Upcoming Tamiyas - 1st impressions

[WillyChang]

Got to finger some upcoming models today... wasn't allowed to

take any pictures so no luck on that front.

Also no sign of the Toureg & Super Clod.

GRAVEL HOUND DT02 buggy

Think the one I saw was a preproduction model

Chassis appears to be all-new... not TT01, definitely not TB01/TB02.

Arms and all appears new too, don't think they're shared with any

existing buggy. Didn't look like the Super Manta Ray's arms it

was sitting next to.

Gearboxes are pretty big, centre shaft drive. Doesn't look like the

drivetrain is borrowed from TT01. And the dogbones & outdrives are

chunky plastic (a la Falcon), ugh!! [8)]

Plastic on this machine was very shiny & cheapo... also all the parts

were very square-edged and didn't look as 'finished' as Tamiyas

usually are.

Shocks are friction with longer shafts but they are Mini-CVA bodied,

like the Pajero Sport RTR I'd think.

Tamiya CPR unit like that in the XB Pros, with the custom-plugged 540.

Carrera GT (XBG, TB02)

This is one sweet body; yay the side mirrors made production too.

On the XBG, Tamiya cuts out the side window for you. They've also

managed to get the engine head under to roof without cutting... but

there's zilch-all clearance between head & lexan - don't know how

that'll hold up in use.

All the window stickers are opaque [V] which suggests no

masking stickers will be provided.

Rear engine grille doesn't show anything thru the holes... [:I]

Xanavi & Calsonic SKYLINE GTR R34

Yay these also have wing mirrors. Skanky slimline

'racing' ones but at least they're there!!

All new Tamiya bodysets will be sold unpunched, to cater for the

now differing positions of bodyposts on TB02 vs everything else that

came before it.

MIGHTY BULL

Blackfoot Extreme chassis with a lexan shell (where's that from?)

and sold as an XB with CPR unit. Nothing overly exciting I'm afraid.

TRF 415

Heaps of blue anodised alloy sandwiched between lots of carbon fibre.

Suspension bits straight off TA04R/414/EvoIII, no surprises there.

No alloy suspension bits... they're in the HopUp Option list.

Was disappointed that it didn't come with Titanium screws & turnbuckle

nor did it have any nice Tamiya BlueSealed bearings either. [V]

It has just the stock grey TRF shocks, not even fancier blue ones.

Lightweight blue uni bones at the rear is all the fruit you get.

Transponder mount... hmm, didn't see one.

(everyone using personals now??)

Didn't look like there were any tyres in the kit, just dish wheels.

Front foam bumper is off the 414.

Kit comes with rear ball diff and a front one-way, however these

units are not interchangeable (Front one-way's pulley is in the

middle, diff pulley is offset). This means there's currently no way

of putting a 2nd diff in front or making a ball-less "spool" diff.

Tamiya 540-J motor!!

Whee!!! Tamiya's new latest secret weapon, sold in an unassuming

brown paper box - soon to be very sought-after by racers. [][]

Its a chrome-can 540 Jid="blue">ohnson motor... rrp JPY1200.

[m3guru(2)]

Willy, do you know if the XBG Porsche is ~190mm or ~200mm wide?

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by m3guru

Willy, do you know if the XBG Porsche is ~190mm or ~200mm wide?

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id="quote">id="quote">

All are 190.

Tamiya never makes 200s, all their gas TG10 & XBG cars are all 190.

[Bosconian]

Nice rundown on the upcoming releases. A first-hand account from a discerning eye. Well done[] Based from your observations, looks like I won't be in a hurry to get the Ground Hound, but can't wait to get my hands on the Carrera GT and the Xanavi Skyline[]

[Stefan(2)]

nice scoop!, you must have some frinds in high places []

Stefan

[WillyChang]

Nothing special, just the annual national trade show... [8D]

[RETRO R/C]

Very very interesting Willy!!

How did you gain entry to the show???, As the show is for trade buyers only - and you are not one - I am a little perplexed !!

