One(s) that got away

[Dakratfink 1020]

Ever come across that sweet appearing deal that “you can’t pass up”, but you somehow passed up anyway? 
     Whether is was an auction you got swiped on, a clearance you passed over at a LHS, an online deal you hesitated too long or other circumstances,  what RCs have you regretted NOT buying ? 
     There was an original XR311 at local resale shop ( no radio TX but I think it had vintage servos installed )  for $40USD later marked down as low as $30 . I let it go because I knew I didn’t want to mess with the torsion bars, and would have wanted to make it functional ( even if it would have mostly 
been on display duty I wanted to be able to drive if I wanted to ). The next time I changed my mind and went back to the shop it was gone . That ship sailed .

Also, just yesterday there was a Cross RC crawler kit in a charity auction that sold for $76USD for an un assembled kit. The only reason I missed that one is I didn’t keep an eye on the auction closely enough.

So, what are your RC “ones that got away “? 

[Dakratfink 1020]

Note to Mods 

I intended to title the thread One(s) that got away , but clicked before I was ready 

[Nikko85 3766]

3 minutes ago, Dakratfink said:

Note to Mods 

I intended to title the thread One(s) that got away , but clicked before I was ready 

Edit the first post, you should be able to change the title?

[skom25 1748]

I had that kind of situation month ago.

I really wanted TT-02 with Pre Painted CLK body for 90 Euros. I checked it every day and... some day it was not available. However...

I had luck! It was some kind of error on LHS page and they had one more!

I had many situations like that, not only with RC.

[Mad Ax 10029]

I think there's been a few, over the years, but not really much that grates too badly now, because I've moved on.

Way back in the day, and over 15 years ago to be precise, I had been talking with some friends about making an RC-based movie.  It ended up being somewhere between Mad Max, The Fast & The Furious, and Smokey and the Bandit - a story about a street racer teaming up with a mafia don's daughter to hustle some contraband over state lines in a modified street car.  Well, to make this movie we were going to need lots of street cars, so I started listing out all the current Tamiya models that would work with the storyline.

One such model was the Toyota MR-S Roadster, which IIRC came on the TA-04SS chassis.  Back then, they were still available new and one of the Japanese dealers had one in stock for a long time.  I held off and held off and held off until...  It got sold.  Then suddenly there was no stock anywhere, they all just disappeared.  Now they go for a bit more money, if you ever find one.  I'm no longer interested in making that movie (one day I'll finish writing the novelisation, though) but I always thought that was a car I'd have in my collection.

Same with a particular 1:10 scale RC boat model which comes up from time to time.  Back then it was around £40 for the kit, and we needed it for one of the scenes that takes place in a harbour.  I've just looked, and they are actually still available - priced a bit more now, but they seem to come in and out of production all the time.  For a long time they were completely gone, and I thought they'd be gone forever, but looks like they got another production run.  Maybe I'll get one just for old time's sake - I've had several boats over the years but the scales are always way off, so I sell them on.  This 1:10 boat would make a good trailer item.

For years - and years and years - I've had my finger hovering over the DT-02.  I literally wanted one back when I bought my Dark Impact, way back when I rediscovered RC in the mid-00s.  But I still don't have one.  And they're still available new, and they're still cheap.  It's another thing I should buy just to throw on the NIB pile so I don't miss out on that opportunity.  Now it almost feels like I would be "reliving the second youth that I relived in the mid-00s".

I remember missing out on a Ford Hi-Lift on here a few years back.  I really, really wanted one when they were new, but they were way out of my price range back then.  But then some guy put one up for sale on here for a ridiculously low price.  He wasn't a new scammer either, he'd been around on the forum for a while and it was a showroom sale, not a forum sale.  I remember the truck had big wheels on it, kind of like King Cab wheels, which I didn't like, but I'd have put more scale wheels on it anyway, so I didn't care, not at that price.  Of course I got straight in touch to offer full asking price, but it had already sold.

I'm sure there'll be loads more that come to me in the dark hours of the night, when I'm thinking about missed opportunities.

