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  • Thumbnail Ultrasonic Cleaners

    So I purchased an ultrasonic cleaner from Temu a few months ago to try and clean all the corrosion off the boards (OK for older 80s/90s electronics, not for modern electronics), and quickly realised it was a fake. I've since bought a real one, and made the experience into a…
  • CHeap thermal cameras

    Ever since I saw the 1987 film Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jessie Ventura, Carl Weathers, and other greats, I've wanted my own thermal camera. Yet they've always been SUPER expensive, I mean tens of thousands of dollars. Yet finally in 2025 we're starting to see decent thermal cameras selling for…
  • Best Electric Screwdrivers

    If you're a collector like me, then you'll be taking apart your cars and controllers often, whether to clean out new aquisitions, or to fix issues in existing ones. This 2025 update video includes 4 of the best and latest electric drivers, putting them through Torque Testing, Practical Testing, and…
  • ken formula1

    If you enjoyed Tyco R/C cars, then you will have enjoyed Ken's artwork. Original Artwork for Tyco These were artworks recently auctioned by a former Tyco employee who was clearing out his home. These are low resolution unfortunately, hopefully in the future I'll obtain some better shots from whomever purchased…
  • Tyco Slot Car Sets Advertisement

    TycoCollectors began cataloging slot car sets in 2023, and so far has covered almost 40, with more to come!Is there a set we've not covered that you think should get more attention? Let us know in the comments at the bottom.
  • Super Clean Gel Slime Fresh vs used

    How to quickly restore a Tyco RC car, including what replacement battery to use, how to clean it, fix the most common problems, and where to get more help.
  • Thumbnail Square for Website

    So I often use Electronic Screwdrivers when building and repairing my R/C Cars, but it took me a few years to find one that I really like. The first one, a Xiaomi Precision Screwdriver wasn't even strong enough to crack a screw, you needed to turn it manually which I…
  • Marty Monster Saturday 7am on Channel 10

    The Early Bird Show was a Saturday morning live kids TV variety show filmed in Melbourne Australia between 1985 - 1989.
  • Four RC Cars in a Display Case

    As you may have seen from our Taiyo & Tyco Collectors around the World page, you can create a great looking display of your best items using Transparent Shoe Boxes from Amazon / eBay. But wait! Save yourself time and money by ensuring you get the right type and size!
  • 10 must have tools for vintage toy restoration V2

    Here's 10 tools and materials you'll need to do a quick and basic restoration without causing damage.
  • Top 20 Most POpular RC Cars of 80s 90s

    Based on 12 months of Google Analytics data, we can now reveal the scientifically verified most popular 80s / 90s Radio Control Cars (Toy Grade) of all time!
  • Need a Replacement 6V Battery and Charger Article Banner

    If there is one question that gets asked more than any other (understandably!), it is where can I get a replacement 6V battery for my Tyco, Taiyo, Nikko, RadioShack, or other car that I bought online, and what charger do I use?

TycoCollectors is the ultimate reference for 80s, 90s, and 00s Toys

I began building Tyco Collectors in 2022 as a personal project following a wave of nostalgia I felt when purchasing my first Tyco Mini Hopper from eBay. As a kid, I owned a Mini Hopper, Typhoon, Jet Hopper (Turbo Hopper), and others, yet there seemed to be almost no information online about these items that I cherished. And so I resolved to build a central database of every R.C car ever produced by Tyco Toys (USA / Global), Taiyo Toys (Japan), Metro RC (Australia), Dickie Toys (Germany) and more. Later I would add slot cars, HO scale trains, and general toys produced in the 80s, 90s, and 00s. In late 2024 I began to add Nikko and Radio Shack due to popular demand, and a realisation that many of us enjoy all brands from this time.

There are currently over 400 products documented here covering US, UK, Japanese and European brands, each with history, reviews, photos, a ballpark / estimate of potential worth, and whether or not they can be purchased today (and if so, where).

As an Australian dad with young kids and a full time job, it’s consumed a massive amount of my personal time, and costs a fair amount of money to keep the site online and updated, so in 2023 with hosting fees and plugin costs increasing, I added Google Adsense and eBay Affiliate links to the site to help pay those costs and make it somewhat self sustaining.

My hope is that the site will inspire others to preserve the history of these companies, and the memories of our generation so that they won’t be lost with time. TycoCollectors (Tyco Taiyo Collectors) is not associated in any way with any toy company.

Want to know more about Tyco History?

Check out The Golden Age of Tyco RC for a history of Tyco at its best. 

Did you work in a related industry? Share your story!

I’d love to hear from people who work or have worked in the industry and would like to chat about your favorite memories or new opportunities, maybe you have some artifacts collecting dust in the attic, or simply wish to pass on some information or photos from the time that helps us better understand and appreciate any of the topics we’ve discussed on this site.

Feel free to contact me via our form or admin@tycocollectors.com  or use our  contact form. 

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