Last two models for a while?

[XV Pilot]

When setting up my FF-03 on my Spektrum DX4S TX, I noticed that I only had two spare model memories left. That got me thinking - I should probably consider my next two car purchases carefully, as once all 30 model memories are full, I won't be buying another car for a while as I will then start saving for a DX6R TX with 250 model memories.

So, I was wondering what your choices would be in this situation? I'm not talking about the last two models ever, just the last two for a while, probably until sometime next year.

One project I quite like the sound of is recreating a Super Hornet using a Rising Fighter kit, but then the Aqroshot has been sitting quietly on my wish list for ages now, and the low-riding CC-01 Pajero looks like a stylish kit with plenty of scope for mods.

Then on the vintage side, I have a Hotshot and a Manta Ray, so I was thinking of getting something like a Terra Scorcher to fit between them on my "Timeline shelf" where I have my 4WD buggies arranged in order of release date.

Also, I am lucky enough to have been the recipient of both the black and green limited edition Grasshoppers for Christmas, so perhaps I should get a standard white one to complete the trio?

Or maybe, applying the same logic to my Hornets, of which I have a standard one and a Jun Watanabe edition, perhaps I should get a black metallic one to complete the trio?

But then looking at my on-road cars, the FF-03 is a quality piece of kit with fibre-reinforced plastics, turnbuckles throughout, etc. I don't currently own a 4WD touring car of the same caliber, so perhaps I should be looking at a TA-06 or maybe that high-spec TT-02 with the TRF-inspired suspension?

I could also apply that logic to my buggies, and perhaps try to get hold of a Baldre? (I prefer the shape to that of the Durga, and a DB-01RRR would be overkill for my skill level.)

Any other suggestions?

(And yes I know I could swap/rebind models and set them up again if I run out of model memories, but I'd rather not.)

[InsaneJim69]

The DB01 Baldre would be a nice build and a lovely buggy to run with a 10.5T brushless setup. I race my DB01R (used to be Lee's, Suppergripper) and its a fantastic buggy to race, or even if I am just using it for setup runs at the local park its very enjoyable to mess around with. I do prefer the Baldre body for racing as it gives a better balance over jumps etc, compared to the Durga that always seems to land tail heavy for some strange reason.

Have you looked at something like a TT02B as a runner buggy? It comes with geared diffs which would require less maintenance compared to the DB01's ball diffs, that needs to have regular maintenance done to them. Add a few nice hop ups and it would make a nice reliable runner.

Or you could always pick up a nice DB01RR, imo it looks better than the RRR with the nice blue parts, it also comes with gear diffs and some nice hop ups as standard. ?

But looking at your other vehicles, as you say the only 2 items really missing are a modern buggy and a modern touring car.

James

[njmlondon]

But then looking at my on-road cars, the FF-03 is a quality piece of kit with fibre-reinforced plastics, turnbuckles throughout, etc. I don't currently own a 4WD touring car of the same caliber, so perhaps I should be looking at a TA-06 or maybe that high-spec TT-02 with the TRF-inspired suspension?

Given your username I take it you have a XV01 already? i loved building my XV01 rally and am very tempted by one of their on-road versions. Also have you tried the XV01 truck chassis?

[MadInventor]

For me, the Optima re-re. The other would be my War Rig build, which I'm hoping to have at the rolling chassis stage within 6 months. If not that then possibly a globe liner.

[Mad Ax]

Hmm, interesting. I probably have way more than 30 cars in my collection but nowhere near 30 runners. I think I have 14 cars on my model memory but of them, only about 10 are functional at any one time.

I guess I don't really see the point in having lots of runners that do almost the same thing. I definitely couldn't see the point in having more than one Grasshopper runner, unless one was bone-stock and one was highly modified. In fact I've been reducing my runner fleet, now my re-re HotShot is my only 4wd buggy because it's more fun to drive than my Dark Impact, plus I can compete in vintage buggy races with the Hotshot, whereas I can't compete in anything with the DF03.

My runner fleet right now has pretty much one example of everything I want. Anything else I build only ends up as a shelfer.

I've posted my fair share of threads like this and it's usually an excuse to get excited about what you know you're going to buy anyway regardless of what anyone else says

[zomboided]

If it's all about the build, then something complicated with massive hop up potential or a chassis of a type that you've not tackled before.

[Theibault]

I say, get the 2 re res that were just announced. Optima and the Blackfoot. I wouldn't get cars you already have in variant colors. Just my 2 cents.

