Best of the Tamiya kits?

I've got a Jeep Grand Cherokee that is a pretty impressive model.

ive done there 1966 beetle and Karmen Ghia models and they were great kits, engine and metal badges
the Jaguar Mk3 was very nice too but it was my first try with the metal stripes on the side

Jaguar Mk3 its just perfect i loved building this i think its one of the only models i didnt tamper with.
---your friend---
fatman

I am not sure about accuracy, but the Enzo Ferrari kits are very nice. I didnt have to scratch build anything, it looks great, and was a great build

Their Honda RC211V's, any one of them... Two wheels only may disqualify it from your question, but as for a kit, give it a try.

They made it go together real well (even I couldn't screw it up - and this is my 2nd one!) and the end result looks as it should. Lovely build, ends up a great and (as described above) "clean" model.

Heard very good things about the M1 as well, but did not get to my one yet, so the RC211V's carry my vote thusfar.

PS: Have a look at the RC211V GB for more info. Not highly active at times, but it's there...

Interesting that there's no clear consensus -- I wonder if everyone's favorite kit is the one he or she happened to build! I don't mean that in a negative way -- rather, it seems that Tamiya just makes great auto kits, period.

Maybe then I should just choose the vehicle they make that I like the most. Hmmm ....

An easier question might be, what's the worst kit?

First of all, I would have say that any kit with the words Tamiya written on it is going to be a good to excellent build. I don’t think there is a bad choice when going with a Tamiya auto model kit. The only kit I would recommend staying away from would be the Zakspeed Capri Turbo. This kit is a reissue of an older kit that was designed to be motorized. This means very little interior detail! I would also agree with SeaBee. The RC211V’s are awesome! Check out my build at

http://public.fotki.com/Jgibson1/
Or
www.jasongibson.freeservers.com

Just pick a kit open it and be amazed.

Keep Building,
Jason

QUOTE: The only kit I would recommend staying away from would be the Zakspeed Capri Turbo.

I wish you hadn't said that. I've got that kit in me "to build" pile.

Truthfully though, I don't mind the lack of interior detail, the outside makes up for it IMO.

I've got a couple other Tamiya car kits, the Toyota Carina and VW new Beetle. The new Beetle was very nice but rather expensive compared to Revell-Monogram Beetles. I was just more impressed with the Jeep.

Larry,
The general consensus is that any Tamiya kit will go together well - and if you have a great starting point (great fit, great engineering and parts breakdown) it's far, far easier to make a great looking model - that means you won't have to spend dozens of hours turning a sow's ear into a silk purse - you can just concentrate on the build.
I can't tell you how many Tamiya kits I've built over the last 3 decades.....simply dozens - cars, bikes, planes, armor - and I don't recall evern having been disappointed in the quality of molding, detail or the fit.
Their new kits (with the tooling cut in the last 10-15 years) you'd be very unlucky indeed to find a lemon - the words lemon and Tamiya just don't go together.
Whatever kit you choose, I hope you enjoy it.

Car: Ferrari Enzo 1/24 and Catherham Super Seven 1/12
Bike: One of the RCV:s or the Yoshimura Hayabusa X-1
/Joel

Larry....just purchased the Williams F1 BMW FW24. Havent started the build yet, but from what I've seen it looks impressive. Also have the Mercedes CLK-GTR that is just about finished. Hope to send pics soon. This was a tough build. Bought from a online hobby store and the kit was damaged upon arrival. They sent a replacement for free but went ahead with the build anyway. The kit was detailed nicely and went together great except for the shipping damage. Like the others have said Tamiya makes some great kits. Hope this helps and good luck with the search. Shane