www.F1scalemodels.com
... specialising in 1:43 scale model cars (Formula 1, Indy 500, Le Mans, GT and classic and modern road cars)
About www.F1scalemodels.com
Welcome to F1scalemodels (Dunefin Pty Limited). My name is Philip and this is my website (started in 2009) which is dedicated to the hobby of model car collecting. Apart from being a keen collector I'm also a part-time model car trader, trading primarily at several swap meetings and car events around the Sydney (Australia) area.
This site is always being updated and improved (hopefully) and the main purpose is to provide an up-to-date listing of models that are available for purchase at swap meets that I will be attending. As you can imagine it would be impossible to have all my stock at any swap meet, so if there are any particular model(s) that you're interested in, please contact me and I'll make sure I bring them along to the next swap meet. This is an obligation-free service.
Check out the link called "Motorsport Gallery" where I've posted some motorsport related photos. These are some of the photos I've taken over the years at various events.
Mail Order
I've been asked a few times now if I do mail order; the answer is yes. So far I've posted to a number of interstate collectors and also to USA, UK, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Canada and Malaysia. Australian collectors have a choice of payment options; Direct bank deposit, money order or Paypal. International collectors will need to pay via Paypal. Please contact me with the details of the models you're interested in and I will provide you with a firm quotation for postage.
Swap Meets
I'm planning to attend the following swap meets and events in 2024; please go to the Swap Meets link for dates and other details.
- Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair (Epping)
- Collector Con Penrith
- Shannons Eastern Creek Classic
- Hawkesbury Model and Hobby Show
- All British Day
- Hunter Toy and Hobby Fair
Contact Me
Mobile: 0417 428 668
Email: info@f1scalemodels.com
Updates
This website is updated regularly (at least once a month) with new additions and important or interesting information related to the hobby. All new Recent and Restocked items will be marked with an "R" in the stocklists so please check these lists regularly. I hope you find these updates helpful.
New Additions: April 2024
Welcome to another monthly update which will be short and sweet as, amazingly, I don't have any new additions to talk about this month! This is partly due to the dire delivery situation for model cars worldwide and has delayed deliveries which were due at Christmas time. Large shipments from Spark, Looksmart, TSM and Tecnomodels are now expected to arrive in Europe in April or May (so I'm told).
Thanks to all those who dropped by my stall at the Penrith Collector Con event on 24th March. It will be another quiet month in April with just the regular Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair at the Epping Creative Centre on the 5th April. The annual Shannons Classic Day at the Sydney Motorsport Park has been confirmed for 25 August so pen this date into your diaries. Also, the annual Hunter Toy and Hobby Fair is scheduled for 18 August. Until next month, happy collecting.
After Thoughts: "A Licensing Saga" In the world of model car collecting, the announcement of a future release of an iconic racing car driven by a legendary driver generates much anticipation. However, the journey to bring such a model to market can be fraught with many challenges, as demonstrated by the recent saga surrounding Spark's Ayrton Senna 1985 Lotus 97T model.
Senna entered Formula One in 1984 racing for the Toleman team and his talent was quickly recognised by the other teams. But it was the John Player Special Lotus team who managed to secure Senna's services for 1985 and to underscore his exceptional ability, he won his second race for Lotus at the Portuguese GP.
Last year Spark ignited excitement with the announcement of a 1:43 replica commemorating Ayrton Senna's first win in Portugal, however, shortly afterward the project was abruptly cancelled due to licensing issues. While Spark's partnership with Lotus had been fruitful in the past, it was the inclusion of Senna's name and likeness that proved to be the sticking point. With the Ayrton Senna Institute holding sway over the rights to Senna's legacy, negotiations for the Portuguese model hit an impasse.
Undeterred by these setbacks, Spark embarked on a new approach for the 1985 Lotus 97T model - one without a driver figure or Senna's name on the side of the cockpit; a clever workaround to circumvent licensing hurdles. Also, the model will now be Senna's second GP win at the Belgian GP, the 13th race of the 1985 season. For collectors, the backstory behind this Senna model adds an extra layer of interest. The rarity of a Spark F1 model without a driver figure, coupled with the absence of Senna's name makes this model highly collectable.