I was at the show on Saturday - and saw the cars above too - and share the concerns of the quality (or lack of)on the Gravel hound...........as for the 415 - it is already a 2.5 year old design anyway..dont be surprised if there is another car before the end of the year.

Cheers

Darryn

[The Slayer]

Doesnt do it for me at all, prefer pre - 95... except for ver Willy 2 coz thats a classic in any guise [] MInd you i do like the Mini and Pug 306 []

[WillyChang]

quote:Originally posted by RETRO R/C

How did you gain entry to the show???, As the show is for trade buyers only - and you are not one - I am a little perplexed !!

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id="quote">id="quote">

Trade links since 1982 matey... [] have to pop in every year to say

hi to all the interstate boys, chew the ol' fat & whinge our sorrows.

And you..?? Opened a shop recently? []

quote:I was at the show on Saturday...

id="quote">id="quote">

Darned, didn't know you were in town Darryn. Again. [xx(]

Was there at lunchtime on Fri and good part of today Sunday.

Was going to drop in on Sat as well but ran out of time.

Q: all those PostIt labels "JAPAN" on the bottom of some cars...

you think they're all getting sent back there afterwards?? []

[The Slayer]

You should have written your address on them - post its []

[jozza]

Shame about the Gravel Hound, it looked like a nice replacement for the Baja Champ, but the more detailed pics I've seen make it look a bit cheaply produced, and WillyChang's observations only confirm that. Looks like I might have to get a DynaStorm instead....

[Spacemate]

I'd love to get the XBG Prosche shell for my TA04 chassis. Is Tamiya looking at selling it separately?

[Scorchio]

Thanks for update Willy, lets just hope the toureg doesn't go the way of the Neo Shot [][] Darn I need that chassis bad []

[RETRO R/C]

LOL Willy - Had a shop for quite a while (however that is closed and I am now importing only). I am now also a manager/buyer for a rather large concern [] ...So who were you with ? []

Yeah - kind of confusing seeing the "Japan" "note" on the boxes etc....maybe it was to make less informed buyers that they were very very new.....shame that the 415 is nearly a month old now ! [] Oh well - that is the system for you.

I think the Gravel Hound, while pretty nasty in quality, is still showing that they are interested in off road...would be really nice to see some buggies again !

Cheers

Darryn

[WillyChang]

1982:- Radio Auto Car Enterprises Sdn Bhd... []

quote:Originally posted by RETRO R/C

Yeah - kind of confusing seeing the "Japan" "note" on the boxes etc....

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Boxes? Hmm, missed those.

The PostIts I saw were stuck on the bottom of the chassis,

on TB02 Porsche, the Gravel Hound & the Mighty Bull.

Whaddya think D... think TT gunna pass on the Touareg & Super Clod? [|)]

What I did miss seeing was the TLT-1 - c'mon, surely they're

going to bring that little cutie in??!! [V]

[RETRO R/C]

Knowing TT, I would be surprised if they imported those three in large numbers to be honest.......they will get the Gravel Hound - no doubt - they have to - the Blazing Star is dead an buried ..........

Unfortunately the monster trucks, XC chassis were pretty poor sellers here in this country. As you probably well know - the Tamtechs were a complete disaster here - so there are old wounds there.....small scale is small part of the market.

Oh well - I think we will see them - however with the internet market getting bigger and bigger - we can expect that most will be imported.

Cheers

Darryn

[Revival]

Hi Willy

I think the motor will be a good think to look out for.....the sad part about Tamiya is the lack of a good buggie after the Dyna Storm.....Looks like its either a Kyosho or Ofna I will be looking at soon........[:I]

[Stefan(2)]

ow yes,

the superclod is in hong kong now... ehm, i mean ebay for sale,

goes for 228US ex shipping, not that bad!

Stefan

[The Slayer]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...2&category=2565 starts at $199 but look at the shipping costs!!!! doesnt do it for me - so feel free []