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I also have the Tamiya Toyota 86. The Tamiya kit is decent kit, pretty typical of one of their mid-range offerings. But it doesn’t include an entire engine – it builds off a chunk of plastic attached to the inner fender wells ala the DBS. Also the Tamiya kits can only be built JDM.

The Aoshima kits are cheaper (by about $10US) look better overall – really making the Tamiya kits look like they were on auto-pilot – and these new kits have an 18 piece engine that is a engraving tour de force, (there were some curbside only kits released prior so be careful what you’re buying if you want the engine). They feature an opening trunk, and little details like two part outside mirrors – making the black trim/body color painting much easier. Plus they can be both be built in LHD configuration on the Subaru, and the Toyota has markings for both a LHD Toyota 86GT (Europe) and Scion FR-S (North American) car. Aoshima is also about to release two Greddy/Rocket Bunny “tuner” versions of the Toyota 86 this month, those are on pre-order here at HLJ.

I have to admit being in America I like building the U.S. version of cars we get imported here, however I have no problem building a JDM version, but I was overall left feeling let down by the Tamiya offering compared to other past kits in the price range. Clearly they were spending their efforts on the 1/12 Enzo and Porsche Carrera, and the 86 & BRZ seem like a “We should do those” afterthought. Waiting on the Tamiya LaFerrari around Christmas, which should be back on par with the rigorously detailed Enzo, FXX, and LFA kits.