OnceAGrasshopper
Members-
Content Count
39 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Community Reputation
0 NeutralAbout OnceAGrasshopper
-
Rank
Newbie
-
He He I guess that rhymes... But anyway I have a TA-O2 chassis- appears to be in excellent condition (but I'm guessing bone stock except for the motor). But needs a motor mount, a body (the ones I like seem hard to find (Escort Cossie, Delta Integrale) but I guess I could just buy the cheapest thing i can find, and an ESC (all missing). Has about 3/4" ground clearance - Would it need longer shocks for off road? My 6-yr old son has a hopped-up Grasshopper. Part of me wants to just finish this TA-O2 into a rally type car so we can run together (in dirt). Part of me says for the money it will take to complete it - I should just sell it and get a new AWD buggy. Thoughts? What are most people doing with TA-O2's? Brandon
-
Buggy Basher For My Son - 2wd Vs 4wd
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in General discussions
Thanks for all the great replies so far! I think I'm leaning towards a 4WD car - it should be easier to control for a young kid. Then as he gets older and if he continues to enjoy RC we can get him a car that is more "rewarding" to drive well. As I sit here I htink $150 is about as high as I'd want to go - so the Dark Impact at $160 seems fine - I have radio stuff I can transfer... That said I will check out the suggestions made - thanks. But here is a thought I had at lunch today. I have a nearly mint TA-02 with new rally block tires at home. I have never run it - it just needs an aluminum motor mount, a body, and an ESC (assuming I don't rob the one from the Grasshopper) to be ready to run. Would it be a bad idea to run that car as a basher? Ground clearance seems to only be about 10-15mm - not sure what current buggies usually run... I was thinking TA-02 are really road cars that some people run rally's with (that is why I got the chassis actually) - and by rally I mean fairly smooth dirt tracks not big bumps n jumps and such like you might do at a buggy track. Problem is, for the money I'd still need to spend to get it going Lancia Delta Integrale body $50, ESC $30 , not inlcuding any mods I'd have to do plus the fact I (well my son) would be wearing out the chassis I actually did buy for me to run as a rally car, I'd be well on my way to a whole new car. All thoughts appreciated. If the TA-02 is actually a decent idea (I'm assuming it's not) - please let me know what the "mandatory" mods would be - besides alum motor mount. It has a stock shaft and don't know which travel setup since I bought it used. Thanks again Brandon -
Guys- So my 5-yr old son has been having a ball with his Grasshopper. I have been enjoying my role as Chief Mechanic ;-). We even put the 540 back in it, along with some bigger rear tires and front oil filled shocks and took it to an outdoor dirt RC track. Hilarious! - here was my little guy driving his small, relatively slow, antiquated GH while the older folks were ripping by in their nitro trucks. He was a moving chicane for them but it was all good fun. So anyway I'm thinking about an upgrade for him - especially since his little sister has eyes for the Grasshopper - so maybe this summer I'll paint the body pink for her and get my son a new car... So to my question - a buggy basher for a young kid - I've been eyeing the 2WD Sand Viper and 4WD Dark Impact. Any input appreciated about the pros and cons of each - and 2WD vs 4Wd for a kids basher. Use will primarily be ripping around in dirt fields - but ocassionally, as with the GH, taking it on a "field trip" to a real track for some fun. No real racing plans. Not looking to mod - so want something good, durable, out of the box. thanks! Brandon
-
Sand Scorcher - Why The Holy Grail?
OnceAGrasshopper replied to Saito's topic in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
How do the SRB cars handle (including speed) compared to, say, a Hornet - (better I'm assuming), The Frog, or a modern buggy like a Sand Viper? Do many people just run them of mostly just collect them? I see the Buggy Champ has been re-re'd so I guess those are good for just running..... Just curious.... -
Here She Is In All Her Glory (grasshopper)
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
I guess I can't add more pics - do we only get 500k total space??? oh well there she is! -
Well first a thanks to all who have helped so far. Here is the Grasshopper (really more Hornet underneath) that I have built for my almost 5-yr old son. He LOVES it. She's a runner - but it looks good for now. That's my job as Crew Chief. Hornet rear end with stabilizer bar, alloy shocks (although I think these are junk and have not yet decided if we'll run them til ruined (won't be long - or run stock until he as more finesse and maybe help these last??)), Brat wheels/tires for now - we also have stock 'Hopper wheels/tires, some red alloy wheels, and some yellow rear wheels (CRP? You-G?), alloy nerf bars, uprated tie rods, new uprights, full bearings, and the monster 380 motor for now. Will attach more pics in separate posts due to file size...
