Which model "represents" Tamiya?

[backtomyroots]

Clod Buster for sure.  There's no other RC that you can look at and say yup that's a Tamiya.

I'd agree 

[Y]  Yes - that's the one ! Clodbuster !

[Z]

It has to be the Grasshopper. For instance: in an art class I took

awhile back, one of my teachers, I guess he was about 25, noticed I was

drawing some baja buggy-looking things. He asked for an explaination,

and I told him I was into "vintage" r/c cars. He immediately piped up,

"Oh, like the Grasshopper?" This guy had never owned a "real" r/c car,

but still rememered the Grashopper nameplate. The Grasshopper also

incarnated what Tamiy does best: produce bulletproof beginner's cars.

Although I personally prefere the Hornet, the Grasshopper epitimizes

Tamiya's r/c nameplate.

[OCD]

Which model "represents" Tamiya?

Tanks and war ships! []

Methink they sell lots more of those than any RC model.

Your answer is correct.  I think Tamiya is known more for its static scaled model than RC.  For this club it should be renamed Tamiya-RC-Club.

So for which scaled model...good question ; for which RC model...that is another good question.  I guess it would be Tamiya's best selling kit or model provide we factor in market distribution and population back than and now.

 

Actually, although Tamiya produces way more static kits, they are probably better known as RC makers. (To demonstrate this fact, have a look at the Wikipaedia entry for Tamiya - it's primarily RC [:|] ) 

If Tamiya were a household name at all, (it's not is it?) you can bet it would be tied to their legendary line of toys.  Only a few of us are static modelers, but everyone was a kid at one time.

 

That being said, I asked a co-worker if he could recall even one specific Tamiya product -  and 'Frogger' was the first word outta his mouth! 

OK, maybe he was confused about his 80's toy trivia - but clearly the RC segment has made a lasting impression on many.

 

-Steve 

[DJTheo]

Actually, although Tamiya produces way more static kits, they are probably better known as RC makers. (To demonstrate this fact, have a look at the Wikipaedia entry for Tamiya - it's primarily RC [:|] )

Disagree and agree with Willy above. Tamiya's biggest market and brand name is their static kits by far. Wikipedia entries don't say much as they can be written by anyone. Read Shunsaku Tamiya's autobioghraphy and you will see its almost completely about the static kits and only a couple of pages!!! about RC models, wheareas even the 1:32 Mini 4WDs have a whole dedicated chapter! Also Tamiya published only one book (dont count the new 2006 version as different) for RC while 3-4 for static kits. Yes, to (also now adult) kids their RC cars are most known, but to most modelers their static kits are dominant, also there are more static then RC modelers around. Also if you look in ebay.com for Tamiya there were today just 900 items in radio controller vehicles (left spare parts out as those dont really exist for static kits) while 3300 items in static models.

Cheers 

[OCD]

Maybe I misunderstood the topic question?

 

"Tamiya's biggest market and brand name is their static kits by far."

 I agreed that they produce more static kits.

 

"Wikipedia entries don't say much as they can be written by anyone"

 Anyone = Average person.

 

"Read Shunsaku Tamiya's autobioghraphy"

 I did.  I also noticed that there are two entirely different accounts of the 'RC genesis' at Tamiya.  Tamiya wrote his own take on it, thus the 'autobiography' classification. 

 

"Yes, to (also now adult) kids their RC cars are most known, but to most

modelers their static kits are dominant, also there are more static

then RC modelers around."

 Like I said, everyone was a kid at one time, few of us become modelers. If the question is 'what represents Tamiya' and you're asking a modeler, the answer will be obvious.  If you ask the average citizen, you would probably get a very different answer altogether.

 

"look in ebay.com for Tamiya there were today just 900 items in radio

controller vehicles (left spare parts out as those dont really exist

for static kits) while 3300 items in static models."

Again, this is just a representation of the amount of product sold.  Even in this 'resale' type market, it says nothing for familiarity or brand recognition. 

 

-Steve 

[DJTheo]

" Anyone = Average person."

Everyones who has dealt with statistics knows that one single sample (one wikipedia entry) has no statistical significance and can't be generalised.

