Tamiya's product strategy is missing opportunities to bring in new fans

[WillyChang 1814]

2 hours ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

Oh man I would go an rc tractor! 

Wildwilly agrees 

 

[WillyChang 1814]

1 hour ago, alvinlwh said:

No other RC companies (that I am aware of) make static models.

I have vintage 1/12 RC & 1/24 plamodel from Imai but I guess they’re long defunct. 

TokyoMarui makes plamodel but dropped their RC line. 

Aoshima makes heaps of plamodel but they’ve also got some amazing tiny scale RCs. 

[WillyChang 1814]

8 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

 

I just remembered that Tamiya used to make a smaller scale Tamtech line, why did they get rid of it? Cheap smaller scale, low maintenance RCs would be good for kids and parents would feel safe with them.

 

There’s 2 ranges...

original 1980s Tamtech 1/24th GrpC & 1/20th F1s (Kyosho did “BajaBugs” too)

later late 90s TamtechGear 1/16th GB/GT-01/2/3 either mini off-roader fox/frog/hotshot/Roughrider or smaller 1/12th RWD suspension onroad car 

Small don’t mean “cheap” for Japanese gear... Kyosho has owned Mini-Z market & their std offerings are around A$350 (you can get a yumcha 1/10 for less). Kyosho sells toy-grade MiniZ-sized RTRs in Japan too for ~A$150 price point fwiw.

For cheap-cheap small scales, I think WLToys already reigns supreme in that niche. 

There’s afaik a recent craze reappearing in RC Drift & high end micro racing in 1/24 but dayum they’re even less cheap than mainstream 1/10 race or drift gear. (We went gaga with HPI MicroRS4 back 25yrs ago & those have reappeared @LHS recently too!)

[alvinlwh 5889]

32 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

Aoshima makes heaps of plamodel but they’ve also got some amazing tiny scale RCs. 

Do they still? I had seen some tanks that are still available (probably similar quality as Tamiya early 35 scale RC tanks) but not cars these days.

[WillyChang 1814]

3 hours ago, zuqbu said:

I didn't necessarily mean for Tamiya to connect to a younger audience, just that they missing out on building a new audience. LEGO's target group is also not kids, at least not with their high-priced premium sets. Take a look at their marketing images, they are targeting people between 30–50 with disposable income.

Imho Tamiya has Japanese business sensibilities and they ARE connecting to *their* future audience... JDM school kids. Think long term not just quick upfront profits from middleaged. 

If you follow T HQs various (long winded ) blogs & livestreams, you’ll see they do a heap of local workshops & community race meets etc. eg Parent & Child teams come enmass to build a TT02 set then have a race by the end of the workshop. 

Schoolage kids are also exposed to Tamiya via other outlets, eg the science/education line of motorized models. Mini4X4 is still rolling along strong in Asia. Then they also have line of Plamo to model foodstuff & cutesy jewelry (afaik... I don’t get it myself but that line has outlived TTGear, so someone must be buying it. )

[WillyChang 1814]

14 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

Do they still? I had seen some tanks that are still available (probably similar quality as Tamiya early 35 scale RC tanks) but not cars these days.

They had tanks? Dunno  

aoshima micro trucks is more what I last saw, think they’re still around but haven’t seen any recent new announcements tbh 

Crazy eye watering ex of course.
 

I’m more at the Tomy BitCharG price point... 

[WillyChang 1814]

19 hours ago, zuqbu said:

Instead, our dear friends in Shizouka sent us a message: "Hey! We hope you like 6-wheelers, because guess what F1 car we are re-re-re-re-re-releasing this year!"

no argument there (will they stop once they’ve modeled EVERY plausible variant of the Tyrell?  it didn’t really race that long did it, about a year and a half), but begs the Q why they can’t repop any of their other F1s. 

312T3 & Wolf aside... heck why not just box us some white label F1-looking shells on new batch of F103/104? Don’t need anything too fancy like F201 or put touring car bodies for F1xxGT. 

[alvinlwh 5889]

4 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

They had tanks? Dunno  

aoshima micro trucks is more what I last saw, think they’re still around but haven’t seen any recent new announcements tbh 

Those tanks are still available from PJ but don't seem to be found on 1999. I wanted to get one to try when (if) PJ decides to offer cheap postage again.

I think those trucks don't move, I could be wrong. Might just order one in my next 1999 order to try.

12 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

Imho Tamiya has Japanese business sensibilities and they ARE connecting to *their* future audience... JDM school kids.

This part is very true. Many a time, there will be comments from someone that they do not get Tamiya's reason for Mini 4WDs or the "ugly" Strom Dragon (etc...) design. However what they do not realise is these designs are actually tied into various shows in Japan/Asia, which even grown men are into. Another example are the Itasha from Fujimi. I once had a fellow (UK) modeller commenting that he thinks that schoolgirls with short skirts is just wrong, but then anime is a big thing in Asia, even for grown men. So these companies are catering for their primary market first.

