Background:

I love the idea of very ordinary cars being used for racing, more or less unmodified. This Toyota Corolla certainly fits the bill. The kit has been issued in a number of liveries and this one appealed to me the most.

Kit review:

Pros:

Goes together easily enough, no major problems. Nice decals and good clear parts. Good shape and proportions.

Cons:

To me the tyres look too chunky - too high in the sidewall, compared to photos of the real thing. As it shares it's sprues and parts with the road-car kit, there's some work to be done on the body - drilling holes for the fuel fillers etc. Two-piece wheels would have made the painting of wheel and rim easier. The suggestion to use a "cut out with the backing sheet" Toyota emblem would look quite cheap/poor.

Verdict:

Good. Like the Corolla itself, it's all very straightforward, performs as expected and doesn't require much comment one way or the other.

Build notes:

Built over 3 weeks in Dec 2024 and Jan 2025, it took me another 3 weeks or so to find the time and the light to photograph it. I've added a few interior details and some PE for the tow hooks and bonnet pins, and the most visible addition - a Tamiya Toyota emblem on the grille. Aside from that it's all built from the box.

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