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Tamiya Le Mans Kits: Nissan R390 GT1, Toyota GT-One or TS050 Hybrid?
Choose the Nissan R390 GT1 or Toyota GT-One when a visible engine beneath removable rear bodywork is a priority. Choose the TS050 Hybrid when its intricate aerodynamic body and later Toyota racing appearance are the main attraction. All three are Tamiya 1:24 static kits, but their assembly emphasis differs.
The specific items are R390 GT1 24192, GT-One TS020 24222 and TS050 Hybrid 24349. They represent different racing subjects and periods, not three versions of one Toyota or Nissan car.
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Nissan R390 GT1 24192: an engine-focused Nissan build
The Nissan R390 GT1 kit depicts the 1997 racing subject listed in our catalog, with a detailed engine bay and competition interior. Its removable rear cowling provides access to the represented V8 and twin turbos after completion.
That makes it a useful choice when you want a Nissan model with more mechanical work to display than the exterior alone. Plan how the rear cover will be placed beside the car when removed, rather than choosing a shelf position that only accommodates the closed silhouette.
This is not the later R390 road-car interpretation or every subsequent racing configuration. Confirm the item number when using a saved photograph to choose a gift.
Toyota GT-One TS020 24222: removable cowl and two marking options
The Toyota GT-One kit represents the 1999 Le Mans car and includes number 1 and number 3 marking choices. A removable rear cowl exposes the twin-turbo V8 representation.
Choose it for the low body and the combination of aerodynamic and engine detail. The nose, diffuser and ducts are part of the model's visual character, so dry-fit neighboring pieces and understand the paint sequence before closing sections together.
The two numbers are alternative markings for one build. Do not count them as two complete cars or assume the kit supplies every racing configuration the GT-One ever used.
TS050 Hybrid 24349: body sections, cockpit and surface finishes
The TS050 Hybrid kit depicts the later Toyota prototype represented in our 2018 listing. It includes number 7 and number 8 markings, painting masks, a detailed cockpit and representations of the battery-related equipment.
Its divided body sections and carbon-pattern decals make paint separation and surface finish a substantial part of the project. Metal transfers, clear lamp pieces and a plated cockpit-top component contribute different materials to handle.
The linked offer does not promise the full engine-and-removable-rear-cover display of the GT-One. Hybrid describes the real vehicle being modeled; it does not mean the kit contains a working battery propulsion system.
Display size is not identical across the three cars
Tamiya lists the R390 at 194 mm long and 88 mm wide, the GT-One at 202 mm long and 84 mm wide, and the TS050 at 194 mm long, 80 mm wide and 58 mm high.
Those measurements are useful for initial layout planning, not guaranteed usable case clearances. A removed rear cowl, open display arrangement or larger base needs additional space. The same scale label does not make every racing body the same size.
What finishing work do you want?
Pick R390 or GT-One when you want to paint and show the engine area. Pick TS050 when its body design, cockpit and decal treatment interest you more. All three require assembly, paint and model cement rather than arriving ready for display.
Keep number, driver and sponsor markings in a consistent set as the instructions show. Race-car decals are specific to the intended build; mixing attractive markings from unrelated variants can create a result that no longer matches the kit's depicted subject.
For a different kind of competition car, see the Porsche 934 and 935 comparison. Note that its 935 option is a different scale.
Choose a Tamiya endurance racer for your next build
Kit specifications and identities reviewed September 23, 2026. Dimensions are manufacturer-listed; no build-time, competition-result or hands-on quality ranking is made.
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