Boxart (Mini-F Red)
Boxart (Mini-F Yellow)
More Mini F1 review on the go! Today, it’s going to focus on The Alitalia Edition (Ferrari 642) and The Benetton B195 (Benetton Ford B192)!! Mini-F or known as Mini F1 is a series of mini racing cars introduced by Tamiya in December, 1991. The series was discontinued 3 years after its introduction but, Tamiya would later release limited edition, decal-less (due to licensing issues) Mini-F Finished Models in 2006. In this review, the boxarts came from Finished Models number 1 and 4 which has red (1) & yellow (4) colored the body shell. The Mini-F Red and Yellow is a Mini-F cars released by Tamiya on December 20, 2006. It was the decal-less version of the Ferrari 642 (red) and Benetton Ford B192 (yellow) Mini-F cars. However, in this review the body shell had been fully repainted resembling the currently overpriced Alitalia Edition of Ferrari 642 and Benetton B195, one of Michael Schumacher’s team car in 1995. Alitalia is the biggest airline in Italy but, they also become a sponsor to several franchise and one of them is Tamiya which Tamiya aquired Alitalia license to make their own Mini F1. The limited Alitalia Edition features the white body shell of 642 with the Alitalia livery. Other than that, it is the same as the model of 642. While The Benetton B195 is a Formula One racing car designed by Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn for use by the Benetton team in the 1995 Formula One World Championship, and the most well known driver is Michael Schumacher. Eversince Tamiya discontinued Mini F1 series, Most of the Mini F1 releases are becoming hard and expensive to get so, the Alitalia Edition as well which currently priced above 200 bucks which, there’s no way I’m going to spend my penny just for the recolored version of 642. Luckily, there’s a Finished Model releases which made me easier to make my own. The repaint and decal process was done by Archyd. Okay, it’s unboxing time!
Contents (Alitalia Edition)
Contents (Benetton B195)
Since this is a Finished Model so, the contents only consists the kit fully assembled and customized. Both Alitalia Edition and B195 comes with 1 body shell with the spoiler key and 1 Mini-F chassis.
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 642 also 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 broader on the side fairings which long enough to the driver’s cockpit, roll structure is looking standard but, bulkier than FW14, rear wing was added with 2 extra lines, while the front panel part was build to be protruding and slimmer than FW14 and the kit also got the non-removable driver figurine. The Finished Model body shell was originally colored red. In this review, Archyd repainted the body shell full white with green and red lines and black for front, rear part and numbering, then added with Alitalia sponsor waterslide. 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, the slick tires was added Good Year water decal. Archyd did another outstanding job on this, especially on that neat looking water decal and that clean looking on the green and red lines… The waterslide decals follows exactly like Alitalia Edition’s sticker which made this custom looking very convincing to be called Alitalia Edition. 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 wanted. 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
Upper (with/without body shell) & Bottom View
Rear View 01
Side Front View
Rear View 02
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The B192 also features the same low-height, open-wheel body design but, it has the raise nose, as it deploys the vertical structure between the front spoiler/hook and the nose. Unfortunately, this is also the weak structure, as one course-out could break the structure. The body shell is less broader than 642 but, it has blocky side fairings, even it’s roll structure is looking blocky and higher than Ferrari one but, rear wing is rounder shape, while the front panel part was build to be sleeker and has the raise nose and the kit also got the non-removable driver figurine. The Finished Model body shell was originally colored yellow. In this review, Archyd repainted the body shell mainly in blue with sky blue, white for the front roll structure and some trim, yellow for BitBurger logo part and black for several detailings, then added with Benetton B195 sponsor waterslide such as Mild Seven, BitBurger, Kickers, Renault Elf, Magheti Mareli, Techno Gym, Enervit, Benetton Sport System, Sikkens, USAG, Brembo, RTL and Benetton Formula One’s 4 stripes logo. The finishing body shell was also added with glossy effect to make it look realistic. This kit’s gun metal medium diameter Mini F1 wheels was repainted into white with blue trim to recreate the car likeness and paired with the Mini-F slick tires. It’s a standard wheelset given to every Mini F1 releases but, the slick tires was added Good Year waterslide. But unlike Alitalia Edition, this is a bit letdown on how he did the waterslide as there’s alot of missprinting color, especially on the Mild Seven logo… But, pretty sure he did his best, other than that the car looks very beautiful.
