QD Midnight Pumpkin
Model Number: 46004

After the introduction of the Thunder Shot QD and Super Sabre QD in 1989, more QD's followed in the years. And 1990 not only saw the introduction of the Thunder Dragon QD and Dash-1 Emperor QD, but also the Midnight Pumpkin QD, Tamiyas first RTR Monster Truck.



The QD's of this time showed much influence by the Grasshopper/Pajero style chassis-family. And the QD's bodies resembled small sisters to larger "Full Size R/C-Models", since Tamiya's designers took the big r/c's as antetypes, except the Dash-1 Emperor which came from the 1/32 scale electric series. Tamiya had always funny interweavments in their model palette, so you found a Midnight Pumpkin as 1/12, 1/14 and 1/32 model.



Since the QD-chassis are derived from the Grasshopper/Pajero chassis in many means, they bear the same advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless they make a lot of fun while driving, short wheelbase and large tyres provide a comic-style driving behaviour, with bouncing and nodding. And they are sturdy, our Tamiya Promo Video speaker would have said "And they're rugged!" like he did to the Hilux. Even if they only feature a small 280 type motor, they are agile, and the manually shifted two-speed-tranny gives one the choice between speed or power. Those cars were a missing link between the contemporary RTR mass producers and the real r/c-builders. At least a Midnight Pumpkin QD costed as much as a stock naked "full size r/c" Pumpkin, so they were a lot more expensive than contemporary Nikko's. (Original description by urban warrior)