Why?

[tamiyamexifan 3]

Does Tamiya ignore their fanbase

by NOT releasing a decent Racing Monster Truck,

a là the KingCab/Hilux Monster Racer chassis?

I appreciate the complex systems used in their 3-speed trucks,

but you could hardly call them racing material. Same goes for the big Clods and TXT-1s.

I consider the Twin Detonator-type trucks to be more beginner's models than

racing inclined. The Vayra on the other hand, looks interesting (never thought I'd see

an Avante with big fat tyres!).

I would buy a King Cab re-release in a heartbeat, but it seems I'm in the minority here

[Sayer 763]

This may go the way of the TT01 vs TB01 discussion, but I'm not sure how a Twin Det is a toy but a King Cab isn't..and I have a King Cab.

[JeepnMike 150]

Might as well throw a competitive short course truck into the mix.. They seem to be all the rage lately. I still think I would stick to buggies, but everyone out there seems to be racing short course trucks or 1/8 scale buggies and truggies at the moment.

Maybe we are the cool ones and we don't know it

[Sayer 763]

Lol I constantly think we're R/C hipsters

[Daves956 157]

Why would Tamiya enter into an over saturated market that's completely away from everything they've ever done?

The short course and stadium trucks are everywhere and once raced they have no resale value. Most are RTR and the life span might as well be measured in minutes instead of years. Tamiya has made a name by producing kits that are around for years and not predisposed to be disposed of in short order. I'm glad they haven't entered that market.

[speedy_w_beans 4286]

Why would Tamiya enter into an over saturated market ... ?

+1.

[JeepnMike 150]

Hey now.. You guys be nice! I was just adding to the OPs discussion. It doesn't necessarily mean it is a good idea or logical. The same logic could be played to ask why Tamiya has re-released some of the less desirable cars.

[B.M.T. 127]

They did, it was called the Dyna Blaster and I think 7 people bought it because it was so expensive compared to Shotguns, LXT's, RC10T's, LS-2's and other things that were proven.

Still a really decent truck by today's standards.

Also, Truck is not an official IFMAR class, so I can't see TRF making one.

[TA-Mark 197]

#58081 and #58086 are the first Tamiya attempts at stadium trucks. Replaced very quickly by the more reliable 'Stadium' series #58106, #58122 and #58181.

Didn't Tamiya just re-release the Stadium Blitzer (#58482)? There is their re-release reliable 2WD stadium truck. Also there is the DT02 Nissan Titan (#58511) from the newer breed of chassis.

Tamiya never really did a 4WD stadium truck type vehicle. But it's not hard to do youself. The recently re-released F-150 TA02T (#58495) and put the DF01 buggy suspension on it. Buy a F-150 and a Blazing Star (#58204), and from the mix of the two kits you get a 4WD stadium truck (truggy) and a TA01 based rally car chassis.

[Daves956 157]

I guess I'd have to ask why? The stadium and short course on the market today fall in the 300 to 500 US price range for a RTR. Thier even starting to come with LIPO and chargers at that price. These are the ones that have been fueling the truck racing trend so why would you take another route? I'm not a big fan of the trucks or that style of racing but I do watch what's selling.

[Tamiya1/10 384]

Maybe Tamiya is just dealing with one area of racing at a time and could have something in the works already. Call it R&D or RC...research and duplicate or research and copy....why re-invent the wheel just make is better.

[GregM 1113]

From my point of view, Tamiya is releasing mainly what the Japanese R/C market desires, but not so much with a perspective of the worldwide market in mind. This may explain the lack of Short course truck and competitively designed 2WD Stadium truck and 4WD Truggy releases

Another subject is a lot of R/C manufacturers are now releasing Rallye R/C cars and thus starting a new trend, while Tamiya is already producing decent Rallye R/Cs for more than 20 years and never really stopped making them.

[super gripper 420]

From my point of view, Tamiya is releasing mainly what the Japanese R/C market desires, but not so much with a perspective of the worldwide market in mind. This may explain the lack of Short course truck and competitively designed 2WD Stadium truck and 4WD Truggy releases

Another subject is a lot of R/C manufacturers are now releasing Rallye R/C cars and thus starting a new trend, while Tamiya is already producing decent Rallye R/Cs for more than 20 years and never really stopped making them.

I for one would buy a TRF201 stadium racing truck.

But lets face it, has Tamiya ever done anything that is logical !!

the easy answer to us appears to be no.

but then look at the big picture ......................... and I know you guys will not like this statement.

you, us, how ever you want to group us are NOT Tamiya's biggest market.

GregM is right in what he is saying with regards to the Japanese market being the priority

.

[JWeston 493]

I think Tamiya have it spot on.

[super gripper 420]

I think Tamiya have it spot on.

In most respects I agree with J.

Tamiya's TRF buggy guy could do with a good kick up the back side but that's just my grumble.

other wise Tamiya is doing what it thinks is best.

[TA-Mark 197]

I for one would buy a TRF201 stadium racing truck.

As the TRF201 doesn't come with a body, tyres, a motor, or a pinion. What's stopping you from using, say the DT02's Nissan Titan body on it. Then fit some Blitzer sized wheels and tyres, and change to pinion sizes that reflect the new rollout that comes from the bigger wheels.

Longer front axles and a kit bash for some body mounts is the only bits that wouldn't be obvious to make a TRF stadium truck.

