Tamiya Corporation

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“Tamiya” redirects here. For the martial arts style, see Tamiya-ryu.

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits, radio controlled cars, battery- and solar-powered educational models, sailboat models, acrylic and enamel model paints, and various modelling tools and supplies. The company was founded by Shunsaku Tamiya in Shizuoka, Japan in 1958. The company has gained a reputation among hobbyists of producing models of outstanding quality and accurate scale detail, a philosophy reflected directly on the company’s logo “First in Quality Around the World”

Contents

[edit] Product lines

[edit] Radio-controlled vehicles

[edit] Cars (1/12 scale)

  • The first radio controlled car to be released by Tamiya was a Porsche 934 in 1976. Its body was based upon an existing 1/12 scale static kit that Tamiya had already been manufacturing, so the effect was that of a traditional static model kit with the added ability to be radio controlled - something Tamiya acknowledged, as all of their early kit boxes carried the wording "suitable for radio control". The Porsche 934 was a massive hit - selling over 100,000 units in its first year. The potential market for easy to assemble electric radio controlled model cars was clear, and the 934 and was soon followed up by a kit of the Porsche 935.
  • The Porsche 959. Released in 1986, it was a 1/12th scale radio-controlled replica of the car that won the 1986 Paris Dakar Rally, and was one of the most complex and highly detailed R/C model kits ever made. It was soon followed by the Toyota Celica Gr.B, a replica of the Safari Rally winner, which shared the same chassis as the Porsche 959 but included a number of upgrades such as a third differential in the centre of the car, making it an even more complex kit.HI

[edit] Cars (1/10 scale)

