Tamiya QD appreciation thread!

[Nikko85]

Yes! The Tamiya QD. 

Anyone else enjoy these? I find them remarkably fun, especially in a world of very expensive and complex RC cars, there's something refreshing about the total simplicity of the design. I've not got any of the rally on on road cars, but I do have quite a few buggies and monster trucks.

The buggies are essentially mini grasshoppers, but just smaller with a 205 mm wheelbase. The Monster Trucks were a little different, with a solid rear axle like the Pumpkin, but a solid front axle with servo on axle steering. They are super simple with very few parts but work really well.

Stock they are a little weedy, but with a small brushless motor they rip. The gearbox is mod 0.6 and built very tough, so I've had zero issues with mine. Although they were cheap r.t.r they can be upgraded with full bearings, so perhaps a nice bridge for kids from Nikkos and Taiyos to more serious toys. 

Anyway, here are mine:

From L-R. Buggy chassis with 1/16 slash body, MT chassis with WPL D12 body, a MT chassis with MN models FJ45 body, a Thunder Dragon and finally a buggy with a GF01TR beetle body, which just happens to fit perfectly (and a much better fit than on the GF01!)

Anyone else enjoy these? There must be a few fans here.

 

[Mouc-RC]

Agreed, those are great little machines, yet simple but really near hobby-grade cars and ultra-reliable. My brother and I (and sometimes our kids) run them as soon as we can

I've one question about the "Two First Buggies" (46001 & 46002). I'm pretty sure they don't share the same radio system with 46003 and further. 001 & 002 have kind of a "Two Speed" throttle, and no red LED on the transmitter when ON.

46003 and further have almost fully proportional throttle and the red LED on the transmitter (funnily enough, the 2nd gen. transmitter is able to drive 1st gen. buggies, and vice & versa, tested on my cars). I also have the feeling that 1st gen. buggies are much slower than 2nd gen. (we've got a Super Sabre QD a 2 Avante 2001 QD - the Sabre is really slower than the others!).

According to your pictures above, it seems that you've got 1st gen. buggies (strange shaped bumpers) and the 46003 Thunder Dragon: could you confirm that the Dragon is faster than his older brothers?

Thanks, bye

Edit: well done with the bodyshells you put on your QDs, I love the results

[Willy iine]

Honestly I only enjoy watching your cars, @Nikko85!   

[wolfdogstinkus]

As you know, I been championing these little cars for a few years now, cheap, tough, fun, and reasonably easy to upgrade although, even with modern electronics and a decent battery, the standard motor is still ok for kids.

Or , go full send.

 

[Nikko85]

14 hours ago, Mouc-RC said:

Agreed, those are great little machines, yet simple but really near hobby-grade cars and ultra-reliable. My brother and I (and sometimes our kids) run them as soon as we can

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSJ33xcFh72yxBAQI-4n-DS2KS2suREJw&si=KwqWk5ztAbDbBpEA

I've one question about the "Two First Buggies" (46001 & 46002). I'm pretty sure they don't share the same radio system with 46003 and further. 001 & 002 have kind of a "Two Speed" throttle, and no red LED on the transmitter when ON.

46003 and further have almost fully proportional throttle and the red LED on the transmitter (funnily enough, the 2nd gen. transmitter is able to drive 1st gen. buggies, and vice & versa, tested on my cars). I also have the feeling that 1st gen. buggies are much slower than 2nd gen. (we've got a Super Sabre QD a 2 Avante 2001 QD - the Sabre is really slower than the others!).

According to your pictures above, it seems that you've got 1st gen. buggies (strange shaped bumpers) and the 46003 Thunder Dragon: could you confirm that the Dragon is faster than his older brothers?

Thanks, bye

Edit: well done with the bodyshells you put on your QDs, I love the results

I'm afraid I only run them with new electronics - swapping out the stock electronics and motors with modern stuff and a 370 brushed or 2030 brushless motors.

Most of the ones I've picked up have not had working electronics, so I can't really comment on those. The main difference I've seen is that between the first two QDs are that they don't have bearings (or options for bearings) and the front arms are narrower too. The later ones were a definite improvement, so it wouldn't surprise me if the electronics were also improved.

Really cool cars.

 

[Nikko85]

17 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said:

As you know, I been championing these little cars for a few years now, cheap, tough, fun, and reasonably easy to upgrade although, even with modern electronics and a decent battery, the standard motor is still ok for kids.

Or , go full send.

 

Yes, that's an awesome picture. Loved how much you pushed yours.

I've not speed run mine, but I am tempted to try. I've got a 12T EZrun motor, and if I go for 8 x 1.5 Volt Li-Ion AA batteries I could have 12 or so volts powering it. Would love to get a car breaking records on AA batteries!

 

[wolfdogstinkus]

4 hours ago, Nikko85 said:

Yes, that's an awesome picture. Loved how much you pushed yours.

I've not speed run mine, but I am tempted to try. I've got a 12T EZrun motor, and if I go for 8 x 1.5 Volt Li-Ion AA batteries I could have 12 or so volts powering it. Would love to get a car breaking records on AA batteries!

 

Go for it, it will have a much better centre of gravity with the AA's all fitted in the bottom.

I need to get mine out again but been too busy with other things.