Tamiya 12057 - 1:12 Porsche 935 Martini

Porsche 935 Martini racing car plastic model kit in 1:12 scale

The Porsche 935 was Stuttgart's answer to the Group 5 regulations — a car in which little more than the idea of the road-going 911 remained. The white, red and blue Martini Racing livery and the turbocharged flat-six made it one of the most formidable racing machines of its era. Tamiya 12057 reproduces it in 1:12 scale.

The mould dates from 1977, and the 2020 release comes with a decal sheet printed by the Italian house Cartograf. The kit allows the car to be built in one of two entries from the 1976 World Championship for Makes: #1 (Jacky Ickx / Jochen Mass) or #3 (Rolf Stommelen / Manfred Schurti).

The model features opening doors and engine cover, revealing the finely reproduced air-cooled flat-six with its turbocharger and plumbing. The suspension on metal springs is movable and the steering wheel turns the front wheels.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Photo-etched parts: front air intake, brake discs, cover catches, side radiator, rear Gurney flaps, seatbelt buckles
• Metal aerial
• Seatbelt fabric material
• Rubber tyres
• Metal suspension springs
• Cartograf decal sheet for two options: #1 and #3
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:12
• Item number: 12057
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model size: 395 × 175 × 105 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (a large kit with a high number of details — wired turbocharged engine, opening body panels, an extensive photo-etched fret)

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

Assembly:

The turbocharged flat-six stays visible once the engine cover is opened, so it is worth painting and finishing it before installation, adding the plumbing at the end of that stage. The kit includes an extensive set of photo-etched parts — the front air intake, the rear Gurney flaps and the tiny cover catches are fitted with cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers. The seatbelt fabric material combined with the photo-etched buckles allows realistic belts to be built up.

The Martini Racing livery is white with its distinctive 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 parts and the metal aerial
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel), including metallic shades
• Gloss clear coat for the bodywork and as a base for the decals
• Decal setting solution
• Modelling wash to emphasise the detail

About the car – Porsche 935:

The Porsche 935 was a Group 5 car developed from the 934. The liberal regulations of that class allowed the engineers to depart far from the shape of the production 911, resulting in a machine with heavily reworked aerodynamics and a turbocharged, air-cooled flat-six of around 2857 cc producing about 590 hp.

In Martini Racing colours the 935 competed in the 1976 World Championship for Makes. Porsche took the makes' title that year, with drivers including Jacky Ickx, Jochen Mass, Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti at the wheel of the works cars.

Original car specifications (Porsche 935):

• Class: Group 5
• Base design: developed from the Porsche 934
• Engine: air-cooled turbocharged flat-six, approx. 2857 cc
• Power: approx. 590 hp
• Season: 1976 World Championship for Makes
• Achievement: World Championship for Makes title for Porsche in 1976

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.