonky wheels
Basic cockpit detail
The model has basic cockpit detail. No room for a driver – the steering wheel is touching the seat.
rear suspension molded into the undertray
Lower wishbones of the rear suspension are molded into the undertray. Fluro bodywork should extend further back.

List of Cars in the Series

Update: Seems the order of release can be different from one country to the next, so use this as a guide only.

  • Issue 1: McLaren MP 4/4 Ayrton Senna (1988)
  • Issue 2: Ferrari 312 T2 Niki Lauda (1977)
  • Issue 3: Mercedes F1 W05 Lewis Hamilton (2014)
  • Issue 4: Williams FW 14B Nigel Mansell (1992)
  • Issue 5: Lotus 72 D Emerson Fittipaldi (1972)
  • Issue 6:  Ferrari F2002 Michael Schumacher (2002)
  • Issue 7: Brawn GP 01 Jenson Button (2009)
  • Issue 8:  Toleman TG 184  Ayrton Senna (1984)
  • Issue 9: Renault R25 Fernando Alonso (2005)
  • Issue 10: Red Bull RB9 Sebastian Vettel (2013)
  • Issue 11: Tyrrell 006 Jackie Stewart (1973)
  • Issue 12: McLaren MP4/23 Lewis Hamilton (2008)
  • Issue 13: Jordan 191 Michael Schumacher (1991)
  • Issue 14: Brabham BT49 Nelson Piquet (1981)
  • Issue 15: Lotus 25 Jim Clark (1963)
  • Issue 16: March 751 Vittorio Brambilla (1975)
  • Issue 17: Ferrari F2007 Kimi Raikkonen (2007)
  • Issue 18: McLaren M23 James Hunt (1976)
  • Issue 19: Williams FW15C Alain Prost (1993)
  • Issue 20: Brabham BT44B Carlos Pace (1975)
  • Issue 21: Mercedes W196S Juan Manuel Fangio (1955)
  • Issue 22: Benetton B194 Michael Schumacher (1994)
  • Issue 23: BRM P153 Pedro Rodriguez (1970)
  • Issue 24: McLaren MP4/8 Ayrton Senna (1993)
  • Issue 25: Ferrari 312B3 Clay Regazzoni (1975)
  • ‘Gift’: Brabham BT46 Niki Lauda (1978) Fan Car
  • ‘Gift’: Ferrari F2001 Michael Schumacher (Italian GP)
  • ‘Gift’: Tyrrell P34 Jody Scheckter (1976)
  • Issue 26 onwards: TBA…
  • Others spotted in Europe – Toro Roso STR3, Williams FW19, Sauber C23, Renault RS10, McLaren MP4/14, Lotus 79, Ferrari F399, Ferrari 375 Indy, Brabham BT52, Alfa Romeo 179, Lotus 97T, Ligier JS11, Ferrari SF15-T, Hesketh 308B.

Official website for the collection: f1carcollection.com

 

solid front axleis set to be a sntadard feature
A solid front axle is set to be standard fare for this series. The MP4/4 can almost get away with it. Turbo inlet openings need to be blackened. Overall shape, however, looks pretty good.
Up close, paint is not that great, decals are a bit dull and there's overspray from the mask-spray (an issue not unique this brand)
Up close, paint & casting is not as crisp as what’s found on other brands. Fluro paint & decals are more a satin finish (rather than high-gloss) and there’s some mask-spray overspray in places (an issue, it must be said, that’s not unique to this brand)

 

2 thoughts on “Review: Panini F1 Model Car Collection & Issue 1”

  1. The wixy500 site has no affiliation with the F1 Car Collection. I’d suggest Google to locate the distributor for your country and contact them.

    Reply

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