1:20 Tyrell P34 - Rain Tyre Set (for Tamiya Kits)

The real subject

The Tyrrell P34 is one of the most striking cars in the history of Formula 1. Instead of a pair of front wheels of the usual size it was given four markedly smaller ones, placed in two rows one behind the other. This was meant to reduce the frontal area of the car and to spread the braking effect over more wheels. The P34 started in the world championship in the 1976 and 1977 seasons, and among modelers it is popular precisely for that unusual front axle.

What the set contains

The package brings rain tires in 1:20 scale and is intended for Tamiya kits. Wet-weather rubber differs from smooth slicks in having a tread pattern that carries water out from under the wheel, so a car built as a machine from a wet race comes across differently from the same car on a dry track. Changing the tires is one of those modifications that are visible on a finished model even from a distance.

Building and painting tips

Choose the glue and the method of cleaning according to the parts in the package and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Fit each tire onto its rim dry first and check that it seats without tension and that the wheel does not rub against the body or the suspension once fitted. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest down carefully. Before painting, wash the surface and degrease it, otherwise neither the paint nor the lettering will hold on it.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to build the P34 in its wet-weather form, and for those who want to extend their stock of wheels for projects under way. The work is undemanding, but it does call for patience in getting all the wheels into one plane. The kit, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.