On November 16-17, 2024, the Tamiya Fair 2024 was held in TWINMESSE, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, where TAMIYA is headquartered. This big event displayed the latest Tamiya, including new product exhibits, RC car and mini 4WD racing competitions, craft workshops, RC car and craft simulation experiences, works by plastic model enthusiasts, and a corner selling Tamiya goods and products.
This article reports on the first day of the event, focusing on the new products.
Static Models
Boosted by Some Anime Series
Static Models mean “Plastic Kit Models” and are called “PLAMODEL” in Japan. They have been greatly influenced by one Japanese subculture, anime. At the dawn of them, the market was not large because this was a hobby for “adults”. However, this market was changed dramatically by the appearance of one anime series launched in 1979. This is the “Gundam” anime series.
This anime series quickly became a passion for children. In particular, their plastic models, called “GUNPLA”, were so popular that enthusiastic fans, to buy them, stood in long lines, which had even caused accidents injuring people.
On the other hand, Tamiya’s plastic models have not been almost affected by anime, because their portfolio consists mainly of real mobile merchandise such as cars, motorcycles, military, and airplanes.
#1: Porsche 911 GT3 RS(992)
[Features]
– 1/24 Scale
– Length: 190mm, width: 85mm, height: 55mm
– Powerful form with air vents and fins is authentically captured in style
– Diffuser and suspension are depicted realistically
– Decals depict dashboard, carbon fiber hood and roof, mesh seat surfaces and door linings
– Separate components recreate brake calipers and discs
– Metal transfers are included to depict side mirror surfaces and more
– Masking stickers aid with the paint job
Solid synthetic rubber tires are treaded
#2: Lockheed Martin F35 C LIGHTNING Ⅱ
[Features]
– 1/48 scale plastic model assembly kit
– Length: 327mm, wingspan: 273mm
– The low observability design is faithfully depicted
– Fine recreations of Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) are molded into fuselage surfaces
– Separate assemblies of folded and extended wingtips can be interchanged after assembly
– Choose deployed or retracted fuel probe
– Flaps are depicted down for an accurate parked aircraft
– The F-35C’s reinforced nose landing gear is recreated in style
– Arresting hook doors can be depicted open or closed
– Choose open or closed weapons bay doors. Parts are included for two each of AIM-9X and AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, plus four GBU-12 and two GBU-31 bombs
– The optional gun pod is also recreated with accuracy
– Choose an extended or retracted boarding ladder
– Wheel chocks are included
– The kit comes with a seated pilot figure, and 6 marking options plus canopy masking stickers for use in the paint job
In Japan, a bottled beverage has gotten a lot of attention since 2022. This beverage increased sales in 2023-24 by more than 170% over the last year without advertisement. This phenomenon is extremely abnormal in the beverage industry, because whether their products are dead or alive has been almost determined by each quality of advertisement. Furthermore, while most beverages are usually seasonal products, this one has achieved year-round sales.
#3: Panzerkampfwagen Ausf.B
[Features]
– 1/35 scale
– Length: 123mm, width: 60mm. The compact form is captured in style based on extensive research of the actual tank
– Slide molded upper hull and turret feature fine detailing such as rivets and more
– Assembly type tracks have one-piece straight sections
– The model comes with a torso figure and a choice of head sections (beret or side cap)
– 3 marking options are included (for units in Poland, France and on the Eastern Front)
R/C Models
Why Tamiya’s Radio-Controlled Cars Boosted
Today, a lot of children play computer games. When you consider what was the pioneer of the game craze, you would say it would be Nintendo’s Family Computer, called “FAMICOM“. The Famicom, launched in 1983, had a tremendous impact on the computer game industry not only in Japan but around the world.
This appearance has shrunk the large craze of other games to few people’s one. Plastic models are no exception also. In particular, the “Gunpla” had been to accumulate a lot of inventory. Tamiya’s plastic models also had no small influence. Nevertheless, Tamiya was able to survive because of the existence of Radio-Controlled(R/C) Cars products.
Even before the “FAMICOM” craze, R/C cars were originally one of the hobby products favored by teenagers and older. The opportunity to communicate this to children came around the same time the game controller was launched. A manga themed R/C Cars started to run a serial in the most famous Japanese comic magazine for children, “Weekly Corocoro Comics”, which has been with “Doraemon” for a long time.
#1: CELICA GT-FOUR
[Features]
– 1/10 Scale
– Length: 451mm, width: 186mm, height: 134mm, Wheelbase: 257mm
– Tire width/diameter: 27/67mm (front & rear)
– Bathtub-type frame
– Shaft-driven 4WD
– Front/rear 4-bevel plastic differentials
– 3-piece steering tie-rod
– 4-wheel double wishbone suspension
– Front/rear friction dampers
– Gear ratio = 8.27:1 (9 further ratios from 11.38:1 to 7.28:1 possible with use of separately-sold pinions)
– Type 540 motor
– ESC included for export
#2: HORNET EVO
[Features]
– 1/10 Scale
– Length: 430mm, width: 230mm, height: 135mm, Wheelbase: 251mm
– Weight (not including R/C equipment and battery pack): 1,075g
– Rear-wheel drive
– 4-wheel double wishbone suspension with CVA oil dampers
– Tire width/diameter: 21/73mm (front), 49/86mm (rear)
– Type 540 motor
– Gear ratio = 9.28:1 (with kit 17T pinion)
– Full ball bearings
– ESC included for export
#3: SCANIA 770S
[Features]
– 1/14 Scale
– Length: 610mm, width: 196mm, height: 320mm, weight (without optional parts): approx. 4.2kg
– Wheelbase: 183mm + 109mm + 103mm
– Tread: 155mm (front), 138mm (rear, double tire)
– Chassis: aluminum & polycarbonate resin ladder frame
– Suspension: front/rear leaf spring rigid
– Caster angle (front/rear): 0°/0°
– Camber angle (front/rear): 0°
– Toe angle (front/rear): 0°
– Aluminum dummy dampers (front/rear)
– Dual rear axle drive
– 3-gear transmission (gear shifting operated via transmitter)
– Gear ratio = (1st gear) 32.49:1, (2nd gear) 17.66:1, (3rd gear) 10.66:1
– 3-bevel differential gears
– Type 540 motor
– Tire width/diameter: 30mm/85mm (front); 22mm/84mm (rear)
– TR Mighty-Tuned Motor (35T)
– Tire width/diameter: 30mm/85mm (front), 22mm/84mm (rear)