Granted you'd probably be the only one at the track with a stadium truck, and the TRF chassis is a bit overkill in tech and price for a basher, but it's there to do if you want.

Stadium trucks and truggys (the 4WD version) are not the same as short course trucks (the new craze of redneck racers). Stadium trucks and truggys are just buggys with truck bodies and the same width wheels on all four corners. Where as short course trucks seem to be an agreed size between manufacturers (there's no real scale there) and are meant to reflect the modern racing trucks.

[Sayer 763]

Stadium trucks and truggys are just buggys with truck bodies and the same width wheels on all four corners.

Indeed. For an early and very literal example, see the RC10T.

[speedy_w_beans 4286]

Stadium trucks and truggys are just buggys with truck bodies and the same width wheels on all four corners.

Not quite. If you look through this B4.1/T4.1 manual from Associated, you can see there are more differences than just a body and some wheels.

http://www.teamassociated.com/pdf/cars_and_trucks/RC10B4.1/Factory_Team/t4.1ft_b4.1ft_manual-preflight.pdf

Suspension arms, turnbuckles, CVDs, shock bodies, shock shafts, default kit springs, wheels, tires, and bodies are all different between the two.

Short course trucks were derived from stadium trucks with similar long suspension arms; the difference is in the length of the main chassis tub.

[markbt73 6283]

Ferrari doesn't make minivans. Pizza Hut doesn't serve sushi. It's just not their thing. If you already are doing well in a niche market, especially in Tamiya's case, that you have largely to yourself, why branch out into a crowded market?

[kontemax 1794]

King Cab is one of the best truck Tamiya has built. I love it, I love its ground clearance, I love its long shocks, I love how it eats the rough grounds and I would like it re-released.<br />But the King Cab has a big problem with the tranny that is too much fragile with hot brushed motors (don't wanna think about with a brushless set up) and the wheel axles wearing.<br />If Tamiya makes some work on the differential, on the gears and the axles/dogbones (better with some cvd) the King Cab will be still a great and funny racing truck.<br /><br />Max

[tamiyamexifan 3]

Totally agree, Max. It's a great truck. My King Cab is still working after 20 plus years of

usage. My balldiff set-up has only been a problema ONCE, and that was my fault: I place tyres that were too big and

the thing just kept on spinning (saving the delicate bits of the tranny in the process, mind you).

The ancient Dyna Blaster was mentioned above. Good truck, but really just a covert Dyna Storm and just as expensive.

Other trucks were mentioned with more recent chassis. Sorry, I find the experience bland. Their bodies are just not my thing.

Tamiya: Give us a King Cab re-release. Make some slight adjustments to the tranny and you have another success. And let us play

with that amazing polycarbonate body, easily the best, most detailed Tamiya has EVER produced.

Why not re-release this model when other less popular offerings have been sold already?

[Grastens 2823]

Ferrari doesn't make minivans

I almost replied with the FF, but realized that is more of a hatchback and generally considered a GT... The FF, though, has arguably unique character among either GTs or hatchbacks.

It summarizes my view on Tamiya making a racing truck: it would be one of the bad marketing decisions to make, but I personally would love to see a proper stadium truck racer or even a short-course chassis and see what Tamiya does with it. I could visualize it as being something uniquely characteristic of the company relative to the other offerings out there, and not in a disparaging way (which means probably not a TEU-105BK included in the kit).

However, the truth is that so few people would buy it and so it would never see the light of day. We can always discuss it, though.

On another note, I really like the Dyna Blaster but never owned one, given its rarity. Must be brilliant to drive and tune!

[RS2RSR 17]

Ferrari doesn't make minivans. Pizza Hut doesn't serve sushi. It's just not their thing. If you already are doing well in a niche market, especially in Tamiya's case, that you have largely to yourself, why branch out into a crowded market?

But Lamborghini make traktor`s and Porsche designs bread toasters and radios

[kontemax 1794]

I own both truck, King Cab and Dyna Blaster.

What can I say? Both cars share parts from buggy sisters (Astute/King Cab - Dyna Storm/Dyna Blaster) but they are not simply conversion.

The King Cab shares mainly the Astute "style" but very few common parts.

The Dyna Blaster shares more parts with the buggy but also the style.

The differences between both trucks are many. The DB is a pure speed racing machine, the KC is more a basher.

The KC is high, with an higher center of gravity, shorter arms and longer suspensions. The KC is made for big air, big jumps and very rough terrain (I currently use it in a cave), the DB is more for the tracks.

The KC does its best with the Monster Beetle tires that means shorter gear ratio, more ground clearance and a gyro effect in air during jumps.

But as said before, the bigger tires gives bigger problems to the transmission and axles.

Anyway, a slipper clutch, a Tamiya Traction Control, a Lethal Weapon 2 or any other brand tranny will solve the problem.

Max

[tamiyamexifan 3]

However, the truth is that so few people would buy it and so it would never see the light of day. We can always discuss it, though.

That's exactly the type of comments that many here at TC said before the 3-speed trucks were re-released.

Same logic applies to other models that were given the re-release treatment and could hardly be considered

classics (see: Fire Dragon).

A decent stadium racer, like the KC, is always a looker. More than one persona would buy the thing just to get a new and nice replacement

body for their truck, which fetches insane amounts of money on Ebay (I paid 80US for a mint one 10 years ago!)