Popular Post 300bhp/ton Posted January 10, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted January 10, 2018 First off I probably should start by apologising for maybe being less than complimentary about Tamiya products in the past. A bit of history. Being a child of the 80’s I grew up seeing Tamiya kits for sale. However my first ‘proper’ RC was actually a Tandy Black Phantom. A twin motor 4wd buggy. A bit heavy maybe, but in its day and at the age I was, it was a brilliant start in the hobby. I was too young to go racing and too young to assemble a kit on my own. A grown up friend at the time had a Tamiya Porsche 959 and it seemed so speedy compared to my buggy. So I used to lust after the Tamiya kits I’d see at Beatties and constantly read through the Tamiya catalogue. Another friend had the Bullhead, which again seemed so cool. But a huge amount of money in its day, I was never likely to get one. As it happened, I never ended up owning any of the Tamiya’s I’d been lusting over. A few years later I was still hugely interested in RC cars and got a Traxxas SRT, a 1/10th scale stadium racer. And this was a time when they weren’t RTR’s. Compared to the Tamiya’s friends had, the Traxxas blew them into the weeds from a performance point of view. Running a then Trinity Team motor, a 14x2 and some RaceTec NiCd cells. No idea how fast it was, but I could chase down cars going along the 30mph road outside and it was in a different league to a Tamiya buggy running a silver can and NiCd’s. I started racing, a switch to Losi and no Tamiya’s insight on the off road race circuits or even the indoor racing I used to attend. I also raced Schumacher vehicles and bashed them. Friends ran Associated, even Tenth Technology and other makes. But Tamiya was conspicuous by its absence. They just seemed expensive poor performing vehicles by and large. All the RC’s I’d been buying over the years were all kits with good instructions and assembly guides. So I just didn’t see the appeal. I retired from racing, not due to old age, just lack of commitment on my part, other interests, changes in spare time, etc. Over the years I’d keep seeing Tamiya’s recommended, especially on car websites. Never really understanding why this was. And at times they still seemed expensive too compared to the competition. I admit, the mainstream switch from kits to RTR’s didn’t pass me by un-noticed and wasn’t something I thought was good for the hobby. Keeping my eye on the hobby and wanting to get back into it several times and often then bulking at the price of the latest Traxxas vehicle, which always looked great, but was now an RTR and eyewatering prices. I delayed buying anything for a while, but I still kept seeing Tamiya’s being recommended a lot, I eventually took the plunge a couple of years back and bought myself a Vanessa’s Lunchbox to see what all the fuss was about. I hadn’t assembled an RC kit in years and thoroughly enjoyed the process. Arguably more than running the car!! I knew the Lunchbox was an old design kit, but it was one that was mentioned a lot on forums. And sad to say it met my expectations, it really is quite dreadful in most respects. Crude poor suspension design and a lot of compromised designed components. However when I ran it, I was surprised at how much fun it was. I built it to stock specs using the stock silver can 540 motor, but used one of my old Novak race spec ESC’s. I also took the opportunity to switch to LiPo’s and binned my old knackered NiMH race packs from yesteryear. Being impressed with how well it went overall, but disappointed with the speed and performance making it feel rather “toy” grade and almost embarrassingly slow if out in public running it. I swapped in a 13x3 brushed race motor as I had about 15 brand new race motors stockpiled from my racing days. This is the sort of motor I was running 20 years earlier in my Losi vehicles without problems. The Lunchbox platform simply seems completely unable to handle a motor of this type. A few broken parts later and a few upgrades I still have it in this configuration. But it really shows up the limitations of what I expected a Tamiya to be like. It did however reignite my interest in RC’s again. So I purchased an FTX Carnage and a Hobbyking SCT-2. I was impressed on the spec and adjustability of these, although they both seem far more fragile than my Traxxas and Losi trucks of yesteryear. I even dusted off some of my old Losi kits and started running them again, remembering just how good they really were. But it was depressingly obvious that parts supply for them was literally non-existent. For fear of breaking them beyond repair I’ve now shelved these as display models and homages to my past enjoyment in the sport. This lead me to wanting to get another RC, preferably a kit. As I really did enjoy the Lunchbox build. But it seems there really are very few kits on the market these days. Tamiya dominating this market by a serious margin. So I took the plunge again and bought the Konghead. It’s still crude in some areas and still seems a long way off my old race cars. But it does have a certain charm. So next came a Grasshopper kit. I know it’s basic, but I built it to stock spec and while it’s fairly slow, I’m surprised at how well it goes. Although I won’t be making the same mistake as I did with the Lunchbox, this one is staying stock! I’ve got an XV-01T Asterion that I’m going to start building in the next couple of days and I’m finding myself lusting after Tamiya kits again…. I always wanted a Bullhead and while the re-release SRB Rough Rider is no longer available. The Sand Scorcher looks rather interesting, as does a re-release Blackfoot and a number of others even a basic TT-02 with the Lancia Integrale bodyshell. I think I’ve got the bug bad now. I guess it’s because I’m not looking at racing any of these. I want them for the assembly experience and occasional bashing use. Finally I might actually be “getting” what the appeal is with Tamiya kits. It’s been a long journey and it isn’t over yet. I’m just glad that Tamiya is still producing kits like this. Although a few of the re-release Kyosho’s have caught my eye too. Damn, this is going to get expensive! 