The Tamiya RC car thread

[Guiddy]

Just picked up this super rare beauty. I'm amazed how a bodyshell can survive of 35 years without a split in it! Scares me every time I take it off.
Checked out and it's fully running too!
Not really my thing this one so it's up for sale on fleebay to help me finance some Shelf Queens.

[generationx]

Guiddy said:

Just picked up this super rare beauty. I'm amazed how a bodyshell can survive of 35 years without a split in it! Scares me every time I take it off.
Checked out and it's fully running too!
Not really my thing this one so it's up for sale on fleebay to help me finance some Shelf Queens.

Fantastic! I have one of these in the pile of shame that needs a body restoration, they’re amazing models. Shame you’re selling it.

[dom9]

generationx said:

Guiddy said:

Just picked up this super rare beauty. I'm amazed how a bodyshell can survive of 35 years without a split in it! Scares me every time I take it off.
Checked out and it's fully running too!
Not really my thing this one so it's up for sale on fleebay to help me finance some Shelf Queens.

Fantastic! I have one of these in the pile of shame that needs a body restoration, they’re amazing models. Shame you’re selling it.

Hubba hubba! Love a Celica... but my heart really lies with the 959, even if the Toyota had some mild upgrades!

[Guiddy]

dom9 said:

Hubba hubba! Love a Celica... but my heart really lies with the 959, even if the Toyota had some mild upgrades!

Same! I've owned three 959s in my years and think it looks much sexier. One was pretty much NIB! Shouldn't have let it go looking back but needs must sometimes!

[dave_s13]

Can someone save me the trouble of researching the best starter kit for a 10y/o lad (and his dad) to build on boxing day.

Would need the full kit but don't want one of those stty chargers that takes 24hours. Max budget about £275.

[Raj28]

I got a Mad Bull for my son - good entry level set in my opinion, simple construction, and larger tyres allow you to run through brush etc. Am sure other suggestions will be made.

[Deadlysub]

dave_s13 said:

Can someone save me the trouble of researching the best starter kit for a 10y/o lad (and his dad) to build on boxing day.

Would need the full kit but don't want one of those stty chargers that takes 24hours. Max budget about £275.

A hornet or even a grasshopper are great fun to build and drive. My 8 year old loves driving the hornet.

[tim0409]

My wife was searching for something to buy me for Christmas, and I think I’ve settled on a Tamiya Neo Fighter buggy. I’ve already got the radio etc from the Sand Sorcher I sold a few years back, and I love the idea of a Tamiya kit at christmas!

I have very happy memories of unwrapping my Tamiya Falcon over 35 years ago, so looking forward to it!

[dave_s13]

Ended up getting him one of these.

https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-58630...

Plus some upgrades.
- Faster motor
- Bearing kit
- Upgraded final drive

Tbh....I've bought it for me more than him!

[vexed]

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

[LimaDelta]

vexed said:

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

Same (well, except I knew it was a kit), but went for the Lunchbox.

Any tips from experienced builders?

[blueST]

vexed said:

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

You don’t need a lot. Some side cutters and a craft knife, small cross head screwdriver. I think the Hornet is a hard body, so you can spray paint that if you want to, or just leave it and put the stickers on. That’s about it.

Have you got all the radio gear?

[lufbramatt]

blueST said:

vexed said:

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

You don’t need a lot. Some side cutters and a craft knife, small cross head screwdriver. I think the Hornet is a hard body, so you can spray paint that if you want to, or just leave it and put the stickers on. That’s about it.

Have you got all the radio gear?

A JIS head screwdriver set is well worth it (tenner on Amazon). The screw Tamiya use are slightly different to philips screws and the JIS screwdrivers will make it much less frustrating for an inexperienced kit builder.

[generationx]

lufbramatt said:

blueST said:

vexed said:

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

You don’t need a lot. Some side cutters and a craft knife, small cross head screwdriver. I think the Hornet is a hard body, so you can spray paint that if you want to, or just leave it and put the stickers on. That’s about it.

Have you got all the radio gear?

A JIS head screwdriver set is well worth it (tenner on Amazon). The screw Tamiya use are slightly different to philips screws and the JIS screwdrivers will make it much less frustrating for an inexperienced kit builder.

A JIS screwdriver is nice but not absolutely necessary. Tamiya kits come with pretty much everything else, as mentioned did you order a radio kit and battery package? Also AA batteries for the controller… Have fun!

[vexed]

Thanks! Yes I bought a bundle from Jadlam which I think covers everything, and have a Duracel stash.
Between 3 boys and myself have bought an FTX Tracer and a Hornet so hopefully we can race around but I win.

So shopping list- spray paint, side cutters, look at screwdrivers. No cement/glue required?

[blueST]

Sometimes it’s advisable to super glue tyres to the rims, but I don’t think it’s necessary on a Hornet. You won’t need glue for anything else. Some double sided tape might be handy for securing the ESC. The Tracer is going to blow it into the weeds

[vexed]

blueST said:

The Tracer is going to blow it into the weeds

Oh really? Disaster!!

[blueST]

vexed said:

blueST said:

The Tracer is going to blow it into the weeds

Oh really? Disaster!!

A stock Hornet is fun, buts it's not very fast. My only ever real RC race on a proper track was a Hornet race, full throttle everywhere!

[BunkMoreland]

LimaDelta said:

Same (well, except I knew it was a kit), but went for the Lunchbox.

Any tips from experienced builders?

My Dad and I built my Lunchbox when I was 11 on Boxing Day decades ago. One of my great Father Son Memories I'll have forever!

Apart from the obvious talk of screwdrivers. Get some little boxes/pots and empty all the bags into a pot. So "A" parts in one pot, "B" in another etc.

Oh and Take your time and don't get wound up with each other. Its a learning experience for your son, and it wont be 100% perfect no matter what happens. But it will work in the end

[MBBlat]

LimaDelta said:

vexed said:

I have bought a Hornet kit for my boys for Christmas. Until now I am a complete novice (apart from unfulfilled lust as a child). I have to admit I didn't realize they were a kit that needed building when I stuck in the order but sure it will be fun!
I have a decent set of diy tools but nothing model specific.
What do I need to make sure we can get stuck in over Christmas? Paint/glues/tools etc? Thanks.

Same (well, except I knew it was a kit), but went for the Lunchbox.

Any tips from experienced builders?

You can get the instructions on the web
Hornet https://www.tamiyausa.com/media/files/58336ml-869-...
Lunchbox https://www.tamiyausa.com/media/files/58347ml-946-...

Page 2 gives all the tools required, a pair of long nose pliers haven’t been mentioned previously but will be required. The Hornet is a polycarbonate body and will require the appropriate paint, the lunchbox is a hardbody and Halfords rattle cans (spray paint) will do the job.

If you haven’t already done so get the bearings, much easier to add these on the build rather than tear everything down to install later.