Just received my Tamiya "Tilly", and it certainly is a "weekend model", having less than 50 parts.

The driver figure certainly does look too small for 48th scale, but certainly larger than 72nd. One really has to wonder who is working out the sizes of these Tamiya Mini Men inside the Tamiya organization. Because whoever they are, their slide-rule is broken.........

One strange item: the canvas canopy that covers the rear end of the "car" is not only molded in clear plastic, but is split in two down the middle. Neither makes any sense whatsoever. Firstly, clear plastic is not a user friendly material, as it doesn't glue nor paint up as well as the plastic used in the rest of a Tamiya kit. And there is no advantage to having it in clear, as there aren't any "windows" in it. And why in two parts, when Tamiya clearly has the ability to mold it in one part, given the main "shell" of the vehicle is one large part (if something about 3 inches in length can be called "large"). It certainly would have made life easier to have it in one part, rather than two??

Anyway, don't take this as a "gripe" or complaint, just something that doesn't make much sense.

Buy the kit, enjoy the kit.
Cheers,
Andrew

I noticed the same thing when looking over the photos of the kit and instructions on the Hobby Search web site:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10080256

Odd indeed but that just gives Jan at Hauler more opprotunity to sell an awesome resin replacement canopy!

My Tilly is on order with Meeta, which I expect will arrive with my AFV Club 251. I already have a diorama planned for each one. Can't wait to get them!

Dave C.

Hi All;

For those who still don't have a mental picture
of the new Tilly kit...

Moulding it in two parts will give definition to the two side flaps on each side of canopy.

Perhaps it was a case of maximising use of the sprues/ensuring the smallest possible spue size by moulding the canopy on the clear sprue

sk

Hi All;

I came across this shot of the model Tilly with an open back, and thought people might like a peek at this option.

well maybe it is just that they have the stuff to pull big clear like all the new visible planes they are making, and somebody thought hey why not....

you could always leave it clear to show off all the junk you packed in the back of the truck :>)

Seems to me Andrew that plastic windows may have been under the flaps.
Maybe that is what Tam wanted to show.....one can always cut that window section out to provide fresh air. BTW, I sent an email to the Tilly guys
who have a little site dedicated to Tilly (I alsmost feel the little bugger is a person!) asking their opinion. No answer yet.

Any old English, Auusie, Kiwi vets out there who may remember?

PJL

Hi Patrick
Thanks for your enquiry. Never heard of Track48.com before.

I've been in touch with Tamiya about this kit and the reason they did the tilt in clear is keep the tooling costs down. Apparently it's cheaper to do a large fret (even with fewer parts) than a small fret just for three lights. To answer your question, yes Tilly tilts had polythene windows. It is such a shame that Tamiya chose to mould them 'closed' with the flaps. It would have made more sense to me to give us (separate) rolled up flaps and painted the tilt leaving the windows.

Yes there is an indentation in the roof for the spare wheel. Do not fill it in!

I had a test shot to look at and think it is a terrific little model. it certainly builds quickly and easily apart from the sidelights. The model really represents an early Tilly which had hubcaps, two headlights, turn indicator and tilt with five windows. Later Tillys only had three (and later only one) window, one headlight, no hubcaps and no turn indicator so the Mickey Mouse scheme depicted on the boxtop is not strictly accurate. Also the tyres were more likely to be ordinary car tyres and not Jeep-type bar grips, although they were used on the rears. But who cares. At last we have a Tilly in plastic. Just a shame it is not 1.35 but everything comes to he who waits.

Cheers
Mike Shackleton
Tilly Register

A good reference for the Austin Tilly is the late and lamented Wheels and Tracks No 63 which has a 5 or 6 page article.

If we need wheels without hubcaps, it looks as if the spare wheel could be used as a master with new hubs. i wonder if one of the after market manufacturers would oblige.

Incidentally - were the windows an early "clear plastic" or were they a fine mesh. At least of the pics in the W&T article seems to suggest the latter - perhaps both forms existed.

It will be interesting to see the Hauler set for this beauty

sk

The article you talk of is the best single reference for Austin Tillys.

Mesh windows were certainly a possibility. i know of some restorers who have used mesh in their Tilly tilts.

Cheers
Mike Shackleton
Tilly Register

Assembled this morning.
No fit problems at all.
Add frames and front lights wire.
I already shortened the foward canvas top frame.
Tanks for looking, please comment.
Hilton.