beefmuffin

You know... I was looking at the re-re Boomerang C parts, how they include all the special blue Bigwig parts like the front shock mounts, steering rack+pinion, etc and it reinforced my gut sense that Tamiya had been and hopefully still are planning to re-release the Bigwig. Looking at the re-re Boomerang parts the following parts trees could be re-used exactly as-is from the Boomerang (and Fox): B parts (bumper etc) C parts (blue parts) D parts (battery door / rear skid plate) G parts (gear boxes) R parts (rear arms) T + U parts (rear shocks) X + Y parts (front shocks) Z parts (from Novafox) Tires Gears Pro Joints+Shaft / Axles / Drive Cups+Shafts / etc Hardware bags A-E are almost a match All they would need to come up with are: A parts (yellow parts) F parts (front arms) Wheels Chassis + Sub-chassis Press parts + steering boots Body + Decals + Manual That seems nearly irresistible. It's less than they had to do for the Novafox. Although, by the same measure they could re-release the Super Sabre literally with ONE parts tree + Body/Decals/Manual.

One thing I notice is that of the 3 Blackfoots we have 3 configurations; 1) Black MSC + Black End Bell 2) Black MSC + White End Bell 3) Beige MSC + Black End Bell Also, the Midnight Pumpkin was Black MSC + White End Bell. I'm pretty sure they were all U.S. release kits. As I understand it the Black MSCs were the earlier variant, as ostensibly were the Black End Bells. The first one has Black and Black, but the 2nd one is Black + White and 3rd is Beige + Black, Thoughts?

Twisting the knife, Rob...TWISTING THE KNIFE! LOL I was curious, based on this discussion, to go check the motor variants of some of the NIB kits I'd sold in recent years... many of which I sold specifically because they were unsealed (of course, my NIB collection was never enormous and is smaller now that it's only sealed kits... but I'm content to grow it slowly as I stumble on the odd bargain here and there). Here are pics I could dig up of probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the sold kits. It looks like there were examples of early Frog, Hornet and Blackfoot kits... based on our observations. In the case of Thunder Dragons I wonder if there was any impact of the 'earliness' of the kit on non-JP versions coming with white EB motors or if they all (or nearly all) did throughout production. Hmm...

Yeah so I think no 'rule of thumb' is going to be sufficient to determine which kits came with what and when and have to stick to cataloging examples. Though there's no harm in observing that the majority of kit X, variant Y came with motor Z so long that's definitely a clear trend and clearly indicates the existence of, and possibly the estimated rate of incidence of, examples that contradict the trend. We don't want to inadvertently call into question the authenticity of kits or unintentionally suggest that kit contents have been re-boxed, etc. When it comes down to uncertainty as to the absolute genuineness of the contents of NIB kits this is what drove me to start to only collect sealed ones. Obviously, there is a certain amount of satisfaction denied by not being able to look inside - especially related to this topic (it would be nice to see what variants they are) - but there's the alternate satisfaction of knowing the contents are exactly as they were intended.

OK let my try to find and intersperse links below... then a few new examples below exploring the current theory. Any time an example diverges from the theory I'll bold and italicize the conflicting details. 11) Thunder Dragon - Non-Japanese - Metal EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=114651&id=24856 12) Thunder Dragon - Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=116034&id=37496 13) Thunder Dragon - Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=112157&id=5927 14) Thunder Dragon - Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=58707&id=9757 15) Thunder Dragon - Non-Japanese - Metal EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=36155&id=945 16) Thunder Dragon - Non-Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=35387&id=9871 17) Thunder Dragon - Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=23410&id=4901 18) Thunder Dragon - Non-Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=11931&id=31 19) Thunder Dragon - Japanese - Metal EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=8658&id=944 20) Thundershot - Non-Japanese - White EB - http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=108298&id=34053 21) Terra Scorcher - all Japanese and Non-Japanese kits I found had Metal EB ...except this one: http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=5136&id=24 22) Fire Dragon - all kits on TC follow the Japanese - Metal EB / Non-Japanese - White EB rule

OK well here's a quick scan through TC users' Tshot series NIB pics...

