Vintage 3-speeders

[mongoose1983]

When really, they are only good at being looked at.

Any of you guys ever actually driven one? I did, and sold it not long after.

I know one wouldn't assemble a 5 large investment, but, really, my brain is not programmed for any other thought than: rc car = build, drive, clean, modify .

Hey everyone!

I was reading another posting somewhere in this forum and got curious. I have eight Tamiya R/C models, and I am getting curious about early 80's 3-speeders. The classic pick-up trucks do look far better than any of the newer Tamiyas, but since I have never driven one of them, I am wondering if their looks match their running capabilities. As shelfers they are wonderful but how do they work while hitting the dirt? Do they really worth the money they sell for? I wonder what the owners can say about these trucks.

Y'all have a great week!

EB

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[Badboy]

I know that the original are kinda stiff and bouncy and only 4wd in 1:st gear...

Heavy as a real car...

Badboy

[hedge]

Hey everyone!

I was reading another posting somewhere in this forum and got curious. I have eight Tamiya R/C models, and I am getting curious about early 80's 3-speeders. The classic pick-up trucks do look far better than any of the newer Tamiyas, but since I have never driven one of them, I am wondering if their looks match their running capabilities.

As shelfers they are wonderful but how do they work while hitting the dirt?

No I am afraid as stock they are pretty bad at running. The leaf springs are far to strong and allow little to no movement of the suspension so their only item of suspension is the tyres which make them quite bouncy.

Do they really worth the money they sell for? I wonder what the owners can say about these trucks.

Y'all have a great week!

EB

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Well they are worth what people will pay for them. For me while its a bad ride I just love the looks and also enjoy simply working on it. All metal and and superb looking ladder frame.

Paul

[TenzoR]

Not that great for running out doors

but I love working on them. I love taking apart the transmission. I love looking at the metal works. If you can get your hands on one, keep it.

[mongoose1983]

And what about the differences between the 1981 Hilux and the 1985 Bruiser when running them outdoors?

Also, any opinions on the driving differences between these classic pick-up R/C models with nowadays 3-speeders?

[geoffg]

In standard form they have virtually no suspension.

The trick to owning and running a vintage 3speeder is to modify it in such a way so as not to alter any original (and very expensive) part.

Remove original parts and replace without drilling/ filing/cutting any other part.

But just remember, the reason the springs were so stiff was to prevent them rolling on every high speed turn, as the CofG is quite high.

[retroman]

I took my Blazing Blazer out for a run yesterday, for a bit of a laugh,.........BOING,BOING,BOUNCE,BOUNCE! And that was on smooth tarmac.

[twisty]

Do they run a nice as they look?

No,they run better than they look ,if built,maintained and set up properly IMHO.

Have a look on http://tamiya101.com/index.asp

Moosey and friends from Tamiya Club have made some great movies for us to buy

http://tamiya101.com/dvd_movies.asp

and there are some free samples in the Web movie section to give you a taste of whats on the DVD`s

http://tamiya101.com/show_web_movie.asp?id=17

you can register for free.

or here a

Short film by Wild Willy

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/moviecomment.asp...6&uid=11515

HTH

Twisty

[zakspeed]

No,they run better than they look ,if built,maintained and set up properly IMHO.

Have a look on http://tamiya101.com/index.asp

Moosey and friends from Tamiya Club have made some great movies for us to buy

http://tamiya101.com/dvd_movies.asp

and there are some free samples in the Web movie section to give you a taste of whats on the DVD`s

http://tamiya101.com/show_web_movie.asp?id=17

you can register for free.

or here a

Short film by Wild Willy

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/moviecomment.asp...6&uid=11515

HTH

Twisty

All of the above ___ in the right setting and surroundings theres nowt better. I did buy a later F350 however was very dissapointed (and sold very quickly) Now my Mounty is getting a make over for it's next stint of running and abuse :-)

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

They are worth every single penny in my opinion.

If you dont enjoy running one then I think you've missed the point of what vintage RC is all about

[hedge]

Its worth noting I just weighed my 6 cell 4200 mAh NiMh battery and as expected that weighs 440g then I weighed the 6v (5 Cell) Tamiya 4000 mAh Ni-Cd 3 speed original battery and that weighed a surprising 840 grams. So I will be adding another 400grams to the rear of my Blazer. This will no doubt affect the handling, my guess is slightly less bouncy.

mymonsterbeetleisbroken quite a statement, but it would be wrong to lead mongoose1983 into buying an expensive old school 3 speed for him only then to find the "quirks" of the car.

mongoose1983 just so you know the Blazing Blazer handles better than the Hilux due to its larger tyres. But the hilux has a transistorized ESC. Personally I use a modern day ESC tucked away under the original Mechanical Speed Controller - see my showroom on main site - to keep its looks. Further more those who know - not me - say the original transistorized ESC is little better than a MSC so again I would use a modern day ESC if you plan to run one.

Those of us who have them run them and love them are happy to run slowly and see it bounce but we get enjoyment that is very different to say a modern day 3 speed / crawler.

