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In Memoriam: Shunsaku Tamiya

Shunsaku Tamiya, Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of Tamiya Corporation, passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 90.

Mr. Tamiya’s passion, precision and commitment to excellence transformed the art of model-making into a global hobby,
fostering creativity, patience and joy in countless individuals around the world.

The Tamiya family legacy began as Yoshio Tamiya, Shunsaku’s father, produced commercial vehicles under the Tamiya name prior to World War II. The new Tamiya company opened a lumber business in 1946 and made highly detailed wooden kits as a sideline to the sawmill. In the 1960s, Tamiya shifted to plastic model production, and Shunsaku ensured the cars, planes and boats were as accurate as possible. The 1967 Honda Formula One kit was so precise, Honda considered taking legal action in response to what they saw as industrial espionage. The company bought a Porsche 911 to tear it down for measurements and photography.

Shunsaku became company president in 1984 and maintained a hand in company affairs even in the days leading up to his death at the age of 90.

Platinum Hobbies Opens A Larger Store

Platinum Hobbies has reopened in its new, larger location in the former King Kullen shopping center in Middle Island, New York. The store is home to the largest Mini-Z track on Long Island, and also a crawler track for 1/18- and 1/24-scale trucks. Drivers can pay for one day at a time or get great discounts with a monthly membership, said owner Steven Comrie.

Limitless RC Rises After The Fire

On March 3, 2024, a fire gutted the Limitless RC store in Davison,
Michigan. Seven months later, Limitless RC rose from the ashes in a converted grocery store in nearby Millington.

President Scott Heemstra secured and renovated the 18,000 square-foot building and went before the local planning commission to get a special entertainment use permit for the facility.

The facility will include retail space for the sale of RC vehicles and parts, as well as an indoor racing track to be used for community events and competitions.

Heemstra told the planning commission he has plans to make the track a national caliber venue and eventually host weekend-long events. While the store won’t serve food, surrounding restaurants and convenience stores will likely see a boost in business from racers looking for a meal or a snack.

Mag Hobbies Brings RC Cars To Newfoundland

Mike Lomond began his RC journey as a teenager, building cars and racing with friends. Later, he became a certified engine mechanic, using the skills he learned in the pits. When he moved back to his home in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, he found the nearest hobby store was hours away. He and his wife, Lori, decided to open a store.

Mike was the general manager of a tire and part store, and his company offered him some shelf space to get started.

As interest grew, he searched for land to open a track. The town of Pasadena offered an area near the dog park, and Lomond and some volunteers carved a track in the rolling hills. The crowds grow with each race as people respond to the availability of trucks, buggies and tuning parts.

Lomond plans to open a standalone store and expand offerings to airplanes, helicopters and other product lines as well as an indoor track.