Eastern Canada Tamiya RC fans?

[Frankster 2080]

Hi,

I am relocating to Toronto this summer.  Looking to see if there are any other Tamiya RC fans around Easter Canada.  
 

Yee I know there is Facebook, but I am one of the few people who do not have a FB account.  
 

Frank

[A2591 351]

Eastern Canada here as well and within the GTA, but just getting back into the hobby.

Are you relocating from out of province?

[Frankster 2080]

33 minutes ago, A2591 said:

Eastern Canada here as well and within the GTA, but just getting back into the hobby.

Are you relocating from out of province?

I was born and raised in Toronto.  Been living and working abroad for 20 years.  Moving back this summer from Hong Kong.  Just restarted into hobby since COVID.  Will need help on good local Tamiya RC stores in GTA 🤗

[DaveBuildsRC 219]

The zoom room has good stock of Tamiya in new market Ont.

[Frankster 2080]

@A2591 and @DaveBuildsRC are you guys located in the GTA area?   It would be great to have a meet up once in a while for some RC action.  I am more into buggies and M-Class cars

[A2591 351]

Yeah located within the GTA @Frankster.  Wouldn't be opposed to a RC meetup either. Like DaveBuildsRC mentioned The Zoom Room is a good option.  I've also been trying to find some good shops and while not everyone has the best selection of Tamiya we still get a decent pick.

Great Hobbies - Larger chain, has a number of locations but closer ones to GTA are in Mississauga, and Oshawa.  
Xtreme R/C - Oshawa - Some Tamiya, has a indoor track as well.
Advance Hobbies - Scarborough - Pretty good stock of Tamiya
Advanced R/C & Hobbies - Markham - Some Tamiya 
Pinnacle Hobby - Markham - Pretty good stock of Tamiya
A&J Hobbies - Concords - Some Tamiya, alot of parts and misc items. Stocks alot of other brands as well.
Big Boys With Cool Toys - Mississauga - Not much Tamiya, typically stocks more Traxxas, Arrma, Losi etc.  Still good to check out if you're in the area.
Amazing RC Store - Mississauga - Some Tamiya, probably has the best prices on Tamiya bodyshells in the GTA.
Hobby Hobby - Mississauga - Pretty good stock of Tamiya, though prices tend to be on the higher side

There are some others I might of missed and others that are further out of the GTA as well.

[Frankster 2080]

Oh thanks for the list.  I need to add these as pins to my google maps.  If I am in the area I may need to “drop by” for a browse. 
 

On the list, who has the best buggy selection and hop ups?

[Sogogi 3362]

I think there is one in streetsville (Mississauga)

[A2591 351]

1 hour ago, Frankster said:

Oh thanks for the list.  I need to add these as pins to my google maps.  If I am in the area I may need to “drop by” for a browse. 
 

On the list, who has the best buggy selection and hop ups?

Depends on what you're looking for on buggies.  If its mainly Tamiya then technically Great Hobbies might be the best to "browse" as they have more options in stock compared to some of the other stores, though their prices can vary from normal to high compared to other locations.  Best is still to know what you want then find it accordingly as some places could have a substantial difference in price (i.e. Top Force Evo $136 difference between two stores)

I haven't found a single store that can technically do it all and most of these places will mainly stock the common Tamiya kits you're normally used to seeing.  In regards to Hop Ups (assuming we're talking Tamiya here and not 3rd party) then its fairly dry across the board IMO.  Advance Hobbies does have some and they are willing to special order if possible.  Other places don't usually have much.  For Hop Up's I'd recommend looking at Plaza Japan instead.  It could take a while to get the order together depending on the size, but even with shipping and customs, you're looking at prices that substanially better.  

[A2591 351]

17 minutes ago, Sogogi said:

I think there is one in streetsville (Mississauga)

That could be Hobby Hobby as they're right in that area.  If theres another one i've missed I'd also want to know!

[Frankster 2080]

Looks like there are 4 of us in the area.  What do you guys drive, crawlers, m cars, buggies, touring?

