The Tamiya RC car thread
Discussion
Got a Blitzer Beetle when I was 12. Ragged it, broke the shell, repaired the shell, wore out the first battery, then something in the gearbox died. It was left untouched in a box for over 20 years.
Finally pulled it out of the loft last year in lockdown, stripped it down, and it was only the drive gear from the motor!
Went to town on recommissioning it - new NiMH, diff, front shocks, wheels and tyres. Spent about £100 on it, but it lives again and it’s great (after some chassis mods as the shock mounts all split within 5 minutes!)
Not intending to LiPo it but might fit a better speed controller.
Finally pulled it out of the loft last year in lockdown, stripped it down, and it was only the drive gear from the motor!
Went to town on recommissioning it - new NiMH, diff, front shocks, wheels and tyres. Spent about £100 on it, but it lives again and it’s great (after some chassis mods as the shock mounts all split within 5 minutes!)
Not intending to LiPo it but might fit a better speed controller.
I have just noticed Tamiya are releasing the last Escort Cosworth WRC on the TT-02 chassis in April:
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-1998-ford-esco...
I like the look of the Calibra DTM car as well.
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-1998-ford-esco...
I like the look of the Calibra DTM car as well.
They're re-releasing the Super Champ again too.
My Tamiya adventures began in the mid-80s with a second-hand Blazing Blazer (shiftable from the handset 3-speed truck) which wasn't very fast, but to be fair it was very heavy. After that I saved all summer working in a supermarket and bought a new Kyosho Turbo Scorpion, which was fairly state-of-the-art at the time and so much fun. It ate front (cast) wishbones though.
Then came a Boomerang (I couldn't afford the Hotshot) which got a power upgrade and the Supershot 4-shock kit. I loved that one. Then a Lunchbox (of course), followed by a couple of TA-01 touring cars - firstly the Celica GT4 then the "tiger stripes" Escort Cosworth. Stuck with that for a while, it got the carbon chassis, aluminium dampers, bigger motor etc etc.
I took a break after that until the spark was reignited in the 2000s when I restored all of the above (except the Blazer which was broken for parts and sold for quite a bit of cash) and started eBay trawling for many more. Now the collection is quite big with a lot of projects and a couple of New In Box. I'm in the middle of building an Avante and just finished one of the DT-03 buggies and the Martini Porsche 911 RSR. Then there's a Focus WRC, a Toyota TS-050 and a Kyosho Javelin waiting, and I've got my eye on the new Mk2 Escort.
Tamiya is like catnip!
My Tamiya adventures began in the mid-80s with a second-hand Blazing Blazer (shiftable from the handset 3-speed truck) which wasn't very fast, but to be fair it was very heavy. After that I saved all summer working in a supermarket and bought a new Kyosho Turbo Scorpion, which was fairly state-of-the-art at the time and so much fun. It ate front (cast) wishbones though.
Then came a Boomerang (I couldn't afford the Hotshot) which got a power upgrade and the Supershot 4-shock kit. I loved that one. Then a Lunchbox (of course), followed by a couple of TA-01 touring cars - firstly the Celica GT4 then the "tiger stripes" Escort Cosworth. Stuck with that for a while, it got the carbon chassis, aluminium dampers, bigger motor etc etc.
I took a break after that until the spark was reignited in the 2000s when I restored all of the above (except the Blazer which was broken for parts and sold for quite a bit of cash) and started eBay trawling for many more. Now the collection is quite big with a lot of projects and a couple of New In Box. I'm in the middle of building an Avante and just finished one of the DT-03 buggies and the Martini Porsche 911 RSR. Then there's a Focus WRC, a Toyota TS-050 and a Kyosho Javelin waiting, and I've got my eye on the new Mk2 Escort.
Tamiya is like catnip!
Top Force Evolution supposedly coming this year - saw a place with pre-orders this morning, maybe Jadlam, who post here.
That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
dom9 said:
Top Force Evolution supposedly coming this year - saw a place with pre-orders this morning, maybe Jadlam, who post here.
That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
That's also horrifyingly tempting. I have a new built Top Force and had started to gather bits and a used donor chassis to make an Evo replica. Dammit.That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
SteRB5138 said:
I have just noticed Tamiya are releasing the last Escort Cosworth WRC on the TT-02 chassis in April:
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-1998-ford-esco...
I like the look of the Calibra DTM car as well.
Nooo! The Calibra was my first ever RC!https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-1998-ford-esco...
I like the look of the Calibra DTM car as well.
tempted, in only for the body
RanchoGrande said:
! Visiting Beatties in Blackpool in the late 80s as a kid was a mind blowing experience,
Indeed the huge rail layout in the window.Edited by RanchoGrande on Sunday 24th January 17:29
All the model aircraft hanging from the ceiling.
Rows and rows of plastic kits
The RC section at the back of the store with the Tamiya vid on loop......watching the Fox leaping off sand dunes........always a treat
I’ve got a Blazing Star, bought it from Beaties Toy shop, built it as a teen then stuck it in the loft.
Got it out during lockdown 1 and after 20+ years put the battery on charge, fresh AA. Arteries in the control and it was off. It’s sat in the same spot in the conservatory for 10 months and OH is going to moan soon. It reminds me of my child hood but is wasted sat in a box, might sell it.
Got it out during lockdown 1 and after 20+ years put the battery on charge, fresh AA. Arteries in the control and it was off. It’s sat in the same spot in the conservatory for 10 months and OH is going to moan soon. It reminds me of my child hood but is wasted sat in a box, might sell it.
I’ve always loved Tamiya RC cars, my first being the Wild One which I got in 85/86. My dad bought it from a well known model shop in Holloway Road (sadly now closed). Friend at school had one too and helped me ‘tune’ the mechanical speed controller to make it go faster.
