Vintage Tamiys Buggies

Vintage Tamiys Buggies

Author
Discussion

Mr Purple

Original Poster:

337 posts

202 months

Thursday 25th September 2008
quotequote all
Hi All
Whats are the differences between the new tamiya buggies ( i.e The Hornet)
and the vintage models of the 80's?

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Thursday 25th September 2008
quotequote all
ive got a hornet, new one, main difference is the electrics are uprated.

also got a f103rm on its way, f103 is where its at wink

vdubbin

2,165 posts

204 months

Monday 29th September 2008
quotequote all
There are a few slight changes in the mouldings as well, usually to strengthen known weak points in the original models. The part numbers are mostly different as well.

Roop

6,012 posts

291 months

Monday 29th September 2008
quotequote all
Tha vast majority of parts are interchangeable. Regards the Hornet, the chassis is slightly different as it now needs to accommodate an ESC not the old MSC + servo. I believe the shocks are slightly different in design as well. Decals are different to reflect licencing requirements. Plastics are generally of a higher quality in the re-release models.

Differences vary from model to model. For example, the re-release Frog has a completely different dogbone and outdrive setup (dog not hex).

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Wednesday 1st October 2008
quotequote all
i got the new engine today so took out the brushless motor and esc and put in the tamiya superstock RZ





its now actually very fast and goes rather than spinning/fliping like it did with the brushless kit in it.

good thing about these engines is the ESC that comes with the hornet kit works fine with the RZ tuned motor so no need to buy loads of other electrics.

you will need a 18t pinion though, £2.75p from here http://goldstarstockists.net/live/catalog/advanced... and you will need a lug for it too(i had one spare)

the RZ motor cost 17 pounds from ebay, the 380 motor that comes with the hornet is VERY slow, thats why people go on about them being slow, the tuned 540 motors cost nothing nowadays so its hardly worth not buying one.

Roop

6,012 posts

291 months

Wednesday 1st October 2008
quotequote all
DucatiGary said:
i got the new engine today so took out the brushless motor and esc and put in the tamiya superstock RZ





its now actually very fast and goes rather than spinning/fliping like it did with the brushless kit in it.

good thing about these engines is the ESC that comes with the hornet kit works fine with the RZ tuned motor so no need to buy loads of other electrics.

you will need a 18t pinion though, £2.75p from here http://goldstarstockists.net/live/catalog/advanced... and you will need a lug for it too(i had one spare)

the RZ motor cost 17 pounds from ebay, the 380 motor that comes with the hornet is VERY slow, thats why people go on about them being slow, the tuned 540 motors cost nothing nowadays so its hardly worth not buying one.
All sounds great, nice wan...! biggrin

Except that's a Grasshopper not a Hornet...

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Wednesday 1st October 2008
quotequote all
Roop said:
that's a Grasshopper not a Hornet...
d'oh

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

232 months

Wednesday 1st October 2008
quotequote all
everything i posted above is about the grasshopper (pictured) and not the hornet (not pictured) as pointed out by roop . . . . . .

got a little confused, had a hornet when i was a kid and another kid down the way had a grasshopper that had a fancy engine in it, hence it destroyed me all day long.

what are the differences between them Roop ?

MrVelox

2,974 posts

194 months

Wednesday 1st October 2008
quotequote all
The main differences are Electronic Speed Controllers are now included with them.

From a collector's point of view, it's been a financial loss.. NIB Frogs used to bring $500+++ on eBay.

I just wish they would reissue the 959 Rally Car... had one when I was 11 back in 1986, thought it might be nice to pick up another for nostaligia.. saw a new one on eBay.. $1300!!

sa_20v

4,108 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
Used to own the Thunder Dragon - but the plastic gears (IIRC) wore down. Any idea where I can find one of these again, half the enjoyment was putting the thing together.

Roop

6,012 posts

291 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
DucatiGary said:
everything i posted above is about the grasshopper (pictured) and not the hornet (not pictured) as pointed out by roop . . . . . .

got a little confused, had a hornet when i was a kid and another kid down the way had a grasshopper that had a fancy engine in it, hence it destroyed me all day long.

what are the differences between them Roop ?
Hornet was a later Grasshopper variant. Differences off the top of my head:

- Grasshopper has a styrene (hard) bodyhell whereas Hornet is light and flexible lexan.
- Grasshopper supplied with Mabuchi RS-380S motor, Hornet came with bigger RS-540S.
- Hornet had Oil shocks at the back.
- Hornet used spiked baloon rear tyres (same as Frog and Super Champ) whereas Grasshopper used 'Padlatrak' sand paddle read tyres (same as Sand Scorcher and a few others).

Umm, that's all I can remember for now...

Roop

6,012 posts

291 months

Thursday 2nd October 2008
quotequote all
sa_20v said:
Used to own the Thunder Dragon - but the plastic gears (IIRC) wore down. Any idea where I can find one of these again, half the enjoyment was putting the thing together.
Thunder shot and Fire Dragon have both subsequently been re-released and parts should be available but could be tricky as they are limited run items.

Try http://www.goldstarstockists.net/tamiyaparts/tpx/r...

Proper old school hobby shop and very good with Tamiya Parts in the UK.