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Motorized Tamiya Tank Models - Back from the Future. Any Good?

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  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Monday, August 4, 2014 9:46 PM

I used to covet the motorized Tamiya kits back in the 1970s.  My friends and I would conduct "tank torture tests" in the backyard.  We would dig up the dirt, make obstacles from pebbles, create mud puddles, then run each of our models through this grueling course to see who's tank made it across the finish line!  There were all manner of accidents, like thrown track, grass/mud buildup in the running gear, and short circuiting motors.  The all-time champion was my friend's M41 Walker Bulldog, which flew across the battlefield like the wind, never threw track, and even ran underwater!  Heady days!  Then there was the "ballistic test range" for our retired tanks, but that is another story.

Regarding the new Tamiya Mark IV, I don't think it runs at the advertised "scale speed", as the model moves way too fast.  Didn't the real things cross the battlefield at something like 2-1/2 mph?  I have seen the kit in the flesh, and it does look very nice.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by waynec on Monday, August 4, 2014 3:29 PM

my understanding on the tamiya one is it has parts to build it motorized or not motorized.

i did a motorized T-62 and M-42 last year. some judges get anal about filling in the screw holes in the bottom but it's easy enough to do.

Никто не Забыт    (No one is Forgotten)
Ничто не Забыто  (Nothing is Forgotten)

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, August 2, 2014 9:59 AM

I've built plenty of motorized Tamiya tank models. The very first model I ever entered in a contest was the original M1 Abrams that came with a 3-motor wired remote. One motor turned the right tracks, one the left track and the third traversed the turret. One of my favorites was the motorized M113, that little shoebox was quite durable and didn't have a turret to get beat up (I'd pull off the .50 cal so it didn't break).

I know they also released a line of 1/35 scale models that came with wireless remotes. The Panther, Tiger and Abrams was part of this line. I have the M1A1 Abrams version.

I also have the 1/16 scale Tamiya Tiger I and King Tiger. The Tiger I is full R/C and the KT is static but includes the motorization gearbox.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: On my kitchen counter top somewhere in central North Carolina.
Posted by disastermaster on Saturday, August 2, 2014 2:02 AM

Looks good to me.

Here's a few detail shots for others to view.

http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/article_images_month/2014-05/mk.iv%202.jpg

http://www.michtoy.com/HmichtoyTOYsoldier.php?michtoyPROD=michtoy2013/products/Tamiya_TAM-30057-3.jpg&geurlar=700&teurhau=500

   http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/katalog/images/product_images/popup_images/9028_1.jpg

 https://i.imgur.com/LjRRaV1.png

 

 

 
  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Berkeley CA/St. Paul MN
Motorized Tamiya Tank Models - Back from the Future. Any Good?
Posted by EBergerud on Saturday, August 2, 2014 1:09 AM

Tamiya has just released a new rendition of the British MKIV (Male) WWI tank in 1/35 - new tool all the way. You can get it from some Japanese sites now, so it will be here soon. (I've seen some box reviews and Brett Greene among others is giving it three thumbs way up.) The thing is motorized! I know this was popular in the 60s but I've never heard of anyone actually building one of these things. This isn't completely abstract as Takom has just launched a 1/35 MK IV which is available at Pacific Coast now - both Takom and Tamiya are over $50 but seem very neat models and far better than the old Emhar. Anyway, has anyone built a tank that could double as a toy? I kind of like the idea.

Eric

 

A model boat is much cheaper than a real one and won't sink with you in it.

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