Paul

[B.M.T.]

I have to admit, in regards my Hilux was well knackered before I got it. not a good example. How ever, in defense of my opinion, vintage is no excuse for not functioning . It's an acceptance and appreciation/toleration thing.

The Hilux and the Blazer's slave leaves seem to be spot welded at the ends of the to the master leaves, allowing no expansion in the spring pack, so little or no flex.

The Bruiser and Mounty seem to have some suspension articulation.

Zakspeed is right, the new 3 speeds are not in the same league. Even though you can buy 3 new Hilux's for the price of a beater Bruiser, 3 new hiluxes will never look as cool as a Bruiser.

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

It can get interesting when it comes to price.

My F-350 High Lift set me back around 400 pounds in all when I first got it built and running. (NIB from the UK around release time, 4 channel radio, ball bearings, esc and high torque servo) ...

which is the same price I paid for my Bruiser around 4 months later. It was in extremely good shape, restored with a fresh paint job on a new old stock shell, complete with radio and spares.

I still think you can find an original 3 speed for little more than the cost of getting a new 3 speed up and running.

[mongoose1983]

I still think you can find an original 3 speed for little more than the cost of getting a new 3 speed up and running.

Yes, of course. And also, you might get lucky and hit the ultimate BIN at eBay. One or two years ago I saw a battered BIN Bruiser for $100. While I was checking the shipping options to my country some lucky A.H. hit the BIN and got it. I was ready for a hara-kiri!! :-(

But, while I thank you all very much for the ideas regarding the old 3-speeders, I was wondering if anyone can tell a little about the performance differences between a Bruiser and the 1st gen Hilux.

Y'all have a nice Wednesday!

EB

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[Tamiya1/10]

But, while I thank you all very much for the ideas regarding the old 3-speeders, I was wondering if anyone can tell a little about the performance differences between a Bruiser and the 1st gen Hilux.

Y'all have a nice Wednesday!

EB

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Off road run wise the Bruiser runs slightly better than the Hilux given the larger size tire and somewhat functional shocks. But I don't think you would run it hard like you would with the current stuff just to find out or at least I run them gentlely and carefully. Tamiya has a commerical video of the 3 spd when they first came out and they were driven pretty hard, but mind you, the likely crashes were editted out, the video may be give a better referrence if the performances are that much different.

[hedge]

Ive had a set of Hilux #58397 leaf springs sitting next to my Blazer for about 6 months now and following this thread I decided to get to fit them. The big difference with these over the originaal leaf springs is that you can build them to be as strong or soft as you like. The main spring (the one thats rolled over at the ends ) can be used on its own and is very soft, or you can add other shorter springs to it to increase its stiffness.

Fit wise I added the main one and one medium spring to the front, while it has raised the front up a bit its only slightly (not like adding Jugg springs). I have found that the front axel "floats" a bit but the suspension actually articulates. I took it for a quick spin around the garden and its made a difference. the beauty is there are no mods required so the truck is completely stock bar the new leafs on the front.

I will be putting the rear springs on later this week and then I can see how changed the truck is with suspension - who knows may even fill the shocks with oil as well. I am thinking of setting it up on much the same strength as the front. If you read a post above you will see the original 6v battery that ran these trucks weighed a massive 840grams whereas the 7.2v 4200 mAh pack I use weighs only 440grams. With this drop in weight (400g nearly half a Kilo!) I think soft springs should be OK. Finally with the new fronts the truck was not trying to roll over on the corners so that was good to know.

Once I finish the whole experiment I will post pics on the main site, it would be good to know if anyone else has already done this though.

Cheers

Paul

[B.M.T.]

Curse you all

All this talk, and the burden in the back of my mind of not ever fulfilling my teenage fantasy of owning a Bruiser (and being tainted by a dodgy Hilux along the way), I've gone and bought one!.

Well, it's in transit from Austria, anyway....

[mongoose1983]

Curse you all

All this talk, and the burden in the back of my mind of not ever fulfilling my teenage fantasy of owning a Bruiser (and being tainted by a dodgy Hilux along the way), I've gone and bought one!

How come? You got one, felt it was not a good performer and sold it. And all of a sudden now you go and got another one??

Anyway, I don't think it's a bad thing, is it?

Happy Easter,

EB

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[B.M.T.]

How come? You got one, felt it was not a good performer and sold it. And all of a sudden now you go and got another one??

As everyone has confirmed my suspicions, the suspension was changed for the Bruiser, and it actually does something (I have not been near a Bruiser in 23 years and had assumed more parts were in common between them and the original Hilux). As also previously stated, my Hilux was not a good example, anyway. The previous owners had not been kind to it.

Anyway, I don't think it's a bad thing, is it?

Not at all, hence the thing!

Happy Easter,

EB

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Same to you and the rest of us nutters!

[fireballv8318]

Hey everyone!