" I did.  I also noticed that there are two entirely different accounts

of the 'RC genesis' at Tamiya.  Tamiya wrote his own take on it, thus

the 'autobiography' classification. "

Does it change the fact and importance that only 2 pages are about RC and the rest about static kits???

 "Like I said, everyone was a kid at one time, few of us become

modelers. If the question is 'what represents Tamiya' and you're asking

a modeler, the answer will be obvious.  If you ask the average citizen,

you would probably get a very different answer altogether. "

We don't know the average citizen, just people of our environment (TC or neighboorhood). Also there exist many kids which never started RC but with static models. Since you or I havent done statistical questioning of polulations, we can only base on facts we know and those are product, sales or page numbers.

"Again, this is just a representation of the amount of product sold. 

Even in this 'resale' type market, it says nothing for familiarity or

brand recognition. "

So doesn't say our personal or TC-local perception of the brand, ask in a statix forum and you will hear exactly the opposite things.

Cheers 

[Guest joelvardy]

yes I love my RC cars but when I see a tamiya logo statics also come into my head.

but then again when you have this amount of tamiya brand new in a spare bedroom then I suppose that you have to think about statics

[OCD]

 

 

"Everyones who has dealt with statistics knows that one single sample

(one wikipedia entry) has no statistical significance and can't be

generalised."

 

Well, I can't even to begin to provide statistics, so I guess I'll just have to do the same as everyone else. []

 

Since Tamiya isn't a household name, I suppose it's near impossible to really get an honest idea what the 'average' person invisions when they think of Tamiya.  I will admit that I see the correlation between static modelers and the love of Tamiya RC - no other brand brings the two together as well.

 

I guess being a primarily RC hobbiest, I see the world through tinted glasses.  (One red lens, one blue [H] )

 

 

[Corpse Thrower]

Sorry guys, I wasn't talking about static kits, just R/C, if you re read my first post.

 

[OCD]

Sorry for going off-topic CT [:$]

 

Cover of the unabridged RC history? 

Would have to be the Scorcher IMO - instantly recognizable,  and real pretty to look at.[Y]

[rhenbelz]

I'd have to vote for the Frog. It seems that Tamiya has always been about trying new things, modifications on previous tech, and the Frog showed that. It was fun, but it was also innovatively designed.

However...

A good argument could also be made for the Lunch Box, Midnite Pumpkin, etc. They are cars [still] made simply for fun in a time when so many manufacturers only care about churning out race-bred vehicles with more and more power and mass produced lexan bodies.

You can tear around with a fast, technologically advanced, racewinning Losi stadium truck, but somehow the slow, archaic Lunch Box is a more enjoyable drive because the LB actually has personality []

[bjr250]

For me it would have to be the Hornet.

It is a combination of many things, the looks of the car, the box art, the fact that they were everywhere (in Australia) and the adds in the toy/hobby shops and on TV.  There are other cars that come to mind such as the Frog (it comes second or third) but they don't hold in the memory like the Hornet.  For these reasons and more the Hornet is the car that says "Tamiya" to me.

The Hornet isn't my favourite Tamiya (the Fox is as it was my first) but when it was re-released I had to by one as I always wanted one as a kid.

[Zjor76]

I have noticed a trend.....

All the Aussies so far are telling of The Hornet. I Would have to agree. It was my first R/C car. I was 12, my dad takes me to K-Mart and says, "O.K. For your 12th birthday you're getting an R/C car. Which one do you like?" To my shock, and subsequent state of euphoria, I stood there, staring at The Hornet, The Fast Attack Vehicle and an F1 which I can't remember..(Whichever came out in 1988). Not being into F1 back then, I dismissed it, as well as where was I to drive it. To me the Fast Attack Vehicle looked cool, but looked like it would also break easy, with the gun protruding and stuff like that. The Hornet was a clear choice. Sporty looking, off-road buggy... **** thing just looked fast in the boxart.

Since my return to the R/C world, people I meet tell me of their hobbies.. Golf, tennis, Playstation, X-box... Bla, bla, bla.. Then I tell them R/C cars..

8/10 responded.. "Like, Hornets and stuff??..... Man I remember those things, they were awesome..."

The others just referred to them as 'Buggies' and how cool they were.