Did any of the Thundershot chassis kits come with white end-bell motors (Japanese / Non-Japanese)? I was pretty sure they all came with the metal inset ones. I was looking into it because I just picked up a beautiful Terra Scorcher that had the metal-inset motor and I wanted to check that it was original and not a modern replacement. Everywhere I looked the Terra Scorcher at least only had the metal end-bell version... granted I wasn't looking for it exclusively, just enough to know it wasn't not original issue.

Well @Hibernaculum and @chickenman242tk I guess that answers the question of whether some Frog kits came with white vs black endbell motors (thanks Rob). The thing I find curious is that the MSC included here is a black-plate style. I know for some kits that came with both black and tan MSCs the black ones were the earlier of the two. Did Frog kits ever have tan MSCs? Also I wonder if, for the kits that just say "MOTOR", that general term was used during a time when more than one type of motor was being included depending on whatever was on hand in the factory on that given run/day. The juxtaposition of white endbell motors and black MSCs may be why I had a gut sense that white endbell motors came first in some kits.

This topic definitely needs to be discussed and determined. @chickenman242tk and I were just discussing this the other day. There seem to have been white-endbell motors in both kits that came before and after the black-endbell motors. I have a vague memory that some variants of the same vintage kits came with black and some with white for the same model. There are also the 2 and 4 vent/hole distinctions as well as wire/lead color variants and whether or not bullet connectors came pre-crimped. What we really need to do is break down all the stock motor variations that existed and have a motor-specific page then indicate for each kit which of the motors were included, as well as whether more than one version made it into those kits.

Vintage Tamiya Terra Scorcher w/ NIP Decals, Vanquish Wheels, New Tires ** 58075 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tamiya-Terra-Scorcher-w-NIP-Decals-Vanquish-Wheels-New-Tires-58075-/331976658361 Looks good - great to restore or run. New vintage bumper. New decals. New tires. Vanquish white lightweight wheels in great shape. Includes original Terra Scorcher wheels. Transmission smooth. See Pics.

FS: Bigwig Chassis, Bumper, A Parts, F Parts, R Parts + Z Parts NIP Vintage All vintage, NOS and sealed NIP. Let me know if you want / need Tamiya or MRC part numbers. All parts are the correct versions, including the bumper which has no hole like later Boomerang bumpers. FREE BONUS Bigwig Screw Bag B and new steering boots also included $130 + postage

Will give you $50 for it.

The top guidebook pic in addition to the yellow FRP parts clearly does show the more cylindrical stabilizer bar ends too. The body has number "1" as opposed to "3" everywhere so I guess these would be different of the (many?) early prototypes...

Hi @gordb are these the pics from the guidebooks you mention in your showroom description (below)? Definitely has the FRP stabilizer mounts, although the resistors are the normal shape as opposed to the rectangular ones on your 'Protoshot'. Definitely interesting! Also, in case anyone wanted to see a nice breakdown of Mk1 parts as shown in the guidebooks it's also up on Tamiyabase...

Hi @netsmithUK you may already be aware but it looks like there may be some sort of DB connection or scripting error on the main site. Getting 500 errors any time a form is being submitted. Just a heads up!

Hi guys OK so I recently had another chance to take some side-by-side vintage vs re-re parts pics in the form of original gold Hotshot / Supershot wheels vs their re-release Super Hotshot counterparts. It turned out I had the re-re versions on my Supershot so I swapped them out with a NIP set of originals I had. That just goes to show how important it is to help people know the difference. I keep finding more and more mistakes I'd made over the years due to lack of information about how to know the correct parts to use for restorations. I've gotten better with experience but that doesn't help others who are getting started. Anyway, let's start with the rear wheels. Vintage on the left, re-re on the right. You can see differences in the material and finish side-by-side, but that isn't much help when you only have one set and are trying to determine whether it's original or not. The "RCC HOTSHOT REAR" embossing is identical but as is so often the case the vintage parts have "MADE IN JAPAN" clearly labeled somewhere while most if not all the re-release versions are either missing this or have had it blocked out, like so... So far ALL the re-release vs vintage Tamiya wheels I've examined can all be differentiated by looking for "MADE IN JAPAN". If it's there, you can almost certainly be sure they are original. The next difference with the rear wheels is that the originals have nothing embossed on the insides (vintage on the left, re-re on the right): It can be tricky... in fact it's almost misleading that the original Hotshot model number has been added to the re-release wheels in addition to the (c) 1985. Don't be fooled by this! Without knowing better I'd probably be fooled by this... maybe that's how I was fooled into installing them on my Supershot in the first place. The vintage wheel is totally blank on the inside like so... The re-release gold-plated wheels have a notably deeper gold richness and hue than the originals. I don't know if this is due to age - with the gold fading to closer to silver in places on the originals - or due to a change in the material or process. You can see the difference below, vintage on the left (note the blocked out "MADE IN JAPAN" embossing at this angle as well. Rather than repeating all that for the FRONT wheels I'll just say that the differences are identical to those for the rears and just insert the pics below...