Head Sculpt
Upper view
Mini-F driver’s seat are shown open top without any canopy so, we can clearly see the driver figurine. The driver’s details is shown wearing simple silver colored helmet with black colored visor which hides the driver’s face… Yes, they made the driver’s helmet less detailed due to the visor sculpt, and his racing suit was painted green with white for the gloves. There’s no information about the actual Alitalia Edition’s driver and assuming this is just an exclusive release of 642. Unlike, FW14, Driver’s cockpit is much more open which reveals the driver’s hands holding the steering wheel and the rest of the cockpit interior was painted black but, the seatbelt was painted red with slight yellow and little silver part for the belt attachments.
Head Sculpt
Upper view
For B195’s driver part, it’s cockpit is smaller than Alitalia one but, we can still see the driver’s full arms to his hand holding steering wheel. It has the same head sculpt to FW14 one but, painted to have Schumi’s iconic helmet. It’s generally white by having sparkling blue circular with light blue square and red stripes on top of the helmet as well as black with red and yellow lines from the helmet’s visor side by side that connects to the back. His racing suit was painted light blue to the gloves while his seatbelt is black with silver detail, the steering wheel and the rest of the cockpit interior was painted black. I have to say, I like this head much better because it shows the driver face detail as well as the helmet’s sweat protection, it’s understandable that painting them wasn’t easy and the actual F1’s helmets mostly got visor but, I love how Archyd did this.
COMPARISON
Apparently, there’s no real life counterpart of Alitalia Edition of 642 nor even the official promotional photo from Tamiya….
Comparison between the original real life Benetton B195
Comparing between the real B195, the real car was designed to be more advanced compared to it’s predecessors. They’re still similar for the overall body part such as that raised nose, front and rear wing even that side fairings are pretty much the same shape. However, they did have slight differences but, I won’t go that far on discussing every details. I know that this Mini F1 car wasn’t accurate as it should be since, customizing it’s body would cost more so, I only asked Archyd to implement the B195 coloring into this B192 body shell just like how he did on FW16.
Comparisons
Comparing between both cars, 642 looks slightly small but, both are equal in scale size though, B192 seemingly big due to it’s raised nose. One thing I like from 642’s body shell since it’s side fairings was designed long enough to the driver’s cockpit, there’s no gap that shows inside the chassis compared to B192 one.
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Final impression, I’m amazed with how this turned out, actually this 642 custom was originally owned by Archyd! I’m now waiting for more of his repaints of Mini F1! Due to the limited release, Alitalia edition becoming extinct compared the other Mini F1 releases. Alitalia Edition’s current price are very close to the classic Mini 4WD that I owned. But, with the release of the Finished Model, it made me easier to make this. As for B195, the reason I want to have this is because I used to own the Model Academy version but, I lost them since my childhood so, it brings me joy to be able to touch this B195 again despite it’s not the same model kit. The only letdown of this presentation is only on the missprinting on the waterslide, originally this Mini F1 yellow was supposed to be collected as it is without full paint treatment but, I’m not fond afterall with it being unpainted. I actually wanted to have another Mini F1 yellow but, even the Finished Model is getting expensive to get by now.
Alitalia Edition (Ferrari 642)
Pros:
- Good details, repaint and waterslide work.
- Good for your collection display.
- Very convincing to the actual Alitalia Edition.
- Can run like how racing Mini F1 works.
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: 3/5
Accuracy sculpt: 5/5
Benetton B195 (Benetton Ford B192)
Pros:
- Good details and paint work.
- Good for your collection display.
- Close to the actual Benetton B195.
- Can run like how racing Mini F1 works.
Cons:
- Very fragile.
- Paint app may rub off easily.
- Missprint on several waterslide.
- Not recommended for racing due to the fragility.
Design: 4/5
Movement: 2/5
Small Parts: 0/5
Substance: 3/5
Accuracy sculpt: 3/5
OMAKE:
Thank you for reading!
Stay tuned for more review!
VioFitz 