Tamiya and other R/C vehicles (not just for Christmas)

They are a bit moreish, aren’t they?

Very nearly bid on a pair of dark impacts plus spares on eBay last night. Resisted as only one was complete. Reckon by the time I resold the working one and bought servo and receiver for parts car I probably still be better off just buying a new kit.
I know it’s heresy on this thread but …. the lunchbox just doesn’t do it for me.

Was looking at Axial build kits, but they need a lot of extras to finish them off and get quite spendy.
At least with Tamiya you get the build fun. Under no impression that they’re great cars But they are great fun.
Rock Socker is tempting me, as I can use current battery and charger. Can get a spare receiver for current handset as well. Would still need esc and servo but both pretty cheap.

I thought this purchase through. Seriously.

Originally I wanted something to run with the Grasshopper and a Rising Fighter seemed logical, but it only comes with the bigger motor and the terrain round here (along with the driver skills) is a little bit harsh and I’m running out of super glue.

So, if I was going to get another it had to be a bit “different”. Higher ground clearance would give it more scope for messing off road, so daft wheels were necessary. Also, with me being a bit of a model kit nerd it had to be the same scale as the Grasshopper.

The final variable was a reasonable budget.

1/10 scale + 540 motor + daft tyres + not too expensive = Mad Bull

Toying with the idea of painting it in Splinter Camouflage.

I know it’s heresy on this thread but …. the lunchbox just doesn’t do it for me.

I quite like the idea of one, but they look too simple to build and that’s at least 75% of the fun for me.

You’re both right, it’s a very, very simple build.

I’m looking forward to the 2CV as it looks a bit more complex.

Adding upgrades to the Lunchbox is fun though, you don’t have to risk stripping loads of fiddly little screws and the upgrades make a huge difference. Mine almost goes round corners now….🙂

I’m dreading fixing the steering on the TT02B, again. It’ll be a right faff.

Should have stayed away from this thread. I now have less money than I did. Have just finished a Tamiya Landfreeder after putting off doing the body shell for a while. Actually that was one of the most satisfying parts of it. It’s amazing the finish you can get on these polycarbonate shells. It comes with a huge amount of sticker which I decided against. Hopefully this link will work.

Then after reading, I decided I needed another. The Holiday Buggy is now under way though a global shortage of Matt black paint may delay it. Great kit though. I prefer the building to driving which is just as well as finding cheap radio gear also seems to be an issue at the moment.

Anyone any idea why I can’t get the link to work. I have posted the link using the IMG thing.

http://imgbox.com/IOPLBmP2

That’s lovely man, great colour.

How does it go?

@Jerm right-click on the image and copy the URL, pasting it in the IMG box.

Thanks Househusband for fixing that for me.

Sorry about the late reply. I’ve been working on the Holiday Buggy.

It goes really well. People criticise them – unfairly in my opinion. You can spend a lot of money turning them into a rock crawler but that’s not what they were designed as. They’re great fun on dirt, grass, in the garden or wherever.

If you search CC-01 on YouTube, there are some fantastic videos made by a Swiss bloke called Matteo that are well worth watching.

Having been following this thread for a while, I finally decided that having wanted a Tamiya RC car in my teens and not being allowed one, it was time I treated myself.

I have gone for a Mad Bull and have ordered the bearing kit at the same time having read all the recommendations on here.

I will no doubt be back for advice during the build.

The Mad Bull does look like a good model. It’s a shame Tamiya don’t do a bigger range of those kinds of vehicles.

@clubby – my cut stagger front tyres arrived for my Neo Fighter today – they weren’t due until next Monday so a good effort from rossmod1986 on eBay!

They have transformed the car completely! It’s a bit of a shame that Tamiya doesn’t ship the car with a similar tyre. It’s completely altered the character of it.
I’m having to re-learn how to drive it, as I’m used to it lazily understeering round corners whereas now it whips round nicely and can even induce a bit of oversteer.
Such a huge transformation for a small outlay.

Hmmm… might have to get some for the Grasshopper.

In other news, the Mad Bull has arrived. Got to wait for bearings and the radio.

Need a hand. Got an ecx roost 1/18 4wd. Very little power is going to the rear wheels. Rear diff is in perfect condition. Spur gear and slipper are integrated and power the rear wheels through a diff and the front via a dog bone and then diff. Any idea why no power would go to the rear?

Going to upgrade soon when I can find some stock of better cars… Ecx are not great.

Got out early doors for a bash around with the ftx this morning, still surviving well and manageable for the boy. Spent some time reading through the owners thread on MSUK so now have a lengthy wishlist of hopups. Boy also keen on us getting another, so have been eyeing up blitzer beetles – looks like another expensive hobby!

Harry_the_Spider
Subscriber
Hmmm… might have to get some for the Grasshopper.

I think the front Grasshopper wheels are smaller, so check before you buy.
I can measure mine if you want?
You can buy them pre-mounted so you could possibly just get them on bigger wheels. I suppose if the OD is broadly the same it won’t matter.

@mesh , love the boy’s commentary in that first video.

Bearings and radio didn’t arrive, so I took the opportunity to paint the body shell.

