1/43 Model Review: 1997 Sauber C16 Petronas

Background

After losing the Mercedes Engine to McLaren for the 1996 season, Sauber were able to negotiate Ferrari customer engines, a start of a nine year relationship, that was rekindled following BMW's departure in 2010. They took on long time Ferrari Test Driver, Nicola Larini, but he left the team after five races. Morbidelli replaced him, but broke his arm on two separate occasions, meaning Norberto Fontana was also used by the team. Herbert, in his second year for the team, was able to lead the team to 7th in the Constructors' Championship with an impressive podium finish at Hungary.

Onyx

Onyx 298

Onyx released their budget version of the Sauber back in 1997. It's really not too bad for a budget model, yes the front wing droops a bit, there could be more definition on the airbox, and the rear wing looks like it's going to fall off the back of the car, but the general shape is reasonable, the colour scheme acceptable, the rims are correct, as are the helmets, so it's not too bad all things considered, particularly for the price you pay.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps

Minichamps 417970017

Minichamps finally released their version in 2019, available with Herbert and Larini in limited edition runs. The car is based on the end of season with the sculpted front wing endplates, and sculpted sidepod flaps and a much smaller rear wing endplate. This is a fantastic resin model from Minichamps, with lovely proportions and fantastic added detail as well.

Minichamps 517974399

The real reason this model was made was to add to the Schumacher 25th anniversary collection, which comes in a few different inlays from what I can tell. Peter Sauber had a close working relationship with Ferrari and after the Italian GP, was able to borrow Schumacher for a secret test at Fiorano, with photos being leaked years later. Sauber wanted an experienced driver to help with imbalance issues, with Herberts teammates all struggling with the car. Schumacher completed 84 laps and lapping around a second slower than his time in a Ferrari. Schumacher ran the car without sponsors on.

Score: 8/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK244

Based on the Hungarian GP, this is the Tameo version of the Sauber. I love all the upper rear wing elements, the extra fin inside the sidepod opening, the detail on this model is lovely. The cockpit detail is exquisite and there's nothing missed on this model. I think I personally prefer the Minichamps model overall, but the fine details on this car just about makes up for it.
Score: 8/10

1/43 Model Review: 1994 Ferrari 412T1

My 1994 Model Reviews has come full circle, finishing off where I began, with the Ferrari, this time the early season 412T1 with its distinctive, beautiful and short-lived tear-drop sidepod openings. I've already reviewed their season in my previous post, so let's get straight into looking at the models.

Onyx / Heritage Formula

Onyx 190

The Onyx model gives us a fairly nice shape compared to its other offerings for the 1994 season. I prefer it's nose-front wing attachment treatment over Minichamps. The rear end also has a nice treatment. However, the car looks quite long, the engine cover in particular is too long - I know it houses a V12, but it's not that big! It fails to capture the curvature just in front of the cockpit. But it does come with nice BBS wheel rims.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps

Minichamps 430940027

Minichamps have only produced the early season version of the car, and it was a nice model. The proportions are nice, the shapes and curves are close to the real thing, a really nice model for the budget range at the time. It would have been nice to have the barcodes rather than blank space for the tobacco advertising.
Score: 7/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK177

Tameo, to my knowledge, have come out with two versions, the first from the Brazilian Grand Prix, similar to the models above. The model in the screen below is particularly well made, probably my favourite from all the 1/43 412T1 models. 

Score: 8/10

Tameo TMK188

In Spain (running into Canada), Ferrari experimented with opening up their sidepod inlets, something they would revise altogether for the 412T1B. Presumably they were not getting enough cooling. The Tameo model from the Canadian GP includes the openings on the engine cover, which were also deemed an illegal interpretation of the rules a few races in. 

Score: 8/10

BBR

BBR Met19

BBR's version of the 412T1 is nice, but for the price to accuracy ratio, I think I prefer Minichamps version on this occasion. I'm not a particular fan of the tear-drop sidepods on this model, though the engine cover and nose/monocoque sections are lovely. 

