1/24th. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-25 "L. Hamilton"

[Luc Janssens]

From the Revell website:

The detailed replica of the McLaren MP4-25 brings the excitement of the 2010 Formula 1 season directly to your desk. With this scale 1:24 scale model kit, you can create an authentic replica of the race car that Lewis Hamilton used to achieve three unforgettable Grand Prix victories.

 

https://revell.de/en/shop/product/070969090-vodafone-mclaren-mercedes-mp4-25-l-hamilton

[Matt Bacon]

I assume this one is just warming us up for the last-season one coming towards the end of the year…

best,

M.

[RancheroSteve]

I'm actually building one of these now. The livery is giving me fits! Decals over chrome is a tough combo.

[iamsuperdan]

Is this a reissue of one the Revell F1 cars they did about 10 years ago? 

I think they did all of them then. Sauber, BMW, Jordan, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault, Williams, etc.

Whatever the case, I need one.

Possibly two.

[RancheroSteve]

Yes, first issued in 2010 with Hamilton and Button liveries (separate kits). The only real difference in those is the numbers and the driver's names on the decal sheet.

I'd like to see them do some contemporary cars - or wait until next year and see what the "new rules" cars look like.

[Matt Bacon]

2 minutes ago, RancheroSteve said:

I'd like to see them do some contemporary cars - or wait until next year and see what the "new rules" cars look like.

They’ve announced the 2024 McLaren which should be available towards the end of the year. I’m expecting to see a built up one at Scale Model World (IPMS UK Nats) in November, but probably not to be able to buy one until later. No one is going to give them access to a current season car early enough to kit it in the same year, I don’t think…

best,

M.

[RancheroSteve]

4 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

They’ve announced the 2024 McLaren which should be available towards the end of the year. No one is going to give them access to a current season car early enough to kit it in the same year, I don’t think…

Thanks, didn't know about the newer McLaren - that's a good one of the current generation to do, they've certainly gotten it right.

Wasn't suggesting I'd expect to see a 2026 car that soon, just hoping that they continue kitting F1 cars as possible. I've still got plenty of the older ones to build, anyway!

[bbowser]

Happy to see F1 getting some attention.  Looking forward to some newer versions!

[Jim B]

Cool looking car.  Don't know if I'll pick one up or not, but it's a nice looking car.

Every time I read the title to this thread, I get Kodachrome by Paul Simon going through my head, but instead of singing Kodachrome, I sing Vodafone!  Who here is old enough to remember using Kodachrome film in their cameras?

[peteski]

23 minutes ago, Jim B said:

Who here is old enough to remember using Kodachrome film in their cameras?

Yup!

I even still have my Nikon SLR (and few lenses), but haven't used it for close to couple of decades.  I also see plenty of sexagenarians and older member's on this forum.

[OldNYJim]

I’ll be getting one

I I wonder if they’ll have the smart idea of chroming the body right out of the box?

 

[peteski]

14 minutes ago, OldNYJim said:

I’ll be getting one

I I wonder if they’ll have the smart idea of chroming the body right out of the box?

Revell  didn't  even chrome the "chrome" parts tree in the recently reissued Pointiac Fiero.  Draw your own conclusions.  They probably want you to buy and use their pricey chrome paint. But then again, maybe they did chrome this kit, and that used up their entire chrome budget, leaving other models with bare plastic "chrome" parts.   

[Merkur XR4Ti]

On 7/12/2025 at 8:48 AM, OldNYJim said:

I’ll be getting one

I I wonder if they’ll have the smart idea of chroming the body right out of the box?

 

 

From the Revell Germany website. It's kind of hard to tell. It looks like some sort of satin chrome finish on the body pieces.

[RancheroSteve]

I think that's just pretty much the silver plastic that it originally came molded in.

Many of the single seaters I've built have the issue of a very visible and distracting seam because of the nose section being in two parts (mainly due to the limitations of injection molding). I usually try to solve this problem by cutting the front suspension off, gluing the body sections together, filling the seam, and then remounting the suspension after painting. So if the body sections were chromed, the builder would have to accept this seam. In the case of the MP4-25 that I'm currently building, I was able to leave the front suspension arms intact, but separated the upper arms so that I could mount them in from either side.

[Stef]

Just saw F1 with Brad Pitt, and man, I am rather stoked to get this!

Anyone know what the F1 movie APX cars were, and any chance they are, or will be, made as models? Me wants.

Edited July 15 by Stef
add pic

[RancheroSteve]

2 hours ago, Stef said:

Anyone know what the F1 movie APX cars were

I think I remember reading that they are F2 cars with different bodywork to make them look like F1 cars.

[Bainford]

On 7/15/2025 at 9:58 PM, RancheroSteve said:

I think I remember reading that they are F2 cars with different bodywork to make them look like F1 cars.

Correct, the result being that it doesn't look like either one.