-
Grasshopper Front Parma Shock Rebuild Q's
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
Well sheesh. Between this manual above - and browsing around the site ( I found a clone to the chassis I bought) I guess I _actually_ have You-G shocks (I think!). Yeah I feel a little silly -oh well not first - or last time. I did take a pic but left the camera at home - will post tomorrow. I'm very curious if either my shocks are missing parts or the You-G shocks are very very primitive. I have another set coming on another chassis I recently bought off ebay so it will be interesting to see how they compare...Hopefully I can make 1 good pair from the 4 shocks Thanks again for the help. Brandon -
What are the best USA online stores for parts and such (batteries, charges, hop-ups (seems like you need to hit the Hong Kong guys for some older hop-up parts - like for TA-02 stuff))? I've always gone to Tower Hobbies by default and wonder if there are better places..... And by better I will say price, selection, timeliness in shipping, and maybe ability to give good advice for a purchase?? Thanks in advance
-
Please Edumucate Me On Batteries
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in All things electric...
Thanks for the great info, guys. Exactly what I needed. Now I know my NiCd batteries do suck and I need a new charger than can handle NiMH - thanks Until next time.... -
Please Edumucate Me On Batteries
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in All things electric...
PS - what about 6 cell vs 7 cell? Thx again -
I've down some searching - and I'm sure it's here somewhere - just haven't been able to come across the right thread. Please help me with batteries. Batteries for a Grasshopper, a TA-02 rally car - and likely a Sand Viper. Not real racing just messing around. But hopefully some "racing" with friends at some point. I'd like to get long(er) run times. Let's skip LiPo - don't know much about it but it seems to complicate things. Let's stick with NiCd and NiMH - what's the difference? Is one better? I see 1500mAh - 1900mAh - and some even higher - what is this? Does more mAh mean longer run time? My old batteries are 1200mAh - antiquated I'm sure... Motor on the Grasshopper is a 380. Other cars will have RS540 or similar. Thanks again guys-
-
Grasshopper Front Parma Shock Rebuild Q's
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
OK this helps very much thanks! Apparently I have CRP shocks. I had seen both kinds and thought I had Parma. Now I know. And this diagram really answers my question about the rebuild kit I have - it just did not make sense to me looking at my shcoks and comparing to the seals in the kit. Now it's all coming together Is there a way to edit the title of this thread? So I can change it from Parma to CRP? That said any info on the CRP shocks would be great. They do seem different - I'll have to look at them again and take a pic but my recollection is it has brass plunger on the end of the shaft and I don't recall any sealing o-rings....we'll see. Thanks again Brandon -
Hi Guys- I want to "rebuild" the front Parma oil shocks for our Grasshopper. There really doesn't seem to be much you can do - clean em up and put new oil in. I don't even see replaceable seals or o-rings (maybe my set is missing them???). I do have a Parma "rebuild kit" but by looking at it me thinks it is for the rears. Anybody know for sure - I can post a P/N later.... Lacking a manual for the shocks - some advice would be appreciated. What weight oil? I have the package of the 3 middle-weight oils from Tamiya. Was thinking I'd go lightest of the middle set. Do I fill the shock tube full? Half full? Is there a "proper" procedure? Thanks much! Brandon
-
Thanks TA-Mark. So what mods would you consider "necessary" for a TA-02 rally "basher" car? (that's my biggest question I guess) I don't want to get too crazy if I don't _have_ to... I don't even know what lower eyes my car has on it - my chassis looks to be in great shape but I did buy it used. What is standard ground clearance vs rally? Will a Ford Escort or Lancia Delta or Audi quatro fit the standard TA-02 chassis? I guess I need to determine if mine really is 100% standard tho.... More questions will come - thanks in advance. Brandon
-
Esc Problem? Motor Spinning Backwards
OnceAGrasshopper replied to OnceAGrasshopper's topic in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
OK thanks a ton guys. I am at a loss as to how things happened - but it is all staightened out - thanks to you guys. Apparently the throttle was reversed when I originally set the car up - which explains why when I hooked up the wires how I thought they should go the motor went in reverse. So I just swapped them - not even thinking about checking for a reverse switch... And then I guess while flailing away with the ESC I engaged "no reverse". Still don't understand the hows and whys (seemingly working fine with the throttle reverse cancelling the backwards wires and then going to $hi# during a single 15-minute session) but I've set throttle to normal, swapped the motor wires back and re-engaged reverse and reset the ESC. Seems to be working like it should. Phew that was weird. Ahh lessons for re-newb.... Thanks a ton guys - my little guy will be so happy tomorrow when he learns he can drive his car again. Thanks! Brandon