UltegraSTI
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Posts posted by UltegraSTI
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40 minutes ago, bRIBEGuy said:
Awesome! Always fun to see restoration threads! I'm guessing by your user name that you too are a cyclist?
Yes. In fact I am pretty sure if my wife didn't work weekends full time she'd let me race RC as much as I wanted (with and without the boys) if it meant that I was no longer racing bicycles.
Posted my thread. Take care.
-Ult
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The screenshot is of a post i made here back in 2005. Crazy how sometimes things just get left on the back burner for so long.
The meat of the story is in that post so I will not retype it. Essentially it has taken me over 30 years to restore this Thundershot to running condition back to the day it was leant
to me by a family friend for a race and I (as kids do) broke before the race. Yes I had spells away from RC (1995-2004 and 2013-present) because, perhaps unfortunately, it was
always about racing. Additionally crazy to see how these kits are selling in rereleases and in many cases better than they sold when new. This and those people many a racer
used to hate on (bashers) are keeping this hobby alive. While life would always come to the front i finished off restoring this car this in November after a cycling injury had me
off the bike. Even down to the motor and all the Futaba G equipment. That Futaba MC10 would be a tough find but I managed to score 1 that was a bit rough but i was able to
re-wire it and save it. Even a channel correct matching Mag Jr was obtained (also needed some wiring help) and i happily took gave it a spin around the driveway for a minute.
Believe the only thing that couldn't be saved was obviously the Kyosho Stick Pack of 1700 SCE cells still in the car date coded 7/1988 (The had to have cells then).
Yes, not everything is correct on the car but this was how it was raced back then so one could say 'period-correct'. The Kyosho shocks sadly couldn't be saved as some of the
plastics pinch collars started to crumble. I will likely send those to a new home for folks who need parts. Moving to a Terra Scorcher 4 shock setup, front universals, and bigwig
moon rims were all apart of the puzzle. some cases a wing wire and sheet aluminum rear wing was on the car but maybe I'll consider making 1 off of vintage pictures. I did put
rear body mounts on but i may put screws and fuel tubing back on for a quick-change body arrangement as this car was raced in 1hr endurance races that were held at the local
club in '87-'90.
Sidebar: From that post I will say that i restored that Big Brute for my brother as a xmas gift years ago. we all met up at our parent's house for the 25th and i drove it out to all of
them next to the tree. He looked at it and said 'That cleaned up well.' Before i could reply both our mother and father said, 'No, you don't understand.' That was a full on resto
even down to finding a battery door to his original radio that came from the UK 2days before xmas. Biggest sense of pride for that project came from stripping the body down
to clear with old nitro fuel and repainting his childhood scheme back on the truck. He still has it and ideally once his lil boy gets a touch older he can show him dad's toy truck.
As for that family friend? Well last year around this time I thought about the car again and had looked briefly for some parts online. However, I noticed that Tamiya again put
the car out on re-release. Thought to myself it is holiday time. So I ordered a new 1 from Japan. Didn't even take it out of the box. I altered the Fedex label with his address info
on it. On a rainy day near 1-2wks before xmas I went to his house and put it by the house. I waited and I waited. Started to worry a touch the man is in his 70s like Dad. Well on
xmas day my parents were visiting my family and he called my father. Then asked to speak to me. I asked if xmas had been good to him? He said "Yes in fact has been a lil more
this year. Couple weeks ago he saw someone on security cam, someone with a package and an umbrella they went to the front door then the side and left package on side. Guess
they didn't want it to get wet. I looked at it and it said from japan thru Ebay. I asked my wife what is this? I called Fedex they couldn't help me. I called Ebay and they said it is a
legit order and it was listed as delivered etc. etc. Oh well I guess I'm keeping it. I opened the corner of the box and it said Tamiya on it and thought someone is pulling my leg.
There is only 1 maybe 2 people in this world who could be behind this. My wife said 'He'll call.' I said I don't know. He is prolly waiting for me. But I'm gonna sit down and build it."
