Opened a gift from my Adopted son, You know him as Humper! guess what? It was a Type 79 Formula 1 car from Tamiya. One I have wanted since back in the late 70s and could not put into my Budget. Back then the price was ridiculous compared to regular car kits. Where a Jo-Han or AMT/MPC could be had for about 10.00 bucks this one was 45.00 bucks. No way Jose! It is the “John Player” car, with new Decals For "Olympus Cameras!
Still Molded in Black. Very tightly packed and in a much smaller box but absolutely exquisit moldings and the P.E. to match. Inside the box taped to some parts are the little domed screens that fit over the injectors even! Although Beautiful the Chrome parts will need a coat of Semi-Gloss Tamiya Smoke! They are too bright!
Because so much of our earnings went back into the company’s growth, I was put on a very severe Budget concerning hobbies. That’s why I scratchbuilt so many ships of the tanker variety. That was alright, Because about every second year She would splurge on a Pocher kit or something like that for me. I in turn would make sure she had more and better painting Supplies(Oil on Canvas) My model time was taken up, But that Formula continued to evade me and tease ma out of the corner of my eye!. Now I have it!.
All I can say is WOW!! What a box of plastic! I don’t think I have even had a plane model with this much detail or little teensy parts. Trains ? Sure, But that is NOT a main function of my model building. Buicks(Rivieras) Chevies (Bel Airs) and all sorts of British and French regular and mini-Cars including Revell’s Ubitiqious 'Smart Car" Snapper!
Ah, But that Formula. I will try to get this photo thing down so’s I can show her to you as I build and He also ordered the “John Player” Decal set for it. That’s the Car I actually got to touch and smell in real life. See? The Same could’ve been done with AMT’s Miss Budweiser. When all these bans on Cigs and Alcohol happened. Tamiya just changed the Decals to match the “Olympus camera” car! No Fuss, No Bother. And it is just what it was back then, One KickA%% model car!
Great gift from your son-Looking forward to seeing pics of your build TB-give the F1 GB some thought-I’m hoping to build the Tamiya Lotus 78 for the current GB and pull something out of the stash for the 2023 F1 GB
Indycals.net has the JPS decals if you’re interested:
That’s awesome, TB! According the John’s linked article, it’s nicknamed Black Beauty, and I agree. I’ve had my eye on this kit ever since shortly after I started building Tamiya’s 1979 Martini Version of the 79. I think you are going to like the kit a lot.
Glad to hear you excited about a project. It would be great if you could join the GB as John mentioned.
I have had to give up the cameras to pay co-pays at the physicians offices. Getting old on a Fixed income is the pits. First you have No Co-Pays and with rising costs and now You Do. What’s a person to do?
I have a smaller point and shoot somewhere, but I am not sure it even has a S.D.Card?
Yes, I have V.A. Healthcare. but a one way drive is 47 miles. With fuel at the minimum of 3.29 I don’t go far. I can only fuel up once monthly. Mileage is not paid under a certain figure! If there was a way to do it I would upload from my phone. But can I do that? You know, Upload to a Photo Storage site and then download here? Does anyone know?