Clods. Now I Get It.

[SteelRat]

Treated myself to a Clod for my 40th birthday, and as my birthday is today, I've spent my day off work building it. It was always a kit I wanted back in the day, but I think the main decision for buying one this time round was the furore it creates whenever it's mentioned. Words like "presence" are usually very closely associated with it. Now I've (almost, just waiting for the body shell paint to dry) built mine I can really get a sense what people are talking about. It really is an awesome bit of kit. Everything about it screams excess and American over-the-topness in a way that no other Tamiya kit does (at least as far as I know). Everything about it says "I am going to claim as MUCH space as I can, and anything that gets in the way will just get squished.". Even the box. Huge. The tyres. Huge (stood one against my Scorcher. It's taller than the scorcher, and 2/3rds the width).

I don't care that the pogo stick suspension gives about as much damping as a pillow case. I dont care that it doesn't handle as well as a TXT probably does. I don't care it's not as fast as a brushless Slash. Sometimes "awesome" isn't about raw performance, just the aura it generates when it's not even got a battery connected.

[Jonny Retro]

... Sometimes "awesome" isn't about raw performance, just the aura it generates when it's not even got a battery connected.

Yup, and the ability to drive over Lunchboxes

[berman]

You've just hit the nail on the head for me. It doesn't have to actually function to ooze pure awesomeness, and when you do, it's downfalls are what give it it's character

(I haven't actually run a full battery continuously through my txt yet)

Happy Birthday SteelRat!

(I might put my leave form in for next week too haha )

[SteelRat]

Yeah exactly. I've often thought it a bit odd when people complain that the Clod doesn't handle. It's a flippin Monster Truck. Monster Trucks aren't SUPPOSED to handle, they just go over things and are as big and brash and loud as an overweight american tourist, but much much cooler. It's a bit like buying a Bugatti Veyron, then complaining that it doesn't get very many miles to the gallon in petrol.

[Saito]

Welcome to the club! I was interested to hear folks from other countries put the Clod down for it "weaknesses". Some simply thought it was outlandish and its looks were too absurd but in a way, that's what its all about. Its great to see another person "getting it".

[highflyer]

Treated myself to a Clod for my 40th birthday, and as my birthday is today, I've spent my day off work building it. It was always a kit I wanted back in the day, but I think the main decision for buying one this time round was the furore it creates whenever it's mentioned. Words like "presence" are usually very closely associated with it. Now I've (almost, just waiting for the body shell paint to dry) built mine I can really get a sense what people are talking about. It really is an awesome bit of kit. Everything about it screams excess and American over-the-topness in a way that no other Tamiya kit does (at least as far as I know). Everything about it says "I am going to claim as MUCH space as I can, and anything that gets in the way will just get squished.". Even the box. Huge. The tyres. Huge (stood one against my Scorcher. It's taller than the scorcher, and 2/3rds the width).

I don't care that the pogo stick suspension gives about as much damping as a pillow case. I dont care that it doesn't handle as well as a TXT probably does. I don't care it's not as fast as a brushless Slash. Sometimes "awesome" isn't about raw performance, just the aura it generates when it's not even got a battery connected.

Great post, happy birthday .

There is nothing like a Clod simply put.

[kaiser]

congrats and happy birthday. i built a clod on my birthday this year too.

it's become one of my top rc's. probably my current favorite.

[SteelRat]

It's really got me thinking about buying a couple of Clod axles and making a custom monstrosity of some sort. Berg crawler, or maybe a brushless powered Formula OffRoad style beastie.

Oh the possibilities

[kaiser]

the mind does get carried away with all the things you could do to a clod.

i have been eyeing up the chassis from thuder tech, the "rage" seems like a nice "race truck chassis".

[baldmanrox]

the mind does get carried away with all the things you could do to a clod.

i have been eyeing up the chassis from thuder tech, the "rage" seems like a nice "race truck chassis".

You will not be disappointed in the Rage chassis. It s a GREAT all-purpose chassis. I have one and it is my favorite Clod (and right now I have 5 Clods - 4 with aftermarket chassis). I also have the Ripper Pro chassis which is geared more toward racing. I also had the Centurian LTD - a gorgeous truck (more of a looker than a performer though - it was from Thundertech's early days) which I sold on theBay a few months back. Everything I've ever gotten from Darren at Thundertech has been nothing short of amazing quality-wise.

You can check out my Rage in my showroom.......

And don't hesitate. BUY ONE. You won't regret it.

There's nothing quite like a Clod. And there's nothing more fun than a hopped-up Clod........

[Brooklyn Nights]

Great post, happy birthday .

There is nothing like a Clod simply put.

+1

Totally agree! Clods ROCK!

Cheers

Rich

[HomerJHandley]

They are excellent, the best was in the snow, NOTHING stopped it, and the beach is good as well!

although if i had a brand new built one, would i treat it like i do? probably not!

also watch for the B11 part, i made a roughly fitting one from aluminium, not pretty but functional. AFAIK they break from fast crashes into something with the wheel, and with the clod it will occur!

[mongoose1983]

Wait 'til running it, Matt and you'll finally FEEL what that presence is all about!

Clod Busters are simple AWESOME!

[Henk4Focus]

It's so nice to get back from a siesta from TC and finding this gem of a post. Matt, I'm sure glad you got the big ol' Chev and that you are enjoying it.

They ROCK!

Henk

[SteelRat]

It's so nice to get back from a siesta from TC and finding this gem of a post. Matt, I'm sure glad you got the big ol' Chev and that you are enjoying it.

They ROCK!

Henk

Have a look at the movies section Henk, it makes a guest appearence at the end of my AX10 crawlin video