Dual son and dad builds. Saint Dragon and TFE

[BuggyDad]

[Edited just to change the title really. We went through democracy, a threat of rebellion, a reveal, so now we move into the build chapter - title updated to reflect that. I'm not sure it can be moved to "the builds" but hey ho, I don't suppose that matters] 

I've bought my son a Saint Dragon 4wd. My intention is to leave him to build it fully, 90% under his own steam. It even has a prepainted body. Then after that we will turn it into a truck, albeit a bit later. Blitzer type wheels and the like, bit of 3d printing for body mounts, maybe a set of suspension mount braces and longer pins in the Bang-for-buck-Boomerang stylee but not a lot else. I think it's key though for him to build his kit without much of my input. He's 11 now. His previous kit builds were at 8 and 9, so they were very much us both together but times have changed. 

With a fair wind, he and I might be alone for a good couple of days and I have a mind to wrap up and put under the tree for myself one of the kits I have NIB, so that he and I can sit opposite ends of a long table and just quietly work away. Perhaps naively, I think this sounds rather blissful. If it doesn't work, mine can just wait. 

Recently, I've been building up quite a little collection of kits, and so I'm not quite sure which to take on. Here are my options:

1. Super Astute. This was def to be my next project, and so I put it in pole position for this, but the plan with this was to assemble it slowly as a shelfer(ish), alongside thinking through and modelling for 3d printing some parts, with the ultimate aim to build a second Astute out of a lot of homemade and aftermarket bits. So I'm not sure this is ideal as it kind of needs alone time, but equally there aren't that many parts to the Astute with most of my CAD modelling being around the rear bulkhead area and battery mounting, and I could just assemble it first and have that out later. Maybe this is the best approach anyway - get it all together before even considering my own work.

2. Top Force Evo. This I intend to build box stock and it doesn't even need painting, so it's a really obvious parallel with my son's, and we'd probably get two running 4wd buggies together in similar time, with one downside being that I'm assembling a premium kit to his basic one. It'll be a runner, not sacred, maybe even get some mods in the future. Who knows. 

3. Super Champ. Left field option. Would build with a small handful of hop ups and an aluminum chassis. I wasn't in a rush to do it but it kind of feels like a nice juxtaposition as a positively ancient curiosity. It'll get a little running, but probably live as more of a shelfer in the end. 

5. Avante. In a moment of lunacy after the pub on black Friday I ordered a 2011 on a really good deal. It should arrive shortly. I see the Avante as a cross between options 2 and 3 above. Premium 4x4 buggy but also a curiosity of its time. I think it'd be Tamiya blasphemy not to build it box stock. It'll get light running I guess, to be enjoyed for what it is. 

6. A 380 project to be purchased, which i could possibly get in time. Probably a DT-02 which we can assemble in about 10 minutes and then a day or two spent going nuts with bodywork, for which I am rapidly forming a plan. Let's be honest, the 380 series is all about style. 

So what say you? What would you choose? 

[toyolien]

6 would be my choice. But, only because that's what I'm doing this Holiday... Other than that, I'd say the Avante.

[BuggyDad]

2 minutes ago, toyolien said:

6 would be my choice. But, only because that's what I'm doing this Holiday... Other than that, I'd say the Avante.

Hmmm. Would you now... 

[Scratches chin] 

There is something to be said for my bit of the son and me together time being something simple and silly, but I'll need to decide on and buy the necessaries if I go for 6. They are in the basket though, except a Kamtec body. 

Last time I asked a question like this the consensus was the reverse of my own order*. Perhaps the same again!

* I went for my own order that time - the Super Falcon. 

[Tamiyastef]

I would go for a car that's different enough from his because the 4wd you have are obviously more "high end" or "premium" or whatever you wanna call it. For that reason I like the DT-02 option ( with oil shocks) the most.

[SlideWRX]

It may take him a longer time to build the basic kit, so with you building the Top Force EVO the time may come out the same.

[JimBear]

Me, I'd say "Haircut Motors" (DT-02) or the Super Champ. Different from the Saint; these two are different in quite different ways, so to speak.

[njmlondon]

Christmas is all about a big Tamiya box with blisters to be popped open and new rubber to be sniffed… Avante is the logical choice.

[jonboy1]

Yup, I'd go for the DT-02 option as well. Way I see it, the bigger goal is quality time with your son, so anything "collaborative" is a win. Although the Avante would get "my" vote, it is something that can only really be done by one person and doesn't really provide much shared enjoyment. So I would keep that for "you time" when he is in bed or doing something else. 

Plus, I doubt your lad is going to be gentle with his Saint Dragon, so you won't want to be precious about what you run with him - you want something you can battle with him and mess about with. 

So, for me, DT-02 all day.

Whatever you choose though, I hope you both have a lot of fun spending time together  

[BuggyDad]

Scores on the doors for the popular vote... 

SA 0 (honestly, people, have you lost your senses? This really is like Eurovision 😂) 

TFE 1

Champ 1

Avante 2

Haircut 4 (on the plus side, at least Finland's novelty retro electronic entry is in the lead!*) 

I foresee more chin scratching.

The quality shared time point is a good one. So I think I won't bury myself in the Avante for this reason, but it could still be that I just get started on the Astute. It wouldn't matter if I only get 10% of the way in - we don't have to finish runners at the same time and I probably won't paint in this time anyway. The Dragon and my Boomerang would be perfect running buddies when we get to that point.

On the Avante, I find myself with a couple of little ideas already, I just can't help myself, which might lead me to postponing it for the acquisition and fabrication of a couple of bits.

[Andreas W]

As option 1: Use what you already have I would build the Top Force Evo, but fit whatever motor similar to the young guy's and gearet similar as well. With some careful EPA adjustments they would be "similar enough". A Dragon is fun and capable with a Silvercan on 2S, as long as the spikes are that and not knobs. It's good training going around a course with nice slides constantly staying within the line. That's something he will appreciate if he upgrades to a rally car and that knowledge is 1:1 transferable. When the spikes are worn down/rounded it's time for stage 2; the truckification. 

 

As option 2 there is the DT-02 as jonboy1 describes, if you have the guts to order whatever you need and get it before the holydays. It's probably time for a 380 build . 

[Wooders28]

I'm backshift this year, Christmas week , and hoping Santa brings a Super Avante, fingers crossed I can get a bulk of it, if not all built in work (all the gaffers will be tucking into turkey and quaffing wine with their families, so no chance of them, popping in..) , so I'd vote for the Avante build 😁

[El Gecko]

6 hours ago, Andreas W said:

As option 1: Use what you already have I would build the Top Force Evo, but fit whatever motor similar to the young guy's and gearet similar as well. With some careful EPA adjustments they would be "similar enough". A Dragon is fun and capable with a Silvercan on 2S, as long as the spikes are that and not knobs. It's good training going around a course with nice slides constantly staying within the line. That's something he will appreciate if he upgrades to a rally car and that knowledge is 1:1 transferable. When the spikes are worn down/rounded it's time for stage 2; the truckification. 

 

As option 2 there is the DT-02 as jonboy1 describes, if you have the guts to order whatever you need and get it before the holydays. It's probably time for a 380 build . 

Agreed with both of these.

Top Force seems like the logical choice for building and running similar cars with the kid, but a DT-02 with a 380 could be interesting too.

[Eric Bloodsmith]

I'd say to go for the Top Force Evo, since you don't have to paint.

[BuggyDad]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I also bought this absolute dream kit 😬

But I'm favouring the Astute for the Christmas present to me build idea. Quite simply because it's the project that excites me and occupies my mind at the mo....

One more day to decide! 

[Carmine A]

I'm with others on the 380 DT-02.... requires more... thought. 😀

But that Egress!!!! 😮

[ThunderDragonCy]

@BuggyDad Duuuuuuuuude!

[Grumpy pants]

The Top Force, all day every day, the build mirrors your sons kit - being built stock, pre painted, hop ups later and it will be run.