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Watch out, I bought a Tamiya as a toy for the kids and now I've got four of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV Pilot Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Tamiyas certainly do have an appeal, although it is difficult to quantify - there is a thread on Tamiyaclub at the moment where fans are trying to put their fingers on it. One thing is for sure though - they do tend to multiply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo_miah Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 tamiyas have a nice performance to money spent aspect i have a tt-02d with a nissan r34 shell, the details on the shell are amazing and it was pretty cheap compared to how much i have spent on my scx10ii and all the extras for it it may not be the fastest but it performs well tamiya club have a top speed chart which doesn't have many tt02 models on it so i might start modifying mine for speed and take part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) I dread to think how many Tamiyas are lurking in my loft. John Edited January 10, 2018 by johninderby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Had loads over the years, still would if I had the room. crude, yes, fun, definately! although still to this day, oil filled shocks, bearings and hex hardware really need to be the normal now, you would think so anyway..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
53HRA Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 I just love them. Nothing more I can say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nr73 Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 My interest in RC was sparked when, as a child of the 70's/80's there was a lad at the top of our street a few years older that had an original Wild Willy. It was so much better than anything radio controlled I'd ever seen, and being a Tamiya it had a touch of the exotic about it too. Tamiya were the real deal. Fast forward to the late 90's and my first actual RC was a Tamiya - a Fighter RX buggy to be precise. Loved building it, always felt it could be faster though and it was very particular about what surface you could use it on. I then got into 'proper' RCs in the last 6 years with a few SCTs, HPI Savage etc. Bought a Lunchbox kit to build and loved it, that old tamiya magic was still there. Definitely crude and a world apart from todays RTRs but when it was built it was so much fun. A tamiya seems to work best with the sport tuned motor and 2S lipo. The Lunchie handles that really badly which is perfect, it doesn't break but just wheelies and tumbles everywhere. The kids treat it like a pet. Lately I've really fancied going back to where it started and getting myself a Wild Willy 2 kit. Tamiya's definitely have character and are more than the sum of their parts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMaxxDave Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Love my Tamiyas, I enjoy building them and upgrading them, and looking at them and occasionally running them. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 to the op...I'd concentrate on ur 1/5th dreams first.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
300bhp/ton Posted January 11, 2018 Author Share Posted January 11, 2018 32 minutes ago, evssv said: to the op...I'd concentrate on ur 1/5th dreams first.... Lol yes. The company you mentioned has proven very interesting indeed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCpete Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Tamiya is where i started, Christmas 90 i got a Grasshopper 2. Now i run brushless 1/8th stuff and its a huge leap forward but i always had a place in my heart for the old Tamiya stuff from the 80's. Just before New year i bought a Tamiya Boomerang in which i'm running a brushless setup and its awesome lol.......none of my other RC's have even been looked at since its arrival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post evssv Posted January 12, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2018 (edited) 86 i had my first tam.....i was 11.......a blackfoot.......pity i dont have it now though...but i do have these 1983 to 87....frog...fox...hornet/ grasshopper...falcon....striker....the striker me mum bought me when i was 13...i restored it bak to life 7 years ago......it looked terrible when she found it her loft from this to Edited January 12, 2018 by evssv 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertberr Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Dude... What is that Striker? Sort of a cross between a baja buggy and a F1 car!!! Never seen one of