The Tamiya RC car thread
Discussion
Hi
I thought I would start a thread for people to discuss Tamiya RC cars, both old and new. I still vividly remember the pure excitement and joy on Christmas morning (1986) unwrapping my Tamiya Falcon, even though I told my parents in the run up to the big day that the kit was complete (they couldn't afford the full package, and probably wouldn't have bought it if they had known I couldn't use it until I had a radio set/battery...). I somehow managed to acquire a second hand radio not that long afterwards and had so much fun running it until I broke the chassis at the front end (a weak spot) and much araldite followed!
A few years later I worked in a model shop and whilst I was more into rc planes, I built countless Tamiya buggies for customers in the run up to festive season; the going rate was £25-30, which sounded like a great deal back then but the novelty soon wore off after your third Monster Beetle!
Fast forward to 2017 when I was visiting Tokyo, and I decided to buy a re-release of the Sand Scorcher. I spent quite a bit of time on the build/shell and decided to keep it for display; it seemed a waste especially as I had purchased radio gear etc so decided to sell it via eBay last month and look for something I could use. As much as I would love a re-release of the Falcon, I doubt that will happen and in these dark times I need something to look forward to so I have been following Tamiya chat on YT etc, and there is an announcement tomorrow morning on their latest releases. A dead cert is apparently a (re) re-release of the Egress; it doesn't hold much in the way of sentimental value as it was way out of my price range when I was younger, but I really want to build one and run it. My local model shop (big Tamiya dealer) already has a pre-order page up so I've ordered one pending the announcement tomorrow. Will keep the thread updated with pictures of the build (when/if it comes!)
What Tamiya car did you have when you were young, and what do you have now?
Here is an old price list I found online...
I thought I would start a thread for people to discuss Tamiya RC cars, both old and new. I still vividly remember the pure excitement and joy on Christmas morning (1986) unwrapping my Tamiya Falcon, even though I told my parents in the run up to the big day that the kit was complete (they couldn't afford the full package, and probably wouldn't have bought it if they had known I couldn't use it until I had a radio set/battery...). I somehow managed to acquire a second hand radio not that long afterwards and had so much fun running it until I broke the chassis at the front end (a weak spot) and much araldite followed!
A few years later I worked in a model shop and whilst I was more into rc planes, I built countless Tamiya buggies for customers in the run up to festive season; the going rate was £25-30, which sounded like a great deal back then but the novelty soon wore off after your third Monster Beetle!
Fast forward to 2017 when I was visiting Tokyo, and I decided to buy a re-release of the Sand Scorcher. I spent quite a bit of time on the build/shell and decided to keep it for display; it seemed a waste especially as I had purchased radio gear etc so decided to sell it via eBay last month and look for something I could use. As much as I would love a re-release of the Falcon, I doubt that will happen and in these dark times I need something to look forward to so I have been following Tamiya chat on YT etc, and there is an announcement tomorrow morning on their latest releases. A dead cert is apparently a (re) re-release of the Egress; it doesn't hold much in the way of sentimental value as it was way out of my price range when I was younger, but I really want to build one and run it. My local model shop (big Tamiya dealer) already has a pre-order page up so I've ordered one pending the announcement tomorrow. Will keep the thread updated with pictures of the build (when/if it comes!)
What Tamiya car did you have when you were young, and what do you have now?
Here is an old price list I found online...
The Hypno-Toad said:
Built a couple of Super Champs (the one with damper bottle in the car.). That was my favourite car.
Apparently tomorrow may well see the re-release of the 2014 re-release (if that makes sense) of the Super Champ, or Fighting Buggy as it's been renamed. I agree, it's a cool car.gl20 said:
OP - was Otley where you worked. I loved their adverts in RRC as they seemed to have so many brands. None of the shops near where I grew up had anything close to that!
No, I found the advert on another forum. I worked in a shop called Marionville Models in Edinburgh; I had more to do with planes than cars, although the extra cash from building cars helped sustain what was an expensive hobby!Having pre-ordered the recently announced Egress, it looks like June before it will be available in the UK. In the meantime I am tempted by the Kyosho Turbo Optima....
The Hypno-Toad said:
Have you got a link for pre-ordering the Egress? I have a mate who would be very interested in getting a new one of those.
Unfortunately the link has disappeared from the shop I used so they must have sold out; I've had a look at some other sites and they have stopped taking pre-orders so it must have been popular. When I started this thread I was about to pre-order the re-re of the Egress; I've just received an update from the local Tamiya dealer stating that they are expected into the UK on the 11th July, and should be available 1-3 weeks after that. Will update with build pics when I finally get my hands on it!
That looks good in Corsa Grey; I was going to use it on my 2CV but ended up going for black.
I've just picked up my Egress this morning; not a cheap kit but it looks great. Willpower depending, I might delay building until we move into our new house next year as I don't really have much space at the moment.
I've just picked up my Egress this morning; not a cheap kit but it looks great. Willpower depending, I might delay building until we move into our new house next year as I don't really have much space at the moment.
dom9 said:
Frankychops said:
got this to think about building.
Also found my tnx 5.2r nitro to repair, although parts seem to be hard to get hold of. Looks like just the enigne starter casing is needed.
I would be tempted to leave that untouched and just get it out from time to time to marvel at it.
My wife was searching for something to buy me for Christmas, and I think I’ve settled on a Tamiya Neo Fighter buggy. I’ve already got the radio etc from the Sand Sorcher I sold a few years back, and I love the idea of a Tamiya kit at christmas!
I have very happy memories of unwrapping my Tamiya Falcon over 35 years ago, so looking forward to it!
I have very happy memories of unwrapping my Tamiya Falcon over 35 years ago, so looking forward to it!
