TERRY SMITH looks at these generic F1 cars with a lot of potential.
Introduced at the tail end of 2019, this range of models is dedicated to the mid to late 1980s Turbo era of F1 racing. The idea was simple; take a generic F1 shape and adapt it to take a slimmed down version of their already hugely successful sports car chassis, complete with separate motor mount with all the highly developed quality high performance parts. The combination has been incredible, with the cars breaking lap records on club tracks all over the world.
The sky is the limit with these cars, as any owner of an NSR slot car will tell you. You can experiment with different motors, gear ratios, even tyre compounds - it's just like real F1, but in 1/32nd scale! At first the models were offered in just 4 plain colours, with NSR believing that racers could and would want to decorate their own bodies. White was very popular and I myself bought one in this colour, added a bit of hi-vis paint and some Marlboro stickers and created my own McLaren MP4/4. Did it look like the McLaren? Well, yes it did! I was told that the shape of the Formula 86/89 body had been based on the Ferrari F87 F1 car and it is very close, but as in many periods of the real sport F1 cars do end up looking the same and you can see many different liveries suiting this body, something that has not gone un-noticed at NSR.
Their first decorated models were based on the Jägermeister livery, carried briefly on the short lived Eurobrun F1 car. Then we had the Leyton House and the Olivetti-sponsored Brabhams, followed by what NSR called the 'Red Italia' cars. These carried the famous Number 27 and 28 from the period representing cars driven by Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto, and were so successful that NSR had to produce a second run to keep up with world demand (these four models are now discontinued - Ed). The crowning glory, though, had to be the special twin set featuring the cars looking like McLaren MP4/4s as driven by Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. This set was beautiful and hugely collectable too, limited to just 600 pieces which even at £215 all sold before we could get them!
Well, in 2021 yet more neat liveries are coming our way. Shortly, we should be getting Lola Larousee cars, a Camel Lotus, the Lola Hass and perhaps, best of all, the Canon Williams complete with Mansell’s Red Five on the nose. While the Formula 86/89 cars are a popular choice for the racer, we have noticed that these decorated models are starting to appeal to collectors, because, while the body shape may be generic, it suits nearly every livery to a tee that NSR throws at it. If you have not tried one it’s about time you did - it will change your thinking on how open wheel slot cars perform. If you want to try your hand at building your own, NSR now supplies the car as a complete white kit. Happy F1 racing - 1980s style!
Initially the F1 series known as Formula 86/89 was launched at the tail end of 2019 in a choice of plain colours.
This is how they come, assembled and in a crystal case. I got hold of a white one like this as I had plans for a simple race livery.
This is how my car ended up. Not quite a McLaren MP4/4 of Ayrton Senna but very close, don’t you think?
Apparently the car was based on the Ferrari F87, although NSR decided to call it the Red Italia car, this one carries the race number 27 of Michele Alboreto and was available in 2020.
Proving how the generic shape works so well, this is a real Brabham BT56 from 1987. Unsurprisingly, NSR have already released the model in this livery.
Fancy a bit of DIY? You can now purchase the Formula 86/89 cars as kits. Yes, it does come with a body!
New for 2021, will be the car in the liveries (from L to R) Williams, Lola Haas, Larousse and Camel Lotus. Keep an eye out in Racing Lines for more details.
Available later this year will be “Red 5” The Canon Williams as driven by Nigel Mansell, which we are sure will be very popular with UK buyers.