It’s the reward giving season, which implies scale mannequin automobiles will quickly be discovering their means into individuals’s fingers all around the world. Whether or not it’s a 1:64 die-cast or one thing bigger and extra detailed, everyone knows the enjoyment that four-wheeled collectibles can deliver to younger and outdated.

We’ve lined a variety of passion tales on Speedhunters through the years, however one specifically stands out. It’s well timed to revisit this take a look at Japanese RC drifting too, because it was revealed 10 years in the past and ranked as our most-read occasion story of 2013.

A fast Google search tells us that the mannequin store on the heart of the story – Passion Storage in Saitama, Japan – sadly not exists, however we’re to know if a substitute of kinds exists for the native RC drift automotive neighborhood. Let’s see what we are able to uncover in 2024… When you’ve completed with this Throwback Thursday publish, you would possibly need to try Dino’s follow-up story from 2014 right here.

2013 Characteristic

“Wanna try a cool RC drift occasion?” Johnny from Weld requested me. I mentioned ‘certain’, because it had been means too lengthy since I spent a while taking pictures cool little RC drifters sliding round. I assumed it could make a cool publish, particularly because it was held at a observe I had by no means been to earlier than. So I packed up my gear – together with my new RC drift automotive (I assumed I could possibly squeeze a little bit of driving in between the taking pictures!) – and headed north to Kuki in Saitama.

My vacation spot was Passion Storage, a large passion store in an equally gigantic mall. If this place is something to go by, my assumption that every part to do with this ‘scaled’ world has been steadily rising over the previous few years, appears to make a whole lot of sense. Possibly the recession has pushed individuals to spend cash on different issues, and if you’re into automobiles not less than, then build up a cool RC machine is way cheaper than modifying an precise automotive.

That is in all probability the largest passion store I’ve been to with one thing for everybody, beginning off with a few Tamiya Mini 4WD tracks as quickly as you enter.

Earlier than heading to the big RC drift observe I had a fast wander round the primary store space, the place you may actually discover all kinds of cool issues beginning off with a pleasant collection of Tomica diecasts…

…to extra Japanese issues like these cool Shinkansen practice mannequin and observe combos.

When you fancy one thing completely different and anime characters or robots aren’t your factor, how a few dekotora dump truck?

As you may see, even youngsters take their slot automotive racing extraordinarily severely. Take a look at the carbon bumpers on these Mini 4WDs.

Within the mannequin automotive part I noticed some true JDM gems, a part of the Gurachan assortment. Which one would you construct if you happen to had to decide on only one? Robust isn’t it?!

The collection of RC our bodies was simply as huge.

Of course, after you choose up your shell it’s important to take into consideration your wheel choice, and once more are completely spoilt for alternative.

I even noticed these Workforce Yayoi Sakura wheels which I nearly needed to purchase simply so I might paint them in silver and pink. However no matter I noticed within the store part actually couldn’t even start to organize me for the occasion I had come to see.

I assumed an ‘RC drift meet’ would entail, effectively… drifting. However this was truly extra to do with customization. Passion Storage organizes this ‘RC Customized Physique Present’ yearly and it appears that evidently similar to in every other car-related scene, issues proceed to be pushed additional and additional.

This was the collection of automobiles entered. Every participant was a part of the judging course of however earlier than all of it started, the Passion Storage workers introduced every automotive.

This was completed in complete Japanese otaku means, with a macro video digital camera exhibiting all the small print of the automobiles on two large LCD display screen on both sides of the ‘present venue’.

Up till this level I used to be standing on the sidelines, so I didn’t actually understand simply how detailed a few of these our bodies had been.

I quickly grabbed my digital camera, took my footwear off and jumped in. It was at this level that my thoughts was blown. I do know a whole lot of hobbyists take their artwork very severely however this was simply ridiculous. Each picture that confirmed up on my digital camera display screen seemed nearly like I used to be taking photos at an actual occasion.

I proceeded to spend the subsequent couple of hours on my stomach, getting up shut and private with all of those automobiles. Whereas some caught to extra easy equipment to decorate up the outside, whereas others went effectively past that and achieved the just about inconceivable.

I imply how on earth do you recreate rust so rattling effectively?! It was even practical to the contact.

It was fairly humorous to see how the USDM affect the JDM scene is present process proper now could be mirrored completely on a few of these RC drifters.

Stance is essential so as to acquire that practical really feel, so a whole lot of time goes into body-height changes in addition to suspension arm wonderful tuning to get camber and flushness good. Props to the proprietor of this E30 M3 for including just a few scaled Speedhunters stickers.

Bear in mind the Hakotora from Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 and the Nostalgic 2 Days? Yep, this can be a scaled recreation of it, full with racing bucket seats and a driver.

There have been some non-drift additions too like this totally functioning MAN truck and trailer combo. The practical touches included a curtain to shade the cabin for when the size driver must catch a few hours sleep, to a speaker emitting diesel idle-chatter, and one thing below the cabin to make the entire thing vibrate.

This older model truck was much more spectacular because it’s a fully-functional drift machine with customized rear axles sporting a complete of six drift tires.

I used to be conscious that these RC trolleys had been on sale, however to see one modified on little drift wheels and operating onikyan on the rear, effectively it actually made me chortle. The oishii mikan field was an incredible contact. I suppose the concept is to float it with out dropping the field stuffed with tasty fruit.

Take a look at this slammed Subaru Impreza STI 22B. It form of jogged my memory of a number of the N-Type automobiles now we have seen at Hellaflush Japan occasions up to now.

With so many alternative kind of our bodies on the market, you may actually let your creativeness run wild.

A variety of drift outlets are getting their very own customized RC automotive our bodies made too, similar to GP Sports activities and this good recreation of their well-known aero package. What actually makes it pop nevertheless is the eye to element within the portray and cautious wheel fitment for that good look.

Rust appears to be a really trendy end to recreate on the planet of miniature drifting.

Extra stance, this time with a extra Euro really feel.

Did you discover the roll cage inside?

This R31 Skyline wagon physique is from R31 Home and was sitting on a set of RAYS Volk Racing TE37SLs. Wagon RC drifting?  I’m liking this quite a bit!

When it comes element, this AE86 Levin was as wild because it will get, and I’m not simply speaking concerning the exterior.

Simply take a look at how the engine bay has been superbly built-in and made to suit across the underlying chassis parts. My favourite touches included the uncovered cam wheels and belt in addition to the heat-wrapped headers.

Right here’s one other shot of the wild GX71. Unbelievable!

If you want kaido racer creations, this 330 Cedric ought to hit the spot slightly effectively.

Squint a bit and it seems like the true deal!

After all how are you going to not end all of it off with tilted taillights and bozo exhausts!

After all if you happen to favor the extra trendy look there have been a ton of S-chassis entries to take a look at.

Some took their automobiles out on the observe and let their hand-built toy sliders do their factor. I hope you’re having fun with seeing a aspect of RC drift tradition that now we have by no means actually touched on earlier than.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com