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Fallguy1

Question about kit safety

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Hey all, I've been a fan of this site for years and finally decided to join. I've been in the hobby for 22 years and probably 90% of the MANY kits I've built have been Tamiya's (if I can't build it, I won't buy it). It's been about 2 years since I've built a kit and have been aching to get my hands dirty. What's stopping me right now is the nuclear disaster in Japan. One of the professor's at the college I attend lived in *******ushima for years and her husbands family is from there (thankfully they survived). Recently we were talking on the subject and she said that it's a lot worse than the media has made it out to be. From reading these forums, I know some members on here are from Japan, and I just wanted to get their opinion on the subject. The reason I ask is because I currently live with a family member with a weakened immune system and I don't want anything harmful brought into the house. I understand Tamiya has a factory in the Philippine's, I would feel safer building one of those kits, is there anyway to find out which one's are from there? Any help will be appreciated.

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check the corner of kitbox, they'll say where its made

most lower end kits eg TT01 DT02 etc are from Philippenes, especially plastic moldings

mostly only high end & TRF stuff from Japan where its alloy and carbonfibre

btw "radiation sickness" is not a disease, it is neither viral nor bacterial

even if your new RC toy turns up glowing in the dark, probably be same level as radon in your basement

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your micro wave oven and luminus numbers on your watch prolly puts out more radiation than any thing exported out of japan at the moment ...

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I live in Japan and I can only say one thing.

You have nothing to be concerned about.

unless you paint the body with poly paints, those are highly toxic.

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I live in Japan and I can only say one thing.

You have nothing to be concerned about.

unless you paint the body with poly paints, those are highly toxic.

SERIOUSLY ? LOL

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Well, the PS paints now seem to use DME as a propellant.

But I remember there being stickers on the paints a few years back that said

"this item uses a chemical known by the state of California to cause cancer."

there is also the danger of when some plastics in the kit will give off highly toxic fumes if burnt or heated.

the point is, there is danger in just about anything.

there is no danger of radiation from a cardboard box.

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Radiation can only come from a radioactive source - something that's been irradiated can't generate it's own radiation...

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No disrespect intended toward the original poster, but this has to be posted....

Radioactive_Man.gif

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Radiation can only come from a radioactive source - something that's been irradiated can't generate it's own radiation...

Things can still be contaminated through contact though. To this day you have to wear a full protective moon suit to handle and read through Marie Curie's lab notes. That being said I'm sure any kit coming out of Japan even as we speak will be perfectly safe. I wouldn't be worried. Parts of the UK such as Aberdeen that have high levels of background radiation probably produce more than what you'll find in your avarage Tamiya kit coming out of Japan.

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I'd like to thank everyone for their reply's. This subject has probably been discussed before, but I'm really "spooked" after talking to my professor and needed some reassurance.

WillyChang: I under stand that radiation sickness isn't a disease, but please understand that I have a family member living with me who is on a lot of medication that suppresses her immune system and don't want to bring in anything that might cause any complications.

Japanscaledriver: Here in Florida, spray paint is used as a recreational drug. :D

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Hey all, I've been a fan of this site for years and finally decided to join. I've been in the hobby for 22 years and probably 90% of the MANY kits I've built have been Tamiya's (if I can't build it, I won't buy it). It's been about 2 years since I've built a kit and have been aching to get my hands dirty.

Well your last post certainly made me read your thread twice! So when are you going to get your hands dirty and which kits are you looking at? :D

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Hey all, I've been a fan of this site for years and finally decided to join. I've been in the hobby for 22 years and probably 90% of the MANY kits I've built have been Tamiya's (if I can't build it, I won't buy it). It's been about 2 years since I've built a kit and have been aching to get my hands dirty. What's stopping me right now is the nuclear disaster in Japan. One of the professor's at the college I attend lived in *******ushima for years and her husbands family is from there (thankfully they survived). Recently we were talking on the subject and she said that it's a lot worse than the media has made it out to be. From reading these forums, I know some members on here are from Japan, and I just wanted to get their opinion on the subject. The reason I ask is because I currently live with a family member with a weakened immune system and I don't want anything harmful brought into the house. I understand Tamiya has a factory in the Philippine's, I would feel safer building one of those kits

If exports from Japan were considered contaminated to an unacceptable degree, then either the entire Japanese export industry would instantly stop, with untold ramifications for the world's economy, or people would be quarantining Lexuses and televisions for exhibiting radioactivity. Since neither is happening (and all you need is one consumer with a Geiger counter on his Sony to set off a scare very easily!) then I think you are safe.

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I normally try to stay out of threads and discussions that are even remotely controversial -- and it seems any discussion of possible risk from Japanese imported products is one of those -- but the OP has a legitimate question here. Any suggestion that it is not legitimate is unfortunate. As a father of an immune suppressed daughter due to a heart transplant, I can understand the concern. While I agree with those of you who say there is little to no risk, making jokes about the question isn't cool, especially in light of the context of the question as originally asked.

I think TC members are, on the whole, great people and we should make Fallguy feel welcome and have some empathy.

Thanks,

Steve

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Fallguy,

welcome to the forum! Get your hands dirty again and share your build with us. It's so much more enjoyable when you have partners in crime :-)

Concerning the Japan/radiation issue: Since you seem to be a very considerate person with Japanese friends, you may want to reflect on the extra harm done to Japan if we hesitate to buy their products.