I was reading another posting somewhere in this forum and got curious. I have eight Tamiya R/C models, and I am getting curious about early 80's 3-speeders. The classic pick-up trucks do look far better than any of the newer Tamiyas, but since I have never driven one of them, I am wondering if their looks match their running capabilities. As shelfers they are wonderful but how do they work while hitting the dirt? Do they really worth the money they sell for? I wonder what the owners can say about these trucks.

Y'all have a great week!

EB

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I got a Hilux new in 1984, I soon modified the springs (remember this was in '84, still a newish model) I cut the 3 lower springs off on the front, and the 2nd and 4th off the rear. That gave it much better articulation, for a more realistic drive. I have a F-350 now, and compairing the two, the Ford is so much quieter, and having working diffs is good, but even at the softest spring settings, it DOES NOT have the same articulation as the old Hilux, and with un-locked diffs, very soon stopped on uneven ground. I thought about it, and worked out -that the F-350 is so much lighter than the Hilux, it just hasnt got the weight to compress the springs, TWO spare batterys on the rear tray while running made it perform the same as the Hilux. Overall I think the F-350 is a worthy sucsessor to the old Hilux. The whole idea in these models is slow four wheel drive work, not anything quick, and definitly not racing.

[BruiserBrew]

My 2 cents here,

In my experience, all of the classic 3-speeds are worth every penny if you are willing to spend cash and time to maintain, clean, and regrease these beasts after almost every "hard run."

It also depends on what you are into. If you are looking to do some crazy jumps, these are probably not the right one's for you. Instead, get a cheap buggy or VLB for that.

If you are into "scale-running," then these are the best of the best.

I collect NIB kits, but when I restore one, I always give it a gentle run. I can confirm that these leaf springs are just, well... not well suited for off-roading as they bounce all over the place at speed.

[highflyer]

My Bruiser has never been driven outside, only indoors. Driving it is not much fun, due to the 'chop stix' TX. I use other buggies or trucks for fun.

[WillyChang]

they're best run @ walking pace

stock Bruiser on top gear goes scarily quick, much quicker than its handling can control

[Singapore_959]

2 years ago after much anticipation and saving I got a Bruiser. I was very excited and very happy about it.

It was alot of fun to unpack it, look, hold and partially disassemble it. Stripping the body shell of crappy paint was interesting and a learning experience - but not one I would want to repeat. The chassis is fascinating and so different from a Tamiya as we know it typically.

After the initial euphoria I noticed the hundreds of tiny little cracks in the axle metal and realised how poor the metal is. I realised it could not be run until I sourced a new axle. After a some searching I found a number of very attractive aftermarket axles and other beautifully made metal conversion parts. But they cost as much as the Bruiser itself. So back to ebay to find an original axle and hope it lasts and is ok.

Eventually everything is in and I get a four channel radio installed and set up. The first few meters of driving it around indoors on the floor was a rush feeling of excitement, I've done it, etc. The gears work! It's genuinely amazing to see this and learn to do it smoothly.

Finally the body is stripped and I cannot wait to paint it, I just want to mount it on the truck an go outside and enjoy the fun of mud and moosey type video driving thrills. No mud around, so I start on grass at a good friends lawn. Watching it bounce and sway wildly over tree roots and finding the childrens sand pit to play in. And you know what? I couldn't stop myself feeling, hey,... this drives like rubbish. It bounces around like a cheap chinese rc toy truck from Tesco.

Several weeks later after several other outings it's obvious that unless there is wet, muddy, very surface height & depth changing terrain (ie. like the videos) it is really not very interesting to drive. It's lovely scale looks are the true appeal, and for modeling its a sensation with so much that can be done but for using it the fun factor, for me, was not there. It was in fact disappointing. If you have the money, then it can be hoped up with truely beautifully made metal chassis upgrades, and added with different tires and wheels it could be made into a useful crawler. But as stock, its not successful for that either.

Eventually I sold it. I'm glad I had it, but as modeler who is not into shelf models or serious modding for crawling it was an underwhelming experience. I do still long for a Hi-lux as the mini locking hubs, wheels and tires etc look (to my eyes) so nicely scale that there is still a positive vibe for me. Bruiser / Montineers do not attract me at all now having had it.

If you have scale terrain available to run them, then yes they can provide fun and satisfaction.

I do not agree with MyMonsterbeetleisBroken's comment - "If you dont enjoy running one then I think you've missed the point of what vintage RC is all about" . It's one type of vinatge rc and depends on the terrain you have avail or if you like crawler tinkering. If neither are in your domain then it may not give you as much pleasure. But there are many other types of vintage r/c to enjoy

[mongoose1983]

...I do not agree with MyMonsterbeetleisBroken's comment - "If you dont enjoy running one then I think you've missed the point of what vintage RC is all about" . It's one type of vinatge rc and depends on the terrain you have avail or if you like crawler tinkering. If neither are in your domain then it may not give you as much pleasure. But there are many other types of vintage r/c to enjoy

I can not deny what you have just said is very interesting, indeed. I'm only curious as to what is really "vintage" to your eyes, because it's about that mostly what your point seems to be focused on. Or am I understanding things all wrong myself?

Have a great weekend!

EB

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