Expected New Releases?

[njmlondon]

Surely a Baja Beetle on the Tl01 Baja Champ chassis is an obvious one...

[J3cubfan]

quote:Originally posted by BeetleMeister

Whats so special about the XC chassis? Which cars had the XC?

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I am in the middle of building the Isuzu MU Low-down. I am quite impressed with the XC chassis as it build pretty much like the full scale prototype. The body shell detailing, you just can beat it. I would even go so far as to say, IMHO that this may be as collectable as some of the cars such as SS and Hi-Lux.

Just my $02

John

[Stu.B]

Tamiya should pay me a huge royalty fee and make a Clodbuster 'Stu.B special edition'!![] The TXT is 'satisfactory' but this would make tamiya 'cutting edge' again!!!

[BeetleMeister]

A Beetle "street sleeper" would be nice. Ground hugging with small wheels at the front and larger rear wheels so it looks like a 50's drag racer...but still quite subtle. Complete with a full set of bearings and hot motor. A clissic flame decal set would finish things nicely!

Stu.B a nice hop up on your EVO Clod would be a mini bar! [] I'm sure there is room!

[J3cubfan]

I think they should stick with the Military theme. They can put out an 4WD Volkswagen Type 82E, use the XC chassis with the Blitzer Beetle shell and WW tires and wheels. I just love this car...

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/getuserimage.asp...002105222_1.jpg

Kaindi, Nice job!!! 8D

[miramar]

The real VW Type 82E was normal rear wheel drive only. It was actually a Beetle bodyshell on a VW Type 82 Kübelwagen chassis. The Type 87 (during WWII) and Type 287 (after WWII) were 4WD Beetles with Schwimmwagen drivetrain.

[BeetleMeister]

Miramar....is there ANYTHING you dont know about beetles??? Ever though about writing a book? J3cubfan, I agree...that would be a realy cool kit.

[J3cubfan]

Thanks for the insight. I can never keep these guys straight in my head. But, I thought that the Kubelwagen was 4WD, no?

quote:Originally posted by miramar

The real VW Type 82E was normal rear wheel drive only. It was actually a Beetle bodyshell on a VW Type 82 Kübelwagen chassis. The Type 87 (during WWII) and Type 287 (after WWII) were 4WD Beetles with Schwimmwagen drivetrain.

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[miramar]

Originally posted by J3cubfan

But, I thought that the Kubelwagen was 4WD, no?

Well, a few (VERY few) Kuebelwagens were made with 4WD, but the Type 82 was rear wheel drive only. It had a limited slip diff (really!), and most important, the drive shafts ended in a gear driving the gear on the axle below (and not in the wheel hub like normal VW's), to which the wheel was attach. Mercedes Unimogs and early VW Buses/Vans (Type 2) have the same system. It adds ground clearance and normally the upper gear is smaller than the lower, thereby increasing torque. In German it's called "Vorgelege" by the way! Because of the limited slip diff, the "Vorgelege" and a very low weight, Kubelwagens were pretty good offroaders. However, for the Russian front 4WD conversions (Schwimmwagen drivetrain) and even half-track conversions were made, but turned out to be technically too difficult to maintain and too expensive. Schwimmwagens had to be 4WD though to make it possible to enter and exit water on shores with difficult terrain.

As for Beetles with 4WD, the Type 87 was developed for the DAK (German Africa Corps) and because it didn't have a middle differential, it was very difficult to drive on-road. Accordingly, most were used in the African desserts. Type 287 was made in 2 examples after the war, one for the French and one for the British Army and it was almost identical to the wartime Type 87. The "British" car is displayed at the VW Museum in Wolfsburg. As I have stated before, Type 82E was a Beetle bodyshell on a Kubelwagen chassis (thus 2WD), and it was even built as the Type 55, a Beetle Convertible bodyshell on the Kubelwagen chassis. The closest you can come to a 1940's dune buggy!

I would love to see Tamiya release a 1/10 or 1/8 scale really amphibious VW Schwimmwagen. As for now, my "wartime" RC VW-collection consists of an M02L converted to off-road with a Beetle body modified to look like the Type 82E, and an M02L with the front "dummy" replaced by a second gearbox with motor, and VW Beetle bodies modified to resemble Type 87 and Type 287. Off-road tires for M-chassis wheels? Old QD-tires are a direct fit, as the Mini Cooper tire is actually a QB-buggy front tire!

[DJTheo]

quote:and most important, the drive shafts ended in a gear driving the gear on the axle below (and not in the wheel hub like normal VW's), to which the wheel was attach. Mercedes Unimogs and early VW Buses/Vans (Type 2) have the same system. It adds ground clearance and normally the upper gear is smaller than the lower, thereby increasing torque. In German it's called "Vorgelege" by the way!

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Even Tamiya has made such a configuration on a prototype, how come you missed that? [][]

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/rc/kaizou/009trial/trial.htm

Could you post pics of your "wartime" RC VW-collection, must be very interesting! [8D]

Cheers!

[BeetleMeister]

Do you think Tamiya should get away from the trend of touring cars on the same chassis and move back towards fun cars and detailed replicas of unusual vehicles that are more interesting than just another TL-01 with another lexan shell. I mean, cars like the FAV, Hilux, Monster Beetle ([]). These are all great cars in every respect. There is a lack of imagination in todays cars. The designers need to get back to the roots of the tamiya range and take a few lessons!

[miramar]

Originally posted by DJTheo

Even Tamiya has made such a configuration on a prototype, how come you missed that? [][]

Theo, I have had those pictures in my computer about two years, but I simply forgot! [:I] Pictures of my "wartime RC VW-collection" will follow as soon as I've picked up my collection in Norway (moved to Germany almost three years ago). For appetizers I can tell you I have an SRB-based VW Kuebelwagen (Esci-body) and a 21st Century VW Schwimmwagen with Wild Dagger drivetrain and of course propeller (boat "drivetrain").

[DJTheo]

quote:Theo, I have had those pictures in my computer about two years, but I simply forgot!

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I was sure that you would know them, just teasing you [][]

quote:Pictures of my "wartime RC VW-collection" will follow as soon as I've picked up my collection in Norway (moved to Germany almost three years ago).

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Will you use a huge truck? []

quote:For appetizers I can tell you I have an SRB-based VW Kuebelwagen (Esci-body) and a 21st Century VW Schwimmwagen with Wild Dagger drivetrain and of course propeller (boat "drivetrain").

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[8D][](drooling)

Cheers![]