Help me spend $200 on a new toy

[markbt73 5316]

I recently wrote a piece about my MG, for which I made $200 over and above my usual freelance writing income. Most of my freelance money just goes into savings, but I decided I want to blow that $200 (give or take) on something fun, since it's been a rough year (or three) and retail therapy works, as much as I hate to admit it.

So I've been mulling over some ideas, and I need to make a decision, so I'm posting them here.

1. Re-re Monster Beetle: I've always liked the Monster Beetle, and while I've had several Blackfoots, one or two of which had Beetle bodies, I've never had the real thing, much less built one from new. The drawback here is that I've kind of done the ORV chassis to death over the years; this would be familiar ground. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

2. TT02, probably the Ford Escort or the Audi V8, and the basic array of hop-ups: I've never actually had a TT02, and it sort of feels like I should at some point. I'm also light on on-road cars in my collection. But it's a very simplistic kit, and I'm not sure how satisfying it would be. Then again, you can do almost anything with them, so there's a lot of opportunities for the future.

3. Traxxas Slash kit: I've never had a Slash either, and I kind of want to see what the big deal is. But I've had other Traxxas trucks with the same basic architecture, so it's back to something I already know. Again, the sky's the limit on doing other things with it; those drag conversions are something else. I like that it comes with all the electronics; more manufacturers should offer cars in kit form, but with everything included.

Open to other suggestions, but... I'm up to my ears in half-finished scalers/crawlers, so I don't need amy more of those, and I have a NIB Terra Scorcher kit on the shelf, and a built-but-not-detailed TA02 Lancia 037 that needs finishing. And the budget is pretty firm; I'll push it a little bit, but not much. And I don't do RTRs of any kind...

[DaveBuildsRC 210]

My vote is tt02 or maybe ta02 calibra.

[Jonathon Gillham 4606]

Have you thought about a FF03? They are the mid range of kits and a step above thw TT02.  Or a TB car if you want 4wd, a TB03 if you can find one or the TB05 if budget allows.

I  like the way you can swap the motor position in the TB05, but they just come as a kit with no esc, motor, body. The flipside is they have full bearings and you don't need any hopups out of the box, but plenty are available when you feel the urge

[Frog Jumper 3658]

Thundershot or Terra Scorcher. 

[Frog Jumper 3658]

Great article btw.

I remember running out of gas along a NC rural highway while riding with my dad in his ‘48 TC.  It happens he said and I believed him - the gas gauge was a broom stick you stuck down in the tank to “measure” how much gas you had.  He trudged off over the horizon looking for gas, leaving me to make sure no one messed with the car.

About 30min later, a nice lady and her young son pulled up and asked me if I had run out of gas.  I said yes and told her my dad had walked off in search of a gas station.  She left me and drove off to find him.  Another 15min later she pulled back up with my dad and a can of gas.

I rode with the lady while my dad gave her kid a ride of his life all the way back to that gas station.  When we got there, the kid was over the moon.  “Mom!  That was awesome!”

I loved that car. But dad sold it when he got the cancer…

Terry

 

[markbt73 5316]

32 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said:

Thundershot or Terra Scorcher. 

I have a Terra Scorcher I haven't built yet.

[Saito2 6686]

Of the three, personally, I'm going to say Monster Beetle, but that's just because it's the Tamiya that "hooked" me BITD. It seems every time I build an ORV, I incorporate new ideas on making it subtly better or more durable which extends the build time and enjoyment.

Looking at the Tamiya range for under $200, there's the Frog and Brat, if you wanted to try non-monster ORV. I have a Frog bouncing around to remind me what a "competitive" 2wd buggy was like before the RC10 landed. Its also just a classic Tamiya 2wd buggy that takes me back to simpler times in the early 80's. Think Punky Brewster.

There's the Lunch Box of course which is durable, simplistic Tamiya fun at its best'

The Rally Beetle is a possibility in that price range but is too new for my taste. It does seem more unique and maybe more terrain versatile than the TT02.

The budget blower would be the Super Champ, er, Fighting Buggy which appears to be available again. I don't know if you have had an SRB style buggy yet or not but they're quite different if you haven't. I personally find, out-of-the-box, the FB to be the best performing of the bunch and besides, a mono shock with an oil reservoir bottle is just cool.

[Super ally 412]

Novafox.

[markbt73 5316]

Had a Fox, didn't care for it much. Had an SRB Buggy Champ, it was a great build but then I didn't want to run it for fear of damaging it. Besides, I have a re-re Scorpion, which in my mind is the SRB done right (sorry, Tamiya diehards).

There's another issue at play here: I'd like to write an article about RC cars, something along the lines of "I'm just a big kid who still plays with toy cars, and here's how you can be, too," go thru the build, discuss the state of the art for batteries and electronics, encourage people to give it a try. A ubiquitous vehicle like a Slash or a TT02 is a better choice for that. We all want the exotics and the obscure cars, but trying to put myself back into a beginner's mindset, or the mindset of someone who had a Blackfoot or Kyosho Raider or something 30 years ago but hasn't touched an RC model since, leads me to what's current, common, and has a lot of potential.

But I also want it to be something I can enjoy afterwards, too. I'm leaning heavily towards a TT02, because it's cheap, simple, and widely available in a ton of different body styles. I think it will resonate with new modelers who are gearheads already.

[Robert5000 928]

That was an enjoyable read, thanks! 

Not sure what it costs in dollars, but I can't help think that what you need is a Schumacher Cougar Classic. For someone who relishes in maybe getting there in a MGB, I can't imagine a more fitting building and owning experience. 

It might not be the best kit to lure someone into the hobby with, but if your reader demographic is somewhat like you, you should be golden. 

[bavee 1032]

49 minutes ago, markbt73 said:

I'm leaning heavily towards a TT02, because it's cheap, simple, and widely available in a ton of different body styles. I think it will resonate with new modelers who are gearheads already.

And it is a Tamiya. Spread the word. Go for it!

Looking forward to your article!

[markbt73 5316]

OK, decision made, trigger pulled. I ordered a TT02 Ford Escort kit, a Yeah Racing bearing set, a basic Futaba servo, and one of those cheapo 2.4ghz pistol radios off eBay. Just under $200 altogether.  All basic entry-level stuff that I can go through point-by-point; of course, I'll have to explain that you need a battery and charger too.

Assuming my editor likes the idea, of course... If not, then hey, I have a new kit to bash around with anyway.