Kit: No. 24186
Scale: 1/24
Manufacturer: Tamiya, imported by Tamiya America, 2 Orion, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4200, phone 800-826-4922
Price: $33
Comments: Injection molded, 138 parts (8 vinyl), decals.

Porsche’s eight-year absence from the Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance Race ended with the 1996 debut of the sleek 911 GT1. The car was based on the look of the 911, but it was really a purpose-built racing machine featuring a 600+ hp 3.2-liter, six-cylinder engine, and a slinky carbon-fiber body. The result was a second- and third-place finish for the Porsche team in the 1996 classic race.

Tamiya’s beautifully detailed kit goes together without major problems. The highlight is the wild decal sheet with no less than 11 well-printed colors.

The first step was to paint the body parts gloss white and allow them to dry while working on the chassis. Leave off the radiator air outlet vanes (part No. C19) until after the decals are applied. Twelve of the 21 steps in the instructions involve the engine, power train, and suspension. I used 22 colors painting the underbody details.

I painted the engine cam covers flat black, not rust as suggested by Tamiya. The decal seat harnesses were disappointing; you may want to substitute photoetched buckles and paper or tape belts.

Make sure all engine, gearbox, rear suspension, and frame-attachment struts fit correctly or you will have difficulty attaching the entire assembly to the rear fire wall. I found it best not to glue the attachment points on parts A25/26 to the intercooler intake air tubes as shown in step 6 — this will make aligning to the fire wall easier in step 9.

Prepare to spend several sessions applying the decals. Follow the separate decal guide for placement, but check the main instruction sheet as a few detail markings can be easily missed. For example, decals 53 and 54 are placed inside the driving light cones in step 17. Some minor trimming and a mild setting solution will help fit decals over the compound curves.

After allowing the decals to dry a few days, I overcoated with Future floor polish. Now I wish I hadn’t as the decals continued to expand and cracked the Future. Tamiya’s window masks included in the kit worked well for painting the flat black outlines.
The combination of detail and the stirring paint scheme produces a real eye-popper! The finished model sits properly on all four tires.

I spent about 30 hours on my Porsche, more than usual due to the detail painting and complex decals. Tamiya’s kit may be too difficult for beginners, but experienced modelers will appreciate every minute invested.

– Ross Whitaker