Is the vintage RC hay day over?

[Falcon#5]

How many members have bought their children Re-release kits, built them, run them, and had a great time doing it?

Who knows, 20-30 years from now our kids may be paying big dollars for NIB 2010 HB's etc, out to re-live the carefree fun of their childhood.

Sound familiar?

[Singapore_959]

Haven't posted in yonks, but wandered in and saw this. So, just my 2cents....

....

Cheers,

H.

Ditto. Bang on post. Only thing missing is comment that ebay changes further sped up the demise of fun.

Always nice to see you posting up, and acprc, grunt, and bakaguyjean.

[RARECRX]

I did not even know they were in.. I put mine away when I was about 20 and never looked at them again until 15 years later , then one of my Facebook buddies was like "Hey you still have all that crazy RC stuff?" I was like "yeah" so that made me go in the closet and look at them and relive my youth. Then I looked on e-bay and you can still buy 99% of the stuff NEW in *re-releases*.. It's like I was a RC "Rip Van Winkle"..

I never collected them . I just bought them young and kept them.. I don't think I collect anything to tell you the truth, but my wife will tell you otherwise..

[axemandavva]

I think the vintage RC scene is probably still gaining popularity.

I think ebay prices have settled down from what they once were for a few reasons. The credit crunch probably has some effect, and with Tamiya stuff the re-releases probably have a much bigger effect as so many parts are easily available. I think that there are also a lot more people selling on ebay now, and so a lot more vintage RC stuff has been found in peoples lofts and appeared on the site.

I think the fact that Tamiya feel it is worth their effort to produce the rereleases shows there is significant interest in the scene.

Forum traffic and discussions may seem less busy then they once were, but I think there are probably more RC forums out there with smaller groups - and many of the people who might have met through the internet are now communicating directly and meeting in person to run their cars. There`s more knowledge out there too, people can find out what they need by searching without having to post new topics.

Buggy Racing went quiet when touring cars came on the scene around where I live. I noticed an off road club has recently restarted near me, which I think is a good sign. I`m hoping they might start a vintage class.

What would be really nice is an awesome use of a proper RC in a big movie that lots of kids go to see.

[djmcnz]

Most of the posts in this thread = tldr

But economics rule. Inflation & compounding interest mean that 99% of vintage RC's will provide poor or negative returns over the long term.

For investment value you need to consider the economics, not the emotion.

You're an idiot really if you assume long term profit. Even the original SS and Egress provide poor return today in real economic terms despite the face value figures.

[RARECRX]

Most of the posts in this thread = tldr

But economics rule. Inflation & compounding interest mean that 99% of vintage RC's will provide poor or negative returns over the long term.

For investment value you need to consider the economics, not the emotion.

You're an idiot really if you assume long term profit. Even the original SS and Egress provide poor return today in real economic terms despite the face value figures.

I strongly agree.. I mean, You buy one 25 years ago for ~$300, never run it.. Keep it mint for 25 years and never fold the boxes acquire extra parts for it which back then cost good money and can't even break even..

Its more nostalgia market than a collectors market.. If you add the cost of inflation to ANY of the vintage RC cars you'll be surprised out what they would cost NOW. The figures would probably be 3x than what they really sell for in today's market.. So yes, technically, we are ALL negative equity. That's why it is called "hobby " I suppose.. Everything where you lose money , but have fun, is called a "hobby" or on a worse scale.. An "addiction" lol.

[axemandavva]

You're an idiot really if you assume long term profit. Even the original SS and Egress provide poor return today in real economic terms despite the face value figures

I agree serious long term profit is unlikely, unless you can get some of the 1% of cars that will significantly appreciate - but economically speaking there are far worse emotional hobbies to invest your money in. A mint boxed Scorcher bought new in 1979 might have faired poorly with inflation, but the right piece of vintage RC bought now at the right price has a fair chance of holding it`s value or appreciating I think.

I think a lot of classic RC`s have depreciated to their floor and now their price has started to rise as demand for them outstrips supply. Perhaps not so much with Tamiya with all their re-releases, but with other makes. Optimas, Radiants, Cats - there was a time when I reckon you could have found all these cars dirt cheap - when they had been superseded on the race track by something new - but now there`s not so many left and the price has gone up ... maybe not to where they were when new (with inflation) ... but enough to show a decent return if you bought at the right time. Economically motivated collectors probably don`t purchase their investments at retail prices most of the time anyway.

[Azkuma]

My 2 cents:

I say we burn the OP for heresy and drag his charred carcass through the streets of London and chant "Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!" (sorry, I was watching Lord of The Flies today).

How dare you sir, I've just won an auction on the bay for a vintage, yes that's right a vintage Supershot. It's not even in my possesion and I come across this blasphemous topic.

I was going to ask if anyone knows where I can get hold of the 8.4v Battery holder parts (5296), as I want to run it at full pelt when I've given it a good strip down and clean.

In all seriousness, to answer the original post this is like any hobby, you have your fun when you can and if you happen to be the last person with the mint copy of Superman 1 then you're sitting on a tidy sum. There are some things that appreciate with age, and some don't whatever the reason may be. Some things will be more highly sought after than others and that will add to its intrinsic value.

As many have already stated, the flood of the race cars in the 90/00 that beat off Tamiya's domination (real or percieved) meant that the cars from the 80s became vintage due to better equipped models being available, and now we're all in our 30s/40s with more money to spend (yeah right) we're looking for those things that we couldn't afford as kids.

