Category Archives: Customized Builds

Some of Jun Watanabe’s customised Tamiya off-road cars at Blockhead Motors


Mr. JUN WATANABE｜Representative of the design company “HANAKUMO INC.”
He designs collaboration products with sneaker brands such as Reebok and works such as numerous anime and games. In charge of the design of the RC car “Hornet by JUN WATANABE” with Tamiya. Currently developing “TAMIYA by JUN WATANABE” specializing in apparel
Blockhead Motors has become a hot topic for finishing the reprinted off-road RC released by Tamiya just like an American racer in the 1970s. We asked designer JUN WATANABE about this unprecedented style.

“I’ve always liked RC cars, but when I was a kid, I thought Tamiya buggies were fantasy things. I found out that it actually existed.Looking at the photos of the actual car at that time, I also found that there were details that were omitted when it was modeled as an RC.Therefore, including the graphics, I tried to recreate the atmosphere of the actual car in Tamiya’s reproduction buggy.”

A number of Tamiya RC cars displayed on the walls of Blockhead Motors stores. The point is that it is displayed in the atmosphere of a hobby garage. Each RC car is finished with a unique taste and can be used as a reference for painting.
Blockhead Motors is now recognized as a custom brand that makes RC cars cool. With a lineup ranging from RC stickers to various RC gears and apparel, it has gained popularity worldwide. From the official Tamiya, the block head motors specification of the reprinted RC “Wild One” has appeared. And in March 2023, it was decided to release the Blockhead Motors specification of “Hot Shot II” as well.

Source and more in Japanese language: Nifty News

Tamiya limited edition Bronco CC-02 project



Tamiya’s recent release of the limited edition CC-02 Bronco was the perfect excuse for a new project build. This version of the Tamiya CC-02 Bronco kit comes with a prepainted and precut body from the factory. You get a quality finish and it takes care of a task many are afraid to complete. So in this video, Greg will quickly go over the kit and then show you all of the options available for it if you want to build up an exciting project. This turned out to be a wild build with the installation of the optional tracks and you’ll see them in action tearing up mud and snow!
Added parts shown
Tamiya CC-02 Aluminum Servo Mount 22002
Tamiya Motor Bridge 54971
Tamiya Carbon Steel Shafts 54998
Tamiya Front CV Shafts 54984
Tamiya Link Mounts 54944
Tamiya Pivot Balls 54945
Tamiya Spur Gear Adapter 54970
Tamiya Servo Horn 54893
Tamiya Shock Set 54991
Tamiya Spring Set 54992
Tamiya Track Set 54948
Source: RCDriver_Online

Daytona Monster Beetle BLOCKHEAD MOTORS decals collaboration


Custom Monster Beetle to Daytona specifications
At the Daytona RC Car Grand Prix, which is being serialised in every issue, a collaboration with Blockhead Motors (BHM), a popular RC custom brand, has been realised. Jun Watanabe, designer of BHM “Daytona Monster Beetle BLOCKHEAD MOTORS ” was created with a single phrase, “I want to make an RC design for Daytona!”



Source and more: Daytona Mag

Tamiya RC Live – Tamiya Grand Prix Concours d’Elegance winning works, Grand Prix Kakegawa Tournament and Tamiya RC history


Introducing the 2022 Tamiya Grand Prix Concours d’Elegance winning works and Tamiya RC history!
You can see all at once, from works that are particular about fine details to unique works! ・Tamiya RC history introduces the RC released in 1999. “TA03R-S-TRF Special Chassis Kit” and “Mercedes CLK-GTR Original Tire”, which incorporates 28 OP parts for TA03R-S, and “Alfa Romeo 156 Racing”, which was active in CIS in Italy, will appear.


Introducing the New Year Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Kakegawa Tournament and Tamiya RC History!
We deliver the “New Year Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Kakegawa Tournament” held at Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit on Sunday, January 15th. Lunchbox and Midnight Pumpkin! Please also pay attention to the “CW-01 Challenge” where big tire machines run fiercely. ・Tamiya RC history introduces the RC released in 1999. “Stadium Raider” with plenty of American mood, “Audi R8R” that won the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, and “Toyota Celica” are here!

A second life – The Tamiya Bullhead


We bought this original 1991 Bullhead used at a fair price. Many parts were missing, the body had various extra holes for lamps and attachments. On the other side, it wasn’t broken. Instead of the original chrome rims, old white dirty rims from the Clodbuster were installed. We disassembled the chassis into all individual parts, cleaned all parts and then reassembled them. We stripped the bodywork and then sealed all the superfluous holes with ABS plates. A lot of work with putty and sanding followed before the body could be primed and painted. We chose mica blue (Tamiya TS-50) as the color. Finally, several coats of clear coat (Tamiya TS-13) followed. Missing and defective chrome parts were replaced with new parts from rere-Bullhead. The old white rims were dyed with yellow fabric paint and then painted wet-on-wet with yellow (TS-16) and camel yellow (TS-34). The aim was to match the color of the yellow fabric dampers. The previous owner had built custom exterior mirrors and a lift kit for the rear axle out of metal. We wanted to use these nice parts again and therefore derusted, ground and polished them. Finally, the USA flag should be mounted. Here we didn’t like Tamiya’s solution to attach the flag directly to the bracket. With the help of a stabilizer part from the rere-Fox, an aluminum antenna holder and a black antenna tube, we built a flagpole so that the flag now forms a nice finish for the rear. We’re happy to have given this bullhead after more than 30 years a second life and hope you like it as much as we do.

