Diecast Review: Looksmart 1:43 scale Charles Leclerc 2022 Ferrari F1-75

The front running battle between Max and Charles during last weekend’s Las Vegas GP reminded everyone of what 2022 could have been for Ferrari and Charles. As streamlined as the Red Bull RB18 looked last year, the real eye catcher was Ferrari’s sculpted F1-75. If you’re a tifosi (or even a casual Ferrari fan), your options formodels of the 2022 era F1 cars are basically Bburago, BBR and Looksmart.

I haven’t previously posted a review of Looksmart models, so here will take a quick look at Looksmart’s 1:43 version of Charles Leclerc’s 2022 season opening Bahrain GP winning Ferrari F1-75. It’s a real beauty!

Looksmart display case and outer cardboard box shell

Looksmart Ferrari models are resin based and their 1:43 scale F1-75 comes pre mounted on a flat plinth within a clear perspex display box. The display box is packed in a black outer cardboard box shell with a slide up cover and sponge separator inserts.

The outer box does tend to stain easily with finger prints, so if you’re very particular about finger prints and markings, I’d recommend you use cloth gloves to handle the box and the display case.

Solid high box display case

Looksmart’s display case is nice and high with a similar look and feel to the BBR 1:43 display cases. The display case measures 16cm (6.5″) long x 7cm (3″) deep x 6.5cm (2.5″) high.

Screw mounts

The resin model is mounted to the black plastic plinth using 2 Philips head screws.

Top down view

Front name plate

Looking top down on the Looksmart, the F1-75’s distinctive bathtub sculpted rear is instantly noticeable.

Looksmart’s plinth for its 1:43 model is plain black compared to the carbon fibre textured black plinth that BBR use for their 1:43 models.

This model is mounted with the red Pirelli soft tyres

The detailing at the front of the car at this small scale is excellent, including the radio antennae.

aahh…that sculpted rear…

The rear floor support rods look delicate and the cooling grills seem to be more like carved grooves as there is no space gap but nevertheless, the 1:43 model still rocks.

Close-up cockpit and halo detail

The model includes a helmeted Charles Leclerc driver figurine and as expected the detailing very good. The BBR 1:43 model of the same car doesn’t include the driver figure, so this is one of the main differences with the Looksmart model.

I picked up the 1:43 scale version as I’ve got limited shelf display space these days but based on Looksmart’s presentation of this model, I have no doubt their 1:18 scale model of the F1-75 would be even better (and a better choice if you have the show space and the budget).

Even for higher priced models like Looksmart and BBR, look out for seasonal discounts offered by model retailers who want to clear their older stocks. If you can grab a Looksmart model on sale, you won’t be disappointed…