Rc timeline

[technics]

RC timeline - I thought it would be fun to write and to read personal timelines with milestone purchases in the hobby. 

 

It helps paint a picture, a preference, an upbringing, and just fun to read different peoples past and reflections. A lot of the below have been sold, used in order to learn by restoring, bought for their electrics and spare part packages. “Too good to pass up deals” I’ve pointed out the NIB full builds too.

 

Estimated type of rc purchase breakdown is - 

50% used with electrics 

30% used rollers or unrun rollers

20% new 

75% on road 

25% off road 

 

1990 single digit age.

Nikko? 2WD buggy RTR ( RadioShack) with a NiMh battery 

 

1995 

Traxxas sledgehammer 2WD chassis kit first a silver can, never satisfied a Green Machine 2 and Jade motor

 

1990-2005

x50 1/24 scale model kits, I lived 400 meters from a very well stocked 1:24 hobby shop. It is possibly the most influential life interest shaping coincidence that happened. I went in every day from ages 8-18.  

( Placed on podium 3 times for my builds in the under 18 category at a few Toronto IPMS shows )

 

2007

Team Losi Micro T RTR

Lipo

 

2008 ( first paycheque in career )

Kyosho TF-5 RTR G26T paired with my first ever lexan a Tamiya 2007 Subaru Impreza bodyset

 

2015 RTR 

Tamiya TA06 Subaru BRZ GT500 

LRP 6.5T / 120A esc, Savöx, Lipo 

 

M-05 Pro with a Hobbywing 13,5T combo 

 

2018

TRF417X lot purchase

Speedpassion 4,5T ( insane ) 

 

Team associated B6.1 2WD ( First true build )

6,5T mod setup for astroturf / indoor carpet  

 

GLR 1/28 ( second build ) 

 

2019-2021 😂

40-60 body sets 

15 TRF’s 416-419

 

Weller Soldering station ( life changing )

Iwata Airbrush setup ( yet to learn ) 

 

2021-2023 ( sold alot, still own many 😅 )

FM1S ( third build, paused still a WIP )

FT1S

FF03 Pro

TRF419FWD H2RD ( fourth build )

XM1S

MTC-1

Roche 1/12

RC10F6 x2

M04L x4

M05 x2 ( 3-4 rebuilds )

M06 ( fifth build )

TT02 x3 ( sixth to ninth )

MF01X ( tenth build )

XV-01 

XV-02 ( 11th build )

TA02T x3

TA03F

SCX10.2 

SCX24 x4 ( rebuild )

K989

HGD1 x2 

 

Embarrassing amount of bodysets, both obscure buys and “I always wanted to build one of those”

 

2024 

 

XV-01 Pro

Group C x2

FF02 x2

TA02T ( nr 4 )..

TL01

 

Clarity of what I enjoy and have time to do. Building as diverse and unique cars as I can within my ability and interests. What I always wanted as a kid to see or own in 1:10 

 

I love rock crawling in the woods, 2WD Mod buggy, indoor and asphalt touring cars. I’m drawn to rally and pre runners lately.

 

However what I have most time for is short sprints of time on the bench, 15 minutes here, half an hour there. And taking shorter blasts with a chassis of choice around the neighborhood.

[Pylon80]

1 hour ago, technics said:

1990-2005

x50 1/24 scale model kits, I lived 400 meters from a very well stocked 1:24 hobby shop. It is possibly the most influential life interest shaping coincidence that happened. I went in every day from ages 8-18.  

( Placed on podium 3 times for my builds in the under 18 category at a few Toronto IPMS shows )

That is very cool!

And if that picture above were a Tamiya Club trivia, I would reply: M-05, 54194 Ball Diff, reinforced gear set, carbon fiber shafts (Square?)

 

[technics]

@Pylon80 Haha You did good! The carbon center shaft is by Tamiya as well however. I had the 3racing internal gear set which I exploded a few times with a 9T motor. I was reaching 52km/h on indoor carpet in a m-05 😍 This chassis is my first true tinker toy I rebuilt time and time again. It sits stripped of all electrics in a box for now. 

[Jason1145]

11 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

That is very cool!

And if that picture above were a Tamiya Club trivia, I would reply: M-05, 54194 Ball Diff, reinforced gear set, carbon fiber shafts (Square?)

 

So geeky….. love it 😂

[technics]

@Pylon80 Forgot I had these in there as well. Overkill much? 😂 

Ceramic balls for the diff

[Andreas W]

- 1986: Nikko Malibu. Most other classmates had toy grade RC. Iwas a little late to the party with this,  but had loads of fun with it trailwalking in the woods directly behind the house where I grew up. I still have it and itnis working 

-1988: Nikko Dictator. After classmates went over to hobby grade it was time to step up. My family meant that kit were mostly nit working (based on their observasjon of a neighbor who had a Marui Big Bear with troublesome MSC and steering links constantly popping off leading to crashes). I upgraded it with bearings and ut was equally quick as hobby grade cars as long as they ran a standard silvercan (which most kids did). I still have it and my brother should still have the 1200 mAh NiCad pack for it.

