1/43 Model Review: 1996 Williams FW18 Renault

Background

Damon Hill was in his fourth year with Williams having been runner up to Schumacher for two consecutive years. The German would move to the struggling Ferrari team, leaving Williams to dominate the season. Hill was everyone's favourite to secure the title, but it wouldn't be until the final race of the season until he sealed the title, as his rookie team-mate, reigning Indycar champion, Jacques Villeneuve, proved a worthy contender. Hill won the title, despite not having his contract renewed in 1997, becoming the first father and son to have been World Driver's Champion, Graham Hill being a former three time champion.

Jacques Villeneuve was in his first season in Formula One, in the quickest car of the year designed by Adrian Newey. He lead most of the way on his first Grand Prix only for a mistake in the first corner caused him to lose out to team mate Damon Hill. It wasn't until the fourth Grand Prix of the year when Villeneuve would become a Grand Prix winner at the European Grand Prix after being chased home by Michael Schumacher's Ferrari. He would win a further three Grand Prix during the season, fighting for the championship until the final Grand Prix.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430960005

The standard model comes with the early season livery before they moved the number off the rear wing to the winglet. Some of these models have a Japanese GP sticker on the lid.
I actually bought this one with the lid of this model signed by Damon Hill.

The rollover bar is too big and wide, and the sidepods also too tall. The nose is a little too rounded along the top edge too. The bargeboards are too small too. For me, it was one of the nicer looking cars on the grid, but Minichamps, to me, haven't done a great job in reproducing it.

Minichamps 433960205

The UK were able to purchase a special run of 4 cars with Damon Hill driving. The FW18 came with a driver figure (with no effort put into the face, they could have at least given him bushy eye brows) lifting the trophy aloft. They also amended the rear wing end places and removed the winglets, but they didn't put a low downforce rear wing on it. They also added an onboard camera, not that they bothered to paint it or put any detail on it. It's nice to get a different version with an amended shape, but all the failings from the original model remain.

Minichamps 402969701

Minichamps also did a run of twin car sets celebrating 2 World Champions at a time - this one with the 1996 and 1997 World Champions. This is the standard model again, but with the added onboard camera, and the number moved onto the winglet from the rear wing endplate. 

Minichamps 436960005

The World Champions Collection version came a few years afterwards with another updated version of the FW18, but with factory applied tobacco logos. They have updated the suspension, the driver figure and the driver headrest which makes the airbox look much better. Whilst the World Champions twin set had stickers on the onboard camera, strangely this one does not. 

Minichamps 400960206

The latest FW18 from Minichamps to be released is the first win of Jacques Villeneuve from the European GP. This has an additional camera on the rear wing, though there's no stickers on that, but the camera on top of the rollover bar has the most detail yet.

I will score these together, even though there are many versions. If it was just the original car, I probably would have given it a low 5 score, but with some of the newer additions and the amended cockpit area means I have upped the score by a point.
Score: 6/10

BBR

BBR Met59

I went for this BBR version of the Australian GP model. This is a really lovely model. The nose, the airbox and bargeboards are all a massive improvement on the Minichamps offering. I like the cooling outlet just under the winglet at the rear of the sidepods. It's a shame the Rothmans logos are a different blue to the car, and the whole inside 

Score: 8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK215

I like the Tameo version too, this version from the Argentine GP. The nose is a little thinner than the BBR version and a bit more realistic to me. I like the exposed gearbox casing detail on this model too, although it is present in the BBR version too. The logos on the engine cover are just a bit too small, and the opening of the airbox is just a little too boxy and square for me, and so these things prevent it from getting top marks from me. Still a stunning model though. 
Score: 9/10

Onyx

Onyx281

Onyx's 1/43 model of the FW18 isn't great. The front wing is too big. The wheelbase seems too short making the whole central part of the car seemed squished. Minimal effort has been applied to the upper rear wing both in terms of shape and decals.
Score: 3/10

RBA/Altaya

RBA have produced a German GP model of the FW18 and caters for fans on a budget. All the issues I have with the Minichamps model are the same for this one, their moulds looking very similar indeed. But the finish is nowhere near as complete as the Minichamps model.
Score: 4/10


To read more reviews from the 1996 season, click here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/1996-model-review.html
This is also featured in the World Champions Model Reviews, for more click here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/f1-world-champions.html