Was originally going to go “Camouflage”,but as the wheels are yellow and the shocks are red I thought that it would look a bit daft.

Hence this colour scheme.

Very nice

Decals on.

I thought I’d keep it quite understated as the suggested scheme using all of them would make it look like my duvet cover from 1985.

The body shell will never look this good again.

Body shell looks great!

Tamiya do go a bit loony with the decals. I used about 1/3 of the included ones on my Neo Fighter.

Got as far as we can without the radio and bearings with my lad doing most of the work.

The kit is quite a lot simpler than the Grasshopper with pre-assembled shocks, wheels and steering.

and it is a proper chunky Mutha Hubbard as you can see in this comparison.

Thinking of getting another body shell and going a bit “Mad Max” with it, or maybe do it in “Souther” camouflage and stick Rogue Trooper in the driver’s seat.

Today I rebuilt the rear shocks om my Rising Fighter with “valved” CVA pistons. They already had the non-vented pistons, so I have gone straight to the 3 hole piston heads and the original springs to try to reduce some of the hop at the rear.

I them spent AGES disassembling and rebuilding the propeller drives at each end of my Terrascorcher. This was meant to be a simple installation of thrust bearings to replace standard bearings that I’d stuck in when building instead of the thrust washers. The propeller joints are SO TIGHT, and incredibly notchy. I have removed some material using a Stanley knife and a needle file, but there is still a lot more to do. The front is improved, but not sorted. The rear still has a way to go. I reckon if it make the prop joints smooth there should be a significant increase in speed. Running a 13.5T brushless.

Our build awaits a servo and Rx.

He’s made a good colour choice – metallic sparkly…

I’ve ordered a couple of these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/323635764487?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=323635764487&targetid=876487124366&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046605&poi=&campaignid=9441121590&mkgroupid=95891581676&rlsatarget=aud-629407027145:pla-876487124366&abcId=1140496&merchantid=6995734&gclid=CjwKCAjwwYP2BRBGEiwAkoBpAlDosoa2FpwOw3E2qqe0HUnD1wdOyNo0y3PQn4pDVPBbHH3bPmmYQBoCfVMQAvD_BwE

and will get a new body shell when they arrive.

Project Nu-Earth All Terrain Fast Attack Vehicle is go! The driver will have a blue face and red eyes.

@matt. How big is that?

Harry, it’s just close, not far away…

@Harry_the_Spider – maybe 30-35cm long

Nice colour. 🙂

If you find it a bit too bouncy foams for the tyres make a huge difference.
I use some that don’t quite fill the tyre, so there’s still a bit of boing – Schumacher U6747’s.
You could go bigger with the foams.

I went a bit mad and fitted some Fastrax adjustable alloy 75mm shocks too, they make a big difference and are very nice bits of kit.

A sport tuned motor is wheelytastic too. Just enough, I wouldn’t go any crazier than that.
Don’t forget to glue the tyres or they’ll just spin on the wheels, even with a standard motor. 🙂

Harry, that Mad Bull looks great.

…and so it begins

Setting the bar high with those seat belts!

I’ve ordered some helicopter tape so that I can protect the roof and spoiler on the Mad Bull. When I bought this I told myself not to get too precious about the paint job. That time has passed.

@timmys

Wow! Next level stuff there.👏

i serviced the oil shocks on my sonic fighter yesterday for teh fist time in nearly 30 years.

cor it maye a massive difference! haha

been chasin the cat around the garden with it. loads of fun.

i want a monster buggy/mad bull now though as the cat heads into teh rough where the buggy gets stuck.

Bearings and radio gear have arrived.

I’ve synched the transmitter and receiver and have hooked up the various electronic items. The servo emits a little electrical squeal for a second or so after every actuation. Whilst this is irritating when under test in the quietness of the kitchen I suspect that it won’t be noticeable in operation. I called the shop (Pegasus – Very helpful) and they gave the option of sending it back or running it and if it dies during the warranty period they’ll send me another. So it is staying put.

Me and “the boy” will build up the gearbox and drive when we get an hour to ourselves, but it isn’t being run in anger until I’ve helicopter taped the roof.

I’m going to clean up the Grasshopper body and apply some tape to the vulnerable areas, then tape that too.

eBay inform me that two 15cm long 1/6 scale Mini Guns are on their way from China. When they arrive I’ll get another shell and build up my Nu Earth version. Was thinking how I would do a Rogue Trooper head, but I’ll just put a full visor over the standard driver and add some decals and breathing gear.

The electrical squeal is perfectly normal. You won’t hear it under normal use, like outside etc.

i keep looking at truggies. the urge is hard to resist. i`d like to build it first but the kits are expensive!

oh and the ecu i put in my sonic fighter sqeals a bit but its been fine for a couple of years.

Urgh. Forwards is backwards and left is right!

How do I reverse the settings?

Radio is a CODE Steerwheel.

There are likely to be a couple of wee switched somewhere to reverse the throttle and the steering. The will be small, and not easy to accidentally change.

I pushed the start button on a TT02B Neo Scorcher today from a small shop over the internet. I wonder when it will appear…

Meh. Read the instructions! Sorted.

Finished.

I think I’m done with new cars for now.

😎