Tamiya 20072 - 1:20 Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5

1:20 scale plastic model kit of the Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5 racing car

The Group 5 Toyota Celica LB Turbo was a “silhouette” class car that took on the dominant Porsche 935 in the German DRM series — and beat them in a race in October 1977. Tamiya 20072 reproduces the car in 1:20 scale from 1978 tooling; the 2023 release adds new slick tyres, new Cartograf decals and new instructions. According to the manufacturer the kit contains 123 parts.

The model is designed to show off its mechanics. The removable front body section reveals the 17-piece engine — a turbocharged inline four-cylinder — while the entire body lifts off the chassis to give a view of the interior with its roll cage. The wheels rotate. The spark plug leads and injection lines are reproduced with the included wire, and the Cartograf decals cover interior details: the gauges, the console and the fire extinguisher.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Clear parts
• Chrome-plated parts (gloss and satin finish)
• Synthetic rubber slick tyres
• Poly caps
• Wire for the spark plug leads and injection lines
• Driver figure (full figure)
• Cartograf waterslide decal sheet, including decals for the gauges, console and fire extinguisher
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:20
• Product number: 20072
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Number of parts: 123 (manufacturer’s data)
• Assembled model size: 240 × 105 × 61 mm
• Marking options: #68 and #56, Schnitzer team, 1977 DRM series
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (detailed engine, wired leads)

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

Assembly:

The parts fit is very good and the instructions are clear, so the kit is approachable for less experienced modellers too. The most demanding elements are the 17-piece turbocharged engine and the spark plug leads and injection lines made from the supplied wire — routing them carefully adds a great deal of realism, especially as the engine stays visible once the front body section is removed. The interior with its roll cage is best painted before final assembly, and the decals for the gauges, console and fire extinguisher should be applied to a dry, smooth surface.

The chrome-plated parts come in gloss and satin finishes — they can be left as supplied, with careful cutting from the sprue and clean-up of the attachment points. Experienced modellers often airbrush them with chrome-effect paints (e.g. Alclad, AK Xtreme Metal), sometimes stripping the factory plating first; both techniques are perfectly valid. Paint codes for the Schnitzer team livery are given in the instructions. The Cartograf decals are best applied over a gloss coat, which reduces the risk of decal silvering, with the body finished in 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 attaching the wire leads
• 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 – Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5:

The Group 5 Toyota Celica LB Turbo was built as a “silhouette” class car — the regulations required only the general outline of the production body to be retained, with the rest of the car engineered purely for racing. It was developed by Toyota Team Europe together with the German company Schnitzer.

Power came from a turbocharged 2090 cc DOHC inline four-cylinder engine producing around 560 hp. The body panels were made from glass-fibre reinforced plastic. The car made its debut in July 1977 and scored its first victory as early as October that year, finishing ahead of the Porsche 935. The Celica LB Turbo competed in the German DRM series in 1977–78.

Original car specifications (Toyota Celica LB Turbo Gr.5):

• Class: Group 5 (“silhouette”)
• Built by: Toyota Team Europe together with Schnitzer
• Engine: turbocharged inline four-cylinder DOHC, 2090 cc
• Power output: approx. 560 hp
• Body: glass-fibre reinforced plastic panels
• Debut: July 1977; first victory: October 1977 (ahead of the Porsche 935)
• Competition: DRM series in 1977–78

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.