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

Oh god, the Mardave’s look ace.

Nearly Christmas…..again. 🙂

A mate turned up with a really nice tricked up DT-02 Sand Viper last week. Cracking 2WD buggy and it came with bearings and oil shocks in the box, have to say I’m tempted.
Also thinking about a Blitzer Beetle or possibly a Wild Willy….. choices choices.

After a play with Harry’s cars though I might just go for a Rising Fighter – the last of the Hopper/Hornet line and I seem to be the only person who actually likes the looks.
Hmmmmm.

TBH, adding bearings and oil shocks is so cheap and easy, I wouldn’t let it influence a purchase. A bit of a pisstake that Tamiya still sells cars without them tbf.

Picked up a WPL D12, love it!!

WPL D12

Ahhhh I saw one of those on FB, I want it! But I already have 2 other cheap WPLs I’ve not done anything with so I’d better not

One of those D12’s was offered as a raffle prize by the RC club I’ve joined due to this thread, sold all the tickets faster than any other car they’ve raffled!

TBH, adding bearings and oil shocks is so cheap and easy, I wouldn’t let it influence a purchase. A bit of a pisstake that Tamiya still sells cars without them tbf.

That’s because the vast majority of the kits they sell get built and used maybe once or twice before living on a shelf. Loads of people just like building them, checking they work then either flogging them on or just collecting them.

That’s because the vast majority of the kits they sell get built and used maybe once or twice before living on a shelf. Loads of people just like building them, checking they work then either flogging them on or just collecting them.

Plus if you’re not racing them, what does it matter? I could spend a load upgrading my Neo Fighter, but what would be the point? I drive it every now and then, usually when mates are round and we’ve had a drink or two. Spending money to get another couple of Mph out would be a complete waste of money when we’re only going to crash it anyway 🙂

I like upgrading them. 🙂

My three Tamiyas all have Sport Tuned motors, tyre foams, bearings and posh shocks.
It’s fun to see if I can make them just that bit better (or in the case of the Lunchbox, a lot better).

And as my mate has a 2wd buggy, it would be fun to have something similar to race him with, hence the Sand Viper…..cheaper than buying a DT-03 and upgrading it.

Currently have a TT02B (4wd buggy), 2CV Rally for the smooth stuff and a batshit crazy Lunchbox for everyday stupidity.
Having fun looking at the options and deciding what to get next…….

The 6 wheel Tyrrell F1 car looks amazing, but smooth tarmac is a bit hard to find round here.

Hi All

I’ve been following this thread closely – some of the models are amazing!

I’m want to treat myself to a r/c car to celebrate my 40th (and lockdown!) but I don’t know what to get. The last one I had was a Tamiya Escort Cosworth in the early 90’s.

I’d like another Tamiya, and have been reading lots about the different models and am now thoroughly confused. I will mainly use it on grass (garden/local park) and maybe a bit on the road/paths. No doubt my kids (8 and 6) will want to play too! 2WD or 4WD? DT-02? DT-03? DF-03? Would something simple like a Lunchbox or Mad Bull be a good starting point for the use I’ve described?

Please help!

Cheers

Dave

A Mad Bull or Lunchbox would be perfect.

The buggy style cars don’t really cope very well on anything but very short grass, tbh.

Just add some bearings and you’re good to go……🙂

Another vote for the Mad Bull. Ours is hilariously good fun.

Get the bearing set and a spare battery or two.

I’ve got a Lunchbox and a TT02 Lancia, the TT02 is really only useable on tarmac due to scale size wheels and low ground clearance. The Lunchbox is fun on all surfaces as it just bounces around all over the place!

So on my experience I’d go for a Lunchbox or a Mad Bull depending on your preference.

So, anybody else getting something for Christmas?

Stocks are low, so I might order something later.
Nothing pricey, just something fun.

If Harry buys that Lancia we can have a Rally Challenge. 🙂

The Lunchbox gets more use than anything, so maybe something equally daft.

Anyone have a Wild Willy? Tell me about them…..

Ordered a new kit as the Bugsta keeps on breaking (front arm last time out…) so planning to transfer the motor, servo and receiver over to that and sell the Bugsta chassis as spares.

Although I’m tempted to out the motor in the Lunchbox just for giggles, a brush less motor with double the rpm than the standard can would be ridiculous for a few minutes 🤣

Oooh, what have you ordered?