1992: Kyosho Burns DX. By now I was sick and tired of the constantly charging and running for 4 min runtime. When my classmate (the one with the Big Bear) got a well used Yankee 1/8 buggy it was crystal clear that nitro was the way forward. Whata leap up in performance! That thing was so intense to run. We only ran on paved schoolyards or gravel football fields. It worked so good, so my mate with the Yankee got a Turbo Burns shortly after. To be faster than me he got the by then just released O.S. Max 21RX-B to beat my well working O.S. Max 21 EX-B. Some 15 years later I tried it on the track in Vervenbukta outside Oslo,  but did not get the hang on it.I ran it to and from until about 2009. I have lubed the motor from time to time, so with new fuel and glowplugs and putting the receiver and throtle servo back in (borrowed for the Grasshornet in the beginning) I see no reason for not to run. 

- 2013. I was home with my baby daughter and stemplede over an M-05 Kamei Golf. I thought that would be fun to run around in parc ferme at VW/Audi Club meetings, so I had to have it. I was getting hopups for for years before building it.

- 2020. Pandemic and I took out the old Dictator finding this quite fun. I got a Grasshopper green edition. I started lurking around here and do postal racing for myself. 

2021 Kyosho Tomahawk. What an upgrade from the Grasshornet. This is how a 2WD buggy should work in 1985.

2022: Now a lot happened.

-I made the leap to LiPo and got even more out of the Tomahawk, now running a longitudinal shorty. 

- I built the M-05 i have had since 2013 and entered it in postal racing. It was a gamechanger. Now I was able to make it to top 5.

- Thunder Dragon. They were so cheap and I wanted a simple 4WD buggy to run during winter. It turned out so nice so I also got a 

- Second hand Terra Scorcher to have something for the kuds to run together with me and to standardize the parts inventory somehow.

- Another second hand purchase: The XV-01 with a well used and cracked white Killerbody Lancia Delta body. The chassis itself was in good shape and it came with a mounted but not cabeled Superstock BZ. The previous owner had fitted a YR alu upgrade kit, so there was plenty of blue gold. After doing the electronics it turned out so good that I mostly ran it during the winter instead of the Thunder Dragon. 

2023:

- Carten M210R. This was my first brushless and what a change. Loads of power and goodbye to heat issues. The pace in postal racing was geared up again.

- Another second hand purchase: An M-08 Concept. Tamiya had launched the Escort MK.II body, so I wanted a chassis to mount it on. This turned up for a good prize and is a nice challenge to learn how to handle. 

2024 and near future 

- Carten M210 FWD lwb with Golf MK2 body. I wanted a more competent FWD chassis and I was so satisfied with the M210R,  so why not, as there were no second hand M-07 I wanted. It is the same spec as the M210R. I only have the motor and ESC for it by now.

-Kyosho Optima Mid 60th anniversary. Will wait to start the build until my garage for 1:1 and RC is built in the coming year. I feel almost afraid of building it,  since I fear that this is the end of the line for me in retro buggy.

 

The later 2 years the costs for equipping a build with electronics have gone up severly. Not only have the prizes in general gone up, but the time of a Yeah Racing Hackmoto with a 1060 and low end Savox servo is over for me. Brushless and faster brand servos make a deeper hole in the pocket, so there will go some time now before any new kit is purchased.

 

 

[ADRay1000]

1987: Lunchbox for Xmas, age 9.

1991: RC10 Championship Edition (**** I wish I still had it)

1996-2004: uncountable number of RC10s, Tamiya touring cars & buggies, new build or restored from eBay. I’d be a baller around here if I still had all of it. 
 

2021: Monster Beetle rere

2022: Frog rere

2023: Toyota FJ40 CC02

 

never stopped looking when inactive. 

[Alex97]

Xmas 2008 was where it began for me with a Tamiya Madbull as a Christmas present from my parents (age 9) 

I used this on and off for the next few years. 

 

Around 2011 I brought an ansmann royal flash and starting racing at my local club. Shortly after I brought a B4 ft and B44.1 and it kicked off from here. 

From around 2011 to 2017 I had several RCs, it wasn't until 2016 I started working so these were funded by pocket money and working with my parents. 

Ansmann - Royal flash 

Associates - TC4, B4, B44.1, B5m & B6

Yokomo - Bmax 4

X-ray - XB4 

Traxxas - slash 4x4 

Thunder tiger - ST4 G3

HPI - Firestorm 

Tamiya - M03 and 6 wheel Terrell

Kyosho -  Blizzard

XTM - rage 

Carisma - 1/14 scale f1 car

Durango - DEX410 V3

I then took a break around 2017 

 

Fast forward to COVID in 2020 and I picked up the bug again however there seems to be a trend here...

