Palfertronic 74 Posted March 23, 2016 I have just built a DT-03 Racing Fighter, and its a good kit, plenty of extras, like CVA shocks, and a tuned motor...but no decent bearings! just the usual plastic ones....Luckily, I had a set of DT-02 ballraces in my box, and so it got built with ballraces from the start! So..in a nutshell, Why do Tamiya keep pushing out new kits with rubbish bearings that any self respecting modeller would replace with ballraces from the start? We are only talking 14 quid for a set of bearings, so why not just put them in the kit, like they do on the DT-02 Sand Viper? I would expect ballrace bearings in the gearbox/diff at the very least, for ANY kit...plastic bearings are just for the shelfers!! any thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobbi1977 1793 Posted March 23, 2016 My last DT-03 cost £50 and the bearing set was just under a tenner posted. So in theory adding the bearings would up the cost of of the kit 20%. Would they sell as many at £60 with bearings? They obviously think not. Do it at £40 without the ESC and I would have an attic full Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2184 Posted March 23, 2016 Simply that adding £10 to a kit price for inclusion of bearings will put some people off, especially those buying their first kit who also have to buy radio gear, servo, paint , battery and charger. I've bought plenty of used models with bushings in, often those are less worn than the gritty bearings I seem to inherit in other buys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Klausen 1197 Posted March 23, 2016 As already stated price, price, price. When people buy their first kit, they don't know what to expect. Then they are probably easier to convince to buy bearings, faster motor, new esc, maybe lipos and so on later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palfertronic 74 Posted March 23, 2016 I do appreciate that it would push up the cost of the kit, but I think in real terms, RC models have never been cheaper! I seem to recall paying around 50 quid for a Hornet back in 1990, and with a MSC too! Radio was an Acoms, (£40), Battery was about £7....I already had a charger, a clockwork MFA one...about £20...add a couple of battery packs, and you didn't get much change out of £180.... Price up the same now, and the cost will be probably less....and £180 bought a lot more beer back in 1990! Tamiya sold shedloads of cars back then, that's why we are all on here! cost didn't put us off then.... Come on Tamiya..its the 21st century now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobbi1977 1793 Posted March 23, 2016 I do appreciate that it would push up the cost of the kit, but I think in real terms, RC models have never been cheaper! I seem to recall paying around 50 quid for a Hornet back in 1990, and with a MSC too! Radio was an Acoms, (£40), Battery was about £7....I already had a charger, a clockwork MFA one...about £20...add a couple of battery packs, and you didn't get much change out of £180.... Price up the same now, and the cost will be probably less....and £180 bought a lot more beer back in 1990! Tamiya sold shedloads of cars back then, that's why we are all on here! cost didn't put us off then.... Come on Tamiya..its the 21st century now! Even they we would not be happy. The bearings would be the wrong type or quality so for us. I run metal inside and rubber sealed on any part exposed to the elements, I cannot see them putting two types in just for me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigSteve 149 Posted March 23, 2016 What could also be said is that Tamiya could bulk buy bearings that would cost condiderably less than £10 per kit with their buying power and leverage over suppliers. I have also pondered the same question regarding the inclusion of bearings. But I must admit the DT-03 was and still is very good value for money. Steve. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRx718 4470 Posted March 23, 2016 Some logical thinking here, but some very naive folks that think Tamiya would be paying much more for ball bearings than they do nylon bearings. If I can buy branded bearings on discount at 26p each, consider that two parties have put a profit margin on that before my purchase. The manufacturer and the distributor. It would cost Tamiya pennies (literally) to switch. Then also consider that with every new kit release Tamiya will simultaneously release a bearing set, with a hideous mark-up. I imagine the profit from these alone is pretty high, so why jeopardise their sale? There's obviously still a market for them, despite the aftermarket suppliers taking a chunk of potential business. A firm business strategy if ever there was one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palfertronic 74 Posted March 23, 2016 I still think that proper bearings in the gearbox at least, wouldn't hurt! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigSteve 149 Posted March 23, 2016 Some logical thinking here, but some very naive folks that think Tamiya would be paying much more for ball bearings than they do nylon bearings. If I can buy branded bearings on discount at 26p each, consider that two parties have put a profit margin on that before my purchase. The manufacturer and the distributor. It would cost Tamiya pennies (literally) to switch. Then also consider that with every new kit release Tamiya will simultaneously release a bearing set, with a hideous mark-up. I imagine the profit from these alone is pretty high, so why jeopardise their sale? There's obviously still a market for them, despite the aftermarket suppliers taking a chunk of potential business. A firm business strategy if ever there was one! Very well put. The only time I've purchased Tamiya branded bearings is from Banzai for a TT-01e restoration as they were stupidly cheap compared to UK prices. All my bearings tend to be bought from HK. It would be interesting to evaluate the quality difference between the two as I presume there are industry standards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRx718 4470 Posted March 23, 2016 It would be interesting to see them compared for sure. To my eye and for my requirements the cheapest bearings from the far east have never given me any issues. From a manufacturing perspective at least, the tolerances have to be very tight just by the very nature of how a bearing is assembled. Too much margin for error and they'd simply not work or fall apart. Materials and their longevity would be the interesting bit - and just how relevant that is to a small toy car I don't know! But if they're fitting these things to machinery then I think we're pretty safe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongRat 616 Posted March 23, 2016 Considering the most likely tiny number of kit sales Tamiya have lost based on the car NOT coming with bearings, they have zero motivation to include them really. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted March 24, 2016 The plastic bushings used to annoy me, but now they're sort of part of the nostalgic charm, part of the "Tamiya-ness." Especially with the re-release kits. They're comforting, somehow, even if you don't use them. (I'm even beginning to wish the re-res came with mechanical speed controls.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
berman 5315 Posted March 24, 2016 Remember, Tamiya is an injection moulded plastic model company, it wouldn't cost them 5c to produce nylon bushings. The only Tamiya bearings I have bought are their blue rubber sealed branded ones from the 80's, and will continue to do so, as they are a nostalgic upgrade like hi caps, 1200 racing packs, and technigolds. Bearings are a consumable item in a runner RC imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pablo68 1049 Posted March 25, 2016 I bought a DF-03 and a DT-02 for my sons years ago. We had a good time building them. Both kits came with roller bearings. I was pleasantly surprised by this. The kits were at a good price point too. When I recently acquired a Monster Beetle re-re I was perplexed as to why it was back to plastic bushings. I'm still puzzled by it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theibault 1535 Posted March 25, 2016 I agree that Tamiya should include bearings with every kit, but they don't. That being said, every Tamiya aficionado should have 1 or 3 of these lol. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pablo68 1049 Posted March 25, 2016 I agree that Tamiya should include bearings with every kit, but they don't. That being said, every Tamiya aficionado should have 1 or 3 of these lol. Funny that, I was thinking the same thing. Only I don't know the sizes/bearing numbers of the ones that would be most handy to have on hand. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
berman 5315 Posted March 25, 2016 If that were mine, you would be able to see the "Out of stock, please reorder" sticker at the bottom! No, they are really cheap, everyone should have a bunch of spares! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palfertronic 74 Posted March 25, 2016 ...are we going to start a "how big is your bearings box" thread? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theibault 1535 Posted March 25, 2016 5x11 and 5x8 tend to be the most common and useful to have in your bearing box. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonysmini 19 Posted March 27, 2016 I asked about this years ago and actually got a good answer. They were fitted with nylon bushes with the lack of maintenance in mind. Most will have been bought by parents for their kids, used and abused a few times then forgotten in a shed or loft for months or years. Bearings will rust and sieze, a nylon bush will just sit there. When they get 'rediscovered', no need to strip and replace, just charge the battery and go. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mannyp1980 49 Posted March 27, 2016 I asked about this years ago and actually got a good answer. They were fitted with nylon bushes with the lack of maintenance in mind. Most will have been bought by parents for their kids, used and abused a few times then forgotten in a shed or loft for months or years. Bearings will rust and sieze, a nylon bush will just sit there. When they get 'rediscovered', no need to strip and replace, just charge the battery and go. That does make good sense, still bearings would be great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites