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for some reason i have been looking at model cars and obviously sooner or later i would end up here 😀
by the gods i was like a kid in a sweet shop when i was looking at some of their models (a kid at primary school had a one of these [img]
[/img] i was not jealous of him at all) he even lent me the instruction book which i drooled over (the diagrams were awesome). every time i went to the toy shop in town i drooled over those lovely tamiya boxes (they were like crack to me 😳
i ended up getting one of these many years later [img]
[/img] unfortunately i never used it much 🙁 and it was sold.
even though i wouldn't use it (have nowhere i could use it/am now 38) i still started lusting after the models again as soon as i saw the pictures of them on the tamiya site (the boxes must be made of msg i reckon).
ah whist full thinking back to my childhood.
what model(s) did you own?
A mate has one of these. http://www.team-durango.com/race-cars/dex410v3/
All carbon fibre, adjustable diffs, camber/castor blah blah. It's a stunning bit of engineering and it'll do 70kmh off road.
Check this out
Oh and I had a Hornet but lusted after that 1 1/2th 959 in the centre.
Number 55.
Boomerang.
Bumper broke circa 10 seconds into first ever Christmas day usage. Gutted.
I have similar cravings. For my wee nephews of course.........
I used to love building Tamiya models.
I started with the Subaru 'Brat' which is number 37 on the picture; mine was bright red though.
I then ended up with a Boomerang which is 55 before finally moving to Schumacher and running a 'Cat.'
I always wanted a 'Willy' jeep though, my friend had one and it was great; wheelied everywhere 😀
Saved forever to get a Grasshopper, the cheapest and most basic they did, bloody loved it! Even if I did take it out in my works van to play with (like I said, took a long time to save for/justify 🙂 )
JCL - wow that was intense ❗
Tamiya Frog, can't find it on that photo, sure it must be in there somewhere.
Indeed! Bonkers skill the way they adjust the angle of the cars in the air.
41,43,45,47 and 57.Then Schumachers after that.
I had several but ended up racing a modified Falcon - iirc it had quad magnet(?) Demon motor and updated battery.
Subaru Brat here also ...in white ....hours of fun
edlong - Member
Tamiya Frog, can't find it on that photo, sure it must be in there somewhere.
I think the frog is 41.
I seem to recall Tamiya trying to get serious with their buggies, but at the time; Schumacher, Team Losi and Associated were the daddies.
That race was epic! Had a Blackfoot when young. On weds evening I'm off to the local club who have loan cars for some tarmac racing, should be fun
75, still have it somewhere .
The Hornet was my first RC car, then after a lot of saving I brought a Manta Ray. The best bit for me was always the assembly.
Always wanted an avante but never got one.
After quite a few tamiyas I went for a Lossi xxx4 graphite and a Marder 1/5th scale 29cc petrol.
Still love the old tamiyas and tempted to buy another just to build
"Wild One", no.50 here!
(Followed by a "Samurai" 4WD thing but that was by Marui not Tamiya 😉 )
A Hotshot (47) for me. Loved it. It's still in the loft for when blobby jr is old enough to appreciate it 🙂
No. 68 - Super Sabre. Still at my Mum's I think, definitely due for resurrection! Do modern batteries allow them to run for more than 15 minutes?
I must admit to having a look at Schuacher Cats the other month to see how much they'd moved on. I was very nearly tempted with the [url= http://www.racing-cars.com/pcp/products.asp?recnumber=85633 ]current model[/url], but then realised that I'd never actually use it.
I can now see a downside to not having kids.
My Mis-spent youth!
I had a Tamiya Hornet which I ran into the ground. Then had a Kyosho Lazer ZX.
Then after I'd more or less killed that I had a Kyosho Ultima Pro XL.
Then I discovered real cars....
Lancia Beta. Number 40 up there. Same as the Grasshopper with an even heavier, more breakable plastic body. Completely uncontrollable with a fully charged 7.2v battery and the ubiquitous demon '27 single'.
