New To Tamiyaclub

[darthvincor]

Hi, I recently joined the forum, my name's Vincent, and recently got back into the hobby.

My first car was a Boomerang, which I got as a kid back in 1988. I drove lots and lots of hours with it, and had a lot of fun. One day we went on a camping trip on a mountain, about 3kms up, and the car was never really the same. Not sure why.

And at some point a suspension brace broke, and it probably hasn't driven in about 19 years. It's really battered, every single joint and gearbox has a crack in it.

And in 2005 I got a super Clod, and after keeping it on my desk since then (I was reluctant to get it dirty...) I finally took it out for a spin a couple of days ago. It's a awesome car, even with stock parts. Really fast, and drives over almost everything. And the dogs love it too, they run after it and bark at it like there's no tomorrow.

And having decided my Boomerang is beyond repair, I was thinking of getting a new off-road similar to it. I was really happy to see that they'd re-released the Boomerang, but its still the same car basically, and would like something more modern.

I was thinking of getting the Dark Impact. Would you guys recommend the DI?

What I'm looking for is a new Boomerang type car, but more modern, and for some simple backyard fun, no racing.

I have a couple of other questions as well:

Discharger: would you recommend it?

ESC: are there cables available for connecting an ESC to the Clod's 2 engines?

ESC 2: is an ESC recommended over a mechanical SC?

Y thingy: what is the correct term for the Y/cable/splitter, that allows you to run two batteries parallel?

Thanks,

Vincent

[TA-Mark]

Welcome to the forum Vincent.

Dark Impact is a great kit. Better is the DF-03 MS kit if you intend to hopup the chassis as it will save you a bundle of $ in hopup parts that come standard. I have both. My DI is completely boxstock and the DF-03 MS is my racer. Only downside to the DF-03 MS kit is it has no tyres or motor included as it's aimed at racing.

The discharger is not really needed unless you race, then you want a balancing discharger that does each cell individually. The vehicle will do an ample job is discharging the pack before a recharge for a gereral backyard basher. Better chargers have a cycle setting where you can set it to discharge, then charge in the one sitting.

There are twin motor ESCs available. You should also be able to buy motor wire off the roll to solder up to motors and connectors.

MSC's are for vintage shelf queens that never run. Always best to use an ESC. MSC will go from forward straight to reverse and no brakes. This is not healthy for gearboxes.

Pre-made Y-connectors are available in both series and parallel. Series will double the voltage and power, parallel will double the capacity and runtime. Most pre-made Y-connectors I've seen use Deans plugs.

Hope this is of some help,

Cheers, Mark

[DudeWalker]

You can install an ESC in the Clod no problem. Rip out the MSC, and keep the power mode selector ('Power/Economy'). Wire the ESC through that and you only have to make one connection. It still gives you the option to run in economy mode. I wired mine this way because my 3 1/2 year old daughter occasionally drives and I want it going SLOW, but then she complains that it isn't as fast as her Lunchbox, LOL.

[necronomicon]

Welcome to the club mate, you will find loads on here of interest!

[darthvincor]

Thanks Mark. I had a look at the DF-03 MS. It looks impressive, but I think I'll stick with the DI.

What I like about the appearance is that it reminds me of a redback, all black and a bit of red.

And thanks for the tip about the power selector, DudeWalker. That's a good idea.

[TA-Mark]

DI is the same body (except wing) and a decal set and spare body cost me $25US. I really didn't like the MS decal sheet either, and used nearly all DI decals. The MS saves about $150 (or more) in hopups, so still infront after an extra body/decal set.

I'd only look at the MS if you want to fit fast motors. Alloy dampers, Slipper clutch and CVD driveshafts that are standard are must haves with hot motors and make up the difference in cost alone.

Don't get me wrong, the DI is an impressive kit too. I was actually quite surprised when I first fired up my DI as to how smooth and quick it was standard compared to the basic DF-02 or DF-01 kits. It's a matter of how many upgrades you are going to fit to it to whether it's the cost effective kit to buy.

My Dark Impact... Yellow DF-03 MS is my Avatar.

[darthvincor]

DI is the same body (except wing) and a decal set and spare body cost me $25US. I really didn't like the MS decal sheet either, and used nearly all DI decals. The MS saves about $150 (or more) in hopups, so still infront after an extra body/decal set.

I'd only look at the MS if you want to fit fast motors. Alloy dampers, Slipper clutch and CVD driveshafts that are standard are must haves with hot motors and make up the difference in cost alone.

