I see a lot of these come with Rx included but what Tx kit do you need? I assume it’s on modern frequencies and my 1979 Fleet Control Systems 2 channel 27mhz Tx would be no good 😀
Last used with a 1/8 Mardave stock car with OPS 21 motor.
Bought!
Extra battery?
Just been browsing again having built up a Dash 3 mini 4wd for my lad.
Missed the boat on the £350 Egress haven't I. Terra Scorcher is interesting but had one in the past and never warmed to it like the Thunder Shot or Boomerang. Lunchbox possible, Blackfoot or Monster Beetle? Modelsport saying the Bigwig should be back in stock soon.......
I have some pennies saved for a HT frame but lockdown and too much boozing could push the button!
Good work!you will have great fun with that. A 5000mah nimh battery will be a big improvement, around 30 quid, I think it needs a Tamiya type connector. The FTX instruction manuals are online
I'm slowly working my way through the Kyosho Legendary series. Tomahawk just about done. Optima next.
They are stunning builds, mostly metal. A bit like the Tamiya SRB's, except these actually have performance and handling 🙂
Should I go nuts and buy this instead?
The carnage will be considerably faster as it has a brushless motor and more powerful battery. Still good value but a good step up from a brushed motor. More scope for damage if you hit something faster but they are fairly tough.
Sod it, you were too slow, I got the Tamiya Premium bundle instead
I had the Lunchbox many years ago and loved it. Always wanted the Clodbuster tho. Thinking of dabbling in this world again. Would anybody recommend the Clodbuster or should I just stick with the Lunchbox?
Ps or are rock crawler type cars good fun?
Any idea why my Neo Fighter won't move? The steering works, but when I pull the trigger to get it move nothing happens...
Things I've tried:
* Change the transmitter batteries + make sure the main battery is fully charged.
* Recouple the transmitter + receiver
* It's a Tamiya TBLE-02S ESC, which can be set to brushed or brushless - I've tried both settings.
* All the cables are fine + fully plugged in.
I don't have a spare ESC or receiver lying around to see either of them is playing up, but I suspect that's it's one of them... before buying a new ESC, anything else I could do to check? Could be an excuse to buy a multimeter I suppose...
[img] 
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/49756263712/ ]2020-04-10_08-41-46[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode ]Flickr2BBcode[/url]
undefined, undefined@undefined, fundefined, undefineds, ISOundefined
Premium Wheel - Our Premium package offers faster charging and 2 batteries for longer/more flexible running.
1 x 2.4ghz Transmitter & Receiver (Radio Set)
1 x High Strength Servo (operate steering)
2 x Overlander 3300mah 7.2v Batteries (3.3x more run time compared to the Standard bundle)
1 x Overlander FAST Charger. (2000mah charging output - charges battery in approx 1.5hrs)
1 x AA Batteries for the Radio Set.
Arriving early next week
Thats the kit I got Weeksy, have fun building it.
I find the battery cover falls off quite a bit though, dragging the battery if you aren't keeping an eye. Apparently quite common, so get a bit of gaffa or velcro on it.
Got my 9yr old son a Ripmax Husky. Cheap, repairable, 4wd, pretty quick. It is ready made, so dont get the fun of a build - but all round an excellent little car. Takes me back to when I used to race ‘em. Had a Kyosho Optima Mid Custom Special...
@Weeksy, that's the one I'm going for too once the credit card bill has been paid. Are you getting the wheel bearings? They are about £7 on eBay.
Going to paint the driver up like Ayrton Senna!
Are you getting the wheel bearings? They are about £7 on eBay.
Dunno, am i ?? 🙂
building ??? its not pre built ?? lol
mogrim
Any idea why my Neo Fighter won’t move? The steering works, but when I pull the trigger to get it move nothing happens…
Things I’ve tried:
* Change the transmitter batteries + make sure the main battery is fully charged.
* Recouple the transmitter + receiver
* It’s a Tamiya TBLE-02S ESC, which can be set to brushed or brushless – I’ve tried both settings.
* All the cables are fine + fully plugged in.
I don’t have a spare ESC or receiver lying around to see either of them is playing up, but I suspect that’s it’s one of them… before buying a new ESC, anything else I could do to check? Could be an excuse to buy a multimeter I suppose…
You could try take the motor out of the car and try run it direct from a battery. Maybe a little lower voltage than the normal so it doesn't go at full chat.