[WillyChang 1814]

19 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

I once had a fellow (UK) modeller commenting that he thinks that schoolgirls with short skirts is just wrong, but then anime is a big thing in Asia, even for grown men.

is he talking about 1:1 fleshies or plamodels?  Nobody allowed to comment or bodyshame any live being anymore in this woke era so I ain’t going anywhere near that planet... 

As for plamodels... Kotobukiya Frame Arm Girls series & Bandai 30 Minute Sisters range are hugely popular & sellout nearly as fast as Gundam every delivery. They’re about 10cm high poseable figures, just about every body part can be hopped up (sold separately) including skin tan tones. 

(seriously makes hopping up RCs with blue TRF bits look cheap by comparison)

Then recently I was thinking back, hey it could be cool to have T’s oldskool 1/12 F1 Pit Crew to diorama alongside new Lotus 78 or even the 934RSR 1/12ths right?? like this:

Gee guess what, today it’s a heap easier to buy a 1/12 of “other” figurines... here’s a relatively tame Hasegawa plamodel kit 

 

Tamago (EggGirl) kits is pretty mainstream afaik... next step up is the small run resin cast models with ~100x finer details that injection molding can’t do 

As for me recently trying to play catchup with anime world...

”Girls und Panzer” ... okay... ww2 tank warfare as a school ECA. So kool!

”Kantai Collective” ... uh... navy warship battles huh... uh... you’d better google Kancolle yourself 

[alvinlwh 5889]

 

14 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

is he talking about 1:1 fleshies or plamodels? 

This, but I have an excuse for buying them. 😁

15 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

As for plamodels... Kotobukiya Frame Arm Girls series & Bandai 30 Minute Sisters range are hugely popular & sellout nearly as fast as Gundam every delivery. They’re about 10cm high poseable figures, just about every body part can be hopped up (sold separately) including skin tan tones. 

Like this? 🤣

[WillyChang 1814]

21 hours ago, zuqbu said:

You got those molds lying around to make those...

Y’know what we really need T to remake?

 SPARE PARTS 

Have so many cars laid up “awaiting parts” it’s no longer funny. 

10-15yrs ago, wasn’t hard to find spares from o/s when LHS didn’t have them - EMS would arrive before race weekend. Then diplomacy/bureaucracy took over & o/s sellers got curtailed from greyexporting. 

Today... meh... dunno whether HQ just not making parts or everyone just conveniently blaming “supply chain issues”. But cmon, last year Tamiya TT01 eurotruck racing looked like it was gaining momentum’s local clubs Oz wide, but imho racers enthusiasm has since fizzled out when we can’t get tyre replacements. 

[Willy iine 18804]

I've not read this thread in its entirety, but most spectator motor fans I know aren't hobbiest types.  I think RTR would be better than an assembly kit at best where loved ones could buy someone a special RC gift.  

These appear to be more normal folks that enjoy the atmosphere, not so much the tinkering aspect.. I never understood spectator motorsports..I'm a car guy since the day I was born, but never found deep interest in watching cars go around a circuit for some reason.. sure I think they look fantastic and sound awesome and all.. but attention span very short.  

My kid who has no real interest in 1:1 cars nor any interest in RC watch F1 and enjoy it.   very weird.

[WillyChang 1814]

5 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

have an excuse for buying them.

come across any decent itasha 1/10 decal sets lately? 

have found only pathetic sticker offerings of late  

Did you see that impressive display at Shizuoka 2023 of handpainted bodyshells, amazing work.

 

6 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

Like this? 🤣

NFI, which maker/series is that?

Was only looking at 30MS hoping they’d fit as driver figures in 1/10 interior 

Put idea on backburner after calculating it’ll cost a bomb in Bandai, plus they’re constantly soldout @LHS. 

[alvinlwh 5889]

21 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

come across any decent itasha 1/10 decal sets lately? 

No, never I think, but will it be possible to take a 1/24 and scale it up to 1/10? Be warned though that Fujimi (maker of most Itasha kits) print quality is not very good.

24 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

NFI, which maker/series is that?

Just regular HG Gundams.

 

[Kowalski86 3024]

25 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

Y’know what we really need T to remake?

 SPARE PARTS 

Have so many cars laid up “awaiting parts” it’s no longer funny. 

10-15yrs ago, wasn’t hard to find spares from o/s when LHS didn’t have them - EMS would arrive before race weekend. Then diplomacy/bureaucracy took over & o/s sellers got curtailed from greyexporting. 

There was recently someone over in the re-release section who was having trouble finding a small part for their Blockhead.

As for anime figures...I don't like them. This represents where I'm at in "anime land", and something that I'd really like to see Tamiya make an RC kit out of (even if it ends up a TT-02).

 

[WillyChang 1814]

2 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

As for anime figures...I don't like them. This represents where I'm at in "anime land", and something that I'd really like to see Tamiya make an RC kit out of

might just amuse u  that T did make the Mach GoGoGo back in TA05 era

then a bit later they did the BMW with Hatsune Miku 

[WillyChang 1814]

2 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

will it be possible to take a 1/24 and scale it up to 1/10? Be warned though that Fujimi (maker of most Itasha kits) print quality is not very good.

