Can I get some more precise steering arms for the Grasshopper?
Great thread this. Back in the day I had a sand buggy that was great fun, albeit very limited battery life so I have been following this. The inevitable drawback seems to be the grasshopper but as an interim, I bought some extra batteries and a fast charger for my sons Maverick iON RTR we got him a couple of years ago. For a £69 all in kit, it’s rather a lot of fun and doesn’t half shift (all relative I know). If anyone is looking for a starter set, or for a gift, I’d certainly recommend one.
He wants me to get one now for street racing but they seem to be OOS mostly.
Maybe as well..
@neb welcome to the party!
Really enjoying my racing fighter. Same chassis as yours but a different shell.
Had loads of good tips from here. JIS drivers are big help. I got a set from amazon for 12 quid. Bearing kit for sure and IMO definitely front tyres (see my post from earlier today). I found the front springs a bit soft as well, if you don’t have stiffer springs coming for the front then ignore the build sheet and add all three preload collars.
Most intimidating part for me was the body shell. In the end it turned out great. Take your time cutting it out and paint in thin layers. My body took 4 coats in the end.
weeksy
Subscriber
Can I get some more precise steering arms for the Grasshopper?
Probably, but it might be something else, like the servo saver.
Try and avoid those nice, blue, expensive alloy bits. They just transfer the force from something cheap and easy to replace to something expensive
Check all the screws in the steering haven't come loose. And honestly, check the servo saver. The crappy Tamiya one's have a habit of going pop.
Don't ask me how I know. 🙂
@stumpy01 and @clubby thanks for the advice. I've found a hobby set of 64 in 1 screwdriver+bits for £15 it does name the two JIS bits in there so should be good. The bearings have already arrived.
I'm a bit apprehensive about the painting, but at the end of the day it's going to be scratched and battered within a few weeks so I don't suppose it really matters.
Reading the tamiya forum, looks like you can pick up the shock shafts to use the various pistons with different holes in? It also comes with oil, 4 springs, spare caps and the red orings. Here for example
No idea if the springs/oil is suitable, but I love fiddling with suspension so I'll probably give it a go at some point.
The guy on the tamiya forum you linked to previously has loads of good info, thanks for that. It also dawned on me who he is! Very knowledgeable about MTBs too...
After my experiences with the cartwheeling Grasshopper I've been planning my paint scheme for the Mad Bull that I'll get as soon as they are back on stock. Everything that could come in contact with the ground will stay white, the rest is getting painted.
Everything that could come in contact with the ground will stay white, the rest is getting painted.
Sounds like it’s all staying white!
Selling my Sakura D3 RWD drift chassis if anyone is interested. Will require electronics but can be supplied with wheels and shell if required
Just for interest, and not that I'm at all tempted or anything, the essential differences between a Grasshopper and a Hornet is a differential in the gearbox and a polycarbonate body rather than the solid plastic one? I seem to remember that was right back in the day.
edit - and a 540 motor as standard.
I think it comes with oil rear shocks, rather than just friction dampers - which the Grasshopper has.
Howes are doing the Hornet Bundle for less than the Grasshopper one at the moment should you be tempted.
Having not tried anything else I can't see what the handling problems are supposed to be with the Grasshopper once you've got used to it. Admittedly it is a different beast with the 540 and understeers wildly at the higher speed that the bigger motor brings. I assume that the Hornet would too.
Admittedly it is a different beast with the 540 and understeers wildly at the higher speed that the bigger motor brings. I assume that the Hornet would too.
If I'm right about the diff. then understeer might not be such a problem. If it works like a proper car the faster wheel gets more power, which being the outside wheel would tend to push it round. Could be wrong about that though, the one I had when I was young was basically a Grasshopper with a Lancia body and no differential.
That Howes deal was the one I saw but I'm not sure, I've no young kids at home to join in with me. I think the novelty of ragging it round the garden on my own would wear off quickly.
It won't, and you can come on Rusty & Harry's Grand Day Out when this mess is over.
Grasshopper has a dif' too. The bigger motor pushes it in a straight line with understeer, then it snaps into a spin. I'm going to try the 540 again when I can get to a park and run it on short grass where the front wheels have a bit more bite.
Having not tried anything else I can’t see what the handling problems are supposed to be with the Grasshopper
Imagine you were a downhill mountain biker and that the only mountain bike you had ever tried was an entry level model made by Raleigh over 30 years ago. Every kid wanted a Raleigh in the 80's but they were always a bit rubbish and are in no way comparable to a more modern machine. This is the RC car equivalent.
