tamiya quality

hi guys
i'm just finishing my revell 32 ford 3 window coupe and i went out today and bought a tamiya mitsubishi lancer evolution VI, and i must say the quality of this model is amazing!!! there were no mould lines on the body at all, and the attention to detail is 1000000 times better than the revell, i was pissed that it cost twice as much as the revell but now i see why. i will be buying tamiya from now on

scott

You've tried the rest, now try the best :)

:D

Now u know the score!!!!

While Tamiya's sliding mold is the best in the model industry, there are seam lines. Check the front bumper, the edge of the hood, A-pillar, C-pillar, edge of the trunk lid and rear bumper. There are seams that should be sanded, or they'll stand out after paint is applied.

Advantage of Tamiya is precise fitting, even and thin clear parts, better decals, better wheels and better tires, and I think it's well worth the price.

Of course, I must say you still don't know the very best until you try Tamiya's Formula One or GT racer. :)

Have fun with your Evo VI kit.

I just won two older Monogram kits on eBay, the performance series Corvette ZR-1 and Buick GNX. I was actually amazed to the attention to detail there. Both kits have precolored taillights, and there is a "special detail set" containing wiring and plumbing in both kits. I have also never seen such an engine detail in any Tamiya kit (haven't seen that many, I admit). By quick count, the Corvette has 32 engine parts, not counting the wiring and plumbing. The quality of the parts is not Tamiya, of course, but it is close. Looks like Monogram has paid special attention to these Performance Series kits? I am happy :D

When it comes to American subject, both Revell/Monogram and AMT are much better than any Japanese makes. (However, AMT has s%&# like Diablo and Jag XJ220, and the rear tires of R/M's Callaway never fit.) And attention to details, such as bolts and nuts, alternator and pulleys are much better than moderately Tamiya kit. Disadvantage of R/M and AMT is its poor fitting quality of those parts, but they still make more detailed car models than Tamiya or any other JPN manufacturers.

Fujimi Enthusiast BMW Alpina has very detailed engine parts (even separate distributor cap, oil filter housing and cooling fan with pulleys and belts)
but fitting of all these parts mostly poor. Bonnet won't close after intercooler attached to the engine and you need to bend it in different ways to find right position

Poorly fitting parts isnt much in the way of attention to detail in my book!!!

Originally posted by hirofkd
While Tamiya's sliding mold is the best in the model industry, there are seam lines. Check the front bumper, the edge of the hood, A-pillar, C-pillar, edge of the trunk lid and rear bumper. There are seams that should be sanded, or they'll stand out after paint is applied.

Advantage of Tamiya is precise fitting, even and thin clear parts, better decals, better wheels and better tires, and I think it's well worth the price.

Of course, I must say you still don't know the very best until you try Tamiya's Formula One or GT racer. :)

Have fun with your Evo VI kit.

i have done only 1 F1 kit in my history, the Hasegawa 1965 Italian GP Honda RA272E, 1/24

i dropped it and broke, it was on carpet and i could not recover all of the suspension pieces, i was rather irritated

it was an extremely detailed kit.. i didnt do a great job at it. i would like to redo it sometime

http://shadowboy.2y.net/~spam/F1_Engine.jpg
this is the engine & rear suspension when tht part of it was mostly done

Originally posted by Mikke
I just won two older Monogram kits on eBay, the performance series Corvette ZR-1 and Buick GNX. Looks like Monogram has paid special attention to these Performance Series kits? I am happy :D

Hmmm, quality from Monogram kits that are over 12 years old!! You Tamiya lovers need to build some engines before you bang on Monogram products, nuf said!!

Originally posted by Murco


Hmmm, quality from Monogram kits that are over 12 years old!! You Tamiya lovers need to build some engines before you bang on Monogram products, nuf said!!

I still love Tamiya. For example, Monogram tyres(sp?) suck... Has anyone noticing them being totally out of scale? Tamiya Mustang Cobra R has 255/45ZR17 tyres, comparing to Monogram Corvette ZR-1, which has 275/40ZR17 front tyres. Now how is it possible that the Tamiya tyres are wider, when they should be the opposite... :rolleyes: :mad:

I'm now in desperate search for some aftermarket tyres, in several sizes... (Monogram tyres are great compared to my Esci BMW M1...)

