Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Other Hobbies and Interests => Topic started by: Voyager on July 22, 2010, 11:07:32 pm

Title: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Voyager on July 22, 2010, 11:07:32 pm
Just recieved my Limited Edition Tamiya Sand Scorcher today  :} This was ONE of my favourites when growing up, though I never actually owned one myself as they were far too expensive. I'm not planning on running it much once it's built as it's going to be a shelf queen and remain pristine. Tamiya have so far re-launched in limited numbers the 'Rough Rider', 'Sand Scorcher', 'Hornet', 'Grass Hopper' and 'Fox', and soon to be released will be an updated version of 'The Holiday Buggy'.

Is anyone else into collecting old Tamiya cars???

Voyager
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Mankster on July 22, 2010, 11:22:32 pm
Me, far too many... I collect mostly those that were about in 1983-1987, most are still NIB. Of the Rereleases I have the RR and SS, Frog, Hotshot, Hornet and Hopper. My only runner is a Frog. Fox being rereleased? I missed that one.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: mattycoops43 on July 22, 2010, 11:23:26 pm
I have raced all kinds of rc cars for years, most of my early ones were tamiys, but not collecting old ones now, just drooling over them! My first one was a roughrider, but I can't afford the remake at £260!!!!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Voyager on July 22, 2010, 11:36:01 pm
Me, far too many... I collect mostly those that were about in 1983-1987, most are still NIB. Of the Rereleases I have the RR and SS, Frog, Hotshot, Hornet and Hopper. My only runner is a Frog. Fox being rereleased? I missed that one.

Sorry...I'm getting carried away here, I meant the Frog! lol.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: grasshopper on July 23, 2010, 12:12:37 am
I did have a collection of original Tamiya cars - my 'monika' comes from the fact I used to race a 'grasshopper' with moderate success, against more sophisticated machinery of the time.
My collection started with an XR311, then my first Grasshopper, a Ford Ranger (second -hand) and then another Grasshopper (much modified but still in my possession)
The rest of my collection and assorted Tamiya parts were only sold a few years ago to a chap that was a collector who was trying to start a spares supply business for old Tamiyas - just before they started re-releasing them, I think I did better out of the deal than he eventually did!

When I win the lottery I shall be one of those saddo's that buys two of every Tamiya model - one to store and one to build and use!

Currently in my garage I have the Grasshopper, a nitro Escort 1/10th rally & the original TNX truck  whose engine has just come back from a 'service'.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on July 23, 2010, 07:10:13 pm
Just recieved my Limited Edition Tamiya Sand Scorcher today  :} This was ONE of my favourites when growing up, though I never actually owned one myself as they were far too expensive. I'm not planning on running it much once it's built as it's going to be a shelf queen and remain pristine. Tamiya have so far re-launched in limited numbers the 'Rough Rider', 'Sand Scorcher', 'Hornet', 'Grass Hopper' and 'Fox', and soon to be released will be an updated version of 'The Holiday Buggy'.

Is anyone else into collecting old Tamiya cars???

Voyager

I have a first release one somewhere.... was given to me by my parents for passing the 11+

Only have a tricked out lunchbox now... running Lipos and lots of extra chrome :)


If shes gonna be a shelf queen, then dont put oil in the shocks because unless they have updated them they leak quite badly


I always wanted this one


(http://s3.postimage.org/UgFh0.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqUgFh0)
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: triumphjon on July 23, 2010, 11:22:46 pm
does it make us sad or now reliving our youth at a time we can now afford those models we couldnt when they were first released ? i too have a first release hilux , in rather a sorry state as it needs a replacement shell , & radio box ! just cant make up my mind weathere to restore it or sell it ? ?
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Voyager on July 24, 2010, 02:44:35 am
Thanks for the oil tip! I've heard before about these being a problem and as far as I'm aware they haven't been changed from their original design.
I'm also a fan of that Porsche, it's a beauty!