Hi guys - I've got a couple auctions ending the next couple of days for: a super-nice new-built Futaba FX10 w/ New Body, Box, Manual http://www.ebay.com/itm/331958110943 a super-rare NIB FX10 Body Set http://www.ebay.com/itm/331958122649

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/trades_model.asp?id=39840&cid=120047&t=815201645907 - Sealed NIP Vintage Fox Chassis - Sealed NIB Vtg Front Stabilizer Set - Sealed NIP Vtg Fox Gearbox Sprue - Sealed NIP Vtg Fox Rubber Parts Bag - Sealed NIP Novafox Driver Z Parts $60 + 10 postage (US) or at-cost (non-US)

I think the idea was to make it basically a bolt-on option that won't cost as much as a Thorp setup or other $200-300 options. Hey Max about how much do you think it would cost for one of these? Cheap? Not cheap?

Yeah this video was posted by Derrick Durbin who is the designer, He's trying to get his TC login approved (@TWINSET @netsmithUK) so he can join this discussion.

I happen to know that this kit was made by one guy who hand makes these parts and did it for his own KC. I and others encouraged him to offer it to others who might want to do the same so he made a bunch of extra sets. I doubt these will be available indefinitely so if anyone is interested even just to have ready for then their stock trans kicks the bucket I'd suggest grabbing a set before they are gone. I probably will even though I don't run mine, because I think it's a cool idea. Doesn't even require special dogbones or axles or anything.

Just wanted to let people know that there's now a new alternative transmission option out there for the King Cab and Monster Racer. It replaces the gull gearbox, diff and outdrives with a bulletproof RC10 Stealth gearbox / diff / outdrives (you source / supply this) and there is a kit including custom mounting plates etc that allow this to be a drop-in replacement. Pretty exciting stuff! I don't run my King Cab so I don't need it myself, but given the expensive alternatives to the weak KC transmission this seems like a great option for those who do. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-nissan-king-cab-hi-lux-monster-racer-stealth-transmission-conversion-kit-/331934782225

Definitely gotta be my mint NIB sealed Blackfoot...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331919950933 Vintage Tamiya Bigwig Hotshot Sand Scorcher Clodbuster NIB Wheels 50293 50121 NIP Bigwig Moon Craft Wheels P/N 5293 50293 For Models: Bigwig (58057) NIB Sand Scorcher Front Wheel + Tire Set P/N 5121 50121 For Models: Sand Scorcher (58016), Frog (58041), Hornet (58045), Grasshopper (58043) NIP Hotshot / Supershot Gold Plated Wheels P/N 266 50266 For Models: Hotshot (58047), Supershot (58054) NIP Grasshopper II (Super G) Front Day Glow Wheel Set (Yellow) P/N 49022 For Models: Grasshopper II Super G (49501), Grasshopper II Super G (92018), Grasshopper II (58074), Fox (58051), Wild One (58050) NIP Super Hornet Front Day Glow Wheel Set (Orange) P/N 0445495 For Models: Super Hornet (58124), Grasshopper II (58074), Fox (58051), Wild One (58050) NOS Original White Clod Buster Wheels P/N 0555026 For Models: Clod Buster (58065), Bullhead (58089) Price dropped to $120. $20 more than the last set of Moon Crafts alone that sold on ebay went for...

LOL - I'd never get your don'g wrong, @Pintopower. Yeah I think we are the two biggest Hornet 2 fans around! I have two actually, so I'm selling one. How did u create those vents, dremel?