And tbh, I reckon the Lunchbox is very under rated. A few choice upgrades and they handle fine. Ish. 🙂

mogrim
Full Member

Plus if you’re not racing them, what does it matter?

Not sure what racing or not has to do with it tbh? Wheels without bearings are a terrible idea, they’re wearing out from the second you fit them and it’s not just the bushings. Pretty much every entry level crawler is fully bearing’d, but you can spend much more on a more basic tamiya and get bushings. (I bought a £30 WPL that has full bearings ffs) It’s just a bad way to build an rc car and they only get away with it because they’re Tamiya.

reluctantjumper makes a fair point that it makes no difference for shelf queens, but that’s no excuse. You could use the same justification for switching to cheaper more brittle plastic or similar.

I’ve got a mk1 Wild Willy, it’s not been run for years but was fun to bash around the street when I was a kid. However It soon got a bit tiresome with constantly falling over and having almost no stearing and hence zero control. I believe the mkii is better and is similar to a lunch box.

Thanks for the suggestions.

As expected, it looks like I’ve thought about too much and not much is in stock.

Think either the Mad Bull or Lunchbox will be ordered – just need to try and decide which one now. Anyone whose got/used both able to summarise the pros and cons of each?

Cheers

Dave

Mad Bull- doesn’t really quite go where you steer it, but can go round corners without falling over
Lunchbox- good at wheelies, can’t go round corners or up and down steep things without falling over

There are things in there that sound like negatives, but actually aren’t, the entire point of a lunchbox is wheelying everywhere and then falling over. And rather than make my madbull steer, I added a brushless motor so that it’s so fast I can’t even tell where it is, let alone where it’s going to go next. It’s amazingly good fun, and it wouldn’t be, if it was actually good.

Mind you, I haven’t actually used it for about a year because basically I can’t drive it for 10 minutes without destroying something.

I like upgrading them.

Fair enough 🙂

Not sure what racing or not has to do with it tbh? Wheels without bearings are a terrible idea, they’re wearing out from the second you fit them and it’s not just the bushings.

I suppose they are wearing out, but realistically I’m pretty sure I can get another 20 years use out of the car at the rate I use it – it really isn’t an issue. If I were racing or using the car every day then yes, it clearly makes sense to upgrade it. But that’s not the case for me.

And please note I’m not in any way opposed to people spending money tweaking their cars, btw. I mean, grown up men building RC cars is already clearly something that’s hard to justify to the wife. You want to spend €30 on a bearing kit, go for it 😀

Thanks. Sounds like the answer is to get both!

Cheers

Dave

🙂 I think you’ve cracked it………

I could go out and buy a Traxxas or Arrma truck and they would both do 60mph without breaking a sweat.
But I won’t, because a Lunchie or Mad Bull are just as much fun.

Harry’s Hornet and Mad Bull are so cool.

Oooh, what have you ordered?

This box arrived yesterday:

Which contained this:

Which is will eventually turn into one of these:

Will just run the electronics out of the Bugsta for the start and then look into possibly upgrading to more power if it needs it.

Feels much better quality than the FTX stuff so should be more robust, it’s also got better suspension too.

I just found an unopened box in the spare room which turned out to have an axial Jeep Mighty body in it. It’s a sign from god and/or ebay that I need to get the SCX10 going again

@RustySpanner

Did I miss pics of your 2CV?

Err, no.

Decided to sort out the garage and create some space.

Also general malaise set in for a while, so still not painted. 😐

Watch this space…..

@reluctantjumper – Interested to know how the Absima works out.

Looks like a great starter project.

Cheers,

Paul

I’ll be building it once the wheel bearings and diff oil arrive, it’s not just Tamiya that supply bushings! Full bearings in the rest of the drivetrain though.

This box arrived yesterday:

Loving the box with the “Think Green” logo on the side, and when you open it’s full of separately bagged plastic bits 🙂

Looks like a good value kit, be interested to hear how much fun / how complicated it is to build.

Made a new runner shell for my RC10, inspired by my favourite rally livery

How do the absima kits compare to Tamiya in terms of build quality and instructions etc.? Any other decent self build options?

Evening all

I’m still deliberating what to get (partly because lots of stuff is out of stock)!

Has anyone any experience of the Aqroshot? In particular on grass etc. I’m still tempted by the Mad Bull (when available) but also fancy something that is a bit more interesting to build. Apparently Mad Bull wheels fit to give better grip and clearance etc.

