Voltec Fighter
Model Number: 57602

Brat Attacks

'Low-Tec Fighter that makes Tamiya's Quick Drive range seem modern, up-to-date and wonderful'

l bought a Voltec Fighter for the wheels alone as it is almost impossible to find them and as the kits are cheap it's easy to offset the outlay. Oh yes and another reason was so that l could say l too have built one of those pieces of $4it.

It's billed as being 'easy to assemble' and that's no lie. With no suspension to fiddle about with and just 43 screws and 4 nuts the chassis is built. The body with pre-cut decals adds 6 more screws and another 20 minuets to the build. If you go as far as painting it, don't bother with masking the 2 areas because it's that simple to paint. The whole thing is simple and in some horrific way rather nice to build in that its simplicity is its key to enjoyment. Even the 2 differentials are simple. There are no fiddly screws holding it all together, just grease it up and clip it together.

It's so basic that even Mr Nikko couldn't have made it any more simpler. l have a 22 year old Nikko Porsche 956 that apart from better steering on the Tamiya car due to Acoms or Futaba servos the Porsche is far quicker. The Voltec is just so slow and despite the 4 wheel drive the Nikko Porsche is the more agile car to drive. It's not that the Voltec doesn't go round corners well but by the time it gets to the corner you have forgotten what you were doing and nooded off.

But all is not lost for the crap little car. The wheels and 'Stig' like drive helmet aside there are some bits that are head and shoulders above other Tamiya cars. The battery holder is a stroke of genius with its rotating clip system and no matter how hard you drive it the battery doesn't fall out unlike the Grasshopper and Hornet. And the body clip system is brilliant. 2 little lever-locs and a front clip help keep the body free from posts and split pins.

As a car for the beginner it falls short on developing the newbie to RC and taking them to the next level. There is very little in the way of developing it further apart from ball races but it is simple, strong and because there is nothing to go wrong it's also easy to repair. So what next for my little car??

Being a simpleton l am tempted to hot it up a bit and try my hand at making it the racer it should and could be?? You see like Herbie the lovable Volkswagen the Voltec Fighter does make you love it. It's just a shame it wears such a horrid body but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in todays world of plastic surgery that can so easily be changed. You see it has the perfect wheel base for a Brat shell so Brat project number 'l haven't a clue anymore' here it comes. Watch this space.