Tamiya #20055 1/20 scale Formula One Williams BMW FW24

Over the past several years Tamiya has released one new kit in their line of 1/20 Grand Prix racers each year. With the emergence of the Williams BMW team, with drivers Juan Montoya and Ralf Schumaker developing into a serious threat to Ferrari and Michael Schumaker in this year's Formula 1 World Championship, it appears that Tamiya picked a winner for their latest subject.

On to the kit. Here's what it's all about By now we know the drill at Tamiya; add another kit to the series, worthy of it's inclusion in to the mix, make it better than the last one, target your biggest market, Europe! It's a perfect match. And Tamiya has answered the call in their usual fashion. Read on.

This kit is a quantum leap in F1 model kit design for two reasons. The front brakes actually rotate within the calipers, and the car can be shown with the bodywork on or off, on garage stands, just like the real car! The stands are part of the kit, hopefully soon cast in resin by someone to show other F1 cars the same way.
I don't know how they do it, but the body parts are perfect, with the subtle curves and wing shapes molded in, with the usual Tamiya tooling mastery. The modeling world hears a lot of whining about how domestic kit makers are always talking about how new tooling is so expensive. Yet Tamiya does a new tool for every new kit? The cost is reflected in the kit price, so while this a nice model, I don't think it will sell in the numbers in the US market that domestic kit makers say they need to sell to justify tooling costs. Tamiya must recognize there are enough modelers in the international marketplace that will pay for a top quality model kit.
My biggest disappointments with this kit are the paint instructions and the decal sheet. First, the recommended color for the blue is wrong. I have seen this car in person, and I own a BMW 325I painted in Montreal blue. THAT is the blue color on the racecar. It's almost like a metallic "Burple". Tamiya Mica Blue is a better match than the Telefonica Blue the instructions call for. Hold the decal sheet up to the paint can and you will see what I mean. They don't match. Also, the small blue bits on the decal sheet aren't metallic blue, like the real car. So, you have your work cut out for you paint wise if you wish to match the real thing. Unless Tamiya releases a new color in their paint line, which has been known to happen if needed for one of their new kits.
Have you noticed how the front tires in F1 are closer to the rear tires in size lately? This kit has faithfully reproduced them in soft rubber, with the proper Michelin markings. While the wheels are molded in black, they will paint up nicely in the proper silver. The hub mounts for the wheels are removable, enabling the builder to show the car on the pit stands with the tires on or off.
The carbon fiber suspension is beautifully done, but I wish Tamiya would throw in the carbon decals to cover them, so we don't have to use aftermarket decals. They did, however, give you the plated heat shield foil and some photo-etch bits as well.
So another must have F1 kit comes down the pipe from Tamiya. As great as the Ferraris have been, some variety was needed. Can the Jaguar or the Toyota be far behind?