If the motor doesn't run, check the condition of the brushes and make sure they are coupled to the motor windings properly - not worn or springs missing etc. If it still doesn't work, I'd try another as they are relatively inexpensive.
If the motor works you can either plug it back into the speed controller and try again with no drive-train fitted. If it still works, have a closer look at the gearbox and diffs etc to see if there is anything damaged or stuck.
It's probably the motor or the speed controller.
Cheers @twonks, I'll have a go plugging the motor into the battery - pretty sure the gearbox is OK as the differential works. Still, I'll check it. Haven't really used the car much, bought it off the back of this thread as I fancied building one again (and it was great 🙂 ), then drove it maybe 10 times or so... The motor shouldn't be worn out.
Good man Weeksy.
Started looking at similar kits, but things started to escalated. Wanted bearings and oil shocks plus a more complicated build.
Currently sitting with a Sand Scorcher in my basket.
Also want spare wheels with dirt tyres so I don’t burn out the paddle treason an afternoon.
These things are worse than bikes.
@Weeksy Nope not prebuilt, but will take an evening or two to build it. Doesn't need painting, just putting the stickers on the shell
The ball bearings will help the batteries to last, the plastic bushings that come with it are a bit crap.
These are the bearings you'd need
they can be fitted later though, but it would mean taking the gearbox off and taking it apart.
Ok, bought. Wheel bearings ? Or something else?
Replying to my own post: the motor's fine, as is the gearbox. Plugged the former directly into the battery and the wheels spun fine. Guess I need a new ESC then. So next question, are all brushed 540 motor compatible ESCs much of a muchness? (I realise that some 380 rated ESCs won't work with a 540). I don't need anything hugely state of the art, I'm not going to do any racing or anything.
Ok, bought. Wheel bearings ? Or something else?
they are wheel bearings and gearbox bearings, same size used through out
they are wheel bearings and gearbox bearings, same size used through out
Thank you for the info. I promise to learn more
"540 motor compatible ESCs much of a muchness?" Well, no - some of them won't handle the faster ones. But if you're just after a basic ESC then you can get cheap knock-offs from eBay for about £12, or I'd recommend a Hobbywing 1060 like this:
Been watching Youtube and found this on replacing the bearing/bushes.
I'm guessing it's easiest to do it before hand ? I don't know what state of build the thing arrives in, but it doesn't look particularly hard to do as a job.. The only downside is the bearings may not arrive when the car does, so my lad may get over excited and want to play ASAP.
I'm guessing as with many bush/bearing things, it just makes things a bit better, not 100% better, so we could run it with bushings for a week or two so he gets to use it for a while at least ?
The car will arrive like a big Airfix kit. Bushings rather than bearings will shorten the run time on the batteries from what I've read. Don't know if they will reduce the life of the wearing parts.
I'm hoping to get mine ordered next week! Excited etc.
Here's my recently restored original Optima.
Any particular reason I shouldn't get a Tamiya Racing Fighter from here?
I don't live in the UK but will be back over the summer to buy. With this in mind what extra stuff should I bring back to the desert? I was thinking the "power bundle 2", ball race kit and a couple of spare battery packs.
Am I missing or would the hive mind change anything?
Cheers!
I had an optima back in the day but took out the chain and made it 2wd after I stopped racing it to make the battery last longer. Moved on the a PB Maxima and after reading this thread I've unearthed my Schumacher Cat Cls from the loft. Pity the batteries are more than likely buggered.
This thread has me looking now, first proper RC was the Tamiya Grasshopper, which was immediately upgraded with the ball race kit and 540 motor, then moved on to the Tamiya Toyota Celica, which I tried racing (at Basingstoke RC Club), it wasn’t much good off road though, so that was changed to a Kyoshyo Optima Mid Custom, then a Schumacher Pro Cat, with various motors.
I sold that in 2004 for £50😢.
Looking at the equivalent Schumacher now, it’s over £400 for the kit, plus electronics, I think the one I had was nearer £200 plus electronics (though pre brushless).
I do not need...I do not need.
@clubby the sand scorcher is a lovely kit to build and look at let alone run, I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed if you go for one. I currently have one that’s half built and a grasshopper that’s having a sand scorcher body fitted (I should finish one project before starting another).
On the subject of bearings I normally get mine from www.rcbearings.co.uk they are great quality and delivery is always very fast.
Running a kit on bushings won’t damage anything but I would only use the kit motor with them, if running a low turn brushed motor or a brushless motor they might melt.
