Happy New Year – Tamiyablog’s “de-blinged” Toyota Tundra

First of all happy new year, may 2009 bring everyone what they desire, not only modelwise (an article about that will come soon), but in every aspect.

The Tamiya Toyota Tundra is a very controversially discussed model between the editors of Tamiyablog. On one hand we like it since it has a quite nice and detailed body and especially since it is in our humble opinion the first real new 3 speed where not an older body was used. On the other hand we are critical about it because its an impractical and “bling-chrome” SUV which has not much in common with a practical and moderate cost pickup like the Hilux and is a gas-guzzling life-style car of a, fortunately even in the USA, dying breed. This motivated me to get one and try to “un-bling” it and bring it closer to the simplicity/practicality principle of the old lovely Tamiya/Toyota Hilux. The dampers and most of the chrome parts were stripped and painted black, the suspension was lowered, other wheels and tires were used, several “extras” weren’t used at all and the car was painted with a special automotive colour. Hope I succeeded at least a bit.


TAMIYA Best Models 2008 Results Voted by Visitors of the Japanese Tamiya Homepage

TOP5 Scale Model division
[1] 1 / 24 NISSAN GT-R
[2] No. 1 / 24 XANAVI NISMO GT-R (R35)
[3] 1 / 48 Mitsubishi Zero Type 52 carrier-borne fighter-style
[4] 1 / 35 German Panzer II-A ~ C (France Front)
[5] 1 / 12 Ferrari 288 GTO (Semiassembled)

TOP5 RC model division

[1] Toyota Land Cruiser 40
[2] XANAVI NISMO GT-R (R35) (TB-03)
[3] Monte Carlo Subaru Impreza WRC’07 (DF-03Ra)
[4] Lamborghini Countach LP500S (TT-01 TYPE-E)
[5] Boomerang (2008)

TOP5 Mini four-wheel drive division

[1] Dash Emperor (MS Chassis)
[2] Hot Shot Special Ver.2 Momoi Halko Jr. (MS Chassis)
[3] Hot Shot Jr. (MS Chassis)
[4] Cyclone Magnum
[5] White Special Neo Falcon

It is once again interesting to see that the top ranking models are models that many people outside Japan claim to be “unwanted”, “without a market”, “wrong choices” and so on, which proves that Tamiya’s choices are spot on for their biggest market, which is the Japanese one. Also the best placed RC model is as low as 4th place in the total votes ranking underlining also the importance and size of Tamiya’s static section, which is the one that made Tamiya as big and successful as it is.

Tamiya HAL Mode Festival 2008

HAL schools in Osaka and Osaka, Japan MODO school graduation exhibition produced “HAL-MODE FESTIVAL2008” events of 2008 On September 23, was held in Osaka-jo Hall. This year’s theme is “to the world! Made in Japan”. Japan’s flagship products and technology, students with innovative and unique ideas to the world of diplomacy, about 9,000 people a day with visitors, from children to adults who have a lot of events SHIMIMASHI Or.

Among of HAL Osaka, the Department of Music student chosen as the theme of the “four-wheel drive mini-Scale Models.” Using surround sound effects blaring music and a powerful finish the work, visitors stand in the spotlight.

The Osaka MODO designer fashion design department at the Department of miscellaneous group of “Scale Models” taken up the theme of the works Nagi said. Wonder of the elements “to create fun, fun to use” the word [bag] produce assemble and expression. Tamiya logo and better utilize the characteristics of plastic models, beautiful, two students were awarded prizes!








Source: Tamiya, INC.

New Tamiya RC Product Videos

TAMIYA MERCEDES-BENZ UNIMOG 406 SERIES U900

TAMIYA TT-01 TYPE-E CHASSIS

TAMIYA TAMTECH-GEAR LAMBORGHINI LP500S FERRARI 288GTO PORSCHE TURBO

TAMIYA 1/10 RC ARTA Garaiya (TB-03 CHASSIS)

TAMIYA RC GERMAN PZKW IV – AUSF.J

Source: Tamiya,INC.

Tamiya wins for the third time the ISTC Class IFMAR World Championship with TRF 416 and Marc Rheinhard


Championship Round 1.
A crash immediately followed after the start which gave fifth placed driver Hirosaka the chance to go on and claim first position with Hara also claiming 4th. TRF drivers Marc Rheinard, Viktor Wilck, and Jilles Groskamp finished 5th, 6th, and 8th respectively.

Championship Round 2.
From start to finish Hara and Marc both kept their cool with both going on to finish the race as they started with Hara claiming 4th. Jilles finished 9th and Victor 10th.

Championship Round 3.
After the previous exciting rounds, it made for an edge of your set exciting final round leaving Marc only one more win away to claim the World Championships! During the race Hara was leading the race with Marc snapping at his tail. Soon after with some very slick driving by Marc, he passed Hara and set up for an intense finish. Soon after the unthinkable happened, CRASH! Hara crashed, which in turn gave Marc the World Championship. Victor finished 3rd, Jilles 8th, Hara 5th, and Hirosaka 10th.

Congratulations to the TRF team for winning the World Championship Title!

Furthermore current World Champion Marc Rheinard along with TRF team mates Viktor Wilck, and Jilles Groskamp will be at Tamiya Fair on November 22 and 23 at the Twin Messe in Shizuoka City and will compete in the GP World Champion division. Come on down and check out the techniques used by world champions.

Final Overall results
1. Marc Rheinard (Tamiya/SpeedPassion) – 19pts
2. Ronald Volker (HB/LRP) – 18pts
3. Masami Hirosaka (Yokomo/Nosram) – 17pts
4. Atsushi Hara (HB/Team Orion) – 17pts
5. Elliot Harper (Xray/Nosram) – 15pts
6. Viktor Wilck (Tamiya/SpeedPassion) – 13pts
7. Andy Moore (HB/Team Orion) – 10pts
8. Hayato Matsuzaki (HB/LRP) – 9pts
9. Meen Vejrak (Xray/LRP) – 7pts
10. Jilles Groskamp (Tamiya/SpeedPassion) – 6pts