1/6 Tamiya Honda CX500 Turbo Motorcycle Collectors Guide

This is one of many guides created to assist Collectors & Builders of Big Scale Car and Motorcycle plastic model kits. This is the first one to be done on a Tamiya "Big Scale" bike. As a side hobby of my Automotive interests, I've collected many of the "Big Scale" kits over the years. Most are the earliest releases and are quite rare now. Much of the information I've learned about these kits is not available in any other forum (that I am aware of), and so I've created this series of guides to assist Hobbyists. Emphasis is always on Identification, Kit History, Features, ect. Less information is provided on the actual build of the kits due to rarity. Emails and input are always welcome, and any additional information provided will be gladly included in this guide.

** The Only Issue 1/6th Tamiya Big Scale Kit # 26, Honda CX500 Turbo Motorcycle c.1983 **

IDENTIFICATION: Any example of this kit is very rare today, and unbuilt mint condition kits even more so. Tamiya only produced this jewel one time in 1983, and probably due to complexity and high production costs, never re-issued the kit. Take a good look at the photo above. If you see this box, it's the only kit ever produced. This kit was Tamiya's Big Scale Motorcycle #26, and the kit number was 1626. Tamiya also released kit # 1627 around the same time period of the Honda CX500 Turbo Motorcycle Engine. That kit was of the Engine and driveline Only, mounted on a display stand, but not a complete bike. Both kits have incredible detail, and due to the rare high tech subject bike they model, are highly sought after kits today. Opening the box, you immediately realize this is a special kit. See contents photos below;

Parts are well packed, and molded in Pearl White, Chrome, Silver, Gold, Grey, Black, and Clear. The kit also has Rubber Like Tires and a large quantity of hardware and detail items. The real Honda Turbo was a very complex bike, and the kit is as well. My best guess is well over 200 parts. There is also a very elaborate decal sheet, and extreme care should be used. There is no source available for replacement decals. If they are deteriorated, damaged, or missing, you will not be able to replace them. With this kit, the condition of the decals will dictate the entire kit's value. The same should be said for the tires. Deteriorated or missing tires will be impossible to replace. As with most Tamiya Big Scale Motorcycle kits, this kit has a working scale front suspension, with plated metal front forks. The rear suspension is a highly detailed functioning Honda Pro-Link setup with a metal coil spring. The wheels are very accurately modeled "Boomerang Comstar" three piece units, and come pre painted in Gold. The Fairing/Cowl is molded in one very large and impressive piece. It is made with a Pearl White plastic that is very close in color to the original bike. The side covers are molded in the same Pearl White, and are removable after completion. The drive shaft to the rear end comes with real rubber CV boots. There is a cast metal kick stand with a tiny metal spring that functions just like the real bike. Mesh Nylon Screen material is provided for the grill in the Fairing. All things considered, this is an over-the-top Big Scale Bike kit. As an added note, there was a performance portfolio published by Brooklands Books some years ago. It is hard to find, but has incredible technical photos of both the CX500, and CX650. For a builder, it has all the reference photos you could want (see photo below).

There are many builders out there who post photos of their built Big Scale Tamiya Motorcycles. I've never seen photos of a built Honda CX500 Turbo kit. Probably due to rarity? Is no one building? At the June 2008 Honda Hoot Owners Meeting here in Knoxville Tennessee, there was only (1) CX650 Turbo, and no CX500 Turbos! I just wonder which is rarer, this kit or the real Bike? I do know one thing, I have not seen a single example of this kit in the Vintage aftermarket for some time now. A definite keeper for the collection.....

** 1/6th Tamiya Honda CX500 Turbo Kit History **

Tamiya set the bar pretty high with the release of their "Big Scale #1" kit, the Honda CB750, way back in 1968. No one had ever seen a Motorcycle kit in this scale before, let alone the incredible detail! That kit even had an optional individual link chain! Over the years, Tamiya steadily added new kits to the line, and eventually released this "Big Scale #26" kit. The Honda CX500 Turbo kit was one of those kits that was a classic the minute it was released. Big Size, Incredible Detail, A Rare Subject Bike, and a very high parts count. Yes, it was expensive, but aren't they all? This kit had such an impressive engine and drivetrain, that Tamiya immediately released kit #1627, the Honda CX500 Turbo Engine kit. Just the engine from the kit, no bike, and the only addition was a stand to display the finished engine/drivetrain. Yes, it is a very complex kit, but so was the real bike it is modeled after. Based on the Honda V-Twin Liquid Cooled CX500, first released in the late 1970's, Honda unveiled the Prototype CX500 Turbo at a Bike show in Cologne West Germany in 1980. At that show, two legendary bikes made their debut. Suzuki unveiled the new Katana, and Honda introduced what (a year later) would be the World's first production Turbocharged Motorcycle. When released to the public in 1981, Honda's Turbo turned the bike world on it's ear. Electronic Fuel Injection, Computer Control, and 82 horsepower out of a tiny 500 twin! The bike was by far the most complicated production Motorcycle ever produced, but the tiny 500 V-Twin Turbo could smoke 1100cc bikes all day long. Dealerships had to have Honda specially train it's technicians just to work on this bike. Eventually, Honda would release a second Turbo, the CX650 in 1983, and even today, both bikes are legendary. With Tamiya's kit, it is evident that they had quite a bit of co-operation from Honda to get the kit "right". There are very few areas to nit-pick. Sure there is room for added details, but building one right out of the box will result in a stunning display. Sad to say, it is highly unlikely that this kit will ever be re-issued. If you get your hands on a Vintage kit, keep this fact in mind. It's already a rare kit, and worthy of any collection.

** Kit Features **

** Accurate Highly Detailed Honda 500cc V-Twin Turbo Charged Engine

** Fully Operating Scale Suspension System

** Movable Main & Side Stands

** Many Metal Parts Included

** Semi Pneumatic Rubber Like Tires With Realistic Treads & Side Markings

** Over 200 Parts Molded In Pearl White, Black, Gold, Silver, Gray, Chrome, and Clear

** Kit Pros And Cons **

Pros. Tamiya's 1/6th kit of the Honda CX500 Turbo was the only model of this bike ever done in this Big Scale. It would be hard to imagine a better kit of this rare motorcycle. A high parts count with high quality parts. With rarity, complexity, and subject matter, this kit will always be a classic with builders and collectors. A top shelf addition to any collection....

Cons. This kit disappeared almost overnight in the Vintage marketplace. If you do get your hands on one, you hate to build it due to rarity. It has always been a pricey kit, and any unbuilt kit with good decals will demand a premium. With oil prices going out of sight, look for all big scale kits to rapidly become scarce. Deteriorated, damaged, or missing decals are impossible to replace. Ditto for tires.

I hope this first "Big Scale" motorcycle kit guide has been informative. If you have found it helpful, take a moment to vote below. Look for more guides on rare kits in the very near future. As always, feel free to email with comments, or additional information.