[Grotty Otty 869]

Easy, first re release of the Egress. Was £260 at the time from Tamico before Brexit and a 1.6 Euro to pound. Still kick myself for not getting one then! 

[Badcrumble 4401]

I'm not a buggy guy (so I tell myself) but I wish I'd bought a 2020 re-re of the Terra Scorcher - a nice sorted buggy with a box art scheme I actually like.

If I had, I probably wouldn't have got on the pre-release hype train for the TD4. Which I still haven't built.

I also wish I'd bought a CC-01 Lowrider Pajero. I do like that bodyshell.

A couple of seconds hand deals I missed out on 

- a CC-01 Touareg 

- a nicely hopped up CR-01 on TC - I was away for the weekend and missed emails to my work phone from the seller. He thought I was ignoring him so sold it to someone else .  I did regret missing that one.

[markbt73 5614]

Not much anymore, really; I have been fortunate enough to lay my hands on just about everything I wanted as a kid. I regret selling a few things, but that's another story altogether.

There is one $150 that I regret not spending, though. Way back in the early 2000s, Hub Hobby had a clearance rack for kits that had been sitting on the shelf for too long. I managed to score some great deals off that rack: a Kyosho Nostalgic Series MGB for $160, and a Kawada Wolf (missing decals and instructions) for $90. But for the longest time, there were two Associated RC10 Dual Sport Team kits sitting there, one electric and one nitro, and they kept dropping in price: $120, then $100, then finally $75 each. I hemmed, I hawed, I waited a week too long... and the guy behind the counter bought them for himself.

They also had a stack of the TA03RS Lancia 037 kits marked down to around $130 for a while, which I regretted, but now I have the TA02S version, so I'm good.

[MICHAELs TopForce17 587]

last year a dyna storm at 300 canadian from eBay.

[alvinlwh 6886]

.

[Dakratfink 1020]

1 minute ago, alvinlwh said:

[Rinskie 851]

Way back I college after I had just purchased a TA03 I came across a FF01 Nissan Primera for something like $75 back then. It was a steal and I wished I bought it. Each time I went into the store it was there teasing me, I half expected it to be there every visit.....until it wasn't. I was *******ed. 

[moffman 5925]

About 10 years ago I was scrolling through the online auction site we all love to hate late on a Sunday night and up pops a unbuilt tamiya dyna storm with the original pink dyna turned motor for buy it now £110!!!! Yes £110 and like the Homer Simpson I was I thought that was a good bargain…….doh of course it is so went back to buy it and yes it had gone

[Saito2 7249]

Going way back. I was at the Maryland MARC RC show as a kid and saw one of the local hobby shop's booths had a Wild Willy M38 on sale for $90. They were getting scarcer and typically went for $120. I was still in the midst of saving my pocket money for a long time to buy my first Tamiya and probably only had $50 saved up to that point. My dad had taken me since my grandfather was hospitalized at the time and decidedly did not like the exaggerated proportions of the Wild Willy, mumbling something about it looking cheap and childish. No hope of a loan there, lol. By the time I had all the money saved up, the Wild Willy was gone from the shelves and I settled on a Lunch Box, which in hindsight, was a great first vehicle.

Tamiya USA was selling that GF01 Monster Beetle TR thing for $165 a couple years back. I should have snagged one for my daughter to build.

I should have bought one of those Associated Worlds cars when they were being sold off cheap too.

A lot of misses had to do with timing. I saw the original Avante and Egress both being sold for $99 in the mid 90's but I was a broke college student. On the backside of that, as a struggling new home-owner, I didn't have money to be blowing on things like a Juggernaut 2 either. Nowadays, I'm pretty happy with what I have and don't really need anything else (until Tamiya rereleases the original Wild Willy that is, lol)

 

 

[Mad Ax 10029]

12 hours ago, markbt73 said:

Associated RC10 Dual Sport Team kits

aah yes, I knew there'd be more!