I've got my eye on the revamped Holiday Buggy which is the next one coming out. And if my dreams come true, then I'm hoping they might relaunch the Rally Version of the Porsche 959 as this was always my boyhood dream car.

Voyager.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: retrotug on August 02, 2010, 06:32:19 pm
Somewhere in the back of the shed is a Holiday Buggy bought in about 1980, god! I feel old :((
Retrotug
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on August 03, 2010, 07:41:31 am
I hate you guys!

Now Ive just seen this
http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/58372ford_f350/index.htm

Want one!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Voyager on August 03, 2010, 08:21:39 am
Guess you've not seen the Tundra version that Tamiya have out which looks even better!!!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Mankster on August 03, 2010, 09:06:53 am
Or the Toyota Hilux version, which is basically the same as the old Tamiya Mountaineer.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on August 03, 2010, 09:28:14 am
If they're redoing the holiday buggy, then I'll wager the Sand Rover won't be far behind as they use the same chassis and I'll definately get one of those. It was my first RC car, the RR and SS were about £100 back in the early 80's and that was too much, the Sand Rover and HB were about thirty quid, and performance wise they were better than the metal cars because they were lighter.

I wore my original SR out, so a new one would be nice.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: retrotug on August 03, 2010, 10:54:31 am
I guess my HB would be due for a refurbish by now, I certainly remember selling off the radio gear. Wonder what it would fetch on Ebay?
Retrotug
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on August 03, 2010, 01:53:22 pm
I take it back. Having seen pictures of the new HB, I'll be surprised if a reissued Sand Rover is announced, as they've used a completely different chassis to the original- not a bad thing I guess the originals were pretty agricultural by todays standards, although some of the purists are having kittens!

(http://s1.postimage.org/q4Q6r.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxq4Q6r)

At least it now has a differential and a fully enclosed gearbox, and if they're not oil filled dampers, then an upgrade should be fairly straightforward.
Shame they didn't reissue the original wheels and tyres though!

Here's someone with too much spare cash-

(http://s1.postimage.org/q4G7S.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxq4G7S)

Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on August 03, 2010, 06:00:32 pm
Guess you've not seen the Tundra version that Tamiya have out which looks even better!!!


I looked at the tundra and Hilux as well but I prefer the ford tho I do like the Tundra, will be going for the MFU02 as well

The Mrs says I'll have to wait and see what Joulupukki (Santa in Finnish) brings  <:(
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Guy Bagley on August 03, 2010, 06:20:02 pm
WAY BACK IN THE 80'S I HAD A SAND ROVER, FOLLOWED BY A SAND SCORCHER AND THEN I  BOUGHT A SUBARU BRAT !!!

 needless to say they are all gone now..........

however i do have 2 re released midnight pumkins- one for me and one for my boy, -these are well and truly in use  and would never pass as shelf queens, they  hard working play things !!!  mine has modified motor in it, so i am always quicker to wheelie .......
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on August 03, 2010, 07:01:46 pm
I remember saving up my pocket money for a 'Buggy Special' 540 motor, which was a hot wound motor designed with torque in mind especially for off-roaders. IIRC it cost me £10.

It made the Sand Rover fly along, unfortunately it pulled rather too much current for the standard speed controller and the one of the power wires used to melt off after a couple of minutes. I ended up swapping it out for a standard 540- with someone who got a bloody good deal, as a better speed controller was way beyond my purse at the time and I wanted a bit more poke than the standard 380 gave (anyone remember Demon electronic speed controls- they were dogs doo daas at the time and cost a small fortune).

