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

Fin.

Awesome 👌

very nice!

Has anyone got one of those 1:24 Absoma crawlers? They are nearly half the price of the SCX-24.

I always know I’m going to see something lovely when Merak posts.

I buckled last night and ordered a very cheap DT-03 Racing Fighter from <spit>Amazon</spit> after my boys cracked the front end off our Rising Fighter in a buggy/kerb interface. I have, of course, ordered a replacement chassis for the Rising Fighter too.

super as always merak, but why the mismatched wheels?

@neilnevil my reference image searches throw up mixed wheels on this era of rally car.

I thought it’d add a bit of detail.

Restored and modified my best friend’s original Tamiya Monster Beetle for his upcoming 50th, he got this new in the late 80’s.

I replaced the electronics (ESC,servo and receiver) with Modern items (original transmitter lost), ESC (still brushed) from hobbywingtechnology ​⁠and Core Rc Lipo battery, Dumbo RC Transmitter and receiver, digital metal geared 25kg servo.

Fixed the infamous clicking gearbox with a small spacer, sorted the bump-steer by re-locating the servo ball joints to the underside of the servo saver.

Repaired and repainted original body, but had to use re-release decals, removed and repainted driver figure and installed 3d printed interior.

Most parts were there,but needed new bumper, motor mount wheels & tires. Also needed some of the metal sleeves that go in the gearbox, so had to buy those, but reused all the original gears and drive shafts. Fitted a few carbon parts (who doesn’t like Carbon), so front & rear suspension mounts (more mounting options for the shocks)

Motor is one I fitted for him when we were kids (came with my Kyosho Optima Mid Custom Special), it runs but is nothing special, have a holmeshobbies Retro Sport 15t on the way, which should liven it up.

https://youtu.be/mTpxQMFoFLU?si=gLLflsB8z6Hj6yxm

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Currently in the process of rebuilding this:-

It was given to me about ten years ago, missing its front drive shafts and knackered tyres. It looked like it’d been run over.

I put a battery in it and proceeded to crash it within 15secs, breaking an upright.

So in a cupboard it went.

Yesterday I found it and decided to see if I could sort it out.

I stupidly left the batteries in the Acoms radio, so they leaked. One of the contacts then snapped. I’ll see if I can fix that or get a modern radio maybe, although the quick fix up is getting costly fast.

I actually printed a new upright, then as I pulled it apart I found a few more broken bits and just ordered a pair of new uprights anyway, plus rear wish bones, rear carrier, driveshafts, another battery, tyres and other bits I can’t remember.

Modern electronics are so much better and a lot cheaper than things used to be.
Not run my cars in ages. The boy is getting to an age he can be trusted with more than the crawler. Maybe an idea for killing time in the school holidays.

I rebuilt an original ‘85 tamiya fox this year. It had sat in the garage for the best part of 15 years and had all the old electronics. Upgraded it to new stuff and I was really impressed with how straight forward it was. I have a Manta Ray that needs the same treatment.

Modern electronics are so much better and a lot cheaper than things used to be

I’m thinking a radio that doesn’t require 8000 AA batteries would be nice. Don’t want to spend much as it won’t get used a huge amount.

Would a modern speed controller allow for a more usable speed range, rather than almost flat out, flat out and backwards?

Wow,  as always Merak has done a super job.   Is it the same escort shell painted and repainted?  I hope not,  but you must have quite a few of Dagenham’s finest!

Ha, no they’re all different. I don’t own any of them. This is the second to last I’m going to do.

I have a 131 shell then that’s it.

Would a modern speed controller allow for a more usable speed range, rather than almost flat out, flat out and backwards?

Yes. I use the bog standard Tamiya kit ECU and they are great for very little money. Lots of model shops sell cheap new take ones taken out of kits where someone is running a hot motor. May as well get a new servo as well while your at it.

Looks like  HotShot 2 with the Supershot front suspension upgrade?

Looks like  HotShot 2 with the Supershot front suspension upgrade

I’m not sure. It’s a Hotshot of some description, I’d assumed a 1.

I’ve stripped it down to check the 4wd gearbox, thought it was broken, hence the missing prop and driveshafts, but it looks fine.

Reading this is making me want to relive my youth. Used to race electric buggies back in the day – last one was a Losi XX CR from memory. This was pre brushless motors and fancy batteries. A 13×2 motor and the best nicad batteries you could get were the order of the day at the time.

Bought one of those little micro 3.5 channel indoor helicopters and it’s pretty fun. Eying up secondhand nitro trucks / buggies on Facebook classifieds now – but must resist. I really don’t have the time to play with one and the wife will think I’m being even more of a child than she already does.

