F1 Diecast 1:43 review: TrueScale Models Peterson Tyrrell P34 1977 Belgian GP
Time to take a closer look at a TrueScale Models (TSM) diecast. Truescale have managed to secure rights to produce the Tyrrell P34s and some of the Lotus GP cars in 1:43 scale. I hadn’t paid much attention to TrueScale models but when I first saw the Truescale Ronnie Peterson 1977 P34 Belgian GP car in the shops – it looked impressively detailed enough to be worth adding one to my own collection.
Taking a closer look at at the TrueScale 1:43 Tyrrell P34, a few things are noticable:
- TSM’s display case is significantly larger than Quartzo or Minichamps. The TSM display case measures 15.5cm(L) x 8.5cm (D) x 6cm (H) compared to the traditional Minichamps 1:43 cases of 12cm x 7cm x 4cm.
- TSM box packaging comes with perspex outer box, presentation box with window panel and an inlay with a short paragraph on Ronnie’s career.
- TSM box (mainly the wooden plinth) is much heavier than a Minichamps or Quartzo 1:43.
- TSM driver figure detail is excellent (its comparable to a RedLine Model driver).
- Metal parts, engine and rear detailing is of a high level.
TSM also produces the Peterson P34 1977 Brazilian GP variant with the famous Peterson yellow sunvisor helmeted driver figurine. Given the rising retail prices of newer Minichamps 1:43 cars and the resale price of the equivalent Minichamps 1977 FNCB Peterson P34 , the TSM diecast based on production quality is a serious if not better alternative.
After adding the TSM P34, I’m very tempted to take a look at the other TSM 1:43 including the Andretti set of Lotus 77, 78 and 79 cars too.
Unfortunately I don’t have a Minichamps P34, but I’ve included some comparison pictures of the TSM against a Quartzo Scheckter P34 1:43 model (from what I’ve seen, the quality of the Minichamps P34’s aren’t that much better than a Quartzo other than the driver figure).
The view from top on the TrueScale P34
Excellent driver detailing (including helmut tubes)
Quartzo P34 cockpit
Lots of metal and rear detailing in the TrueScale
More plastic in the Quartzo rear
The TSM’s rear end
Quartzo’s rear
Different box sizes
TrueScale P34 vs Quartzo P34
- Related:
- 1:43 diecasts
Hi Paolo I just wondered if you were the right person – someone on YouTube had an Agip promotional video of the 1982 F1 season about 18 minutes long and it got taken down along with the channel and I’d so love to share it with my Facebook group. Is that you. 🙂 Cheers. Rob
Hi, is this model glued to the base by its tyres? The reason I ask is that I just purchased a TSM Ronnie Peterson March 761 South African Grand Prix 1976 from ebay and after removing the two screws from the underside of the base I found that it’s tyres are glued to the base so I cannot remove it to put in my display cabinet.
Kind regards, Dean
Thanks for this interesting question! I checked the wheels on my model and thought you may be right as the wheels didn’t rotate. But unscrewing the 2 screws and model does come away from the base plinth – I found the rear tyre screws were incredibly tight though and once the model comes off the base, there are actually rear tyre marks on the base (you can see the rain tyre pattern) – not sure if it was originally glued from the factory, I think it might just be pressure against the base. No problem with the front tyres though. Note: my TSM model is the 1977 Belgian GP.
Just an update, I did manage to remove the model from the base by gently working an old small butter knife between the tyres and base and I think you are right in that they weren’t glued just screwed down very tightly as there were tyre marks left on the base. Which brings me on to another question, is there a database or something which refers to the years in which models were actually manufactured as I have only been collecting for the last two years or so, and apart from the odd brand new model most have been purchased second hand from ebay and I have no idea how old they are
Good question. I haven’t come across a database that records the manufacture date. Minichamps only provide a 1st delivery date. TSM website doesn’t provide archive model library but I’m pretty sure I bought this model soon after its release, so most likely it was made in 2012.