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I normally try to stay out of threads and discussions that are even remotely controversial -- and it seems any discussion of possible risk from Japanese imported products is one of those -- but the OP has a legitimate question here. Any suggestion that it is not legitimate is unfortunate. As a father of an immune suppressed daughter due to a heart transplant, I can understand the concern. While I agree with those of you who say there is little to no risk, making jokes about the question isn't cool, especially in light of the context of the question as originally asked.

I think TC members are, on the whole, great people and we should make Fallguy feel welcome and have some empathy.

Thanks,

Steve

On of the guys who races in TC locally works inside nuke power plants, all over the world as a specialist for accidents and maintenance. He and his equipment really go INSIDE. He showed me some of his equipment and explained in detail. Rad is PHYSICAL, ie like sand or dust. It gets WASHED off his equipment before getting outside. So if you are worried, simply wash everything you receive before bringing it near your family/area of concern. Bin the box (who wants a soggy box? lol) and wash everything. Even motors run underwater so unless you are buying a radio or esc there is nothing you could not wash.

I make no comment/judgement whether it's necessary, I'm just saying this is what you can do to mitigate your concern.

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I normally try to stay out of threads and discussions that are even remotely controversial -- and it seems any discussion of possible risk from Japanese imported products is one of those -- but the OP has a legitimate question here. Any suggestion that it is not legitimate is unfortunate. As a father of an immune suppressed daughter due to a heart transplant, I can understand the concern. While I agree with those of you who say there is little to no risk, making jokes about the question isn't cool, especially in light of the context of the question as originally asked.

I think TC members are, on the whole, great people and we should make Fallguy feel welcome and have some empathy.

Thanks,

Steve

+1 here. Glad someone stood up and put a stop to the nonsense.

On of the guys who races in TC locally works inside nuke power plants, all over the world as a specialist for accidents and maintenance. He and his equipment really go INSIDE. He showed me some of his equipment and explained in detail. Rad is PHYSICAL, ie like sand or dust. It gets WASHED off his equipment before getting outside. So if you are worried, simply wash everything you receive before bringing it near your family/area of concern. Bin the box (who wants a soggy box? lol) and wash everything. Even motors run underwater so unless you are buying a radio or esc there is nothing you could not wash.

I make no comment/judgement whether it's necessary, I'm just saying this is what you can do to mitigate your concern.

That's what I have heard of radiation as well. Is it necessary, I don't know.

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Ok, did a little research on this. *******ushima (where the reactor is) is 491 km from Shizuoka, where Tamiya is. About halfway up of the "big" island, where Tamiya is at the south of it.

Found this article too...

http://numazu.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/rad...easonably-safe/

"Radiation levels in Numazu Shizuoka – Appear Reasonably Safe

16 03 2011

Radiation levels have risen due to the crisis of the nuclear reactors in the Miyagi Prefecture after the Sendai Earthquake.

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan radiation levels in the Shizuoka, while higher than average, are currently not a risk.

Levels today for Shizuoka were reported to be between 0.089 μGy/h (millirems per hour) and 0.062 μGy/h with and average of o.o62 μGy/h."

I'm not a scientist, so I don't have an opinion about the validity of the article.

Also, I don't know where Tamiya has it's packaging made, either.

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I'd like to think everyone for their reply's and welcoming me to the site. I'm a longtime fan of Tamiya and definitely want to continue supporting the company. Having said that, I'm still not 100% yet, but if I do get a new kit to build, it'll probably be a Hotshot and I will post pics.

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Fallguy1, please accept my apology for initially joking or making light about your original post.

Whilst amusing to me at the time, after re-reading your post and now realising that your concern is based purely on the health of your family member, I better understand your motivation for posting. I am sorry.

Thommo

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you fellas aren't understanding what you're ultimately asking :D

and again:-

....

btw "radiation sickness" is not a disease, it is neither viral nor bacterial

....

radiation is *not* an infection, radioactivity does not issue germs

anyone with compromised immune systems means they are more susceptible to infections = from germs

(yes i know ppl with everything from leukaemia doing chemo to totally hairless due to alopecia areata)

even if your japanese parcel arrives with enough fallout residue to get a geiger counter excited,

it won't affect the patient anymore adversely than it will hurt you - radiation is not infectious

as for after effects of the Japanese disaster... all the radioactive floatsam has disappeared into the sea

and any radioactive ash has been carried off in the winds & ocean currents going around the world.

I'm still hesitant to buy any japanese-sourced seafood (especially bivalvia shellfish & other scavengers)

but then the waters around Thailand/China/Fiji etc are probably similarly contaminated.

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Good point, Willy.

I forgot to mention in my last post that there would be more risk to the family member if someone in the Tamiya factory had sneezed in the box and contaminated it with common cold bacteria that is not present in Fallguy's part of the world.

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I was going to write a very long and meticulous post on the reactions to the responses on this post. But you know, i can't be bothered.

I am just amazed, is all i'll say. How can it be construed there was anything offensive? Interesting.

Welcome to the forum Fallguy. I have no idea whether the kits would be safe. But common sense tells me you'll be fine.

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Sorry if i appeared to have made light of the thread , looking again i see the context . Appolgys if i offened anyone .

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