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[Jon]

After 30 years I feel my Tamiya Hornet RC car has entered final retirement.

http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/58336hornet/

My son has been using it for a few years, but the body shell has finally disintegrated, and the bathtub chassis has become brittle. But it's served a good time and had many hours of enjoyment. Ive just upgraded my son to my Tamiya Madcap, moving the radio gear out of the hornet to leave a sad lonely Hornet shell. 

The madcap is in a much better state so should last him till get get a new kit.
I found it quite disheartening the level of ready to run or nearly ready to run cars out now.
I thought the whole point was to build the kit...

[essex2visuvesi]

There are 00's of kits still out there (even the hornet is still available new)
Tamiya do a range of XB kits that are RTR but they are just their normal range of kits supplied pre built and painted.


The Hornet and it's stable mate the Grasshopper are real gamechangers in the RC car world, as they were cheap(ish) to buy and simple to build and maintain while giving pretty good performance.
I think most people who were into RC at a certain time had one.


Here is our collection:-




Not a great pic but this is part of our collection.  Not really vintage by some of you guys standards.


Front row:
C Chassis - Ferrari F40, TA04 (This is my sons "Wetrace car"), TT01 Subaru, F102 Williams, DF01 Misubishi Lancer Dakkar, Schumacher Mi1 (sons Indoor race car), Mi5 Sons Outdoor race car, Sepent 733 Nitro (MY race car... hopefully)
Middle Row:
Tamiya Tyrell 6 Wheeler F103, TTG GT01 Valiant Porsche, Yokomo BMAX 4-II, Lunch Box, Schumacher CAT 2000, Schumacher Cougar SV, RC10 Graphite, M03 Wagon RR,
Back Row (unbuilt Kits)
RC10 Goldpan Re-Release, TTG Martini Porsche, F104W Lotus 79. and a couple of unbuilt static models for good measure.

[TheLongBuild]

Keep thinking I would like to get a Lunch Box..

[essex2visuvesi]

Keep thinking I would like to get a Lunch Box..

Great choice, very very robust.  The only weak point is the body mounts.  But these can be replaced with alloy ones from ebay.
Other than that a set of ballraces and you're good to go.
The one in the pic is over 10 years old and has been driven HARD

[Subculture]

The Lunchbox/Pumpkin chassis, is basically the same as the Grasshopper/Hornet but with a shortened wheelbase and monster sized wheels. The softer more compliant tyres go a long way to smoothing over the wrinkles of the agricultural suspension system.

Personally I prefer the Wild Willy II chassis, as it has pretty good suspension, much better than the first version.

[essex2visuvesi]

Very true.... but its a huge laugh.
Another good upgrade are these.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JV-Shop-Aluminum-Oil-Shock-for-tamiya-Lunch-Box-Midnight-Pumpkin-Mitsubishi-Mont-/271239140099?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item3f271cd303


Really improve the handling no end

[Subculture]

When you can get something like the link for £89 complete, I know what I'd get. Much tougher than any Tamiya kit, loads of fun to drive, and will handle like a treat.

I've only owned one RTR model, a Losi Micro baja. I had to strip that down and rebuild it anyway as nothing was adjusted correctly. Neat little car once set-up correctly though.

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/ftx-siege-1-10th-brushed-rtr-2wd-electric-truggy-red/rc-car-products/383076

I've tried in vain to tame the backend on my Grasshopper, it still bounces about living up to its name.

[grendel]

vintage would be one of the early Mardave cars...
Grendel

[Subculture]

I used to like the Mardave Apache. Good strong basic car. Suspension was a bit basic and no differential, but close to bulletproof and easy to maintain.

[U-33]

I have an original Traxxus Bandit...it's a bit of an animal.


Rich

[Guy Bagley]

oh, these bring back memories,


vintage RC cars, my collection consisted of a sandscorcher, holiday buggy, subaru brat, midnight pumpkin, mardave ministock then an IC mardave stockcar, and finally a mardave marauder....


now i relive my youth through my son, he has a lunchbox re release, also a ansmann hot rod, and a parma  california sport truck.....


aaahhh those were the days....

[essex2visuvesi]

oh, these bring back memories,


vintage RC cars, my collection consisted of a sandscorcher, holiday buggy, subaru brat, midnight pumpkin, mardave ministock then an IC mardave stockcar, and finally a mardave marauder....


now i relive my youth through my son, he has a lunchbox re release, also a ansmann hot rod, and a parma  california sport truck.....


aaahhh those were the days....

I picked up a Marauder the other week at a boot sale :) was only 20 quid... needs a good service and clean but its all there and seems to be in OK condition

[Guy Bagley]

we have spoken about this via PM, i am jealous !!!!
 
i think if i was to bring another RC model into the house the wife would hit the roof... but give it time i may sneak one into the workshop !!!

[U-33]

Mardave ic stock cars...takes me back a few years. Brother in law, cousin and I used to go all over the place racing those...Haywards Heath, Worthing, Leicester, South London...they were great fun. I had a Mardave, a Ke'Jon for a while (anyone remember those?) and then back to a Mardave, all powered by Veco .21 motors.






Rich

[essex2visuvesi]

we have spoken about this via PM, i am jealous !!!!
 
i think if i was to bring another RC model into the house the wife would hit the roof... but give it time i may sneak one into the workshop !!!

When I start the restoration, I'll put it on here :)

[grasshopper]

Our local RC car club is hosting an 'iconicRC' meet on  27th July featuring old Tamiya cars and other such  vintage creations


https://www.facebook.com/a1racingclub/photos/a.609460482475683.1073741829.595928820495516/639091879512543/?type=1&theater


I may dig out my old Grasshopper for a laugh!

[essex2visuvesi]

Several clubs have started running these events as there is quite a big following right now....
Problem is tho some of the earlier Tamiya models now change hands for 4 figure prices

[Subculture]

Thankfully most of the best early cars have been re-released in one form or another.

The old cars are not a patch on new stuff when it comes to performance, but Tamiya made nice looking cars that did more than pay lip service to a scale look.

[essex2visuvesi]

Thankfully most of the best early cars have been re-released in one form or another.

The old cars are not a patch on new stuff when it comes to performance, but Tamiya made nice looking cars that did more than pay lip service to a scale look.

Pre ordered one of these today (birthday next month )





http://www.kyosho.com/eng/products/rc/detail.html?product_id=109876

[Subculture]

The car that really socked it to the SRB's!

[essex2visuvesi]

The car that really socked it to the SRB's!

The Tamiya Superchamp was quite well matched with the Scorpion, albeit quite a bit more expensive (I raced a Superchamp in the mid 80's)
Hopefully that will be the next one they Re Release as I would love to get hold of another

[Subculture]

So you were the one!

Never saw a Superchamp race. Saw a lot of modified SRB's racing.

[Nordsee]

vintage would be one of the early Mardave cars...
Grendel

I have a Mardave Mini, very basic! Ran on 4 cells if I remember correctly, never used now just sitting on my Workshop shelf...

[U-33]

Not a Tamiya...my ancient Traxxas Bandit.


Rich

[Nordsee]

vintage would be one of the early Mardave cars...
Grendel

I have a Mardave Mini, used to run on a 4 cell pack if I remember correctly, very Basic set up, but lots of fun. Just sitting on my Workshop shelf now...