Frequently Asked Questions / Store

How can I view discontinued product information?

Tamiya has a large variety and selection of product lines. Hobbyists are also known to want to resurrect old products from their childhood. With this in mind, TamiyaUSA.com shows currently produced products as well as products no longer in production. This way you will find things like parts, manuals, exploded views and more.

By DEFAULT, the TamiyaUSA.com website does not show discontinued items. However, you may still search for an item by its name or item number in the search field. Alternatively, you may check the box, “show discontinued”, in the filter selection on the left side of any Tamiya product category. Tamiya does produce thousands of products, and we want to make sure you are able to purchase your favorite items and parts for older items. With TamiyaUSA.com you will be able to order most products in our inventory at the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

Can I purchase Tamiya Products online direct from Tamiya USA?

Your local hobby store remains your best source for Tamiya quality products. Their knowledge and expertise will make your hobby experience the most enjoyable! Retailers do an excellent job of supporting Tamiya products and will special order items at your request.

Tamiya does, however, produce thousands of products, and we want to make sure you are able to purchase your favorite items. With TamiyaUSA.com you will be able to order most products in our inventory at the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

New Releases and the latest re-issues are available at your local hobby store.

This service is offered as a convenience, and is available for customers in the U.S. only.

You may also order parts through our Customer Service Department by phone. Any item that is not a spare part is not sold through our customer service support line.

Can I order from outside of the USA?

No, TamiyaUSA.com is for U.S. costumers only. Customers outside the U.S. must visit the Tamiya authorized agent/retailer in their respective country.

What if I have a question?

Questions related to Tamiya products or events can be answered by our friendly customer service staff at 1-800-826-4922. (Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time Zone) The Customer Service staff is constantly working to stay up to date on the ever-expanding world of Tamiya products and will do their best to answer any questions you might have.

What if the item is out of stock?

You may either check your Local Hobby Store or use the link on the item page titled "request availability notification". Enter your email and you will be notified when an item arrives back in stock.

How do I order if I do not have a Credit Card?

You may call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-826-4922 to order parts only.
Note: Tamiyausa.com now accepts PAYPAL.

What is the Return Policy?

Click HERE to see the Policy

May I have items shipped to alternate addresses?

TamiyaUSA.com ships to the buyers billing address only. In order to ship to an alternate address you must call your credit card company and change your billing address. You may also use Pay Pal with a verified address to where you want your order shipped. Note: Signature may be required on any type of order placed by the recipient.

Why does it say my shipping address is wrong?

Our system checks zip codes to cities. Some zip codes may split and you are referencing an incorrect city in the database we pull that information from. Easiest solution: try a Google search using "zip code #####" (##### is where you place your zip code) and you should find what your zip code is really matched to. You may also find that your zip code matches more than one city.

Don't worry, we ship via UPS and they reference zip codes before city, so you will get your package. Note: Your shipping address must match your billing address for credit card purchases.

Why does my credit card not go through?

If you get an error about your billing address not matching, please verify that the address matches your credit card statement or contact your bank. Simple errors like "105 n. 1st street" which it should be "105 N. 1st street" can make a difference. Be sure to enter your billing address exactly as it appears on your statement.

I never received a confirmation e-mail of my order?

Once you click "submit order" your order is finalized. If the order has no errors it's transmitted to our system for the next step of processing. The order will not be processed if there is an error with the order (address, payment or other). Note: Every time you click the "submit order" button your card will be authorized for the order total amount. This is not a payment but verification that the funds are available (The verified amount will drop off, if our system doesn't capture the funds on our end, in a few business days).

You can be certain, if you click "Submit order" and you never receive an e-mail confirmation of your order, a few things could have happened. There were errors with order and it never finalized. Issue with internet connections between you and our site. * You never clicked "submit order". The easiest way to find out about possible email confirmation issues is: Check your spam folder for any e-mails from tamiyausa.com Login to the tamiyausa.com site and under "My Account" you will see your order history. If you do not see the order in your history, we never received the order.

What shipping options do you offer?

Currently we only Offer UPS Ground (Click here to see shipping info)

What if I want my order sooner?

You can contact your local Hobby Store to see if they stock the items you need. Parts ONLY may be ordered through our Customer Service Department directly and EXPRESS UPS delivery is offered. 1-800-826-4922

What do I do if I have a defective part?

Contact our Customer Service Department.

What if I need a Service or Instruction Manual?

For Radio Control: you can check the parts list to order a hard copy (Note: some manuals are available in PDF form on the items product page as a free download) For Plastic models and others: You can contact our Customer Service Department

How much does it cost to ship to?

Shipping costs are determined during the purchase process during check-out. You may figure out the cost by simply adding the items to your cart, and then enter your zip code to calculate shipping costs. Note: At this time we only offer UPS Ground shipments from our website.

Can I purchase plastic model or R/C kits directly from Customer Service?

At this time, Customer Service does not sell plastic models or R/C kits to the public. Other products not available for direct purchase include airbrushes, finishing supplies, and the Tamiya Model Magazine. These items would need to be purchased from a Tamiya dealer, mail order outlet or our Online Store.

What can I do if my hobby shop doesn't carry the plastic model or RC kit that I want?

In most cases, hobby shops will be happy to place special orders for their customers. Because Tamiya manufactures such a wide variety of products, it is impossible for individual retailers to carry all that we have to offer. To help your local retailer order the kit you are looking for, and to ensure you receive the correct item, make sure to reference the Tamiya item number that each of our products carry. These numbers can be found in the Tamiya Catalog, on our website, or through our 800 number. Using this same procedure is the best way to order Tamiya Spare Parts and Hop-Up Options as well.

What if they can't answer my question?

There are those rare instances were we don't know everything. Example: "What is the rotational mass of the inner worm gear in relation to the torque dispensed by the opposing drive shaft that meets the outside turning wheel?" Unfortunately, we're stumped on this one. Our customer service staff does indeed play with, test and evaluate the products that Tamiya Inc. manufactures, but in this example we would have to defer to our engineers in Japan. We welcome all inquiries and we will try and answer your questions as honestly as we can.

If I have to place a parts replacement order what do I need to do?

In order for our staff to process your order in a quick and efficient manner, it is extremely helpful when you are prepared with the part number that you are requesting. For R/C kits, the part numbers are located in the last few pages of the instruction manual. R/C kits have five and seven digit part numbers associated with them. Example: 53450 or 0005368.

Note: Many people often confuse the alphanumeric assembly numbers, (MA4, MB17, etc.), with actual part numbers. Please use the alphanumeric assembly call outs to find the five or seven-digit item number on the back page of your manual to expedite your order. For plastic model parts we first ask that you give us the item number of the kit. This number is located on the side of the box and on the front cover of the assembly manual. After giving our staff that item number, then we need to know the letter of the tree that you wish to purchase. Usually, plastic model kit parts trees are labeled A, B, C, D, E and so on.

How does Customer Service sell plastic model parts

Customer Service sells plastic model parts by the entire part tree. As such, if you need A-16 and A-29, you will need to purchase the entire "A" tree.

Does Customer Service sell every part to all plastic models?

Unfortunately, all parts orders are subject to availability. While every effort is made to support our customers as thoroughly as possible, we do not have access to individual parts from the production facility, and some parts may not be available at the time of your call.

How do I pay for my order?

Tamiya America accepts all major credit cards and, in the event that you may not have one, we also accept money orders. All credit card orders must be placed over the telephone. For money orders, please include a letter explaining which parts you wish to purchase, your return address, and a daytime telephone number where you can be reached. In the event that the parts you requested are not available at the time your money order arrives, a credit check will be issued to return your funds.

How long does it take to receive my order?

Our standard shipping method is UPS Ground and we quote approximately 10 to 15 working days.

What if I want my order sooner?

For an additional fee on parts orders over the phone only, priority shipping is available. All priority shipping methods will ensure same-day shipping on orders placed before 11:30AM Pacific Time, and next day shipping for those placed after that time. There are three priority shipping options offered.

The first is UPS 3 Day Select, a non-guaranteed shipping method which will add $7.00 for orders $0 - $49.99 and $8.00 for orders over $50.00 to your order total. Next is UPS 2 Day, which is guaranteed and will add an additional $12.00 for orders ranging $0-$49.99 and $15.00 for orders $50.00 and over, and finally UPS Overnight, which will add $20.00 to your total for orders ranging $0-49.99 and $25.00 for orders $50.00 and above. Note: Tamiya America does not offer UPS Saturday delivery. (Prices subject to change)

What do I do if I have a defective part?

On the rare occasion that you have a plastic model or R/C part which you feel is defective, Tamiya America, Inc. requests that you send it to our customer service department along with a brief letter of explanation. As soon as your part arrives, it will be inspected by a technical representative, and either repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.