RE: Tamiya Toyota Hilux: Time For Tea?

[morgrp]

~Here is the typically cheesey bruiser vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmqp0WMY8CY

[griffter]

I had Hornet, followed by a FAV (second hand), a holiday buggy (second hand) and then ended up putting a DIY folded metal body on the Hornet (the start of things to come?...). I seem to remember buying a second hand hotshot when I was 17 and had had my licence withheld for medical reasons. It was a poor substitute even with the front driveshafts removed.

I now have two modern(ish) RC cars in the loft donated by a neighbour. Sometime I'll refurb them for my son.

The 1984 TAMIYA catalogue is entirely responsible for my command of English. Its combination of eloquence, detail and emotion (and see how I list things in threes) stays with me to this day.

And I remember the Hi-Lux pictured towing a boy on his skateboard. Too cool for skool.

[99t]

Lucky enough to have two of the originals.

One is something of a shelf queen





The other one is a genuine barn find, from long before the term was applied to anything that simply hasn't had a wash for a week...

[pozi]

After Tamiya cars as a kid I am now getting back into them again (for my son of course) and I am pleasantly surprised with how much better the new NiMH batteries and Electronic speed controllers are now.

Run times are 30 minutes plus instead of 5 and a flat battery just stops the car as apposed to it heading off on its own with frozen servos.

I keep pondering about going LiPO but I am not totally convinced I need the hassle for just driving the cars in the garden.

[eliot]

I bought a Chinese lipo model from modelsport. Mentally fast, but just like rc models in the 80's, one brush against anything vaguely firm results in broken parts. However i'm now the 'dad' and slowly replacing broken suspension parts with bits milled from billet ally, just like my dad did 30 odd years ago.

[L100NYY]

Want one of these Defenders!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUKy2Gl8QJQ

[Limpet]

First was one of these:



Then one of these



Then one of these



Loved building them as much as driving them. They are a great way to learn how suspension, differentials and driveshafts work. Battery tech of the time was appalling though. A good Nicad pack would give you 1700 mAh - about 10 mins run time. I then discovered real cars and girls and other teenage stuff, and gave the Cossie to my cousin, complete with the radio gear and all the accessories.

That was it for a while, then on a trip to Halfords a few years ago to buy some headlight bulbs, I came home with one of these:



The clutch broke about 2 yrs ago. It's still sitting in the garage on a shelf with the transmission in bits. I haven't got around to buying the fourteen quid's worth of bits it needs, and investing the 15 minutes to put it back together.

Would love to build another Tamiya kit, but I really don't think I'd have much interest in the drive any more. Great, great article and thread though. Very enjoyable and brings back great memories.

[RoadRunner220]

I had the Manta Ray.



Not used it in years, one day I'll dig it out of the loft and refurb it.

[Fartgalen]

Was a while ago when I built my Tamiya. One of these.

[anonymous-user]

I've had some many of those I can't remember them all, my first rc car was one that went forward in a straight line but turned in reverse but that just made me want more..

Hirobo - looked like an upside down lunch box
And in no particular order..

Willy's Wheeler
Superchamp
Frog
Hornet
Supershot
Beetle
Audi A4
Ford Focus
Toyota Hilux - got run over..
Schumacher Cat
Kyosho Optima
Mardave Ministock
Willys Jeep
Subatu Impreza
Merc slk
Tamtech
Half a dozen model helis now.

[Athlon]

I built this last year for a trip down memory lane, it goes alright as well using modern batteries and a digital speed controller, bugger to mask up though!

[MissChief]

vrsmxtb said:

Erm.....ok.

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-40-foot-maersk-...

I love the addendum, "Please note this is a 1/14th scale toy model, not a full size freight container."

[Leins]

Never did get around to buying one of these, as all my Christmas money either went on mountain bikes or Scalextrics instead. Always wanted one of these two:





Like others, I'm beginning to think about putting one of these under the tree for myself in December

[Limpet]

I always wanted that 959 but seem to remember it was one of the higher end kits in the range at the time.

Unbuilt, boxed kits of 80s Tamiya models are now commanding £300-£1000. Its crazy.

[thelawnet]

I always wanted a model rocket as a boy. Bought all the kit a few years ago, turned it out it's not all that exciting after all.

I just kinda LOLed at the cost of a r/c petrol Mini:

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/losi-1-5-5ive-r-4wd-mi...

Actual car money.

[djdestiny]

The container someone linked to is for the Tamiya trucks. Now, if you enjoy the building side of it then you would love a truck!
I can easily build a car in half a day, but the truck took me a good week or so of literally hours and hours each day.
The amount of features you can add is amazing. All working lights, side, main and high beam, hazards, indicators, brake lights, running lights, 5th wheel unhitch, landing legs etc etc all via remote control.
I can highly recommend looking into one, then you have the trailer too build too! I've got some photos of the one I built I can post next time I'm on my laptop

[gl20]

Leins said:

Never did get around to buying one of these, as all my Christmas money either went on mountain bikes or Scalextrics instead. Always wanted one of these two:





Like others, I'm beginning to think about putting one of these under the tree for myself in December

I got the 959 as a xmas present in '85 (the celica was identical apart from the body I think). I remember its first drive in the dark with the working lights. Handling was very wayward but perhaps realistic - in a real 959 is it best to keep the power on when turning?!

[Reardy Mister]

Roop! Where for art thou?

I started with a Tamiya Falcon, then a couple of Schumacher Cats and then bought another Tamiya from a PHer who is an authority on the genre and company.

The adult ownership experience was underwhelming I have to say but it doesn't stop me from wanting another one. Especially one of these Hiluxes as they look fantastic and a bit more true to life than the 1/10 buggies.

[Coatesy351]

Love Tamiya
These currently reside in my collection.

[dapearson]

Leins said:

Never did get around to buying one of these, as all my Christmas money either went on mountain bikes or Scalextrics instead. Always wanted one of these two:





Like others, I'm beginning to think about putting one of these under the tree for myself in December

Wow that brings back memories!! The catalogue was my main reading material for months when i was about 10 yrs old!

I raced a kyosho (i think) and an RC10 at club/regional level on/off until i was about 15. Then had another go when i was about 19.

Great memories of building the cars in my bedroom. Trying to make them as fast as possible!