Tamiya 20058 - 1:20 Tyrrell P34 Six Wheeler

1:20 scale plastic model kit of the Tyrrell P34 Six Wheeler with photo-etched parts

Tamiya 20058 is a 1:20 scale model of the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 as it appeared at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, held at the Fuji circuit. The kit uses the proven P34 tooling, and this 2010 release adds a fret of photo-etched parts made from 0.15 mm stainless steel.

The photo-etched parts reproduce details that cannot be rendered faithfully in plastic: brake discs, the triangular mesh above the velocity stacks that was characteristic of the Japanese GP configuration, the rear wing mounts and plate, the front spoiler with its supports, the radiator mesh and the seat belt buckles. The waterslide decals were printed by Cartograf and include the team and driver names written in Japanese, which appeared on the cars only at that one round.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Photo-etched fret in 0.15 mm stainless steel (brake discs, mesh above the velocity stacks, rear wing mounts and plate, front spoiler with supports, radiator mesh, seat belt buckles)
• Synthetic rubber tyres
• Wire
• Vinyl parts
• Driver figure
• Seat belt stickers
• Cartograf waterslide decal sheet, including team and driver names in Japanese
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:20
• Product number: 20058
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model size: 201 × 100 mm
• Marking options: #3 and #4, 1976 Japanese GP (Fuji circuit)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (work with photo-etched parts)

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

Assembly:

The plastic assembly itself is straightforward, but the photo-etched parts raise the bar: the thin stainless steel elements call for precision tweezers, a sharp blade or photo-etch scissors, and cyanoacrylate glue. Bending the rear wing mounts and the front spoiler supports is best done on a hard, smooth surface, ideally with a bending tool or a metal ruler. The result is worth the effort — a 0.15 mm scale thickness simply cannot be achieved with moulded plastic.

Paint codes are provided in the instructions. The Cartograf decals are thin and settle well; applying them over a gloss coat is recommended, as it reduces the risk of decal silvering, followed by another protective coat of varnish. The Japanese lettering on the sheet rewards a slow, careful approach with decal setting solution — it is the detail that unmistakably identifies the car from the Fuji round.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Photo-etch scissors or a sharp blade for cutting the etched parts
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel) and a primer suitable for metal
• Gloss varnish for the decal base coat and the body finish
• Decal setting solution

About the car – Tyrrell P34:

The Tyrrell P34 is the only six-wheeled car to have competed in Formula 1. Its four small front wheels were intended to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the contact patch with the track. Power came from the 3.0 l Ford Cosworth DFV V8.

The 1976 season was the design’s best: the P34 gave Tyrrell a one-two finish at the Swedish Grand Prix, and at the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji, Patrick Depailler finished 2nd. In the following season, development of the car was held back by the lack of progress on the small front tyres.

Original car specifications (Tyrrell P34):

• Layout: six wheels — four small wheels at the front
• Engine: Ford Cosworth DFV V8, 3.0 l
• Season depicted: 1976 (Japanese GP, Fuji circuit)
• Key 1976 results: one-two victory at the Swedish GP, Depailler 2nd at the Japanese GP
• Distinction: the only six-wheeled car ever to race in Formula 1

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The business initially traded in timber and produced wooden models, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The 1:20 racing car kits form the Grand Prix Collection, covering Formula 1 machines and racing cars from successive eras. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.