TAMIYA >>> Not surprisingly, Tamiya had one of the largest and most extensive booths for a single company at the show. They were showing products from all across the radio-controlled spectrum, in addition to model kits of both vehicles and aircraft, and even tanks. It is likely that most of us started out our R/C hobby with a Tamiya car or truck, and as the years have passed, their products have somehow continued to get better and better.

In the touring car scene, this past year and a half saw Tamiya rise to the top of industry. Their 414M2 is the current IFMAR world champion, while their TB Evolution III has flown off shelves and become quite popular with racers, both in its original form and the more recent Surikarn Edition. Meanwhile, a world class track is open at the Tamiya US Headquarters in Aliso Viejo, California, where Tamiya R/C cars are raced on a frequent basis. In the past, Tamiya was synonymous with "entry level," but that is far from the case these days. Tamiya's racing entries have become a force to be reckoned with.

Beyond touring cars, Tamiya entered the nitro monster truck market last year with the Terra Crusher, a huge 1/8th-scale 4WD ready-to-run monster truck. This year, they are following it up with the Tamiya Nitro X, or TNX for short, another 1/8th-scale monster truck beast. Weighing in about three and a half pounds under the Terra Crusher, the TNX is both faster and more sturdy, featuring a one-piece chassis rather than the combination plate/plastic that the Terra Crusher had. The TNX has a forward-only transmission, but Tamiya says it will release a reversing kit soon enough, as well as other option parts for the truck. Best of all, the TNX is powered by a genuine O.S.-designed .18 engine, and Tamiya claims it will hit 40MPH out of the box.

Other interesting items at the Tamiya booth included their awesome 1/14th-scale big rig, the Knight Hauler; a reincarnation of the old Blackfoot truck, the Blackfoot Xtreme; many plastic models of some of the newest and coolest cars out there, such as the Nissan 350Z and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII WRC; tons of tools and modeling supplies; and much, much more. If you haven't taken a look at Tamiya's complete catalog lately, be sure to visit their website and browse through it when you have a moment. After all, they aren't thought of as the granddaddy of all hobby companies for nothing!

			Various photos of the brand-new Tamiya Nitro X monster truck, which was prominently displayed in the center of the booth for all to marvel at. The kit comes as a ready-to-run, and features an engine designed in part by O.S., as well as everything else you'd expect to find in a Tamiya-caliber RTR kit. Also visible here is Tamiya's new line of glow fuel, TG-Fuel, available with different levels of nitro mixed in.

			Also along for the ride was the original prototype for the Tamiya Nitro X, which was used for testing of the truck both in Japan and America. It's not often that we get to examine the differences between a production vehicle and its prototypes up close.

			The TXT-1 monster truck is the most recent successor, if you will, to Tamiya's famous Clodbuster line (the trucks that really began the R/C monster craze to begin with). The TXT-1 is the biggest, beefiest electric truck that Tamiya has ever produced.

			We know them for their R/C vehicles, but Tamiya has built a worldwide reputation as one of the leading plastic model kit suppliers as well. Here we see some of the many models they had on display, including some of their 1/35th-scale tanks and heavy artillery.

			The Tamiya Knight Hauler is the latest in a line of 1/14th-scale tractor trailer trucks. If you have never seen one of these up close, you are really missing out; the level of detail that Tamiya puts into these rigs has to be seen to be believed. There are a few different trailers available -- all interchangeable -- as well as sound and lighting kits, and even a kit to add motorized support legs to your trailer.

			Upon its introduction, Tamiya's F201 chassis spawned an entire racing class by itself, and has brought renewed interest to racing Formula 1 cars in general. Here, Tamiya was showing off some of the many option parts available for the car.

			Many people consider Tamiya's line of TAO touring cars to be the fathers, so to speak, of modern touring car racing. The most recent of those cars, the TAO4, has been out for a few years, but is still a viable and popular racing chassis around the world. Here we see the car dressed up in SSG (Silver Surface Graphite), one of the latest crazes in the industry.

			Tamiya has been producing limited-edition TB Evolution touring cars for a few years, but the Evolution III was the first to see real demand in the industry. When it became clear that they had a winner on their hands, Tamiya refocused on the car and their race teams began using it, leading to this special edition named after the current world champion, Surikarn Chaidajsuriya. The Evolution III Surikarn Edition features everything that made the original Evo III a winner, as well as an updated front differential, red anodized aluminum bulkheads and parts, and other minor changes.

			Not only does Tamiya supply the kits to build, they supply the tools to build them as well. With everything from screwdrivers to scissors and airbrushes to routers, if you need a modeling tool, Tamiya has probably got you covered. It goes without saying that Tamiya's tools are some of the best you'll find, as they are purposefully crafted for hobby work.

			The Tamiya TRF toolset is considered one of the best sets in the racing business. It's not often that a set of hex drivers generates a buzz in the pits, but these just might! Tamiya also has other TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) accessories, such as the TRF low-friction shocks pictured here.

You can visit Tamiya on the web at www.tamiya.com.