Here’s my sand scorcher how it currently sits
Everybody has had a Grass Hopper at some point surely ?
Grass Hopper...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49764332942_6f09ce26c9_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49764332942_6f09ce26c9_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Lunchbox...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49763474793_b39ec2a41b_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49763474793_b39ec2a41b_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Never had a RC car
This is my first
Hugo, if you are returning to quite a remote site, you might want to spend a bit of time trawling the fora to see what any common collision/wear fail points may be, and pre-purchase spares as appropriate. make sure you get any paint etc at the same time.
Wow a lunchbox! Blast from the past! I used my Tamiya Madcap up until recently, a jump killed the chassis.
Hooooold on a second. I've just been googling, it comes in about a million pieces!!!! I'm shocked, I was thinking it would be easy lol
Gave in an ordered over the weekend. Eventually decided on a Racing Fighter. Sand Scorcher looked lovely but the kit was three times price of the one I went for. Also a lot more upgrade parts available for the dt-03 chassis. Expect I’ll spend more time fiddling than driving, so it looks like a better choice for me.
Todays the day... The Grasshopper arrives 🙂
Hopefully the bearings will too.
Mrs Weeksy will be on stickering duty... My boy will be on construction with me.
Tamiya builds are usually pretty easy - the instructions are very clear, just take your time and make sure any pieces you have to cut off sprues are clean.
Have fun Weeksy. Soon you'll be on asking about Lipo and Brushless...
In a Grasshopper???
Have fun Weeksy. Soon you’ll be on asking about Lipo and Brushles
LOL i ain't going racing it... This is for my lad to have some fun in the garden/close.
Well, why not....
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772834701_53b3304b31_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772834701_53b3304b31_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQfMGr ]2020-04-14_12-16-54[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773169687_93452a6d93_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773169687_93452a6d93_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQhvh4 ]2020-04-14_12-20-33[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Oh my... that's a LOT of pieces !!!!
Fewer than that M Falcon though. Good luck!
Just bought a 540 motor for mine, oh and the Terra Scorcher, that @barney recommended, arrives in the next few days.
Weeksy - just be careful with the screwdriver for the Tamiya screws - I don't think it's stated anywhere, but I think they are JIS heads.
I found I had one screwdriver that worked perfectly with them & a few others that would refuse to stay put.
Fewer than that M Falcon though. Good luck!
I didn't build the Falcon, Mrs Weeksy and the boy did.
Just bought a 540 motor for mine, oh and the Terra Scorcher, that @barney recommended, arrives in the next few days.
NICE. I'm soooo tempted myself! The one upgrade I'd heartily recommend getting out of the gate is one of these -
It's an ace buggy (at least, the vintage one is - I'm sure this'll be the same - enjoy!
Oh my… that’s a LOT of pieces !!!!
It really isn't, it's probably at most a couple of afternoons' worth. Enjoy, feeling very envious now 🙂
confused.... where does this go ?
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773226461_54e3293e00_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773226461_54e3293e00_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQhN9V ]2020-04-14_02-40-20[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772695873_e895daafb0_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772695873_e895daafb0_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQf5qR ]2020-04-14_02-40-15[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
I’ve been into RC card for about 5 years now, always had them but since I’ve got into Lipo I’ve become somewhat obsessed. Having had the basher type stuff I’ve got quite in to crawling, starting with an FTX Kanyon
These for the money are excellent - plenty of torque out the motor and bar the chassis having a couple of weak points they’re pretty strong.
Then I bought a carisma rtr Range Rover which is...ok. Not great and better now I’ve stuck some bigger tyres on, but it’s just a poor mans TRX really
Then decided to build a drift car, bought a kit and spec’d it up to run an Absima esc motor combo on 2s. Recently bought an e30 touring shell that still needs to be painted up
And finally a G-made BOM running the gear out the Kanyon. This is a lovely kit to build, I’ve upgraded the wheels/tyres and about to fit an LED light bar. Proper crawler and much fun to build
I’m about to start on a scratch built trophy truck, 1/10 scale running the 4s gear out of one of my older bashers. I’m going to build a proper metal space frame chassis/cage and am using some fancy axles and shocks from the US.
I actually get more fun out of building them than driving them!
Weeksy, that is an unused part. Don't panic.
