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Mattel Hot Wheels 1:18 2006 Ferrari Schumacher Shanghai Last Victory Car

Reviewed by: Rusty Hurley

Behold Crème brûlée.

In finer restaurants, this mixture of 25 cents worth of heavy whipping cream and 10 cents of other ingredients caramelized with a blow torch will cost you approximately $6.95.

Behold the Hostess Twinkee.

What we have here is 5 cents worth of sponge cake wrapped around 3 cents worth of some type of cream filling. Somehow this is all worth $1.89 for a package of two at your local gas station.

So why in a review of car models done in tribute to possibly the greatest race driver in the history of motor sport, am I conjuring up images that will make your making your sweet tooth envious? Because diorama types of models are the sum of their parts – they represent a specific experience-not an engineering or design effort.

Hot Wheels has put together many Michael Schumacher tribute diorama models, but those from his last season of racing being the most hunted as it’s branded with the Retirement Series logo. The reason is simple they represent his last season of being an active race driver and with seven World Driving Championships (the last in 2004), 91 wins and 154 career podium finishes, he has set marks unlikely to be broken at least until Lewis Hamilton starts getting (or even losing) grey hair. The fact that Michael has stayed retired adds to the last season legacy, and the. Ask fans that purchased Mark Martin farewell gear a couple years ago how that purchase is working out for them.

Two at opposite ends of the price range for such pieces are the Shanghai “Last Victory” and Sao Paulo Brazil “Farewell” dioramas. Both models feature premium custom outside packaging, one flap featuring the Scuderia Ferrari logo on a field of corro rosso red and on the other Michael Schumacher’s trademark signature cloaked in a dragon. In between is art and photography worthy of some of Exoto’s best packaging work. It should be pointed out that despite the edition numbers on these models, they represent a worldwide edition – a relatively small slice of the pie is allocated to the USA because F1 is a boutique sport. Note the spelling of "tyres" on the Shanghai base.

At around $130, the Shanghai diorama features a heavy road surface base that’s been well represented in a race fatigued state. A brushed photo engraved metal plaque features a stamped serial number. The race fatigued model with driver is secured to the base. The model has all the basic stance and shape right but is missing some winglet elements around the driver compartment. Since all F1 models are sealed monocoque, there is no fiddling with the engine bits, but there are two really remarkable features the steerable front wheels which cause the highly detailed steering wheel to travel easily within the figure’s “grip” and the slick appearing full wet Bridgestone rubber. It was a crucial change to wets that allowed Schumacher to overtake Alonso for his final F1 win. The paint, on the helmet and car, looks great with the only major missing visual element being tobacco markings. Decals for these are readily available for the Ferrari F2006 from multiple dealers.

If you’ve given yourself a bit more of a budget to celebrate Michael’s legacy, then maybe the Sao Paulo “Last Race” diorama model is for you. It has a similar but less articulated race fatigued model but this time it’s mounted on a heavy “Executive of the Year” quality Lexan base, complete with gold leaf-effect detailing and engraving. Instead of Michael piloting the car, you have a quality resin figure of him standing beside the car waving to the Ferrari Tifosi at Interlagos...or whoever happens to be sitting across the desk from you. There’s also a competently detailed scale rendition of Michael’s helmet. We don’t discuss model helmet reviews on DZ much which is probably a miss because they are often the only individual artistic expression the driver influences within any race series but especially in F1. As this is more a Schumacher collectible then a diecast piece, its inclusion here is a personal touch, as is the letter which accompanies the model thanking fans for their support.

If breath taking precision diecast modeling is your only passion, then these diorama sets aren’t for you. There is so much more going on here – they engage the casual fan who happens by it that doesn’t know (and could care less) about the design and engineering of the car. Both dioramas are a tribute to, and an expression of, the individual achievement that will always remain Michael Schumacher’s singular legacy.

(08/27/2008)