Tamiya 20070 - 1:20 Porsche 935 Martini

1:20 scale plastic model kit of the Porsche 935 Martini racing car

The works Martini Racing Porsche 935 won the World Championship for Makes in 1976, establishing the turbocharged flat-six as one of the most effective Group 5 packages. Tamiya 20070 reproduces the car in 1:20 scale using 1977 tooling; the 2023 release adds new slick tyres and new decals printed by Cartograf. According to the manufacturer the kit contains 142 parts.

The model is made for displaying its mechanics: the removable engine cover and removable body reveal a finely reproduced turbocharged flat-six with its exhaust system. The wheels rotate and the front wheels steer, allowing the car to be posed dynamically on a display base. A driver figure is included, with racing suit decals for two drivers.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Clear parts
• Chrome-plated parts
• Four metal parts: mounting screws and a stainless steel aerial
• Synthetic rubber slick tyres
• Poly caps
• Driver figure with racing suit decals for two drivers
• Cartograf waterslide decal sheet for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:20
• Product number: 20070
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Number of parts: 142 (manufacturer’s data)
• Assembled model size: 235 × 105 × 96 mm
• Marking options: #1 and #3, Martini Racing (1976 World Championship for Makes)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (detailed engine, moving parts)

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

Assembly:

Illustrated instructions guide the build and the parts fit is very good, so the kit suits less experienced modellers as well. As the body and engine cover are removable, it is worth painting the engine, exhaust system and interior before the chassis is finally closed up — access to those areas is limited afterwards. The stainless steel aerial requires cyanoacrylate glue.

The chrome-plated parts can be left as supplied — simply cut them cleanly from the sprue and tidy up the attachment points. Modellers who use an airbrush often prefer chrome-effect paints (e.g. Alclad, AK Xtreme Metal), sometimes stripping the factory plating first; both techniques are equally valid. Paint codes for the Martini Racing colours are given in the instructions. The extensive Cartograf decal sheet is best applied over a gloss coat, which reduces the risk of decal silvering, and then sealed with gloss varnish.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the metal parts
• Screwdriver for the mounting screws
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for the decal base coat and the body finish
• Decal setting solution

About the car – Porsche 935:

The Porsche 935 was a Group 5 racing car developed from the road-going 911 Turbo (930). Its designers took full advantage of the freedom offered by the Group 5 regulations, reworking the bodywork and the drivetrain: beneath the rear cover sat a turbocharged flat-six.

The works team, racing in Martini Racing colours, won the World Championship for Makes with the car in 1976. Tamiya 20070 reproduces the cars from that very season, carrying race numbers 1 and 3.

Original car specifications (Porsche 935):

• Class: Group 5
• Basis: Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
• Engine: turbocharged flat-six
• Works team: Martini Racing
• Achievements: World Championship for Makes 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 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.