Which Tamiya Kit?

Author
Discussion

Ecosseven

Original Poster:

2,093 posts

224 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Afternoon all,

I’m keen to treat myself to a new 1/10 scale car as it’s been 20 years since I had one. I want to build it myself so looking at Tamiya.

My key criteria are:-

1. Off road stadium truck or monster truck.
2. Fun to drive.
3. Robust.
4. Will mostly be run on grass or paving slabs in my back garden.

Cost for everything (kit, batteries, charger, radio gear, ESC, etc) to be no more than £250.

My current shortlist.

1. Blitzer Beetle
2. 2016 Blackfoot (worried about weak gearboxes and pinion gears and constantly having the fix things)
3. 2015 Monster Beetle (same worries as above)
4. Blackfoot 3, Bush Devil 2 (not sure if these are still on sale in the UK?)

Any and all advice welcome



The_Jackal

4,854 posts

204 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
quotequote all
Any reason you are sticking to Tamiya, there are better brands out there, especially stadium trucks FTX, HPI, Traxxas or even Axial if you get budget creep.

sausage76

360 posts

130 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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First bit of advice.

Don't bother with Tamiya for what you want.

Go for Traxxas or other similar as they are built for what you want. Go for battery (lipo) as they are less hassle and don't make a stupid noise. Running them in that small an area could also lead to its own problems as they are quick and can be easily damaged when driving in a small space.

Look at something a bit smaller perhaps 1/18th.


russy01

4,724 posts

188 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Id recommend Arrma personally, but also offer Tamiya and FTX.

Vorteks BLX brushless at £250 is an absolute hoot and with a pinion change and decent battery will hit 60mph!

http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/radio-control/ca...

MBBlat

1,835 posts

156 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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Unfortunately kits are getting rarer nowadays, so if you want to build it yourself then Tamiya are about the only choice at your budget level. Double your budget and an Axial is a far better choice, but you will struggle to get the kit without electronics for £250.

Unless one of the re-releases happens to be that kit you always lusted after in Beatties but could never afford, go for a modern chassis. CC-01 have the reputation of a good basis for a scale build, WR-02 are for giggles (it will wheely everywhere, even if you don't want it to), GF-01 is a 4x4 WR-02.

WR-02 in classic Wild-Willy form http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-58242-...
CC-01 Unimog http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-58457-...

The other difference in tamiya is between hard shell as in the wild willy and polycarbonate as in the unimog. The hard shells look better, can be painted with standard model paint (or Halfords rattle cans) but are more prone to damage. Polycarbonate are nearly indestructible, lighter, but less detailed. Painting polycarbonate is from inside the shell using PS paint.

Or get one of the suggested RTR's, where your open the box, charge the battery, and then go play.




kellys hero

544 posts

257 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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I've just ordered a FTX Vantage for my sons birthday from Jadlam after a reading some advice he (Russy) and others posted on my thread, tomorrow is his birthday so I will get to look at it then, but all the reviews and videos seem to fit your criteria too. £102 delivered with all bits and pieces ready to go.

Just looking at the spec it is 10 times more advanced than the grasshopper / hornet re release that I used to lust after in Beatties. To my eye its easily a match for what was state of the art back then, i.e. the Hotshot with adjustable dampers and shaft drive.

Dusty964

6,973 posts

197 months

Tuesday 30th August 2016
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I bought my lad the Lunchbox. Went together easily. He loves it.

I agree that there are better mofels out there these days, but for me it had to be a Tamiya simply for the sake of nostalgia.

Triple7

4,015 posts

244 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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HELP.

I was all set to get a FTX Vantage, over a Tamiya Hornet, then a new thread pops up, saying FTX are no good. 8 year old n Dad's joint project. Missed out on a Tamiya as a kid, so nostalgia says buy the Hornet, but some say it's a bit too dated....which one is reliable, fast and fun. £100 for a FTX or £150 on a Hornet?

Tks


russy01

4,724 posts

188 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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If you want RTR this is pretty good value at the mo for a Tamiya XB kit...

http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-57872-...

Triple7

4,015 posts

244 months

Monday 28th November 2016
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russy01 said:
If you want RTR this is pretty good value at the mo for a Tamiya XB kit...

http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-57872-...
Taken your advice and ordered a Fighter from you, added an extra battery pack, but didn't know how slow the charger included with kit was?

Whats this about changing the bearings for better ones....novice! boxedin


Thank you.