Let's review Doyusha's 1/12 Lancia Stratos HF

"Almost 50 years later, still the most detailed Stratos kit available! This might change later this year..." 

Doyusha's Super Big Scale Lancia Stratos HF has been a holy grail item for me for several years since I discovered Yahoo Auction. The kit itself is not really hard to get, as you can literally find more than one on the website; it is because those listings are usually very expensive. Yes, and you don't buy kits like this on eBay, where you typically find prices being doubled or even tripled. Now, in 2024, I finally got myself a brand new 1/12 Lancia Stratos HF, a kit that makes my mouth water simply by looking at pictures of it. Don't worry; Italeri has announced their all-new 1/12 Stratos HF that is scheduled for 2024. Looks like I will have two 1/12 Stratos soon!

Today, let's take a look at what Doyusha offers in their Super Big Scale Lancia Stratos HF. The first thing to know here is that Doyusha wasn't actually the manufacturer of the moulds; instead, they bought the moulds from Nitto, a Japanese scale model company that has ceased to exist. If you search Nitto Kagaku on Google, you will find this "日陶科学株式会社" - which somehow I believe must be a rebranded Nitto since both companies share the same starting year in 1961. Who knows? It does not really matter anymore, though - because Doyusha is still alive, although they probably will not issue a re-release of this kit again.

Quite a few modellers from communities such as Britmodeller or Modelcarmagzines mentioned multiple times that another early Japanese scale model company, Otaki, has a similar 1/12 kit. I cannot really find a picture of the Otaki kit, but it is said that their version is not as good as the Nitto/Doyusha one because the former has oversized engine and gearbox to fit the RC motor and gears inside. What I do know is the 1/10 Stratos with a hardbody RC shell that was made by yet another old Japanese company, Nishimo. That kit is, unfortunately, too expensive to acquire nowadays.

The box I received is in excellent condition. I also like the box art; very nice! This is also a Safari type, which includes bars and a spare tire (rim+tire), and an almost same Pirelli version (new decal).

Doyusha's box is HUGE. If you think Tamiya's 935 box is big enough, Doyusha's offer is bigger. Funny, though, the box cover does not sit all the way down; instead, it leaves about an inch gap on top of the inner box.

I must apologize because most of the time I would open the inner bags like an ape out of excitement (I'll try to change his habit). This is why there isn't a photo for that. We'll start with the instructions and then move on to all the sprues. The instructions give a very strong Tamiya vibe.

Except for the memo page - which can be helpful! For example, whenever you want to stop making this kit, you can write down your progress so you know where to pick it up. I can imagine it being helpful for lazy modellers like myself! The instructions also have a list of parts.

This is seriously the old Tamiya kit instruction style. Maybe it was popular at that time? Or maybe they were collaborating? 

Inside the box, the big 1/12 body caught my eye first. This body should be 30.9 cm long.

Despite the HUGE box, Stratos is not a big car at all. Note here the comparison between Tamiya's 935 - the Stratos should be even shorter after removing all the gates and sprues. Hmm..why would they need such a big box (not like I don't like it).

The body itself looks great. It does capture the details faithfully.

However, some details are ruined by ejection pin marks and can be hard to work with. Mould lines are also present in multiple places, screaming for cleanup. 

Like the engine cover, the front cowling and the two doors can be opened once the model is finished. 

Imagine the decals to be applied here if you want to make the Alitalia car...keep reading, and you will find what Doyusha offers in the box (spoiler: you will not like it)

Some fine details will need to be either masked and airbrushed or brush-painted.

Here we go, sprue A! 

The chassis has a nice texture, and no visible ejection pin marks on this side. How considerate!

The chassis will need some putty work to work with all the ejection pin marks. Some, like the two that are close to the wheel arches, can be challenging to work with.

Those are NOT ejection pin marks!

(Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

I will use photos from an incredible car restoration team, Thornley Kelham, as references when building this kit. Here, those are really NOT ejection pin marks. I am quite surprised that Nitto recreated these minor details here.

Here's screenshot I captured during Jay Leno's video on this car. Maybe all the elements on Doyusha's parts are slightly off-size, but not too much. I mean, each individual car can be different, correct? 

Sprue B, mostly the bodywork parts, including the two door panels.

Until now, I have not yet found a reference picture that shows the wield line like this on the actual car. Most of the cars just have a plate this size bolted down on these two side skirts. But do you know what is this part?

(Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

I think they are just where the jacks go in (what?!)...at least, that is what I could learn from this photo.

Sprue C contains mostly mechanical parts.

This dashboard makes me excited. Although I definitely prefer decals to raised gauge panels.

A lot of details to be added to the dash panel.

You will also get to learn how to make the radio cable!

The shift knob requires some seamline filling and sanding job. Not very challenging.

C5 - is labelled スピードタイマー (speed timer).

(Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

It is relatively accurate, isn't it? Again, I prefer decals to the raised gauge details.

And yes, Doyusha actually asks to do this - sand away all the raised details and apply decals, haha!

Here's a better (I hope! I haven't tried it but I think it'll work) way to do it...get yourself a bottle of Micro Kristal Klear. Pop a drop or two in those gauges, making sure it levels out the raised details and wait until they dry up. Place the decal and, finally, the clear part. This way, you can probably avoid all the sanding work, which can be annoying due to the size of some small gauges.

The steering wheel needs some sanding work (especially the left spoke). It's okay; there are many substitutions everywhere if you decide to replace it.

The door panel is also okay and fairly detailed. You might want to redo all the rivets. Stratos has that crazy window operation system. Here's a video from Jay Leno that demonstrates how it works.