You buy a Tamiya Hornet or Grasshopper for nostalgia, and because they are still quite fun. You don't buy them for performance.
If you are using modern lipo batteries and electronics, then these will be lighter than the original nicad cells that the cars were designed for so the weight distribution will be wrong and will reduce front end grip. You can add lead weight to help with the power understeer, although that was always a feature of the cars.
You buy a Tamiya Hornet or Grasshopper for nostalgia
I know. I did.
If I’m right about the diff. then understeer might not be such a problem. If it works like a proper car the faster wheel gets more power, which being the outside wheel would tend to push it round. Could be wrong about that though,
That's not really how differentials work.
I had a re-issue lunchbox, the wayward handling was part of the charm. The self steering in reverse became somewhat of a challenge as it all got a bit 'loose'. 😬
To tighten up your Grasshopper steering try removing the plate that holds the lower (only!) wishbones in, and putting a bit of heatshrink on the ends of the wishbones where they touch the chassis. The right amount will remove slop without being too tight.
My Rising fighter had an annoying rattle and this sorted that, and snugged everything up at the front too.
Added a Torque Tuned 540 to my Grasshopper at the weekend with hilarious results!
Yeah they're a bit crap but they are great fun and cheap to fix when you inevitably smash them up.
The prop shaft in the Terra scorcher might as well be made out of spaghetti
Maiden voyage and I ploughed it in to a kerb, and the prop shaft bent.
Any one know if there is a decent after market one that is stronger than wet spaghetti?
the one I had when I was young was basically a Grasshopper with a Lancia body and no differential.
The Rough Rider (and similar) didn't have a differential, but the original Grasshopper definitely did.
Loving this thread so much that I've dug my 33 year old grasshopper out of the loft.
I'm thinking of buying new transmitter/receiver, esc, battery, charger etc and making a bit if a project for me and my eldest (11 yr old).
Are the budget electronics ok or is it worth spending a bit more?
Will I need to replace the old servo? My plan is to get this one up and running and then buy another kit at a later date and move the electronics over. My old grasshopper is fairly tired but is fitted with bearings and bigger motor, so it will serve as a good learner for now but I suspect the plastic will have deteriorated and won't hold up to many crashes. Hence the new kit 😉
Can you video your first cartwheel please.
The Lunchbox has landed!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XMo18gsX8hc7AP8lWdhdXH0lbr09cr1P/view?usp=drivesdk
Have I mentioned the front double wishbone conversion? 😉
*sigh* Why won't it display public images from Google Drive?
The prop shaft in the Terra scorcher might as well be made out of spaghetti
Maiden voyage and I ploughed it in to a kerb, and the prop shaft bent.
Any one know if there is a decent after market one that is stronger than wet spaghetti?
I'd suggest that the strength of the concrete kerb is a bigger factor than that of the propshaft. - There will always be something that breaks if you drive into a concrete kerb at speed.
I used to have a Terra scorcher / Thunder dragon when I first started racing in the 90's and never managed to break the prop shafts despite, running motors that were far more powerful than the standard 540. It's normally the chassis and front bulkhead that are the weakest link on those cars, The pivots for the suspension arms, and shocks would occasionally bend as well. Wishbones didn't break but would stretch and become deformed with repeated impacts.
I'm not aware of anybody that makes a stronger propshaft for that car, but it is pretty unusual for them to break. I would just replace it (if you can't straighten it well enough to avoid vibration) but check your chassis, because in order to transfer axial load to the propshaft in a head on impact the chassis needs to deflect a lot, which it won't usually do without breaking. There will probably be cracks around the screw heads where the front gearbox attaches.
The most important mod on those cars was to the battery holders, I used to add elastic bands as otherwise the things would flex and the batterys would fly out.
@stumpy01 BIG thumbs up for the Cut Staggers, they totally transform the front of the car. Had a chance to try them on all surfaces and the amount of bite is perfect for RWD.
Front grip is now giving power oversteer on dusty surfaces desire the bigger pinion.
Not sure about the springs on the rear. Rear of car still getting kicked about on bumps. Going to refill the rear shocks with the heavier oil I bought.
Last job is to try packing the diff with grease. Hoped to avoid that for now as it’s a lengthy rebuild but the car is digging itself in on dusty stuff with only one wheel spinning. Half filling the diff with stiff grease is supposed to help.
