Tamiya Models That Don't Get Much Attention

[WW-nut 0]

Most people seem to be suggesting some off-road buggies don't get much attention, but surely all of Tamiya's nitro cars such as the Wild Commando http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...247&id=5487 , Tamtech's like the Wild Boar http://www.tamiyaclub.com/car.asp?id=797 , Quick Drive's like the Trail Master http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...12264&id=31 get less mention than them....... And if you think the Hotshot 2 doesn't get much attention, consider that ugly duckling the Neo Falcon which is seemingly unloved by nearly everyone http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...02&id=15650

Just take a look at the list of models, I'm sure there will be lots of cars that no one has every heard of....for me it is a lot of the on-road saloon cars --> http://www.tamiyaclub.com/cars.asp

[Saito 5]

I agree. Along with vintage kits you don't hear about, there is a whole new breed of vehicles in the same boat. The Neo-Falcon looks as though someone accidently stepped on a Falcon and squashed it. Was the Double Blaze even around for a year? A common theme appears to be that the first releases of a chassis (959, King Cab, Mad Cap etc.) stick in folks' minds but as Tamiya strolls downs "re-body lane", following versions get forgotten.

[Dante77 11]

Interesting thread!

I have some more cars to add to the list:

- Dyna Blaster: Its my favourite Stadium truck and it handles like a dream. Never as popular as the Stadium Blitzer or its brother, the Dyna Storm.

- Super Blackfoot: Very bland with toyish decals. But maybe a better performer than the original Blackfoot. Similar:

- Bush Devil: Lexan body, same could be said here.

I second the Super Sabre and Hotshot 2, both of which I personally like very much.

@ Hibernaculum:

There was one more Beetle bodied Buggy of the early 80's: The german Robbe VW Cross.

[highflyer 73]

Tamiya glow kits in general on this site- low numbers.. The Raybrig mk.2 - click here THAT IS MY KIT ...

The TG10 mk.2 Chassis Clicky Here, the runner is mine also.. The numbers speak for whats hot and whats NOT on TC.

[Real Wild One 1]

Tamiya glow kits in general on this site- low numbers.. The Raybrig mk.2 - click here THAT IS MY KIT ...

The TG10 mk.2 Chassis Clicky Here, the runner is mine also.. The numbers speak for whats hot and whats NOT on TC.

I agree. The nitro 1/8 scale stuff doesn't even get a look in.

This is my Mercedez CLK GTR. A cracking car and the ONLY one on TC. The other one listed with mine has the incorrect chassis for this Item Number.

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...0&sid=25373

[PsychoAtom 0]

Do armoured vehicles apply here?

There are 3 which I feel do not deserve enough attention for what they are:

RT1601 (56001) M4 Sherman 105mm Howitzer (1/16) - Released 14 Nov 1974 "Tamiya's first R/C kit"

RT1602 (56002) Leopard A4 (1/16) - Released 23 Jul 77 "Super detailed kit of an impressive tank" -- One of the most impossible kits to obtain now, even with the re-release

RT1603 (56003) Flakpanzer Gepard (1/16) - Released 20 Oct 78 -- "This is my favourite kit, simply awesome detail and functionality for the time ... rotating turret, radar and swivelling guns" -- also very difficult to get a NIB, even with the re-release

I would love a re-release of the Gepard with modern gear.

[BOWIETJE 0]

The greatest car for me is the JPS Lotus '79.

It should have more attention cause it's a great car

[Positronic 0]

one of my best friends had a Fast Attack Vehicle, I'd love to own one but they seem overly rare. I have much Love for my madcap too.

I would have no desire to own a vintage kit that I'd never seen or previously owned

[simondo 0]

I seem to like some of les desirable Tamiya`s it seems...... I always liked the Terra Scorcher,picked mine up pretty cheap, and its in pretty good condition, they are a bargain it seems, also liked the Sonic Fighter and managed to pick one of those up for a give away price, when i unpacked it it i d iscovered it had a full set up hop ups as well as being in excellent condition.Big fan of the Super Sabre and Hotshot 2 too, but yet to pick one up at the right price

[Henk4Focus 0]

I like the Neo Falcon. I also picked up that people don't really like it that much. It is a nice kit though with bearings and oilies all included. I think the big thing is that the black box art buggy must be the reason why it is so overlooked. All those weird angles just doesn't look as stricking in black. Oh and it is a pain to cut this body out around the back. Here are some shots of the one that my wife and I gave our son Neo 'scuse the pun, and I really like the look of it. It is nice and low and it looks super cool when it's being run.

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...62&id=22744 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98616 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98592 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98027

Also agree on the Mammoth Dumper and the Bullhead. Both are a love hate thing and I love both. I wasn't very keen on the Bull when I first saw it but after I rebuild my first one I was very happy with it.

There are actually so many that are overlooked so this could go on forever.

Henk

[JMV563 0]

DONT FORGET ABOUT THE TERRA CRUSHER THAT YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT.

[HunterZero 73]

Although it still surprises me how little love from collectors the TRF chassis cars get.

- James

[Wez-li 1786]

Although it still surprises me how little love from collectors the TRF chassis cars get.

- James

That's because they have no soul or character...