The stuff available today is fantastic compared to what was available back then.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on August 04, 2010, 08:32:39 am
This thread has got me thinking as to what ones I have owned over the years

Sand Rover
Tamiya Sand Scorcher
Subaru Brat
Thundershot
Wild Willy
Baja Champ
Grasshoppper 2
Lexus IS200
Honda S2000
New VW Beetle
Mini Cooper
Re release Lunchbox

Non Tamiya
Kyosho Rocky
Marui Samurai
Kyosho 1/10 IC Dodge Viper

On the way I have a brand new 1/14 Chrome special King Hauler Truck with MFU 01 that I stole on ebay for $200 including shipping

AND WHY ARE TAMIYA STILL NOT PUTTING BALLRACES IN THEIR KITS????   <*< <*< <*< <*<
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: alan colson on August 04, 2010, 09:34:13 pm
Back in the early 80's I had an arrangement with the manager of our local hobby shop. He sold the kits and I built them for those that didn't want to or couldn't or even wanted to give them in running order to the kids for Christmas or Birthdays. The only thing I refused to do was paint the polycarbonate bodies as I felt they should be their own design. I charged a small ammount for my time and I guess the shop made something on top as well. My main income came from the freebie spares I had to keep my cars running. I used to do the Tamiya and Radio Race Car championships. Travelling around the country pursuing the hobby. Aylesbury, Chesham, Northampton, Bedford, Brighton, Peterborough, Birmingham, Swansea, Southend etc. and the Tamiya finals at Malvern at the Three Counties Showground. I ran the Holiday Buggy, Frog, Hotshot, Grasshopper and Hornet from Tamiya and other makes in the RRC championship.
Alan
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Voyager on August 04, 2010, 09:53:06 pm
I used to race at Chesham as well!!!
Also at West London and Watford back in the mid 90's.

Voyager
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: samuel15g on August 06, 2010, 12:47:25 pm
I bought a TAMIYAToyota Hilux 4 X 4 from a store in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia about 24 years ago.
It cost me just a few rhyals as the radio gear wasn't available . I bought the radio set when I came home on leave took it back and had a few happy sessions racing around on real sand dunes.
After my six year "tour" I came home and stored the car in the shed. I sold it on e-bay a couple of years ago for £400, the tyres had perished and the UJ's were sloppy but everything else was fine. Also flogged the build manual £28!

That same store were selling off sets of Flieschmann "N" gauge railways for next to nothing......... needless to say a bought most of those too!

Regards
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on August 06, 2010, 12:56:48 pm
Well the King hauler is here :).... turns out its the chrome body special which has put paid to my colour scheme plans :(
Cant start building yet as Im waiting for delivery of a ballrace set and upgraded oil dampers.... Typical the first part of the build is the suspension lol

MFU-01 looks like fun.  Will play with it later tonight

Ill post some pics up later if anyone is interested

Im quite pleased with the deal I got.... King Hauler Kit, MFU-01, and a full set of aftermarket alloy wheels all for $197US including shipping.  Customs duty was €35  Its always a bonus when people cant spell and list in the wrong sections.  The only reason I found it was because I was looking at something else he was selling and clicked see other items
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Nordsee on August 12, 2010, 07:33:11 pm
I take it back. Having seen pictures of the new HB, I'll be surprised if a reissued Sand Rover is announced, as they've used a completely different chassis to the original- not a bad thing I guess the originals were pretty agricultural by todays standards, although some of the purists are having kittens!

(http://s1.postimage.org/q4Q6r.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxq4Q6r)

At least it now has a differential and a fully enclosed gearbox, and if they're not oil filled dampers, then an upgrade should be fairly straightforward.
Shame they didn't reissue the original wheels and tyres though!

Here's someone with too much spare cash-

(http://s1.postimage.org/q4G7S.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxq4G7S)


I remember that the UJs were always wering out and if I could have afforded it at the time, ballrace everything! I still have the driver figure from my Holiday Buggy, the kit cost about 200 D Marks, lot of money then!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on August 13, 2010, 06:51:28 am
I remember that the UJs were always wering out and if I could have afforded it at the time, ballrace everything! I still have the driver figure from my Holiday Buggy, the kit cost about 200 D Marks, lot of money then!

