Biltzer Beetle Chrome Edition (Ltd. Ed.)
Model Number: 58252
Released
TBA
Drive
2wd rear, gear diff
Suspension
4 wheel double wishbone, coilover oilfilled shocks
Chassis Description
Plastic Bathtub Design
Body Type
Highly Detailed ABS Plastic
Motor
540
Limited Edition release based entirely on the Blitzer Beetle, but as the name implies, came with a chrome body. Very nice to look at, and one of the tougher cars to find. (Description entered by stulec52)
Reviews
miramar
Basically a Blitzer Beetle with a chromed body, but with slight differences. As the chrome Blitzer Beetle came with the chromed wheels from the TR-15T / Dyna Blaster with tarmac tires, it has shorter front stub axles because of the shorter distance between the wheel bearings.
The chromed body is fantastic, with a deep luster to it and a durable finish which can't be compared to the easily scratched chrome of plastic models, or even "normal" chromed parts of RC-bodies. The decals are also special for the "Chrome Beetle", but you can easily see that Tamiya didn't spend much time on them. I put them on the two showroom models I built, but would leave them off on my own models. My two "Chrome Beetles" are still MIB though and will probably remain so, as I think this will be a highly collectable model in the future.
I have never driven a "Chrome Beetle", but I have driven the Stadium Thunder (same chassis) with the same tires, and it oversteers badly, so softer rear tires would have been nice, as adjustments to springs and dampers can't cure the problem alone without ending with a model understeering as badly as it oversteered before.
Conclusion: highly recommended, but best enjoyed MIB or built and left in your showcase.