Boarded the City Turbo train!

I remember getting so incredibly excited by this re-release! The original Willy's Wheeler was just so quirky, had some of the coolest tires, and featured the iconic Willy figure at the wheel. Yet it was quite rare as it was intended as a Japanese domestic market release. The re-release had the important bodywork bits and those superb-looking treads on original-style wheels - even if the new car was on a WR-02 derivative and had a different name, the Willy's Wheeler was definitely back!

I picked mine up at the tail end of classes, meaning I could take some time off to work on it before starting my summer job. I ordered with a Chinese model shop a little different from the typical stores - now I see why people stick with the typical stores! Nonetheless, mine arrived with the internals intact, and so I got started on a rapid build.

Unfortunately, there were problems with the shell and its clearances of the front wheels. These can be sorted to a usable extent, which is great because I rushed through the build to get a crack at running it!

The WR-02C chassis is easy to build up; the bodyshell easily takes way more time to perfect than the mechanicals. Fortunately I did not have a perfectionist mood with this one - plans for a Castrol Mugen shell were thrown out the window with the kit shell in favour of a simple TS-51 Racing Blue paint job and a few spare decals. Up close, the finish is kind of rough, but if I run it how long will the paint stay, anyways? Regardless, a new shell and wheels have been ordered for such an elaborate project...

This Honda City Turbo runs with the stock Torque-Tuned motor, with inputs from a Spektrum SR200WP receiver and steered by the SF-10W servo from HPI. This gives me an economical waterproof setup - those lovely treads on the Advan HF-style tires may get some work in the rain!

As I write, there are many other Honda City Turbos on TamiyaClub, and it looks to continue. My example of one of the most surprising re-releases of 2015 is the subject of this showroom entry.

Update: The chassis is at present stretched and living under a reproduction Opel Ascona shell... Once that project's own platform gets sorted, I will reassemble this fantastic little car!