Boxart (Mini-F Blue) 01
Boxart (Mini-F Blue) 02
Hello! Today, I’m going to review another classic Tamiya Racing line and it’s going to be Mini F1 line featuring The Ayrton Senna Rothmans Williams FW16 Renault and Bullets 560/Serga 1000 (FW14 Renault)!! Firstly Mini-F or known as Mini F1 is a series of mini racing cars introduced by Tamiya in December, 1991. It was introduced during the Formula One racing boom in the same year. Whereas the Original Mini 4WD cars and Racing Mini 4WD cars were based on real-life vehicles and R/C buggies respectively, the Mini-F cars were based on licensed Formula One cars from the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Unlike Mini 4WD cars, they have a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain rather than four-wheel-drive. Exclusive to this line-up is the Mini-F Chassis, the series was discontinued 3 years after its introduction. Tamiya would later release limited edition, decal-less (due to licensing issues) Mini-F Finished Models in 2006. In this review, the boxart came from Finished Models number 2 which has blue colored the body shell. The Mini-F Blue is a Mini-F car released by Tamiya on December 20, 2006. It was the decal-less version of the Williams FW14 Renault Mini-F car. However, in this review the body shell had been fully repainted resembling the famous Ayrton Senna’s Rothmans Williams FW16 Renault and Bullets 560/Serga 1000. Despite the same Williams car but, it’s not the same model. The FW16 was a passive evolution of the FW15C that had preceded it. Eversince Tamiya discontinued the series, I decided to make my own of Ayrton Senna’s FW16. However, this FW16 representation was only a repainted version of FW14 without any body shell change but, both FW14 and FW16 models are quite simillar. The repaint and decal process was done by Archyd. While Bullets 560 is a fictional Formula One car that was featured in Super Monaco GP (SMGP) Arcade/Sega Mega Drive/Genesis game but, the car also appeared in Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco GP II (SMGP2) Sega Mega Drive/Genesis which the car was renamed as Serga 1000. In SMGP, the car belongs to the Bullets team in Level C and the driver’s name is B. Miller but, when you played the game halfway season you’ll get challenged by the Bullets team but, the driver will become a guy named G. Ceara. G. Ceara’s portrait uses one of the photo of the legendary F1 racer; Ayrton Senna, which some people having a hard time beating him. The car would later featured in it’s sequel SMGP2, the team was renamed into Serga. Serga is the player’s default team car but, remained as Level C. The car’s name was an altered name of SG-1000 (Sega Game 1000), even the car’s engine uses SC-3000 (Sega Computer 3000). It’s pretty clear that the team uses Sega console’s name. The actual car’s body shell was loosely based from McLaren’s team car. Well, there is Mini F1 McLaren MP4/7 Honda but, it’s f**king hard to get by now so I have my extra FW14 body shell repainted into Bullets/Serga without any significant change except the tune-up chassis. Alright, time to unbox this!
Contents 01
Contents 02
Finished Model contents only consists the kit fully assembled and customized. Both FW14 comes with 1 body shell with the spoiler key and 1 Mini-F chassis. With the exception, Bullets/Serga one comes with all tuned up chassis and 2 Gold Power Champ Batteries.