  • The Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider, released in 1979 and credited as the first radio controlled cars to feature off-road suspension. They were extremely true to scale, and featured suspension systems similar to that of the real Volkswagen Beetle, along with water proof-boxes to hold radio equipment. The Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider (along with the Ford F150 Ranger XLT and Super Champ) all shared many chassis components, and came to be known as the SRB's (Special Racing Buggies) and are highly desirable for collectors.
  • The Super Champ, released in 1982, was the only Tamiya model to include a feature called F.F.P.D.S. (Free Floating Progressive Dampening System). This consisted of an on board oil bottle to constantly supply oil to a large rear shock absorber, which helped maintain both pressure and lubrication in the shock through hard use. Though adding weight to the car, it worked well, and Tamiya even registered a patent for the system.
  • The Wild Willy, released in 1982. This was a Jeep with a detailed, hard plastic body and a short wheelbase, making it capable of wheelies and other stunts. It's sealed electronics box also enabled it to traverse water without damage. It marked a new concept in R/C modelling, and was very popular among both R/C and Jeep enthusiasts, for both it's fun and realism. Like many vintage Tamiya models, good condition examples are now considered extremely collectible, and mint in box (unbuilt) examples can fetch almost US$1000. Further, the original Wild Willy kit was revised in 1985 to give it a slightly longer wheelbase, so the earlier, shorter wheelbase version is quite hard to find. Wild Willy 2 has also been released 2000 which features a completely new design. And there has even been a metallic edition of Wild Willy 2.
  • The Frog, a two wheel drive off-road radio controlled buggy released in 1983, that was both fast and much lighter than it's predecessors, and marked a new balance between the use of metal and plastic components. The Frog was very popular, and also marked the beginning of Tamiya's use of animal themes to draw inspiration for it's vehicle designs and colours - an idea that proved extremely popular and which was continued through a number of kits. The Frog kit was also re-released in 2005, though with a few alterations.
  • The Grasshopper, a two wheel drive off-road radio controlled buggy released in 1984 that was very rugged and featured a basic specification level that made it Tamiya's most affordable buggy. It's 380 sized motor meant it was among Tamiya's slower models at the time, though it's lighter ABS plastic bathtub chassis helped put it's speed only a little behind that of the earlier, heavier Special Racing Buggies. It was also much more economical on batteries, and overall it was the ideal off-roader for the first time hobbyist, which made it very popular. The Grasshopper kit was re-released in 2005, though with a few alterations.
  • The Hornet, a two wheel drive off-road radio controlled buggy first released in 1984 which was quite fast and rugged. It shared many components with the Grasshopper, though it was faster and lighter. It would go on to become one of the most popular R/C kits of all time, and was re-released in December 2004 with a few alterations. There was also a sequel, the Super Hornet, which was released in 1994 and has now been discontinued, though as of 2006 Tamiya still manufactures it exclusively for the Australian market.
  • The Hotshot. Tamiya's first four wheel drive off-road buggy which was released in 1985. It broke new ground for Tamiya and also the hobby in general, and was the car to beat in 1/10th scale buggy racing when it was released. For its time, the car was light, rugged and upgradeable. In the years that followed, parts of the Hotshot were evolved and reused in several other 4WD buggy models, including the Hotshot 2, the Boomerang, the Super Sabre, and Tamiya's 10th Anniversary car, the Bigwig.
  • The Toyota 4x4 Pickup Bruiser 1/10th scale radio controlled pickup truck. Released in 1985, it had a working three-speed transmission which could be shifted via radio control, a high-torque RS-750SH motor and ultra-realistic Toyota Hilux body with camper shell and interior detail. The aluminum frame, suspension, drive axle and steering were patterned after their full-sized counterparts. This complex and expensive model has since become one of the most collectible of all Tamiya R/C's.
  • The original Blackfoot monster truck kit and its variations, first released in 1986 and credited with much of the hobby's growth. The Blackfoot line included the original Blackfoot, Super Blackfoot, King Blackfoot, and Blackfoot Extreme, all sharing the same ORV spaceframe chassis but featuring improvements over the previous model.
  • The Clodbuster 1/10th scale radio-controlled monster truck released in 1987 as the first Tamiya R/C monster truck with two drive motors, four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. The Clodbuster virtually spawned an aftermarket industry of its own which catered to those who wished to modify their models. The Clod Buster has remained popular since its introduction, recently birthing the Super Clod Buster. The Clod Buster was also released with a detailed semi truck body, as the Bullhead. The Clod Buster still has a large aftermarket following, with many companies designing parts for rock crawling as well as trailer pulling and racing. The main reason for its use is its ultra-strong gearboxes.
  • The Avante. A car specifically designed to return Tamiya to the forefront of racing in the late 1980s. All new and to this day virtually unique, it featured an FRP chassis, aluminium components everywhere and almost limitless adjustments. Unfortunately, as it turned out, it was somewhat over engineered. The car was too heavy, too fragile, dynamically inept, and uncompetitive. However it's still a highly desirable model to a Tamiya collector because of the unique and uncompromising engineering that went in to it.
  • The TXT-1 (Tamiya Extreme Truck) 1/10 scale radio control monster truck released in 2002. This truck, which is still in production, was designed as a factory response to aftermarket Clodbuster upgrades. Cantilever suspension, four wheel drive, and multilink suspension allow for the massive axle articulation featured in third party kits such as the Clodzilla series. The new truck dispensed with the Clod's four wheel steering, although the TXT includes provisions for making this upgrade. Tamiya engineers attended actual USHRA monster truck events in order to improve the scale appearance of the TXT and duplicate full-size suspension designs. The truck uses axles and gearbox from the earlier Juggernaut 1/2 trucks, but fixes all the "Jugg's" suspension problem with its reworked chassis and suspension.
  • The TRF414 radio controlled car; holder of the 2002-04 IFMAR ISTC 1/10th scale electric touring car world champion title.
  • The TRF415, holder of the 2004-06 IFMAR ISTC 1/10th scale radio controlled electric touring car world champion title.
  • The TA01/TA02 chassis series from the early-mid 1990s were sold with various bodyshells. The TA01 was based on Tamiya's Manta Ray buggy, and was one of the first kits on the market to be sold with a realistic body coupled with a capable, easy-handling 4WD chassis. Some said it was the first RC "Touring Car." Some of these bodyshells are among the most realistic and detailed lexan bodies made by any manufacturer. Models worthy of note are the E30 BMW M3, W201 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution-II, Ford Escort Cosworth and the Lancia Delta Integrale. Original versions of these models fetched high prices from collectors until recently, when Tamiya re-released them.
  • The TL-01/TL-01LA/TL-01B chasses, from the mid-90s to the late 90s, was an innovative shaft-driven 4WD touring chassis with a narrow 3-piece vertically sandwiched chassis design. Its characteristics include high durability, making it an excellent base for beginner racers, and low cost. Like the TA01/TA02, it was released with many different touring car bodies and minor modifications. It was also modified with long arms and buggy size wheels to create the TL-01B, used in the Baja Champ and later Baja King buggies. The TL-01 remains one of the most common Tamiya chasses today.
  • The TLT-1 is a small truck of about 1/15 scale, and has quickly became worldly known as one of the most versatile rc cars for projects. Its most common use is for scale rock crawling, a hobby that is starting to make itself noticed by the general RC market. Like the Clod Buster, its axles are highly desirable.
  • The Ford F-350 High Lift, released in 2006, is a modernized version of the vintage 3-speed trucks. A 3-speed gearbox mounts up to the steel chassis rails, with leaf springs and oil friction dampers supporting it on modified TLT axles. The truck is finished with a detailed hard body version of the Ford F-350, very similar to the earlier Juggernaut's body.

