Review by CoMod Mike on the Carrera Evo/D132 BMW Sauber F1.07 & McLaren Mercedes
(27246, 27247 and 30439) & (27277, 27278 and 30457)
World champion at the second attempt!!!
So, it wasn't the car's fault... but whether the 1:32 scale car delivers what the original promises on racetracks around the world, it had to prove on the wooden track at SG Stern in Sindelfingen! Can I even impartially judge an F1 Silver Arrow from Carrera on the Mercedes-Benz corporate sports race track in Sindelfingen? ;-) So, I was skeptical in principle, but more so regarding the demands of a wooden track compared to a medium-scale, real-life F1 racer!
The initial visual assessment quickly left no doubt! Visually, the 2008 F1 cars from Carrera are world-class!!! And not just the helmet print of Lewis Hamilton's Silver Arrow! The attention to detail in the mold is also extremely well executed. Unfortunately, this does not have all positive aspects, because the delicate connection of the large front spoiler has a minor Achilles heel on this car. Even during delivery, the front spoiler can sometimes be loose in the box! Fortunately, this has no effect on the handling! The spoiler can be easily reattached and, if necessary, secured with a drop of adhesive!
But let’s get to the driving behavior on the wooden track:
Track data: 27m wooden track, 4-lane, 12 Volt, non-magnetic strands
I would have expected a very sensitive car at full throttle and in corners... but... despite the hard and perfectly flat track, the McLaren tracked cleanly and even in faster corners the car didn't jump out of its slot! I can say one thing in advance, though. No matter which F1 from the 2008 production run: the handling is comparable and has nothing to do with the actual F1 placings in 2008! Regardless of whether it was a world champion or not... If a car steps out of line, it's due to space constraints! F1 cars aren't exactly blessed with a lot of space due to their prototypical front axle, which is why you should pay special attention to the guide keel and its wiring. If the guide keel is stiff and no longer snaps into its neutral position on its own, the body should be removed and the wiring checked for tight spots. Cornering behavior should then be significantly improved!! If the car still has a slight bounce, just check the tire seat on the rim. Even with unsanded rear tires, the handling on a large wooden track is flawless. Sanding the rear tires can never hurt, though, which may be unnecessary with the Carrera track!
All in all, a beautiful vehicle that not only looks great in the display case - but is also a joy to play on the wooden track!
Have fun!!!
CoMod Mike
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Review by CoMod Lotus on the Carrera Evo/D132 BMW Sauber F1.07 & McLaren Mercedes
(27246, 27247 and 30439) & (27277, 27278 and 30457)
2008 was the most successful year in the history of the BMW-Sauber Formula 1 team. BMW separated from its previous partner Williams after the 2005 season and is now continuing its Formula 1 involvement with its own team. In return, it acquired a majority stake in Peter Sauber's former racing team on January 1, 2006. The Swiss location of the former Sauber team was also retained, and the majority of the Sauber team was taken over.
In its third year in the highest motorsport category, the team from Munich and Hinwil says it has achieved all of its self-imposed goals. The undisputed highlight of the past season was the Canadian Grand Prix: In Montreal, Robert Kubica celebrated the first victory for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Nick Heidfeld rounded off the triumph with a runner-up finish. The team also celebrated a pole position, two fastest laps, and a total of eleven podium finishes. Consequently, after 18 races, the team had 135 points, more than ever before. In the Drivers' Championship last season, Robert Kubica finished 4th, while his colleague Nick Heidfeld was 6th. In the Constructors' Championship, the Bavarians from Switzerland even managed an outstanding 3rd place thanks to their consistently good results, a long way behind the fourth-placed Renault team.
The two Carrera models , however, are the models from the 2007 season, while the BMW Sauber F1.07 features the 2008 livery. The traditional Nuremberg-based company has had both cars in its range since this year: Kubica's No. 4 (item no. 27247) and Heidfeld's No. 3 (item no. 27246). Both Formula racers feature the driver names on the box, and the helmets feature the original livery (unlike other teams, where model car manufacturers have to pay license fees for driver helmets and names, for example). Speaking of livery and paintwork: The two white and blue cars are truly immaculately executed; note especially the BMW logos and the T-Systems lettering. It couldn't be more refined.
The chassis is a familiar one. As Chris already wrote about the Renault R28, the chassis and individual modules are identical; only the outer contours and, where appropriate, the wheelbase have been adapted to the respective body shapes. As a result, the cars all handle very similarly, thankfully. The BMWs are no exception: they accelerate well, corner well, and are pleasantly quiet. My BMWs were a bit slower than the Renaults, for example, but this could be attributed to the normal engine variation in production. Or perhaps to the somewhat short test track I had set up.