51st Tamiya Figure Remodeling Contest 2022



● TAMIYA Figure Remodeling Contest
The Tamiya Figure Remodeling Contest is an annual competition in Japan
where 1/35 scale Tamiya military figures (roughly 5cm tall) are remodeled
into various subjects, being given new or updated parts in the process – as
long as it started life as a 1/35 Tamiya military figure, almost anything
goes! Entries range from slightly altered poses and paint jobs to complete
overhauls into wildly different subjects, each given unique life by the
interests of its creator.

Thanks to the support of our fans, the doll modification contest has passed the 50th anniversary mark and we have welcomed it with renewed spirit. The judging process was also difficult this year, as we received a number of works that made us think, “I didn’t know there was such a thing.

00:00 – What is the Doll Remodelling Contest?
00:45 – The Gold Prize of the 51st contest went to Kunihiko Sato. Mr Sato, who had previously specialised in historical works, took up the challenge of creating a famous sketch by Katsushika Hokusai, painted some 200 years ago. The work is three-dimensional, but cleverly incorporates Hokusai’s brushstrokes, and the mysterious finish gives the impression of the outlines of the two-dimensional original painting. The most remarkable feature of the dolls are their costumes. The finely detailed kimono patterns on each of the dolls are a masterful feat that belies the age of the 76-year-old artist. Ms Sato has entered 51 consecutive contests since the first contest, breaking the record.
02:40 – The silver award went to Shojiro Morio, who recreated figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s quadruple axel performance as a series of photographs. He paid careful attention to the movement of the costume and hair, dividing the momentary movement into 13 cuts and integrating them without stagnation. The contrast between movement and stillness with the pre-acting puppet in the centre is also exquisite. The contrast between the movement and stillness of the puppet before the performance in the centre is exquisite.
04:39 – Takuya Watanabe created the dynamic swing of Yakult’s Murakami, the youngest ever triple crown winner, who drew attention in professional baseball in 2022. The catcher and umpire are also carefully finished in detail, and the tense scene is well presented as a group portrait. This is his first attempt at a contest on a seasonal subject, and he won the bronze award with flying colours.
06:11 – Despite the protracted Corona disaster, the Japanese women’s curling team brought a bright topic of discussion to the contest, with Norio Mushiaki’s recreation of their silver medal-winning team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing winning the Topic Award. The skillful composition of the work shines through, with the base (court) sloped and arranged so that the movements, serious expressions and bright smiles of all the members can be clearly seen.
06:43 – The Idea Award went to Hisashi Murayama, who created a work depicting himself with the vast Mt Fuji in the background. The camera frame of the smartphone can be detached, so that the scenery seen through the viewfinder can be enjoyed as another way of showing the work. The delicate finish of the doll as well as the reproduction of the spokes of the motorbike are highlights of the work.
07:15 – Think for a moment like solving a riddle, and then you’ll be like, Oh, I see! I’m convinced. The work by Yuji Aoyama, winner of the Effort Award, in which riders named after different motorbikes are assembled, is fascinating for its unique ideas and the imbalance between machine and rider.
07:47 – Kiyoshi Okuyama’s Field Kitchen won the MM Award. A dining scene with a gathering of old and new dolls. It is a basic work of doll modification that can be enjoyed even with a little modification based on soldier dolls.
08:19 – The ten honorable mentions are listed in alphabetical order. In addition, the work used for the cover of the pamphlet is also listed.
Beginners are welcome. First of all, hold the doll in your hands and let your imagination run wild. What ideas would you put into a 5 cm tall doll?

**Happy Holidays!** Life-size Tamiya Monster Beetle



Wishing a happy holiday season to all Tamiya fans across the globe!
Have a happy Christmas!