Spark: Senna Lotus 97T 1st Belgian GP 1985
As enthusiasts eagerly await the arrival of this reimagined model (number S7154)(1), they do so with an appreciation for the complexities behind its creation.
Note (1): Spark will be producing the 1985 San Marino GP winning Lotus 97T of Elio de Angelis; complete with driver figure and the driver's name of course (S7153).
New Additions: March 2024
Welcome to the March update. March is probably my favourite month when it comes to motorsports; many racing series begin their campaigns at this time of year. Formula One starts on 2nd March and in fact there are three races this month, including the Australian GP on the 24th. The first race of the FIA World Endurance Championship is on 2nd March and the Indycar Series kicks off on March 10. For two-wheel fans, MotoGP's first race will also be on March 10. Motorsports in Australia actually started a little earlier this year with the first Supercars race held on the last weekend of February and the GT3 Bathurst 12-hour a week before the Supercars. Talking about the 12-Hour, this leads me into my model highlight of the month. Actually, there is only one new addition this month which is quite unusual for me!
The 2017 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12-Hour race really typified the essence of what makes GT3 racing so exciting; the variety of exotic machinery. There were 14 marques represented over the different classes for a total of 55 entries of which 51 started the race (by contrast, the 2024 event had 10 marques and 30 entries). After 12 hours, the Ferrari 488 GT3 of Lowndes, Whincup and Vilander prevailed over the others. Previously, the Italian model maker Looksmart had the licence to produce models of this winning Ferrari in 1:43 and 1:18 and these have long since been sold out. Now IXO/Tarmac have been granted a licence to make the 1:64 version of this car and it is now available for collectors. The detail of this model is very good for a model of this scale.
IXO/Tarmac: Ferrari 488 GT3 1st Bathurst 12-hour
OK, that's it for another month. There are two events scheduled for March; the regular Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair at Epping on 1st March and the Collector Con Penrith on 24th March at Cambridge Park. I hope to see you at one or both events, until then, happy collecting.
Australian Racing Series
- 2017 Ferrari 488 GT3 Lowdnes/Whincup/Vilander (88a) 1st Bathurst 12h 1:64 (IXO/Tarmac)
After Thoughts: "The Unheralded Driver Series #8 - Héctor Rebaque" Over the years, Mexico has only produced a handful of Formula One drivers, such as the Rodriguez brothers, Moisés Solana and current driver Sergio Perez. But only one Mexican was both an F1 driver and F1 constructor.
Fifty years ago, Formula One was a very different place than what it is today. This was the era of the brave gentleman driver, sometimes appearing at one-off races, buying and racing cars from other established teams. Some would modify their cars, believing they were introducing the next big concept in racing, although it usually wasn't. Many raced simply for the pleasure of speed and a desire to compete with the best. One of these sporting amateurs was Héctor Rebaque whose motorsport journey embodies the spirit of determination, ingenuity, and the audacity to dream.
Born into relative affluence in 1956, Héctor Rebaque's introduction to motorsport came early. At the tender age of 18, he made his debut at the 1973 24 Hours of Daytona, setting the stage for a remarkable career ahead. After several years in Formula Atlantic and European F2, Rebaque found himself a drive with the Hesketh F1 racing team in 1977, a team best known for the playboy lifestyle of its owner and drivers. The only problem was Hesketh wasn't very good. In true Mexican spirit, Rebaque had an incessant drive to succeed, so after a dismal year with Hesketh, he embarked on a bold venture by establishing his own Formula One team. Given the team's financial limitations, Team Rebaque started at the back of a garage in Leamington Spa, a charming town on the outskirts of Birmingham. In a feat of outstanding negotiation, Rebaque arranged to buy the revolutionary Lotus 78 from Colin Chapman which had won the World Championship the year before.
Héctor ran the team, the office, he arranged sponsors, negotiated with suppliers, served as a mechanic and acted as its only driver. Amidst the challenges of pre-qualifying, Rebaque's perseverance yielded only one moment of triumph. His only success came in the 1978 German GP when he took his car from 18th on the grid to a 6th place finish and scored the first point for Team Rebaque. It was an enormous achievement for a team in its first year.
