1/43 Model Review: 1994 Larrousse LH94 Ford

Background

The 1994 Larrousse LH94 car carried two liveries during the year, a red and white Kronenbourg version for a few Grand Prix, and the green Tourtel version. I, personally, can't remember a bigger livery change mid-season, flipping between the two liveries in the early season.

The car was a development of their first in-house built car the LH93, but it would be their final car, due to lack of finances. The season started off well, with a point scored at Aida, but lack of development and reliability meant the team would only repeat this feat once again in Germany. Interestingly the German Grand Prix is remembered for the pit stop fire of Jos Verstappen's Benetton B194, but Benetton and Larrousse had a technical agreement that meant the LH94 ran the Benetton B193 gearbox. The technical association went closer when Benetton claimed that it was Larrousse who liaised with Intertechnique, who produced the fuel rigs, about removing the filter, which gave faster pitstops, but also resulted in that fiery accident. 

Olivier Beretta was a pay driver, and so it was expected that Erik Comas would be the lead driver, and indeed was the one who brought home the points. But when Beretta's money dried up, Phillipe Alliot, Yannick Dalmas amd Hideki Noda all shared the seat in the final part of the year. Even Comas had to give up his seat at the final race for Jean-Louis Deletraz. Deletraz had little experience and was not physically fit, driving some 6 seconds a lap off the pace of the leaders, and between 1 and 2 seconds off the pace of Noda.

The fascinating story of the teams halted attempts for the 1995 season and its eventual demise makes for interesting reading. The LH95 was designed, but never built, they tried to use a Lola T95/30, but they had an unhappy history, before linking up briefly with DAMS and their DM-01 (later merged with the LH95 to become the GD-01), before looking to race the LH94B, a modified 1994 car.  You can read more about it here:
www.unracedf1.com

Eligor

Eligor 2995B

Eligor 2996A

This is my first and last Eligor model, although I had to get both livery versions. These cars are pretty rare to find, but with neither Onyx nor Minichamps making this car, these would have to do. The general proportions isn't great on these cars, it barely resembles the real thing, but you do get some nice details such as the suspension is better than you would get on an Onyx model.
Score 4/10

Other Versions

I haven't owned any other versions, so from my searching, I could only find this beautiful Tameo kit version from the Spanish GP. It's a big step up in accuracy than the Eligor version, but you have to pay handsomely for a nice built version.

Tameo TMK186

I'm not overly convinced of the proportions on this Tameo model. It's got lovely details, the shape is representative, but it just doesn't quite look right to me.
Score 7/10


I'm really hoping this car will be revisited by the modern day model makers.


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