Main specifications
Body size: Length 400 x width 2050 x height 2080 (mm)
Engine type: Liquid-cooled in-line 4-cylinder
Valve train: DOHC 16 valves
Total displacement: 1796 cc
Maximum output: 180 hp
Maximum torque: 17.3 kgm
Drive train: Part-time 4WD
Transmission: 5-speed MT
Seating capacity: 2 persons
Engine and fuel system
Engine type: M18A
Maximum output: 125 hp (92 kW) at 5500 rpm
Maximum torque: 17.3kg-m (170N-m)/4200rpm
Type: Water-cooled in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Total displacement: 1796cc
Bore x stroke: 83.0 mm x 83.0 mm
Compression ratio: 9.6
Fuel supply system: EPI (electronically controlled fuel injection)
Fuel tank capacity: 40 litres
Fuel: Regular unleaded petrol
Drivetrain: Part-time 4WD
Transmission: 5MT
Gear ratios: 1st gear (5.809), 2nd gear (3.433), 3rd gear (2.171), 4th gear (1.439), 5th gear (1), reverse (5.861), final gear ratio (3.818)
Steering type: Other
Suspension Type (Front): 3-link rigid-axle coil spring
Suspension Type (Rear): 3-link rigid-axle coil spring
Brake type (front): Disc
Brake type (rear): drum (leading trades)
Tyre size (front): 35 x 12.5 R15
Tyre size (rear): 35 x 12.5 R15
Minimum turning radius: 4.9 m
Vehicles manufactured by Garage Aichi
https://kuruma-garege.com/

Announcement of the 82th Tamiya Pachi Contest winning work

The 82nd AFV model photo contest “Pachi”. People of all ages applied, from the youngest 10 years old to the oldest 80 years old. This time, there were many people who narrowed down to one work that “this is it”, and I felt the enthusiasm for that one. In addition, among the junior award-winning works, there were some masterpieces of a high level that were no different from those of the general public. Compared to previous years when there were many entries in the photography category, the number of entries in the scenery category increased this year. The vehicles that became the subject were mainly the M18 Hellcat and KV-2 released this spring, and many works using these were received.
Mr. Mitsuishi’s work, which won the gold prize in the landscape photography category, makes excellent use of the twilight sky in the background, and the scene combining vehicles and soldiers visible in the backlight is splendid. Mr. Minami’s KV-2, which won the gold prize in the photography category, has a realistic and solid green body with a complementary red background, giving it an impressive finish.
The deadline for applications for the Pachi Contest is September 1 every year. When the model is completed, next is a snap with the camera. We are waiting for one piece of the entrance.

Prize-winning works in the landscape photography category


Gold medal
[Author] Kunihiro Mitsuishi (56) Oita [Title] Twilight [Scale] 1/35
This is a diorama using the M18 Hellcat and American soldier figure released this year, and my favorite greyhound. I assembled the set outdoors at dusk and pressed the shutter while being conscious of the ever-changing background. I deliberately chose an image that emphasized the silhouette with a hint of backlight. It is a privilege of the countryside to be able to shoot in a beautiful location of the setting sun. (smile)


Silver Award
[Author] Kenichi Sanada (51) Fukuoka [Title] Strike to Victory [Scale] 1/35
This work was created with the theme of a scenery work that makes use of Pershing’s movable suspension. Some fenders have been removed to emphasize the series of movements going up the stone steps. The base stone steps and brick wall are made by myself from styrene boards. Making a diorama is hard work to give shape to your imagination, but nothing can replace the joy of completing it.


Silver Award
[Author] Akira Hitomi (58) Tochigi [Title] To a new mission [Scale] 1/35
The work depicts a scene in which a new mission was announced over the radio just after an American military reconnaissance unit joined the platoon. It is a combination of M18 Hellcat, cargo truck, jeep and infantry. Other materials used are styrene board for the building and tissue paper for the track holo. The photo was taken outdoors in the evening. For me, Pachi is the pursuit of the ultimate reality.


Prize-winning work in the photo category


Gold medal
[Author] Kentaro Minami (31) Shizuoka [Title] KV-2 [Scale] 1/35
For painting, I used an airbrush with a diameter of 0.2 mm, sprayed green in a mottled manner, and added buff little by little to increase the brightness. I made my own masking on the turret with a cutting plotter and applied imaginary markings. For the background, choose red, which is the complementary color of green. At the same time as making the tank stand out, it also expresses the Soviet tank-likeness. I had a hard time shooting without red being reflected on the car body.


Silver Award
[Author] Yoshiyuki Kano (50) Hokkaido [Title] American Tank Destroyer M18 Hellcat [Scale] 1/35
Since it is a monochromatic tank, I focused on painting. Crafts add dolls and luggage. The painting was finished with chipping, dry brushing, filtering, etc. so that it would not be monotonous. The undercarriage is soiled with a weathering stick, etc., and then sputtered. I used a mirrorless single-lens reflex camera and took pictures indoors using a shooting box.


Silver Award
[Author] Satoshi Tateoka (60) Chiba [Title] Type III Assault Gun G [Scale] 1/35
I made it with the image of a vehicle full of spare supplies in the latter half of the war. The kit is a straight assembly with additional armor plates and rear racks. Equipment is a diversion from other kits. The painting uses a combination of lacquer, acrylic and enamel paint. I paid attention to the painting so that I could feel the three-dimensional effect as a whole, being conscious of the sharpness of the light and shade and the color tone.


Past years prize-winning works