47381 Super Astute (due December)

[Seanster43]

9 hours ago, Hobbimaster said:

Have a look at RCmart, seems there are plenty of spares, and actual hop up parts like universal drive shafts,  and hard suspension arms.

Not used them personally but have heard other folk mention their spares availability, thanks for the heads up. 

[Kol__]

3 minutes ago, Seanster43 said:

Not used them personally but have heard other folk mention their spares availability, thanks for the heads up. 

RCMart are very good bud, especially for Xtra Speed components. The SSS (super saver shipping) postage is good and free after a certain amount spent, not much. The only caveat is that they've started adding 20% UK VAT to every order. There are cheaper sites such as Plaza Japan and Banzai though. Plus RCJaz can be pretty good, although postage for a kit can be high.

[joeling]

How come Super Astute did away with the front sway bars while the non Super had them ?

[Hobbimaster]

For those in the U.S. waiting for this kit to arrive, looks like Horizon updated the ETA from December, to April 2025. I suspect Amain would be in the same time frame. I was hoping to get one local before the holidays, but looks like its going to be an overseas order for me.

[Saito2]

17 hours ago, Hobbimaster said:

For those in the U.S. waiting for this kit to arrive, looks like Horizon updated the ETA from December, to April 2025. I suspect Amain would be in the same time frame. I was hoping to get one local before the holidays, but looks like its going to be an overseas order for me

Thanks for the update. Disappointing news. I hoping to snag one before the new year before imports are potentially swept up in this potential tariff mess.

[Twinfan]

7 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

Thanks for the update. Disappointing news. I hoping to snag one before the new year before imports are potentially swept up in this potential tariff mess.

They're due in the UK before Christmas so kits should be out this year in some places.  If it's not too cost prohibitive you could order one from here or one of the suppliers in the Far East?

[Hobbimaster]

24 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

Thanks for the update. Disappointing news. I hoping to snag one before the new year before imports are potentially swept up in this potential tariff mess.

I found RCJaz and RCmart has this in stock at the moment. RCJaz has a coupon code for the month of December, -10% off that brings the kit after shipping fee's to a manageable amount. I chose the slower 7-20 day delivery rate, and its being provided by FedEx, well atleast that's what the provided tracking number says.

[F-150]

Once the Trump Tarrifs hit, these cars will be lot more expensive in America.  So may as well order from Japan, it will be the same price anyways.

[GToddC5]

7 minutes ago, F-150 said:

Once the Trump Tarrifs hit, these cars will be lot more expensive in America.  So may as well order from Japan, it will be the same price anyways.

With the discount, it would cost me $527 to get two from RCJaz - shipped. My AMAIN pre-order without discounts for two shipped, is $467. I'm good waiting until Spring.

[Saito2]

10 hours ago, F-150 said:

Once the Trump Tarrifs hit, these cars will be lot more expensive in America. 

If they are as far reaching and across the board as threatened but time will tell.

I have a bunch of Madcap parts hidden away along with a Super Astute chassis. Maybe I can come up with a cheaper alternative or maybe we'll get lucky.

[Kowalski86]

47 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

If they are as far reaching and across the board as threatened but time will tell.

I have a bunch of Madcap parts hidden away along with a Super Astute chassis. Maybe I can come up with a cheaper alternative or maybe we'll get lucky.

Tamiya kits are made in the Phillipines and Japan, hopefully we'll be safe once the tariffs hit.

[BuggyDad]

Super Astute bearings question... 

I see in the manual it looks like it comes with most bearings but uses metal bushes in the front wheels (!?) and a handful of other places, eg 16x 730 in the suspension, 4x 850 in the steering cranks. Wheels need bearings obvs, steering I probably would too but I'd see them as optional, but the suspension? Maybe bushes better there? Especially in the top of the c hubs where it takes a camber link on a ball joint a bearing seems unnecessarily and maybe even a bit of an odd choice - you'd want to be careful to tighten the screw just so - so there's no slop but also no pressure on the bearing. Then again, you'd want to do the same on the metal bushing. 

I guess they went for this on the front suspension especially in an effort to chase a really free movement on the light front end.

So has anyone chosen to fit bearings in place of all the 730s?

[Twinfan]

I had a look at this a little while back and I agree with you that you'd need:

• 850 x4 in the steering
• 1150 x4 in the front wheels
• 730 x16 ball bearings for the suspension arms

If I was building one I'd add the 730s - overkill maybe, but it's only £15 for a set.

