Better plastics?

[Aiwas 6]

I read a review somewhere that mentioned that tamiya has improved plastics on some models. I assume this includes the BBX. Does anyone know of other kits with improved parts? Perhaps the Blockhead Motors line?

[ADRay1000 524]

I have a CC02 from last year that has plastics that seem less rigid and more durable than the plastics used in my rerelease kits.

[Kowalski86 4275]

Their mid to upper range models use a nice, if fairly flexible plastic that's nicer to work with than their lower end kits.

The "Blockhead" models, as with all re-res, use a combination of ABS, PA, and PC plastics.

[BuggyDad 5904]

1 hour ago, Aiwas said:

I read a review somewhere that mentioned that tamiya has improved plastics on some models. I assume this includes the BBX. Does anyone know of other kits with improved parts? Perhaps the Blockhead Motors line?

I agree that the BBX seems to have some of the better plastics. 

[Grumpy pants 5503]

M07 & M08 👍

[Aerobert 2326]

TD2 and TD4

[Willy iine 18829]

I wonder what they mean by improved plastics.. (?)

 

My 420X uses ‘proper’ plastics that rival other competition class touring cars.. I am also perfectly fine with the 'unimproved?' plastics on my M06..   I mean there are at least 3 different plastic hardnesses used on most kits.  The arms are nice and forgiving as it should be.. unless you want to break the pivot point on the chassis side using brittle hard parts like aluminum.. 

[Honza 1167]

12 hours ago, Aiwas said:

 

. Deleted

 

[Aiwas 6]

The first 5 responders understood the question and covered the subject thoroughly.  

I'm considering this topic closed.

[Honza 1167]

8 hours ago, Aiwas said:

The first 5 responders understood the question and covered the subject thoroughly.  

 

Alright then, have a nice day.

[Willy iine 18829]

13 hours ago, Aiwas said:

The first 5 responders understood the question and covered the subject thoroughly.  

I'm considering this topic closed.

Sorry that I am too stupid for you.  

[Elbowloh 1296]

Newbie knows how to make friends.

[BuggyDad 5904]

Get me, I'm one of the special five 🥳

What do I win? 

[bRIBEGuy 3378]

3 hours ago, BuggyDad said:

Get me, I'm one of the special five 🥳

What do I win? 

Almost certainly the prize is Eternal Glory!
 

21 hours ago, Willy iine said:

I wonder what they mean by improved plastics.. (?)

 

My 420X uses ‘proper’ plastics that rival other competition class touring cars.. I am also perfectly fine with the 'unimproved?' plastics on my M06..   I mean there are at least 3 different plastic hardnesses used on most kits.  The arms are nice and forgiving as it should be.. unless you want to break the pivot point on the chassis side using brittle hard parts like aluminum.. 

^^^ THIS.

"Better materials" is subjective in usage, and dependent on design parameters, performance expectations, durability requirements and cost.  Tamiya could absolutely produce a molded carbon fiber CW-01 chassis if they wanted too... but would it make the Lunchbox handle any better?  Would anyone be happy paying 6x more for the kit?

I think in general, Tamiya has used a fairly smart blend of materials with kits.  Just willy-nilly swapping materials wouldn't necessarily makes things better... but would almost certainly add to the cost.

And no @Aiwas (sorry to tag you in your self-declared closed thread), the Blockhead Motors vehicles use the exact same materials as the regular variants they are based off of.  Well, unless you consider "color" to be a material difference...

[Honza 1167]

1 hour ago, bRIBEGuy said:

Well, unless you consider "color" to be a material difference...

Well, I heard that TA02T with blue gearboxes had softer plastic than TA02 with red one 😂 never got my hands on part trees to check whether they use same material. But TL-01 used ABS in same mould as PC for lightweight chassis parts, so it might not be impossible to change materials.

[bRIBEGuy 3378]

Just now, Honza said:

Well, I heard that TA02T with blue gearboxes had softer plastic than TA02 with red one 😂 never got my hands on part trees to check whether they use same material. But TL-01 used ABS in same mould as PC for lightweight chassis parts, so it might not be impossible to change materials.

It's 100% possible to change material in an injection mold (within reason) providing the tool was designed for it, and something Tamiya has done with parts before in some cases.  My color comment was more of a sarcastic poke...

[Kowalski86 4275]

 

1 hour ago, bRIBEGuy said:

"Better materials" is subjective in usage, and dependent on design parameters, performance expectations, durability requirements and cost. 

"Better" for me means more nylon-type plastics, nylon doesn't turn brittle over time like ABS/PC plastics.