We used rubber hose over the UJs.  Made them last a little longer... used to bend a lot of half shafts too
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: justboatonic on August 13, 2010, 09:26:48 pm
Ah! The good old Tamiya buggies and saloons!

I bought a second hand sand scorcher off a lad and spent ages rubbing down the plastic shell then re spraying it (no brush painting of this one!) in a distinctive style and fitting upgraded parts. The nicads back then only lasted about 5 or 6 minutes even fully charged and new. But what great fun driving it on the beach or loose dirt.

I eventually sold it to my nephew in the Isle of Man who eventually sold it on himself.

I was at Woodvale about 8 years ago and in the second hand tent, there was a guy selling a sand scorcher. I was convinced it was mine because of the distinctive paint scheme. I asked if he'd bought it from the IoM but he said not. Im still convinced it was mine!

I've got a clod buster in the garage although it hasnt got the original body instead it has a Ford Ranger body (I think). I keep thinking about doing it up with a new body,  better motors and speed controller instead of the Tamiya mechanical one. But then I think it will be taking something away from its originality. Im stuck between a rock and a hard place!

Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on September 04, 2010, 03:58:20 pm
In case anyones interested a few pics of my King hauler
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=25859.0
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Wasyl on September 05, 2010, 10:18:30 pm
I,ve got quite a few Tamiya RC tanks,..most expensive, Tamiya 1/16 Leopard 2, cost in 2006 £560,I once had a Tamiya 1/10th scale VW buggy,that I bought from a mail order catalogue,in 1979,but it got trashed by a big dog,on its first run,
My best deal however, was with a member on here,last year,we did a swap, I gave him a built Gry Maritha,that need some TLC,and in exchange I got a,Tamiya 1/20th Dump truck "Bright Yellow"..and the back tipper worked with rc,
I kept it for a few weeks,then put it on ebay,and If I recouped what it stood me which was £90 then I was happy,..It sold for over £350,...turned out it had been discontinued in 2001
btw,the member on here was cool about it as he sold the Gry for around same price,

Wullie
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on September 05, 2010, 10:22:02 pm
I,ve got quite a few Tamiya RC tanks,..most expensive, Tamiya 1/16 Leopard 2, cost in 2006 £560,I once had a Tamiya 1/10th scale VW buggy,that I bought from a mail order catalogue,in 1979,but it got trashed by a big dog,on its first run,
My best deal however, was with a member on here,last year,we did a swap, I gave him a built Gry Maritha,that need some TLC,and in exchange I got a,Tamiya 1/20th Dump truck "Bright Yellow"..and the back tipper worked with rc,
I kept it for a few weeks,then put it on ebay,and If I recouped what it stood me which was £90 then I was happy,..It sold for over £350,...turned out it had been discontinued in 2001
btw,the member on here was cool about it as he sold the Gry for around same price,

Wullie

If you ever see one of those dump trucks again let me know, my boy is after one
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: The Antipodean on September 05, 2010, 11:34:34 pm
I had a Monster Beetle and a Boomerang in the late 80s.
Lots of fun, but I can't quite remember what happened to them. Must have given them away when I left the RNZAF.
Have some big regrets about that now.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Russ on September 09, 2010, 10:56:55 pm
First one i ever owned was a Hornet back in the late 80's, i really wanted the Hotshot but just could not aford it on paper round money, that was used and abused and i think i must have replaced almost every part on it (God bless the modelers den in Bath)

Moved onto a thundershot and then bought an abused hotshot that never did work and then onto the holy grail a Porsche 959 that i still have today, i managed to buy a pristine bodyshell from Ebay for way too much money but it looks great, a shelf queen for sure.

In the past few years i have re-purchased a new Hornet, thundershot, Hotshot, all of these are also shelf queens and a reflection of my youth....