Rebaque's Lotus 78 ('79 British GP) (Photo: K.Long)
But Rebaque had even bigger plans for 1979, he wanted to build and race his own car. He commissioned Geoff Ferris to design him the Rebaque Ford HR100, Mexico's first Formula One car. Designing and building a car from scratch is a huge task and it took some time for the design to be finalised. To make the grid at the start of the season, Rebaque was able to secure a Lotus 79 but it was not as competitive as the Lotus 78. Colin Chapman, struggling with the same difficulties, had no time to help the Mexican driver who even had to manufacture spare parts from factory plans, which he actually sold back to Lotus! Rebaque had to campaign the Lotus 79 for much of the year while his HR100 was being built by Penske Racing and when it was finished, it bore a remarkable resemblance to the Lotus 79, even to the point of having many interchangeable parts. Rebaque was only able to run the HR100 in three races, two of which he failed to qualify. The new car did line up 22nd on the grid at the Canadian GP but it was a troubled run with Rebaque retiring with a broken engine mount after his 4th pit stop. There were rumours of John Barnard developing the car over the winter but the team folded at the end of the year.
Spark: Rebaque Ford HR100 (#S5750)
In 1980, Rebaque decided to pursue his ambitions with the Brabham team as team mate to Nelson Piquet but scored just one point. Nevertheless, Héctor was retained for the 1981 season where he scored 11 points whle Piquet won the World Championship. Rebaque was well enough regarded to be offered a drive with the Arrows team for 1982 but he chose to retire from GP racing to drive in the CART PPG Indy Car series in North America. He spent one season with Forsythe Racing, scoring one win at Road America but he decided to retire from Indy car racing after being injured after crashing on a high speed oval track.
Héctor Rebaque as a Brabham driver
With 58 Grand Prix appearances and 13 points to his name, Rebaque's Formula One legacy endures as one of just few who scored points with his own team. His HR100 can be found in his garden at home, serving as a reminder of the time he drove a car that bore his name.
New Additions: February 2024
Welcome to the February update. Last month's Toy and Hobby Fair at Epping was an understandably quiet affair with some dealers and collectors opting to continue their break over the holiday season. Just on the subject of the holiday season, have you all seen Michael Mann's movie "Ferrari"? I think a suitable subtitle would have been, "Ferrari vs. Maserati" but it's good to see Ferrari come out on top in the film; unlike "Le Mans", "Rush" and "Ford vs Ferrari" where the red cars were bested. OK, only a handful of models this month but there are few that merit a mention.
In the world of Formula 1, the debut of a new constructor is always met with anticipation, and Walter Wolf Racing's entry into the scene in 1977 was nothing short of spectacular. Backed by Austro-Canadian oil millionaire Walter Wolf, the team made an immediate impact. Jody Scheckter, a talented driver, signed a two-year deal with the new team. The team management was led by former Lotus manager Peter Warr and with the design prowess of Harvey Postlethwaite, who crafted an elegant arrow-shaped chassis (WR1) around the reliable Ford DFV engine, a winning formula was established. The 1977 season kicked off in scorching conditions in Argentina, but Scheckter kept his cool in the extreme heat. The race took a dramatic turn when the leader, Carlos Pace (Brabham) almost passed out from heat exhaustion in the closing stages. Scheckter seized the opportunity and inherited the lead, claiming victory for Walter Wolf Racing in their very first race as a constructor. The success of Walter Wolf Racing's debut season is celebrated by Spark, which has produced the Argentinian GP winning car in the distinctive black and gold livery (model S9997).
Spark: Wolf Ford WR1 1st Argentinian GP
Gymkhana has gained popularity for its unique blend of precision driving, advanced skills, and a touch of showmanship. At its core, gymkhana events feature a starting point, a finish line and a series challenging obstacles that drivers must navigate through. This requires participants to showcase a repertoire of skills, including reversals, 180 and 360 degree spins, figure 8's and drifting. Undoubtedly, the name that resonates most prominently is Ken Block, thanks to his YouTube videos that have garnered millions of views. TopMarques has immortalised Block's 1965 Ford Mustang, fondly nicknamed "The Beast", in 1:43 (TM-43-03A). TopMarques continues to pay homage to Block with the recent release of his 1977 Ford F-150 Hoonigan Pick-Up truck, used in hill climbing events in 2019 (TM-43-02A).
TopMarques: 1965 Ford Mustang TM-43-03A (Note:1:18 version shown in photo)
TopMarques: 1977 Ford F-150 TM-43-02A
Well, that about wraps it up for another month. There is just the one event on in February, the monthly Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair at the Epping Creative Centre on the 2nd February. I hope to see you there and until next month, happy collecting.
Formula One
- 1951 Ferrari 375 F1, F.Gonzales (12) winner Silverstone 1st Ferrari win (Hot Wheels)
- 1967 Ferrari 312 F1, C.Amon (8) race car (Hot Wheels)
- 1990 Ferrari F1-90, Alain Prost (1) French GP 100th Ferrari win (Hot Wheels)
- 2002 Ferrari F2002, M.Schumacher (1) 150th Ferrari win Canada GP (Hot Wheels)
- 1977 Wolf Ford WR1, J.Scheckter (20) 1st Argentine GP (Spark)
American Race Series
- 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonigan, Ken Block (43) "Hoonigan" Beast 2018 (TopMarques)
- 1977 Ford F-150 Hoonigan Pick-Up, Ken Block (43) 2019 Hill Climb (TopMarques)
Le Mans
- 1975 Mirage GR8, D.Bell/J.Ickx (11) Le Mans winner "Gulf" (IXO)
- 1971 Porsche 917K, Marko/Van Lennep (22) Le Mans winner (IXO)
1:18 Scale
- 1991 Mazda 787B, Weidler/Herbert/Gachot (55) Le Mans Winner (WERK83)
- 2021 McLaren Mercedes MCL35M, D.Ricciardo (3) 1st Italian GP w/pit board (Spark)
Road Cars
- 1988 Citroën CX GTi Turbo II in white (Solido)
- 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 in white/black (Solido)
- 1976 Jaguar XJ12C Coupe in red/black (IXO)
- 1974 Mercedes 350 SL (R107) hard top in blue (Minichamps)
- 1982 Mercedes 230E (W123) in white (Minichamps)
- 1962 Peugeot 404 Convertible in silver (Maxichamps)
- 1971 Volvo P1800 ES in metallic blue (Minichamps)
- 1990 Volvo 940 Turbo in red (IXO)
- 1995 Volvo 850 T5-R 2.3i 20V Turbo in black (black)
After Thoughts: "Fleeting Moments: The Shortest F1 Careers" In the high-speed world of Formula One, careers can span years, but some drivers experience the shortest of stints. Among the contenders for the title of the shortest Formula 1 career, Marco Apicella and Ernst Loof stand out, their time on the track measured in mere metres.
The year was 1993, and the Jordan Grand Prix team was facing a tumultuous season. Italian driver Marco Apicella, making waves in the Japanese Formula 3000 series, received a one-off oportunity to join the main game at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Despite a less-than-ideal build-up, including various mishaps during practice such as random activation of the car's traction control, Apicella qualified 23rd. It was a chaotic start to the race; two separate incidents saw five cars eliminated at the first chicane. In the second incident, the Jordans of Barichello and Apicella were taken out of the race. Unfortunately, Apicella's Formula 1 career lasted no more than 800 metres; his Formula 3000 commitments in Japan meant he was replaced for the following rounds.
Marco Apicella's Jordan Hart 193 (Photo:Autosport)
But to find the true champion of the shortest F1 career, one must rewind to 1953. Motor racing had quickly returned to post-war Germany and Veritas, a race car company founded by ex-BMW engineers, Ernst Loof and Lorenz Dietrich played a key part to that regeneration. Loof and Dietrich built their first Veritas car using a BMW engine and parts in 1947. In 1950 the Veritas Meteor was unveiled and was available as an open-wheeler or with an all-enveloping streamlined body work depending on the race circuit. It was powered by a BMW engine or Loof's own proprietary engine.
Veritas Meteor in 1986 (photo: Spurzem)
The 1953 German GP at the Nurburgring witnessed a record 34 starters, including seven Veritas cars one of which was the Meteor of company founder Ernst Loof. Loof, a rookie driver managed to line up 31 positions behind Ferrari polesitter, Alberto Ascari. However, as the race began, Loof's Veritas immediately suffered a fuel pump failure, forcing him to lurch forward 2 metres from his starting grid. As he officially started the race, this marked the beginning and the end of Loof's Formula 1 career, securing him the record for the shortest stint in F1 history.
Formula 1, known for its intense competiton and split-second decisions, has witnessed drivers with careers spanning years and even decades. However, for Marco Apicella and Ernst Loof, their F1 journeys were marked by brief moments on the track - 800 metres for Apicella and a mere 2 metres for Loof. These instances serve as reminders of the unpredictability of motorsport, where a career's duration can be as fleeting as the blink of an eye.
New Additions: January 2024
Welcome to the first update for 2024. I hope everyone had an enjoyable time during the festive break and I wish you all the best for the new year. I think it is going to be another difficult year with all of us facing cost of living challenges and I realise model cars is often the last thing on our minds. However, the enjoyment one gets from admiring a much-sought after model does wonders to the troubled soul. Enough of the marketing, now back to what's new on offer this month. There are some more Ferrari F1 models from Altaya, these were issued as a "partworks" series and come in a cardboard backed blister pack with no acrylic cover but are very good value. There's only one model I'd like to highlight this month.
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars based in the UK. March competed in F1 from 1970 until 1992 with moderate success winning only 2 Grand Prix with customer team, Tyrrell winning a further GP with a March driven by Jackie Stewart. The 'works' March team had to wait until 1975 before tasting victory and it came at the hands of Italian journeyman driver, Vittoria Brambilla who had joined the team in 1974. Brambilla was particularly adept at driving in wet conditions and was well known for his overly aggressive driving style. His greatest achievement came at the Österreichring when he won the 1975 Austrian GP in the wet. Perhaps due to the atrocious conditions or through sheer jubilation, Brambilla managed to spin his March into the pit wall and wreck the nose of his car as he took the chequered flag. He completed his slowing down lap with the front of his car destroyed while waving to the crowd. It was to be Brambilla's only GP win. Spark has produced his historic winning car, with the nose intact (Model number S5378).
Spark: March Ford 751 Brambilla 1st '75 Austrian GP
As it's just the start of the new year, dates for some events for 2024 haven't yet been confirmed. However, the dates for the monthly Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair at Epping, i.e. the first Friday of every month, are confirmed and locked in. Also, the dates for Collector Con (Penrith) and the Hawkesbury Model and Hobby Show have been confirmed. Please check the Swap Meets link for confirmations of events. So, it's just the one event for January, the Sydney Toy and Hobby Fair on 5 January, I hope to see you there, until next month, happy collecting.
Formula One
- 1953 Ferrari 553 Supersqualo, P.Carini (12) Italian GP (Altaya)
- 1955 Ferrari 625, M.Trintignant (44) 1st Monaco GP (Altaya)
- 1964 Ferrari 158, J.Surtees (7) World Champion (Altaya)
- 1979 Ferrari 312 T4, J.Scheckter (11) (Western Models)
- 1985 Ferrari 156/85, M.Alboreto (27) Race car (Altaya)
- 1965 Lotus Cosworth 35, J.Clark (4) 1st Pau F2 GP (Spark)
- 1975 March Ford 751, V.Brambilla (9) 1st Austrian GP (Spark)
- 2022 Mercedes AMG W13, G.Russell (63) 1st Brazilian GP [1st win] (Spark)
- 1996 Tyrrell Yamaha 024, M.Salo (19) 5th Monaco GP (Spark)
Le Mans / Sports Car Racing
- 1961 Aston Martin DBR1, J.Clark/R.Flockhart (5) Le Mans (Spark)
- 1991 Porsche 962C, Larrauri/Pareja/Brun (17) 10th Le Mans (Spark)
- 1966 Chaparral 2D, P.Hill/J.Bonnier (7) 1st Nurburgring 1000Km (TSM)
- 1967 Chaparral 2F, Hill/Sharp (222) Targa Florio (Minichamps)
- 1998 Mercedes CLK-LM, Webber/Schneider/Ludwig (35) Le Mans (Spark)
Road Cars
- 2001 Saleen S7 in metallic orange (Partworks)
- 2005 Spyker C8 Double 12S Spyder in silver (Partworks)
Misc Scales
- 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000, road car in blue 1:64 (Shelby Collectibles)
- 1962 Mercedes 220 SE, Ewy Rosqvist 1st female Touring car winner 1:64 (Matchbox)
After Thoughts: "A Tractor, Star Wars and the Mafia" Giovanna Amati, born into privilege in July 1959, had an inspiring journey into the world of Formula One racing. Despite facing numerous challenges, she made history in 1992 by becoming the fifth woman to attempt to qualify for a Formula One Grand Prix. This article delves into Giovanna's remarkable life, from her early days driving tractors on her family's estate to her tumultuous Formula One career.
Her father was a millionaire who had made his fortune as a successful entrepreneur and owned a chain of 50 cinemas in Rome, while her mother was an actress who appeared in several Italian films. Giovanna led a sheltered home life but developed a strong interest in motorsport from an early age, in part, fuelled by her childhood friend Elio de Angelis, an up-and-coming racing driver. Encouraged by de Angelis, Amati attended a racing school to obtain her racing licence, unbeknownst to her parents. From there, she entered the Italian F3 and Formula 3000 championships. Her time in Formula 3000 was underwhelming, more often than not, failing to qualify. Despite her challenging time in Formula 3000, Amati caught the attention of Flavio Briatore, the team boss of Benetton F1. Recognising the publicity of having a woman driver, Briatore offered Amati an F1 test but nothing eventuated from it although it did lead to her being issued with a superlicence to race in F1.
Giovanna Amati
In 1992, the Brabham team was a shadow of its former self and facing critical financial difficulties was looking for paying drivers. Like Briatore, the team also recognised the marketing value of having a woman driver but she was still required to bring a substantial sum to the team. Joining the team less than two weeks before the first race of the season, Amati faced the daunting task of driving an outdated car with minimal preparation time. She and team mate Eric van der Poele struggled with the Judd-powered BT60B and Amati failed to qualify in South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. Failing to qualify, coupled with payment defaults by her sponsors led to Amati's abrupt dismissal from the team. It should be noted that her replacement, Damon Hill also struggled to qualify the Brabham.
Brabham Judd BT60B
Before Amati became known as an F1 driver, her name gained widespread recognition in Italy due to a harrowing experience she endured at the age of 18. Kidnapped by a group of masked gangsters, led by Jean Daniel Nieto, Amati face 75 days of mental cruelty, physical and sexual abuse by her captors. The ordeal, which included a peculiar bond developing between Amati and Nieto, showcased her resilience. Eventually, Giovanna's father had persuaded the kidnappers to accept 800 million Lira, but as abductions were commonplace in Italy at the time, the authorities had frozen the Amati's bank accounts to prevent the payment of the ransom. Giovanna's mother pawned her jewellery and persuaded the servants to lend their own savings to raise the cash while her father diverted the box-office takings from the Star Wars film. Giovanna was released after the delivery of the ransom, however, following her release, she received mysterious love letters and roses from Nieto, her kidnapper. With pressure from the police, Giovanna arranged to meet Neito and he was arrested while holding a bouquet of roses. He was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. Despite his later escape, he was recaptured after 20 years on the run, in 2010.
In an interview, Amati acknowledged that the traumatic kidnapping ordeal contributed to the strength and determination required to persevere in Formula One. Her resilience and burning ambition propelled her to navigate the challenges of the male-dominated sport. Giovanna Amati's journey in Formula One, marked by historic achievements and personal challenges, showcases a remarkable tale of triumph over adversity. Her story is truly inspiring.