442xcar

I agree with Terry SC. I run an experimental 4wd GT-01 with a 9000kv Novak motor and a 12.4 v 3s lipo. The only thing I've been able to melt is 2 ESC's, 1 motor, and several sets of tires. The diffs and slipper have proven to be bullet-proof. May want to check that diff closely when you rebuild it. Also, with that much power, it's a calculated guess on how much tension you use with the slipper. Good luck.....

Two big categories to consider with brushless. Sensored, and sensorless. All the Tamiya stuff I've looked at is sensorless. Makes smooth operation impossible. I've watched the club racers near home all running to give their cars a "bump start". Also, very non-linear accelleration. I'm on a tight budget with my projects, but I'm a true believer in Novak Sensored brushless gear. I can crawl from a start smoothly and accelerate smoothly to the sound barrier. The Mongoose Micro setups in my Tamtechs will smoke all the big dogs. Period. And, they will run for 2x 3x times longer on one battery. I am Novak all the way.....

Looks like the UK post has figured out how to indirectly Tax internet commerce. Now watch the domino effect with Governments around the world. UPS is looking better every day.....

I would love to give you a tally, but my wife reads my posts!

I've been following this project with great interest. I too have a similar project that just took it's maiden run this morning. Watch for a showroom entry for the car. I've named the car "FRANKENPORSCHE"............. Keep up the great build.

Way down here in good 'ol East Tennessee, we have a sayin'..... "Drive It Like You Stole it"!

Not long ago I finished a restoration of a 58002 Martini. I installed a new painted and decaled body. It was the toughest waterslide decal job ever. Even with my experience, and use of Micro-Sol, I lost the roof decal. I know Myles (Tamiyoman) has just finished his peel type decals for this car, but I don't know how they work. I did buy a set of his 936 decals and the quality was very good. His service is excellent also. However, the 936 decals did have a problem with the long two piece side stripes being 1/4" short of the front wheel well. Myles is working on a fix. I don't think the decals from the TamTech lexan body will work, but they may be good for a 20 footer.... Best to find you a well equipped builder with tons of experience for the Martini.

The thing that I'll always associate with soul is Round Headlights and Chrome bumpers. Back in the day all cars had these two things, and are rarely seen today.......

My opinion is that most of the new cars today do not break any new ground. You know the deal, revamped/rehashed/reissued chassis, different wheels and tires, and a new floppy body. The only thing missing is the soul. Kind of like Frankenstein. Re-animated, but something important got lost in the process. Same thing happened in NASCAR racing here in the States. Everyone uses the same chassis, tires, ect, and the only differences in the teams is the decals on the body. Sound familiar? BORING!

Sorry Alistair, I was commenting on the 1991 FCC rule changes here in the US of Obama. We cannot legally use the vintage (stock) stuff anymore. I have some installed in shelfers that I do not run, but all the gear still functions.

P, I have built several early pan cars. I always build my shelfers for display only, but they are absolutely complete, correct, and ready to run. Installing vintage radio gear is a tricky subject. Technically, all the old stuff is illegal now for surface operation, but really is correct for a proper display. A judgement call for the builder........

Kelvin, I've been working on using a 1/12 Lola static body and installing it on a Frankenstein 58005 chassis. The main problems are wheelbase, width, and the length of the rear axel. If you want to use a Porsche body for the Carrera, that body is even smaller than the Lola. I'm going to try a TTG GT-01 chassis and see how all the clearances work out. It's a compact chassis, and there are a million ways to modify it with off the shelf parts. Good Luck, Tim D........

1. Body posts that stick up above the roofline. It's like seeing a beautiful women on the beach who proceeds to raise her arms and let everyone know she has gone "native". 2. New kit releases that are actually some old rehash chassis with a new floppy body. (or better yet, new decals)..... Yawn........ 3. Paying top dollar for NIB vintage parts, just to find out they are really old used take-offs that just happen to be in an old box. (typical response from seller usually goes something like this; Well, someone sold the parts to me and said they were new). Blah, Blah, Blah...... 4. Getting cold emails for very rare parts/cars. Sending email replies with detailed photos and descriptions (no prices discussed), and then getting this kind of reply (paraphrased); Well, I would be interested but I've got a line on exactly what I asked you for and I've really just been pulling your chain because that's what I do...... Blah, Blah, Blah.... Or; Hey, I am really interested so lets trade for anything in my showroom (of course the showroom is full of stuff you couldn't give away with free shipping and a ten pound note wrapped around it). I could write a book for this thread..........

I'll have (2) original release 1/9 ESCI Kubelwagen's available within 2 weeks. Both are complete with well worn original boxes. Any club members who are interested in one or both @ $100.00 each + shipping, email me and reserve one. I've got one of these that's been on the build table for awhile, and they are highly detailed. Tim D.....

