Car Collection - Tamiya (H-R)

There is a massive range of different Tamiya Mini-4WD kits including 'Racers', 'Real-World', 'Monster Trucks' and special starter or collection kits. There is also a massive range of 'upgrade parts' available for most conceivable situations/mods.

Tamiya 18636 - JR Heat Edge - MA Chassis

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: MA
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

Tamiya 92402 - Hong Kong Racing Taxi (FM-A Chassis)

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: MA
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

Tamiya 18624 - Hotshot Junior (MS Chassis) Jr.

 

Back in the 80's I had the original Hot Shot (full size R/C model that is), in fact I still have it and although still fully functional I intend to upgrade it at some point to a more modern electronic speed controller etc... instead of using the old analogue speed controller and servo setup we had back in the days.

Naturally therefore I had to get the Mini-4wd version of my old car that I love.  This kit quite nicely reflects the big brother and when complete  will be a good clone (albeit shrunken).

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: MS
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

The chassis is constructed and tested and finished as a box version of the model.  I'm likely to leave it like this as this kit is more for nostalgic reasons than out and out racing (its an age thing lol).

The final colour scheme will be the traditional Italian red with details picked out where appropriate in black and silver to represent things like the suspension, roof (which was aluminium on the original).  I will then use the supplied stickers to finish the kit off.  Photo's of the final model will like the other cars be added when its complete.

 

Tamiya 18098 - Iron Beak (VZ Chassis)

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: VZ
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

 

Tamiya 95298 - Jolly Joker Premium (AR Chassis)

 

I already had in my stable the sister truck the 'Sunny Shuttle' which is fundamentally the same model except it is in yellow with a totally different set of stickers.  However, I liked that so much that I decided to track down its brother the 'Jolly Joker.

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: AR
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

I decided to build this one in full racing trim and as such have changed the motor for an 'Atomic Torque Tuned' motor which I ran in before fitting.  I also replaced the supplied wheels with some nice metallic green ones with super hard tyres.  I also fitted ball race bearings on the axles and for the drive gear instead of the standard plastic ones.

In addition I've added FRP stays, brakes etc... along with aluminium rollers and mass weights, the side weights however are not fitted yet as I'm waiting on an order as this design needs to have the 'slimline' mass weights as the stand types foul the 'footplates' which are the clips used in this design to clip the body to the chassis.

I decided not to paint the model, but did pick out the radiator in a metallic green and also the surrounds for the front lights in silver.  The green on the radiator was used to match in with the green parts scheme.

 

 

Tamiya 18718 - K4 Gambol (FM-A chassis)

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

 

 

Tamiya 95163 - 1/32 K4 Gambol Silver Metallic (FM-A chassis)

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

 

 

Tamiya 18720 - 1/32 K4 Tasche (FM-A Chassis) Rev Series

 

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

 

 

Tamiya 18712 - Lord Guile (FM-A Chassis)

06/09/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  I love the retro British sports car look of this car with the sweeping curves and long bonnet etc...  Personally I suspect this is based on the Morgan roadster which I've added a picture of just below the Lord Guile box shot  for comparison.

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

** Update: 30/08/25 **

As you may have noticed I do tend to like the more unusual Mini-4wd models as I like to be different after all its not just about speed if you collect the models like it seems I am.

Build was nice and straight forward based on the tried and proven FM-A front mounted engine chassis (appropriate with a long bonnet car I reckon).

I was going to spray paint this car, but the colour is just about right anyway and the sticker set is superb so I decided not to, I've also only built it as a stock box car at the moment, although I may mod it later as it is nice and streamlined so should make for a fast car.

The only strange thing I saw in this kit was the black wheels, as I built it I thought these really should be silver chrome, which it appears Tamiya agree with as they provide silver stickers to go on the wheels which is odd, maybe it was an after thought.  When I mod it I've got a nice set of silver chrome wire wheels which would be ideal on this model, doubly so coupled with a set of super hard tyres.

 

 

Tamiya 92462 - 1/32 Jr Mach Frame Philippine Cup Special (FM-A Chassis)

 

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

 

Tamiya 95690 - Manta Ray Mk.II - City Circuit Special

 

This is my (current) latest addition to my collection, based on the Manta Ray Mk.II model this one is a special edition 'City Circuit Special'.  This comes in some nicely co-ordinated shades of purple (lilac?!?) with white wheels and violet tyres.  There is also a nice metallic type sticker set which again uses a range of purple colours with some highlights in other colours.  Though that sounds like a bit of a mish-mash of colours I find it actually works and to me looks pretty cool.

  • The body is made of ABS plastic.
  • The chassis type is the nicely balanced 'MA' design.
  • The motor is a stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

I've yet to build this as I literally only got it today and also need to decide whether it will be a box model or if I'm going to enhance it.  If anything its the wheels that may get changed, see if I can find some metallic purple ones or failing that maybe gold.  Regardless once built and completed I will add pictures in its final form.

17/07/25 - Update.  I have for now built this kit as a box stock model and very nice it looks too.  I've added pictures of this configuration for you to judge for yourself.  For now it will stay this way, but I can see that this one will be suitable for upgrading at some point.  Note: I did hit one issue, one of the supplied axles was not 100% straight, I mean it looks straight, but sticks in the axle checking tool.  So for now there is a slight wobble on the front axle.  This will get replaced as and when I decide to upgrade it to racing standard, but for now is fine as it is as it still runs ok and looks fine.

Tamiya 18662 - Jr Avante Mk.III Nero MS Chassis Advanced Pack

21/07/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  Will be updated when constructed.

  • Body: ABS
  • Chassis: VZ
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

 

 

Tamiya 18094 - Neo-VQS

21/07/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  Will be updated when constructed.

  • Body: ABS
  • Chassis: VZ
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

Tamiya 18099 - Ray Spear (VZ)

This model of a Ray Spear really caught my eye due to the rather nice colour scheme.  To my eyes the clear green body combined with the white and yellow chassis just works.  The clear backed stickers also enhance the design very nicely without compromising the clear bodyshell.

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: VZ
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft with a prop shaft to power gears on each axle.

Apart from spinners this model is almost finished as a box model.  However I did change the wheels from the boring grey ones to some nice metallic green wheels of the same configuration.  I also retained the supplied tyres rather than use the ones provided with the add-on wheels as they are a different colour.

As I've sort of deviated from the box model if you use strict rules I may upgrade the stays etc... and use aluminium spinners, spacers etc... bearing in mind this is potentially a true racer.

 

Tamiya 18656 - Roborace (MA Chassis)

 

UPDATE COMING

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: MS
  • Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

 

 

Tamiya 18710 - Starter Pack FM-A Balanced Rowdy Bull

This is the third of the Tamiya special 'starter packs' and is based on the 'Rowdy Bull' body shell.  However this is manufactured in a rather nice transparent black body shell.  This has left me in a bit of a quandary as I quite like the body shell as it is so don't really want to paint it so may end up just using the provided stickers where appropriate.  However I also wonder what it would be like if I added say a pearl finish to the inside of the body shell for example.  I may have to have a play with the left over sprue and see how that looks with a colour added on the rear of it.

  • Body: ABS plastic
  • Chassis: FM-A
  • Motor: Upgraded 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which  transmits power directly to gears on each axle

This has been upgraded using various parts from the supplied upgrade kit including the stays, mass weights, screws etc...  The only additions were some aluminium spinners, spacers, and balls for the top of the posts.  These add-ons are all colour co-ordinated with the balls contrasting for effect.  I also chromed the wheels to improve them from the basic grey colour.