 

Nope, even the best analogue scan/cleanup/upsize/reprint will look naff. 

To do it properly needs everything traced & redrawn into vector; that keeps it sharp regardless of size. 
 

Then the next challenge is getting it output... intriguingly, today’s modern digital technology to print opaque on stretch clear vinyl still haven’t quite matched up yet with what was available decades ago in a past life.  Super frustrating personally. 

[WillyChang 1814]

2 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

Just regular HG Gundams.

ah ok, that’s what they look like built. Yeah I’ve seen those sets on LHS shelf. 
 

Haha there’s a HG 1/144 on my desk atm  week before the Bandai sales rep must’ve gifted shop a bunch of sample sets missing boxes. Got bored so I assumed custody of the drabbest looking bag... no idea which just it’s some MSG from Mercury Witch series, sprues date coded Feb 2023. 

Anyone tried BAGBUILDING* a gundam??!  (*yeah AFOL terminology)

[Kowalski86 3024]

52 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

might just amuse u  that T did make the Mach GoGoGo back in TA05 era

 

I like that TA05, shame that body shells probably long out of print.

[WillyChang 1814]

1 hour ago, Kowalski86 said:

like that TA05

I’m more salty that the TA05 (best ever T chassis design!!) is hard to recommission & run today for lack of spareparts like belts & diff outdrives  

[Kpowell911 1898]

10 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

What many missed is Tamiya is at its core a static model company. It produced its first model in 1960 (ignore previous wooden ones) but only brunched out to making RC in 1976. RC is really not a big part of the company, probably a small division. It is hardly surprising that they do not invest as much effort there. No other RC companies (that I am aware of) make static models.

Appreciate thats how it started, but is that true today? Genuine question 

[Kowalski86 3024]

1 hour ago, WillyChang said:

I’m more salty that the TA05 (best ever T chassis design!!) is hard to recommission & run today for lack of spareparts like belts & diff outdrives  

Seems par for the course for race-grade RCs unfortunately, Team Associated and TLR play that game too iirc.

In personally not a fan of it, but I guess bare bones "beginners" models and hop ups sell more.

[bRIBEGuy 3033]

A very interesting thread here for sure... thank you @zuqbu!

I think a lot of the points you bring up are valid, but since I love to play the bad guy (not really.... but also maybe really...), I'll go with the "counterpoint" side of the discussion here.

First up, as pointed out by @alvinlwh, RC is only a small portion of what Tamiya does.  It's the centre of OUR worlds, but not theirs.

Secondly, while you're comment on the rise of motorsports is largely correct, it is worth nothing that may not translate directly to sales of RC cars (if they were available).  I know MANY people that eat/sleep/breath motorsports, but would never "waste time or money" on an "RC Toy".  Also, much of this growth is region specific.... F1 is booming most places, but it's popularity is on the decline in Japan.

Thirdly.......oh, the licensing thing.  I love how people always default to the "Brand A can do it, so why doesn't Brand B?" argument.  It's like saying "Jay Leno can go by a new Lamborghini, so why can't you?".  Licensing contracts can take years to negotiate, and that's assuming the partners are even open to new licensing deals, or want to be in business with each other.  It can be huge $$$, huge restrictions, and huge commitments to get a deal rolling, and that doesn't even begin to dip into the peripheral licensing that may be required.  How many people would buy a Ferrari F1-76 kit if Tamiya didn't also secure the licensing for Shell stickers?  Or Velas, or AWS, etc....... ?  What if the last licensing deal with Ferrari left a bad taste in someones mouth and they just don't what to go down that road again?

Forth up..... cost cost cost...... this is actually an interesting one when looping in the (great) tie in with Lego as a comparison.  The funny thing with Lego, is they get TONS of accolades for all these new kits... but there is next to no new cost for them to release them.  It is extremely rare that Lego is physically releasing new "bricks", so a new kit is essentially just a printing cost once the design (sometimes crowd sourced) and licensing is finished.  Ironically we crucify Tamiya for doing the same thing (putting everything on a TT chassis...).  A single new injection mould tool for Tamiya to do a new bumper/wing/body mount could be a $100k investment for them.  How many times/year do you think they are keen to do that?

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE more realistic licenced cars (hmmmmm.... but which ones...), but I'm really not all that surprised we don't see them more often.

Tamiya, wanna step up and prove me wrong? 

[alvinlwh 5889]

1 hour ago, Kpowell911 said:

Appreciate thats how it started, but is that true today? Genuine question 

As below.

1 hour ago, bRIBEGuy said:

is only a small portion of what Tamiya does.  It's the centre of OUR worlds, but not theirs.

And a genuine answer, take a look at their monthly release notes, see how many real new RC releases. Real as in not rere, not rebox, not remix, not painted body. BTW, I am taking about kits and not hopup parts.

[Kpowell911 1898]

Is it there any where I can read about Tamiya’s financials or are they private?