There's something very deep, very special going on here...

A passion from way back when many of the perfectly painted cars were a dream to see in the flesh never mind own!

By Eric lang Oshawa. Ontario. Canada. 22/08/2012 04:03:05

I remember when i was in grade 7, the first real rc car i wanted was the hotshot.
But i couldnt afford one because i was very young and didnt have a job." I was probably only 13 years old'. The tamiya guide books is were i first saw these amazing works of art. Hours and hours of longing for one of perfectly painted beauties only excited me more which in turn became a life long hobbie. I finally saved enought money some how, and bought the brand new Tamiya Mud Blaster. I loved building and painting the highly detailed kit, and also loved the fact that i would absolutely anilate any one else's so called RC car in my neighbourhood. I have owned many other RC vehicles in my lifetime and raced competivlely for years but will always have the fondest memories of the original Tamiya RC cars.

By Ratchet 13/07/2012 00:04:12

i get the same feeling here, though my first intro to tamiya cars was seeing them in a 80's hamleys catalog (big london toy shop for those that dont know) the 'new' hotshot, frog, hornet etc,

then a few years later on looking at the guide book in the local tamiya dealer/model shop, sadly i could never hope of affording one back then

i had an copy of 'Manual of Electric Radio Control Cars' by Bill Burkinshaw that i bought in a library sale, (its mainly onroad car biased though) which was another book i used to read through all the time

still get that 'nostalgic feeling' when looking at them, even if i didn't actually own an rc car till i was a lot older older (which my parents didnt get, they still think rc cars are for kids..." (who said anyone HAS to grow up?)

makes me a bit sad that i kinda missed out on it back then though, and clubs etc never seemed to exist where i lived.

By Team Rawlings 28/02/2012 10:07:10

Yep! Totally on the same page, can't get enough of the sand scorcher and rough rider buggys.
Saddley though I gave my old cattalogs away many years ago! Just waighting for an opertunity to score a couple from the bay! To replace them.

By moosey 18/02/2012 00:41:29

Many, many thanks guys!! It's really nice to know you all feel the same way. MAGICAL!! ;-)

By pcw064 10/12/2011 22:47:42

Somethimes everything seems to be difficult.Work,bills,sad people all around us.In those guides you enter the world of magic,a world where beauty,friendchip and happiness have no limits.More than 30 years that I almost read every evening in those guides and every evening I am still amazed about articles or details I haven't seen before.
Mr Tamiya,thanks for make us dream soo many years.
I hope my kids will find an equivalent but I am afraid this world only cares about fast money and consumption.No blisters any more...
Thanks Moosey for this article that made my day for sure and keep on the good work.
Cheers,Philippe

By William 10/11/2011 21:47:47

Yep, I'm with you too. All us 40'ish year olds who had the pleasure of being there at the time when the first SRB's were released - it's an incredible feeling of nostalgia. I'm sure you understand me when I say I can just sit for hours looking at the 3speeds, SRB's and of course Willy ! I want to go back - when life was all just Madness and Sand Scorchers ! This part of history lives on....because of us.

By datsunracer 21/08/2011 21:41:52

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, when aluminium cans had right-angled tops, instead of a weird bevel, sat two young guys with a bmx and a raleigh chopper wondering how cool to have PROPER remote control cars just like in the model car mags. Off we trundled to deansgate in manchester and a high street in congleton to get a Hotshot 2 and a clodbuster. Fast forward a few parsecs and now you still have two guys, both married with respective kids and still drooling over the sight of an unbuilt Superclodbuster in its box. Even the tyres smell the same as they did twenty odd years ago. Shut your eyes and your there!! The smell of damper oil on sweaty hands trying to get a tiny nut on a thread. Amongst the chaos and riots in this mad world we live in, thank the maker there is one constant......TAMIYA. Help me Obi Wan Tamiya, your my only hope!!!

By Krystal 21/07/2011 05:13:39

If you want to get read, this is how you shluod write.

By Badboy 16/06/2011 16:04:44

Moosey! I'm with you! Still today I stare in awe at all the guys whos driving their cars like there was no tomorrow! As other said no we got money and can do exact as they did but don't have the gutts! (Except you guy when you shoot your dvd's). Now I got some Sand Scorchers and Rough Riders and do run them, but NOT on anything near something looking like a dirttrack! Also got a Blazing Blazer that I've only run once. I'm not running it any more as I'm going to get another one for running... Awesome reading and awesome vids from you guys! Thanks! Best reguards from Sweden!

Badboy

By slimmy 12/06/2011 23:31:08

I know just how you feel. I remember sitting in my sixth grade school library one day and coming across an article of the tamiya sand scorcher that would be for sale by the time I read the article. It was about a five page article in the magazine, with lots of pictures. I remember looking at the realistic looking shocks that were on it. The SS that I was looking at even showed the optional dual rear shocks that you could get for it. And a few other mods that I don't remember. I was in such awe staring at that buggy that I couldn't stop thinking about it for..........well I still havn't stopped thinking about it. It was foremost on my mind when I started collecting vintage about four years ago. And now I can say I have a very nice specimen sitting on my shelf. You are right about one thing. Its easier now to spend several thousand dollars on a model than it was for me to buy one back in the day. Back then I would have and did drive my RCs into the ground until there was nothing left to salvage. Now I can barely bring myself to sit one in the dirt for pictures. One thing is still the same though. Perhaps others have done this as well. Sleep with your newest toy right next to you on the nightstand. So it can be viewed the instant your eyes open in the morning. Thanks, slimmy.

By Wandy 11/06/2011 13:14:22

Yep, me too. Every so often I dig out my 1986 copy and just read throught it again. Takes me back everytime. :-)

By Alex aka The Green Beetle 05/06/2011 16:15:13

I'm still read these vintage guide books on the Toilet to get inspiration...

Got the books 30 years now!!

By Mr P 04/06/2011 21:33:45

I feel much better after reading that. At the age of 41 I'm glad I'm not the only chap who still pours over those RC guides lust like I did when I was a kid. This time its better as the cash is there to fulfill those dreams.

By Dave Barnett 23/05/2011 11:14:03

Wow! I'm saved! My Mrs thought i was the weird one but it seems that i'm not the only one out there sitting reading these books when the Mrs is ready the latest OK mag :-)