We simulate the origin and evolution of the bipolar nebula surrounding
eta Car using numerical two-dimensional gasdynamical models. The gene
ralized interacting stellar winds scenario, wherein a stellar wind int
eracts with an aspherical circumstellar environment, is adopted. The e
ruption wind of 1840-1860, which is taken to be spherically symmetric,
interacts with a preeruption toroidal density environment. Using reas
onable assumptions of initial conditions and eruption parameters based
on archival data, we have performed over 30 simulations in an effort
to bracket the initial parameters which produce models that best match
observations. We find that models with high pole-to-equator density c
ontrasts (> 100) and toroidal density configurations nicely account fo
r the observed morphology and kinematics of the homunculus.