Overall quality in Tamiya kits is still far better than any other manufacturer's, I just wish that they would remember that there are no cars without engine! :devil: :rolleyes:

Here is my latest pile of "ill-fitting" parts!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/905914Camarofrontquarter.jpg

Well, to be the exception to the rule, I think I've got the poorest Tamiya kit ever. My Testarossa kit must have been cast late in the mold's life, because I'm still finding odd gaps and choppy lines. :( Sad, because I have big plans for it...

I think I'll end up just buying another Tamiya TR kit to mix-and-match the best parts (and also have a spare flat-12 to wave around... ;)

lol. try doing airfix cars they always mismatched i got a peugoet 206

-->> front part of the body dont match up with chassie its like start of wheel arch on body starts like 4mm before the chassie does
-->> then theres the rear rollcage frame that poss to sit in top of rear wheel arches n against the top of the 2 side frames but its like 5mm short
-->> transfars wrong size that instead of going from low right angle to high left angle had to be swapped around so it went low left to high right

plus i,ve built other airfix kits before n the 2 parts only matched up on 3 sides leaving grapping gaps

i have a revell ITR and the fit & finish is horrible. the tamiya S2000 has good fit & finish, but i found the front subframe kind of tight

i just wish more tamiya kits would have engine detail

the hasegawa kits have good fit & finish too, but the detail is not as good, same with the fujimi

we have done or are doing:

maisto 1/18 S2000, yellow (done)
american muscle 1/18 shelby cobra 427 (done)
testors 1/43 ferrari F40 (done)
burago 1/43 porsche 911 GT3 Cup (needs decals)
Hasegawa 1/24 1965 Honda RA272E, italian GP car (done, dropped, broken :()
revell ITR (a couple) (both works in progress, one white, one yellow, neither of them done, look like crap)
Hasegawa Civic SiR-II (done, looks like crap)
Fujimi Spoon CTR (work in progress)
Tamiya Alfa Romeo GTV (work in progress)
Testors (i think?) 1/18 Mini Cooper (done)
Tamiya S2000 (work in progress)
Tamiya Mitsu Lancer Evo VI (not really started yet)

Originally posted by Mikke


I still love Tamiya. For example, Monogram tyres(sp?) suck... Has anyone noticing them being totally out of scale? Tamiya Mustang Cobra R has 255/45ZR17 tyres, comparing to Monogram Corvette ZR-1, which has 275/40ZR17 front tyres. Now how is it possible that the Tamiya tyres are wider, when they should be the opposite... :rolleyes: :mad:


The ZR1 front tires are supposed to be 255's, and when you pull out the calipers Monogram's are actually correct!! That Mustang kit is all out of whack in proportions, I threw mine in the trash!!

Originally posted by Murco


The ZR1 front tires are supposed to be 255's, and when you pull out the calipers Monogram's are actually correct!! That Mustang kit is all out of whack in proportions, I threw mine in the trash!!

Actually, Corvette ZR1 had 275 front tires as an option. I don't believe that all the Tamiya tires are out of proportion. Tamiya's Celica GT-Four (ST205) has wider tires (they are 225) than Monogram Corvette ZR1.

Further note: I just measured Tamiya GT-Four tires, and they are about 12 mm wide. Should 1/24 scale 225 tires be that wide?? I'm actually beginning to believe that Tamiya tires are too wide (!!)
:eek:

Dont want to go off the subject but can someone explain to me what those tyre codes mean and what do they say about the dimensions?

Originally posted by Mikke


I'm actually beginning to believe that Tamiya tires are too wide (!!)
:eek:

The tires on my S2000 are far too wide! But I still prefer Tamiya kits to any other!

As for dimensions, on a 225/35/18, 225 is width in mm, 18" is diameter in inches, and 35 is profile in percentage of width.

So what your saying is, that the profile is 35% of 225????

Originally posted by flyonthewall
So what your saying is, that the profile is 35% of 225????
Yep...spot on :) :) :)