Hello all,
Just saying hello as I've joined the forum.
When I was a kid several decades ago my dad bought me a Tamiya Thunder Dragon for a very special reason and that was my first proper rc car - it was the best present in the whole world and many times more expensive than the gifts I would normally get. I loved that car and drove it constantly. I bought upgrades that were for the Terra Scortcher to have dual front shocks, ball bearings, parma motor (I think, sorry - it has been a long time) extra anti roll bar, 1400-scr(i think) battery. Drove that thing in the snow, rain, mud, everything - it was incredible and never let me down. Worked doing a paper-round and washing cars in my neighbourhood to fund upgrades and also to eventually save up for a Tamiya Lunchbox. That thing was so fun, though thanks Dad for crashing it on the first go and scuffing up the body work ha ha.
As is the way of things after about 5 years I sold all my rc stuff to help fund my first computer for college/uni and I'd always regretted doing so. Wind on a couple of decades and I've got myself a carreer and am settled but still thinking about my beloved Dragon, so of course went on to ebay and picked up a busted one, then spent the last few years rebuilding it and picking up parts to make it brand new. Tamiya have since reissued the 'Dragon - which if I'd known I could have saved a load of time and money but I wouldn't trade the fun I've had hunting for and picking up parts for it. Apart from being painted it is pretty much finished so I've nearly completed my mission to get a mint 'Dragon. I feel like Sam from Quantum Leap, putting right a wrong I did many years ago. Am hoping to get it painted in the coming months and then it can go on the shelf. Very much considering buying the re-issue so I can run it and not worry about getting it scratched up, while leaving my rebuild all lovely. Here's a couple of pix of my rebuild attached to this post I hope.
I'm sure you know what happens next.... I started looking at what the RC scene has done since I was last in it and am amazed at all the new tech and things that have come since - lipo batteries, electronic speed controllers, led lights on cars, cars that climb rocks - oh boy this all looks amazing.
No doubt the same as many others of you life has been very hard recently so to cheer myself up I have bought an FTX Hi-Rock and a Tamiya rally Beetle mfx01 from Modelsport. I had been watching videos of rock crawlers and figured that was something I was interested in - much more my pace now and I'm very glad I did. There was a broken part on the Hi-rock which Modelsport resolved within 24 hours replacement part in my hands - incredible service A+ - Thank you so much ModelSport!!! I was then able to drive the Hi-Rock for the first time and the smile on my face tells you everything you need to know - it was definitely worth it. Love driving the car slow and steady, and the smile at seeing it slowly and easily climbing over the step into my garden was massive!!! Amazing!
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Not sure if Tamiya-Legends or Mr Tomley from youtube would ever read this but wanted to say thank you to you too - Your videos are ace and have brought me back in to rc and make me happy. Thank you.
That's it - sorry for long story.
--Fremen
p.s - I do want to do some upgrades to my Hi-rock in the future - can a kind person let me know which sub-forum would be best to ask my questions when I get to that stage?