*runs and hides*

[Falcon#5 570]

I like the Neo Falcon. I also picked up that people don't really like it that much. It is a nice kit though with bearings and oilies all included. I think the big thing is that the black box art buggy must be the reason why it is so overlooked. All those weird angles just doesn't look as stricking in black. Oh and it is a pain to cut this body out around the back. Here are some shots of the one that my wife and I gave our son Neo 'scuse the pun, and I really like the look of it. It is nice and low and it looks super cool when it's being run.

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...62&id=22744 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98616 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98592 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=98027

Also agree on the Mammoth Dumper and the Bullhead. Both are a love hate thing and I love both. I wasn't very keen on the Bull when I first saw it but after I rebuild my first one I was very happy with it.

There are actually so many that are overlooked so this could go on forever.

Henk

I don't mind the Neo now, after seeing some in TC showrooms.

I think it was the blue windows that put me off at first.

(Makes it look too much like the 1:32 toy)

[KalEl63 685]

Yeah the Neo Falcon I do like and yes the shape and lines of the body can be off putting but a nice kit and fun to put together.

Yep I agree with the TG10 and the Terra Scorcher

[commiedoor 18]

i would love toget hold of , for a reasonable price ! , the first 1/12 scale alloy pan chassis cars tamiya released like the turbo celica , lambogini and the like even the early f1 cars are great ..

[HunterZero 73]

That's because they have no soul or character...

*runs and hides*

Well no they don't have a lot of soul, same can be said for every RC touring car - but character isn't the only attribute that determines collectibility. The TRF cars tick a lot of other collector boxes. Rare, exclusive, expensive, great tech, nice to look at. And out of production. Similar to how some collectors collect SRBs, 3-speeds or Shot family cars, the TRF cars are a small subset of Tamiya cars that a collector could aspire to collect a complete set of.

The only other reason I can think of is they are still too new, there isn't a demand due to nostalgia appeal to people who lusted after them in their teens, who have come into disposable income.

- James

[SteelRat 46]

I think the word you're looking for as to why the TRF's aren't collectable is simple - "Bland".

Whilst I realise how a car looks is very much a subjective thing, the big thing with most vintage Tamiyas, and even the touring cars is that the at least look like something we can relate to to one degree or another. TRFs have those awful dish wheels, a body shell that's nothing more than a dust cover for the electrics and don't really have anything that's distinguishes them from every other car that's designed primarily for racing. Whatever you say about the Striker or similar odd balls, is that even if they look weird, at least they're recognisable.

[WillyChang 1745]

The only other reason I can think of is they are still too new, there isn't a demand due to nostalgia appeal to people who lusted after them in their teens, who have come into disposable income.

... that & the fact TRF404/414 was designed by Tech Racing

It did win Tamiya's first IFMAR, that can't be disputed... hence its historic value.

There's also a 1/8th BMT gasser that Tamiya sold under their name back in the 1990s, few ppl even know about it.

Unlike RC side, cuckoo kits aren't that uncommon in Tamiya's various scales of static models - quite a few come from foreign molds eg Italeri etc

[HunterZero 73]

I think the word you're looking for as to why the TRF's aren't collectable is simple - "Bland".

Um, bland? To each his own, but I think the TRF chassis cars are anything but bland with their exotic materials and anodised alu bling.

Yes, the jellymould body shells are bland-o with a capital bland, and as a result they stand no chance of being collectible.

... that & the fact TRF404/414 was designed by Tech Racing

It did win Tamiya's first IFMAR, that can't be disputed... hence its historic value.

There's also a 1/8th BMT gasser that Tamiya sold under their name back in the 1990s, few ppl even know about it.

Unlike RC side, cuckoo kits aren't that uncommon in Tamiya's various scales of static models - quite a few come from foreign molds eg Italeri etc

I think the day of the TRF cars being collectible will come...

- James

[WillyChang 1745]

they are already being collected... mainly by racers,

some of the early models were JDM only too

Probably 1/3rd of production remaining today are NIB

or shelfqueens either newbuilt or as-i-raced-it condition.

Don't find many used cars anymore as they all got

splitup & scavenged for spares, one of the bad traits

of using so many carryover parts on subsequent models.

Probably easier to find used TBevos than TRF414s.

[brayling 0]

I would love a kyosho beetle but they never seem to come up or when they do there silly money, If I had one it would get the attention it deserves kyosho make some great buggies and most of them are way better looking that tamiya's.

What about the baja champ Its horrid and I don't think it gets any attention apart from bad attention and trashing within an inch of its miserable life.

[WillyChang 1745]

intrigued that there's been no (noticeable) revival of interest in Tamiya slotcars & the 1/24 Tamtechs

since they remade some of their bodyshells.

even the tamtech 961 shell is being repurposed - getting a static chassis for display

[mongoose1983 3331]

I'd say the BULL HEAD doesn't receive as much attention as it should. You rarely see those posted here in the forums, nor the main page either.

[Byteme909 27]

TRF414: Developed in house by Tamiya

Masayuki Miura, Takanori Aoki, and Takahiko Yasui designed the chassis at the request of Tamiya America office. They wanted a platform to replace the TA03 that wasn't really meant to be a competitive chassis in the first place. But due to some ridiculous skill David Jun managed to win important races in North America with the TA03F Pro. The TRF404X/414X program was born as a response to the need for Tamiya to continue to compete and ultimately at the world level.

The later chassis, the TRF415, was indeed developed jointly with Tech Racing. The layout specs of the TRF415 basically follows Tech Racing's MY02 platform with the offset motor and the battery to the right side.