 

[BuggyDad]

Oh, and a pinion question - 05 module - I don't think I have any of those and they don't seem common. 48dp is properly close enough, right? NB this is a spur I want to look after. 

[Twinfan]

1 hour ago, BuggyDad said:

Oh, and a pinion question - 05 module - I don't think I have any of those and they don't seem common. 48dp is properly close enough, right? NB this is a spur I want to look after. 

I'm not sure it's close enough.  You can update to a 48DP spur though as mentioned earlier in this thread I think.

[Twinfan]

Or stick with the stock pinion, which I think is steel, if it works with your motor choice.

[Kol__]

Still waiting on a confirmed date for the UK.

Re the 16x 730 bearings, I don't feel these are a needed or necessarily wise upgrade, well on a runner at least. They are right down in the dirt so to speak, so get very dirty when running. There are so many of them, the oilite bushings are better placed for the job imo, if only from a maintenance perspective.

[BuggyDad]

52 minutes ago, Kol__ said:

Re the 16x 730 bearings, I don't feel these are a needed or necessarily wise upgrade, well on a runner at least. They are right down in the dirt so to speak, so get very dirty when running. There are so many of them, the oilite bushings are better placed for the job imo, if only from a maintenance perspective.

That was pretty much my thinking. However, I'm building up two SAs. One is the kit which will be mostly for me to gawp at with my tongue hanging out, although I'm sure I'll run it a bit. The other is my pseudo Astute/Madcap runner out of aftermarket, homemade and other kit bits, but it'll have JCR SA arms and Xtra Speed front bulkhead, so I'll need to buy again most of the 730s. And now I go looking for the bushes I can't find any. Anyone know where you might find 7x3x3 bushes?

What I still might do is buy the RC Bearings SA bearing kit, which is exactly:

2 hours ago, Twinfan said:

• 850 x4 in the steering
• 1150 x4 in the front wheels
• 730 x16 ball bearings for the suspension arms

So I think I'll get that set in the rubber sealed option, unless I can find bushes. I will keep looking. This car will be run in clean conditions I think. I reserve dirty running for only certain cars and I don't think (m)any future builds will go on that list. 

52 minutes ago, Kol__ said:

Still waiting on a confirmed date for the UK.

Really? I guess if the US got pushed back we would too. NB I think you could get RCJaz to ship one now. Not sure how it stacks up for this but sometimes they're decent value even with hefty postage. 

[BuggyDad]

1 hour ago, Twinfan said:

Or stick with the stock pinion, which I think is steel, if it works with your motor choice.

If it's steel or hardened I'll maybe just run with it then. I think it'd work well with a hot(tish) brushed motor which is what I might fit anyway. I guess you'd want a 26 or 27 for brushless. 

[bavee]

News from Tamico:

Quote

 

Thank you for pre-ordering the Tamiya 47381 Super Astute (2018)  Kit.

Unfortunately, we have been informed by Tamiya Germany that the delivery of this model has been delayed. We currently expect to receive and ship the pre-ordered models in early/mid January.

 

No Christmas present this year it seems ;).

[zuqbu]

Tamiya might have been a bit overly cautious because my preorder has been updated and is expected to ship this week Didn't order through Tamico though, but another German online store.

[ABigChungus]

Just to add, I asked Modelsport about any delays and they have said the same, it has been delayed till next month.

[Sgt.Speirs]

7 hours ago, zuqbu said:

Tamiya might have been a bit overly cautious because my preorder has been updated and is expected to ship this week Didn't order through Tamico though, but another German online store.

Me too😁
Delivery before Christmas would be glorious!

[moffman]

On 12/17/2024 at 7:46 PM, Sgt.Speirs said:

Me too😁
Delivery before Christmas would be glorious!

Unfortunately buy the looks of the vast majority of the uk hobby shops it’s now due in January 2025  

[moffman]

@Sgt.Speirs yeah I’m genuinely shedding a few tears for all you guys out there who where hoping for a Xmas holiday build (warning rant alert!!!!) between tamiya and Kyosho they need to get their act together and give their heads a good wobble when it comes to announcing releases then time after time they never materialise yes shipping probably has got a small percentage to do with it but not to the extent of some of the re-release dates! Kyosho’s special edition ultima was supposed be released on the 13 December that’s come and gone now it’s like the astute put back to January 2025! I’ve cancelled all my future kits from tamiya and Kyosho because I’m over them now……..sorry rant over!