I think different countries will have different responses as to most memorable/popular Tamiya R/C car.

In Australia, The Hornet wins hands down.

Great topic = great memories. Good one CT!! 

P.S. Please excuse my ignorance[:$], can someone please tell me what SRB stands for?? I'm baffled and always see it coming up. 

 

 

 

[HunterZero]

All the Aussies so far are telling of The Hornet.

Yep, those darn things were everywhere.

P.S. Please excuse my ignorance[:$], can someone please tell me what SRB stands for?? I'm baffled and always see it coming up.

It stands for "Special Racing Buggy", referring to the Sand Scorcher and its kin. Take a look at the front page of its manual.

- James

[Corpse Thrower]

Well, I'm an Aussie, and I say the Frog[]

Although, the Hornet is an iconic car, its just not as iconic as the Frog.

[dinodog]

[H]Hi Guys, great thread! I am a great believer in "Love the one you're with" [:|] so I reckon its the Tamiya you love most

at the time! In my case it's my Special forces patrol conversion! This is kind of a cross between RC and static.

Happy Trails and Happy new Year![<)][^]

 

www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=49354&id=10997

 

[eek!]

Nice and new topic! [H] 

I would say Hilux, it represents the unique attention to detail and realism but also often overengineering and mediocre performance of Tamiya cars.

Cheers 

He..he..he... Very well said Theo.[]

Hard to believe (and admit) I don't know if my choice would be the Hi-lux 4X4 now because it depends on the era for me. Tamiya is definitely one of the scale leaders, but their models (regarding cars) have gone more the way of others, performance over scale. So for the early era my vote is the SRB and maybe Hi-Lux.

Today however is a toughee. I ask myself: What distinguishes Tamiya from others? My wild, shot-in-the-dark answer (guess): The WWII.  More scaleness than most, re-uses a previous chassis (which Tamiya loves to do) and has middle of the road performance. It's appeal falls somewhere in between scale, fun, RTR and vintage seekers. It seems designed to appeal to all parties, rather than focus on one.

Sorta-looks real and very easy to build/run, has a touch of nostalgia. Is this Tamiya now? (Regarding cars. Tanks/semis aside) [:^)]

best, 

[Zjor76]

It stands for "Special Racing Buggy", referring to the Sand Scorcher and its kin. Take a look at the front page of its manual.

- James

Cheers James!!  

[Stefan(2)]

Well, i can't put the semi's and tanks aside as eek! does "there Radio Controlled

 I would say, at this moment you could consider the Leopard 2A6 as top piece & Tamiya representation.

 Now, i have to motivate it also of course  =>

1) 100% scale realism, Tamiya is famous for there (static) scale models

2) Very good driveable, it is build to run (maybe unlike the first rc tanks, who where static at first place)

3) High tech gizmo's , that DMD unit is magic, sound, movement, separate options, beat that with your SRB []

4) Everybody can build it,  a kid with a bit of supervision could build this kit, and a experienced builder can cut his

teeth on making it a top (scale) piece. 

 

Also, taking into consideration, that Tamiya's first real RC model was a 1/16 scale tank ( so yes, before the Porsche! )

And, has evolved to the best of the best in rc tech,  into the Leopard 2A6.

(Could anyone name a model from any brand who has the same or better specs then the 56019/20 ? )

Twin motor drive, onboard computer for control, super scale realism, and, very nice to drive it.

 

Stefan

 

[meridian]

One pick has to be the Frog, my first RC love!

 For me Tamiya will always be cars like the Frog, Hornet, Hotshot, Bruiser and Monster Beetle, etc. I grew up on them but even if I didn't I still think I would like them much more than most of the newer designs. I'm an offroad guy and I don't race so I don't care if a car doesn't handle perfectly. To me it's all about the look, coolness factor and fun using and working/building on them. Thank God for all these re-re's!

 It's funny that I am realizing how small a part of Tamiya I know, use/buy and am aware of. I barely knew they made all these non-RC models and other plastic things! (if it's not RC what fun is that?!?!??)

 Long live the Tamiya classics!

[VonBlade]

A little off-topic.

I'm probably alone in buying a Tamiya RC because I knew the statics were so good.

Otherwise I'd have a Revell