Blackfoot Family.

[BigSteve]

Hi all can anyone explain the fundamental differences between the following. I'm looking for a runner and was wondering which model to go for:

Original Blackfoot

King Blackfoot

Super Blackfoot .

Thanks Steve.

[GregM]

The Frog/Blackfoot space frame chassis platform is sometimes called ORV. The TC database covers these vehicles along with plenty of reviews:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/cars.asp

I try to sum up the differences in few words without going too much in details.

Blackfoot chassis:

Shares many parts with the Frog and Brat. Horizontally angled rear dampers. Rear trailing arms. Weak gearbox with metal plates. Differential gears will wear excessively under powerful motors. Hard to find unique counter gear and differential spur gear. Rear wheels use disc-shaped hub adaptors. Fast wearing hex shaped driveshafts and cups, can be replaced with re-re Frog dogbones. High parts count, which of many edit: some unique ones aren't readily available - especially some bodymount and servo saver parts.

Blackholesun's Monster Beetle review

Models:

- 58058 Blackfoot

- 58060 Monster Beetle

- 58077 Mud Blaster

Bush Devil chassis:

Vertically angled rear dampers. Rear double wishbone suspension. Revised plastic gearbox design, better suited to powerful motors.Front suspension mounts snap on impacts. Dogbone-type driveshafts. Hex rear wheel adaptors.

Models:

- 58101 Bush Devil

- 58110 Super Blackfoot

King Blackfoot chassis:

Revised stronger front suspension. Reduced parts count with less complexity, but more sturdyness. Recommended as a runner vehicle.

Blackholesun's King Blackfoot review.

Models:

- 58192 King Blackfoot

With a bit of tinkering, you can fit any of the bodyshells to any of these chassis types.

[SteveU30]

I agree with Greg, although the steering setup on the King is pants, it works much better if modified as I did to mine. Also (IMHO) it looks much better with the F150 body on it too:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/70340-My-F150-King-Blackfoot-build-thread

[bromvw]

While in general terms I agree with Greg with the release of the Frog, parts are now readily available for the early Blackfoot as its based on the same ORV chassis and therefore parts are interchangeable . If you find an early original one for the right price don't rule it out as up grading it is nither difficult or expensive

[GregM]

I agree with Greg, although the steering setup on the King is pants, it works much better if modified as I did to mine. Also (IMHO) it looks much better with the F150 body on it too:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/70340-My-F150-King-Blackfoot-build-thread

Fixed broken link: http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=70340

[XV Pilot]

There are also the Blackfoot Extreme and Blackfoot III models, based on the WT01 chassis. This is an excellent runner, easily maintained as parts are still in production, and easily modified since the WT01 is the RWD version of the 4WD WR01 chassis as used on the Wild Dagger family of trucks.

[bromvw]

YES and if you later feel like a change you can fit a second gearbox and make it a 4x4 easily . Even a 4x4x4 is possible. Personally I would get a Blackfoot 3 as its readily available new and well priced . You can then build and paint / decal it exactly as you please .

[beefmuffin]

The original Blackfoot is kind of a must have. I mean, it's just classic. They make fun runners too... and there are always LOADs of parts/donor chassis on ebay for not too much $ so running them can be fine. I can't speak much for the King or Super Blackfoot, other than that the King Blackfoot uses more or less the same body as the original (without the Ford branding) - this is also the same body as the Blackfoot III, except that the BF3 body has 3 holes in the hood and I believe 4 holes in the back, to make it fit either the Super Blackfoot or the BF3. The King Blackfoot on the other hand uses a newer style body (which I don't like) and was also used for the Blackfoot Xtreme.

In addition to the changes to the bodies, in my opinion 100% of the Blackfoot decal designs after the original are UGLY. The Super has ugly splotches, the King has nasty neon streaks, same goes for the BFX, and the BF3 has a less offensive but still ugly fire pattern. The original body by FAR looks the best. Also, the Super Blackfoot had the same red ORV chassis frame as the original, then the King had a dark grey colored chassis frame.

As for variants, the original had 2 chassis-mates, the Monster Beetle and the Mudblaster - all with red chassis parts. The Bushdevil chassis parts came in blue. So all in all, there are 5 colors of ORV chassis frames: light grey (frog, brat); red (BF, MB); dark grey (King BF); blue (BD); and chrome - which was a limited edition and I'm not sure what kit it went with...

[Klausen]

The crome is from the Subaru Brat metallic special.

I have a King Blackfoot, and it is a quite durable and fun runner.

[WhoKnowsWho]

Good info to know about my Super Blackfoot. I only ran it once. I knew the transmission was stronger than the original Blackfoot, but I did not know about the front end weakness.