Wandy

That is absolutely hideous.

Never got round to getting the regular GH2 so this will do nicely. This one is better looking too IMO.

RCJaz have the TD in stock if you can't wait till September. I usually avoid import duty when buying from them too. https://www.rcjaz.co.uk/tamiya-47458-110-thunder-dragon-2021-p-24635.html?ref=cart

Without a doubt.

The lack of a prestige motor is definitely inexcusable. They would have been better off just leaving a motor out altogether, as a bog-standard 540 just waters-down the whole "special" feeling of the kit.

Modelsport don't even look like they got their's yet. Expected arrival of June 21st?

The re-release scene isn't dying or faltering in any way at all. Cooling? Maybe, but that was always going to happen, in a similar way that all of those vintage kits and parts that were awash on ebay between 2002 & 2012 were always going to run out of supply eventually. As long as Tamiya are in the business of making RC cars there will always be a retro section of their RC porfolio. It's a niche market that they themselves created 17 years ago with the reintroduction of the Hornet and it has been nothing but lucrative for them. I think the whole re-release scene probably reinvigorated the company's RC division on a huge scale and most likely played a part in reviving the RC hobby in general. Sure, we have now passed the peak period between 2009 and 2014, where they were bringing back 3 major kits per year, but to say that the scene is dying out, to a point where it will no longer exist, is way off the mark. With each passing year a new bunch of kits enter the "vintage" category and therefore are ripe for a re-release. What Tamiya do seem to have done in recent times though is release kits in batches, in a similar way that sneaker manufacturers like Nike do, to generate hype around a release and also maybe a FOMO in their customer base. Whether that's a commendable thing to do is up for debate. But I think the last 12 months have simply added new recruits to the re-release scene, and while some of them will move on once the pandemic is firmly in the rear view mirror, I think plenty of them will become re-rooted in the hobby like many of us have been over the last 20 years. You have to remember that they are actually running out of iconic kits from 1976 to 1995 to release. So they need to space them out more than they have done in recent years. Those other icons will come, in time, though.

Haha, I wouldnt be surprised actually. I have been doing this for a few years now. I buy loads of kits through the year and keep a few back as Xmas presents...usually the most prestigious ones too, to make it extra special.

Yes, it will be a test of my patience, for sure.

I can't unfortunately as it is already packed away as its actually going to be a Xmas present for me this year. I didnt even take the photo, my other half did. Lol.

Its a TBLE-02. Seems they all got that one.

Return of another icon. I actually think the "Evo" branding on the box art looks better than the original "Evolution". This is one of the few re-releases where I won't go hunting for a set of original decals.

Arrived. 😎

Joanne at Fusion told me that Tamiya UK have now got their stock and my order is now being processed. The site is still down though, meaning that Fusion cannot process any new order checkouts online and everything has to go via the telephone. Proper retro.

Fusion are getting theirs next week too.

Fair enough. So it's still a hopped-up Top Force, just with a modernised version of the original hop-ups. That's good enough for me.

According to Glenn at RC Legends the kit doesn't come with the original transmission upgrades or turnbuckles.

I'm certainly not cancelling, but if it's true that the kit is just a Evo on the outside and not the inside then I can definitely understand why others may want to do a u-turn. For the price they are charging it's unacceptable for them to leave the guts of the original buggy out of the re-release. On a more positive note, I think the new box-art with the "EVO" logo looks better than the original. Usually when Tamiya have re-released a buggy with slightly altered decals I go chasing an original set to complete my re-re, but in this case I will be happy to stick with the EVO badges instead of EVOLUTION.

Beautiful box art but the lack of blister packaging is seriously poor for a high end kit like this, especially at the price point that has been quoted. And is it really true that the kit will not be coming with any of the crucial original transmission hop ups and turnbuckles etc from the original Evo?

I'm a sucker for these specials that Tamiya come up with, so I promised myself I'd get these two when they were announced in January, and they arrived this morning. Just waiting on the Grasshopper 2 Black Edition to hit the stores now.

Finally built this last week after having it stored away for years. Was going to leave it as a shelfer but couldn't resist giving it a spin.

You got a Mk2 Escort body you are working on?

Been wanting one of these for years but held off properly chasing one as I really thought that Tamiya would re-release it on the F104W, like they did the McLaren MP4/6. Got sick of waiting though so finally pulled the trigger on this original. Now just watch that re-release be announced this year.

Yeah I placed the badges up on the rear quarter and they might be a tiny bit larger than the real thing but its not a major issue. I will be getting some of the Marlboros from them too. Just needed to test the water for quality & customer service etc but both have been spot on.

Yep, got them from the same place and I ordered them in 1/10 scale too. In what way are they too big?