Behind-the-scene story of the creation of the Tamiya Lunchbox and Midnight Pumpkin mascot marks
Teruo Sahara introduces the behind-the-scenes story of the creation of the Lunchbox and Midnight Pumpkin mascot marks with illustrations. The story of the birth of this long-loved character is a must-see for RC fans.
Telly’s On The Road Again Vol.47, Time Travel! My Tamiya RC History
In the 1980s, I was completely immersed in RC car racing, and switched from window cars to 1/8th scale engine cars. In 1985 and 1987, I competed in the World Championships in Japan and California, USA, but independent suspension and 4WD were too much for me to handle, so I stayed away from racing after the US tour.
In the world of electric RC cars, off-road models were at their peak, and many variations were born, including not only buggy types but also rally cars and grasshoppers. In the 1980s and 1990s, it seemed like new cars were debuting almost every month in all genres, including racing sports, touring, formula, and off-road. Among these was the Lunchbox. High-level machines like the Hot Shot to basic 380 motor buggies, there was a big pre-model. The image of the popular practical monster machine, which was popular for its wild attractions such as lifting up one wheel during jumps, was well utilized, and was still selling well.
One day in 1987, I received an order to create a mascot character for a new model of this big tire. I remember being so happy that I was given a job by Tamiya-sama, whom I admire. The body of the car was reminiscent of a full-size Dodge, and its nickname was “Lunchbox.” It was probably a story about a lunch delivery service for Vanessa’s Lunchbox.
With a wink to decorated with stars and stripes, and her blonde hair fluttering, it felt like “Hi, Vanessa!” The thumbs-up Vanessa was combined with a bold color scheme like the orange and the 1960s, and the result was the best.