Told him it always bothered me that you leant it to me (whether you thought it was gave to me or not) and I broke it. I'd be ok for while but then I'd see the car on the shelf and it
would get to me. Another thing that has been on my mind for 30 years or so was 'Why did you get out?' Told me he had other things going on taking care of family, starting up his
solar, gardening, and greenhouse projects and that took his time. It was good to hear. Man also (as stated in the old post) got me into the hobby and also helped by father get me
the Blackfoot (in the background) at a time when he really couldn't afford it.
So if if this was a bit interesting a read for you all then great. If it was TLDR (as they say today) then just enjoy the pix. Also if it helps I would later own many of those cars I
aspired to have when I was a kid. But they sat on a shelf and collected dust. I soon remembered what I though of car shows and got the same feelings. Cars need to be run.
This and feeling no real connection to the car once I had it because I did not have it then. I sold those all off. T-shots, Blackfoot/Beetles, RC10s, even bro's Brute. We had them
thus the connection. One man's opinion but perhaps it may help one of you out there. My boys are getting close to the age where I will show them this hobby beyond lil toy
grade things around the house. So who know perhaps I may just allow myself to like RC again and do so without absolutely having to be on a track to do so.
HNY,
-Ult
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I'm going to put my T-Shot resto thread up now if for no other reason than reading your story.
-Ult
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Title says it all. Had these for decades but have forgotten what they are for. Did quick look around tamiya 4wd models but didnt see a match.
At least on the quick that is. Also have 4 4wd front tires that are new also hiding in the dark spaces of my old rc stuff. Like to eventually find
them a home but cant ID the wheels. Thx.
May see myself tinkering with some more vintage RC somewhere in the new year despite quitting the hobby (racing) back in early 2013.
Best wishes in the new year all,
-Ult
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The US is finally going to have its 1st 24hour RC race. the 24 Heures of Jackson in Jackson, NJ. monster thread on rctech and they've filled the field with 12 prepaid teams runnin equal TT01E kits they'll receive that morning.
Sept 25/26, coming up on us fast. so schweet. you folks across the pond sure know how to do great events. i think us yanks only know how to 'race' or at least have 'races'.
R
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xjr-12 tamiya ReRe never seen electrics. shelf queen.
R
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just took this after 5min runnin around the yard and driveway. just like i did 21yrs ago today when i got it. my 1st real 'ride'!!! Period electronics, motor, battery, and even a find in itself....recently picked up an A model Mag Jr. Lets just say i didnt feel 30 anymore. more like 9 again.
have a thundershot to finish off (i broke it over 15yrs ago, only with internet have i found replacement. and now want to finish it off finally and give it back to its original owner. the man who got me into RC. and helped dad find this blackfoot for me all those years ago). also, hopefully in a new home of my own, i'll be doing some rc10 restoration here soon. have a good base to work with. just need a couple lil bits, some old lexan, and a few more futaba Gs lol
just thought i'd share.
R
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boy that'd be nice
-ult
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thats the wonderful world of early wideband AM radio here in the states. lotta random hits. they were only goin 10-15mph and electric so it was no big deal. today's cars, much bigger deal.
i'm gonna get a better capture of the original and recompress in a better codec to trim the fat if u will.
-ult
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wow, no1 likes old tamiyas racing in an original video. hmmm quite odd if i may say so.
-ult
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ax, did the same thing here. always wanted a boomerang and hot/supershot as a kid staring @ rc model car, rcca, and early tower catalogs...but when i got them. eh.....
now the blackfoot...that was a different deal --shocked myself thinkin that i raced that thing for 3 seasons. who holds onto a car that long anymore these days.
-ult
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what is the vehicle's intended purpose
-ult
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any1 know a good source for them or other cars i can borrow from. they discon'd the rere and the tires for it.
this is for an original tshot, plz help
-ult
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tires for a t-shot. they canned the rere and discon'd the tires already. really hamperin my restoration of my original. any help (i'm in US)?
