Gunze Sangyo F1 kits

[Bainford]

How decent are the Gunze Sangyo 1/24 scale F1 kits. I have been interested in a couple of these kits, but I have no idea if they are worth the coin. I am expecting a somewhat simplified kit, but it needs to be fairly accurate with good tires/wheels.

EDIT: Also, are they actually 1/24 scale, not 1/28 passed off as 1/24. I have fallen for that one twice before.

Edited January 11, 2024 by Bainford

[RancheroSteve]

I built a few - a Ferrari, Williams, and Benetton - back in the early 90s when I was just getting back into modelling. I'll try to dig up some photos.

They are very simple curbside kits - intended to be motorized, I believe - but the proportions are decent. They are 1/24 to my eyes anyway. The tires are good, but the wheels are just generic dishes that attach with screws. There's no interior - just a shallow, slot car style driver. They're a fun and quick build, look good on the shelf, and probably the only 1/24 scale representation of F1 cars of that period. I imagine an ambitious builder could make something more detailed out of them.

[Bainford]

Cheers Steve. I have done a little looking inline, and see that they are indeed intended to be motorised. I hadn't realised that. It's not a real big deal for a curbside shelf model, except I imagine accommodating the motor and batteries in a 1/24 F1 car must require some compromises. It's hard to imagine a curbside F1 car. When I made the post above, I was watching an auction on ebay for seemingly a good deal, ended now. The next 'good deal' I spot, I may pull the trigger.

[RancheroSteve]

So I pulled my built-ups out of storage and shot a few quick photos.

They were fun little builds for the time, but honestly I can't see paying the kind of prices they seem to be commanding now. Unless you absolutely need to have something of that vintage, I'd recommend the Hasegawa F1 and F3000 kits of the early nineties and the later Revell/Germany kits for that kind of stuff in 1/24.

[Bainford]

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Edited January 23, 2024 by Bainford

[Bainford]

33 minutes ago, RancheroSteve said:

So I pulled my built-ups out of storage and shot a few quick photos.

They were fun little builds for the time, but honestly I can't see paying the kind of prices they seem to be commanding now. Unless you absolutely need to have something of that vintage, I'd recommend the Hasegawa F1 and F3000 kits of the early nineties and the later Revell/Germany kits for that kind of stuff in 1/24.

Cheers Steve. That's very helpful. Clearly they are quite simple kits. Would look great on a shelf from half way across the room, but not bear close inspection. Some of them are indeed pricey, might scoop one up if an exceptional deal pops up. Would be a fun quick-build for the right price. Thanks much.