1/43 Model Review: 1983 World Champion Nelson Piquet (Brabham BT52 BMW)

Background

1982 was a development year for Brabham with new BMW turbo engines in the BT51, but with rule changes specifying a flat bottom for 1983, Gordan Murray developed the BT52 made specifically with mid-race refuelling which made for a smaller rear end resulting in the distinctive dart shaped car. Piquet started the season well, battling with Prost's Renault and Arnoux's Ferrari. But a bad run of luck and reliability mid-season put the Championship campaign in jeopardy, however a consistent end of the season saw Piquet 2 points behind Prost at the final race at Kyalami, with Arnoux also in contention. Piquet raced into the lead, but when Prost retired, Piquet coasted home in fourth to clinch his second Drivers' Championship - the first for a turbo charged engine.

This was the final Championship success for the Brabham team, as Ecclestone sold the failing team in 1987, and the name disappearing from the sport in less than 10 years.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430830005

The BT52 is one of the most distinctive looking cars in F1 history, with its arrow shaped chassis. Minichamps released a Brazilian GP version of the car. It's a very basic model from Minichamps, its got nice proportions but just lacks a bit of detail.

Minichamps 80429423036

I came across this BMW edition of the BT52 which has the late season colour scheme. It was nice to have both editions of this car, but the blue just makes it look a bit toy like to me.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps 436830005

An updated version was released in the World Champion Collections set, and it comes with an updated driver figure and a new rear wing. I really like this update to the original model, so for me this has gone up a grade.
Score: 7/10

Formula 1 Car Collection/Ixo

Ixo have released the above car in the Formula 1 Car Collection magazine series. The Brazilian Eaglemoss version comes with a driver figure.

I've come across this early season version of the car too available from Altaya. Overall, the standard is fairly comparable to the early Minichamps version.
Score: 6/10

Quartzo

Quartzo's version is of a similar standard to Ixo's but the overall finish of the car is a bit of a let down for me.
Score: 5/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK006

Tameo TMK010

The late season version from the European GP was also released from Tameo.
Score: 8/10

Spark

Spark S7110

Spark S7104

Spark have shown some early but yet to be released photos of their version of this car, but I'm interested in seeing more. From this angle, it looks like a very promising model. I believe it will be released later this year.

For more World Champion Reviews, click on this link here https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/f1-world-champions.html

1/43 Model Review: 1981 World Champion Nelson Piquet (Brabham BT49C Ford Cosworth)

Background

After a battle with FISA and FOCA, skirts were banned and a minimum ride height was brought into place. The third variation of the Gordan Murray designed Brabham BT49, which featured innovations as hydropneumatic suspension, which was raised at scrutineering, but lowered during the racing,  and water cooled brakes. After Prost claimed his first pole position, Nelson Piquet claimed victory at the German GP at Hockenheim and, being 17 points behind in the Drivers title, launched his comeback in the battle for the top spot. Piquet went to the final race at Las Vegas and finished fifth to win the Drivers' Title, his first of three, despite having to be lifted out of the car with exhaustion, and the team finished second in the Constructors' battle.

Minichamps

Minichamps 400810005

I've only every owned this Minichamps car from the German GP. The real car itself is quite simply in contours and livery, so I suppose it's not too difficult a shape to model. The detail in the cockpit, behind the drivers head, and around the gearbox area is nicely done. I'm not a big fan of what they've done with the visor, I know what they're trying to aim for as it was a very clear transparent visor, but it's not pulled off particularly well. Personally, I think Minichamps have done a good job with this.

Score: 8/10

Spark

Spark S4347

This Spark model released fairly recently is from the Argentine GP. As expected, the details on this car are very nicely done, I particularly like seeing the top of the engine through the grill from a top view. Spark have their transparent visor, but for me it detracts from the shape of it a bit, and they could have painted Piquet's balaclava on. I prefer the overall shape of the Minichamps car, I think Spark's one is a bit lacking. However, I prefer the details on this car, which bumps the score back up again. 

Score: 8/10

Altaya/Ixo/Formula 1 Car Collection

This Model by Ixo is also from the German GP. The things that jump out at me is the oddly shaped rollover hoop and the rear wing endplates. There is some detail around the cockpit and the rear end, but they're pretty basic. The logos on the sidepod have been somewhat squished vertically.
Score: 6/10

Quartzo

Quartzo QFC99049

This Quartzo model is from the San Marino GP. Similar to the Spark model, it has the slightly larger rear wing endplates. I'm not quite sure what is going on with the tear drop shape on Piquet's helmet. It's budget end, as well as a slightly older model, so we're not expecting a huge amount of detail, but it's not bad. My only complaint about this car is the nose which is a little too rounded, and the rolloever hoop could be taller.

Score: 6/10

Tameo

Tameo TB019

This factory built Tameo car is another version of the German GP car. At over double the price of the Spark and Minichamps cars, you expect this to be the standard setting car, and you would be right. Good proportions, great level of detail, no quibbles over the helmet (because it doesn't have one), and there's no complaint about amateur build quality. The front tyre is a little bit too big, but that's not going to put me off giving this model top marks.

Score: 10/10


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1/43 Model Review: 1994 Simtek S941 Ford

Background

Simtek Research, set up by Nick Worth and Max Mosley, had been around for a few years, designing parts for Ligier and helping the FIA. In 1990 they designed a car for BMW, but they decided to concentrate on Touring Cars, so the design was sold to the Andrea Moda team for the 1992 season. They were going to design a car for the new Bravo Grand Prix team, but for the sudden death of one of their backers.

Wirth entered his own team in 1994, with Roland Ratzenberger recruited alongside David Brabham, son of Jack Brabham, a shareholder in the team. Ratzenberger didn't qualify in Brazil, finished 11th, but last in Aida. In Qualifying for the San Marino GP, he knocked his front wing in an off, but eager to set a lap time, did not get it changed. In the 190mph Villeneuve corner, the wing failed, and crashed heavily into the concrete wall taking his life. He would be the first death in the sport in 12 years, but was overshadowed when the very next day, Ayrton Senna also lost his life in the race.

At the Monaco Grand Prix, the Simtek team only ran one car out of respect. Andrea Montermini was to drive for the team in Spain, but had a terrible accident in practice that meant he did not take any further part (you can read more about that here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/2019/01/1994-11-crashes-that-changed-f1.html). Jean Marc Gounon was already scheduled to take over the seat at the French Grand Prix, bringing much needed funds to the team. Domenico Schiattarella and Taki Inoue also drove for the cash-strapped team.

The reality was, that this was a rubbish debut season, the car was so slow but for the even worse job done by the Pacific team.

Minichamps

Minichamps 430940031

Only Minichamps, to my knowledge, have created a Simtek model, and it is a nice once from them. This is the early season version, although it has bargeboards which only appeared later in the season.
Score 7/10

Minichamps 430940032

I'm not entirely sure when, but Minichamps released an updated model some years later under the same item code. You can tell as it lacks the barge boards, and it has an updated driver model and helmet. The colours have also been nicely tweaked, a really lovely model.
Score 8/10

Only the two drivers were released by Minichamps, all from the early season, though they had six drivers in total that year.

Click here for my other 1994 model reviews: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/1994-model-review.html