Posted April 13, 2023 by f1nut in Diecast models

Diecast Review: Tarmac Works 1:64 scale Mercedes AMG W11 Lewis Hamilton (2020 Tuscan GP) and Valtteri Bottas (2020 Austrian GP)

A few months back, I posted a detailed review of Tarmac Works’ excellent 1:64 scale model of Lando Norris’ McLaren MCL35M 2021 Monaco GP race car. Tarmac Works (again with IXO) have now added another F1 diecast to their GLOBAL64 1:64 scale collection by releasing the 2020 championship winning black Mercedes AMG F1 W11 in 2 models – Lewis’ 2020 Tuscan GP winning car and Valtteri’s 2020 Austrian GP winning race car.

The Tarmac Works’ team was kind enough to share review samples of these new diecasts for a closer look.

Box artwork and official Mercedes Benz hologram sticker

The outer box for these models comes in the silver/aqua Mercedes AMG F1 livery colours (although the 2020 car is black) with car artwork. The notable difference from the previous Tarmac Works McLaren models is that the box has no open display window to see the diecast.

To display these models, you need to unbox them – for collectors who like to simply stack their models inside their boxes, this is might be a minor issue.

The box also has a Mercedes AMG hologram sticker to vouch for authenticity (the sticker is a funky 3D hologram that shows “MB” letters in the distance).

The models themselves sit inside a clear plastic shell.

Inner mould wrap holds the diecast model in place

At first glance, aside from the car numbers, both model cars appear almost identical – it’s only when you compare carefully the 2 that you can see the differences.

Lewis’ car has the red Pirelli soft compound tyres and Petronas Syntium badging on the sidepods.

Valtteri’s model has the white Pirelli hard compound tyres and the yellow painted camera sitting above the roll hoop air intake.

Lewis’ 2020 black liveried Tuscan GP winning Mercedes W11

I’ve included some photos here but even using a macro lens, because of the black gloss livery and 1:64 scale, it’s difficult for my camera to capture the detailing on these models.

For this reason, I’m more of a fan of the traditional Mercedes silver arrows livery than the black lives matters inspired black race livery – but there are plenty of Mercedes fans that love the 2020, 2021 and 2023 black race livery.

Just like the detailing on the McLaren MCL35M, the detailing on these diecasts are equally good given the small 1:64 scale. You literally need a microscope to see the sponsor decals on the halo, but they are there if you look hard enough!

Also, compared to the McLaren MCL35M model, these Mercedes W11 diecasts have properly defined rear mirrors and also include the car’s radio antennas (which wasn’t on the McLaren diecast). Being race winning cars, each model comes with a P1 parc ferme stand.

Like all Tarmac Works’ models, the car wheels fully rotate.

Valtteri’s W11

As at the time of writing, both Lewis’ W11 and Valtteri’s W11 models (retailing at $17.90) have already sold out on Tarmac Works’ website!

Tarmac Works team have mentioned that you check your local retailer or search for these models in the secondary market. They also advised that they will be releasing 3 models of the 2021 Mercedes W12 – Lewis’ 2021 British GP and Valtteri’s 2021 Turkish GP car later this month (April 2023) and Lewis’ 2021 Brazilian GP car sometime around mid June 2023.

Collectors who are holding out for models of the 2022 era silver Mercedes W13 (which Tarmac Works mentioned was in the pipeline when I was writing my McLaren review) will need to wait a while as this model is still under development.