New releases at the All Japan Plamodel Radicon Show (Updated Sept. 28)
Recently, Tamiyablog presented information about some future RC-models from Tamiya. Since then, several sources have announced further new items, which we haven’t listed as the information was relatively easily available for anyone with a minimum of dedication. However, with Tamiya’s most recent announcement in Japanese for the All Japan Plamodel Radicon Show in October, we feel obliged to list a few future releases. Some of the items listed for the fair are deliberately not listed below as they have been known for some time before Tamiya's most recent announcement and partially presented by Tamiyablog in previous posts. Furthermore, some of the listed items may be limited edition items available only at the fair and/or on the Japanese market only. Descriptions will be updated and corrected, and pictures posted as soon as further information gets available to us.
Radio Control:
42138 1/10 TRF416 World Edition Chassis Kit
84056 1/10 F103 Chassis Kit 15th Anniversary
84032 1/10 F103RM (w/L-body) (Limited Edition)
58417 1/10 Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo'07 (DF-03Ra Chassis)
58419 1/10 NISMO R34 GT-R Z tune (TT-01D Chassis)
58420 1/10 TB-03D Chassis Kit (drift version of the TB-03 Chassis)
58424 1/10 Takata NSX 2008 (TB-03)
57780 1/10 XB Lamborghini Countach LP500S (TT-01E) (XB version of # 58413)
xxxxx Aluminum Horn for High-Torque Servo Saver (M-Chassis)
42124 HP Motor Transpeed Brushless 3.5T
42125 HP Motor Transpeed Brushless 6.5T
42126 HP Motor Transpeed Brushless 7.5T
42127 HP Electronic Speed Controller Volac Brushless
xxxxx HL Cylinder TRF Special Dampers (2 Pcs.)
xxxxx HL Cylinder for Aeration Dampers (Front, 2 Pcs.)
xxxxx HL Cylinder for M Chassis Aluminum Dampers (2 Pcs.)
42135 HP Battery Charger
42136 Stable Power Supply 24A
xxxxx DB01 Assembly WO Universal Shaft (Rear)
xxxxx CR-01 Cliff Crawler Tires (2 Pcs.)
xxxxx Aluminum Horn for High-Torque Servo Saver
Static Models:
12040 1/12 Porsche 934 Turbo RSR Jägermeister with photo-etched parts (re-release of # 12020, probably Cartograf decals.)
24310 1/24 Sauber-Mercedes C9 1988 (re-release of # 24091)
24311 1/24 Martini Porsche 935 Turbo (re-release of # 24001)
16033 1/6 Honda CB1100R (re-release of # 16022, with Cartograf decals.)
35294 1/35 Italian Semovente M40 Self-Propelled Gun (re-release of # 35078)
35296 1/35 Italian Tank Carro Armato M13/40 (re-release of # 35034)
35295 1/35 German Heavy Tank Destroyer Jagdtiger (completely new molds)
35297 1/35 German 8-Wheeled Armored Car Sd.kfz.232 "Africa Corps" (probably modified re-release of # 35036)
21073 1/48 Fieseler Fi 156C Storch (Finished version of # 61100)
26535 1/48 Russian Field Car GAZ-67B (Finished version of # 32542)
12628 1/350 Japanese Navy Submarine I-400 Detail-Up Parts Set (for # 78019 & 89776)
61104 1/48 Folke-Wulf Fw190 F-8/9 w/Bomb Loading Set (probably based on # 61039)
89782 1/48 German 3 Ton 4x2 Cargo Truck Kfz.305 (Opel Blitz)
Mini 4WD and Educational Series:
94676 New Year's Limited Edition 2009 "Year of the Ox"
94671 Neo Falcon Special White Edition (based on # 18617)
xxxxx Solar Car Assembly Kit (re-release of # 76001, but probably molded in black instead of grey)75024 Solar Power Generator Set
18630 Mini 4WD Pro Dash-3 Shooting Star (MS Chassis)
94673 Avante Mk.III Azure (Finished version of # 18626)
94674 Avante Mk.III Nero (Finished version of # 18627)
15383 Mini 4WD F Grease (Flurorpolymer Compound)
15382 Bumperless N-03/T-03 Units
Supplies:
74534 Spray-Work Painting Booth (Twin Fan)
85083 TS83 Spray Paint Metal Silver (probably “real” chrome silver, similar to Alclad2 paints)
85084 TS84 Spray Paint Metal Gold (probably “real” gold paint, similar to Alclad2 paints)
74084 Mini Bending Pliers for Photo-Etched Parts
posted by miramar at 9:51 PM
12 Comments:
Hi, maybe not so relevant to this hobby show, but talking about new products, do you know if Tamiya would issue a new catalogue for 2009, or do they no longer release an annual catalogue anymore?