Many thanks

Dave

Aqroshot is basically the DT-03 chassis with longer wheel studs to take the bigger wheels.

I’ve got a Neo Fighter which is a DT-03 chassis.
It’s a good car and to be honest would probably go better in my garden with the bigger wheels.

I need to give mine a strip down and rebuild really, as I think I am missing a few screws that have rattled their way out.

If you fit bigger wheels, you will need to fit a smaller pinion, to gear it down or you will be at risk of burning things out, like the speed controller or motor due, to the extra load.

@dwm1980 I’ve put longer front axles on my racing fighter and turned it into a Baja bug with a Blitzer wheels, so essentially an aqroshot. Works fine on grass and ok with the 17t kit pinion with a torque tuned motor. No problems with motor or esc overheating. Also fitted a speed passion 21t brushless motor for a bit of extra kick without overpowering the chassis. A lot more predictable handling than a mad bull.

Madbull is an easy build but it is hilarious and fairly indestructible. I run a 2s lipo on the normal 540 and it’s bloody fast. Need to let it cool down periodically but it’s ace. A brusless motor as well would be mental.

I do need to get oil shocks.

I’d prefer 4wd for the garden as I’m too lazy to mow / strim the track. The madbull copes but 4wd would be better. Interested in that absima 4wd kit I could put off-road wheels on it. My ancient sonic fighter is about to die I think so needs retirement. It’s not robust enough any more for the kids crashing it.

A bit of an update on the XV-01.

Not really had much chance to take it out as I had about 4 days off work since middle of August. With the limited time that I took it out, realised it needed a waterproof servo / RX and it needed more travel as it kept bottoming out on the chassis.

RX went from a orange to a Spektrum SR215. The servo went from a Futaba S148 to a Spektrum A6180 (twice the power / half the response time and waterproof):

Got the long damper spec suspension mount, GF01 shocks and some anti roll bars.

Before:

After:

I did have to grind a bit of the chassis as the steering linkage rubs the chassis on full droop. The anti roll bars are also an absolute pain to fit.

Manged to get home from work before it got too dark and took it out. The results are really good, no longer bottoming out on the chassis, handle bumps way better and the transition from under to over steering seems more predictable as well.

With more confidence came much higher speeds and managed to clip a rut while sliding resulting in some unintended aerobatics and landing quite a distance away. The scratches add character but not very happy with the snapped spoiler:

Definitely having a lot of fun with this chassis, I think my Mini 8ight T won’t ever get used again so will be selling that.

I’ve been looking around at options for littleginge’s Christmas present and was wondering if anyone here has tried out any of the clones/copies of any of the smaller models from Bangood?

I’ve half got my eye on a couple of models that look like they may offer some half decent fun without instantly falling apart but can’t find much in the way of longer term views on any of them.

So, worth a look or save the money and look for something from a more established brand?

https://www.banggood.com/Xinlehong-Q901-1-or-16-2_4G-4WD-52km-or-h-Brushless-Proportional-Control-RC-Car-with-LED-Light-RTR-Toys-p-1445869.html

https://uk.banggood.com/XLF-F16-RTR-1-or-14-2_4GHz-4WD-60km-or-h-Metal-Chassis-RC-Car-Full-Proportional-Vehicles-Model-p-1725253.html

Never mind, I’ve put an order in so I guess we’ll find out what they are like first hand just after Christmas. Hopefully they can stand up to at least a few runs at the hands of an excitable five year old.

Haven’t used any of those but there are clones out there for crawlers that are damn nearly as good as the real thing, and more importantly, totally interchangable so you can fit genuine parts in key places, use the aftermarket, etc. Considering you can get about 3 for the price of my one genuine axial, and despite that the genuine item had parts missing from the box, it’s pretty tempting sometimes. I’d not buy another crawler normally but I could literally take the leftover bits from my SCX, stick a spare bodyshell on it, buy an ESC and boom, whole bonus truck.

With more confidence came much higher speeds and managed to clip a rut while sliding resulting in some unintended aerobatics and landing quite a distance away. The scratches add character but not very happy with the snapped spoiler:

The spoiler seems to be the point mine lands on every roll!! I really need to get the second shell painted and fitted, that’s just being done a plain red with no spoiler (the one that came with it will go on the original shell).