Avante upgrades? (Tamico's deal of the week!)

[Wooders28 5119]

Couldn't help but purchase an Avante from Tamico coming in at just shy over £300 (hoping not too much in extra charges..🫣)

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-58489-Avante-2011-Kit 

Is there any upgrades this needs to run modern elecs? (Brushless and lipo)? 

[Jonathon Gillham 4715]

Nice, thats an amazing price.

I can't help here, but interested to hear the feedback as I have a black special sitting (hiding) in my office.  

[naturbo2000 1488]

I run an Avante Black Special.  Lipo plus the brushed motor in the kit. No hop ups are necessary.  Just be aware that the battery compartment can only fit one of those rounded NiMH-shaped Lipo's by default and would require some inguinuity to take a shorty or squared-off battery.  I'm not aware of any aftermarket parts to make this easier.

Mine has VQS Hi-cap dampers which requires a shock mount such as Nick Walker sells. Beyond that is only replacing stuff as it breaks or wears out.

[Twinfan 2454]

7 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Couldn't help but purchase an Avante from Tamico coming in at just shy over £300 (hoping not too much in extra charges..🫣)

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-58489-Avante-2011-Kit 

Charges will be 20% VAT plus a £12 handling fee, so around £72 to pay.

[Siclick33 240]

I have bought the parts to upgrade the steering on my Avante 2011 to the racing steering that comes with the Avante Black Special. I have no real idea if that is beneficial or not so it might just be a waste of money. The racing steering set doesn't seem to be available any more, but you can get all the spare parts separately and build it up yourself - it just works out a bit expensive.

As Twinfan says, expect fees on entry to the UK (and a delay whilst Parcelforce uses their antiquated system of sending the VAT bill through the post before they will deliver), but it will still work out significantly cheaper than buying from a UK shop.

[Wooders28 5119]

5 hours ago, Twinfan said:

Charges will be 20% VAT plus a £12 handling fee, so around £72 to pay.

Doh! 🤦‍♂️🤣

Although it's DHL rather than Parcelfarce, I'm guessing there'd be a brexit charge.. 

[Twinfan 2454]

If you chose the cheapest postal option at €25, it gets handed over to ParcelFarce when it gets to the UK.....

[naturbo2000 1488]

41 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

Doh! 🤦‍♂️🤣

Although it's DHL rather than Parcelfarce, I'm guessing there'd be a brexit charge.. 

I suspect it'll be DHL in Europe and handed over to Parcelforce in the UK. No idea why. 

One thing you do need to know about running an Avante is that you have to threadlock every metal-on-metal connection. Every single one. Yes, even the upper arms. Make sure you don't get any in the rose joint balls though. The Tamiya rose joints are super pricey,  but it's easier to get aftermarket ones these days with them being common on crawlers.

Edited February 28 by naturbo2000

[Twinfan 2454]

9 minutes ago, naturbo2000 said:

I suspect it'll be DHL in Europe and handed over to Parcelforce in the UK. No idea why. 

I think i's because DHL is the regular postal service in Germany, not just a courier like it is here in the UK.  So it gets handed from local postal company to local postal company.

[GTodd 1609]

I highly recommend brushless, the maintenance free aspect alone sells itself.  A 13.5 hobbywing would make it fly. I wouldn't go lipo as the current stick form lipos are a hair too big. For upgrades id just add metal front and rear hubs for peace of mind.  That said I have a first run Rere Egress and I've yet to brake anything on it.  

[njmlondon 805]

On 2/28/2025 at 9:19 AM, Siclick33 said:

As Twinfan says, expect fees on entry to the UK (and a delay whilst Parcelforce uses their antiquated system of sending the VAT bill through the post before they will deliver), but it will still work out significantly cheaper than buying from a UK shop.

I now proactively shop only with companies that give me the option to not use Parcelforce. Truly shocking service and so expensive.

[Wooders28 5119]

On 3/1/2025 at 3:58 PM, GTodd said:

A 13.5 hobbywing would make it fly.

Think the slowest I've got, is an 8.5t...🫣

Probably go for the new 10BL120 G2, although I've an old LRP flow kicking about somewhere ...