[Nobbi1977]

Something expensive that will be a long satisfying build. Tundra, hilift or truck or tank

[Nitomor]

Bruiser & Mountain Rider!

My Futaba 10J will have the same issue, only 30 model memory, I have 25* RC's, I like all my shelfers to be runners, even if they are only shelfers. I know that if I wanted to, I can always plug a battery in and off I go.

*I'm in the process of saving up for a bulk order of some receivers so I can gradually convert the main runners in my fleet over to run with the Futaba radio, now that I've found I'm happy with the Futaba 6ch park flyer receiver which is available from £25. I'm fast running out of space so will need to do something drastic soon!

[TeaMonster]

Something expensive that will be a long satisfying build. Tundra, hilift or truck or tank

Agree, for me it would be a TRFsomething and a tank

[Theibault]

It just occurred to me, don't buy any cars and just get that radio. Personally, I'm a Futaba guy, but that Spektrum looks cool. I do use my DX3R for all my waterproof/bad weather cars as I just don't want to hurt my beloved 4PK-R and 4PX.

[berman]

Instead of allowing for two (because, lets be honest here, we all have the same addiction and people with our 'problem' can easily use the "Oh I have another memory space on my radio-I must buy another car" type of excuse later with the missus), why not save the money you are thinking for two cars for one and buy a high end kit? You have a lot of bread and butter Tamiyas and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, they are great to build and run, but like others have said here, why not pony up for a TRF something, a 3 speed something, a tank something or a DB-01 something? The builds for the more expensive kits are another level and I think you might really enjoy something with a bit more involvement. Just an idea.

Or the new radio as Theibault said. I don't think I could get away with telling her that I have run out of my 30 model memory and I need the new 250 model, my missus would want a thorough explanation

*disclaimer* Please don't take offence to anything I have written above. If it can be, it isn't intended to be misconstrued in anyway or to upset you or anyone or come across as such.

[qatmix]

I would honestly look at a TRF touring car. A good condition second hand 417 or 418 one can be bought for about £130+ and you will have a great car with loads of options, easy to buy parts and a chassis more pretty sitting on the shelf than 99.9% of other RC cars.

The TT02-S is a nice car if you want a cheap 4WD car. There are lots of hop-ups that you can get such as carbon towers etc that can make it look and handle pretty good. Despite racing TRF etc cars I still love my TT02. The TA06 is nice, but seems really expensive compared to the others.. and there might be a TA07 coming soon

Again, I am assuming you have an XV01. As otherwise I would recommend one of those in a heartbeat. An epic car, a proper Tamiya classic. Versatile, well built, quirky and brilliant.

[MAD RACER]

I have 60 model memory and used them all now.

Need a new radio for the Optima re re and my Egress build.

Never thought I would have to say enough is enough.

[XV Pilot]

Thanks for the ideas - some good points there.

I agree that a chassis of a type I don't already own would be good, and ideally it should have plenty of modding potential as that is an aspect of the hobby I really enjoy.

I have found myself drawn to the bread-and-butter chassis for this reason - there is plenty to do with them in terms of making them perform better, and it is fun repurposing them to fill other roles, for example I have an Evoque trail runner based on a TL-01, and an Evo VI rally car based on a TT-01. My M-03 has also had a mild rally makeover. I'd feel that doing something like that to a high-end chassis would detract from it rather than enhance it.

That said, the high-end side of the hobby is one I have yet to fully explore, having been put off it by my experiences with a Yokomo MR4TC that went like the clappers when it was working, which wasn't often as it was quite frail and very hard to source parts for. Perhaps now that I drive my cars gently for fun rather than driving to win in the high-stakes world of underground parking lot racing, a high-end chassis will survive better?

But then the argument could also be made that a high-end chassis is a waste for tootling around the park on a summer afternoon...

As for the specific suggestions made:

I like the sound of gear diffs in a DB-01RR. The ball diffs are what has put me off the DB-01 up to now. I know they can be built to work reasonably well for a while, but I prefer the get-it-spot-on-and-it-stays-that-way nature of gear diffs. The DB-01RR is thus a contender.

I have a TT-02B already, that I have turned into a reliable runner with metal diffs, ballraced steering, turnbuckles, etc. It was an engaging build/modification process but I think it has gone as far as I want it to in terms of mods. (I say that now, but knowing me I'll think of something else to add to it at some point... )

The XV-01 also sounds like a strong contender, as (contrary to what my username suggests) I don't have one in the fleet yet. My username is derived from my Warhammer 40K days when I played Tau, and predates the release of the XV-01 by a good few years. My TT-01 rally conversion runs extremely well for what it is, but it would be interesting to try a chassis designed with rally in mind.

