Is Tamiya Good Quality? | We’ve Got One Giant on The Table
You may have seen Tamiya’s catalog of products and wanted to give them a try, but you weren’t sure about their quality.
This is completely understandable. Nobody wants to blindly take a chance with a new brand.
In this article, we’ll help you gain a better understanding of Tamiya’s line of RC cars.
Is Tamiya Any Good?
Tamiya has been producing high-quality models since 1953, so they’ve had awhile to perfect their craft.
Tamiya is one of the leading manufacturers of RC cars. Tamiya uses polycarbonate sheet materials as their primary go-to resource for creating most of their RC cars.
Polycarbonate is a group of thermoplastic polymers that are lightweight, almost indestructible, and can even withstand a direct impact from a bullet.
Tamiya is also considered to be one of the best manufacturers of kits, as they are easy to build for those of you who are still new to the scene.
What Tamiya’s Products Are Known For?
Tamiya is well known for its high detailed, easy-to-build models.
Some of their models are exact replicas of the full size vehicle and their products have some of the best quality in the industry.
Hobbyists who buy Tamiya aren’t necessarily looking to abuse their cars, they value the craftsmanship and quality the brand provides.
How Durable Are Tamiya’s RC Cars?
The durability of Tamiya’s RC cars varies from model to model, but here are some of the facts:
Although Tamiya’s models’ chassis are often made from polycarbonate, some of their models’ suspensions have been criticized by more rough-and-tumble users for being too weak for bashing.
Tamiya produces models for light to moderate use, not extreme use.
How Does Tamiya Compare To Other Big Brands?
When the RC car market has big names such as Arrma, Traxxas, and Losi, it can be difficult to decide which brand you want to buy from.
So, how does Tamiya compare to the other manufacturing giants in the business?
Tamiya’s focus on quality, detail, and accessibility is key to why they’re so widely cherished. Although, some of their models seem to be unable to take the abuse from bashing, unlike their competitors.
Traxxas and Arrma are preferred for those of you who like to go bashing, whether that be on a bright summer’s day, or through the ice and snow in the dead of winter. However, their RC cars are more difficult to build and repair, when compared to Tamiya’s kits and RTRs.
the fastest Tamiya RC car (faster than you think)
What Does Tamiya Make Better – Kits or RTRs?
Before you spend your money, you may be curious about which is best to buy from Tamiya: kits or RTRs?
Without a doubt, Tamiya manufactures some of the best, most easily constructible kits on the market.
These kits will provide you with the necessary experience to better understand RC cars on a more intimate level.
Tamiya’s RTRs are also of the same high-quality craftsmanship that you’d come to expect from their brand, but their accessible, user-friendly kits are what they are most praised for.
In the end, whichever you choose comes down to your personal preferences and level of experience.
Is Tamiya Better For Beginners Or More Advanced Hobbyists?
This question is far more common among those of you who are still trying to get into the hobby, but never fear, because the answer is here.
Tamiya has garnered a large following due to their user-friendliness, making them the go-to for beginners, but their kits can range from total novice to seasoned veteran.
The variable difficulty level for Tamiya’s kits allows for anyone to enjoy them, regardless of your experience.
Tamiya’s Product Support
After ordering your kit or RTR from Tamiya, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do if anything were to go wrong.
Let’s say that you order a kit, and you open the box, only to see that a vital part of the kit is broken.
Never fear! Tamiya’s US branch seems to have great customer service.
If your package arrives and something is missing or broken, Tamiya’s customer service will make sure that the problem is solved by sending a replacement part.
If your whole kit or RTR is somehow broken, Tamiya’s customer service will help you with that as well.
Is Tamiya A Chinese Company? Where Is It Made?
You may be confused about where these kits and RTRs (Ready-To-Run) are produced.
China has a reputation for producing rather cheap, easily breakable RC cars, but Tamiya has no such reputation by any means.
Tamiya was founded in Shizuoka, Japan, has locations in the US, but over half of Tamiya’s products are produced in the Philippines.
Outsourcing production to the Philippines is popular amongst established countries, as it helps to cut costs, all while preserving the type of quality that consumers demand.
What Was The First Tamiya RC Car?
Let’s get back to RC cars, shall we?
Tamiya has been in business since 1946, but they didn’t always sell models. Tamiya got their start by supplying architectural lumber, but in 1953, they decided to focus solely on producing and selling models.
However, they didn’t make their first RC car until 1976, which was the Porsche 934 (modeled after the same Porsche).
What Does Tamiya Value Their Products At?
Like with any hobby, ours comes with a price.
Yes, Tamiya’s products are considered to be worth every single penny, but we should still get a good idea at how much money we’ll be spending.
Cars – One of Tamiya’s most popular RC cars, the Hornet, is priced at $202.00 on their website, and many of their other cars rarely fall below $150.00.
Parts – The average prices for Tamiya’s individual construction parts are between $6.00 and $20.00, with some of the highest being $30.00 and $50.00.
What Is The Best Tamiya Model?
Tamiya has an extensive line of high-quality products to choose from, but what is widely considered to be the “best”?
Although not an RC car, the Grumman F-14A Tomcat (modeled after the US navy jet by the same name) is highly praised for its complexity and craftsmanship across the board.
However, this is by no means a beginner’s model. This build is an advanced one, but also a satisfying one.
Should You Get A Tamiya RC Car?
Even after everything we’ve gone over, you still may not be sure about whether or not you should choose Tamiya’s line of products.
If you still have any doubts, then let’s go over some questions that may help you decide if you should choose Tamiya over its competitors:
- Are you new to the RC car scene?
- Are you uninterested in taking your RC car out for some bashing?
- Do you want attention to detail and model accuracy over heavy-duty durability?
- Do you crave a satisfying, accessible assembly experience?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then Tamiya is almost certainly the brand for you.
Tamiya’s Best Sellers
Now that you’ve chosen Tamiya, you will likely want to get started on buying your first kit or RTR.
Here are three of Tamiya’s best selling products, just to give you an idea:
• The Hornet
• RC Grasshopper
• RC Super Clod Buster