I know. I did.
I wasn't aware of them before this thread
Yay! Still need to replace a few worn bits but it lives! Dead steering servo was shorting the ESC, quick swap for a new one and away!
clubby
@stumpy01 BIG thumbs up for the Cut Staggers, they totally transform the front of the car. Had a chance to try them on all surfaces and the amount of bite is perfect for RWD.
Front grip is now giving power oversteer on dusty surfaces desire the bigger pinion.
Great!
Will have to get some of those tyres ordered!
Might get a pinion too, as it doesn't really need the acceleration!
Still undecided on the suspension. Can see me buying new oil, then feeling like it needs different springs, then feeling like it needs different oil etc....
Will get the tyres & pinion, then go from there! Cheers.
Folks - does any 2.4ghz receiver work with any 2.4ghz controller?
We've an FTX controller (with 'pairing' button) I just need a receiver which will play with Tamiya ESC.
Folks – does any 2.4ghz receiver work with any 2.4ghz controller?
No. They need to be compatible.
Have been following this thread a little too closely, so have now taken delivery of an FTX Outlaw to go bashing with the boy. Stories of inept driving and mass destruction will no doubt follow...
*stares intently at battery charging in the corner
Hope your FTX lasts longer than ours, not had 15 mins out of it yet without it exploding a part.
Whereas I'm confident that the Grasshopper could survive being fired out of a cannon suffering damage only to the corners of the body shell. After a series of massive cartwheels on a tarmac carpark mine ended up looking like Shane McGowan's teeth. However, I found all the bits and stuck them back in with super glue.
I also accidently launched mine off a 10ft drop into a field. I tried to drive it the fifty or so yards to the gate so that I could retrieve it, but it beached so I had to climb over and get it. Luckily the horses in the field were not interested in me or the car.
3.7km in. If it isn't on Strava it didn't happen. https://www.strava.com/activities/3425446609
Next purchase update: Nobody has a Mad Bull in stock. I'm waiting impatiently.
My 2CV has just arrived. 🙂
I have a lot of uni stuff to do so will be putting the build off for a bit.
Still need a servo and rx/tx.
Might just start doing the body though.....
Hotshot shaped box just arrived from Howes 🙂
Now to decide whether to be good and wait for my birthday as planned (mid June), or my wife did say I could have it now as something to do while we are still (sort-of) locked down...
@harry_the_spider my local appears to have one in stock ... good guys and normally good prices too!
https://www.pegasusmodels.co.uk/product.asp?type=&maingp=RC+Cars+%2F+Trucks+&prodid=998349#.XrrOQiXTWaM
Mad Bull ordered.
The in-stock date at Howes seems to have been moved so I bought the car and a couple of bits from Pegasus (thanks for the tip off) and the rest off eBay. Cost me about a tenner more than than the bundle would have done, but bits will start arriving tomorrow rather than at some unspecified time in the future.
The stickers on the Mad Bull are "Gopping", so I'll be doing my own scheme. Also, as the bodyshells are £7.50 at some places, I may get a spare and was thinking of doing the faded American flag scheme on Vice Grip Garage Chevelle.
Once again. Damn you Rusty! 😉
Quite fancy a monster truck or crawler as well. Just back from playing with buggy on beach (sorry I mean taking exercise). Sand slinger tyres are huge fun but front end ground clearance meant it was skipping about over even small stones. Could get Blitzer beetle axles which run bigger fronts but building new cars is just so much fun.
On smoother sand though buggy was amazing.
🙂
They are a bit moreish, aren't they?
How about a Lunchbox?
Everyone needs a Lunchbox.
They should come free on the NHS.
They are a bit moreish, aren’t they?
Very nearly bid on a pair of dark impacts plus spares on eBay last night. Resisted as only one was complete. Reckon by the time I resold the working one and bought servo and receiver for parts car I probably still be better off just buying a new kit.
I know it’s heresy on this thread but .... the lunchbox just doesn’t do it for me.
Was looking at Axial build kits, but they need a lot of extras to finish them off and get quite spendy.
At least with Tamiya you get the build fun. Under no impression that they’re great cars But they are great fun.
Rock Socker is tempting me, as I can use current battery and charger. Can get a spare receiver for current handset as well. Would still need esc and servo but both pretty cheap.
I thought this purchase through. Seriously.
