In the 1980s and early ’90s Tamiya paved the way for the modern RC industry, setting the standards for technology, innovation, design and lifestyle changes. Their iconic kits—such as the Grasshopper, Hornet, Frog, and Lunch Box—introduced a generation of hobbyists to the world of hobby-grade radio control.
The Hornet, released in 1984, remains a fan favorite to this day, with Tamiya USA reporting it as one of their perennial top sellers. Nostalgic enthusiasts and creative minds continue to keep the Hornet and its siblings alive, even pushing the kit to do things it wasn’t originally meant to do. The customized Hornet you see here started out as Tamiya’s X-SA (Expert Semi-Assembled) version, which is a partially assembled kit that only requires the hobbyist to install a 2-channel receiver, steering servo…