[edit] Trucks and trailers (1/14 scale)

Tamiya also produces 1/14 scale radio controlled trucks using ABS body shells instead of the alloy and sheet metal that competitor Wedico uses on its 1/16 scale truck line. The truck motors are electric, and powerful - powerful enough to tow an adult behind the truck on a skateboard.

Available in the current truck range are the following rigs:

  • King Hauler (also available in a limited chrome edition)
  • Globeliner
  • Mercedes-Benz 1838LS
  • Mercedes 1850L (distribution truck)
  • Volvo FH12 Globetrotter 420
  • Ford Aeromax (also available in a limited chrome edition)
  • Knight Hauler (also available in a limited chrome edition)

The truck range also includes some 2 axle trailers "USA style" :

  • Flatbed trailer (the basic flat trailer)
  • Box trailer (closed cargo trailer)
  • Tank trailer (liquid transport)
  • Pole trailer (wood/tree transport)

The German division/importer (Carson) also released a 3 axel semi-low loader trailer in this scale. Recently a tautliner (also 3 axel) is added to the list.

[edit] Tanks (1/16 scale)

Tamiya's radio controlled tanks have options such as sound, light and optional parts to depict different variants.

The Leopard A4 and Flakpanzer Gepard are no longer produced; updated versions of the others have some technical and cosmetic innovations over the original models.

The latest models (Full Option Kits) have full sound function, fire simulation (barrel moves when fired), the latest Full Option Tank (Leopard 2A6) has an upgrade part available, a barrel stabiliser which keeps the cannon level even with the tank moving.

Also there is a battle function unit for sale, so you can actually fight a tank battle with another Tamiya battle function equipped 1/16 tank.

Don't mistake these tanks with "cheap" tanks from brands like Heng Long or similar, but as the Chinese brands improve their looks more and more toy versions are being rebuilt and upgraded as full option "Tamiya-like" tanks.

[edit] Yachts (1/20 scale)

Tamiya produced a series of 1/20 scale which are highly realistic. These include:

  • Yamaha Round the World
  • Yamaha 40EX
  • 36 Class R/C Racing Yacht Innovator

[edit] Track racing cars

  • The Mini 4WD and Dangun-Racer series, which are small (1/32nd scale), single-motor, free-operating electric models designed to run in competition on a special, deeply channeled track.

[edit] Static-display scale models

[edit] Military Vehicles (1/35)

The oldest category in Tamiya's export line has been the "Military Miniatures" series of 1:35 scale figures and vehicles. The series has focused on World War II military subjects though a growing minority of kits in this line come from later periods. The collection of German vehicles is especially strong.