[Frankster 2080]

25 minutes ago, A2591 said:

Depends on what you're looking for on buggies.  If its mainly Tamiya then technically Great Hobbies might be the best to "browse" as they have more options in stock compared to some of the other stores, though their prices can vary from normal to high compared to other locations.  Best is still to know what you want then find it accordingly as some places could have a substantial difference in price (i.e. Top Force Evo $136 difference between two stores)

I haven't found a single store that can technically do it all and most of these places will mainly stock the common Tamiya kits you're normally used to seeing.  In regards to Hop Ups (assuming we're talking Tamiya here and not 3rd party) then its fairly dry across the board IMO.  Advance Hobbies does have some and they are willing to special order if possible.  Other places don't usually have much.  For Hop Up's I'd recommend looking at Plaza Japan instead.  It could take a while to get the order together depending on the size, but even with shipping and customs, you're looking at prices that substanially better.  

Thanks.  I am ok with 3rd party depending on what the part is and how it is used on the car. 
 

Overall it sounds like kits locally (support local Hobby store) and upgrades online…

[Grastens 2821]

I moved to just west of London  having lived in Toronto for most of my life... It is still good to see a few of us in Ontario!

[A2591 351]

1 hour ago, Frankster said:

Looks like there are 4 of us in the area.  What do you guys drive, crawlers, m cars, buggies, touring?

Essentially, all of the above .  That being said I'm currently aquiring more than driving at the moment.  In terms of builds I recently completed a M-06 which I'm really enjoying.

 

1 hour ago, Frankster said:

Thanks.  I am ok with 3rd party depending on what the part is and how it is used on the car. 
 

Overall it sounds like kits locally (support local Hobby store) and upgrades online…

At least with Tamiya upgrades I'd say so.  With certain kits, online has been good to me particularly Tamico.de even with their shipping and exchange, but usually I'll really start looking there if I cant find a particular kit locally.

[Sogogi 3362]

I remember getting charged $60+ dollar custom/brokerage fee for a $100 dollar worth of order from US.

[A2591 351]

Thats brutal @Sogogi.  I haven't ordered anything from the US for shipping reasons either, but I gave it a shot on two larger orders through Tamico.de and it got through unscathed.  It did take a while to arrive though.

[Frankster 2080]

On 6/13/2023 at 2:19 AM, A2591 said:

Eastern Canada here as well and within the GTA, but just getting back into the hobby.

Are you relocating from out of province?

I am back in GTA.  What type of cars are you into?

[Frankster 2080]

What area are you guys all from?   North York for me

[technics 3395]

Interesting read, nice to see! I’m originally from Missisauga but moved to Sweden 20 years ago!

[A2591 351]

44 minutes ago, Frankster said:

I am back in GTA.  What type of cars are you into?

Welcome back!  Generally I like rally or normal road cars followed with some race cars here and there.  Have a soft spot for trophy trucks.

I've picked up a some more buggies along the way in both 4WD and 2WD configurations since the end of last year, but I've been building very very slowly. 

[Frankster 2080]

Thanks.  I am into buggies at the moment.  Have a few M cars and shedding my road cars (on Kijiji)

[Frankster 2080]

Hey guys.  Looking to start a WhatsApp group.  Sorry I do not have Facebook.  
 

PM me if you are interested 

[Frankster 2080]

Hi. 

started a WhatsApp group if you are interested in joining

[Frankster 2080]

By the way, I have a few Tamiya items posted on Kijiji.  See the below link and look for other items I am selling

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-hobbies-craft/city-of-toronto/bnib-tamiya-stadium-thunder-58524-2012/1687819819

[Ferruz 13508]

Heya, just saw this. I'm in the Montreal area, it's no Toronto but only a few hours away. I get to the GTA area every now and then, for work or random reasons.

While not able to join on a regular basis, I'd love a meet & bash with fellow TC members. I will keep an eye on this thread in case I am ever able to come by, you never know.

@Frankster congratulations on your return home!