[img]
[/img]Looked like this for all of 10 minutes until the first, inevitable car/kerb interface.
i had a brat, loved it.
had a 12 turn motor in it so it was rapid, but battery life in those days was like 3-4 minutes!
modern batteries are a world away from that, as well as bodies being lexan and a lot lighter.
i recently bought a schumacher mission rolling chassis off ebay, 4 sets of wheels and tyres and a somewhat battered body, but i only paid £25 for it.
fitted some old radio gear i had lying around, and a 9 turn brushless motor also off ebay, a LOT faster than anything ive had before.
top fun for about £130 all in.
brilliant fun with drift tyres.
@ racefaceec90
It does look amazing, especially in Matt black.
The detailing on the chassis and running gear is fantastic.
Subaru Brat Mud Blaster, think my parents threw it out the loft 🙁
google suggests they started making the Frog again. Hmmm
See a few of us had the 'Brat.'
I'm sure mine came with half a man to simulate the driver.
The top half obviously 8)
45, 43, 92 and 96 (with an escort cosworth shell)
Still got them in the man cave 🙂
Ooooh, has an escort cossie that I spent a fair few quid hopping up.
Loved that car, was awesome!
@ edlong
Looks like they still make quite a few of the old [url= http://www.tamiya.com/english/rc/rcitem/kit/kit58051.htm ]classics.[/url]
The [url= http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/58405lc40/index.htm ]Land Cruiser[/url] is nice. Very similar to one that Richard Hammond drove on a TG special.
In fact, it might have been that exact vehicle 😆
Had a Vanessa's lunch box , a monster beetle and a kyosho raider ,i used to race at pendle model club and got a trophy in 2 wheel drive class(they were the hardtail of the rc car world )i wanted one again but could not justify it to the wife and she bought me leather gloves for christmas that year,great hobby that ?
I had a few of the small Tamiya monster trucks Midnight pumpkin, Toyota HI LUX and the like. They just had an on/off switch and ran in straight lines but had stunt gear for wheelies and running on 2 wheels. Also had buggies possibly Super Astue?
Propper RC stuff I had and still have some
Tamiya Mini Cooper
Tamiya TL01 Imprezza
Tamiya Juggernaut 2
HPI RS4 pro2
HPI RS4 pro3
HPI Mini Pro
Schumacher cat 2
And a Carson 1/8 nitro focus wrc
ahhh brings back so many good memories. i had a Boomerang and used to race it with my fellow school mate Greg's hornet - i had so much traction!
Dear Santa...
Never had a Tamiya - started racing with a Mardave Meteor, then raced Schumacher CAT's - did indoor and outdoor races with Worksop Radio Car Club and loads of regionals for about 10 years.
the more i'm looking at pictures of rc cars (tamiya/other brands) the more my mind is trying to get me to save up for one even though i have
1. not so much as 2 pennies to rub together
2. wouldn't use it very much
3. places to use it are too far for me (have a bike).
still the temptation is there though 😉
p.s don't google any of the classic r/c cars like alfa romeo e.t.c they are lush 😳
i have used these guys s couple of times mail order, no problems at all.
i have also visited the shop in stevenage, very helpful guys who know their stuff.
[url= http://www.goldstarstockists.com/playtime/tamiya.htm ]clicky[/url]
Always wanted an Avante. Realised that was way outside the realms of possibility, so settled on wanting a Boomerang or a Super Sabre.
This was also outside the realms of possibility too it would appear....
Never got a 'proper' r/c car. A mate of mine had a Kyosho Optima Mid that was really nice.
Tempted to buy a Boomerang a while back seeing as they re-released them, but they are even more expensive now & I think you could get a better buggy for the money....
If I bought one, I think it would be mainly about the assembly and it wouldn't really get used after a few weeks of playing...
I had a Madcap which I think is *squints* 82 in that picture. Built to stock apart from the rear wing decal which read "Never Give Up!" or something equally cheesy, I couldn't bring myself to put it anywhere hear the car.
Had the most fun building it, it handled like a whale. Going flat out meant the steering didn't work. I always put it down to the non-oil-filled dampers; I replaced them years later, but then couldn't find the controllers to test it. I've now got everything together, should probably take it out for a spin, assuming the batteries still work.