You will start to see engine parts on Sprue D.

Stratos's cool-looking differential gear. 

It looks so cool after assembly. Imagine weathering it later...wooo...

The flywheel cover is fairly detailed; all the rivets look very good.

Rivets are beautifully done here. 

The only critique I would throw here is really that the round section seems a bit too small on the kit part. I might drill some holes here...

The oil pan is also beautifully detailed.

The transmission cover is very detailed.

Parts of the engine head. Beautifully done.

Cam covers can be found on sprue E.

Right here. I would assume it was because of the licencing issue that Nitto/Doyusha put the Lancia letter here instead of "DINO," representing the heart of Stratos, a Dino v6 24v engine from Ferrari.

Attention to detail here is top-notch. Tamiya would just ask you to stick the cord into the hole, lol!

Lots of caps here and there.

Callipers are divided into two parts. Cleanup is needed to remove all the flashes. 

Big, black Sprue F. 

This is not a turbo...it is a fan motor (labelled "blower" on the instructions) that is placed somewhere in the front of the chassis frame.

 (Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

Doyusha's instructions disagree with this application of the blower. The instructions ask you to place it where the battery (I think?) is in the above photo. 

 (Photo Credit: the cultivated collector. Absolutely stunning 287 photos of the car)

See the thick pipe on the left? It is connected to the blower and the cabin to send fresh air to the crews (I think?). So, it doesn't matter where you want to place it?

(Source: bielstein.com)

In addition, it seems that the motor is designed to generate general heat. Maybe for rallying in cold regions? So much fun trying to figure out what it is and what it is for.

Radiator fan blades are provided as separate parts. Easier for painting. Nice!

There seem to be quite a few locations where the battery can be placed.

Mud flaps are fairly detailed. These two parts here are the base of the mud flaps, where the rubber parts are attached.

I wonder why there are so many scratches on this licence plate. This plate is also offered as a decal in the decal sheet, so you can literally sand all the letters off and use the decal instead.

Wipers are fine, not too bad (but it seems that the instruction completely forgot the assembly of the wipers - this additional step can be found in the Safari version kit also made by Nitto/Doyusha).

You also get a big rubber sprue, labelled sprue G. Holy!

I think the seat texture is fine. They are a bit rough so some cleanup is needed.

Might also need to use the modelling knife to trim away all the seam lines.

Am I looking at rubber seat belts??? How dare you doubt yourself like that! And NO, I will NOT use them. Any 1/12 aftermarket seat belts easily beat these rubbers... but honestly, I have never seen seat belts being recreated like these. 

Sprue H has all the rims. 

 (Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

It seems that the 5 bolts here on the "coffin spoke" are a bit far away from the hub, where on the actual car, they are right next to the central hub. Other than this, the kit wheels don't look bad (maybe the air valves are a bit too big?). 

Sprues I and J are chrome-plated, and sprue J is my favourite dull chrome-plating. Yet, all of these parts will be washed and get a proper colour treatment (maybe I will keep the lights). 

 (Photo Credit: Replica-of-666, Timo Stuber - Deviant Art)

Brake discs do not seem too bad.

This is the Gas pedal.

These are the clutch and brake pedals.

 (Photo Credit: Thornley Kelham)

The pedals don't look bad with all the textures despite being unavoidably a bit thicker. The foot rest for left foot seems missing from the kit.

Sprue K, L, M are all clear sprues. The rear and side lights are coloured so you don't have to paint them. I will stick Bare Metal foil inside them.

This photo of the actual rear light from Alfaholics proves Nitto/Doyusha's excellent work replicating the rear light unit.

 (Source: bielstein.com)

What do you think about the headlight unit?

The tires look fantastic. The letters on the sidewalls are so crispy and clear. Take a look below.

Extremely wide tires. Although it seems to me that the original tires weren't this size? Sure, the car's rear tires are WIDE. Sadly, no matter how good-looking these tires are, it doesn't change the fact that THE KIT ONLY OFFERS 4 TIRES, NOT 5 - MEANING YOU WILL HAVE NO RUBBER FOR THE SPARE WHEEL. Even the instruction just tells you to put one rim under the front hood. This is UNACCEPTABLE! Seriously, Doyusha!

Finally, some accessories. You eventually get quite a few meshes.

You need to create this cage-looking air cleaner. 

The pipe is used for the blower. Do you see that pathetic rim with no rubber attached to it??? Ugh!!!

I've these decals are not flexible and are very hard to work with. The kit decal features the champion car of Montecarlo 1977. You get some aftermarket decal options out there, so help yourself!

This is the car I will be building (BBK sells a beautifully silk screen printed decal set).

(Photo Credit: Team Aseptogyl Facebook Page)

(Left: Christine Dacremont. Photo Credit: Official Website of Christine Dacremont)

(Colette Galli/Galy, Photo Credit: Team Aseptogyl Facebook Page)

(Photo Credit: Official Website of Christine Dacremont)

This is the well-known all-girls toothpaste car driven by Christine Dacremont and Colette Galli (Galy). They were sixth in the 1977 Monte Carlo. Like the famous Michèle Mouton, these ladies are living examples of why women are as capable as men in the male-dominant racing world. 

All right, that's all you get from the Doyusha 1/12 Super Big Scale Lancia Stratos HF Monte-Carlo Type. Nothing is perfect! This kit has several disappointments, particularly the tyreless spare rim. But, overall it is impressive and very detailed, which also indicates the need for consistent patience and effort to turn this kit into a faithful replication of the successful rally monster from the '70s. I won't start working on this kit any sooner, for I will be waiting for Italeri's offer and see how their Stratos roars differently!