Originally I wanted something to run with the Grasshopper and a Rising Fighter seemed logical, but it only comes with the bigger motor and the terrain round here (along with the driver skills) is a little bit harsh and I'm running out of super glue.
So, if I was going to get another it had to be a bit "different". Higher ground clearance would give it more scope for messing off road, so daft wheels were necessary. Also, with me being a bit of a model kit nerd it had to be the same scale as the Grasshopper.
The final variable was a reasonable budget.
1/10 scale + 540 motor + daft tyres + not too expensive = Mad Bull
Toying with the idea of painting it in Splinter Camouflage.
I know it’s heresy on this thread but …. the lunchbox just doesn’t do it for me.
I quite like the idea of one, but they look too simple to build and that's at least 75% of the fun for me.
You're both right, it's a very, very simple build.
I'm looking forward to the 2CV as it looks a bit more complex.
Adding upgrades to the Lunchbox is fun though, you don't have to risk stripping loads of fiddly little screws and the upgrades make a huge difference. Mine almost goes round corners now....🙂
I'm dreading fixing the steering on the TT02B, again. It'll be a right faff.
Should have stayed away from this thread. I now have less money than I did. Have just finished a Tamiya Landfreeder after putting off doing the body shell for a while. Actually that was one of the most satisfying parts of it. It’s amazing the finish you can get on these polycarbonate shells. It comes with a huge amount of sticker which I decided against. Hopefully this link will work.
Then after reading, I decided I needed another. The Holiday Buggy is now under way though a global shortage of Matt black paint may delay it. Great kit though. I prefer the building to driving which is just as well as finding cheap radio gear also seems to be an issue at the moment.
Anyone any idea why I can’t get the link to work. I have posted the link using the IMG thing.
That's lovely man, great colour.
How does it go?
@Jerm right-click on the image and copy the URL, pasting it in the IMG box.
Thanks Househusband for fixing that for me.
Sorry about the late reply. I’ve been working on the Holiday Buggy.
It goes really well. People criticise them - unfairly in my opinion. You can spend a lot of money turning them into a rock crawler but that’s not what they were designed as. They’re great fun on dirt, grass, in the garden or wherever.
If you search CC-01 on YouTube, there are some fantastic videos made by a Swiss bloke called Matteo that are well worth watching.
Having been following this thread for a while, I finally decided that having wanted a Tamiya RC car in my teens and not being allowed one, it was time I treated myself.
I have gone for a Mad Bull and have ordered the bearing kit at the same time having read all the recommendations on here.
I will no doubt be back for advice during the build.
The Mad Bull does look like a good model. It's a shame Tamiya don't do a bigger range of those kinds of vehicles.
@clubby - my cut stagger front tyres arrived for my Neo Fighter today - they weren't due until next Monday so a good effort from rossmod1986 on eBay!
They have transformed the car completely! It's a bit of a shame that Tamiya doesn't ship the car with a similar tyre. It's completely altered the character of it.
I'm having to re-learn how to drive it, as I'm used to it lazily understeering round corners whereas now it whips round nicely and can even induce a bit of oversteer.
Such a huge transformation for a small outlay.
Hmmm... might have to get some for the Grasshopper.
In other news, the Mad Bull has arrived. Got to wait for bearings and the radio.
Need a hand. Got an ecx roost 1/18 4wd. Very little power is going to the rear wheels. Rear diff is in perfect condition. Spur gear and slipper are integrated and power the rear wheels through a diff and the front via a dog bone and then diff. Any idea why no power would go to the rear?
Going to upgrade soon when I can find some stock of better cars... Ecx are not great.
Got out early doors for a bash around with the ftx this morning, still surviving well and manageable for the boy. Spent some time reading through the owners thread on MSUK so now have a lengthy wishlist of hopups. Boy also keen on us getting another, so have been eyeing up blitzer beetles - looks like another expensive hobby!
Harry_the_Spider
Subscriber
Hmmm… might have to get some for the Grasshopper.
I think the front Grasshopper wheels are smaller, so check before you buy.
I can measure mine if you want?
You can buy them pre-mounted so you could possibly just get them on bigger wheels. I suppose if the OD is broadly the same it won't matter.
Bearings and radio didn't arrive, so I took the opportunity to paint the body shell.
Was originally going to go "Camouflage",but as the wheels are yellow and the shocks are red I thought that it would look a bit daft.
Hence this colour scheme.
