A 30+ year affair with a Thundershot.

[UltegraSTI]

The screenshot is of a post i made here back in 2005.  Crazy how sometimes things just get left on the back burner for so long. 

The meat of the story is in that post so I will not retype it.  Essentially it has taken me over 30 years to restore this Thundershot to running condition back to the day it was leant

to me by a family friend for a race and I (as kids do) broke before the race.  Yes I had spells away from RC (1995-2004 and 2013-present) because, perhaps unfortunately, it was

always about racing.  Additionally crazy to see how these kits are selling in rereleases and in many cases better than they sold when new.  This and those people many a racer 

used to hate on (bashers) are keeping this hobby alive.  While life would always come to the front i finished off restoring this car this in November after a cycling injury had me

off the bike.  Even down to the motor and all the Futaba G equipment.  That Futaba MC10 would be a tough find but I managed to score 1 that was a bit rough but i was able to

re-wire it and save it.  Even a channel correct matching Mag Jr was obtained (also needed some wiring help) and i happily took gave it a spin around the driveway for a minute.   

Believe the only thing that couldn't be saved was obviously the Kyosho Stick Pack of 1700 SCE cells still in the car date coded 7/1988 (The had to have cells then).  

     Yes, not everything is correct on the car but this was how it was raced back then so one could say 'period-correct'.  The Kyosho shocks sadly couldn't be saved as some of the

plastics pinch collars started to crumble.  I will likely send those to a new home for folks who need parts.  Moving to a Terra Scorcher 4 shock setup, front universals, and bigwig

moon rims were all apart of the puzzle.  some cases a wing wire and sheet aluminum rear wing was on the car but maybe I'll consider making 1 off of vintage pictures.  I did put

rear body mounts on but i may put screws and fuel tubing back on for a quick-change body arrangement as this car was raced in 1hr endurance races that were held at the local

club in '87-'90.  

 

Sidebar: From that post I will say that i restored that Big Brute for my brother as a xmas gift years ago.  we all met up at our parent's house for the 25th and i drove it out to all of

them next to the tree.  He looked at it and said 'That cleaned up well.'  Before i could reply both our mother and father said, 'No, you don't understand.'   That was a full on resto

even down to finding a battery door to his original radio that came from the UK 2days before xmas.  Biggest sense of pride for that project came from stripping the body down

to clear with old nitro fuel and repainting his childhood scheme back on the truck.  He still has it and ideally once his lil boy gets a touch older he can show him dad's toy truck.

 

As for that family friend?  Well last year around this time I thought about the car again and had looked briefly for some parts online.  However, I noticed that Tamiya again put

the car out on re-release.  Thought to myself it is holiday time.  So I ordered a new 1 from Japan.  Didn't even take it out of the box.  I altered the Fedex label with his address info

on it.  On a rainy day near 1-2wks before xmas I went to his house and put it by the house.   I waited and I waited.  Started to worry a touch the man is in his 70s like Dad.  Well on

xmas day my parents were visiting my family and he called my father.  Then asked to speak to me. I asked if xmas had been good to him?  He said "Yes in fact has been a lil more 

this year.  Couple weeks ago he saw someone on security cam, someone with a package and an umbrella they went to the front door then the side and left package on side.  Guess

they didn't want it to get wet.  I looked at it and it said from japan thru Ebay.   I asked my wife what is this?  I called Fedex they couldn't help me. I called Ebay and they said it is a

legit order and it was listed as delivered etc. etc.  Oh well I guess I'm keeping it.  I opened the corner of the box and it said Tamiya on it and thought someone is pulling my leg. 

There is only 1 maybe 2 people in this world who could be behind this.  My wife said 'He'll call.'  I said I don't know.  He is prolly waiting for me. But I'm gonna sit down and build it." 

 

Told him it always bothered me that you leant it to me (whether you thought it was gave to me or not) and I broke it.  I'd be ok for while but then I'd see the car on the shelf and it

would get to me.  Another thing that has been on my mind for 30 years or so was 'Why did you get out?'  Told me he had other things going on taking care of family, starting up his

solar, gardening, and greenhouse projects and that took his time.  It was good to hear.  Man also (as stated in the old post) got me into the hobby and also helped by father get me

the Blackfoot (in the background) at a time when he really couldn't afford it.

 

So if if this was a bit interesting a read for you all then great.  If it was TLDR (as they say today) then just enjoy the pix.  Also if it helps I would later own many of those cars I 

aspired to have when I was a kid.  But they sat on a shelf and collected dust.  I soon remembered what I though of car shows and got the same feelings.  Cars need to be run.  

This and feeling no real connection to the car once I had it because I did not have it then.  I sold those all off.  T-shots, Blackfoot/Beetles, RC10s, even bro's Brute.  We had them

thus the connection.  One man's opinion but perhaps it may help one of you out there.  My boys are getting close to the age where I will show them this hobby beyond lil toy

grade things around the house.  So who know perhaps I may just allow myself to like RC again and do so without absolutely having to be on a track to do so.

HNY,

-Ult