You’ll be able to build step by step together and run them together - The EVO being ‘dads’ buggy and the one your son will remember forever and want for nostalgic reasons later on in life. 

[BuggyDad]

9 hours ago, Carmine A said:

I'm with others on the 380 DT-02.... requires more... thought. 😀

I have a pretty clear plan, I'm just not quite ready to make it happen, haven't bought any of it, and it's really just silly body ideas on an entry level chassis. So it should be a joy but it won't get the mechanical juices flowing. 

9 hours ago, Carmine A said:

But that Egress!!!! 😮

Yeah I know, I'm Shelfer Guy now, dontchaknow

 

9 hours ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

Duuuuuuuuude!

I've even got vintage cars. Three of them. I'm basically that old fella down the road with the MGB who won't stop telling you about it. 

I'm hoping it's just a stage. 

6 minutes ago, Grumpy pants said:

The Top Force, all day every day, the build mirrors your son kit - being built stock, pre painted, hop ups later and it will be run.

You’ll be able to build step by step together and run them together - The EVO being ‘dads’ buggy and the one your son will remember forever and want for nostalgic reasons later on in life. 

Total logic. It's a strong contender for sure. 

Now, how is it that not a single other person thinks the Astute is the Christmas build of choice? Is it because you've all been kept waiting for yours? 😉😘

[Ray_ve]

I'm sure my wife will have a Todo list hidden somewhere. 

What I really need to do is get on with the insulation of the attic, 7/12th there and I should be able to get to 10/12th but that requires removing my hobby area in the Ray-cave for a few days.

Hopefully I can do some work of the Maruti Samurai, it has been sitting for a while now and only requires a few hours of work.... In theorie....

[BuggyDad]

Let's have a look at the votes at this stage... 

 

SA 1 (I get a vote) 

TFE 5

Champ 1

Avante 3

Haircut 7

Insulating the loft 1

 

There's real science going on here. Stats, from actual counting. Although voting continues in some parts, most of the ballot boxes are in. Independent observers seem happy.

Have the people spoken? Haircut's ahead, by somewhat more than a hair. 

But it looks like there'll be no clear majority. And Haircut can't get its act together to make things happen. Top Force Evo on the other hand has been ready to go for a while, and might be able to count as coalition partners the dreamy-but-happy-in-their-boxes-for-now Avante and Champ, so there's certainly something there. Democracy in action. 

Unless the shadowy Super Astute, or even the Egress that never even got on the ballot paper, stages some sort of military coup. It could happen. The people don't want it, but the world's in turmoil. These are the end times. The rules really just guidelines... 

 

[Andreas W]

The SA is a runner up. It has that in common with your son's build that it's gonna be ran out of the box in the beginning, get torn down and modified not late after. That makes for father-son time for a longer time. In stock form they would probably perform relatively equal when they even out the difference in driving skills. 

 

Decitions, decitions....

[Carmine A]

My second place vote is the Super Champ..... not just because I've always wanted one, but c'mon.... a buggy with a machine gun!?!?

[BuggyDad]

3 hours ago, Carmine A said:

My second place vote is the Super Champ..... not just because I've always wanted one, but c'mon.... a buggy with a machine gun!?!?

Whoa! It has a machine gun? Where? 

[toyolien]

3 hours ago, Carmine A said:

My second place vote is the Super Champ..... not just because I've always wanted one, but c'mon.... a buggy with a machine gun!?!?

Isn't it the Fast Attack vehicle that has the machine gun?

[GToddC5]

9 hours ago, BuggyDad said:

I've even got vintage cars. Three of them. I'm basically that old fella down the road with the MGB who won't stop telling you about it. 

I'm hoping it's just a stage. 

Ha! This is me any time someone asks me what else do I drive (when I elude that I have more than one vehicle) and I say a 1971 FJ40 Land Cruiser. Then I have to say "Toyota's version of an old Jeep?" when they look at me like I have three heads. Then I get to tell them everything they didn't want to know about it, LOL

 

Oh, and I'm late, but I vote Super Champ