Score: 6/10

To read my review of the 412T1B, click here: 412T1B
For more 1994 model reviews, click here: 1994 Model Reviews

1/43 Model Review: 1994 Ferrari 412T1B

Having spent the last couple of months staring at endless pictures of the 1994 Ferrari car for my GP4 model, I thought I'd give a mini review of some of the models I had of the B spec car. The 1994 Ferrari, to me, is one of the nicest looking cars from that season, and is probably in my top 10 good looking cars from the 1990s.

Background

The Ferrari 3.5 Litre 4 Valve engine, with 12 cyclinders and a transverse gearbox which gave the car its name 412 T1, was designed by John Barnard. The early season car featured heavily sculpted and rounded sidepod inlets, but the car went through many outward changes oweing to greater aerodynamic efficiency and mid-season rule changes which led to the 412T1B. The car would make the Scuderia a regular podium finisher, and its V12 power advantage helped Berger win the German Grand Prix, Ferrari's first race win since 1990. The car was marred by reliability issues, almost costing Alesi a podium finish at Canada, retiring on the last lap in Germany when running in 2nd and retiring from the lead in Italy. Berger also retired from the lead at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Alesi injured his back in a testing accident in Mugello after the first race, where he finished on the podium. Nicola Larini, the team's test driver, replaced Alesi for the next two Grand Prix, earning a podium finish at the San Marino Grand Prix.

Berger took two pole positions that year at the German Grand Prix and the Portuguese Grand Prix. Berger finished 3rd in the Drivers' Championship, whilst the team were a lonely third in the Constructors' Championship.

Mattel Elite: British Grand Prix (Alesi)

Mattel Elite - T6284

I am increasingly disappointed by this model from Hot Wheels/Mattel. It's the 1994 Ferrari 412T1B from the British Grand Prix (the 2nd race with the B spec car) driven by Jean Alesi. That nose is just way too big and too high, the sidepods don't sweep forward, and the logos on the sidepods are massive. I do however like the wheel rims and the engine cover isn't bad at all, but perhaps more importantly the price is not extortionate!
Score: 5/10

Tameo: German Grand Prix (Berger)

Tameo - TMK189

I did replace it with this handbuilt Tameo model a little while back, but quite a few pieces fell off in transit and I haven't had a chance to repair it yet. This is the German Grand Prix version, where Gerhard Berger took it to victory. The shape of the sidepods could be more curvy along the top edge, and the rear of the engine cover looks like an after-thought, but overall, a much nicer model. The nose is nicely shaped too. With Ferrari boasting a powerful V12 engine, they did not need to run the extreme low downforce setups as the other cars, so this model gets away with having a slightly deeper rear wing.
Score: 7/10

Onyx

Onyx - 212

I have never owned the Onyx version of the 412T1B, so again this is not my photo, but in an era when they simply did texture updates to existing models, Onyx put a bit more effort into making the shape updates. New front wing, updated sidepods, added bargeboards, updated engine cover and new diffuser. That covered off the majority of the changes, although I would have liked to have seen the curved lower rear wing. But for Onyx standards, this was a great update, so I think I may have to add this car to my collection. It's a shame that other cars did not get the same treatment.

Some versions of this car even come with wet tyres, which although it was lovely to see the threads, the overall diameter of the tyres shrunk compared to the slick tyres, and it led to Onyx cars sitting on the plank rather than on the wheels.
Score: 6/10

BBR - French GP

BBR - MET24

Again, not owned by me, but this version from BBR is for me the best of the lot. All the contours around the nose cone is just right. The engine cover shape is the best out the lot as well. BBR even made an attempt to put the hole in the engine cover for the bit of rear suspension that sticks out. The additional quality and detail comes at a price, and finding a factory built version is very, very rare.

Score: 9/10



With the increase in 1994 cars from Spark and Minichamps in recent years (not including re-packaged models from 20 years ago), I hope model-makers will revisit this one.

For more 1994 Model Reviews, click here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/1994-model-review.html
You can see my GP4 model of this car here: GP4 Ferrari 412T1B