TTG Frog - First Impressions

[Wireless]

The box that the buggy comes in is nicely presented with a clear plastic top showing the buggy inside. On opening the end flap you are greeted with a picture of the Frog logo saying "Hello!". Very Japanese and kind of cool.

Inside the box is the buggy, the Expec SP trigger wheel Tx and a box containing the mains type battery charger and 500mAh NiCd pack. An assortment of leaflets accompany the package showing instructions, hop-ups etc.

The car is a very high spec given the price. It features a GRP chassis (first for Tamiya...?) full ballraces, slipper clutch, universal shafts, ball diff and adjustable upper links on the suspension. Power is from the aforementioned NiCd via a TEU102BK ESC and a Mabuchi 370 sized motor. I haven't tried the charger as my kit is direct from Japan and has a 120v charger so I used my trust Ripmax Pro-Peak at 500mA which was perfect.

The performance of the car is similar to a stock Mini-T. Somewhat less than exhilerating, but great fun on a tight circuit indoors. The transmission is a revelation compared to the Mini-T. It's super smooth right from the box. I had to spend £'s on my Mini-T to get it anything like as good as this.

Handling is good thanks to the long arm suspension and low CofG. The stock 'friction' shocks do not damp at all and are very soft. The car squats noticeably under acceleration and is very easy to bottom out. A set of spacers are included in the pack to pre-load the springs a little more and stiffen the car up. A set of alternative pinion gears is also supplied.

Hop ups featured in the included leaflet are : Frog-replica bumper, nerf bars and antennas (complete with little flag decals), metal motor mount, oil filled shocks and a Mabuchi Sport Tuned motor. There doesn't seem to be any room to fit an 8.4v pack in there unfortunately.

Hope this helps - some pics in my showroom. Any queries, just ask...!

Cheers,

Roop

[Hibernaculum]

Thanks for that. Sounds excellent.

Possibly the cutest RC car ever?

Personally, I haven't been this keen about a new Tamiya model since....I can't even remember.

Another optional accessory I've seen are pink anodized wheel nuts....any mention of those?

cheers,

H.

[Wireless]

I don't know what those wheel nuts are all about as it doesn't use nuts. The wheels are held on by screws with 2.5mm hex heads. Pain to change fast as they locate into nyloc nuts on the backs of the hubs. Perhap they are raised pink washers...?

[jerrywasaracecardriver]

Looks like the same style of wheel retention as on my Academy SB Carbon 2 Limtd ed. Long hex screw, with raised cone washer for more surface contact. It works well on the Academy. Looks really great on the above pic of the mini frog!

[Tamiya King]

Dang it........now you guys are making me want one after I said I wouldn't buy one. []

I may have to break down now. Too bad tower hobbies raised their price from $169 to $189. I guess they realized they were going to be a big hit after all! []

[bjr250]

My other half got me one on her way through Tokyo the other day as a surprise.

Champ are doing them as a pack with the hop-ups.  Mine came with a second battery (55090), Tam Tech-Gear Sport Tuned Motor (OG-14 / 40514), 2.6x29mm Aluminium Turnbuckle Shaft (Pink, 6pcs) (OG-8 / 40508) and GB-01 Wheel Bolt & Collar Set (Pink) (OG-7 / 40507).

I haven't installed the hop-ups yet but I can confirm that while it isn't fast it is fun.

I think that the other hop-ups such as the shocks, nerf bars etc will be out sometime later in the year (possibly June/July).

[supergreg]

The Tamtech Frog will be available in my hobby shop (Germany, Cologne) from may. They have a new leaflet where it is advertised and it says 179,- Euros.