Fast forward 30 years and the Wild One was re released so I bought another. A great nostalgic build. Now I also have a Frog, Hornet, Grasshopper, Bigwig and a Hotshot.
Fast forward 30 years and the Wild One was re released so I bought another. A great nostalgic build. Now I also have a Frog, Hornet, Grasshopper, Bigwig and a Hotshot.
Anthony Micallef said:
I’ve always loved Tamiya RC cars, my first being the Wild One which I got in 85/86. My dad bought it from a well known model shop in Holloway Road (sadly now closed). Friend at school had one too and helped me ‘tune’ the mechanical speed controller to make it go faster.
Fast forward 30 years and the Wild One was re released so I bought another. A great nostalgic build. Now I also have a Frog, Hornet, Grasshopper, Bigwig and a Hotshot.
That pic brings back memories of continuously looking through the Tamiya catalogue in the mid/late eighties...esp at the WW2 dioramas.Fast forward 30 years and the Wild One was re released so I bought another. A great nostalgic build. Now I also have a Frog, Hornet, Grasshopper, Bigwig and a Hotshot.
I started with a Falcon, then a Boomerang, then got more into the racing and bought a Kyosho Optima Mid. Got my son a Subaru Brat when that was re-released a decade or so ago. The one car I wanted about all else was the early eighties rally Toyota Celica.
Remember lusting after the big Clod Buster in its seemingly enormous box in the early 90s on the top shelf of my local model shop. Was way out of pocket money or even birthday+christmas present budget combined. Did get my hands on one of the little Clod buster mini 4wd kits that were powered by 2xAA batteries, they were good fun. Had the Midnight Pumpkin and Lunchbox mini kits too.
When I was about 15 I got a Ta-03R with the Mercedes CLK-GTR bodyshell. That got upgraded with carbon chassis plates, alloy shocks etc and was pretty quick but never quite competitive with the Schumacher/Losi/Associated cars at the local club so I eventually replaced it with a Schumacher Axis which was a huge improvement in handling.
Last year I built a DT-03 buggy with my lad, am considering putting a brushless motor in it but don't really know what I'm looking at with brushless stuff, need to do more research.
When I was about 15 I got a Ta-03R with the Mercedes CLK-GTR bodyshell. That got upgraded with carbon chassis plates, alloy shocks etc and was pretty quick but never quite competitive with the Schumacher/Losi/Associated cars at the local club so I eventually replaced it with a Schumacher Axis which was a huge improvement in handling.
Last year I built a DT-03 buggy with my lad, am considering putting a brushless motor in it but don't really know what I'm looking at with brushless stuff, need to do more research.
Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 26th January 11:00
There is a huge amount of information and knowledge over at TamiyaClub if members here are unaware:
https://www.tamiyaclub.com/default.asp
If you are getting the "collecting" itch I advise you never, ever to visit that site.
https://www.tamiyaclub.com/default.asp
If you are getting the "collecting" itch I advise you never, ever to visit that site.
lufbramatt said:
Last year I built a DT-02 buggy with my lad, am considering putting a brushless motor in it but don't really know what I'm looking at with brushless stuff, need to do more research.
Depends on what you are trying to achieve. There does seem to be some general mis information about brushless. They are not magic devices and brushed setups can still go very well.What sort of setup are you running now?
Going LiPo is likely to make a bigger performance leap than going brushless. Assuming you are on NiMh.
300bhp/ton said:
Depends on what you are trying to achieve. There does seem to be some general mis information about brushless. They are not magic devices and brushed setups can still go very well.
What sort of setup are you running now?
Going LiPo is likely to make a bigger performance leap than going brushless. Assuming you are on NiMh.
It currently has the stock TBLE-02S ESC and the "Torque tuned" (25t silver can) motor. Want a bit more top end for use in bigger spaces than the garden.What sort of setup are you running now?
Going LiPo is likely to make a bigger performance leap than going brushless. Assuming you are on NiMh.
The stock ESC supposedly can't cope with brushed motors lower than 25t but can handle brushless down to 10.5t. So I can't run a faster brushed motor without getting a new speedo too.
I've got a 11x2 Trinity in my CAT XLS and its plenty quick enough for me (and probably the transmission in the CAT!) so don't want to go mad with it.
dom9 said:
Top Force Evolution supposedly coming this year - saw a place with pre-orders this morning, maybe Jadlam, who post here.
That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
It's been announced for May I think, but not Ti-screws a standard motor and a pre-painted shell and different decals. Bit like the Vanquish.That was peak buggy for Tamiya, as lovely as the Egress and Avante were.
However, I think it was £400, which would be the sum total I have spent on 3 (older) 2wd race buggies (Team C, Schumacher & VBC Racing).
I'm just waiting on an Avante re-stock, although I have said no more builds until I finish my Manta Ray build.
I run some 3650 4500kV brushless motors (with LiPos) in all most of my buggies and they were <£15 (Banggood) and not sensored.
Seem to go pretty well on the straights vs. expensive sensored motors, to be honest. Haven't noticed any cogging.
However, I can't drive for toffee so I am sure someone better would notice a difference in the low speed corners.
However, in my 'best' buggy (arguably, Schumacher KF) I do have an 8.5T sensored motor.
I even use the cheap, blue 120A (cough) Chinese ESCs in a couple of my cars... albeit 2 buggies have 'better' ESCs.
Seem to go pretty well on the straights vs. expensive sensored motors, to be honest. Haven't noticed any cogging.
However, I can't drive for toffee so I am sure someone better would notice a difference in the low speed corners.
However, in my 'best' buggy (arguably, Schumacher KF) I do have an 8.5T sensored motor.
I even use the cheap, blue 120A (cough) Chinese ESCs in a couple of my cars... albeit 2 buggies have 'better' ESCs.
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