The products are characterized by striking full colour paintings on the boxtops, though instructions are generally brief and sometimes written in Engrish (poorly translated from the original Japanese). Tamiya molds are generally very clean and almost no flashing is found on their products. It was Tamiya themselves that established the 1/35 scale for military models (now the accepted standard size in military modelling in general); the scale was the result of the design of the initial kit, the motorized Tiger tank, being designed just large enough to contain the motor assembly and battery pack.

In addition to vehicles themselves, the category includes soldier and weapon sets, and scenery items (e.g., brick walls, signs, barricades) for use in dioramas.

Tamiya also produces an expanding line of 1/48 military vehicles, designed as a smaller alternative to the larger 1/35 kits.

[edit] Aircraft

Their line of static model aircraft, mostly of 1/48th scale, are widely considered to be state-of-the-art. Many of the same aircraft have been repeated in 1/72nd scale to a similar standard with a few subjects only available in this scale. Tamiya is also one of the few manufacturers of 1/100th scale aircraft. They also produce a few 1/32nd scale kits.

[edit] Automobiles

They produce many model cars kits, including road cars, sports racing cars, World Rally Championship racing cars, and Formula One racing cars. Usually these are 1/24th scale, however their Formula One kits are 1/20th scale.

A few street, racing, and F1 kits are also produced in 1/12 scale.

[edit] Motorcycles

Tamiya has an extensive line of 1/12 scale street and Grand Prix racing motorcycles. A few 1/6 scale kits have also been made.

[edit] Ships

  • They produce many naval ship models in 1/350 and 1/700 scale, both full and waterline versions. The majority of the kits in the 1/700 waterline series are WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy subjects, but there are also kits of WW2 ships from other countries such as Germany, Britain, and the United states. In addition, the series has a few modern vessels.

[edit] TRF - Tamiya Racing Factory

Tamiya and their racing division TRF have evolved into one of the most successful racing teams on the electric scene of worldwide R/C Racing over the last few years. They are most famous for their work in the field of 1/10th scale electric touring car racing.

At the request of many Tamiya enthusiasts, in 1999 Tamiya started work on a car made purely for racing, to replace their aging, gear-driven TA03R-TRF and TA03F David Jun Edition cars. The car that resulted was the TRF414X (built in very small numbers), which evolved into the TRF414M, and then to the more popular TRF414M2 (and the budget-oriented TA04 series), all employing the then-novel twin-belt drivetrain layout, with the center layshaft mounted above the motor. The TRF team's reputation shot up after the 3rd IFMAR ISTC world championships in Mogale City, South Africa, in 2002. The Thai driver Surikarn Chaidajsuriya shocked the world by winning the world championships driving a modified Tamiya TRF414M. The car he used was eventually released to the public as the TRF414M-World Championship Replica, of which only 1500 were built, making it one of the more desirable Tamiya kits from the last 5 years.

Since 2002, the TRF division has continuously been growing with an expanded team in Japan and worldwide. In late 2002, Tamiya released their third shaft driven car called TB Evolution III (or TB Evo3) which won the YamaYama Cup in Japan two months later, with Satoshi Maezumi at the wheel. On the European scene, the Dane Steen Graversen along with Surikarn Chaidajsuriya and team manager Kiyokazu Suzuki managed to join the A-main of the big LRP Masters race in Germany, April of 2003. Surikarn then won both the 23T stock and the Modified classes in the Thailand International Touring Car championships (TITC), using an updated TB Evo3. Surikarn's Evo3 was eventually released to the public as the limited-edition TB Evo3 Surikarn Edition (SE) to commemorate the victory. It features red anodized aluminum components, new upper arm mounts, titanium turnbuckles and screws, delrin differential halves, a thicker 3mm carbon chassis, and new one-way carbon gear brace. The TB Evo3 SE was eventually replaced with the TB Evo4 in the first half of 2004. The Evo4 addressed the Evo3 owners' complaint about their car's bevel gears' durability by incorporating a three-piece center shaft design, doing away with the Evo3's single-piece center shaft. The Evo4 was also equipped with Tamiya's Lightweight Reversible Suspension Set, incorporating smaller wheel bearings, stiffer material, and reversible longer suspension arms, which allows more cornering speed and more precise adjustment of the car's suspension characteristics.

