Monthly Archives: September 2008

Rest in peace Paul Newman

Since other sources give a better coverage about the life and work of the great actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian and auto racing enthusiast Paul Newman (in my humble opinion together with Steve Mc Queen the two most important film artists for the motorsport world) and being a Tamiya-Blog, we will just present few Tamiya RC kits of the cars he raced as a tiniest contribution to honour him.

In 1979 he participated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Dick Barbour’s Porsche 935 (Hawaiian Tropic scheme unlike the Tamiya Martini one) and finished the race in second place!

Tamiya 58002 Porsche 935 Turbo

From the mid-’70s to the early ’90s, he drove for the Bob Sharp Racing Team, racing mainly Datsuns (later rebranded as Nissans) in the Trans-Am Series. One of the cars was the Datsun 280 ZX.

Tamiya 58022 Datsun 280ZX RM Mk.2

Paul Newman also owned his own racing team, which competed in the Can-Am series, but later co-founded Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas, a Champ Car team, in 1983. The 1996 racing season was chronicled in the IMAX film Super Speedway, which Newman narrated.

Tamiya 58134 Newman Haas K Mart Texaco Lola T93/00 Ford

We will definetely miss him…

Opening of 2nd Tamiya Plamodel Factory at Tokyo Shimbashi

Tamiya’s Official Outlet
Experience, Play, and Enjoy at “Tamiya Plamodel Factory – Shimbashi”
Tokyo’s Shimbashi District – September 17th Grand Opening!

World-renowned hobby product manufacturer Tamiya, Inc. (Headquarters: Shizuoka City, President: Masayuki Tamiya) is producing the new integrated official shop and event venue “Tamiya Plamodel Factory – Shimbashi” which is set to open on September 17th, 2008 in Tokyo’s Minato ward. In addition to retail activities, the location will also serve as a focal point for information dissemination to spread the attractive appeal of Tamiya’s hobby products.

This project is developed and operated by Tamiya Plamodel Factory, Inc. (President: Shunichi Sakamoto)

Following the opening of “Tamiya Plamodel Factory” at Tressa Yokohama on March 27th, 2008, this Shimbashi location will be the second to open.

Venue Information

Name
Tamiya Plamodel Factory – Shimbashi
The first location in Tokyo, this large-scale venue will showcase Tamiya’s entire product lineup on three floors.

Shop Floors
Two Floors to Stock Approximately 4,000 Current Tamiya Products
The basement and ground levels will showcase approximately 1,000 Scale Model Series products, 1,500 Radio Control Series products, 1,000 Mini 4WD Series and Educational Construction Series products, 500 Tools, Paints, and Publications, as well as other special products and Original Goods.

Event Floor
Event Floor with 150 Square Meters of Multi-Purpose Space
Events such as official new item annoucements, model exhibitions, Mini 4WD and R/C races, workshops, seminars, and talk shows will be held in this function space. Model clubs will also be able to rent this space for private use. Those who work can stop by during their lunch break or after work, while friends and families can enjoy the venue on the weekends.

Grand Opening Event
To commemorate the opening of the Shimbashi location, a special event is to be held on the Event Floor of the building.
Details will be announced on the Tamiya Homepage at a later date.

Organization
Producer Tamiya, Inc.
Development/Operation Tamiya Plamodel Factory, Inc.

Location
6 Toyokaiji Building, 4-7-2 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004

Operating Hours
Weekdays 12:00 – 22:00
Saturdays/Holidays 10:00 – 20:00
Sundays Closed

Access
JR or Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Shimbashi Station – 5min walk from Karasumori exit
Toei Mita Line Uchisaiwaicho Station – 7min walk

Source: Tamiya, INC.

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)
54120 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
42131 HL Cylinder TRF Special Dampers (2 Pcs.)
42132 HL Cylinder for Aeration Dampers (Front, 2 Pcs.)
42134 HL Cylinder for M Chassis Aluminum Dampers (2 Pcs.)
42135 HP Battery Charger
42136 Stable Power Supply 24A
54119 DB01 Assembly WO Universal Shaft (Rear)
54117 CR-01 Cliff Crawler Tires (2 Pcs.)
54121 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, 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 (improved re-release of # 35078)
35296 1/35 Italian Tank Carro Armato M13/40 (improved 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” (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 4×2 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)
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 (Fluorpolymer Compound)15382 Bumperless N-03/T-03 Units
Supplies:

74534 Spray-Work Painting Booth (Twin Fan)
85083 TS83 Spray Paint Metal Silver
85084 TS84 Spray Paint Metal Gold
74084 Mini Bending Pliers for Photo-Etched Parts