Don't get me wrong, the DI is an impressive kit too. I was actually quite surprised when I first fired up my DI as to how smooth and quick it was standard compared to the basic DF-02 or DF-01 kits. It's a matter of how many upgrades you are going to fit to it to whether it's the cost effective kit to buy.

My Dark Impact... Yellow DF-03 MS is my Avatar.

I think I'll go stock with my DI, so in that case the MS won't be worth it for me.

The picture of your DI must be from when it was brand new? Tires and body look really clean.

Also recognise your grass, struggling under the harsh Oz sun.

[darthvincor]

You can install an ESC in the Clod no problem. Rip out the MSC, and keep the power mode selector ('Power/Economy'). Wire the ESC through that and you only have to make one connection. It still gives you the option to run in economy mode. I wired mine this way because my 3 1/2 year old daughter occasionally drives and I want it going SLOW, but then she complains that it isn't as fast as her Lunchbox, LOL.

BTW, DudeWalker. How exactly do I go about doing that?

I just removed the MSC, which had 2 cables, spilt into 4: two going into the eco switch, and two into the engines.

And the ESC only has 2 engine cables.

Do those 2 go into each engine and do I leave the slots in the eco switch empty?

Or do I have to detach the two split cables from the MSC, and attach them to the ESC?

[GGtrialer]

Welcome!

Go for the ESC over the MSC. ESCs are much much better. yes, you can get ESCs that can handle 2 motors. I believe the Novak Super Duty, The Rooster, and The Goat Crawler ESCs can handle 2 motors. im a bit of a Novak fan ( i run an XRS Sport Reversible in my tamiya F150) and i dont really know what other brands make. you couls always get an E-Maxx ESC as well. if you have a dual motor ESC all you should have to do is put in in place of the MSC then wire it up, hook up power and GO! (not 100%, i have always run single motor). As for a discharger, i would think you need one unless your serious in to racing. if ou just a basher, you car should be enough of a discharger.

Have Fun!

[TA-Mark]

I think I'll go stock with my DI, so in that case the MS won't be worth it for me.

The picture of your DI must be from when it was brand new? Tires and body look really clean.

Also recognise your grass, struggling under the harsh Oz sun.

Yes, that photo was straight after the build and the grass was suffering bad from the worst drought in recorded history. Was the greenest patch of grass in the yard. The DI still looks quite good after 2 years of heavy use, still 100% box stock.

Recent photo in action.

[dazaa]

Welcome to the club.....get ready to speand everypenny you have on these toys...............

Sorry cannot help with any new buggys but I would love to buy your old boomerang if its forsale. I really want a smashed up one and have not had any luck so far.............

dazaa

[darthvincor]

Welcome to the club.....get ready to speand everypenny you have on these toys...............

Sorry cannot help with any new buggys but I would love to buy your old boomerang if its forsale. I really want a smashed up one and have not had any luck so far.............

dazaa

Thanks. You know, I thought about it, but I don't think I'm ready to part with it. Its been around for 20 years, I'm sure you understand.

Can't you buy a new one and race around with it, so it gets a bit battered, or are you looking for a really old one?

[DudeWalker]

Busy weekend...

Ok, when you remove the MSC you gotta cut the y-lead (black/red) that goes the the power switch from the MSC. Cut it right at the MSC to give the longest wire to work with. You connect the ESC blue to y-lead black, and ESC yellow to y-lead red. Technically, you don't disconnect any wires going to the power switch, you just cut off the MSC at the black and red wires.

The two motor wires coming from the ESC only need to be connected once each - one to black one to red off the back of the y-lead. Very simple.

I hope this helps.

[dazaa]

Thanks. You know, I thought about it, but I don't think I'm ready to part with it. Its been around for 20 years, I'm sure you understand.

Can't you buy a new one and race around with it, so it gets a bit battered, or are you looking for a really old one?

Yep I totally understand, I don't do new builds......far too expensive for my liking....or my (dads) paypal.

Still want a terra scorcher more than anything.

dazaa

[darthvincor]

Yep I totally understand, I don't do new builds......far too expensive for my liking....or my (dads) paypal.

Still want a terra scorcher more than anything.

dazaa

While checking Ebay for a new car, I found an old boomerang listed among the new ones. Search for 140304647201, and you'll find it. Might be interesting for you, though maybe a bit pricey sending it from US to UK.