Which Tamiya kits just work?

[moffman]

Out of all the tamiya rc catalogue it has to be the top force evo even by today’s standards that buggy was simple in construction but way ahead of its time and needed nothing to put on the track and race! (And looks ultra cool as though it’s won the race when it’s still sitting on the starting grid!)

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 7:49 PM, alvinlwh said:

Lunchbox? 🤣

Bearings?

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 7:53 PM, Sogogi said:

grasshopper

Bearings?

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 8:09 PM, Willy iine said:

TopForce EVO?

Isn't it basically a hopped-up Manta Ray, also subject to the rear gearbox cover lifting, gearbox case cracking, etc?

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 8:11 PM, Nick-W said:

DF-03 Dark Impact

Isn't the front of the chassis prone to cracking, and the idler gear prone to premature wear?

[TurnipJF]

23 hours ago, taffer said:

Thundershot, Hornet, hotshot, supershot, lunchbox, sand scorcher, wild one, fox, konghead, gf-01, tt-02, tt-01, dt-02,dt-03, df-02, df-03, tl-01, .....there's quite a few that are fine especially with stock motors

Aren't these all missing at least one of the "Big 3"?

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 8:37 PM, Pylon80 said:

F104 ver.II Pro

I was thinking it might qualify, as it is a lovely chassis in box stock form, but then it doesn't come with a body or tyres. Can one really say that it "just works" without them?

[Nick-W]

7 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Isn't the front of the chassis prone to cracking, and the idler gear prone to premature wear?

No idea to be honest. It hasn’t happened to mine. The only thing to go wrong so far was my paint job was so terrible I brought a new body set.

Your original question was about box-stock. How long does it have to be out of the box before these problems occur to be classified as not “just working”? 

[alvinlwh]

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[Willy iine]

2 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Isn't it basically a hopped-up Manta Ray, also subject to the rear gearbox cover lifting, gearbox case cracking, etc?

Oh man.. 

 

But mine runs completely fine so I’ll keep it on the list. 

[JimBear]

DT-01 (the current Mad Bull) - primtive perhaps, but it works.

[alvinlwh]

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[Saito2]

In some respects, there has to be an agreed upon definition of "just working" out of the box.

I don't like plastic bushings and aluminum pinions but Tamiya very specifically notes that these are wear items that must be checked and replaced regularly as part of model upkeep. Is that unrealistic or rather is it annoying when superior parts are available that would alleviate the need for such constant maintenance ? Yes, but as @alvinlwh pointed out, they technically "work" with the kit-supplied parts. We all need to remember our Moko Chan lessons. The Top Force EVO will hold together with the period Tamiya optional motors available in its day. 

[TurnipJF]

35 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

My DF-02 Aero Avante comes with all the "big 3". Even so, the so called "big 3" was decided by users as "essential". Even without, they still work, just not as well. Which is different from the "not at all" examples in my post.

Hasn't your stock propshaft started to whack the inside of the tunnel yet? 

[TurnipJF]

38 minutes ago, JimBear said:

DT-01 (the current Mad Bull) - primtive perhaps, but it works.

Haven't you found that the steering pushrod locks against the tub if the linkage is pushed to the end of its travel?

[TurnipJF]

On 10/6/2023 at 10:04 PM, Twinfan said:

Any of the Thundershot series. They're total winners in my view.

Doesn't the piece that keeps the front lower suspension arms together give way at the slightest hint of an impact?

[TurnipJF]

26 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

I don't like plastic bushings and aluminum pinions but Tamiya very specifically notes that these are wear items that must be checked and replaced regularly as part of model upkeep.

I don't mind replacing wear items if they don't cause premature failure of other parts when replaced in good time, such as CV boots or air filters on full-size cars.

But if the part causes damage to things that are not supposed to be wear items in normal use, such as bushings wearing out shafts, or alloy pinions wearing out spur gears, I start to think of them less as wear items and more as ticking time bombs.

But I suppose they won't stop the car from "just working", at least for a while. 

[JimBear]

37 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Haven't you found that the steering pushrod locks against the tub if the linkage is pushed to the end of its travel?

No, I haven't, not yet. Now I know what to expect ... gaaah! *running off, screaming*

So, I guess the answer to the original question is frankly, a big "no". Tamiys models never work. Fact. Done. Now, shall we have some tea, please?

[alvinlwh]

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[Kowalski86]

On 10/7/2023 at 3:44 PM, Saito2 said:

In some respects, there has to be an agreed upon definition of "just working" out of the box.

I don't like plastic bushings and aluminum pinions but Tamiya very specifically notes that these are wear items that must be checked and replaced regularly as part of model upkeep. Is that unrealistic or rather is it annoying when superior parts are available that would alleviate the need for such constant maintenance?

I view it as annoying, bushings were fine when run times were short and bearings expensive, and aluminum pinions were fine when Tamiya used meaty 32dp gearing and models ran on slower motors.

But in 2023, replacing these parts is a bit bothersome. It's certainly not essential though, you can run most kits without "the big 3".

The only models that I know of that don't "just work", are the ORV monsters, the MF-01X, and the MB-01.

Though...let's not talk about my Falcon.

[naturbo2000]

M08. About the same as the aforementioned M07.

Bearings, shocks etc. Sensible modern plastics.

But I'm also in favour of the Top Force Evo "just working".

[Twinfan]

4 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Doesn't the piece that keeps the front lower suspension arms together give way at the slightest hint of an impact?

It's much better with re-re plastics compared to the vintage stuff. It's less of an issue.

[naturbo2000]

9 hours ago, naturbo2000 said:

M08. About the same as the aforementioned M07.

Bearings, shocks etc. Sensible modern plastics.

But I'm also in favour of the Top Force Evo "just working".

Of course, the M08 doesn't actually come with tyres, so...

[TurnipJF]

10 hours ago, Twinfan said:

It's much better with re-re plastics compared to the vintage stuff. It's less of an issue.

That's good to know!

[TurnipJF]

14 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

No. Perhaps because I only use a Dirt Tuned in that?

Could be. I was using a Reedy MVP ROAR 27t stock motor on mine when it started to happen. Possibly too much torque for the plastic.