The two Carrera race cars were already extensively tested at the BMW Sauber F1 Team Race Club fan event, where they demonstrated their competitiveness. Will they perform similarly well on their home tracks? It's up to you! ;-)
CoMod Lotus
(27246, 27247 and 30439) & (27277, 27278 and 30457)
World champion at the second attempt!!!
So, it wasn't the car's fault... but whether the 1:32 scale car delivers what the original promises on racetracks around the world, it had to prove on the wooden track at SG Stern in Sindelfingen! Can I even impartially judge an F1 Silver Arrow from Carrera on the Mercedes-Benz corporate sports race track in Sindelfingen? ;-) So, I was skeptical in principle, but more so regarding the demands of a wooden track compared to a medium-scale, real-life F1 racer!
The initial visual assessment quickly left no doubt! Visually, the 2008 F1 cars from Carrera are world-class!!! And not just the helmet print of Lewis Hamilton's Silver Arrow! The attention to detail in the mold is also extremely well executed. Unfortunately, this does not have all positive aspects, because the delicate connection of the large front spoiler has a minor Achilles heel on this car. Even during delivery, the front spoiler can sometimes be loose in the box! Fortunately, this has no effect on the handling! The spoiler can be easily reattached and, if necessary, secured with a drop of adhesive!
But let’s get to the driving behavior on the wooden track:
Track data: 27m wooden track, 4-lane, 12 Volt, non-magnetic strands
I would have expected a very sensitive car at full throttle and in corners... but... despite the hard and perfectly flat track, the McLaren tracked cleanly and even in faster corners the car didn't jump out of its slot! I can say one thing in advance, though. No matter which F1 from the 2008 production run: the handling is comparable and has nothing to do with the actual F1 placings in 2008! Regardless of whether it was a world champion or not... If a car steps out of line, it's due to space constraints! F1 cars aren't exactly blessed with a lot of space due to their prototypical front axle, which is why you should pay special attention to the guide keel and its wiring. If the guide keel is stiff and no longer snaps into its neutral position on its own, the body should be removed and the wiring checked for tight spots. Cornering behavior should then be significantly improved!! If the car still has a slight bounce, just check the tire seat on the rim. Even with unsanded rear tires, the handling on a large wooden track is flawless. Sanding the rear tires can never hurt, though, which may be unnecessary with the Carrera track!
All in all, a beautiful vehicle that not only looks great in the display case - but is also a joy to play on the wooden track!
Have fun!!!
CoMod Mike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review by CoMod Lotus on the Carrera Evo/D132 BMW Sauber F1.07 & McLaren Mercedes
(27246, 27247 and 30439) & (27277, 27278 and 30457)
2008 was the most successful year in the history of the BMW-Sauber Formula 1 team. BMW separated from its previous partner Williams after the 2005 season and is now continuing its Formula 1 involvement with its own team. In return, it acquired a majority stake in Peter Sauber's former racing team on January 1, 2006. The Swiss location of the former Sauber team was also retained, and the majority of the Sauber team was taken over.
In its third year in the highest motorsport category, the team from Munich and Hinwil says it has achieved all of its self-imposed goals. The undisputed highlight of the past season was the Canadian Grand Prix: In Montreal, Robert Kubica celebrated the first victory for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Nick Heidfeld rounded off the triumph with a runner-up finish. The team also celebrated a pole position, two fastest laps, and a total of eleven podium finishes. Consequently, after 18 races, the team had 135 points, more than ever before. In the Drivers' Championship last season, Robert Kubica finished 4th, while his colleague Nick Heidfeld was 6th. In the Constructors' Championship, the Bavarians from Switzerland even managed an outstanding 3rd place thanks to their consistently good results, a long way behind the fourth-placed Renault team.
The two Carrera models , however, are the models from the 2007 season, while the BMW Sauber F1.07 features the 2008 livery. The traditional Nuremberg-based company has had both cars in its range since this year: Kubica's No. 4 (item no. 27247) and Heidfeld's No. 3 (item no. 27246). Both Formula racers feature the driver names on the box, and the helmets feature the original livery (unlike other teams, where model car manufacturers have to pay license fees for driver helmets and names, for example). Speaking of livery and paintwork: The two white and blue cars are truly immaculately executed; note especially the BMW logos and the T-Systems lettering. It couldn't be more refined.
The chassis is a familiar one. As Chris already wrote about the Renault R28, the chassis and individual modules are identical; only the outer contours and, where appropriate, the wheelbase have been adapted to the respective body shapes. As a result, the cars all handle very similarly, thankfully. The BMWs are no exception: they accelerate well, corner well, and are pleasantly quiet. My BMWs were a bit slower than the Renaults, for example, but this could be attributed to the normal engine variation in production. Or perhaps to the somewhat short test track I had set up.
The two Carrera race cars were already extensively tested at the BMW Sauber F1 Team Race Club fan event, where they demonstrated their competitiveness. Will they perform similarly well on their home tracks? It's up to you! ;-)
CoMod Lotus