I have several shelfer chassis' that are too nice to c-ball for parts. Everything else in the collection is NIB. As a last resort I will have to make 2 out of aluminum plate

H, I'm with you as far as all the other manufacturers vintage scale stuff. About half of my showroom is Otaki, Imai, Bandai, Nichimo. I have to say that my thing has never been Lexan, although I have a few old MIB examples. As for the Black Porsche, the thread has had no action, but solicitations to sell have been off the hook. I guess that goes to show that some of the replies to this thread are right. The hardcore vintage crowd stays out of the public eye and operates via pm's and emails. Makes sense. It eliminates the fringe elements. Tim D.....

Current state of affairs; Posted a new "Vintage" thread a few days ago. Topic; A 58001 Black Porsche new build. I've spent quite a bit of time since the release of the Black Porsche tribute kit last year aquiring all the correct bits to do a proper build. Perfect chassis. New body from a tribute kit (cha-ching$$). A new and nearly impossible to find front bumper. NIP speed controller. Perfect wheels and tires. Only pieces I need to complete are the two chassis plates that the body mounts onto. We all know how rare the real deal is, and no one (to my knowledge) has attempted one of these new builds using the re-issued black body. I thought it might interest the vintage crowd here on TC, and so I posted the thread. The result; Nothing. Words of encouragement = 0 Parts sourcing help = Nada Comments = Zip I guess I'm just an "Old School" odd man out? Not that I'm discouraged. It's just the way things are now I suppose. It's kind of like recent postings to member showrooms. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears more and more like Kyosho Central rather that TAMIYA CLUB. I'll keep collecting Vintage Tamiya hardbodies, and interacting with likeminded members. Help out the newbies with problems. As for the Black Porsche tribute build, Life is good! What a project!

I've had a 58001 Black Porsche project sitting around for awhile now. I have everything to complete it except for the two chassis plates that the body mounts to. It has taken quite a bit of time to put this one together. New Body, Perfect unused bumper, ect. Here is a photo I posted in my showroom (listed it as an April Fools joke, Ha!). http://www.tamiyaclub.com/pictureframe.asp...010090308_1.jpg Any help anyone can provide with two old plates sitting in the bottom of their old parts bin would help to finish this one. Tim D.....

I think the reason is money is tight, and EVERYONE on TC spent their free cash on new SRB re-re's. That said, to move things right now, you have to give them away........

Checked out RCbin. They had 5 items listed for auction........ I guess you have to start somewhere. I think I'll start my own dedicated website.

I know most people who read this use Feebay to source their Tamiya needs. Just a little heads-up to let you know why prices will be jumping considerably. It's another reason you will be seeing many large worldwide sellers of hard to get parts setting up their own websites. Here is a little sample of Ebay's new money grab with sellers; How has eBay changed their selling fees for auction sales ? (eBay calls it "simplified" - what do you call it ?) A few examples : Selling Price Previous Fee New Fee $100.00 $4.81 $9.00 $200.00 $8.31 $18.00 $300.00 $11.81 $27.00 $500.00 $18.81 $45.00 $750.00 $27.56 $50.00 $1,000.00 $36.31 $50.00 $1,250.00 $40.06 $50.00 $1,500.00 $43.81 $50.00 $1,910.00 $50.00 $50.00 The fees "max out" at $50 for a $560 selling price, --- but this was the previous fee for selling an item at $1,912 ! Also, don't forget Pay Pal fees! They are mandatory for selling on Ebay......... The biggest issue a seller has is that buyers blame the seller! These days I have buyers beating me to death after a sale to reduce shipping costs, blah, blah, blah. The threat is through the one-way feedback system, and the possibility that Ebay will invoice at a higher rate for "poor" seller performance. Nobody blames "Feebay", or out of control shipping costs. All of this is totally out of a sellers control. Now you will see that the only people who sell on Feebay will be newbies who are ignorant of the back end gouge. Yes my friends, it's the end of the world as we know it.....

From a marketing standpoint, nostolgia interest tends to peak at the thirty year point. Hence, a savy company like Tamiya tends to do 30th anniversary re-re/tributes. If Tamiya has a kit that was popular back in the day, and it is approaching that all important 30 year point, you can bet their marketing people are on top of it. Bear in mind that these releases are not identical clones of the originals. They are designed to make you think back to the original kit. A good case in point was the Porsche 934 Anniversary kit. The boxart was right from the original 1/12th car from 1976. Inside the box was a lexan 1/10th car that did not share a single screw or part from the original. When Tamiya re-re'd the Black Porsche, they actually remolded the original plastic 1/12th body and adapted it to a Tamtec chassis. Once again, issuing that kit near the magic 30 year point. Same with the RR & SS. It's 30 year bingo.

I think all the vintage Tamiya NIB kits worldwide have been found..... Collectors will now have to find something new to aquire. I hear that Limited Edition Elvis Plates are the next hot collectable. How about Furbies? Pez? Wow! I just woke up from a terrible nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tower Hobbies will ship after every other vendor in the world has sold out, and every TC member has 2 Scorchers in their showroom.

I could'nt agree more Badboy. I would much rather see showrooms full of cut-and-paste box photos from the Tamiya.com website, rather than a bunch of Tamiya Club amatures trying to figure out autofocus cameras......