Tamiya 12042 - 1:12 Martini Brabham BT44B 1975

Brabham BT44B Formula 1 car plastic model kit in 1:12 scale

The 1975-season Brabham BT44B combined clean, refined aerodynamics with the classic Ford Cosworth DFV engine — and the white, blue and red Martini Racing livery made it one of the most recognisable cars of the decade. Tamiya 12042 reproduces it in 1:12 scale, with the drivetrain and the distinctive pyramid-section monocoque fully rendered.

The mould dates from 1975; in 2010 the kit was released with new parts, including photo-etched ones, and the current 2021 edition comes with a decal sheet printed by the Italian house Cartograf. The model can be built as race number #7 or #8.

After assembly the front cowl, cockpit cover and airbox can be removed, revealing the interior and the engine with its fuel lines and ignition wiring. The suspension on metal springs remains movable and the steering wheel turns the front wheels.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Photo-etched parts, including seatbelt buckles
• Aluminium intake trumpets
• Metal suspension springs
• Semi-pneumatic synthetic rubber tyres
• Driveshaft boots and seat in soft polyethylene
• Seatbelt fabric-effect stickers
• Cartograf decal sheet for two options: #7 and #8
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:12
• Item number: 12042
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model size: 355 × 160 × 109 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (a large kit with a high number of details — wired engine, reproduced monocoque, photo-etched parts, soft polyethylene components)

Please note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The kit is best built sub-assembly by sub-assembly: the monocoque, the engine with its wiring, the suspension, and finally the body cowls. Since the front cowl, cockpit cover and airbox are removable, the interior stays on view — painting and finishing its parts before they are enclosed is well worth the effort. Cyanoacrylate glue is recommended for the photo-etched parts and the aluminium intake trumpets; it is also the right choice for the soft polyethylene components, to which plastic cement will not bond.

The Martini Racing livery is white with blue and red stripes — for an even finish, spray the white in thin coats over a light primer. Applying the Cartograf decals over a gloss coat limits decal silvering, after which a further clear coat protects them. The instructions provide Tamiya paint codes for both marking options.

Tools required:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched, aluminium and polyethylene parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel), including metallic shades
• Gloss clear coat as a base for the decals
• Decal setting solution
• Modelling wash to emphasise the detail

About the car – Brabham BT44B:

The Brabham BT44B was the work of Gordon Murray, a designer known for his unconventional approach to aerodynamics and lightweight construction. The car used a distinctive monocoque of pyramid cross-section and was powered by the three-litre Ford Cosworth DFV V8, the dominant engine of Formula 1 at the time.

In 1975 the team raced in the colours of its sponsor Martini Racing, giving the car one of the best-known liveries in motorsport history. The BT44B remains an example of a design in which simplicity and attention to detail proved more effective than complex technical solutions.

Original car specifications (Brabham BT44B):

• Racing season: 1975
• Designer: Gordon Murray
• Livery: Martini Racing
• Engine: Ford Cosworth DFV V8, 3.0 litres
• Defining feature: pyramid-section monocoque

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The business began in the timber trade and wooden model production, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. The brand became known for its precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The large 1:12 car kits are among the most elaborate items in the company's catalogue, combining finely reproduced engines, working suspension on metal springs and photo-etched parts. Many of them were developed from studies of the original racing cars, carried out in cooperation with teams and manufacturers. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.