Lc racing - Bhc1 & LC12 B1

X-ray - x12 

Traxxas - TRX4M 

Tamiya - M01, M03 x 5, TL01, M05 X2, M07, MF01X and XM01

 

Currently I'm down to the M01, M03 and XM01. I've got enough spares to make another two brand new M03s or M05s

[Saito2]

Good topic. I'm not sure I can remember dates clearly but....

Early 80's: Nikko sourced tractor trailer truck with "Toy R Us" emblazoned on the trailer

Mid 80's: small, full function Nikko Fiero.

'86: Nikko Mosquito 1/14th scale 2wd buggy similar to Lobo 2

'87: Nikko Big Bubba 4wd truck and Radio Shack/Tandy Turbo Beetle, somehow reminiscent of the Clod Buster and Monster Beetle I lusted after

'88-ish: After a year of saving, my first Tamiya RC, a Lunch Box. Dates get fuzzy after this but...

Marui Super Wheelie Land Cruiser

Tamiya GH2 Super G

Aristocraft Dolphin

Tamiya Fast Attack Vehicle

Tamiya Vanquish

Tamiya Fox

Tamiya Bullhead

Associated RC10T sport

Tamiya Wild Willy 2

Tamiya Twin Detonator

Tamiya Monster Beetle

Tamiya Wild Willy

Tamiya Blackfoot

Tamiya Madcap

Tamiya Top Force 2005

Tamiya Frog

Tamiya TXT-1

Tamiya Super Clod Buster

Tamiya F350 High Lift

Tamiya Hotshot

Tamiya Fire Dragon

Tamiya Desert Gator

Tamiya CR01 Land Cruiser

Tamiya DF03 Avante Mk2

Tamiya Dirt Thrasher

Tamiya Stadium Thunder

Honestly, after that its a blur of models up until today, the last four I purchased being a TD4 Super Avante, BBX, Manta Ray and CC02. I can remember the build experience and circumstances around each kit, both kept and sold, over the decades, but not specific dates.

 

[markbt73]

I'll just hit the highlights...

Christmas 1984: I receive a little 1/12 scale RC Lamborghini from Radio Shack. It's not proportional, and only goes walking speed, but I'm hooked. The following year, I ask for a "real" RC car, but am denied; I decide to start saving up to buy one myself.

August 1986: After two summers of mowing lawns, walking dogs, painting fences, and other odd jobs, I finally order a Grasshopper combo deal from Sheldon's Hobbies in California. I start building it the very day it arrives, and within a month, have already worn out the first set of tires.

January 1987: Seeing that this is an interest that is here to stay, my parents spring for a Blackfoot kit for my birthday. Later that year, they get a Marui Big Bear for my brother, so he can play with me, but it's a disaster, so they replace it with a Falcon. My brother soon loses interest, and I sort of inherit both cars. I trade the Big Bear to a kid down the street for a half-dead Kyosho Optima with no drive chain, which just sits around.

Summer 1988: I find a new-built AYK 566B Super Trail buggy at a garage sale for $50. It's literally every penny I have. I shoehorn the radio and MSC from the Falcon into it, run it a couple of times, then switch everything back to the Falcon, because it's faster.

Fall 1990: I leave for college, taking only the Blackfoot (now considerably worse for wear, but still chugging along) with me.

1992: I discover an indoor carpet oval track near my college, sell the Blackfoot, and buy a Bolink '91 Sport. I'll race carpet oval on and off for the next three years at various tracks in Minnesota and Wisconsin, eventually buying an RC10LSO SS which I still own.

1993: My parents divorce, and my mom cleans out the house before moving out by throwing the entire contents of the garage and basement into a dumpster, including all the other RC cars, my slot car track and cars, all my static models, and all my dad's stuff that he didn't take with him. I'm devastated, and mad at myself for not rescuing all that stuff when I had the chance.

1996-2003: Touring cars. So many touring cars. Also my first Clod Buster, which gets modified and rebuilt several times in several different configurations.

Christmas 2006: My wife and I are newlyweds. I buy her a guitar, she buys me a re-re Grasshopper kit.

2008: I discover the world of scale crawlers. My Paypal account is quickly drained dry.

2010: I answer a Craigslist ad for someone selling five RC10s and several boxes of parts for $400, or trade for a brushless Traxxas Slash. I go buy a brand-new Slash, don't even open the box, and make the trade. Since then, it has been nearly all vintage or re-re vehicles that have interested me.

2022: I write a long article for The Autopian about the world of scale crawlers.

Yesterday: An online friend offers me a Radio Shack Red Arrow, saying he wants it to go to "a good home." I happily accept. I'll let you all know when it gets here.

[Pylon80]

3 hours ago, markbt73 said:

I go buy a brand-new Slash, don't even open the box, and make the trade.

That's so awesome 😎

As we say one man's Slash is another man's treasure.