Saito2

I use a Boss DS-1 like that for alot of stuff. I have to get a Big Muff and Ibenez Tube Screamer like those though. Awesome pedal board!

On a full size like that? The broad answer, in comparison to a street-driven vehicle, is soft with a ton of travel. That doesn't necessarily translate 100% to RC though. The TXT-1 has the weight to keep it planted (and respond more like a full-size vehicle), relatively soft suspension and a ton of travel. It generally floats over terrain like that but that doesn't make it a good track vehicle (despite being awesome anyway).

Yeah, that Lancia is a pretty tempting deal with a nice hard body and cockpit set. Part of me still wants the wonky ORV original, but at least the TA02S can do some off road chores as opposed to the TA03 variant. p.s. wish the Audi Quattro came back on a TA02 chassis

I got my shelfer Boomer and Bigwig out to study them. You're right, the Boomerang has a lot more steering travel. I just can't visualize it being as good as the Boomerang in the steering department with so little lock. My Hot Shot based buggies turn wide enough as is. I don't need another buggy with a wide turning arc (my backyard is relatively tight). The Boomerang I had turned in quite well but I kept getting debris jammed in the steering. I'm afraid I might reluctantly pass on a Bigwig runner...

Does the lack of steering lock translate to understeer or a wider turning circle when driven (particularly compared the Boomerang as a baseline )? I'm really on the fence about springing for a Bigwig and only want to get one is its steering performance is noticeably better than the Super/Hot Shot, which I know from experience, the Boomer definitely is. I have no problems getting a faster/stronger servo to better suit the rack and pinion steering if that's what it takes.

See? Even the dog approves of the Lunch Box and everybody knows dogs are good judges of character.

Can somebody who has experience with both tell me if the steering performance of the Boomerang and Bigwig are roughly the same? I'm very well-versed with the understeer from all the Hot Shots and I've driven a Boomerang which is honestly markedly better. Is the Bigwig equal to or better than the Boomer? I read a review that complained about the Bigwig having understeer but that might but from a modern viewpoint which doesn't concern me. If I pull the trigger on a Bigwig runner, I want it to be at least as good as the Boomerang in the steering department. Thanks.

If the G6-01 chassis is PC, in theory, it should be just as strong as many other Tamiya chassis parts. A lot of what we call ABS is really polycarbonate (PC). The Lunch Box chassis is ABS. The Wild Dagger chassis is PC. I don't know what leaving the black dye out of the mix would do in terms of strength or UV resistance though.

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream era stuff. Probably because I'm trying to nail down Billy Corgan's fuzz tone on my guitar along with building another guitar to suit that kind of music.

I'm curious what the production numbers for the Worlds cars were. The scenario could have gone like this: they test the waters with the Classic, with limited numbers, under the guise of keeping them exclusive. They sell like hotcakes. They ramp up a bit for the Worlds. Now several things could have factored in. Maybe there was more demand for the Classic to begin with and Associated mis-read the market. Maybe that "feeling" alot of us had about the half Chinese produced Classic being strangely "off" somehow kept us away from also getting the Worlds or maybe buying one re-re from Associated was enough. The transmission issue definitely hurt sales. Personally, I didn't get one because I didn't feel warm and fuzzy enough about the Worlds to deal with faulty parts from the get-go. As an aside, this is probably what holds me back from getting a CAT XLS re-re. Tamiya plays the long game these days. On occasion, Tamiya USA does offer a hidden deal at blowout prices like the TRF 201. For the most part, they just wait until production runs slowly sell out. Alot of the blowout pricing was from the early pre-MAP days in the 80's when US local hobby dealers needed to move stock that they got from MRC. Back then, after the Avante's faults became apparent, prices dropped like a brick. I distinctly remember America's Hobby Center selling Egresses for $99. Ouch.

Said goodbye to my Kyosho Blizzard today. It was fun, but I hate the cold and snow more and more as I age. Maybe it will fund another Kyosho Car Crusher or a Bigwig re-re.

Correct. The Wild Willy was the first to kick off the "Jr" versions. The HotShot was the first Racing Mini too. I believe the first Wild Mini was the Monster Beetle which is a bit strange as the Blackfoot RC proceeded the MB RC, but the mini releases are reversed.

This question comes up every so often and I usually give the same answer, the Lunch Box. If you logically go through all issues that playing at the beach entails, its the Lunch Box that fairs the best. Its mostly plastic which is unaffected by the salty water/air. Its simplistic which means easy tear-downs if necessary. With simplicity you also have a minimum of pivot points to worry about wear on. IRS vehicles with their control arms and dogbones have so many more wear points. Speaking of the Lunchie's rear, its a well sealed, bullet proof solid axle. If any small amount of sand does make it in (mine never has), it with tolerate it. The big tires help and lighter weight help it float over dryer sand. While the Madbull has many of the same benefits, the Lunch Box sits even higher to help keep sand out of the chassis tub. The tires being well below the tub also helps keep the dry sand from being flung over and into the tub too. The beach is rough on vehicles despite the fact Tamiya showed their vehicles on it in many of the promos. I love my Monster Beetle, but the thought of what sand could do to all those pivot points, driveshafts and metal parts makes me shudder. With the Lunch Box, you could literally pull the electrics and hose the thing down after a run. I know there's a love affair with running SRBs at the beach but when it comes down to it, simple is best.

For some reason, I like four big yellow CVA strapped, vertically, on a buggy. I dig it on the Super Shot and I dig it on the Bigwig. It has an all-out Tamiya performance look (hey, they were the best shocks Tamiya made at the time) with no monoshock monkey business (although, I love them too). I also liked how the shock towers kinda matched the body in color (sorta). The only negative I've ever read about the rack was it slowed responsiveness with the older, slower lo-po servos back in the day but that shouldn't be an issue now. Even with the appearance of less steering lock on the bench, I've never seen complaints about its turning circle. Steering seems to be the one thing Tamiya was always trying to improve on the chassis. They waffled between direct steer (Hot Shot style) and the steering bar (Boomerang style), but the rack was their best shot at it. Now I'm talking myself into one.

Awesome. The 80's truly are back. An authentic experience.