What Next ?

[Percymon]

Currently in restoration i have..

Grasshopper 2 - not really a resto anymore, more a practice tool for the youngster as just not worth spending money on in current state.

Fighter Buggy RX

Manta Ray

Blitzer Beetle

And awaiting Santa's delivery to the youngster..

Rising Storm

So by Xmas day i/we will have 2 x 2wd 'buggies', 2 x 4wd 'buggies' and a 2wd 'truggy' for want of a better description of the Blitzer Beetle

On this basis i'm not tempted to buy another buggy unless i save up for a rough rider / sand scorcher or someone convinces me the likes of the HotShot are sufficiently different.

So what else is there ?

Lunchbox / Midnight Pumpkin - cheap and easy build, monster truck looks differentiate it from my/our current cars

Wild Willy 2 - as above, although instability might put the youngster off it and it get little future use

Hot Shot - i know its another buggy, but as its at a higher price level (possibly due to nostalgia) might be sufficiently different ?

CC-01 based Unimog - i like the looks, but not sure the slow speed will be much fun for either of us.

M05 based tarmac only cars such as Alpine A110, Mini Cooper or Abarth Berlina Corsa

Opinions ?

[Butler]

Everyone should own a mini...either m05 or m03 based. They are great fun and pretty strong.

The lunchbox is a giggle, but you wouldn't use it anywhere that you couldn't use the buggies.

[tamiya monkey]

If you like your buggies not sure a scaler like the cc01 would be your cup of tea, although if you wanted something of that nature i would get a (dare i say it) axial scx-10, much better off road, although i do have both myself, the hotshot is a fine looking buggy and def on my to get list.

The lunchbox is a fun truck and im sure you will a giggle driving one, onroaders aint my cup of tea as you limited where you can run them, where as buggies etc can run anywhere. wild willy 2 again is limited, not great off-road and its a tad unstable if the grounds too bumpy, but they do look nice.

just my thoughts, im no expert lol.

[MadInventor]

Wild Willy 2 will be more stable than the lunchbox / midnight pumpkin. It has double wishbone suspension and a lot less unsprung weight. Once you get out of the wheelie, they actually drive quite well, and if you fit oil shocks I suspect that they will handle better still. I also think the shocks on the WW2 are the same size as TT-01 shocks, so a set of 4 will be cheaper than trying to fit CVA shocks for a lunchbox.

However, I'd suggest getting a 4wd monster truck if the budget allows, or a CC01. The CC01 is can be very rapid for its size, is an interesting build, and is quite modifiable. A 4wd monster truck will give that go anywhere ability.

[kaiser]

clodbuster, get one before they are gone.

clods aren't the kind of slow you are talking about, infact can go pretty well with some minor mods.

[Trevan]

It's a very personal decision but it seems to me that, if crawling doesn't appeal, you've got the off-road thing covered and it's time to try something different. If this was dilema I'd pick the on-road car that appeals most and find some tarmac, carpet or smooth dirt and have some fun.

Good luck!

[taliesin]

I like your list - buy them all. You know you want to, and probably will in the end anyway, so ... yes. Buy them all.

[Jonny Retro]

Percymon, I think the only correct answer is "it depends" ....

... on whether you prefer building the things, whether you like going to town on lots of detailing, or just on running them ...

... it also depends on where you've go to run them ...

For instance:

Pumpkin, Lunchbox: very simple build, runs pretty much anywhere, everyone should have at least one - needs to run in groups for most fun though

Wild Willy 2: simple build, but lots of detailing to be done if that's your thing

Hotshot: fairly long, involving build, bit disappointing (to me anyway) to actually run - but my shelf wouldn't be complete without one

CC-01 Unimog: I don't own one - IMO the chassis is a good choice, really not sure about the lexan shell though maybe a hard body instead, like the Pajero MTW. I didn't see the appeal of a scaler until I got into building one by accident - a 55T motor & loading on all the bits you can find is more fun than you'd think.

Scorcher: Iconic, an interesting build with a deceptively challenging paint scheme, scale looks ... and disproportionately expensive - you could get two or three other cars for the same money ... the Scorcher isn't any more fun.

Rough Rider: as above, but without the charm

The Clod has already been suggested: it's the Daddy on snow, has massive presence, a fairly simple build, slow in stock form - but huge modding (and wallet emptying, I've read) potential

Can I also suggest the Brat? It's a fairly involving build, with lots of detailing opportunity

[knotty]

clodbuster, get one before they are gone.

clods aren't the kind of slow you are talking about, infact can go pretty well with some minor mods.

A couple of sport tuneds and it can be nippy

If you want something a bit more involved and grey hair causing you could try a 1/14th truck

[Percymon]

Still umming and arrghhing !

Rough Rider/Buggy Champ currentlyn has more appeal than the Sand Scorcher (maybe because i've already got a Blitzer Beetle to restore?)

HotShot looks sufficiently different in build quality, component design etc to my more basic buggies (and £60-70 less than the two above)

Unimogg CC01 still appeals from a looks point of view, but i'd want to see one in action to see the speed / handling of it before buying - i definitely don't want a snail lol!

In the back of my mind i'm thinking save a bit of dosh and buy a M05 Racing Mini Cooper - good fun on the expanse of tarmac outside the house

[30cms]

I like your list - buy them all. You know you want to, and probably will in the end anyway, so ... yes. Buy them all.

I like the cut of your jib

[berman]

I also agree with Taliesin and 30cms, they are all pretty much 'must have's', you have a great selection there.

