Interest in New Trucks??
 

I’m thinking of approaching Tamiya in an effort to request that they consider manufacturing the Diamond Reo as seen on an Acura commercial recently viewed by several of our members. Immediate interest in purchasing the product abounded. You can imagine our disappointment when we were informed that the entire truck was CGI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4OrpzHm6EQ

Furthermore, I am considering making a request to both International® to give license to Tamiya to produce a 1/14 radio control tractor-truck kit of the International® LoneStar® Harley-Davidson™ Special Edition and a request to Tamiya to consider actually mass producing the kit for collectors and hobby enthusiasts alike.

http://www.internationaltrucks.com/p...00e5c9a8c0RCRD

Would anyone be opposed to me making such a request? If anyone is interested, I would like to know so that I could honestly state that there is a certain amount of interest in each truck. I believe that with the correspondence from the Acura commercial, we as a club would appreciate a couple of ‘new’ trucks available to build and critique.

Thank you, RCT

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I know I can't speak for everyone but I think that the lone star is hideous. I'd rather see another classic like an actual Pete or a new paystar international. I can say 100% not the lone star.

--Dan

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I would be very interested in any new American trucks.:D

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I'm partial to the 4900 Western Star's.
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

yes yes to the ihc lonestar

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I agree with smokin joe any new americam model will be nice.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I agree, any American made tractor. I'm more inclined to lean tword something more iconic ie. Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack etc.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

i think the lonestar is ugly too i wouldn't buy it but definetly the western star or an r model mack would be something i would buy along with anything pete or kw

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I know that a lot of the old school drivers, like myself, would appreciate the Diamond Reo, but in the efforts to build interest in our hobby and possibly excite some of the public that would only be influenced by a name like Harley-Davidson. I am also attempting to reach beyond our own personal preferences of truck(s) and expand our impact in the world.
The request for a WesternStar is a good idea and I’m more than willing to follow-up on that as well, if International will give licensing permission to Tamiya. I’d also like to consider Marmon and possibly AutoCar. I know that a lot of us reminisce over these classic trucks for the “end of the road”.
Please give more feedback, the more the better. It will give my request weight if we have a substantial number of members demanding new models of trucks to be made available to the public.
Thank you, RCT

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

HEY Now : toe tap : :p in stock form , yea ,I could careless. But,with a few mods , it'll look right at home in my fleet :D A paystar is a walk in the park to scratch build ;) ,but then I have the base cab to model off :D They used that cab style up to 2000 or so for many truck models . I don't care for the fraightshaker looking newer style :confused:

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

The R model Mack cab would give alot of model option's, meaning U, DM, DMMEX, RD, Superliner, RM, Flintstone, etc...... Probably more than other brand's? Just need 2 mounting position's for the cab, left, or centered. No I won't ask for a C series cab, even though, I own a CL713.
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

the r model would open up for the rubber ducks truck in convoy as well as anything in the construction field mack has always been the force in the construction industry at one time ago:)

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

well the "R" modle cab was used from the 60's up till they came out with the granite . So a lot of options on that 1 :D

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Mack = American Trucking Icon

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Any American truck would be great, but the one thing I wonder about is this. Why aren't there any other offically licensed Tamiya North American replicas, besides the Ford Aeromax? Why are all the European models exact licensed replicas? Are the American companies just that hard to deal with? Or do they simply demand above and beyond premimums for the license? Yet we have plenty of diecast, and plastic models, of Peterbilts, Kenworths, Macks, ect. Does Tamiya think they'd be poor sellers? Is their market mostly European? I just find it odd. There could have been a nice Freightliner, but instead it was the Knight Hauler. Meanwhile, Wedico has the license for Peterbilts and Freightliners. I don't get it. I would have to guess Tamiya just doesn't think there is a market for these American models.

Something makes me think that Harley Davidson would want the most money for a licensed model, above all others. No?

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

i think they base it on their own market.my wife collects ball jointed dolls from japan/korea and for some reason they all mostly look like orientals but yet it seems their biggest market is u.s. and canada .look at the tamiya trailers we have not had 40ft trailers on the road for so many years now except for containers.they have not updated the trailers to reflect todays standards like 48ft or 53ft so i think it is their market that dictates what they should do

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I think with the trailers, Tamiya sticks to the short ones because most normal, or casual RC guys, who buy these kits, don't have the room to store such a long trailer, nor room to drive it around in the house. Plus it's easier to package. Think how much longer a 53 foot trailer is. That's a whole lot more material to include in the kit, and a whole lot more packaging, times a couple thousand trailers in a production run. It was probably done to make the trucks easier to put on the shelf, more then anything.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I am more than willing to put the time and effort into promoting the idea that Tamiya produce more American themed tractor-trucks. I may even suggest that we get prepackaged Americanized trailers for our hobby produced as well.

If we can stand together and unite behind the idea that we want to draw more members into the hobby, as well as expand our own collections, I believe that I can do a reasonable job of representing our club on a corporate level. Tamiya, Wedico, International, Pac-Car, and other large business may listen to us if we can show that we have the numbers and the financial backing to influence the hobby that we so cherish and in effect bring positive change into an industry that has been ignored.