I had been collecting Tamiya catalogues since 1987 (and got the previous copies up to 1972 via ebay), but was disappointed that Tamiya did not issue the 2008 catalogue. I wrote an email to tamiya.com earlier this year, and they told me they are "considering a new format".
11:09 AM
Before trying to give you at least a partial answer, I would like to point out that Tamiya Japan doesn't share much inofficial information with anybody outside Tamiya Japan itself. (We need to clearly distinguish between Tamiya Japan and Tamiya distributors and retailers.) There are many individuals and shops that claim to have very close connections to Tamiya Japan, and in the absolute majority of the cases (rather all), this simply isn't true at all. Even people working for the official Tamiya distributors aren't informed about for instance new items significantly before it's officially announced by Tamiya Japan themselves, and there exist countless examples of distributors being "uncomfortably" surprised about new items long after anybody could easily have found the information on the internet. One major distributor even had to quickly rework already decided marketing plans, their own catalog, flyers and entry-level RC-car racing program, because Tamiya Japan informed them about new products just weeks before the actual releases. I worked for a Tamiya distributor for 17 years, and as an enthusiast, I was extremely eager to get information about new items and would have put a lot of effort into getting early and genuine inside information, if it at all had been possible. In reality, the distributors used to be informed about new items roughly 3 months before they were released, but that was before internet got a major channel for information of this kind, so now, this time is considerably shorter than 3 months. It may seem strange that Tamiya Japan restricts the information flow this tightly, but one has to remember that Tamiya is a company, and as such Tamiya needs to protect themselves against competitors and other factors in the market that might have a negative impact on Tamiya's profitability. I know about a few unfortunate cases in the past where disloyal and stupid employees at some Tamiya distributors leaked information about future products before Tamiya Japan had approved it, just because they had an urge to feel "important" and to impress, thereby potentially causing damage to Tamiya. Names won't be mentioned here, but many Tamiya enthusiasts know exactly which individuals I'm refering too, and have an equally low esteem about them as I have. No wonder that Tamiya Japan now discloses even less "early" information to the distributors than they did in the past!
You may ask; "And what does this have to do with my question?" Well, it means that neither Tamiyablog nor anyone else except Tamiya Japan and maybe a very small core of selected people outside Tamiya Japan are able to tell you with 100% confidence whether Tamiya will issue the "showcase" (regular annual) catalog again or not. So contrary to what you may experience with self acclaimed "insiders", Tamiyablog will never present guesswork or hype as if it was verified reality, just to "impress". Of course you would prefer a firm answer, but we feel obliged to tell you what can be said with acceptable certainty:
A reader letter to TMMI (Tamiya Model Magazine International) raised the same question as you do in a recent issue (I'll see if I can dig it out). It was left uncommented by the editor, thereby actually proving his high integrity. Though TMMI belongs to ADH Publishing and not to Tamiya Japan, the editor is obviously among the better informed individuals outside Tamiya Japan, but has in several cases clearly demonstrated that he too is often informed very late or not at all about new items and decisions taken at Tamiya Japan. However, the reader pointed out that he had been informed that Tamiya would not issue a 2008 catalog as it had been decided that there is no real need for a paper format catalog anymore. Though great doubt is justified about the credibility of his source (hardly Tamiya Japan), it could be correct, especially when considering that the majority of Tamiya's customers are Japanese, and more "new/future technology" oriented than most others. Tamiyablog is closely monitoring multiple information sources for any new item numbers or other important information about Tamiya, and we put a lot of effort into this. Catalog item numbers has for years been relatively easily available information, and have normally been announced in the autumn. So far, no item numbers for catalogs after the 2007 version are known to us. That doesn't prove anything, but could be an indication that there won't be any further annual catalogs, at least not in the close future.
However, I too have an almost complete collection of Tamiya catalogs from 1965 to 2007 (missing 1967 and 1968), and think it's kind of sad if the 2007 issue will be the last one. The information that you got from Tamiya, that they are considering a new format for 2009 is quite interesting, encouraging and could be true, although it again has to be said that this information is only adequately credible if you got it from Tamiya Japan, and not from one of the distributors, which experience has shown is most likely the case if you didn't write the mail in Japanese.
Sorry for the very long answer, which to a large extent even isn't directly relevant for your question and maybe of very limited interest to you. I just felt it was time to make a few statements about Tamiyablog's and almost anybody else's almost non-existent access to information that hasn't been made readily available to the public by Tamiya Japan already.
9:57 AM
great to hear that the F103 chassis will be back. i wonder if tamiya will ever develop a "new" formula one style chassis. if they do, i'm all over it.