I've got the Tamiya FAV(46 in the picture)in my shed and a Kyosho Optima.
The FAV is the best as it being two wheel drive its more fun, but the Optima is an awesomely quick racer.
I remember putting a new motor in my hotshot. Called a green machine. First drove it and it must of gone 30mph down the road. - awesome times.
I had a Madcap. Uprated motor, fancy speed controller, oil dampers. Very fast and completely 100% uncontrollable. Constantly looped out with massive wheel spin, then once moving the steering was useless. Battery life was about 5 minutes, but to a 12 year old those where some of the best 5 minutes of the day.
Had a Kyosho Beetle.Pile of junk - the chassis rails kept bending. The gearbox kept self destructing, had a die cast diff, with was made of cheese, the suspension arms were also die cast and kept snapping. When it cornered the rear rear would lift. I got it second hand and it was all I could afford - it was old. So hardly anyone stocked spares for it!!
Then an Optima Mid. Amazing cars. Then a carbon fibre chassis and belt upgrade for the Optima to transform it into a long wheelbase version. Got a cool body shell for it and sprayed it 3 tone fluo, each colour fading into each other. Used to have a Massive rear wing for it too, which was left clear, so unpainted.
Used run matched cells etc and I think demon 17 doubles, 15 doubles and 13 double motors. Had a basic Novak speed controller too.
Then I had a 2wd RC10 ( some newer version, not the old classic ones - never got on with it to be honest - did not like it at all - stopped racing and sold it )
Used to race weekly on carpet and offroad tracks sometimes too. Got quite good. Really loved it 🙂
think this is probably my favourite looking early tamiya racing buggy.
[url= http://www.iconicrc.com/2011/02/58050-tamiya-wild-one/ ]wild one[/url]
This is the one I had before I changed to a pro cat (and regretted it), I can't see it on the picture above. My Fire Dragon in the end had that many mods it was faster than the Yokohama Works (I think they was called) and Pro Cats, but it was indestructible 🙂
[url= http://www.tamiyaclub.com/pictureframe.asp?t=n&id=img4867_18072009153455_1.jp g" target="_blank">
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/pictureframe.asp?t=n&id=img4867_18072009153455_1.jp g"/> [/url]
There was always a divide in our family(and mates) I was alway 4wd and my cousins 2wd?
They had the Mardave Meteor then the Top Cat
Happy days 🙂
Had a Grasshopper, then a Rough Rider, a Wild One, and a road one (I think #14)...
Want another one now, but the CFO won't let me 🙁
I had several old ones that were cobbled together, Baja Bug and then a Hornet. My mate had a really fast motor in his so I hacked a battery pack and joined two extra cells onto a 7.2v and it used to whip his ass (never burnt anything out either).
My brother had a Hotshot - that was a nice piece of kit.
I had the Fox as in the OPs pic. Looked good, but driveshafts kept wearing out because of the angle they went in at. After numerous replacements the UK distributor cut the rear shocks shorter to level them out. It was sh*te after that!
A few years later my mate got a BigWig, awesome car! 4wheel drive and extremely fast, very expensive too:
[img]
[/img]
For having a dabble back in the RC world, I can recommend getting a Losi Micro-T £59 and fantastic fun!
1:36
Great fun to just bash around the house:
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/losi-micro-t-1-36-scale-rtr-truck-red-/rc-car-products/27277
I had 56, the Falcon.
By the time I stopped using it the wing had gone, all the transfers had gone, the rear tyres were slick, and the cosmetic shell looked like it'd been driven under a lawn mower. It was 2WD, and at full throttle it would go in a straight line with the front wheels at full lock. Great fun just hitting the gas and skidding, roostin' n' spinning on gravel and dirt.
[img] http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3EP5XGGChYyj9A30r73vY1FLPCO0sG0Pl3gKNwtqJmCLcoRhpIA [/img]
Oh wow this brings back happy memories, I can still remember my Dad helping me to build my Tamiya Frog, such a fun car 🙂
there's a suburban rc race track not far from me. keep getting tempted to buy a car, but this time (25 years later) may be able to repair the thing.