Back when the RC10 Classic was re-released, I wasn't really into Associated or, for that matter, into vintage racing.  Iconic RC was only just getting started and the first Revival had yet to run.  My RC excursions were limited to modern buggy racing on grass at the local club, and open bashes wherever I could find them.  There wasn't really any reason to buy a vintage buggy from a brand that I had no loyalty to or nostalgia for.

It seemed everyone felt the same, because they sat on shelves for ages, getting cheaper and cheaper.  And then the vintage racing scene really took off, and suddenly they all disappeared.

I briefly owned an original RC10, which I bought used on here to try to build something custom.  After realising I was out of my depth, I sold it on.  That's a car I regret selling, and regret not buying when the classic was released.

I also regret not getting a Top Cat Classic when they were re-re'd.  I don't really have any nostalgia for Schumacher, but I feel like breaking away from Tamiya for my vintage racing, and the TC could have been a good way to do that.  I managed to bag a Cougar in December, but the Pro Cat is a bit too pricey, and the latest Kyosho and Yokomo re-releases are out of my price range, although they're probably great to build and race.

[Dakratfink 1020]

44 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

the latest Kyosho and Yokomo re-releases are out of my price range, although they're probably great to build and race.

I agree those are pricey. I see no need for the Yokomo since I still have my YZ-10. The Mid carries a little nostalgia since it was “my” first hobby grade RC . I mean officially it was Dad’s but he quickly lost the knack for driving and made himself the Owner and Crew Chief and made me his driver ( I think that was his way of rationalizing buying the kid a several hundred 1980s dollar rig to my mom ) 

[Pablo68 1094]

I am sure there are quite a few that have got away, I just can't remember what they were right now.
A few months back there was a Hirobo Tomcat new in box that was going for a good price and it sat there for ages. Finances were lean at the time though. When I fanally decided to pull the trigger, gonski.

oh well.

[SlideWRX 882]

I've started browsing estate sales online that are close to me, looking mostly for RC cars that I'm interested in.  Last year I came across one that had several Tamiyas, including a midnight pumpkin that I was interested in.  I went to the sale on the first day and checked it out - good condition.  It was listed for $60, but they were dropping prices for every day the sale went on.  I came back two day laters on the last day and it and all the other ones were gone.    This was early in my browsing - I thought I would come across this more often, but haven't...

Also last year around the same time an online estate sale (bid online) showed a Futaba FX-10, something I really wanted as a kid.  It was sitting in a cardboard box but the pictures looked good, barely used.  I started bidding, but sure enough someone else wanted it too.  I stopped at $50.  I think today I would go up to Maybe $100.  As much as I want one, it would just be a shelf queen for a bit, to give me some good feels for a while and then I would pass stewardship onto someone else.

There are occasionally interesting or rare things, (A Kyosho Shadow last week), nothing that I really want again.

[Andreas W 2175]

Back in the late 80’s one of the lokal toyshops (which also was more hobby-oriented) that sadly closed down. They had amongst other stuff a Hornet and a non complete Fox. My brother bought the Hornet (and still has it). I thought back and forth about the Fox, but the fair of not getting parts for it and the cost of getting radiogear turned me off. One day it was gone and I stopped thinking about it. 

 

Then we roll fwd to Black Friday sales 2022.

- Samirc.no had the Optima Mid for 4500 NOK. A price probably never to be seen here in Norway. Why did I not hei get it?! Probably because I hoped to find it cheaper abroad. 

- Tamico had the M-08R at a super price. That must have been a sales bonanza. I remember our very own BuggyDad got one. I on my hand was not aware that I wanted one.

 

Until this summer Radiostyrt Modellhobby had the Turbo Optima at a super price (only one in stock). Now it is 1500 NOK up. Luckily I got the Carten M210R super cheap from there. After I gotthe one they had it skyrockeded up almost a third of what I got it for.

[Aerobert 2323]

For me it is the clearance sale of Tamtech buggies and touring cars several years ago. They were pretty cheap but budget was tight at that time. 

[bRIBEGuy 3345]

So many years... so many missed opportunities..... ha ha ha ha!

