1:20 Targa rims for Fiat 131 Abarth

Targa rims for the Fiat 131 Abarth in the larger 1:20 scale

The 1:20 Targa rims for Fiat 131 Abarth set offers Targa-type wheels for a model of the Fiat 131 Abarth rally car in 1:20 scale. It is an accessory for a finished base model, not a kit of the car. The diameter, the material and the contents of the package are stated on the box of the set.

What 1:20 scale means

Twentieth scale is less common among car models than the widespread 1:24, and you meet it most often with formula cars. With rally cars it appears only occasionally, which is exactly why the choice of accessories for them is narrower. At this scale the model is noticeably larger and the wheels take up correspondingly more of its area, so the spoke pattern, the depth of the dish and the seating of the center nut are visible at first glance. It also means that the slightest inaccuracy in the angle at which a wheel sits is glaring. The Fiat 131 Abarth, moreover, ran on asphalt and on gravel, and the choice of rim and the width of the tire differed with the surface, which is why several wheel types are made for one car.

Installation and painting tips

• At the larger scale, work shadow in between the spokes, or the wheel looks like a flat disc.
• Sand the surface of the rim smooth before painting, as unevenness shows clearly at twentieth scale.
• Try seating the wheel dry and look at the model from the front to see whether both sides sit alike.
• Leave the tire matte and give the rim a higher gloss, as the contrast adds depth to the wheel.
• Apply dirt from a special stage outward from the center, the way centrifugal force throws it.

Who the set is for

Builders of rally cars in the larger 1:20 scale will reach for it when they want the wheels to match the level of the rest of the model. It also serves those with a twentieth-scale build on the bench who are looking for accessories, of which the market holds considerably fewer than for 1:24.