More re-issues / variants: Tamiya 58498 Super Blackfoot III / 58497 Avante Truck

[94eg!]

I hope the new ball-diff units are better than the originals. They were VERY difficult to build smooth and must be adjusted with shims.

I think it would be cool if someone did a center slipper conversion. for the existing ball diff. I doubt that would happen though. Besides it would be nearly impossible to adjust.

[Origineelreclamebord]

I know this thing is expensive, but the Super Levant is not exactly cheap either is it?

That's only because there's a brushless system in there - something this truck doesn't have. And I'd rather get a Super Levant for the money, as it is based on a TB-01, the NDF-01 (suspension arms) and possibly the only 'unique' bits would be the shock towers and slipper clutch in there - in comparison to a non-RTR truck with a relatively slow motor and the heritage of a bad reputation when it comes to durability (though I'm not sure how the re-release copes with serious driving - I doubt many of them are being driven hard anyway).

And that's not even taking into account that they're both not to my liking in terms of styling So I wouldn't buy either of them actually...

[Toykid]

1st, I am not sure what Mr Tamiya was thinking. The levant must have sold well for Tamiya to introduce this variant.

2nd, it is very strange that they extended the wheels base from 260 to 275 but did not make it the egress design??? I noticed it has the egress front steering, egress suspension arms. I am not sure if the shock towers are the same as the egress but they certainly did not include the lover metal bracket to attach the front lower shock. it as the ball diffs too.

It seems to me that it would have been very easy for Tamiya to make this a egress chassis with oversized wheels and a truck body. If they had done that I would have purchased it for the chassis along and just added the right shocks and a repo body set.

But like others have said it really looks like the egress will come

James.

[Wez-li]

Looks like they've ditched the metal ball ends - should save a few KG

Been struggling to post something about this car but I think this site has a swear filter...

I'll give it a try.

#$%&

did it work?

[markbt73]

Well, I can guarantee them one thing: no one will ever "steal" this body or decal sheet.

[kyosho1]

I am not an RC racing expert but I think Vajra looks durable and should function & perform well as a truck. The fact that some people say the original Avante has limited suspension travel is now compensated with large wheels to "increase travel" & absorb shocks & moreover current racing tracks are rather smooth too. As for durability, it has carbon fibre chassis, aluminium Front knuckle, resin suspension arms, 3.5mm carbon damper stay front & back, a sleek truck body to roll over (protects the shock tower) & probably the trailing-like suspension arms are better for large wheels. As for performance, the bottom narrow chassis is narrow for a function, less drag on impact as compared to Egress. Extended chassis is desirable for stability & "large bore" CVA shocks (probably better than Avante"s).

I don't have the academic/technical evidence to prove the above but they just sound logical

Please correct me & pardon me if I am wrong.

[DynaHead]

I am not an RC racing expert but I think Vajra looks durable and should function & perform well as a truck. The fact that some people say the original Avante has limited suspension travel is now compensated with large wheels to "increase travel" & absorb shocks & moreover current racing tracks are rather smooth too. As for durability, it has carbon fibre chassis, aluminium Front knuckle, resin suspension arms, 3.5mm carbon damper stay front & back, a sleek truck body to roll over (protects the shock tower) & probably the trailing-like suspension arms are better for large wheels. As for performance, the bottom narrow chassis is narrow for a function, less drag on impact as compared to Egress. Extended chassis is desirable for stability & "large bore" CVA shocks (probably better than Avante"s).

I don't have the academic/technical evidence to prove the above but they just sound logical

Please correct me & pardon me if I am wrong.

". . .& "large bore" CVA shocks (probably better than Avante"s)."

That's a little bit of rationalization. LOL

[kyosho1]

". . .& "large bore" CVA shocks (probably better than Avante"s)."

That's a little bit of rationalization. LOL

I know. Can't help it The Avante front shocks seem to look smaller than the CVAs.

Anyway, if you look really hard, there seem to be a reinforcement at the attachment of the rear trailing suspension to the carbon chassis in the form of a ?block (whitish color).

[Thommo]

Anyway, if you look really hard, there seem to be a reinforcement at the attachment of the rear trailing suspension to the carbon chassis in the form of a ?block (whitish color).

Is that the one that looks like it would totally interfere with fitting a brushless motor?

[TWINSET]

Anyway, if you look really hard, there seem to be a reinforcement at the attachment of the rear trailing suspension to the carbon chassis in the form of a ?block (whitish color).

Is that not just an alu riser to raise the chassis to 'truck-appropriate' ground clearance?

Hope it comes with an undercowl too - that steering servo's in a great place to get pinged by stones

[skywhelp]

i'm looking forward to being able to get the blackfoot shell, i have a thing for sidesteps and i like both grills which is lucky for me.

[Cinnamon]

Well, I can guarantee them one thing: no one will ever "steal" this body or decal sheet.

LOL U R 100 % right on that !!

[SteelRat]

I wonder if the Vajra is aimed at the racing truggy market. All of those cars are hideous and unrealistic. It looks like a shrunken E-Revo - similar price tag without the bullet proof Traxxas performance, so it being aimed at the competition market is the only kind of sense really.

I guess the real clincher is to see just what the price point is. Frankly, that'll make or break it imo.

[kyosho1]

Pic from rctech forum member, VTR. I think a brushless motor can fit in.

[Origineelreclamebord]

Pic from rctech forum member, VTR. I think a brushless motor can fit in. http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/ni_smo/fc48dec3.jpg

If a brushless can't fit in they'll sell (even?) less of them, as the looks are trying to appeal the Levant/Super Levant/Traxxas market, with the only difference being that this comes as a kit.

[skywhelp]

is it me or does that look like a modern version of a blackfoot from top down view?

[VTRSP1]

Its quite different from the avante....

Different front n rear designed arms......

New front shock tower, newly designed rear shock tower...

Different diff cups design.....

Full ball diffs......

Carbon steering arm......

Wasnt allow to take any photos of it yet.... But will try to updates u guys if possible....

N kyosho1, i'm VTR.......

[DynaHead]

I got to say I'm getting really curious about this truck, I want to know more about the details and performance. Maybe Tamiya knows something we don't When it's released we all may be eating crow.

[kyosho1]

N kyosho1, i'm VTR.......

Hi thanks for the Vajra pic

[B.M.T.]

is it me or does that look like a modern version of a blackfoot from top down view?

Maybe, or Kinky Cab.

But, from the top down I can also see the offset of the front wheels to the king pin fulcrum point... They are going to depart so easily, and the steering geometry will be woeful. At least Traxxas (and Tamiya, with the later TNX and the Nitrage) had the pivot point inside the wheel. This will steer like a boy scout's billy (box) cart.

[skywhelp]

bit of an outlay for billy cart handling. probably more fun with a real billy then. and a lot cheaper too

[TamiyaDan]

.

[taliesin]

I don't see that anybody has posted this up yet, but forgive me if I've missed it. (I went back several pages, but all I see is sneak peak photos of the box and some speculation).

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58497