It is my hope that with just one or two trucks, we can open the industry to building more trucks in the future. As Lao-tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

-- RCT

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I would love to see a tamiya scania like quality of the W900A and W900L and the 359 and 379 for us over here. :)

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I understand they lack the sales of tamiya semis here in the US, but I think that is due in part to the fact we don't have any liscenced American trucks to build (and relate to), they sells tons of Scania, Mercedes- Benz and Mann trucks because that is what the Euro and Asian markets want. I wonder what the sales of scanias , mb, and manns are here in the US. I'm sure there much less then across the pond. Nothing against anyone who has one but to me these euro trucks are god awful looking. Because these aren't the trucks I grew up in and see in my travels. I think they made a very poor choice in selecting the Ford Areomax to be there attempt at a US licensed truck, since the aeromax is like the least seen and sold modern truck on the roads (atleast behind Pete,KW,Mack,Freight Liners) in my opinion. They have licensed the Volvo for the euro style Volvo cabover which owns Mack now, why can't the obtain another license from Volvo for their Mack production line? Or take a chance with the icon of all trucks Peterbilt. Someone at tamiya needs to wake up.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

ah yes, lets all DEMAND that tamiya gives us what we want :p:p that seems to be the way to do thing now a days.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

You DO know that they are french and part of Renault Truck ?

Which is tied to Volvo truck...

Which is back tied to the Renault group...

Who also include Alpine, Dacia, Vaz Lada, Samsung Motor, Nissan, Infinity and every passing day a little more of Mercedes Benz...

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Ahh, a catch 22. I think sales would pick up, if Tamiya actually offered a licensed American truck model. How expensive can it be? As I mentioned before, we have tons of plastic and diecast Peterbilt and Kenworth models to choose from. Just not much in the way of 1/16 or 1/14 scale RC trucks. Other companies are able to do it and be profittable, so why couldn't Tamiya?

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

AH , yes post mid 1980's

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

By "American Icon" I'm referring to the fact that the truck was originally an American born and made company up until the 1980s. If you look threw history books you can easily find an old chain driven Mack in the photos helping carry the dirt and stone from the construction of the Hoover Dam and things of that nature. Im aware they are owned by a foreign company now and tied to Volvo and Renault etc.:( But when you think of Mack can you can't honestly tell me you consider it to be a Scandinavian brand or French or whatever. No.... you consider it an American truck since it was originally born and bred in America. I'm personally not a big Mack guy, I'm a Peterbilt/ KW guy but I know that Mack has a huge following and would sell pretty well all around the world since they are easily found all over north/south America , Australia Africa and the UK. Dunno about the rest of Europe and Asia.:rolleyes:

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

At a slight disadvantage of having not read the entire thread (yet), how about a couple of "old" body styles that may not need permission to manufacture?

I mean new is great and all of you guys have the knowledge of what would sell and everything, but a little variety ... does that sound good as well?

It's just a thought. I'm still at a loss on what I would pick.















~ Jeff

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Jeff, several of the 'old' body styles are of the popular truck manufacture. Indeed, after much research the information leads me to believe that most of the licensing would be acquired through Daimler Trucks, Volvo Trucks, & PACCAR Inc. Unless you're interested in building the earlier 1920's - 1930's versions of the tractor-truck, there are only a couple that I didn't mention that might be possible, ie. Diamond REO.

-- RCT

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

I think Diamond Reo is still around. http://www.t-linetrucks.com/ found this one wiki-.
Latest go at it!
As far as Mack goes, get ahold of Dennis Slagle, executive vice president of Volvo Group, Yah the same guy on undercover boss fame.
Kevin Flaherty is president North American sales, for Mack.
Ron Huibers is president Volvo North American Sales.

Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

HMMM , I wonder where they got the cab :rolleyes::D:p

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Hmmm, look's like S Series, from Yer faverite brand!

Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

ay sir to be sure :p though I never really cared for the s series even though I have a 4600 :rolleyes:

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

If Tamiya cries "lack of sales", fire back with lack of 'Advertisement'.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Aint gonna happen.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

time will tell but it seems to me it is time for an american company to start building american truck models , and before i get the things are cheaper from overseas speech , it was, it is not now , now it is cheaper to in mexico lol
Anyway we have most of what is needed all ready just need body's
On scale4x4 a gentleman is showing how to make a body from start to finish and the same thing could be done for truck body's ,Tamiya has and will discontinue making most of these body styles sometime in the future ,so a new company is needed ,
it that not why this forum was started to have a home grown place for semi trucks .etc?
the Vendor part is growing all of the time so once once we get a body maker
we should be fine
there is a place for vacuum formed bodies and hard bodies and from what i have seen on here the skills are here , you don't have to make a bunch of bodies just one for a mold and then you make as many as are ordered
IHC,Peterbilt,Mack ,grandpa joe's farm hay truck from brazil , all it takes is
someone ,anyone to make one body of a truck and Then you can ask the companies for the licence to make more ,but you can make one with no licence needed as long as you don't make it to sale ,
it is a lot easier to get a license with a prototype in hand than with an idea in your head
i will check out the max number you can do without a license also

ok grumpy is done for now lol

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

The future is in 3d printing! I don't have $15-25,000 to get started with. And a 3d scanner is handy too. And don't forget the cad experience too. Yes there are cheaper priner's out there, but the finished product, need's more finish work, catch 22 on price vs finish! Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Interest in New Trucks??
 

Problem is can a guy working out of his house afford the license to produce a few scale replica bodies? Big companies may not even be interested in someone like that, who wants to make a couple a week. I'd be a little surprised if the cost to obtain the license is any less expensive, if you produce less product with that name on it, but who knows?