-ult
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...fun.
my 2nd rc race ever w/my stock blackfoot. yeh the track's gone and i only have my custom body left from the truck (do have another original bfoot over my desk, as well as its trophies from '88-90)....but its a great memory.
august 1988. classic 5min (pre 4min, roar 91 motor rules, 1200s or SCEs -- how big is ur wallet?).
mabuchi 540 w/a resistor wiper for a speedo runnin stock t2pka futaba radio gear (s128s lol). the wonderful world of random radio hits on wideband heh.
need to finally get around to restoring my thundershot before parts start disappearin now. (saw the rere already is discon'd GRRR).
this is just an initial capture thru my 4head to camera (composite) to dv. gonna go into the studio and grab a better cut to preserve it from VHS.
enjoy, save target as
http://ryan.thewarf.com/1988C.mov
you think RC racing is fun now, this is when it was fun.
-ult
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its the one from your era thus it means somethin to you.
i had a supershot and boomerang, and others too. but i'm sorry they didnt do as much for me as a bfoot or beetle.
i got in very late 87/88. so those models i associate w/my youth. bfoot, beetle, box, pumpkin, thundershot etc.
u have ur early pan car guys (dwindlin in #s though). ur RR/SS/holiday etc folks. then their are ur HS/HS2/SS/SSabre/BW guys. then u even have folks that love f101/102s, early tourerrs and the avante/astute/vanquish.
i say buy around you era, if all these preceded you...i think u'll find there's somethin lacking. just my .02
-ult
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just added to my quickly growin collection.
in addition to the thundershot and big brute, which while not mine, are projects i'm workin on to restore. i have the boomerang very nice.
now i have a supershot and the 1 i wanted most, a blackfoot coming.
if 4wd wasnt so dead where i am, i'd look for a slighty newer 4wd (TF or vanquish or the RS) and fiddle w/that. i'd really like a 2wd, say a fox and/or hornet. but then that spills into a hopper, L/B, beetle, and a hotshot, or perhaps a frog and vanquish lol.
gonna throttle back on it for now. sell my brand new SUT CE likely. and then look for a modern 2wd buggy and a maybe a tt01 and race spec tamiya onroad and 2wd mod offroad.
we'll see. i'll have pix asap
-R
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...friend found out i was a gettin a vintage bug and wanted to let me know that 2wks ago out at a local track a fella came out and was runnin an astute in 2wd mod. he witnessed people laughin at the guy, 1st b/c it was a tamiya, then when some of the young guys found out how old it was (i'd guess that it might have been older than some of them right?).
still had the 'awesome' body. well accordin to the results the guy finished 2nd to a bk2 in all 3 quals and 3rd overall (made a mistake late) outta 18 cars.
not bad if you ask me for an old dog. sure makes ya sulk if you got beat and you just bought 1 of the new rigs.
just thought i'd share, makes ya want to dig out ur old rig and have a go eh?
-R
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small piece of fuel tubing inside and after teh wheel mount. and dont tighten down the wheel nuts overly so. they did some experiments w/this back when people were racing thundershots and the like in enduro races. no failure. give it a try and try some variations. also make sure that ur wheels have not oblonged the mount holes.
-R
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same methods apply today with 1/8 scale buggies and truggys. i still plop a splice of fuel tubing or old shock orings in teh cup to keep the shafts from binding or floating too much.
cut your lengths down to what feels right. not too tight or loose.
good luck
-R
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diggin this 1 up to reach other md tamiya vintage owners.
-R
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dig this 1 up. runnin modern nitro cars. but not any vintage stuff. hope others would though.
