Tamiya Honda City GG 1/24 | Model Kit Index

Background:

Through 2021 I plan to tackle some legends of the road, track and dirt but before all that.. the Honda City GG. Japanese elegance-in-simplicity, both the car and the kit - from the times when Tamiya made kits of cars uncommon in Europe. Despite how it looks, this is not a Civic. It's a fair bit smaller although larger than the Honda Today. I wonder if there are any left on the roads of Japan?

Pros:

Being snap-fit it can't help but fit together well. There are not many parts (around 20) but they are very well moulded and detailed.

Cons:

The headlights and tail lights have no inner lenses. Some chrome sticker is supplied but this would just make the lights very 2D looking, which would be a shame. Solid axles front and back mean no steerable wheels. Not sure if it was just my kit but the A-pillars bowed out a little from the glass. Also there's a fine line right up the middle of the back window, which isn't a scratch but must've happened in moulding production. Finally and of course for a kit this simple - no engine.

Verdict:

An easy kit to build with an easily achievable great result. There are only 7 steps in the instructions and one of those is just "fit body to chassis". Nicely moulded, well proportioned and therefore the expected Tamiya quality.

Build notes:

I added a few extra details. A tube over the exhaust tip so it wasn't just a solid cylinder. Seatbelt retainers in the front seats and belts and retainers in the back. I also added flocking on the parcel shelf, and a tissue box. The front and rear Honda emblems are from Hobby Design. Finally I made some lenses for the front and rear lights so they had depth. Painted in Halfords rattle-can Vauxhall Breeze Blue and clearcoated with Mr Hobby Premium Top-Coat Gloss.

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