The same year, Tamiya discovered a new young star under Tamiya's belt, a boy named Marc Rheinard from Germany. Marc debuted at the indoor race DHI Cup of 2004 with Tamiya's new belt driven car (designed in conjunction with Tech Racing) the TRF415. He and Steen Graversen finished 2nd and 3rd, proving the capability of this newly designed chassis. Two months later, the Marc won the LRP Masters in a dominating fashion, beating the world's best drivers. Things looked good for the upcoming 4th World Championships in Florida, USA. Few believed that Marc would actually win the world championships at an age of 17, but he did. Tamiya brought their new and improved version of TRF415, the TRF415MS which stands for Maezumi Satoshi, one of the car's designers and a Tamiya factory driver. The new car had improved handling characteristics on asphalt through the adoption of a thinner chassis and Evo4's Lightweight Reversible suspension. Marc took pole position and won two of the three A-mains. The other Tamiya driver in the top ten was former world champion Surikarn, driving the TB Evo4, who finished 9th.

After the 2004 Worlds, Tamiya released the World's upgrade kit for the 415, containing the direct center pulley (as opposed to the center one-way included in the standard 415 and 415MS kits) and narrowed suspension mounts, further improving the 415 handling and acceleration. In early 2005, Tamiya released an updated version of the TB Evo4, called the TB Evo4 MS. The Evo4 MS was equipped with one-piece aluminium bulkheads (as opposed to the Evo4's 4-piece bulkhead), aluminium center brace and one-piece center shaft input cups (as opposed to plastic ones in the Evo4).

In July 2005, Tamiya further updated the TRF415MS, by releasing the TRF415MSX. Released both as a conversion kit (for older 415s) and as a complete kit, the design featured a three-piece bulkhead for easy maintenance, lowered and shortened upper deck that runs under the belt, and the deletion of the middle decks, all contributing to a lower CG and increased "tweak" resistance. Marc recently won the World's Warm-Up in April 2006 with a revised version of the MSX, sporting a new set of lowered rear bulkheads, shock towers, and steering mechanism. Unfortunately he only placed 4th overall in the 5th World Championships held in August 2006, but his car was eventually released to the public as the limited-edition, asphalt-racing oriented TRF415MSX Marc Rheinard Edition (MRE) in August 2006. It incorporated new alternated pulleys, new solid front axle, new internal drive ratio (through the adoption of the new pulleys), and the new steering mechanism. In July 2006, Tamiya released the TB Evolution 5, their next-generation gear-driven touring car, replacing the Evo4 MS. The Evo5 does away with the Evo4's front main shaft input cup, using a CV joint instead (but retaining a rear input cup), and also incorporates the new short arms for the Lightweight Suspension, which further increased the cornering speed and helped sharpen the car's turn-in. It is also equipped with a new, more precise steering mechanism (seen also in the TRF415MSX MRE), and a lowered top deck. In November 2006, Tamiya ceased the production of the MRE, and released the updated TRF415MSXX. This car returned to the standard front one-way differential (unlike the solid axle included in the MRE), and came with new, thinner upper and lower decks (altering the chassis flex characteristics), and a new aluminum air scoop to help cool the motor.

[edit] Supplies and Tools

Tamiya manufactures acrylic and enamel-based modelling paints, sprays and painting pens. Tamiya does supplies such as putty and solvent, and modelling tools. They also provide upkeep equipment for their RC models, like grease for the working gear boxes. Also the likes of work tables, airbrush stands and turn tables are available.

Tamiya’s paints like all their products, are recognised as superior quality. Tamiya recently has released a new line of "weathering" kits which allow the user to easily and quickly give their models the impression they have been damaged, have rusted or have been through a long service life.

[edit] Facilities

Tamiya has several large regional divisions, notably in Aliso Viejo, California, home of "Tamiya America," the North, Central and South American branch responsible for many of the company's racing developments. Tamiya America also features a world-class racing facility which is the site of several world championship events. An assembly plant is located in the Philippines, and Germany is the home of "Tamiya Europe's" operations.

[edit] Competitor

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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