those before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 (edited) yep....spot on....it wasnt a very popular model for tamiya so they r quite rare nowadays...........esp in this condition Edited January 12, 2018 by evssv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamiya_at _Heart Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 OMG. What a great conversation. Although a new member, my involvement in RC goes back to the 80's where secondhand Sand Scorchers and Rough Riders were where i started. As the years passed came the Wild Willy and Mitsubishi Pajero before the the Hornet and `Madcap. The list goes on..... As you can tell i have real affection for Tamiya. As i got older and dabbled in racing i looked to other makes and still run a variety of makes now. RTR, or almost RTR cars are now everywhere and have certainly changed the RC car industry for the better in my opinion as it is easier to get involved and start driving. anyway, the point of this thread... I recently, like the original author, felty a hankering to build something from scratch. As such it was always going to be a Tamiya model. I pondered for many hours over a HotShot but monoshocks in this day and age?? I finally settled on the Big Wig which was always a pretty car. I already new that even with its new dedicated motor this was never going to beat any speed records. the even the deck i decided to go brushless fitting an Absima Thrust BL Brushless Motor ands ESC. It was always going to be LIPO so there followed a couple of 2s 4000mah 30c/60c batteries, new TX/RX (Carson) and Savox servo. The model is complete and is actually a real flyer. Am I happy? There was certainly an undeniable pleasure in the build but the cost of this model broke the £400 barrier. That figure can by you a HPI firestorm Flux or the basis of an excellent track racer. Will it stop me buying another Tamiya model? Of course not, but the wife might haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.K Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 The TA03 was my first hobby grade RC, bought for my 14th birthday 16 years ago. I remember building it with my dad and I still have it today - she’s no longer a runner but I’ll restore her one day! She’ll never leave my fleet. Im not interested in Tamiya at the moment, too many interesting developments at the other end of the spectrum. But come on, they can’t still be shipping their latest kits with plastic bushes and Phillips hardware surely?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
300bhp/ton Posted February 19, 2018 Author Share Posted February 19, 2018 Time to update this thread I think Some of the kits mentioned in my op. As Tamiya didn’t Re-release the 959 and used ones are old and lots of money I bought a Tamiya inspired purchase of a Carisma 959.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) My first Tamiya kit was the TL-01 Alfa Romeo 155 V6Ti Bosch. Actually, I originally wanted the Toyota Corolla, in the castrol colours... ...but Beatties (...aww... Beatties ...) only had the Alfa and the Peaugeot 306 in stock. I don't have that "wish I kept it" feeling, but I would almost-certainly buy that Alfa bodyshell, if I saw one in good nick! As others have said, I just don't know why we love the Tamiya kits, but they stir something within us, that other makes simply don't do. I wish I could work out what it is. I am now sad, about Beatties. Edited February 20, 2018 by Praet0r87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolk83 Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 I did my work experience at Beatties. They let me get staff discount on the 306 kit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.K Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Aaaah Beatties! Ours became an 80's nightclub, quite a good one actually. I spent many hours and nights in Beatties, in both guises! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 52 minutes ago, James1986 said: Aaaah Beatties! Ours became an 80's nightclub, quite a good one actually. I spent many hours and nights in Beatties, in both guises! It was better as Beatties!!! Ours became a gym. Still better as beatties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet neil Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 22 minutes ago, Praet0r87 said: It was better as Beatties!!! Ours became a gym. Still better as beatties. The one in Sheffield became a maplins I thinks don’t know about the one in Meadowhall there was a nice one in Blackpool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet neil Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) On 10/01/2018 at 15:22, MissT said: Watch out, I bought a Tamiya as a toy for the kids and now I've got four of them! I got a tamiya hornet in the 1980s got it out of the loft a couple of years ago to get it running again now I have 5 more a midnight pumpkin a lunchbox, TL01,TT01. and a m-05 all with various body’s two midnight pumpkin body’s one lunchbox body one Toyota body one Dodge Charger body one Mazda mx7 body And one Porsche body Neil Edited February 20, 2018 by Hornet neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 It's been a few years, since I bought my last Tamiya. I would really like a CC-01. I bought fancy G-Made wheels/tyres for it, about 5 years ago, but ended up never buying it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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