 

On 3/1/2025 at 3:58 PM, GTodd said:

I wouldn't go lipo as the current stick form lipos are a hair too big

The Corerc CR293 I've got, has fitted everywhere the old Nicad/Nimh fitted, so that's should fit, or it's going to be made to fit 🙄

 

On 3/1/2025 at 4:26 PM, njmlondon said:

I now proactively shop only with companies that give me the option to not use Parcelforce. Truly shocking service and so expensive.

Didn't realise DHL turned into Parcelfarce this end, I'd have gone for the more expensive (but cheaper...), option!!!

(Hope they remember to post me out the ransom letter, they forgot on an order from the States, and only me trying to chase it up, and driving an hour to the depot, stopped it getting sent back...🤦‍♂️) 

 

 

Edit, 

Dug out my motor options....urm

 

 

[Kpowell911 2597]

Just paid the £69 customs charge, so £372 all in for me

[Kpowell911 2597]

@Wooders28 Has yours arrived yet?

[Wooders28 5119]

1 hour ago, Kpowell911 said:

@Wooders28 Has yours arrived yet?

Letter from Parcelfarce still hasn't arrived with the info, but phoned them with the tracking number I got from Tamico (the German tracking swaps to a GB one) they gave me their customs tracking number, so then been online and paid the £70 ransom (pretty bang on @Twinfan !!).

Should arrive in the next pay or 2..

[Wooders28 5119]

Looking at putting an order in for paint, esc (probably a 10.5t motor..) etc and presuming Tamiya provide their usual aluminium / soft cheese pinion with the kit?

Seen another thread, and seemingly the pinion options are 06mod, 12 - 23T ? 

I can't imagine the low tooth pinions are required with modern motors, so thinking of maybe a 17, 19, 21 and a 23t should cover all track configurations? (Tight twisty carpet track, to wide open with long straight Astro tracks?).

[Jonathon Gillham 4715]

7 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Looking at putting an order in for paint, esc (probably a 10.5t motor..) etc and presuming Tamiya provide their usual aluminium / soft cheese pinion with the kit?

Seen another thread, and seemingly the pinion options are 06mod, 12 - 23T ? 

I can't imagine the low tooth pinions are required with modern motors, so thinking of maybe a 17, 19, 21 and a 23t should cover all track configurations? (Tight twisty carpet track, to wide open with long straight Astro tracks?).

So this is going be raced? Very interested to see how that goes. 

[Wooders28 5119]

2 hours ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

So this is going be raced? Very interested to see how that goes. 

Nothing serious, will just be vintage races probably.

Thinking of tungsten carbide balls for the centre diff (always thought that was a slipper 🤦‍♂️) and then just play about with set up/ shock oils/ springs (got a set of springs for the mid that I'm hoping will fit) and gears. 

Presuming they're 2" tyres too, so the Schumacher blocks/mini spike and full spike will fit..maybe

[Wooders28 5119]

18 hours ago, Kpowell911 said:

@Wooders28 Has yours arrived yet?

Somethings you don't mind getting woken up for, when you're nightshift!! 

 

 

[Kpowell911 2597]

Me too 

[naturbo2000 1488]

14 hours ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

So this is going be raced? Very interested to see how that goes. 

Mine gets raced. It's a terrible race car,  but can be elevated to bad on the right surface. It's hard to tune. Even changing batteries is a chore. Definitely threadlock everything, especially the upper suspension arms. It doesn't appreciate being crashed and takes a bunch of time to repair breakages.

And yet I still race it on a small, indoor, polished wooden floor and absolutely love it! 

This week's task is to replace the upper deck on mine as I broke it at the left hand trailing arm hanger.  Nick Walker does a chassis brace which is going on my replacement chassis. 

[Wooders28 5119]

1 hour ago, naturbo2000 said:

Mine gets raced. It's a terrible race car

Used to beat them regularly with my Mid bitd, but they are a stunning bit of kit, too nice to just leave on a shelf..

 

1 hour ago, naturbo2000 said:

Nick Walker does a chassis brace

Oh dear, I can hear my wallet shaking with fear at the mention of his name...🙈🤣🤣