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‘Tamiya’ Category

More Tamiya Fair Pics

Posted by Brian @ 11:34 am. Filed in: Tamiya

A few more pictures from our friends at HobbyMedia.it from their trip to the Tamiya Fair in Japan have caught my eye. First is this Ford F150 body! Without going on a Cubby rant, and how he’s been saying for over a year now that ‘realistic’ is the future of RC, but something about this body strikes me as cool looking. From the bed, to the scale look. It just looks ‘right’ to me and I hope we see more of it.

Next up is this new 2.4Ghz radio from Sanwa. There’s a name we haven’t heard in a long time. It will be interesting to see if this radio makes it over to the USA. One thing I noticed, it’s sort of squared off, and I never really thought about it, but radio’s don’t need to look like a phaser any more. They could be square, and smaller, or any shape actually.

For more images check out the HobbyMedia.it site, and thanks to them for letting us get some pics from their show.

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Tamiya

Tamiya Avante Re-Release

Posted by Brian @ 12:02 am. Filed in: Tamiya

Our friends from HobbyMedia.it just got back from the Tamiya Fair in Japan, and have sent a few pictures. The Tamiya Avante, a 1/10th scale electric buggy re-release. The original was released around 1988, and the re-release was in 2001. Does that make this a re-re-release? Every once in a while, I’ll see someone rebuilding theirs. Now you can buy a new one again. I really like the body with the driver inside! It also had a very unique suspension setup.

You can see a few more pictures on their site here.

One of our loyal readers sent in a video link from the original. Check it out after the break.. READ MORE

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Tamiya

Tamiya USA hosting F1 build contest

Posted by Jeff @ 5:11 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

Scale modelers grab your hobby knives and warm up your airbrush compressors. Tamiya USA is holding a Formula 1 build contest. Two classes are available, plastic models and r/c models, so take your pick and start building. Entries will be accepted via email from August 18th to September 25th.

Tamiya is offering up some great prizes to the winners. In the r/c class the first place builder will get a Ferrari F60 based on Tamiya’s high-end F104 chassis. Second place will get the vintage F1 Wolf WR1 kit, and third place will receive a Lotus Type 79 vintage F1 kit.

Head on over to the Tamiya web site to read all the rules and then get to building.

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Tamiya revises the TRF801XT into a total performance package

Posted by Jeff @ 8:17 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

The Tamiya TRF801XT is, by all accounts, a fine model automobile. Apparently Tamiya wasn’t happy enough with it though. So they went back to the drawing board and then to the track, then back to the drawing board, then the track again, and so on and so forth until they had a truck that performed better than their previous attempt. Now all of us get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The TRF801XT Performance Package Version is a complete kit featuring revised suspension with shorter A-arms making for narrower truck that improves handling and responsiveness. The width of the truggy has been reduced from 428mm down to a slim 422mm. The revised kit also includes shorter universal drive shafts and the aftermarket HD Upper Shock Mounts which allow for quicker and easier shock angle adjustments.

If you already own an old school TRF801XT don’t feel bad, the parts included in the Performance Package Version are available separately. Just bolt them on and you’ll be as cool as the other kids on the track.

The MSRP for the TRF801XT Performance Package Version is $1,044.00, your local hobby shop’s prices are sure to vary. Check out the Tamiya America web site for more info, pictures, and a peek at the manual.

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Save cash! Tamiya Store Free Shipping Weekend

Posted by Jeff @ 8:56 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

The fine folks at Tamiya America have decided they want to offer up some free shipping from their online store on orders over $50. The deal is only good through the 29th, so hurry up and get to buying.

Check out the Tamiya Online Store for more info.

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Tamiya’s new High-End Drifter

Posted by Jeff @ 7:09 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

Tamiya has an expensive drift machine for those of you that like driving sideways. The High-End Drifter features an all new mid-motor layout and two belt drive-train. It’s also loaded down with tons of carbon fiber, including a 2mm chassis and a twin vertical plate bracing setup that runs the lenght of the chassis. It’s also got a lot of TRF accessories made with pretty blue anodized aluminum. The chassis is also setup to accept all the popular types of batteries in use today. This high-end setup isn’t going to come cheap though, with an MSRP of $667.00, and you’ll have to supply your own wheels, tires, body, electronics, and batteries. No word on a release date, but I’d bet early this summer.

Read all about it at Tamiya’s Canadian site.

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Tamiya FF03 Pro for the reals

Posted by Jeff @ 5:45 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

Tamiya‘s finally showing off a real picture of their new FF03 Pro chassis. If you don’t know, the FF series are front motor, front wheel drive sedans. The new FF03 is a completely redesigned chassis, going from the monocoque frame chassis of the ff02 back to a tub style chassis with the battery running down the centerline of the chassis and a new Inboard Front Suspension setup. Being a Pro class chassis means that Tamiya is throwing in a bunch of TRF developed parts like the hard coated dampers and various aluminum pieces and parts. Being Pro also means that you’ll have to provide your own body, tires, wheels, electronics, and battery to go with it.

There’s no release date noted yet, MSRP will be $320. Check out the Tamiya web site for more info.

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Tamiya Wolf WR1 vintage F1

Posted by Jeff @ 8:08 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

Another new car making it’s debut at the Shizuoka show is Tamiya‘s latest vintage F1 car. Modeled after the Wolf WR1, which started it’s career during the 1977 Forumla 1 season, Tamiya’s 1/1o scale version is a mash-up of their newer F104 chassis and their older, but still competitive F103 chassis. Among some of the distinctive features are extra large rear tires and smaller fronts for a true scale look, a resin bumper under the front wing, and a full decal setup to mimic the full scale’s looks. It would go great on the shelf next to the Tyrrell P34 six wheeler.

This is going to be a limited edition kit, so if you’re interested keep your eyes peeled.

Check out the Tamiya Canada site for all the info in english.

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Tamiya Mini Trucks

Posted by Brian @ 9:08 pm. Filed in: Tamiya

From the Shizuoka Hobby Show we see these new 1/32 scale Tamiya Mini 4wd Trucks, happily named “Jolly Joker” and “Sunny Shuttle“. These are the style that run on a closed track. You can see the guide bars on the front and rear. I bet they hall around there!

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