Great days
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Nordsee on November 26, 2010, 02:23:39 pm
I have just seen in Conrads Catalogue update that the Holiday Buggy is for sale at 95Euros, Comes with an ESC as well. Got to be good value! Have to make some low kes suggestions to " Her Indoors" for Xmas.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on November 26, 2010, 03:05:46 pm
Couple of nice ones on ebay right now
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-original-Tamiya-XR311-58004-vintage-xr-311-/170568913442?pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item27b6b31222
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tamiya-1-8-NIB-58017-B2B-Racing-Side-Car-/220693544986?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item33625c401a

I wanted this one but not at its current price!
http://cgi.ebay.com/TAMIYA-58174-STREET-DEVIL-VINTAGE-RC-KIT-NIB-LTD-ED-/290449608283?pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item43a0254e5b


And a nice boat
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-TAMIYA-PT7201-KIT-1-72-VOSPER-PERKASA-MOTORIZED-/260685572763?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb2122a9b
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: davidm1945 on November 26, 2010, 06:01:35 pm


Hi Folks,

   I still have a Hornet, Grasshopper and Sonic Fighter - of course the servos, receiver, batteries etc now do duty in the boat!

Dave
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: BigA on December 01, 2010, 12:39:49 pm
Yep - I'm also into Tamiya RC cars....... I have a Rover Mini and Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint on the go. Yet to put together are a Tamiya Alpine A110 body on a rear wheel drive TT-01 chassis (the recently re-issued kit uses a non-standard FWD M-05 chassis), and an ABS Hobby Toyota Levin body on an M-03 chassis.

But boats have priority with me  ;)
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Nordsee on December 02, 2010, 10:18:09 am
I have just seen on the Howes Website that they have the Tyrrell 6 wheeler back again. It is a whopping 200 pounds, with no Radio etc. I would love another one, but at that price? No, far too much for me!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: UserError on January 02, 2011, 10:12:03 pm
Collecting, not so sure.  General bashing - Yup! Local park or woods where there are some good berms....
My kids have a Terra Scorcher & a Dirt Thrasher While I've got a Marui Ninja
J
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on January 03, 2011, 01:10:31 pm
Collecting, not so sure.  General bashing - Yup! Local park or woods where there are some good berms....
My kids have a Terra Scorcher & a Dirt Thrasher While I've got a Marui Ninja
J

I had the samurai back in the 80s was a great competition car in its day..... always fancied the Ninja tho

I have just seen on the Howes Website that they have the Tyrrell 6 wheeler back again. It is a whopping 200 pounds, with no Radio etc. I would love another one, but at that price? No, far too much for me!

Yep been looking at that too and the JPS Lotus
No where to run it near here as the F1 cars want a mirror smooth track to run on
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on January 07, 2011, 12:43:59 am
I've just finished building the Mitsubishi Lancer Paris Dakar Rally car for my son. I have to say there is way too much plastic in them now and I really am not keen on the clear polycarbonate bodies. But that being said they are still top quality builds and the finished product is great fun.  (Runs great in light snow and ice)
There are several boat manufacturers that should have a good read of a Tamiya instruction manual before writing theirs :D

Ill report back on the F-150 Hi Lift pickup later as I've not had the chance to start it yet (Kids Christmas presents come first lol) but looks nice in the box with an excellent well detailed hard plastic bodyshell.

I was looking at the relaunched Subaru Brat the other day and this has the best of both worlds.... A polycarbonate body for thrashing and a nicely detailed hard shell for posing :) also its using the old Frog running gear so should run nice as well.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on January 08, 2011, 05:12:59 pm
IIRC, the Brat predated the Frog, so really it is the Frog that 'borrowed' its chassis.

Andy
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on January 08, 2011, 08:46:20 pm
you could well be right on that tho they were both released in 83, the original brat had a 380 motor and the frog was 540.

The chassis was used in many different models but I thought the frog was the first

http://www.classic.rc-junkies.net/?p=553
Some useful information here
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on January 09, 2011, 11:38:00 am
Yes if you look at that link it shows that the the Brat had an earlier number. Curiously I'd forgotten all about the Lancia car which used the same chassis and was sandwiched between the two cars. It reminded me of the buggy racing at Chingford in the mid-eighties, a chap there had a Lancia, which he re-bodied with a frog shell, but he retained the Lancia wheels and tyres and used the pin-stripe graphics on the Frog shell, which liked quite trick.

Andy
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on January 09, 2011, 11:55:05 am
I had the brat, but rebodied it with the lancia shell, wheels etc.  The lancia wheels were actually alloy which was quite rare

Having a bid on a NIB Renault 5 Turbo on ebay at the moment
This one
http://www.tamiyabase.com/Box-art/58026-Renault-5-Turbo.html

Another good useful site for people interested in vintage Tamiya
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on October 08, 2012, 12:43:40 pm
Thought Id ressurect this one

in need of TLC
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170916739241?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2649

Or brand new
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPER-RARE-VINTAGE-TAMIYA-1-8-SCALE-B2B-RACING-SIDECAR-NIB-/221122062696?pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item337be6e968

 :o
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: hmsantrim on October 31, 2012, 10:53:16 pm
 Thought I would have a little foray into the car area as an aside from the boats.
 
    so how do you petrol heads rate this then.
 
     
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on November 01, 2012, 06:46:55 am
Nice... not really a monster truck fan but those were good in their day, in fact they are still good now!

Just picked up 2 used TA03 (ford f1-150 and Toyota prerunner) stadium trucks for the Girls as a bonus xmas pressie.  Going to strip clean and ballrace them and fit new "Girly" bodies

By the way does anyone have any experience with the tamiya polycarbonate iridesant sprays? particularly
PS47 pink/gold
read somewhere that I need to spray a coat of black on the underside
:o
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on November 01, 2012, 09:54:00 am
The main thing with these old Tamiya cars is to ballrace everything, as it makes them run a lot sweeter. Fit a decent esc in place of the mechanical version, and throughly check all the plastic parts for splits. Unfortunately a lot the plastic parts Tamiya produced were of a rigid variety, which tend to break fairly easily. Your clobuster looks like it's been well treated, so shouldn't throw up any nasty surprises.

These days build quality on cars is top notch, and the cars handling have become so predictable, people say they're a bit boring- you just can't win can you?!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: IanLloyd on November 09, 2012, 01:23:09 pm
I started my car racing career, if you can call it that, with Tamiya cars. Off road started it with the Sand Scorcher but soon changed to on road when the first Tamiya 4WD came out with the Audi A4 body, was a stunning looking car then. Raced Tamiya's for many years including the B2B sidecar (which I still have). Have been through most of the variants of TA from 03 to 05 and then TRF versions. Still doing some today with the latest FF03R.
 
Have a few still in the loft somewhere as was given them by Tamiya we raced for the Factory team.
 
It is a lot different these days as the power and handling is top notch. Somehow miss the old days of trying to get a battery pack to last a race on the maximum gearing you could take. Hey Ho..
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: TheLongBuild on November 09, 2012, 01:33:49 pm
I'm looking at getting one of those Lunch Box's as they look pretty good.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on November 09, 2012, 02:25:38 pm
The lunch box is good fun, but the handling is pretty bad.... some minor mods are needed to the rear swing arm and dampers.

Son has one and still loves it after 4 years

Oh and ballrace it when you build it... makes a big difference to battery life for little money (About a fiver on the bay
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on November 09, 2012, 05:26:45 pm
In all honesty, unless you have your heart set on a Tamiya car, if you want a monster truck style vehicle, I would look at Thunder Tiger, HPI, Losi etc.

The build quality and design are much better than Tamiya cars. Tamiya do really nice scale details for there vehicles, they've never been bettered in that respect, but the engineering aspects of the cars are not so refined.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: grendel on November 09, 2012, 05:36:25 pm
I collected these the first time round, sand scorcher and other buggys, great fun racing the sand scorcher when a wheel comes off.
Grendel
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Martin (Admin) on November 09, 2012, 05:45:25 pm
I've had a Tamiya Toyota HiLux it sold for £700 Tera scorcher and a Mad Bull

.... do Tamiya or Kyosho do build your own kits any more?
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on November 09, 2012, 06:00:04 pm
Tamiya still supply their range as kits. Kyosho appear to have gone more for the RTR market.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on July 18, 2013, 06:28:34 am
The holy grail for Tamiya collectors
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RC-Tamiya-Porsche-934-935-KITs-2WD-Cars-NEW-NIB-1976-1977-RA1201-RA1202-/151079596739?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/RC-Tamiya-Porsche-934-935-KITs-2WD-Cars-NEW-NIB-1976-1977-RA1201-RA1202-/151079596739?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123)


Bloody good price for unbuilt kits as well! But I would have thought he would have made better money if he split them
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on July 18, 2013, 08:07:01 pm
Good grief. Could probably get a real one for not much more!
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on July 19, 2013, 02:38:04 pm
http://www.teamassociated.com/news/latest_products/1157-_Make_History_Again_with_the_RC10_Classic (http://www.teamassociated.com/news/latest_products/1157-_Make_History_Again_with_the_RC10_Classic)





Team Associated are re-releasing the RC10 from 1985
Anyone who was raing in the mid 80's either had or wanted one of these so should sell well.... looks like it will be about $250
Got mine pre ordered :)
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on July 20, 2013, 11:50:21 am
It was cars like that along with the Schumacher CAT, Yokohamas, high end Kyosho's which pushed the off-roading scene into a different league, both technically and in terms of price.

It prompted my departure from model cars as a hobby, and I went back to boats, where creativity was valued more than the size of a wallet. Just couldn't race on any competitive level with a basic Tamiya car against things like that, and the price of those cars was way out of my league at the time. I think the hobby ate itself in many ways with spiralling costs.

Thankfully the technology matured, and you can now get a car of fantastic spec ready to run for about eighty quid. The Thunder Tiger Phoenix line look great value IMO.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on July 20, 2013, 01:12:19 pm

It was cars like that along with the Schumacher CAT, Yokohamas, high end Kyosho's which pushed the off-roading scene into a different league, both technically and in terms of price.


I quite agree, I was racing competitively at club level with a Tamiya Superchamp in the early 80's and like you said then came the RC10 etc and it all started getting too expensive for a schoolboy on pocket money.  The local club did try to cater for us pocket money racers by creating a new race class with restrictions on buget, model, motors, batteries etc which worked for a few seasons but I moved on to other things, still dabbling with RC cars but only for fun.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Subculture on July 20, 2013, 03:08:09 pm
At the club I used to go to, which was in Chingford, there was no stock class. It was just completely unrestricted. Had there been some attempt at a stock class, it may have kept my interest.

I think the only car that Tamiya developed that really was competitive, albeit for a short time, was the Brat/Frog chassis. With dampers fitted on the front suspension and a decent motor, they gave the Scorpions and Hirobos a good run for their money.

I always had the most cars in the Tamiya line. Had a Sand Rover, which I loved, but basically wore out with use, and spares availability back then wasn't always great (pre-internet). This was replaced with a Grasshopper, which was an improvement with an enclosed gearbox and differential, but handling wasn't the cars strong point, and I always missed the beach buggy looks of the Rover. Both cars were upgraded with a 540 motor.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: Howard on July 20, 2013, 05:40:14 pm
My local model shop has a big yellow dump truck 1:20 I think bow front is so faded so must of had it a bit often wonderd if a should buy it.
                                   Regards Howard.
Title: Re: Vintage Tamiya Collecting Anyone???
Post by: essex2visuvesi on July 20, 2013, 07:55:38 pm
My local model shop has a big yellow dump truck 1:20 I think bow front is so faded so must of had it a bit often wonderd if a should buy it.
                                   Regards Howard.


Sent you a PM re this