1/12 Tamiya Enzo with wrong wheels/tires size

[ModelerSite]

If this matter was approached before sorry.
Few years ago I got a 1/12 Tamiya Enzo, the already built model. I was never worried about how accuracy the model was, even when I got the kit, which I’m building slowly I never asked myself if all were right.
Recently received in a trade the 1/12 diecast Kyosho Enzo, and immediately I discovered that the tires were completely different comparing with the Tamiya’s.

I made a logical supposition, the Kyosho is wrong, but isn’t, Tamiya’s …and very wrong in my understanding.
I looked for other versions that could have the original Ferrari wheels and other tires but the matter here is that the tires are wrong too.

The Enzo has 245/35/19 front and 345/35/19 rear, in terms of the 1/12 scale means that the rear tire should be 28mm width and 60mm diameter, more or less, Kysosho is perfect. Tamiya is 33 and 57, and the same happens with the front tire. The wheels are 19 (1/12) but of course wider.

Maybe I’m wrong and there are something I’m losing here, please let me know if so.
Thanks for reading

[RonCla]

Thats an interesting observation. I've never seen the Kyosho version.

Maybe Tamiya were adjusting the sizes for appearance sakes.

Which one do you think looks best ?

[freakray]

Would be interesting to see some photos for reference showing both the Kyosho and Tamiya kits side-by-side.

[ModelerSite]

Originally Posted by RonCla

Thats an interesting observation. I've never seen the Kyosho version.
Maybe Tamiya were adjusting the sizes for appearance sakes.
Which one do you think looks best ?

That's the point, interesting. The Tamiya looks much better although comparing with pictures of the real car is not accurate.
The Kyosho is a full diecast, and weigth 2 Kg more than the Tamiya. The quality is pretty good, plenty of good details, even better than Tamiya, just the nose is little odd. However in my feeling the Tamiya Enzo looks more... Enzo LOL, you know.

[ModelerSite]

Originally Posted by freakray

Would be interesting to see some photos for reference showing both the Kyosho and Tamiya kits side-by-side.

Sure I will post them.

[stump]

Interesting...
Good observation, and I too shall look forward to a side by side comparison.
Unrelated subject (kind of) but I would LOVE to see a good caster make re-pops of these tyres....
245/35/19 front and 345/35/19 rear would suit perfect for my Porsche build.

[hirofkd]

Better-engineered models don't mean accurate.
Tamiya rarely gets the tire sizes right. Tamiya's policy is to make their products look good, and they "always" take artistic liberties that you can never ever trust the accuracy of Tamiya car models. It's not just the tire size, but the body shapes as well - almost always wider by 1-2 mm (for 1/24 scale cars).
Now this is different from Fujimi. Fujimi's inaccuracy comes from the fact that they are hopelessly clueless, while Tamiya's inaccuracy is "usually" done on purpose, but it's case by case.

[ModelerSite]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

Better-engineered models don't mean accurate.
Tamiya rarely gets the tire sizes right. Tamiya's policy is to make their products look good, and they "always" take artistic liberties that you can never ever trust the accuracy of Tamiya car models. It's not just the tire size, but the body shapes as well - almost always wider by 1-2 mm (for 1/24 scale cars).

Sorry "hirofkd" I have to say you are absolutely wrong and what you say is you personal opinion, I'm based in facts.
The fact is that the side view in the instruction manual of the 12047 kit shows an absolutely right size for the front and rear tire.
I have been modeling since 50 years now and each time I fall in a mistake…. be inclined to say… is an artistic liberty LOL LOL.
The fact is that they made a big mistake which doesn’t make the model better of funny or even easier to build, it is just a mistake coming from the begginig when they made the “diecast” already built model.
Tamiya is terrific an all the ways and I support them as have been giving me a lot of fun during 35 years but the mistakes they made are also amazing for a large company. We have the 1/48 Skyryder from the 90’, the 1/16 M51 (read my large article at Modelersite), and I could follow an endless list.
The 1/12 F50 was a bad toy I needed 50 hours to say it’s an acceptable model… after spending US$450 when was released.
I’m seeing modelers that are spending hundreds of hours and dollars to get an accurate Enzo, then is good they know the model is wrong in a big part, we aren’t talking about a small pipeline or nut displaced.