-R
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what a cool thread. whats up w/the fella that has tapes of races. any word? i myself, have 1 5min heat of monster truck racing from 1988. hehe it was cool b'g a kid in the 80s. the times i had w/my dad racing monster trucks were some of the best period.
sadly that club track here in baltimore, maryland is long gone, club was on life support by '92-stopped racing there the yr before when technology passed the blackfoot and beetle by and people started to get serious. luckily still got the video, the trophies, the pix, and the memories. pretty soon i'd like to have an example of the truck as well.
my younger brother had a big brute he ran in the sportsman class for new drivers. u could run anything. usually he was the only truck, against buggies (89/90)...his 2nd race was prolly still the clearest most fun memory i have of doin this. surely is my favorite. the go signal is given and all those buggies shot off the line and into turn 1 (long oval turn w/slight bank). new drivers, of course, flew in there and got all tangled up, marshalls had yet to dive in, bout 5 buggies that couldnt get away from each other. well here he comes w/the brute now @ full charge....the marshall waited for him to pick his way thru he thought. the kid is 7, go around? eh no. he went right over those buggies like a monster truck show it was great. people had a good laugh. he broke an rc10 and turned a jrx2's body inside out (never seen that done since). by time they got them all sorted, he had a lead which he held all the way thru the heat drivin steady and not makin mistakes as they did tryin to catch him. great times indeed.
racing wise from early 87-91 thereabouts... 1st 2 yrs or so it was all about monsters. blackfoots, beetles, big bears, brutes etc. 2wd started gettin people into new kits by 89, think it was 2wd stock and 2wd mod. had a 4wd mod and sportsman class for new drivers as well. by 90, the tamiya trucks (save king cab) were gettin outclassed and they made a 'production stock' class for them, 2wd was the thing, and 4wd was the 2nd car the high-dollar guys had sittin around ready to race. yz10, schu, optima, and occasional 'shot (1 i know quite well in fact). their extra 1700SCEs that had left over usually went into these cars (similar to today, 4wd is an afterthought). by '91, 4wd was near dead and production stock was gone. only tamiya in any class runnin often was the king cab. best gear could keep it in sight of a jrxt. the club in general had fizzled down, the folks runnin it, decisions that were made, and people just gettin tired of the hobby w/lil new blood coming in. it happens....sadly.
yes much more laid back and fun then. not like what i grew to see up to the mid 90s when i quit (1 reason i did).
the term over here 'cut-throat' comes to mind. when i picked this stuff back up a yr ago, i've been dismayed at what i see. lots of yelling at marshalls or pitmen, or just yellin and ventin over mistakes drivers make. **** in the pits people seemingly not in a good mood considerin their out to run their toy cars for fun (dont call em toys in some cases). people are hard core and secretive, if they can go the whole day w/o talkin 2 another racer, they'll be grateful. sad really.
also i missed runnin w/dad. he was my 'chief mechanic' as a kid, makin sure everything was in order and being 'dad'. later on when i was doin much of it he raced as well and we did things 2gether. when i got back and went by myself, it wasnt the same. not at all. he went w/me 1 time (had to drag him), but since he never dealt w/nitro and i did all the work he felt outta place. he watched the entire time and it was still odd. nice that he was there, but still odd. i think i also expected to turn back and see that big strong man that was my father, not the older tired quiet fellow i see 2day.
i dont know if vintage racing will ever take off in R/C, it'd be nice to see if it would and also take the route vintage car racing has in thats it for a good time and just to get the cars out there. yeh some want to win and drive hard, but others just want to be out there. heh....kinda like it used to be.
to that fella who has the videos again, update, i'm gettin a breakout converter box for my video suite so i can dump vhs into my dv station for edit and preservation.
keep this thread goin its a good 1. i really like readin it
-R
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parts car, trees, anythin. feverishly searchin for the last few bits to make my brother's truck run again after 15yrs on the shelf for xmas.
help me out, most appreciated
even a manual or a copy of 1 would help greatly!!!!
-R
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What wheels are these?
in Vintage Tamiya Discussion
Posted
Thx. No clue where I acquired these and how. Most appreciated. Perhaps put them up f/s here or on the 'bay'. Vintage stuff?
Well 1st port of call probably is my Blackfoot. It needs some TLC, always wanted to put period correct mods back on it, and that
fellow on youtube that has those replacement grill to body corners for Blackfoot's has my attention.
-Ult