Category Archives: Customized Builds

Breaking new ground – Building a bridge between old and new – The Tamiya BBX #58719


I think the presentation of the new Tamiya BBX buggie at this year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair was more than a surprise for so many Tamiya fans worldwide.

It’s something that at least I no longer believed in. Especially nowadays, when real innovations are now rarely found, especially from the many other manufacturers in the market.
The new BBX builds a bridge to its legendary role models, such as the “Rough Rider”, “Sand Scorcher” and the “Super Champ”. The “Super Champ” in particular could almost have served as a visual model for the new BBX. And with this Tamiya once again confirms its number 1 status in the world of RC Cars. That’s why I couldn’t wait for the BBX kit to arrive. And when he finally got there, things soon started.

I would like to go into the construction a little more, as it is a completely new chassis platform. Even if you come across a few parts every now and then during construction that you also know from many other Tamiya kits. The BBX is the first model based on the new BB-01 chassis. And the kit is already very complete as standard. The BB-01 comes completely with ball bearings, which also includes the extremely play-free steering. CVDs and excellent shock absorbers, including TRF X-rings are already standard from the factory. Another small innovation is that Tamiya almost exclusively uses hex screws on the BBX. Tamiya also recommends using modern brushless motors for the BBX. We did that too and decided on a sensor-controlled 13.5T brushless drive.

To make it short. Building the BBX gave me great pleasure. It actually compares well with building a classic Tamiya SRB buggy kit. The construction of the tubular frame is very well thought out, as is the wonderfully designed body made up of several parts. If the willing builder makes an effort here and also paints the driver figure borrowed from the Tamiya “Fox” nicely, he will be rewarded with a beautiful model that not only looks good but also drives excellently. For our own BBX we chose a classic Tamiya PS-12 Silver. We also painted the original chrome-plated rims with Tamiya LP-69 clear yellow. Technically, only the optionally available 22071 slipper clutch was installed. After completing the model I was really impressed and really had the feeling that I had a very special model standing in front of me.

Our conclusion:
Tamiya is doing everything right with the new BBX. Practically completely new technology in a very well implemented retro design, with classic box art. Tamiya fans worldwide will love this kit.

Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition


The highly anticipated Tamiya Wild One MAX will be publicly unveiled this Summer, starting with a limited-run Launch Edition.

Based on the original Tamiya Wild One (58050) radio-controlled car – first released in 1985 – the Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition will be relaunched as a full-scale vehicle and limited to 100 examples before other versions are released.

Developments and updates to the Wild One MAX Launch Edition

Whilst the project has taken longer than expected due to industry-wide supply delays, The Little Car Company took the time to listen to feedback from deposit holders. They spoke to the community throughout the design and development process and made upgrades based on their input, resulting in higher performance, and greater usability.

The high specification Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition features Cobra bucket seats with 4-point harnesses, an IP-rated 5” digital screen with marine specification switches, Brembo disc brakes all round, and Bilstein dampers coupled with Eibach springs. The car runs on 14” Maxxis off-road tyres at the front and rear.

Small adjustments have been made to the original R/C car design for added safety and comfort. Inside, the cockpit has been made wider to accommodate two occupants in comfort, which was a consistent wish-list item when speaking with deposit holders.

The front suspension turrets have been smoothed, allowing for improved visibility and pedestrian safety, and the front suspension has been upgraded from a ‘trailing arm’ design to double wishbone. Ongoing development has now seen the car grow in size from 3.5m long (137.8”) and 1.8m (70.8”) wide, to 3.6m long (141.7”) and 1.9m wide (74.8”).

For off-road enthusiasts, ground clearance on the Wild One MAX Launch Edition is 270mm, the approach angle is 34.1 degrees, the breakover angle is 28.4 degrees, and the departure angle is 50.8 degrees. The Little Car Company has also developed an optional windscreen and wiper mechanism to make the car more practical.

The Launch Edition will be powered by eight removable battery packs, with a total capacity of 14.4kWh and top speed of approximately 60 mph (96.5 km/h). Meanwhile, the kerb weight of the vehicle is expected to be approximately 500kg. Existing deposit holders were asked if they would be interested in a road legal option for the car, and unsurprisingly, 95% said yes. The Little Car Company have therefore developed the Launch Edition to come with a road legal pack in the UK and EU under L7e quadricycle regulations*.

Ben Hedley, CEO of The Little Car Company, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be one step closer to revealing our Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition. Whilst there have undoubtedly been a few hurdles along the way with industry-wide supply issues, our team have done a tremendous job of bringing an R/C car to life at full size , and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“I want to thank all our Tamiya deposit holder community, who have provided us with some invaluable contributions and suggestions for how we can make the Wild One MAX the best possible vehicle. We have listened to every single one of them since the first unveiling and have taken their ideas on board. Their feedback has helped us develop a new type of vehicle which illustrates that electric cars can be fun, without having to rely on brain-scrambling acceleration. By simplifying the design and reducing weight, this car is a perfect example of not requiring 500 horsepower to make an enjoyable drivers’ car. We are incredibly excited to show you the finished car and can’t wait for everyone to experience it for themselves.”

Production of the Launch Edition will commence in early 2024 and cars will be delivered to customers fully built by The Little Car Company. Offering increased size, usability and performance, the Launch Edition will take the Wild One MAX to a whole new level. Other versions offering a variety in performance are scheduled to be available at a later stage of product development.

The Little Car Company are conducting performance and durability testing over the Spring and Summer, before the car is publicly unveiled in a few months’ time, with confirmed performance figures, range and pricing.

To place a deposit, or to sign up for exclusive updates, please visit: www.wildonemax.com

*L7e definition: Classification of four-wheeled heavy quadricycles designed to carry persons, with an unladen mass of no more than 450 kg (excluding batteries)

Source: The Little Car Company

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?