Trucks, tanks and other non-1/10 scale vehicles are not really on the cards at the moment, as everything else in my fleet is 1/10 scale, and they all look correctly-proportioned when displayed together. Now if Tamiya would bring out a 1/10 truck, that would be a real contender!

Likewise, other makes are not really my thing. I got burned with Yokomo, and now I prefer to stick with Tamiya.

The suggestion of a 3-speed got me thinking about trucks, as did the suggestion of a re-re Blackfoot. Now I like the Blackfoot shell, but not the ORV chassis. I like the build complexity of a 3-speed, but not the price, or the guilt that would be associated with running it on anything other than freshly-sterilised polished flooring surrounded by three feet of soft foam. So the answer may be a Blackfoot-shelled CR-01. The Rock Socker kit looks reasonably-priced and as luck would have it, I have a spare BF3 shell and accessories in my stash...

As for touring cars, I liked the look of the TA-05s campaigned by some of my competitors in my parking lot racing days, hence the thought of a TA-06. A TRF might be nice to have but I can't forget how satisfying it felt to come in ahead of such machines with my humble (albeit modded) TT-01. I am therefore leaning towards the TT-02 Type S, as it gives me the turnbuckles, race suspension, fibre towers, etc, along with the potential to be able to say "I beat Whatshisname and his TRF while driving my TT-02!"

[njmlondon]

The XV-01 also sounds like a strong contender, as (contrary to what my username suggests) I don't have one in the fleet yet. My username is derived from my Warhammer 40K days when I played Tau, and predates the release of the XV-01 by a good few years. My TT-01 rally conversion runs extremely well for what it is, but it would be interesting to try a chassis designed with rally in mind.

The suggestion of a 3-speed got me thinking about trucks, as did the suggestion of a re-re Blackfoot. Now I like the Blackfoot shell, but not the ORV chassis. I like the build complexity of a 3-speed, but not the price, or the guilt that would be associated with running it on anything other than freshly-sterilised polished flooring surrounded by three feet of soft foam. So the answer may be a Blackfoot-shelled CR-01. The Rock Socker kit look reasonably-priced and as luck would have it, I have a spare BF3 shell and accessories in my stash...

I think this would be the perfect combo for you given your preferences...

The XV01 is a must-have IMHO. Excellent build, beautiful design, great out of the box and loads of hop ups. I would be tempted to get the Pro chassis kit if I were you, which includes most of the must-have bling but leaves plenty of room for adding on more exotic stuff later. Any normal TA01/TA02/TA03/TB01/TL01 bodyshell will fit without modification.

As for the Blackfoot on the CR01 chassis, have you seen Bjorklo's version? There are very few hybrids made by us modellers that look as spot on and perfect as this.

[Thommo]

Holiday Buggy 2010

Two of them !

[Effigy3]

Thanks for the ideas - some good points there.

I agree that a chassis of a type I don't already own would be good, and ideally it should have plenty of modding potential as that is an aspect of the hobby I really enjoy.

I have found myself drawn to the bread-and-butter chassis for this reason - there is plenty to do with them in terms of making them perform better, and it is fun repurposing them to fill other roles, for example I have an Evoque trail runner based on a TL-01, and an Evo VI rally car based on a TT-01. My M-03 has also had a mild rally makeover. I'd feel that doing something like that to a high-end chassis would detract from it rather than enhance it.

The XV-01 also sounds like a strong contender, as (contrary to what my username suggests) I don't have one in the fleet yet. My username is derived from my Warhammer 40K days when I played Tau, and predates the release of the XV-01 by a good few years. My TT-01 rally conversion runs extremely well for what it is, but it would be interesting to try a chassis designed with rally in mind.

With all of the above points in mind, and having read a lot of your build threads, I +1 on the XV-01 vote. The chassis options are dropping like flies into the "Discontinued" bin. Only the rally car livery Lancia Delta Intergale and the street "livery" Subaru XV (how's THAT for irony?) are left on the books according to Tamiya USA. Now maybe Tamiya UK has other choices, I dunno but I think that your user name, the model code, and the model name from Subaru is just too much kismet to ignore! Plus, this specific choice will give you tons of ways you can hop it up which I know you enjoy (because brothers recognize each other that way).

[berman]

Holiday Buggy 2010

Two of them !

And drive them into each other, in a game of 'chicken'