Thanks mate 🙂
I took the gearbox apart twice to find it again...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773128101_3f371ce251_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773128101_3f371ce251_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQhhV4 ]2020-04-14_02-08-40[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773300591_52c800d1aa_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773300591_52c800d1aa_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQibc2 ]2020-04-14_03-03-54[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773475981_dc11824d0e_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773475981_dc11824d0e_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQj5jZ ]2020-04-14_03-56-02[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
SO we've got the engine, the steering rack/kit, we've got the shocks on the back end...
I must admit i never thought for a second when i bought it it would be this complex or time consuming !!!!
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772987128_5129c7c850_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49772987128_5129c7c850_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQgz1u ]2020-04-14_04-08-28[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
So, looking at positioning the electrics, this seems about the best layout.
According to the box i should have the wires in this config, but what's the 3rd yellow wire for ?
I assume the electrics just loop out of the extension in the bodywork ?
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773600066_e8f9e4fc24_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773600066_e8f9e4fc24_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQjHdo ]2020-04-14_04-32-42[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Getting your money's worth then?
Ignore that one and just tuck it away. It's for a brushless motor.
The ESC does both brushed and brushless.
Wiring according to this fella is completely different.
Getting your money’s worth then?
Errrrrm if I don't lose my mind.
we have power !!! Forwards, backwards, left and right
Front chasis arms
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49774288242_f86787874a_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49774288242_f86787874a_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQoeMu ]2020-04-14_06-17-30[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773431803_619c0da442_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49773431803_619c0da442_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQiRci ]2020-04-14_06-17-39[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Front end with shocks installed.
I'm off cycling now while my boy builds the wheels
🙂
[img] 
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/49774684372/ ]2020-04-14_08-06-00[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode ]Flickr2BBcode[/url]
H8216, undefined@4.4 mm, f2.0, 1/16s, ISO250
It lives!!! But left is right and right is left
Sorted
Excellent work, hours of fun will follow.
Nice one.
You are now officially the best dad ever....🙂
What are you getting next?!
It finished. Lol. That's first.
It's still not running quite straight. So need to sort wheel alignment out. I'm assuming it's just trial and error mostly.
Throttle response going forward isn't as crisp as reverse, I assume that's trimming, so will fix
The battery needs some velcro as is clunks about a bit. Then lastly it needs the electrics tidying and the bodywork and decals sorting tomorrow.
We'll then see how he gets on with it and whether it has a lifespan.
I'm sure there's things that needs fixing, sorting and repair quite often.
Are these things just nuts, screws, bolts and the like or do you have to solder stuff as well? I had one as a kid but my dad put it together, it always turned left much faster than it did right...
Looks suoerb.
What kit did you get weeksy and from where??
As a kit they are nuts, bolts, screws and clips. No soldering required until you start upgrading.
weeksy
It finished. Lol. That’s first.
It’s still not running quite straight. So need to sort wheel alignment out. I’m assuming it’s just trial and error mostly.
Check the steering arms are the same length - you have to thread the ends on & measure the length of them, I think.
It could also be that the servo saver (white bit on the steering servo) isn't in a neutral position when the servo is.
If it's only slight, you can trim it out with the radio - there's normally a little adjuster by the steering stick.
Great job @weeksy
My kit arrives tomorrow, but with work and a 13 month old, not sure when I’ll get started. If I do it after we put him to bed, I could get engrossed and be up til the early hours. May have to do it in half hour stints when I can grab a bit of quiet.
Still apprehensive about the painting, but gone for a single colour for the body and contrasting one for the wing. Should save a bit of masking.
Needs stickers etc, along with wiring tidying up. But wanted to give my lad 10 mins with it this morning
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49775424908_1beb855bc7_5k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49775424908_1beb855bc7_5k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iQu4Fb ]2020-04-15_07-05-33[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
This thread brings back memories from my teens.
Bought a Tamiya Mudblaster truck which I regularly broke the steering bit on the front hubs for. Great fun but a bit fragile.
Somehow got into racing cars at the local RC club in Bristol. Led to many purchases - mainly a Losi JRX2 then a Losi XX - at the time a 13x2 motor was the boy to have but you needed amazing batteries to run it for the full race duration. Eventually mountain biking and playing hockey took over.
Mid 20’s I got the urge for another car and bought an HPI stadium truck that run off nitro fuel. That was crazy fun - rear wheel drive only and did massive drifts and jumps. Would love one of those again but the wife would go mad - and I wouldn’t really have the time to use it 😞
Seem to remember the front bumpers on the Grasshopper were fairly expendable, otherwise it was quite a tough thing.