I will also reitterate Jonny Retro's Brat suggestion too.

[30cms]

If you have to choose just one TO START WITH, go with the hotshot. you will not be disappointed.

And hey with the "money saved" not getting an SRB (YET!) buy yourself a Hornet

But in the end, they all need getting. No point trying to fight it.

[Guest Greg67]

I reccomend a TT-01. You could always try "drifitng", it's fun. On road cars are a blast! Or even a rally car.

[30cms]

on road eh?

get one of these: http://www.rcmart.com/catalog/rc-tamiya-ab...?cPath=420_1167

at $80 plus post it's a freakin' steal.

i bought one not long ago, it arrived, with standard post to the UK in just over a week. couldn't resist!

oh - and mine come with an ESC, not an MSC as it says in the description. 2 bodies too!!

[Guest Greg67]

What a deal! The body is more like an M class body?

[Percymon]

If only I lived in America !

No doubt triple that price if you could find one in uk

[merckx]

TRF201. they are a joy to build, stick a good brushless in it and go to the track. they are sooooo much fun to drive.

[SteelRat]

on road eh?

get one of these: http://www.rcmart.com/catalog/rc-tamiya-ab...?cPath=420_1167

at $80 plus post it's a freakin' steal.

i bought one not long ago, it arrived, with standard post to the UK in just over a week. couldn't resist!

oh - and mine come with an ESC, not an MSC as it says in the description. 2 bodies too!!

Out of interest how much did they charge to post to the UK, and did you get stung by customs? I've been stung by the latter more than once, and now I just will not buy stuff from the US.

[taliesin]

But in the end, they all need getting. No point trying to fight it.

Truer words were never spoken.

[30cms]

Out of interest how much did they charge to post to the UK, and did you get stung by customs? I've been stung by the latter more than once, and now I just will not buy stuff from the US.

postage to UK was $53, making a grand total of £86 GBP

I didn't get stung by customs either.

I have had about half a dozen kits from overseas in the past few months and evaded customs charges each time. In fact it has been a while since I had to pay extra.

RCMart is in Hong Kong, if that makes any difference?

On a side note, here is a cheap hornet deal I have found in the UK: http://www.danielstores.co.uk/p/5251/tamiy...the-hornet-kit/

£80 quid posted, with ESC - pretty hard to beat. If you just want a shelfer, you can flog the ESC on the bay for £18, so that is a new Hornet for about £65. Not bad.

I have never bought from this shop, so it could be an idea to give them a ring first to check it is in stock? Site looks nice though.

I keep spotting these deals on the net, I may start a thread posting links to "hot deals of the week".

[Percymon]

Unless you can get a really good deal like the Audi TT one from RCMart i can't see that they're much cheaper than buying in the UK, not for kits anyway.

Rough rider is $259 + $56 postage - even if you don't get stung for import taxes this is £206 at todays exchange rate. You can have one delivered from a UK shop for £228, with no risk of £70 of import duties. I'd rather pay the £20 extra than worry about the delays, potential damage and issues with returns from an overseas seller. No disrepect to Dinball but i can't see much benefit myself.

I've only bought from abroad a few times - once i was fine, the other time a set of vintage golf clubs (cost $100), cost me $56 in postage from the USA and £74 in taxes and handling fees. Somewhat more than i bargained for !!

[30cms]

Yeh you gotta shop around.

Ebay is not by any means the only place to buy from - check out google shopping too. There are many many (Commandant Lassard?) bargains to be had!

That said, I do buy most of my kits from outside of the UK. Even with the postage, 9 times out of 10 it is considerably cheaper.

I have bought 30+ kits from overseas in the past few years, and only got stung for import duties a few times. Maybe I am just lucky.

I got a mate in the trade, and his trade price (that he gets them for from the Tamiya importers) is often more than the price+shipping from abroad.

Good Hong Kong sellers pack their parcels well. I can vouch for Stellamodels and RCMart - fast, reliable and well packed.

But the import duties thing - it is rolling the dice I guess. But more like a ten sided dice, where only 1 side bites you (in my experience)

[SteelRat]

postage to UK was $53, making a grand total of £86 GBP

I didn't get stung by customs either.

I have had about half a dozen kits from overseas in the past few months and evaded customs charges each time. In fact it has been a while since I had to pay extra.

RCMart is in Hong Kong, if that makes any difference?

On a side note, here is a cheap hornet deal I have found in the UK: http://www.danielstores.co.uk/p/5251/tamiy...the-hornet-kit/

£80 quid posted, with ESC - pretty hard to beat. If you just want a shelfer, you can flog the ESC on the bay for £18, so that is a new Hornet for about £65. Not bad.

I have never bought from this shop, so it could be an idea to give them a ring first to check it is in stock? Site looks nice though.

I keep spotting these deals on the net, I may start a thread posting links to "hot deals of the week".

Aah that explains it. I regularly buy stuff from HK, never get stung by customs, and like you generally find things to be well packaged, considerably cheaper and often don't take very long to get here either (Still amazed by my Rere Sand Scorcher. Even with the $70 shipping charge, it was a good £70 cheaper than the UK, and got to me inside 4 days, at least a week before UK stockists even had it on their shelves!)

I like the idea of a Hot Deal of the Week post too!

[Percymon]

For £70 delivered (assuming no taxes) i am tempted by the Audi TT kit - a cheap way to try an on-road Tamiya model.

Keeping an eye on a few other items too at the moment, lets see what happens next week.