Tamiya Tyrrell P34 1/20

Thanks Real G for your comments, very interesting.

The theory behind the four smaller front wheels was to increase cornering and braking power and lowering aerodynamic drag.  The problem was that the team struggled to get the steering goemetry to perfectly balance, tire scrub in turns led to more energy loss than anticipated, and yes there was the additional weight penalty.

In the second season the P34 raced (1977), the team introduced a lengthened chassis with the front wheels moved further out to improve handling, but that destroyed the aerodynamic benefit of hiding them behind the front spoiler.  Supposed;y, the thing that sealed the P34's fate was Goodyear's decision not to continue development of the small front tires.

The Tamiya kits represent the 1976 season cars, plus the carryover chassis raced in 1977. Fujimi makes the 1977 year version, with the slug-shaped upper cowl and extended front wheels.  One thing both Tamiya and Fujimi missed was that the 1977 cars had a rectangular tach literally pasted over the original round tach.

A very small omission, but an interesting bit of trivia.

Thanks guys. Yes I think the overall tyre footprint with the extra smaller tyres at the rear, compensated for the much bigger rear tyres. One of the big problems was when you had four tyres pushing at the rear the front tyres/steering couldn't cope.

I think that the extra amount of work carried out with relation to both horsepower increase and gearing killed the projects.

Hi;

         I have always wondered, Didn't adding more tyres slow the cars down. And, if so, by how much did they have to increase horsepower or gearing to overcome the rolling resistance of those ridiculous looking things?

Looks great.

Thanks Real G. Yes problems with the front suspension and linkages and at the rear the wheels wanted to tuck in at the rear most. As an ex Silverstone marshal seeing this which raced with some success and the March and Williams versions that never raced due to transmission, power delivery and grip. Williams and March car having six small wheels with four at the rear.

Williams..

And March..

Ooh, nice!  Did you do any moods?

I also have that kit on the Shelf of Doom.  The Koni logos disintegrated on my kit, so I had to source it from an aftermarket sheet.