Mechanic AH 581 Posted April 27, 2022 Beyond retail price, what was the most insane/expensive single RC purchase you’ve made? Whether it’s a part or kit. New or vintage. I always find interesting parts/kits for projects but because of the skyrocketing prices in the last couple years or so, some of the things I’m interested in are starting to become unobtainable (whether new or vintage). There are times when I have to just go for it even if the price is higher because that opportunity rarely comes back again. But it makes me feel guilty. Curious to hear what are some of your acquired items that are above the normal price range. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted April 27, 2022 I think this could be a tough one for a lot of folks to talk about... ha ha ha. Plus, I think there is a lot of mis-information about what people are ACTUALLY paying, and what they claim to have paid. For me personally, I typically won't pay much over MSRP for parts or kits... but I'm also no longer big into vintage collecting. The scarcity and price jumps have pushed me out of that aspect of the hobby for now, and many of the things I've sold are now financially irreplaceable. And I'm coming to terms with that. I'm a huge fan of the Tamiya re-re stuff, and most of it can be found at reasonable prices. Would I pay over that for a NIB kit? Ya, maybe... I'm still trying to find a Boomerang, Dyna Storm, and Lancia 037 (TA03)... but I wouldn't be looking to shell out 2x the price or anything like that. Since I regret selling the one's I had, I'd pay good money for a MK1 Hotshot and Hotshot 2... but again, I can't quantify that with a number. But that's just me (and I may change my tune...). Now... straight up most expensive purchase in my RC fleet.... MCD XR5-Max FT-R. That makes Tamiya vintage NIB seem reasonable. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MadInventor 3884 Posted April 27, 2022 Not an actual piece of RC stuff, but invaluable to my hobby, second hand milling machine, followed by a DRO system for it. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted April 27, 2022 Just now, MadInventor said: Not an actual piece of RC stuff, but invaluable to my hobby, second hand milling machine, followed by a DRO system for it. JEALOUS!!!!!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MadInventor 3884 Posted April 27, 2022 3 minutes ago, bRIBEGuy said: JEALOUS!!!!!!! It did cost less than a mid range tamiya tank would now, and the mill is coming up for nearly 50 years old. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wooders28 4723 Posted April 27, 2022 Prices went mental during lockdown, so sold a load of my old Core Rc /Tamco/ Hobbyking and Etronix Transmitters and recievers on ebay. The micro recievers I was paying £12 for at one point ,where going for just under £50 and the £8 hobbyking ones for just over £20!?! 🤷♂️ Sold enough, to buy my most expensive RC purchase in the near 40 yrs of RCing, a Sanwa Exzes ZZ Transmitter ,a couple of Sanwa telemetry receiver's and a couple of antenna less SMD ones. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSpicoli 1363 Posted April 27, 2022 This easily. $775 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmelczer 100 Posted April 27, 2022 I'm not really a collector of the vintage stuff (although I do have 2 rehab'd Falcons), I'm more of a builder. For me, the single largest purchase was a TA-08 Pro chassis kit. That one set me back about $310. For me, it's not the single largest purchase, but rather the purchases for a single car in aggregate...That TA-08 chassis, for example, now has close to $900 invested in it in total and will be over $1,000 once I put my FPV setup in there... 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuggyGuy 1106 Posted April 27, 2022 The Tenth Technology Predator X10 on release was my single biggest purchase - was about £500, think it was 2008 or so. My TRF201 XR/XM build from parts has probably passed that now though... (But that's lots of tiny purchases ) 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tamiyabigstuff 832 Posted April 27, 2022 Most expensive kits I've bought have to be the 1/16 JS-2 & Abrahms tanks at just under £1k each... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willy iine 18806 Posted April 27, 2022 M38 NIB. $1700 or something, I don’t remember. I bought a few (?) M38’s and they weren’t exactly cheap.. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Driver 262 Posted April 27, 2022 I put a $100 Novak Hammer ESC and $100 Thorp transmission in my used and (VERY) abused hand-me-down Blackfoot. If you scale by age/income (I was 12) that's a pretty bad couple decisions. lol But recently, I'd have to say my first 1/8th scale buggy build, all brand new. Probably around $1200 all told. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bRIBEGuy 3045 Posted April 27, 2022 15 minutes ago, Willy iine said: M38 NIB. $1700 or something, I don’t remember. I bought a few (?) M38’s and they weren’t exactly cheap.. But those miniature Willys... those are priceless! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willy iine 18806 Posted April 27, 2022 8 minutes ago, bRIBEGuy said: But those miniature Willys... those are priceless! Yeah, gotta love Bob, Willy’s dad. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
junkmunki 846 Posted April 27, 2022 My most expensive purchase in one go was actually a collection that i purchased from a gentleman who contacted me. The lot came to just short of £3000. I had to buy the missus something nice after... J 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ziddan 947 Posted April 27, 2022 Rere Terra Scorcher, dont expect i will be buying very expensive stuff in this hobby. If i see a Sand Scorcher, original or rere for relatively cheap i might pounce and that is liable to be a more expensive buy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwj95 152 Posted April 27, 2022 The most I've spent in one purchase was when I bought my highlift. Including the radio gear and battery etc it came to about £450. I don't think I would spend more than £500 on anything RC. In terms of parts, I've bought a couple of wheel and tyre sets for around £100. Of all my hobbies this is the cheapest, I probably average £200-300 per year on RC. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
87lc2 2666 Posted April 27, 2022 My HG P415 Hummer H1, got it a few months ago when it was on "sale" at just under $600. Have spent more than that on buying big lots of cars/parts, but that has been my most expensive single model purchase by far. I'd never pay over retail for any RC, just not a collector (but good on the people that are, I love seeing them ). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xeostar 815 Posted April 27, 2022 We all know the first rule of Tamiya Club; Never talk about the cost. 3 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bash 356 Posted April 27, 2022 Axial Bomber kit, was about $375 IIRC. It will be beaten shortly by a Team Corally Kronos XTR that I'm planning to get once I clear up some space for it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted April 27, 2022 Bruiser re-re probably had the highest price tag, but it was a gift, so it doesn't count. I spent $400 on an RC4WD Trailfinder 2 kit that wasn't worth half that. And I spent $380 on a brand-new Traxxas Slash 4x4 VXL that I never even opened, but used as a trade to get my hands on 5 RC10s and a few boxes of parts. Netted about $800 selling the RC10s after fixing them up, so that was a nice deal. Turbo Optima re-re was $360, I think. $200-250 for a kit is about the price range where I start to go "hey wait, let's think about this..." 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Zero 316 Posted April 27, 2022 I remember a Mugen MRX4 + engine setting me back a fair bit at the time & I’ve had some quite expensive radios over the years but if you really want to get rid of the cash get into helis. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saito2 6686 Posted April 27, 2022 Probably one of my Egresses. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mechanic AH 581 Posted April 28, 2022 13 hours ago, JeffSpicoli said: This easily. $775 Wow! I thought I saw one of these sometime ago on fleabay and it was soo temping. Great buy! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mechanic AH 581 Posted April 28, 2022 11 hours ago, Willy iine said: M38 NIB. $1700 or something, I don’t remember. I bought a few (?) M38’s and they weren’t exactly cheap.. I never knew these could go for that much! One day I'll need to build a Wild Willy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites