Winniez

You are right about the differences, Coor's wheels have totally different offset. Using those makes the track width pretty narrow. They also don't have any grooves to attach tires. But they have work pretty well in my runner. I have also used Samurai wheels and tires (need another adapter though) and they work pretty ok, and look ace I haven't tried Ninja wheels though but I would imagine that the narrower front tires would be good for handling, atleast Ninja seems bit crispier than Shogun. Could be the higher suspension stays aswell though. I agree about the durability, haven't broke any Ninja wheels. Funnily I haven't broke any silver Coors wheels either but few gold colored, maybe the gold paint or plastic compound Marui used makes the gold colored wheels more fragile as in Shogun. I might have some extra fair condition Shogun wheels if you are interested. -Lauri

Pitty that it got broken suspension support mate! Otherwise nice looking Hunter. I actually think the rear suspension of Hunter is better than Galaxys's! If you are planning to run her make sure the greabox is well built and grease it properly. Thats a weak spot, specially since it provides a support for rear arms aswell.

Thanks for the link Rosey, didn't notice that thread. Excellent picture comparison. Tamiyadan: Yeah, I think the later cars are most similar, in some cases its almost continuing the production after a brief break like Clodbuster variants. Out of the kits that I have closely inspected the Thunder Shot and Fire Dragon seems to be most similar to their original designs, specially the Fire Dragon, its almost the same as the old one.

I think the period updates like Wild Willy wheelbase or Hot Shot bumper etc. belong to their respective cars, there are Hot Shot mk1 and mk2, they are both original Hot Shots, Tamiya just changed the design to improve strenght, make the production easier or for some other reason. On the other hand I think the kits like new holiday buggy or Wild Willy 2 are not anything like re-res, more like a modern take of vintage car keeping still in the spirit of the original.

Don't expet to find those any time soon, they are so fragile that they will disintegrate while you are watching! I have been searching for a good set over 3 years and still haven't been able to find perfect ones. If you need wheels for runners I would recommend Coors wheels. In my opinnion better looking, much more common and way stronger. Coors came with 2 set of wheels (gold and silver) so these should be relative widely available. Alternatively you could use Ninja's wheels, they fit but front wheels are narrower than the rear wheels so you should find suitable tires. -Lauri

These are still available

Could somebody who has been working on both Avante and Avante 2011 list the differences in this thread? I need new tires for my Avante so I'm thinking about buying a re-re set. Are they excatly the same (expect the possible slight change of compound)?

One more time

I have this Big Brute gathering dust. I'm mainly collecting buggies so I though to test if there is any intrest towards it. Nice original condition, unrestored. Comes with a box and manual. I have pictures ready but my attachement space is used. Just ask and I send them. Looking for 85 euros. Cheers -LauriSOLD

Up and Away!

All in all it appears that the Fire Dragon re-re is extremely close to the original. Even the decals are basicly the same since Fire Dragon did not have any real life sponsor stickers, original has "Warning hot" decal for resistor, re-re Tamiya decals and layout is bit different. Original body has pre cutted hole for resistor. Basicly excluding the slight possible changes in plastic/rubber compounds the only real difference I have noticed is lack of mechanical speed control in re-re.

I think one more change would be lower front suspension arms with circular hole instead of triangular, re-re uses similar design than HS2 and many other HS based cars.

Actually re-enforced suspension arms were period upgrade for the chassis, Tamiya changed the design for Terra Scorcher and Fire Dragon. So they are sort of original in Fire Dragon re-re. I just checked the parts and it seems thats the case with rear hubs aswell. So Thunder Shot and Thunder Dragon original design. Terra Scorcher, Fire Dragon and re-res improved desing.

Sorry, I bought it already, thanks mechinyun for smooth deal. I'm right now rebuilding it. Only few bits are missing from the chassis. If anyone has following parts I would be interested (most are generic Tamiya parts): 2xC1 (short adjuster) BP7 Backbone BL2 linkpin 3xBA6 screw 4x(3x27 screws) 4x(3x15 screws) vinyl tube Cheers -Lauri

Some parts still available, Vanquish manual sold Futaba MC 210CB, New still in original package. Excellent vintage ESC Tekin and Reedy decal sheets Yokomo Tires, all new 1 pair of TF-9S 1 pair of TF-9H 1 pair of TF-34H 1 pair of TF-8 Cheers -Lauri

Hmm, maybe the Technigolds were added to the kit by hobbyshop as some sort of bundle deals or Tamiya later added the motor to the kit. To my knowledge USA versions usually had red sticker which said "Note: Motor or motortool not included", my Avante box came from NA and has that sticker. Text is in german and french aswell though.

The motor was not included in North American market, in Europe and Japan it came with Technigold. Strange since thats a UK ad, maybe they used the US ad and failed to notice the difference. Or then the UK version came without motor aswell.

I'm looking for new Avante upper chassis. I have many items for trade, Avante B-parts, Yokomo tires, Vanquish manual, new vintage ESC, Tamiya catalogues from '90 etc.. Ofcourse also Paypal ready. I might be interested in lower chassis aswell. Cheers -Lauri

SOLD I have these new unused wheel and tires for sale. There is some minor dust from storage and some wheels have been on car but not used. Not looking much. One full Sand Viper set, Wild One front wheels and Super Gripper 2WD front Sand Viper set Wild One wheels and Super Grippers All Cheers -Lauri

Up, still need few more parts.

I think its the original, the ESC is vintage one, same as in Avante promo video from 1988.

I have few Optima bumpers for trade, all new but not in the bags anymore. Also have a new spare Lazer 2000 bodyshell. Some of the parts I'm looking for, money could be added either way: Avante upper and lower chassis plates Avante tires Egress J-parts Egress front damper mount Optima MID wheels and tires (pair of OT-66 pair of W-5031) Optima MID glassfibre damper mount set Marui Samurai Chassis Marui Samurai Box Marui Ninja Body Marui Ninja box Cheers -Lauri

Thanks, send me a PM if you find some. Cheers -Lauri

Still looking for few parts for my Hotshot2 runner, preferably cheap. Used parts would be ok. 1xBall Thrust Bearing (SB-1 - 5700013) Same as in all HS drivetrain cars 1xGearbox Joint Short (SA-6 - 2595013) 1xBlack wheel axle (SA-3 - 2595012) Cheers -Lauri

Also front arms and mechanism box are slightly different. F-parts have triangular hole where re-re and later cars have circular hole. And the holes of mechanism box are bit different. Re-re has same mechanism box as HS2. And then there are ofcourse decals and MSC. Oh and the ball links in the front suspension are different aswell, they are hex head in the re-re instead of flat head of the original. I think there are some other minor differences but cannot think of them now. Cheers -Lauri