I've got a Lancia Delta, fully ballraced, had it going a while ago, even managed to get the 20 year old nicads back to run 7 or 8 minutes after a few charges.
For having a dabble back in the RC world, I can recommend getting a Losi Micro-T £59 and fantastic fun!
1:36Great fun to just bash around the house:
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/losi-micro-t-1-36-scale-rtr-truck-red-/rc-car-products/27277
Looks good, and great for tormenting the cats... but surely half the fun is building them?
I had a Grasshopper 'Super G' - which meant it had a sensible 540 motor instead of the weedy 430(?). Lasted ages but was finally replaced with a Schumacher Cougar. Had this for a while then sprayed and fitted a nascar body painted like the green and yellow chevy in Days of Thunder 🙂
After that I went nitro with the Schumacher Storm. Huge step up in terms of performance (and danger!) but terrible starting meant it was a pain in the ass! Still got it somewhere.
I still have this:
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4064/4667653502_eabf5b4d5a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4064/4667653502_eabf5b4d5a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/milkiekula/4667653502/ ]Busted Buggy[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/milkiekula/ ]MilkieKula[/url], on Flickr
Hyper 8.5 Pro with a 4 port race engine and exhaust. Extremely fast servos, custom tuned shocks, uprated shock towers. This thing can fly!
You can try to tame this beast... I tried and failed in the photo above!
wow such happy memories, I had a sand scorcher and got a spare rough rider body for it. got a 959 after a few years but I didnt use it much.
i used to help my friend make the kits for people at Christmas at Beatties in Leeds, I then started making the kits for Otley modelsport for people who didnt want to build or paint them.
used to love Christmas as my bedroom would have about twenty kits at a time to build it was awesome.
I used to love painting the bodies especially the original ones, didnt like painting from the inside on later models.
But later started doing the display models for Beatties in Leeds used to have a great youth, didnt do much for my athletic prowess, but hey you cant have everything.
Brings back lots of memories,
I had a Hornet, a Thunder Dragon and the brilliantly named Bush Devil!
always wanted a Shumacher Pro Cat.
Good times.
I always wanted the King Tiger but could never afford it
Some guys round the corner from my grandads had a couple of the monster trucks and I knew I wanted one for Xmas, got the tamiya catalogues and obsessed for months...... Come xmas I changed my mind and got something else. I regretted that for a long time, now this thread has got me Google searching
**heads off to the Wonderland Models website**
I had the Fox , funnily enough i only looked at it the other day, it's not very original, most parts were replaced either due to crashes or wearing out... but it is all there although I can't find the Futaba controller anywhere...
A big gang of us used to meet after school and race them around sports bags on the tennis courts/playground, in the rain too with those funny bags you had to put over the motors to stop the water from destroying them and with torches strapped to them at night..... some very fond memories.. got into planes and gliders in the end.
Great thread
I had a Madcap... completely 100% uncontrollable... once moving the steering was useless.
Thank god it wasn't just me. I thought for years I'd done something fundamentally wrong with it.
I want one of these
Think the building would be just as enjoyable than the 'driving'
There's masses of engineering in it, just have a look at the construction manuals!
http://www.tamiya.com/english/rc/rcmanual/58397high_lift_2.pdf
Mind you, I also really like the idea of the 1/16 tanks!
i fancy one of those hilux's too, but have you seen the price 😯 ?
Bought a Hotshot when it first came out in 1985 with my first wages. Still have it, sits ona display shelf now rather than up in the loft. Also bought 2 of the releases when they came out, both still owed in loft. I am in the processor selling all the vintage Hotshot spares I bought over the years. Just sold 2 Hotshots 2. Still got loads left, but what I did sell bought me a Moda Arco track bike. Had loads of Tamiya rc models (TL01/TT01/TNX/TB Evo4MS/TRF415MS/King Blackfoot/TXT1/ plus many,many Hotshots 1&2s)as well as their static kits.
Check out www.tamiyaclub.com


















