(too soon?) question about the Hornet Evo

[Saito2]

This question might be a bit premature as I don't know how many have had some decent time running their new Hornet Evos yet. Anyway, in seeing some folks are adding the longer DT02 rear arms to their Evos to even out the differences in front and rear wheel track widths, my question is, how different is the buggy from a standard DT02 at that point? I keep imagining that it might be basically the same running experience as a DT02 (possibly with better steering) with just the added nostalgia "look" of having a Hornet chassis holding it all together. I'm not trying to be negative about the buggy as I think its totally awesome and love Tamiya for creating it. In my case, I have limited room in the collection and want to make sure its different enough to add (shoehorn) into it. Even if the replies I get point to it being too similar to the DT02 Experience (I think I shall name my band that, BTW), I can always use the new parts sprues to merge my current DT02 with my Hornet if need be. Thanks for any insight.

[Otis311]

All good questions. I have a DT-02 and DT-03 and don't harbor any nostalgia for the original The Hornet. I don't have any desire for the EVO beside liking to collect 2-wheel drive buggies. I have a TRF201 so technically I shouldn't require any other buggies since that is the best Tamiya buggy ever right. Nevertheless, I am building a TD2 Astute as we speak. Not much logic in this hobby sometimes hence why I am considering ordering a Re-Re-Re Super Astute.

[Saito2]

1 hour ago, Otis311 said:

Not much logic in this hobby sometimes

That's the truth! lol. I'm just trying to be extra cautious with money as things are bound to get really expensive in the States pretty soon.

[MadAnt]

21 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

That's the truth! lol. I'm just trying to be extra cautious with money as things are bound to get really expensive in the States pretty soon.

Don't be too cautious, if you need certain things it might be wise to buy it now rather than wait, because prices will be going up again. 

[Saito2]

6 minutes ago, MadAnt said:

Don't be too cautious

True. I've been looking at things I need like bodies and decals from Canada to complete projects vs things I want, like the Hornet Evo.

[SlideWRX]

11 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Anyway, in seeing some folks are adding the longer DT02 rear arms to their Evos to even out the differences in front and rear wheel track widths, my question is, how different is the buggy from a standard DT02 at that point?

I suspect seriously not much.  Just a little kick-up to the front arms like the DT-02, similar wheelbase, maybe slightly worse suspension travel up front but better steering.  My personal EVO would have been a chassis that fit the DT-02 rear AND front ends and fit all the grasshopper/hornet bodies - a narrower DT-02.  Kinda splitting hairs at this point, though.

I do have a nostalgia for the Hornet - basically the first thing I wanted to do when I got my DT-03 that pulled me back into this hobby was to fit a Hornet body to it.  I didn't want the motor-on-solid-rear-axle though...

[Carmine A]

On 12/23/2024 at 8:43 AM, Saito2 said:

That's the truth! lol. I'm just trying to be extra cautious with money as things are bound to get really expensive in the States pretty soon.

ESPECIALLY the prices of Chinese bits.... to the United States!! If you can buy it now, buy it. Hold it until about March. If you feel it's really not for you, sell it. Possibly at a small profit!! 😉

[Mouc-RC]

On 12/23/2024 at 3:03 PM, Saito2 said:

[...] DT02 Experience (I think I shall name my band that, BTW), [...]

Very good idea. Homage to Jimi, in addition. I'd dream to name my buddies band The Flying (or Greasing) Nipples. But it's a No from the Keyboard. We should fire him ;)

[Saito2]

With it being out for some more time now, some other questions have come to mind for me.

How does it look in person with the DT gearbox and motor hanging out the rear? This is one of the awkward things about the buggy to me, though it totally may be in my head as I'm so used to the classic Hornet's silhouette's more "mid" motor layout. I wonder if I would get used to it? Part of me wishes Tamiya had somehow IRS'd the original Hornet gearbox somehow, but that's understandably a lot of investment. 3D printed parts from various designers achieve this but lack the durability of injection molded parts.

How do the rear lower shock eyelets fair? They hang low and in some videos they look half mowed off from scraping.

Does the wider front really stick out as being greatly different than the rear. Such pains were put into keeping the rear the same track width as the original, its kind of a bummer to see the front so wide. Maybe its not that bad in person(?).

[MadAnt]

On 2/1/2025 at 9:08 PM, Saito2 said:

How does it look in person with the DT gearbox and motor hanging out the rear?

Looks fine.

On 2/1/2025 at 9:08 PM, Saito2 said:

How do the rear lower shock eyelets fair?

To be fair, the stock Hornet transaxle can easily get hung up on stuff.

On 2/1/2025 at 9:08 PM, Saito2 said:

Does the wider front really stick out as being greatly different than the rear. Such pains were put into keeping the rear the same track width as the original, its kind of a bummer to see the front so wide. Maybe its not that bad in person(?).

The front is wide, but not crazy. Once you see it complete with the body on it looks pretty good. Also, having the right set of wheels can make the visual appearance better.

[Pablo68]

I've nearly finished building mine. It is a bit odd looking. Not a deal breaker for me though.
The odd thing is that I've been tooling around with a spare Hornet chassis for years trying to fit parts from other buggies to it. About 6-ish months before the Hornet Evo was announced I though, hey, why not try fit DT-03 bits to the Hornet. That could work well and be cheap. I even got a second DT-03 to get parts from.
Just plane weird man.

[Saito2]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where some of the Evo parts can be sourced, specifically the E parts?

[Twinfan]

4 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where some of the Evo parts can be sourced, specifically the E parts?

Tamico:

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-19007703-E-PARTS-BAGE-58742

[Kowalski86]

1 hour ago, Saito2 said:

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where some of the Evo parts can be sourced, specifically the E parts?

https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/7-digit-spare-parts/rc-e-parts-58742/

Right here, once they're back in stock.