1:20 AM
Whether Tamiya will ever develope a "next" generation F-1 chassis is of course unknown to Tamiyablog. The F201 was obviously an attempt at taking F-1 to the next level above the F103, but the design and the concept had quite a few weaknesses and it obviously never achieved the same popularity as the F101-103 series. The F103 is immensely popular in Japan now, with several new kits and many new hop-ups from Tamiya and an enormous selection of aftermarket parts, and quite a few companies offering alternative chassis kits. There are shops and tracks especially dedicated to F-1 RC racing in Japan. With the revival of the F103, it would seem that it's just a matter of time before we could see an "F104", But then again, the F103 has been refined so much during 15 years that the F103RX and F103RM are more different from the original F103 than the F102 is! Also the competitors' designs aren't much different, so I ask myself if there is actually any need for a "F104". Considering that the basic design of the the F103 is one of Tamiya's oldest still in production, it could seem that they have been asking themselves the same question at Tamiya Japan.
9:39 AM
Concerning the F1 kit... Maybe the actual license troubles are holding them back.
Because the kit are release with unamed L or T bodies and no sponsor/brand stickers. That work in Japan because of all the aftermarket bodies and stickers available. But I don't see Europe or the USA having to go through many hops for reproducing a current season car...
I hope to have more data about the DF03RA kit soon... I just found underbody seal kit for the TT01 (2 shells one acting as skidplate, the other looking like car interior with 1 or 2 drivers, enclosing completely the bathtube chassis). But a real rally chassis would be cool...
12:24 PM
Maybe not a news anymore.
I believed Tamiya has outsourced its annual RC guiedbook since 2007. The publisher is Gakken, the same company that published Tamiya's 30 yesrs Perfect Album.
See this link from Gakken
http://shop.gakken.co.jp/shop/order/k_ok/bookdisp.asp?code=1860499400
and this link from Tamiya shop, which clearly remarks "Tamiya RC Official guidebook" on the first line:
http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/63351perfect_guide2008/index.htm
the 2007 guidebook (black background) was truely the "last" issue from Tamiya itself but Gakken also published the 2007 version of RC Perfect guide, in Taimiya Shop's description, it was also referred as the "official" guidebook...
http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/63319perfectguide07/index.htm
Apparently they were both ratified by Tamiya to be sold in Tamiya Shop
5:11 PM
Thanks a lot for your comments! As you may have noticed, our previous comments were about the regular "Showcase" catalog and not the RC Guide Book, but your comments are nevertheless highly appreciated. At Tamiyablog, we are aware of the Perfect Albums from Gakken and that they have been offered through Tamiya with Tamiya item numbers, although we have bought them ourselves from a Japanese online store as Gakken products. The RC Perfect Album may very well be the successor of the RC Guide Book, and I would say that the print and paper quality of the Perfect Albums is actually higher, and the information somewhat more up to date. However, in our humble opinion, the Perfect Albums lack the timeless, "innocent" and fun-oriented touch that made the RC Guide Books so especially attractive. Therefore, nice as the Perfect Albums certainly are, at Tamiyablog we feel that they aren't a true and adequate replacement for the Guide Books.
9:48 AM
I discovered the variation myself, too
Yes, even Gakken's version is regarded by Tamiya as official RC guide book, Tamiya still has to work out the missing 2008 catalog, the "showcase" for other content such as static and educational models. Until now we don't see a 2008 issue and it's already too late for one either, or, is there already one that we don't know? (hardly, as I visited several hobby stores in Osaka early this year found nothing) It will be a "gap" if there's a 2009 Catalog in any format this autumn, how will Tamiya handle this missing link or simply let it be a gap is very insteresting to me.
By the way I have translated your comment in my blog so more fellow enthusiasts can also enjoy your unique views of Tamiya issues. Thank you mirama.
11:20 AM
please kindly add the following to my previous commentto make it one post?
The Gakken perfect guides to me are more informative in terms of how they were edited. I would agree with you with the "touch" of Tamiya they it is lacking of. From Tamiya RC Guidebooks we had built in a chronicle feeling that relects those years we were with the brand. Younger generations may have the same feeling as we do when they first encounter Gakken's version, which has more information of recent RC development. The only difference maybe, just maybe, Tamiya's company profile and emblems on the editorial page....
11:36 AM
Sorry, but blog software doesn't allow to edit blog comments (which is also fair for the original posters) but just add or reject them.
1:23 PM
Hi miramar, as you mentioned in your first reply, you have collected Tamiya catalogues of 1965-2007. Wouldn't it be nice if you could post a few photos of the older catalogues in your next blogposts so that we can have a glance at these treasures? (esp. the pre-1980 ones, I suppose not many people ever came across that)
11:06 AM
This is great idea we will consider, but I will be very busy in the upcoming weeks, so if, it will be a future entry.
12:24 PM
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