My plan before Christmas was to ask my wife for a Tamiya Neo Fighter Buggy as a present, but when I had a look at the kit it wasn’t in the “traditional” style Tamiya box and wouldn’t have taken me any time to build so I decided against it, and a new pair of motorcycle boots took its place.
I was in Japan 7 or 8 years ago and brought back a Tamiya Sand Scorcher (so cheap compared to here), which I had great fun building but sold it a few years ago. I then bought an Egress kit when it was last reissued but ended up selling that (unbuilt) as I was in between houses. I regretted selling it, and as they have just been reissued I’ve just bought one from Tamico. Even with the import duty it will still be quite a bit cheaper than UK sellers. I’m also going to order a Buggy Champ to build and run as I have a spare Futaba radio set I bought in Japan. The Egress will probably be built as a shelf queen as I love the way it looks!
I was in Japan 7 or 8 years ago and brought back a Tamiya Sand Scorcher (so cheap compared to here), which I had great fun building but sold it a few years ago. I then bought an Egress kit when it was last reissued but ended up selling that (unbuilt) as I was in between houses. I regretted selling it, and as they have just been reissued I’ve just bought one from Tamico. Even with the import duty it will still be quite a bit cheaper than UK sellers. I’m also going to order a Buggy Champ to build and run as I have a spare Futaba radio set I bought in Japan. The Egress will probably be built as a shelf queen as I love the way it looks!
Nice work, the Buggy Champ looks great!
I built a Sand Scorcher but tried and failed to get the box colour scheme perfect before giving up and painting it in the Herbie colours. I’m waiting on a Buggy Champ kit being delivered as I think I prefer the look. Having built the SS, it’s a proper old school Tamiy kit and I can’t wait to start. The Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider and not kits I owned as a child but I vividly remember them from the catalogue.
I built a Sand Scorcher but tried and failed to get the box colour scheme perfect before giving up and painting it in the Herbie colours. I’m waiting on a Buggy Champ kit being delivered as I think I prefer the look. Having built the SS, it’s a proper old school Tamiy kit and I can’t wait to start. The Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider and not kits I owned as a child but I vividly remember them from the catalogue.
My Egress kit arrived today!
I bought it from Tamico.de with my Halifax Clarity card (really good rate for purchasing in a foreign currency), and with the delivery charge it came to £302. I assumed I would have to pay vat and a courier admin fee but it would still be cheaper than the £509 UK price. I’ve just come back to find the kit left with my neighbour with no duty to pay so it must have slipped through the net? I have a Buggy Champ coming as well so it will be interesting to see what happens there.
I bought it from Tamico.de with my Halifax Clarity card (really good rate for purchasing in a foreign currency), and with the delivery charge it came to £302. I assumed I would have to pay vat and a courier admin fee but it would still be cheaper than the £509 UK price. I’ve just come back to find the kit left with my neighbour with no duty to pay so it must have slipped through the net? I have a Buggy Champ coming as well so it will be interesting to see what happens there.
troc said:
I love my Egress. I bought two bodies and 2 sets of wheels and tyres so I have one for running and the other to look all shelf queen like. Same with my BBX.
It’s a dilemma…I really want to do a nice job of the body and sit it on a shelf, but it seems a shame not to run it! I think I might use the Buggy Champ instead.I wish Tamiya would hurry up and do a release of the Falcon as that was my first and most sentimental car. There was some chat a couple of years ago amongst the Tamiya bloggers/YT that it was imminent but sadly it came to nothing.
Stussy said:
The Hotshot is my most sentimental Tamiya.
My mate had one when it first came out, I begged for one but wasn’t allowed one.
My best friend at primary school had wealthy parents so he had all the best and latest toys, with a games room stuffed full of every conceivable Star Wars toy. He got a Hotshot and I remember being in awe of it, before it was supplanted by a Kyosho Scorpion. I also had to wait quite a bit longer for my Tamiya Falcon, and even then I only got the kit and had to wait for the radio.My mate had one when it first came out, I begged for one but wasn’t allowed one.
ThisInJapanese said:
tim0409 said:
My Egress kit arrived today!
I bought it from Tamico.de with my Halifax Clarity card (really good rate for purchasing in a foreign currency), and with the delivery charge it came to £302. I assumed I would have to pay vat and a courier admin fee but it would still be cheaper than the £509 UK price. I’ve just come back to find the kit left with my neighbour with no duty to pay so it must have slipped through the net? I have a Buggy Champ coming as well so it will be interesting to see what happens there.
Lovely!I bought it from Tamico.de with my Halifax Clarity card (really good rate for purchasing in a foreign currency), and with the delivery charge it came to £302. I assumed I would have to pay vat and a courier admin fee but it would still be cheaper than the £509 UK price. I’ve just come back to find the kit left with my neighbour with no duty to pay so it must have slipped through the net? I have a Buggy Champ coming as well so it will be interesting to see what happens there.
What are the additional costs of importing from Germany? Did you have to pay import duty on it?
eccles said:
Hopefully you have got away with it, but just be aware it can be several weeks after you get your goodies that the import duty and handling fee invoice turns up to spoil the party.
I’ve just had notification from Parcel Force that the second package (Buggy Champ) has duty to pay before it gets delivered. Apparently they are writing to me to let me know how much and how to pay, which seems a bit odd given it’s 2024 and presumably they could just email me with a link to pay it! Hopefully I won’t get any emails further down the line for the Egress!!
eccles said:
I suppose it's the colour you paint as to how it comes out. I painted my original one red, but it certainly wasn't orangey red.
This might sound mad but I’m keen on keeping it “box art” and the manual says (I think) TS12 which is orange (although it looks redish), so I think I will stick with blue, which is the colour the car is on the side of the box.Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff