5 ms·

RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

425 points by fidotron 1y ago

eleveriven 1y ago
Shunsaku Tamiya built a global culture around precision
toomuchtodo 1y ago
Related: Tamiya chairman Shunsaku Tamiya dies at 90 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44655946 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44655946 - July 2025
esafak 1y ago
I had a load of these. This and painting Warhammer 40,000 miniatures kept my kept my fine motor skills in tune.
JKCalhoun 1y ago
When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models correctly. So many YouTubers (Aztec Dummy comes to mind) have since showed me that assembling the model is more or less nothing. Painting, lighting the model is everything. I can't complain though. There was a joy putting together the models when I was young. The smell of the glue of course — the spatial reasoning it fostered... It was like sculpture to my young mind — forms, shapes in three-dimensions. I grew to love the lines of certain cars, planes, spacecraft… I think too it fueled a kind of designer mindset in me. I would soon draw cars, spaceships, etc. of my own design. What a great hobby. I'm saddened that it kind of seems like another hobby, like R/C planes or model rocketry, that has fallen by the wayside. I mean I feel like most boys when I was growing up had a model or two hanging from their bedroom ceiling. Right?
- mbrd 1y ago
  It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is supposedly very large in Japan and growing in the West.
  - JKCalhoun 1y ago
    That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids were into modeling. [1] free to download: https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel
    - Joel_Mckay 1y ago
      It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If you know the history of how JPL started, than you can probably guess it is the "odd" ones that tend to change science for the better. =3
      - Rediscover 1y ago
        Jack Parsons' Lab? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons
kawsper 1y ago
It even leaked into other hobbies, airsoft and drones are full of tamiya connectors.
- guidedlight 1y ago
  Unfortunately Tamiya connectors are known to melt when paired with modern RC electronics (Brushless motors and LiPo batteries). Most hobbyists use Deans or XT connectors.
kkylin 1y ago
I spent a lot of time on RC cars as a teen (Tamiya, Kyosho). I've not kept up. Recently on a trip to Japan I visited some stores, and was surprised to see that the tech doesn't seem to have changed all that much. I would have expected, for example, that it would now be possible to mount a camera etc. Can someone who's kept up with the hobby let me know if this is a reasonable reaction? Maybe there are new brands I don't know about? Mind you, I really liked building RC cars from kits as it was hours of fun and learning some basic mechanical engineering, and it seems this is still part of the experience. But that alone probably won't appeal to this generation of kids.
- esseph 1y ago
  Most of the people slapping cameras on things moved to things that fly
- linkjuice4all 1y ago
  I got back into R/C stuff after about 15 years after working at Hobbytown as a teenager. The biggest advancements I've seen are around batteries and electronics (LiPo and cheaper/better radios that don't need a crystal), more access to parts (3D printing and cheap overseas CNC'd stuff), and some minor improvement in other accessories/electronics. POV cameras seem to be much more popular in R/C aircraft - but the drifters and crawlers really seem to be embracing it. Many of the brands still exist but a lot of them have been bought-up and are now competing with no-name bottom of the market stuff. Kids still seem interested but I've noticed a big resurgence in adults that can afford to buy the stuff they couldn't get when they were younger. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough - but there's not a ton of open-source support controlling R/C vehicles or "vehicle platforms" that you can hack and build yourself. I think a lot of people want a reliable chassis and parts so they can focus on customizing the body/appearance.
  - TomNomNom 1y ago
    There's a bunch of open source work in the robot combat space, but it doesn't have to be used for robot combat specifically. The Malenki Nano is a great example: a tiny, open source receiver with three speed controllers on a single board. It has two PWM channels for servos too so you could do a ton of interesting projects with it. https://github.com/MarkR42/malenki-nano https://github.com/MarkR42/malenki-nano https://shop.bristolbotbuilders.com/product/malenki/ https://shop.bristolbotbuilders.com/product/malenki/
billforsternz 1y ago
I find it strangely pleasing how a bunch of boutique(ish) companies from the UK, France, USA, Japan (others maybe?) all make plastic model kits of a variety of classic aeroplanes, WW2 planes in particular, in a series of scales. When I was a kid I was quite interested and I could have reeled off the manufacturer names easily (um... Airfix, Revell, Heller, Frog, Tamiya, I want to say Haya-something-or-other, others). I will still look at the displays in hobby stores on occasion and many of them survive, so they've been doing this for 50+ years at this point. I have no particular point, I just find it cool. I wonder if there are rock-star like artisan mold makers known to everyone in the industry. "Ah, this 1-50 scale Messerschmidt BF-109 vertical stabiliser is unmistakably the work of Pierre McFloogle ... chef's kiss!"
- JKCalhoun 1y ago
  > Haya-something-or-other Hasegawa?
  - billforsternz 1y ago
    Thank you, yes.
- hakfoo 1y ago
  I was always sort of curious how they determine which prototypes to go after-- it seems like some classes are much more widely produced than others. It seems like in WWII aircraft, Japanese and Soviet designs are underrepresented compared to US/UK/DE ones. Ship models seem aligned towards ones that sunk famously over ones that survived and were retired after long service. With railway models, there's a selection bias because people tend to model a coherent scene. If you've decided to model Quebec in 1952, you probably can't find a way to fit in a British Rail class 66. But most other model hobbies don't have that restraint going on.
radpanda 1y ago
> Famously, while creating the model kit for the 1976 Porsche 934 Turbo RSR, Tamiya-san sent his designers to Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory several times to get the measurements and details just right. However, despite repeated trips there were still doubts about the kit’s accuracy. So Tamiya bought a Porsche 911 and completely disassembled it to get every detail correct. I don’t know anything about Japanese tax law but if an American did this I’d assume they were just trying to get a sweet tax deduction on a new Porsche. “Oh sure, that was 100% a business expense”.
spankibalt 1y ago
Never cared much for building models (mostly Plasticart) after my day school year in the GDR, but there was a small railway modelling shop that also sold plastic model kits, especially after the fall of the Iron Curtain. That shop has a large hand in igniting my love for all things design and illustration. Beautiful box tops! Albeit back in the day I was partially to Dragon Models (DML). RIP Mr. Tamiya
deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
Aeolun 1y ago
I built my first Tamiya car just a year ago, with my son and his friend. The thing that most impressed me is that the shop provided the tools, the space and a racetrack that you can immediately try out your newly bought car on. And all of them, no matter how crazy, cost only around $10.
louthy 1y ago
In the 80s I had the Tamiya Grasshopper [1], which was the greatest remote control car ever (opinion). I remember attaching three battery packs (instead of the standard one)—to make it drive at roughly 8 billion miles per hour, in the process ripping the tyres to shreds and pretty much ruining the car—because it couldn’t turn without flipping several thousand times. Still, for those initial few seconds, it was glorious. RIP Grasshopper and RIP Shunsaku Tamiya [1] https://cdn.thingiverse.com/assets/8b/e7/0c/d6/a0/IMG_6201.jpg https://cdn.thingiverse.com/assets/8b/e7/0c/d6/a0/IMG_6201.j...
- jumpingMullet 1y ago
  The Grasshopper was good. An underpowered version of the hornet with a 380 instead of 540 motor. The longer run time on the old 7.2 battery was a benefit. Watching YouTube of the current cars, they are actually overpowered and in a way unusable. Many videos degenerate into how high can I jump this thing before it breaks.
  - lmpdev 1y ago
    I sell modern Chinese ones I have to often explain to customers after a certain price point (for me ~$200+ AUD) you have to turn the speed trim pot down for it to be enjoyable at all Similar to what Gran Turismo 7 players have realised with EV “Vision” Cars - car enjoyment greatly diminishes with speed after a certain point - instead of plateauing No-name Chinese build quality is actually a lot higher than I’d’ve anticipated though - brushed thick aluminium and even steel chassis are pretty common now
    - spython 1y ago
      Which one would you recommend for a novice?
      - lmpdev 1y ago
        Unironically for a beginner the Tamiya Grasshopper is still fantastic value Otherwise if you just want something Ready to Race just whatever is cheapest and most available in your area Don’t be suckered into a $200-600+ RC car until you’ve beaten up something cheap - same advice I imagine drone enthusiasts give
BobbyTables2 1y ago
I didn’t realize three adults could fit in a Porsche 911…
burnt-resistor 1y ago
He and his work will be missed. I remember the awesome picture instructions of Tamiya models. They were and are better than IKEA instructions. I fondly remember working on a Tamiya model on my grandfather's garage workbench (around the San Jose / Los Gatos border) with the garage door up while snipping, gluing, and sanding each bit according to the meticulous instructions.
Miserlou57 1y ago
would also like to mention the incredible instructional work of Kozo Hiraoka for the construction of live steam locomotives. His work is art. https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/artisan/kozo-hiraoka/ https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/artisan/kozo-hiraoka/
firefax 1y ago
It makes me feel bad when I see an obituary like this. I had no idea he existed, but reading I can't question he had an impact on the world. Other corners of the internet people would shit on the hobby just because they don't share it -- me, personally, being on the autistic spectrum came with a side of fine motor issues, so I could never do the painting and prodding that the more complex kits required... it's an art form, a craft that takes skill. It's a shame it's not as popular -- it worries me a bit that we're so... online. I was more into Legos, but I wandered into the kids section for the first time in ages the other day at the local big box retailer and it feels like the kits are simpler now, and they're often branded to tie in with movies rather than being a generic thing like space, or pirates, or... space pirates. Anyway RIP dude -- true hacker, had a passion and pursued it.
- eleveriven 1y ago
  Totally agree that model building is an art form, one that doesn't get enough credit
- hermitcrab 1y ago
  I think it is a shame when kids get Lego kits and only ever follow the instructions to build the intended model. They should be encouraged to use their imagination and build their own inventions. Tip: You can often buy random loads of Lego for cheap from Ebay or similar. Put it in a string bag and wash it in the dish washer on low heat. Good as new.
ropable 1y ago
I've fond memories of (badly) assembling a few Tamiya models as a young lad, and (badly) painting them with dad's old enamel and spray paints. Their stuff is still the benchmark for IRL scale kits. Much respect.
mgarfias 1y ago
A big part of my childhood died
aaron695 1y ago
[dead]
hollowturtle 1y ago
Super nostalgic, I remember building mini 4wd with my dad. It was such a magical experience, I wish young people could experience it too. I remember breaking down the ac motor just out curiosity, thinking it was cool and magical but at the same time build an intuition for how it works
fuzzfactor 1y ago
>Rotor Nutcase says: >July 24, 2025 at 5:39 pm >My first Tamiya model…nothing to do with cars or aircraft. Apollo Lunar Lander with base and astronauts. Super impressive back in early 1970s. Need to find one again My grandmother got me one of these before the first moon landing. I carefully put it together and she proudly displayed it for all her visitors.
timonofathens 1y ago
[dead]
Lio 1y ago
Ah I have fond memories of my Hornet and then later a 959. There was always that thing that kids would do where you'd get the OK from your friend and then pick up their car to about 5cm and drop it to test the suspension. Then you'd all nod sagely as if something important had been decerned. Silly but happy memories. RIP Mr Tamiya.
verytrivial 1y ago
I had to take a few runs at that domain name before I could parse it!
hydrogen7800 1y ago
In my early teen years while I was into RC cars, someone gave me a Tamiya TA02 kit [0] that they gave up on/lost interest in. This kit loved to eat spur gears because of a design flaw in the gearbox that wasn't rigid enough to contain the gear loads, and it wasn't very fast compared to the Losi XX I also had.. However, the TA02 was more about scale reproductions than race performance. Tamiya also made the Clodbuster[1] which had legendary status in my time, with 4 wheel steering and 2 motors, specifically the one with the trailing arm/chassis modification kit which extensively revised the stock kit. Anyone who had one at the local track received a lot of attention. I still have the TA02 in my garage, but with an E46 M3 body instead of the IMSA Nissan 300Z it came with. [0]https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58144 https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58144 [1]https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58065 https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58065

425 points by fidotron 1y ago

Shunsaku Tamiya built a global culture around precision

Related: Tamiya chairman Shunsaku Tamiya dies at 90 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44655946 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44655946 - July 2025

esafak 1y ago

I had a load of these. This and painting Warhammer 40,000 miniatures kept my kept my fine motor skills in tune.

JKCalhoun 1y ago

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models correctly. So many YouTubers (Aztec Dummy comes to mind) have since showed me that assembling the model is more or less nothing. Painting, lighting the model is everything. I can't complain though. There was a joy putting together the models when I was young. The smell of the glue of course — the spatial reasoning it fostered... It was like sculpture to my young mind — forms, shapes in three-dimensions. I grew to love the lines of certain cars, planes, spacecraft… I think too it fueled a kind of designer mindset in me. I would soon draw cars, spaceships, etc. of my own design. What a great hobby. I'm saddened that it kind of seems like another hobby, like R/C planes or model rocketry, that has fallen by the wayside. I mean I feel like most boys when I was growing up had a model or two hanging from their bedroom ceiling. Right?

mbrd 1y ago
It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is supposedly very large in Japan and growing in the West.
- JKCalhoun 1y ago
  That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids were into modeling. [1] free to download: https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel
  - Joel_Mckay 1y ago
    It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If you know the history of how JPL started, than you can probably guess it is the "odd" ones that tend to change science for the better. =3
    - Rediscover 1y ago
      Jack Parsons' Lab? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons

kawsper 1y ago

It even leaked into other hobbies, airsoft and drones are full of tamiya connectors.

guidedlight 1y ago
Unfortunately Tamiya connectors are known to melt when paired with modern RC electronics (Brushless motors and LiPo batteries). Most hobbyists use Deans or XT connectors.

kkylin 1y ago

I spent a lot of time on RC cars as a teen (Tamiya, Kyosho). I've not kept up. Recently on a trip to Japan I visited some stores, and was surprised to see that the tech doesn't seem to have changed all that much. I would have expected, for example, that it would now be possible to mount a camera etc. Can someone who's kept up with the hobby let me know if this is a reasonable reaction? Maybe there are new brands I don't know about? Mind you, I really liked building RC cars from kits as it was hours of fun and learning some basic mechanical engineering, and it seems this is still part of the experience. But that alone probably won't appeal to this generation of kids.

esseph 1y ago
Most of the people slapping cameras on things moved to things that fly
linkjuice4all 1y ago
I got back into R/C stuff after about 15 years after working at Hobbytown as a teenager. The biggest advancements I've seen are around batteries and electronics (LiPo and cheaper/better radios that don't need a crystal), more access to parts (3D printing and cheap overseas CNC'd stuff), and some minor improvement in other accessories/electronics. POV cameras seem to be much more popular in R/C aircraft - but the drifters and crawlers really seem to be embracing it. Many of the brands still exist but a lot of them have been bought-up and are now competing with no-name bottom of the market stuff. Kids still seem interested but I've noticed a big resurgence in adults that can afford to buy the stuff they couldn't get when they were younger. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough - but there's not a ton of open-source support controlling R/C vehicles or "vehicle platforms" that you can hack and build yourself. I think a lot of people want a reliable chassis and parts so they can focus on customizing the body/appearance.
- TomNomNom 1y ago
  There's a bunch of open source work in the robot combat space, but it doesn't have to be used for robot combat specifically. The Malenki Nano is a great example: a tiny, open source receiver with three speed controllers on a single board. It has two PWM channels for servos too so you could do a ton of interesting projects with it. https://github.com/MarkR42/malenki-nano https://github.com/MarkR42/malenki-nano https://shop.bristolbotbuilders.com/product/malenki/ https://shop.bristolbotbuilders.com/product/malenki/

billforsternz 1y ago

I find it strangely pleasing how a bunch of boutique(ish) companies from the UK, France, USA, Japan (others maybe?) all make plastic model kits of a variety of classic aeroplanes, WW2 planes in particular, in a series of scales. When I was a kid I was quite interested and I could have reeled off the manufacturer names easily (um... Airfix, Revell, Heller, Frog, Tamiya, I want to say Haya-something-or-other, others). I will still look at the displays in hobby stores on occasion and many of them survive, so they've been doing this for 50+ years at this point. I have no particular point, I just find it cool. I wonder if there are rock-star like artisan mold makers known to everyone in the industry. "Ah, this 1-50 scale Messerschmidt BF-109 vertical stabiliser is unmistakably the work of Pierre McFloogle ... chef's kiss!"

JKCalhoun 1y ago
> Haya-something-or-other Hasegawa?
- billforsternz 1y ago
  Thank you, yes.
hakfoo 1y ago
I was always sort of curious how they determine which prototypes to go after-- it seems like some classes are much more widely produced than others. It seems like in WWII aircraft, Japanese and Soviet designs are underrepresented compared to US/UK/DE ones. Ship models seem aligned towards ones that sunk famously over ones that survived and were retired after long service. With railway models, there's a selection bias because people tend to model a coherent scene. If you've decided to model Quebec in 1952, you probably can't find a way to fit in a British Rail class 66. But most other model hobbies don't have that restraint going on.

radpanda 1y ago

> Famously, while creating the model kit for the 1976 Porsche 934 Turbo RSR, Tamiya-san sent his designers to Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory several times to get the measurements and details just right. However, despite repeated trips there were still doubts about the kit’s accuracy. So Tamiya bought a Porsche 911 and completely disassembled it to get every detail correct. I don’t know anything about Japanese tax law but if an American did this I’d assume they were just trying to get a sweet tax deduction on a new Porsche. “Oh sure, that was 100% a business expense”.

spankibalt 1y ago

Never cared much for building models (mostly Plasticart) after my day school year in the GDR, but there was a small railway modelling shop that also sold plastic model kits, especially after the fall of the Iron Curtain. That shop has a large hand in igniting my love for all things design and illustration. Beautiful box tops! Albeit back in the day I was partially to Dragon Models (DML). RIP Mr. Tamiya

deleted 1y ago

[deleted]

Aeolun 1y ago

I built my first Tamiya car just a year ago, with my son and his friend. The thing that most impressed me is that the shop provided the tools, the space and a racetrack that you can immediately try out your newly bought car on. And all of them, no matter how crazy, cost only around $10.

louthy 1y ago

In the 80s I had the Tamiya Grasshopper [1], which was the greatest remote control car ever (opinion). I remember attaching three battery packs (instead of the standard one)—to make it drive at roughly 8 billion miles per hour, in the process ripping the tyres to shreds and pretty much ruining the car—because it couldn’t turn without flipping several thousand times. Still, for those initial few seconds, it was glorious. RIP Grasshopper and RIP Shunsaku Tamiya [1] https://cdn.thingiverse.com/assets/8b/e7/0c/d6/a0/IMG_6201.jpg https://cdn.thingiverse.com/assets/8b/e7/0c/d6/a0/IMG_6201.j...

jumpingMullet 1y ago
The Grasshopper was good. An underpowered version of the hornet with a 380 instead of 540 motor. The longer run time on the old 7.2 battery was a benefit. Watching YouTube of the current cars, they are actually overpowered and in a way unusable. Many videos degenerate into how high can I jump this thing before it breaks.
- lmpdev 1y ago
  I sell modern Chinese ones I have to often explain to customers after a certain price point (for me ~$200+ AUD) you have to turn the speed trim pot down for it to be enjoyable at all Similar to what Gran Turismo 7 players have realised with EV “Vision” Cars - car enjoyment greatly diminishes with speed after a certain point - instead of plateauing No-name Chinese build quality is actually a lot higher than I’d’ve anticipated though - brushed thick aluminium and even steel chassis are pretty common now
  - spython 1y ago
    Which one would you recommend for a novice?
    - lmpdev 1y ago
      Unironically for a beginner the Tamiya Grasshopper is still fantastic value Otherwise if you just want something Ready to Race just whatever is cheapest and most available in your area Don’t be suckered into a $200-600+ RC car until you’ve beaten up something cheap - same advice I imagine drone enthusiasts give

BobbyTables2 1y ago

I didn’t realize three adults could fit in a Porsche 911…

burnt-resistor 1y ago

He and his work will be missed. I remember the awesome picture instructions of Tamiya models. They were and are better than IKEA instructions. I fondly remember working on a Tamiya model on my grandfather's garage workbench (around the San Jose / Los Gatos border) with the garage door up while snipping, gluing, and sanding each bit according to the meticulous instructions.

Miserlou57 1y ago

would also like to mention the incredible instructional work of Kozo Hiraoka for the construction of live steam locomotives. His work is art. https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/artisan/kozo-hiraoka/ https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/artisan/kozo-hiraoka/

firefax 1y ago

It makes me feel bad when I see an obituary like this. I had no idea he existed, but reading I can't question he had an impact on the world. Other corners of the internet people would shit on the hobby just because they don't share it -- me, personally, being on the autistic spectrum came with a side of fine motor issues, so I could never do the painting and prodding that the more complex kits required... it's an art form, a craft that takes skill. It's a shame it's not as popular -- it worries me a bit that we're so... online. I was more into Legos, but I wandered into the kids section for the first time in ages the other day at the local big box retailer and it feels like the kits are simpler now, and they're often branded to tie in with movies rather than being a generic thing like space, or pirates, or... space pirates. Anyway RIP dude -- true hacker, had a passion and pursued it.

eleveriven 1y ago
Totally agree that model building is an art form, one that doesn't get enough credit
hermitcrab 1y ago
I think it is a shame when kids get Lego kits and only ever follow the instructions to build the intended model. They should be encouraged to use their imagination and build their own inventions. Tip: You can often buy random loads of Lego for cheap from Ebay or similar. Put it in a string bag and wash it in the dish washer on low heat. Good as new.

ropable 1y ago

I've fond memories of (badly) assembling a few Tamiya models as a young lad, and (badly) painting them with dad's old enamel and spray paints. Their stuff is still the benchmark for IRL scale kits. Much respect.

mgarfias 1y ago

A big part of my childhood died

aaron695 1y ago

[dead]

hollowturtle 1y ago

Super nostalgic, I remember building mini 4wd with my dad. It was such a magical experience, I wish young people could experience it too. I remember breaking down the ac motor just out curiosity, thinking it was cool and magical but at the same time build an intuition for how it works

fuzzfactor 1y ago

>Rotor Nutcase says: >July 24, 2025 at 5:39 pm >My first Tamiya model…nothing to do with cars or aircraft. Apollo Lunar Lander with base and astronauts. Super impressive back in early 1970s. Need to find one again My grandmother got me one of these before the first moon landing. I carefully put it together and she proudly displayed it for all her visitors.

timonofathens 1y ago

[dead]

Lio 1y ago

Ah I have fond memories of my Hornet and then later a 959. There was always that thing that kids would do where you'd get the OK from your friend and then pick up their car to about 5cm and drop it to test the suspension. Then you'd all nod sagely as if something important had been decerned. Silly but happy memories. RIP Mr Tamiya.

verytrivial 1y ago

I had to take a few runs at that domain name before I could parse it!

hydrogen7800 1y ago

In my early teen years while I was into RC cars, someone gave me a Tamiya TA02 kit [0] that they gave up on/lost interest in. This kit loved to eat spur gears because of a design flaw in the gearbox that wasn't rigid enough to contain the gear loads, and it wasn't very fast compared to the Losi XX I also had.. However, the TA02 was more about scale reproductions than race performance. Tamiya also made the Clodbuster[1] which had legendary status in my time, with 4 wheel steering and 2 motors, specifically the one with the trailing arm/chassis modification kit which extensively revised the stock kit. Anyone who had one at the local track received a lot of attention. I still have the TA02 in my garage, but with an E46 M3 body instead of the IMSA Nissan 300Z it came with. [0]https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58144 https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58144 [1]https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58065 https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58065