Very nice
Decals on.
I thought I'd keep it quite understated as the suggested scheme using all of them would make it look like my duvet cover from 1985.
The body shell will never look this good again.
Body shell looks great!
Tamiya do go a bit loony with the decals. I used about 1/3 of the included ones on my Neo Fighter.
Got as far as we can without the radio and bearings with my lad doing most of the work.
The kit is quite a lot simpler than the Grasshopper with pre-assembled shocks, wheels and steering.
and it is a proper chunky Mutha Hubbard as you can see in this comparison.
Thinking of getting another body shell and going a bit "Mad Max" with it, or maybe do it in "Souther" camouflage and stick Rogue Trooper in the driver's seat.
Today I rebuilt the rear shocks om my Rising Fighter with "valved" CVA pistons. They already had the non-vented pistons, so I have gone straight to the 3 hole piston heads and the original springs to try to reduce some of the hop at the rear.
I them spent AGES disassembling and rebuilding the propeller drives at each end of my Terrascorcher. This was meant to be a simple installation of thrust bearings to replace standard bearings that I'd stuck in when building instead of the thrust washers. The propeller joints are SO TIGHT, and incredibly notchy. I have removed some material using a Stanley knife and a needle file, but there is still a lot more to do. The front is improved, but not sorted. The rear still has a way to go. I reckon if it make the prop joints smooth there should be a significant increase in speed. Running a 13.5T brushless.
Our build awaits a servo and Rx.
He's made a good colour choice - metallic sparkly...
I've ordered a couple of these.
and will get a new body shell when they arrive.
Project Nu-Earth All Terrain Fast Attack Vehicle is go! The driver will have a blue face and red eyes.
Harry, it's just close, not far away...
Nice colour. 🙂
If you find it a bit too bouncy foams for the tyres make a huge difference.
I use some that don't quite fill the tyre, so there's still a bit of boing - Schumacher U6747's.
You could go bigger with the foams.
I went a bit mad and fitted some Fastrax adjustable alloy 75mm shocks too, they make a big difference and are very nice bits of kit.
A sport tuned motor is wheelytastic too. Just enough, I wouldn't go any crazier than that.
Don't forget to glue the tyres or they'll just spin on the wheels, even with a standard motor. 🙂
Harry, that Mad Bull looks great.
...and so it begins
Setting the bar high with those seat belts!
I've ordered some helicopter tape so that I can protect the roof and spoiler on the Mad Bull. When I bought this I told myself not to get too precious about the paint job. That time has passed.
i serviced the oil shocks on my sonic fighter yesterday for teh fist time in nearly 30 years.
cor it maye a massive difference! haha
been chasin the cat around the garden with it. loads of fun.
i want a monster buggy/mad bull now though as the cat heads into teh rough where the buggy gets stuck.
Bearings and radio gear have arrived.
I've synched the transmitter and receiver and have hooked up the various electronic items. The servo emits a little electrical squeal for a second or so after every actuation. Whilst this is irritating when under test in the quietness of the kitchen I suspect that it won't be noticeable in operation. I called the shop (Pegasus - Very helpful) and they gave the option of sending it back or running it and if it dies during the warranty period they'll send me another. So it is staying put.
Me and "the boy" will build up the gearbox and drive when we get an hour to ourselves, but it isn't being run in anger until I've helicopter taped the roof.
I'm going to clean up the Grasshopper body and apply some tape to the vulnerable areas, then tape that too.
eBay inform me that two 15cm long 1/6 scale Mini Guns are on their way from China. When they arrive I'll get another shell and build up my Nu Earth version. Was thinking how I would do a Rogue Trooper head, but I'll just put a full visor over the standard driver and add some decals and breathing gear.
The electrical squeal is perfectly normal. You won't hear it under normal use, like outside etc.
i keep looking at truggies. the urge is hard to resist. i`d like to build it first but the kits are expensive!
oh and the ecu i put in my sonic fighter sqeals a bit but its been fine for a couple of years.
Urgh. Forwards is backwards and left is right!
How do I reverse the settings?
Radio is a CODE Steerwheel.
There are likely to be a couple of wee switched somewhere to reverse the throttle and the steering. The will be small, and not easy to accidentally change.
I pushed the start button on a TT02B Neo Scorcher today from a small shop over the internet. I wonder when it will appear...
Meh. Read the instructions! Sorted.
Finished.
I think I'm done with new cars for now.
😎