Have to see if my daughter gets into anything I like – ideally mtb – but if not RC cars would be fantastic. Seems unlikely as she’s a very girly girl, knowing my luck she’ll decide she wants a pony or something (never happening).

I think it’s a Hotshot 2. The original hotshot had mono shocks front and rear and the Supershot upgrade gave it front shocks like yours mounted to those alloy towers and matching yellow ones mounted behind the suspension arms instead of in front.

Nice motor on that too. Hopefully it’s got full ball bearings in the gearboxes etc?

I’ve just realised that the kyosho Optima 87 worlds edition that I bought for myself for Christmas last year is still sitting on the shelf unmade…..

If anybody has any idea where I can get the green paint that I need for the body please shout

If anybody has any idea where I can get the green paint that I need for the body please shout

Ask a Bianchi dealer 🙂 ?

I think it’s a Hotshot 2. The original hotshot had mono shocks front and rear and the Supershot upgrade gave it front shocks like yours mounted to those alloy towers and matching yellow ones mounted behind the suspension arms instead of in front.

Nice motor on that too. Hopefully it’s got full ball bearings in the gearboxes etc?

Ta, useful to know. I’ve never tinkered with a proper RC car before.

There are some bearings in the front gearbox. Not opened the rear yet.

The prop input seems to be a cream coloured nylon? Bush.

Obviously ordering a new prop  I didn’t realise I needed the cups at each end.

The hubs are all bushes.

Is it worth changing to bearings?

The bracket from the roll cage to the spoiler is mia, as is the driver.

If you’re going to do a full restoration then yeah I would upgrade to bearings. Modelsport etc. sell them. Tamiyabase or Tamiyaclub are a good resource for the old manuals and from them you can identify which parts trees you need to order for the missing bits. I did a full restoration on my original Hotshot, added bearings and a super nice motor + new electronics + batteries and it ran beautifully. And fast!

Thanks I’ll take a look, it started as get it working, but mission creep…

I think you’re right it’s a two, from what I found the brass bit on the front gearbox and the front of the chassis are a identifier.

I’ve just realised that the kyosho Optima 87 worlds edition that I bought for myself for Christmas last year is still sitting on the shelf unmade…..

If anybody has any idea where I can get the green paint that I need for the body please shout

Is this the green you are talking about? I think you need to get mixing I’m afraid!

Are the brushless trucks / buggies on Amazon – priced circa £80-£150 any good? Looking at the 1/16th and 1/14th ones.

Claimed speeds from 45km/h upwards depending on which ones you like at.

E.g:

https://amzn.eu/d/8LxFA0b

https://amzn.eu/d/6aBt5gd

https://amzn.eu/d/d4HYuIz

This still seems to be the default answer

edit: links seem to be borked: FTX Tracer from the likes of Modelsport

I have Amazon vouchers so has to be from there – looks like FTX models are on there so will check those out.

Little bit over budget but someone suggested the Losi B / Losi T which seems to be mini versions of their 1/10th scale vehicles. Only the brushed versions are not too far outside of budget (£156 for a brushed Mini T) – wonder how they compare size and speed wise?

Having looked again the FTX Tracer and the HBX 16899 are essentially the same little truck thing. The HBX has a pro version that has oil filled shocks, the upgraded metal stub axles, metal gears etc for not that much more money. Think I might get one of those in the brushless version.

First ever Tamiya received as present this year. I seem to recall someone saying it was desirable to get a set of bearing to replace the plastic bushings?

From my dim and distant experience with a Tamiya Mudblaster in the 1990’s the bearing kit is worth getting. The mechanical speed controller was also going in the bin – but I don’t think they fit those anymore.

Yeah the plastic bushes are baws. A stainless steel kit is about a tenner and well worth it. Oil filled shocks make a massive difference for not alot of money too.

Having looked again the FTX Tracer and the HBX 16899 are essentially the same little truck thing. The HBX has a pro version that has oil filled shocks, the upgraded metal stub axles, metal gears etc for not that much more money. Think I might get one of those in the brushless version

We have the ftx and the hbx.

The ftx is still fast for our garden. The hbx is too fast on max speed for the garden. The ftx has had more things break over the last year and half but, it’s my 4 year olds and was getting back flipped regular all summer.

Get some spare batteries as they only last for 15 to 20 min

Awesome thank you – ordered an HBX pro. See what it’s like!

So, as I’m still waiting for parts, I vaguely re assembled the car. I wanted to see if the body shell I downloaded fitted. It didn’t due to the front shock mounts, nothing a trim won’t sort.

Although I’ve ordered another controller I repaired the -ve battery tab that snapped off, using bits from some broken hair clippers. Controller now powers up, so I have the option to run it as is if I grow impatient waiting for the modern stuff.