HW Ferrari F2001

Here's another review for an F1 model, guys. This one is for the Ferrari F2001



PAINT
The Ferrari red paint is applied very well on the model. However the paint's application is slightly uneven and this is most noticeable around the lines that simulate the "opening parts" of the model. Some of the sponsors are tampo-painted but most of them are applied by decal stickers. As you can see from my pictures, the model has the Marlboro tobacco decals applied but the model, as standard, doesn't have any tobacco decals and this detracts from the realism. Mattel can argue that the model is based on F2001 that raced at Indianapolis, Monza or Magny-Cours (where tobacco advertising is forbidden) but the shape of the wing elements would contradict such an argument.
5/8

EXTERIOR
The model's proportions are reasonably accurate but it is not to scale - F1 cars are not permitted to have a track wider than 180 cm so the model can't be wider than 10 cm but the model is a few millimetres too wide. Like most 1/18 Formula 1 models, there are no opening parts on this model at all. A quick glance gives a good impression but a closer inspection reveals much more.

The front wing is quite well simulated and there are two separate wing elements that make it up. The elements that aid the airflow over the front wing are quite well rendered. The push/pull rods on the front suspension are far too thick. The bargeboards are correctly shaped but like the suspension rods, they are too thick, as are the parts that attach them to the rest of the model's body. The radiators have no detail, just black plastic. The airbox is not hollow so it doesn't lead to an engine and the camera that sits above it is too large.

The rear winglets are actually moulded from metal rather than plastic but the exhausts are poorly simulated as they are moulded into the rear bodywork and painted silver.

Like the front suspension rods, the rear suspension rods are too thick and there a connections on the rear suspension that shouldn't be shown. The rear wing is reasonably well simulated but the rear light lacks fine detail.
4/8

INTERIOR

You wouldn't expect there to be many features on the interior of an F1 model but the interior detail on the model is disappointing, nontheless. The driver figure has the sponsors painted on but even though the model has no tobacco decals, the driver figure should still have a white band on its stomach. The seatbelts are painted on as well rather than made separately. There is no seat detail or any detail for the head rest.

The steering wheel has some detail with moulded and painted buttons but it has no "Momo" logo or paddles. It is also poorly moulded as the back of it is flat where it should be rounded.
4/8

WHEELS & BRAKES

The wheels have decent detail and are labelled correctly (BBS) but they are painted, so the spokes look slightly crude. The wheel nuts are correctly coloured (red on the left, blue on the right) but they lack detail and although there are brake discs, they lack detail too and they are fixed to calipers (that lack detail too) so the discs don't rotate with the wheels.

The tyres are branded correctly and Hot Wheels noticed that the space between the grooves on the rear tyres is larger than that on the front tyres and this is continued on the model.
3/6

ENGINE & UNDERCARRIAGE DETAIL
There is no engine detail to speak of on the model, despite Ferrari having shown pictures of what the Ferrari 050 engine looks like to the public weeks before the 2001 F1 season began. For a $60 model, no engine detail at all isn't acceptable at all.

The undercarriage detail isn't bad. The wooden plank is simulated by a beige paint stripe but the separation between it and the rear diffuser is clear and shouldn't be obvious. The rear diffuser is reasonably well simulated.
2/8

COMPETITION
Mattel paid for exclusive rights to making 1/18 Ferrari models so no other manufacturer makes the F2001 in 1/18.
6/6

DESIRABILITY
Since Mattel paid Ferrari a large sum of money for exclusive rights over manufacturing models, they would have to make large numbers of these models to recoup their licensing fee, so this model isn't rare. In addition, despite having less detail than almost any other Hot Wheels model, it amazingly costs twice as much as a regular Hot Wheels model.
3/6

OVERALL
Hot Wheels aren't known for making exceptionally detailed, high-quality models and their 1/18 F2001 is no exception at all. Compared to Minichamps' F1 models, this is well below Minichamps' quality and accuracy. Its $60 price tag cannot really be justified given its disappointing lack of detail, especially in the engine department. It is only worth buying if you are a devoted Tifosi or F1 fan.

Total Score - 27/50

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