Model Kit Preview
Front, Back, & 2 Side View
Upper (with/without body shell) & Bottom View
Rear View 01
Side Front View
Rear View 02
Mini-F Chassis
The actual FW14 body shell features the low-height, open-wheel body design that is mostly shared with other Mini-F cars that were based on Formula One cars. The body shell is a bit slim especially around the roll structure, while the rear wing’s corner tip was done to be blocky, side fairings body is looking standard but, was shaped quite elegant, the front panel part was made to have convex build while the front wing is flat with half concave on the back. And the cockpit part has the non-removable driver figurine except the head part. The Finished Model body shell was originally colored dark dull blue. In this review, Archyd repainted the body shell mostly white and blue highlights, red and gold trims and black for front and rear part, then added with various sponsors waterslide decals such as Rothmans Racing, Renault, elf and Good Year. Senna’s actual FW16 got more sponsors but, due to the limited space, it was left out. The finishing body shell was also added with glossy effect to make it look realistic. This kit was equipped with the gun metal, medium diameter Mini-F wheels paired with the Mini-F slick tires. It’s a standard wheelset given to every Mini F1 releases but, to make them look more like Senna’s car; the wheels got yellow painted trim while the slick tires was added Good Year waterslide decal. Although, it uses the same FW14 body shell, the sponsors differences are very convincing enough to make me think that’s Senna’s FW16. I have to admit Archyd did a marvelous job on this, especially on that neat looking waterslide decal and that clean looking red and gold colored trims… That’s amazingly accurate to Senna’s FW16! The car is notable as the last car to be driven by three-time world champion Ayrton Senna before his fatal accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. It was a tragic accident, I admired Ayrton Senna when I was a kid and I’m devastated to know his passing until now… Unfortunately, FW16 was shown to have severe shortcomings at its debut. Even before his passing, Senna commented on how uncomfortable he was when he drove the FW16 during early season testing. Despite this, Senna still using this in his final race… I have to admit, the car is looking very neat but, it has it’s own dark side… Without the body shell, the Mini-F Chassis features a one-piece chassis frame, with the usual rear-motor and mid-batteries setup, but longer compared to a Mini 4WD chassis. The underbody of the chassis is mostly flat, with the front wheels and front driveshaft being supports by the fixed, sandwich frame. It has the rear-wheel-drive drivetrain, with gearing is similar to the bigger 1/10 scale R/C F1 cars. Unlike Mini 4WD you can clearly see the whole gears attached that is, standard motor with gray pinion gear and blue colored spur gear but, like Mini 4WD you can also change the gear setup and make any kinds of tune up whatever you wish. The motor was mounted onto the rear with the motor mount. The chassis’ body attachment method is similar to those in Mini 4WD cars, with the Mini-F car’s rear spoiler doubling as a body catcher. In Finished Model, it came with the Gold Plated Terminal Set as standard.
Model Kit Preview
Front, Back, & 2 Side View
Rear View 01
Side Front View
Rear View 02
Mini-F Chassis (Tune Up)
Functional Steering Set turn articulation
Like Senna’s FW16, Bullets/Serga body shell uses the same FW14 body shell, it was repainted having 3 colors which is; light blue for the entire body shell with blue for McLaren’s livery motif style and black for several detailed parts. I have to admit Cluster Model Kit did a good job but, it’s just unfortunate he cannot deal with the decal so, the body remains blank without any sponsors. However, Bullets/Serga’s sponsors are mostly fictional which must be designed exclusively. The finishing body shell was also added with glossy effect to make it look realistic. Unlike Senna’s FW16, Bullets/Serga was equipped with Mini F-1 Competition Parts, they are diff wheel set and functional steering set paired with the Mini-F1 soft compound slicks for diff wheel set and hard compound slicks for functional steering set. These wheel set were originally fluorescent green but, repainted into silver while each compound tires got their own decal which printed with white “Tamiya Mini F-1” and their respective tires name. The interesting part of functional steering set, we can slightly move the front wheels right/left, which allows running much more smoother in turn track. The chassis’s default bumper is now replaced with Mini F-1 Down Thrust Roller and Bumper Set, while the gear and the motor was replaced with High Speed Gear Set and Rev-Tuned Motor for Mini F1. The new bumper got slight different color which is a bit brown compared to the rest of the chassis as well as new looking roller set made for safer race performance, High Speed Gear contains dark brown colored pinion gear and yellow colored spur gear and Rev-Tuned Motor got purple colored top valve while the silver part was added with “Mini F-1 Rev-Tuned Motor” decal. It’s chassis also came with the Gold Plated Terminal Set as standard. And the reasons of making this tune up is because I just want to recycle the leftovers from my Mini F-1 side box tune up. Anyway, what happened to the front soft compound slicks and rear hard compound slicks? Well, that’ll be on the Mini F1 official side box tune up which I will review someday, and that Gold Power Champ batteries aren’t actually part of this tune up but, someone complained on how I’m not complete on finishing the overall tune up of actual side box. Good thing I still have my old batteries stored since more than 20 years ago so, I won’t have to trouble myself hunting the batteries. By the way, the batteries are out which they cannot run anymore but, atleast still good to see them mounted in the chassis thanks to that eye catching chrome gold color. As for now, if you’re hunting that batteries in mint condition they probably cost pretty hefty for your wallet.
Head Sculpt
Upper view
Unlike Mini 4WD with driver figurine, Mini-F driver’s seat are shown open top without any canopy so, we can clearly see the driver figurine. The driver’s head sculpt (HS) details is shown wearing yellow colored helmet with green lines and black trim on the visor area while the face… Not much is known who did they based his face from but, can be assumed from a real life famous formula one racers. However, since this custom is representing Senna’s FW16 so, the driver was repainted to become Ayrton Senna which he’s donning yellow helmet and blue racing suit. The overall helmet is yellow with green, white and black line as well as the various sponsors such as Rothmans logo on the center part of the helmet above the visor and Nacional logo on both side and below the visor. Wow, Archyd really nailed this one! I really like the result so far although it lacks sweat protector paint on his nose part. FW14 features a V-shaped cockpit which covers the driver’s hands as well as steering wheel, and the driver’s interior is mostly black including the seatbelt with a little silver part for the belt attachments.
