Tamiya Racing Factory
The Team TRF history began circa 1998: at the time, Tamiya mobilized considerable resources for the development of an iconic buggy, The Avante. Outstanding piece of technology and demonstration of ultimate RC engineering of the period, the Avante was designed to raise Tamiya's name at the top of international leaderboards, and the Team TRF first mission was to test it. Unfortunately, despite the Avante becoming one of the most iconic RC buggy ever, the race results never met the expectations.
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Limited editions
For many years, Tamiya took the habit of releasing models produced in limited series. However, for reasons we don't understand, these models were released In so many different series of references that it is became difficult for fans to even know about them, not to mention finding them.
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58600 series kits
For the moment, the series gives room to nostalgia with the re-releases of the Blackfoot, Monster Beetle, Grasshopper II and Honda City Turbo, but also to new models based on classic chassis like the CC-01 and F103GT. Tamiya also continues to release fun models based on the WR-02 and GF-01 chassis, and it looks like a new "category" has born with race truck bodies fitted on the popular TT-01E chassis.
On the chassis side, news are the MF-01X for small SUVs in M-Chassis format, and the single belt TA-07 with 3 motor position locations.
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58500 series kits
Begining of a new era with both spectacular re-releases and totally new models.
As for the re-releases, Tamiya reloads the Blitzer Beetle, Supershot, Wild One and Super Clod Buster. But the most unexpected were undoubtely the re-releases of the mythical Bruiser with its legendary 3 Speed gearbox, as well as the Avante and Egress'.
Among the totally new items, a very big surprise was the Racing Master series come back. The RM-01 chassis comes with period bodyshells such as the Toyota Tom's 84C and Porsche 956 Newman, probably to remind everyone how much the 1/12th scale pan-car category was important at least during the first half of the 80's RC history.
After 10 years of duty, the world-famous TT-01 chassis is replaced with a successor. Well-born as it seems, the TT-02 too will have to represent most of Tamiya's production volumes and sales for the next years.
The biggrin is back too with Willy's character holding the wheel of several new fun models.
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58400 series kits
It took 15 years for Tamiya to release their 100 first models: the following hundred marks were reached every 5 years approximately. Since 2008, despite the world and RC economies suffering a long-lasting deep crisis, Tamiya even accelerated their release rate since the 584xx series was covered in only 4 years. But beyond this profusion, it is very interesting to note that:
- the range of models and chassis is very, very wide: crawler, trial, drift, M-chassis, Formula 1, touring, rally, buggy. A fan can get in almost every RC category, either for leisure or for racing purposes
- interstingly too, Tamiya renewed a large part of their offering during these 4 years, releasing new chassis generation in M-chassis (both front and rear wheel drive), touring (shaft driven, belt driven and front wheel), Formula 1
- vintage fans were not forgotten with the unexpected re-releases of mythical models from the 80's like the Sand Scorche, the Avante and the Fast Attack Vehicle
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58300 series kits
Forth episod with the presentation of the 583xx series. Some models are still under production and in parallel, Tamiya intensified its re-release program thanks to its great success.
This series is the TT-01 chassis golden age: it is the base of over thirty models and quite often, the bodyshells are also available for the TB-01 or TB-02 chassis. It is also the great come back of off-road vehicles with buggies for leisure and racing, Monster Trucks based on the WT-01 chassis and the even greater come back of the "3 speed" models, some 18 years after the Toyota 4x4 Pick Up Mountaineer (58111). Of course, in nearly 20 years, the drivetrain system was greatly improved, but the idea remains the same and fans do love it.
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58200 series kits
The sequel continues with the 582xx series presentation. Here, several models are still being produced and none has been re-released.
Some models became references like the Wild Willy 2 (58242) or the TXT-1 (58280). This series also features a vast majority of on-road models, among which many are aimed at racing. This is the golden age of the TL-01 chassis that represents more than a quarter of the series.
In 1999, the Wild Dagger is released and it renews the Monster Truck market: more beast than its ancestors Monster Beetle or Blackfoot, featuring 2 motors, sturdy chassis and gearings, it was meant for all terrains, even the roughest. But this market rapidly evolved with trucks even more sturdy and faster like the Traxxas E-Maxx: the Wild Dagger and successors can not compete. On the other hand, this is not Tamiya's philosophy and these truck still remain excellent bashers.
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58100 series kits
The series goes on with kits no longer produced for years. Yet, they (still) are not considered "Vintage", thus not as much sought after by collectors as the previous series. There are exceptions though, like the Toyota 4x4 Mountainer (58111), the last of the "3 speeders" started with the 58028 (Toyota 4x4 Pick Up), 58029 (Blazing Blazer) and 58048 (Toyota 4x4 Pick Up Bruiser).
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58000 series kits
Even though hobbyists do not all agree on the number (50 or 100), most consider Tamiya's 100 first RC kits to be highly desirable in any collection. Prices found on auction sites for complete kits or spare parts do confirm this interest. Nevertheless, Tamiya has been greatly modifiying the situation for the last years with their re-releases program: pure vintage collectors feel betrayed by this strategy while many nostalgic fans feel very happy with it.
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XB Pro series
XB Pro means eXpert Build Pro. In Tamiya words, this means the model is factory assembled, painted and decorated. The model comes with everything needed to be driven right out of the box. These are called RTR (Ready To Run) models... as soon as you got the battery pack charged and batteries fitted into the transmitter.
Well, the box contains the complete vehicle, its radio equipment, a battery pack and a charger. So be carefully when buying abroad: the charger will have to accept 220v (or 110v) and the plug has to fit your country standard. This last point may not be a problem as long as you already own another charger.
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