Spark
Race-To-Race Changes
The latest Raceland newsletter (Jan 27) points out the detail differences between race-to-race versions of various F1 cars manufactured by Spark. The changes made are not restricted to just alternative decoration! Latest Newsletter is HERE
Another Then Vs Now: Onyx V Spark, Lotus 100T Honda
There was a nice little ‘then V now’ review of the 1988 Lotus 100T in this week’s edition of the Raceland newsletter. The company compared ‘mint boxed’ versions of the car as produced in 1989 by Onyx against the recently released Spark version. View all the models in the Raceland Newsletter magazine by clicking HERE
Historic NASCAR Daytona 500 Winners
Spark has been churning out the occasional old-school NASCAR stock car racer over the years and have done several Daytona 500 winners. I acquired the 1960 (Junior Johnson, Chev Impala) and 1968 (Cale Yarborough, Mercury Cyclone) winners a couple of years back. Tiny Lund’s Ford Galaxy (the ’63 victor) arrived late last year and the spectacular looking #40 high-winged 1970 winner earlier this year. The Car: The Plymouth Superbird was developed specifically for racing from Plymouth’s ‘Road Runner’ model. It was the factory’s follow up design to the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.Read More
2016 Spark Catalogue
The 2016 Spark catalogue is now online – and boy, does it have some nice items in it! There are lots of new modern and ‘classic’ F1, LeMans, USA sports cars and Indycars, plus Can-am, rally and luxury road vehicles. Spark also now have MotoGP and a 1/87 scale range. View the 52-page document by clicking HERE.
Review: Copersucar FD01 ‘Press’ 1975 (Spark)
The Brazilian Copersucar team presented this wild looking creation as their first ever F1 racer, to compete in the 1975 Grand Prix season. This is a review of Spark’s 1:43 scale version.
New Release Updates – Trax/Spark/Models56
Some updates on new and recently announced models: Top Gear / Trax Top Gear has confirmed the upcoming Holden LE Coupe will be 1:24 scale. I’m sure the regular Trax collectors would have preferred this in 1:43, but I guess there is still that option (for them – or another manufacturer) in the future. This will come with a mirror-backed display case and judging from the Top Gear pics below, should look pretty good. More on the Top Gear site HERE. Apex Spark will produce the stunning black “test car”Read More
F1 Announcements From Apex – Spark & Minichamps
Australian distributor for Spark and Minichamps, Apex Replicas, recently advised of new product planned from both manufacturers. Alarmingly, there has been significant prices rises which will surely impact sales. From a personal perspective, it’s going to reduce what I’m buying. $100 for a 1/43 scale model (or $140 for some of the Minichamps!) is out of control. Might be time to attack that stash of kits rather than buying pre-built models! communications from Apex Minichamps Minichamps have announced their initial range of 2015 Formula One cars. This year theRead More
Review: Williams FW05 – Warwick Brown
If you’re a collector of Aussies in F1, Warwick Brown’s Williams FW05 should be in your collection. Here’s my review of Spark’s version.
F1 Tobacco Conversions
A selection of before and after shots of 1:43 Spark Formula One models and the naughty ciggie decals that come packed underneath the plinth:
Indycar Additions
This week saw the addition of two “Indycar” models to the collection that enjoyed widely differing success – one won the 500 while the other was ruled out before it even qualified!
Spark To Do Alan Jones Championship Winning Williams In 1:18!
Spark will produce Alan Jones’ World Championship winning Williams FW07B from 1980 in 1:18 scale.
F1 Tobacco Conversions
Spark’s classic F1 models generally have better fine detail than their Minichamps counterparts. They also usually include the tobacco decals for the collector to apply to complete the decoration of the model and make it historically correct. This saves having to source aftermarket decals. Here are a few before and after shots of some Spark F1 models I purchased a while back (and only recently got to do the tobacco conversion!). As usual with Spark, the waterslide decals are excellent quality and apply well. I hope to show off moreRead More
F1 Ciggie Decals – JPS Lotus & Gitanes Ligier
WARNING: Viewing of the following images might cause you to uncontrollably and against your will, partake in the smoking of cigarettes! A few of my recent Spark Formula One purchases have resulted in a little surprise when I went to unpack the models and put them in the display cabinet: a small plastic bag with the missing tobacco markings! Hallelujah! Spark has the balls to provide the collector with all the appropriate markings to complete the model as an accurate historical representation of how the car raced at the time.Read More