I for one will keep going as its not so much of an addiction per say but a passion and personally buidling my Tamiya Cheetah all those years ago after being destructive to all my previous radio controlled cars is what ultimately lead me to doing a degree in Mechanical Enginnering. How do they work and why? On top of that it was the sheer thrill of driving something that you built that to this day cannot be quelled. It truly is great stuff.

Oh sorry, I did say my 2 cents, can I have change from a fiver please :-)

Long may RC reign especially Tamiya vintage cars and remember Tamiya's slogan: Toys They're Not!

Azkuma

PS: If anyone can help me out with the 8.4v Battery Holders I'd be grateful.

[Yonez]

PS: If anyone can help me out with the 8.4v Battery Holders I'd be grateful.

Here ya go:

http://vintage-tamiyaparts.com/CMS/product...roducts_id=1242

[Azkuma]

Here ya go:

http://vintage-tamiyaparts.com/CMS/product...roducts_id=1242

You sir are a scholar and a gentleman, and proof that vintage isn't dead.

Thank you very much

[SteelRat]

Just my 2p:

I certainly disagree that the re-re's have killed off the vintage heydey: the demand and the wow factor of a lot of them is still as strong as it was, and the fact that now everyone can have one, and not just people who have a months wages they can blow on a toy car just means that we'll just see more examples of people showing off their pride and joy. I bought a re-re Sand Scorcher, not because the original was rare, or because it's particularly iconic, or because I knew what kind of reaction I'd get from my fellow TC'ers, but simply because I happen to love it, and the re-re was the only way I was ever going to have one. You cannot take away from the people who buy re-re's because they love them that nervous excitement they have while building it, running it and showing it, and it's clubs like this that allow those kinds of people to share that passion.

Passion is what this hobby is, and should be all about. It doesn't matter where it comes from, or what car generates it, but so long as it is there, and there are other people that share in it, then the community and the hobby will survive. As the cars that are released (or re-released) come out, there will be some that pass us by, some that stick out for the wrong reasons, and some that people attach to and develop a love for on their own merits, irrespective of their place in history - in other words a whole new breed of modern classics.

Look at the HB2010. We hated it when it was announced because it was so far away from the original release, but it's simple charm, durability and low cost as well as big dollops of good old fashioned fun have meant that it's earned its place in the classic archives on its own merits, rather than that of the original.

So no, I don't think the vintage heyday is over. I think it's continuously evolving.

[94eg!]

I didn't read the whole thread so forgive me if this is off from the current discussion:

I think it's pretty funny. When the vintage RC movement started, we all talked about how great it was playing with RC's in the 80's. Now we talk about how great it was playing with vintage RC's during the vintage movement. Does this mean it's time for a new vintage-vintage movement where we can relive collecting those hard-to-find parts from our youth for the first time? I wonder what that's gonna be like. Can you say re-re-release. Maybe I'll wait for Tamiya to bring back the Dynastorm again...

Nevermind... people just like playing with RC cars. Like any hobby, the passion comes and goes......and comes back again.

[skywhelp]

i don't own any vintage tamiya but have come close to, just been out bid every time. most have been re-re and i have bought examples so i'm happy. i read the whole tread and think there are all valid points in everyones posts. i would buy a nib sand scorcher for £400 pounds build it and run it. if i can do this for £200 for a not as good looking one i'm happy. i now have 3 re-re srbs but a £400 original i would buy build and run. at £800 it is too much for me. if i found a nib at £100 i would build it not sell it on for £700 as I may never get to build an original again hence the build is priceless to me but the cost of buying one is not if that makes sense. you still can look for barn finds they will always be about and if they are more far and few between is that not more exciting not less?

in my eyes re-re should increase the value of an original as more people become aware of the model especially the ss the old vs new shell/ parts. i would set a value of what something is worth to me and wouldn't care about the market value. a collector should in my eyes think like this. if you worry about losing or making money you are a speculator. the value of a collection should be in the joy it brings you. if thats nib, resto or building from new, or just racing bashing or a gentle run it should only be worth what you can afford in cash value but priceless in the joy it brings.

change to the forum, the advent of a lot of splinter group web sites, the market developing in different areas has effected the input of chat on here more, i think, the passionate still pop in and add when they see a topic that engages them, of course people leave or get too busy.

I cannot understand an owner of an original thinking now every one has a copy of what i have i don't like it as much even though it hasn't changed. did you really like it or was it just becouse no one else had it? I understand a bit of that but that is why i like tamiya as you can create just with a coat of paint an unique model and put it up and see others that may be identical kits but are each very much as different as the owners are even though we we are basically just human kits put together

i feel sorry for people who have paid top dollar for kits then have to sell or die for them to get back into the market, not for loss of money but loss of kit/life, but the person who ends up with the kit is happy so not all bad. people have to sell there houses in the same way and it's much more serious, but the same, the new owner is happy thats just the ebb and flow of life. sorry getting a bit hippy there, back to topic.

i think there may be a resurgence in a few years when vintage kits and cars start to travel between owners again at a price no longer over inflated by speculators who have been burned by changes in price. a true collector can never be burned by the market value just by paying more than they were comfortable with.

i would collect vintage at any point i see what i want for what i would like to pay it may never happen. i do have a period acoms mk3 to go with the vintage i was try to get to restore, am i a vintage collector?

if i have offended anyone i am sorry it's not intentional, just enjoy what you have and be happy with it, if not pass it on to someone who it will make happy and enjoy the times when it made you happy. i still have the same excitement level with seeing vintage on here as i ever did and the thought one day i will find the vintage i want for what i want to pay makes me happy.