Head Sculpt
Upper view
Driver figurine for Bullets/Serga are exactly the same to Senna’s FW16 but, the driver’s HS was repainted into light blue for the overall helmet added with blue Marlboro like logo as well as blue lines and the face details were also added with black trim on the visor area while the face was painted with pale flesh color with black colored facial features and there’s a light blue painted sweat protector on his nose… Despite it’s the same head sculpt, Cluster Model Kit drew the driver’s eyes in his own way which, the driver was drawn to have stern expression. Which I like it as well, It made the driver looking different so, he won’t be mistaken as the same driver. While his body was repainted into blue with black colored seatbelt with a little silver part for the belt attachments and the driver’s interior is black.
COMPARISON
Comparison between the original real life Ayrton Senna’s Rothmans Williams FW16
Comparing between the original Senna’s FW16, the car indeed got slight differences in body part which the actual FW16 got different type of spoiler. This custom lacks the SegaFredo Zanetti sponsor decal as the space is very limited to put on the body shell. But, overall body; they’re very simillar, kinda obvious on that though… As for the driver figurine, Senna’s helmet is shown to have visor, I know they looked different but, I’m still satisfied on how Archyd did this.
Comparison between the game counterpart (SMGPII)
Between Serga’s actual car in the game, it’s just like I said earlier the car is seemingly based from Senna’s famous McLaren MP4/6 but, it is unknown if the car gets a new rendition because this Bullets/Serga’s creation were mostly based from Serga’s coloring in SMGP II game. However, it’s wheelset is completely different since I’m using fully tuned up chassis.
Comparison between The Big Wig Jr.
Comparing between The Big Wig Junior, Mini F1 tends to be shorter and smaller but, it’s chassis is longer and sleeker than type-1 chassis. Well, Mini F1 was designed to have 2 wheel drive for running, and they don’t have special gear that can connect to the front wheels like Mini 4WD. Most of Mini 4WD cars are 1/32 scale while Mini F1 cars are 1/28 scale but, both driver’s scale tends to have same size. We can even swap Mini F1’s driver’s HS with Mini 4WD driver’s HS.
Ayrton Senna’s last ride
Senna Forever!
Go Serga!
Next 2 Mini F1 review!
My impression, I’m completely amazed on this, actually this is the first time I asked Archyd to do this but, he did really outstanding! Although, he actually has done many Mini F1 repaints and they’re looking very badass! The same goes to Cluster Model Kit which he never fail to amaze me with his paint works. I’m actually interested to repaint more of my Mini F1 collections in the future. Unfortunately, since the discontinued of Mini F1 series, the line became expensive and hard to find, there were actually several bootlegs released but, they’re also hard to find by now. However, they’re still not that expensive compared to the classic Mini 4WD that I owned. I’m actually thankful with the release of the Finished Model, it made me easier to get some of them. And with their decal-less body shell, they’re like they’re meant to be repainted, though… Some of them are also becoming extinct to find. Lastly, honoring the passing of the Legendary Formula One racer, Ayrton Senna da Silva. You’ll always be remembered….
Ayrton Senna Rothmans Williams FW16 Renault
Pros:
- Good details, repaint and waterslide decal work.
- Good for your collection display.
- Very convincing to Ayrton Senna’s Rothmans Williams FW16.
- Can run like how racing Mini 4WD works.
Cons:
- Very fragile.
- Paint app may rub off easily.
- Not recommended for racing due to the fragility.
Design: 4/5
Movement: 2/5
Small Parts: 0/5
Substance: 2/5
Accuracy sculpt: 3/5
Bullets 560/Serga 1000
Pros:
- Good details and repaint work.
- Good for your collection display.
- Looking accurate to the game counterpart despite not the right body shell.
- Can run like how racing Mini 4WD works.
- The tune up are likely made the car performance run faster and safer.
Cons:
- Very fragile.
- Paint app may rub off easily.
- Not recommended for racing due to the fragility.
Design: 3/5
Movement: 2/5
Small Parts: 0/5
Substance: 2/5
Accuracy sculpt: 1/5
OMAKE:
Thank you for reading!
See you in the next review!
VioFitz 