In all reality here, there are LOTS that I wished I bought at the time, but most had a reason, and don't really incur any long-term regret.

Legitimately Regret:

• On a vacation to the USA some XX number of years ago, a LHS in Spokane had a NIB Kyosho USA-1 for something like $190 (they had a wall of other old vintage Kyosho buggies too...).  I'm not talking about the straight axle version, but the original 1990-ish version.  I always wanted one as a kid, and at that point hadn't seen one in what felt like a million years.  I had the cash in hand... but I was there to look at helicopters... and somehow it seemed like a lot of cash at the time for "an old kit".  As soon as I got home I started to question my choices, but by the time I could make it back a few month later, all the vintage stuff had long since been sold.
• Oddly this one is more recent and uninteresting... a sort-of-LHS (around 3rs away) had a special a year or so back where they were blowing out the Losi LMT Grave Digger for under $500cad.  It was on my "to buy list", and at the time they were in shops for $790.  I added one to "my cart", then hoed and hummed and pondered and spent a few hours questioning if I really needed another RC.  By the time my wife asked if I bought it or not, the shop was out of stock, and I was out of luck.  I actually STILL haven't bought this truck as now every time I look at the (now much higher) price, I just think about how much I would "lose" by picking it up now.

My next batch is really my own fault (well... aren't they all?), as I have a bad(?) habit of applying a completely arbitrary number to something I see for sale on the secondary market.  If it doesn't hit that number, I walk.  This sounds fine in concept, except I find myself doing it on items that are already a really good deal.  Mint OG Clodbuster with Chevy body for $250cad?  How about $200?  No, you're firm on that?  Okay, I'll pass...

Wish I wasn't so stubborn:

• Tamiya Honda City Turbo: New built, un-run and unpainted body.  Seller was asking $270cad.  How about $200?  No?  Okay pass...
• Tamiya Tractor Kumamon Version (NIB): I don't remember the exact price, but it ended up being only a $5 discrepancy between the price I was willing to pay, and the price the seller wanted.  I walked, and every time I have seen that kit since it has been significantly more cash.

I'm sure there are more... but it doesn't really matter... ha ha. 

[nowinaminute 3320]

Wish I'd got a Manta Ray last time around. Saw them as low as £99.95. 150 this time 😖

[Kpowell911 2164]

More what I sold.

Tamico 934 Valliant edition. I owned 2 of the 333 for €199 each.......

Then theres the TA02SW GT2's that were avaliable for £91 all in. Should have bought 5!

[Juggular 5079]

I forgot.  

I used to stay up thinking about auctions I missed.  I'd set up a timer, but it rang 1 minute 20 seconds too early. So I'd be watching 1 more minute of youtube and when I looked back, the auction ended 2 seconds ago... And it seems to always end with a lot less money than I was willing to pay.  A clean Sand Rover with bearings at half the price because it was posted in a wrong category, so it was $60-ish, etc.   

But... 

The Past does not exist. It's gone and disappeared.  It only exists in my mind.  Nobody knows what I missed.  Remembering would just get me acid refluxes.  I think I should be a reptile; think only of what I have now.  No yesterday. No tomorrow. Just today.  (It's easy for me to say that--my wife would point out-- because my fleet of 40 includes most of the things I want.)  That does not mean that I have nothing I want. I'm not made of stone. 

My target has been the BBX and M-08 since they came out.  Instead of getting them, I got what was cheaply available by all sellers, like MB-01.  I don't even know what drew me to MB-01.  Probably just the shell.  It seems like my planning brain and the lizard brain want different things. But I'll just go with the whim of the reptile brain for a while. That means not remembering the ones that got away.  

(Anybody remember the mini series V?  It came out 40 years ago in 1983!  I feel so old now. But I'm a reptile; not remembering the past means not knowing my own age also. Forever Young!)  

 

[Saito2 7249]

12 minutes ago, Juggular said:

Anybody remember the mini series V? 

I remember V. It was quite the big deal when broadcast TV was the norm. I wanted to see it, but it came on after my bedtime IIRC.