thunderstriker

Mine was the Grasshopper 2 in, I guess, 1989 as I was in the last year of Primary (elementary) School. There was only one reason why I got the Grasshopper and that was because it was the cheapest 'real' RC car you could get, rather than cheaper toys from the likes of Nikko. My family wasn't well off so I had to wait and lust over the Grasshopper for a long time (well a birthday and a Christmas). I think with the radio and battery bundle it was about £100 all in, only a little more than the RTR Tamiya 'Quickruns'. It was surprisingly easy to build and my Dad didn't need to help me much at all. A couple of years on I got the Thunder Shot, which was a different kettle of fish. I built it with ballraces and it seemed pretty **** rapid and handled like a dream compared to the Grasshopper. I recently purchased a 'spares and repairs' Thunder Shot on eBay out of nostalgia. I have the basics of it running with original motor and mechanical speed control and while this one is all nylon bushings and not very fast compared to modern stuff the really cool handling is still there - well worth a rebuild/resto with ball bearings and a faster motor. Those were my only two Tamiyas and the last car I had before other things took over was a Kyosho Ultima, which was very rapid and saw me do a few club meets, although when I come home from college it was always the Thunder Shot I'd charge up and bash with to relax. I'm now back into RC with the kids and it's amazing how, after nearly 20 years, some things have really moved on while some things seem pretty much the same.

Here it is, next to my daughter's well-bashed Helion. Just added an eBay A5 brace (original part broken on one side, but I haven't replaced the plastic part as the brace seems plenty strong. Ball bearing set and a decision on the motor choice and I'll start the resto. As it's still huge fun to drive thinking I'll maybe treat it to a brushless. I use a Speed Passion 8.5t in my Kyosho and they do a 13.5t kit too, which is about the same price as the HobbyWing and readily available.

Smart-looking TS! What batteries do you use with the EzRun?

Been getting back into the RC hobby thanks to kids, the best car in the house being a Kyosho RB6. Back in the day I had a few different cars but always had a real soft spot for my Thunder Shot, which seemed to get the most use so out of nostalgia got a 'spares and repairs' one on Ebay to bring back to life. As it happened, aside from a broken A5 (which I remember happening to me way back) it was complete and everything worked. It's clearly bog-standard spec and I'd like to rebuild/restore it to get it running as sweet as possible and be more fun than standard. I'm going to get full ball bearings (no brainer) I'm toying with going brushless but want it to be a usable, drivable car and not something bonkers that pulverises itself. Was thinking getting a Tamiya super stock motor (but which one?) to be vintage sympathetic but if there's a brushless option that would suit I'm all ears. Regardless of brushed-v-brushless what ESCs would by a good option? Any other must-do mods you guys can recommend?