Tamiya Monster Truck decisions

[Jason1145]

So I would like to get a Tamiya 2WD Monster Truck, like a Blackfoot or Bush Devil etc. (Any other types? - Not after a Monster Beetle)

I like the original Bush Devil but with it being Vintage is it easy enough to still get parts, and I'd need to wait for a good example and take my chances on Ebay etc.

Love the previous Blackfoots (again would need to rely on Ebay) and I see the new ReRe just came out.... so price wise I'm looking at:

BlackFoot 2016 - £150 in the UK. (Looks great)

Bush Devil 2- £111 shipped from Tamico to UK (Looks meh)

Any thoughts on which is the better choice, spares, ease of maintenance, which can handle a mild (3000kv) brushless system better etc.

[Frog Jumper]

I've loved rebuilding and upgrading my ORV based Bush Devil...  It got lucky and found a good one on EBAY...  

My son loves bashing in the backyard with it...

Terry

 

[chevelle]

I think the Bush devil would be a good choice, there is one in the uk ebay now. It shares the same gearbox and arms as the king & super blackfoot's so parts should be reasonable  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tamiya-Bush-Devil-Vintage-Ready-To-Go-/162179017122?hash=item25c29f69a2:g:hQUAAOSwqfNXlLTp

[Jason1145]

Well that's two for a Bush Devil in either Vintage or the second Version.

I was liking the price of £111.00 which seems good value.

Chevelle, I did see that Vintage Ebay one, it looks nice for sure... it's on the think list (time is short I know)

I just checked Gold Start Stockists and they have the Blackfoot 2016 for only £130.

http://www.goldstarstockists.net/live/catalog/new-in-tamiya-58633-the-blackfoot-reissue-custom-without-esc-radio-control-110-monster-truck-p-59758.html

Now how to convince the wife of this next purchase when I already have a few projects waiting at home to be done (DF-03ra bought broken off Ebay, Honda City Turbo to try out a brushless system, WW2 for a brushless system too)

 

 

[Frog Jumper]

1 hour ago, chevelle said:

I think the Bush devil would be a good choice, there is one in the uk ebay now. It shares the same gearbox and arms as the king & super blackfoot's so parts should be reasonable  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tamiya-Bush-Devil-Vintage-Ready-To-Go-/162179017122?hash=item25c29f69a2:g:hQUAAOSwqfNXlLTp

 

That's a good looking BD!  

Terry

 

[Mad Ax]

The original Bush Devil is a better chassis (IMO) than the Blackfoot 2016.  It's widely reported now that the re-released Monster Beetle and the Blackfoot 2016 have some issues with the drivetrain, that would be enough to put me off buying one as a runner.

The Blackfoot 2016 and the Bush Devil are both different evolutionary branches of the same ORV chassis, but the Bush Devil was at the pinnacle of ORV development when it was new.  It has a different gearbox and rear suspension design to the re-release, and it's about as good as you'll get on an ORV.

I have a King Blackfoot (which shares the same chassis and gearbox as the Bush Devil) and I love how it handles and runs.  I have a Super Stock BZ in mine which feels a bit slow, maybe due to limited gearing as it still wheelies well enough.  Mine has an oil shock conversion and full bearings but is otherwise pretty much bone stock.

Note that the Bush Devil II isn't a re-release and isn't an ORV chassis at all, it's the newer two-wheel-drive WT01 chassis.  It's not a particularly advanced chassis by any means but it's sturdy and strong, and is longer and lower than the ORV family so it tends to be a bit more stable.  There's plenty of scope for chassis mods - longer shocks, 4x4 conversion, 4-wheel steering, custom chassis rails or full metal conversions.

Although the WT01 and Bush Devil ORV are quite different in terms of design, there's not a lot to separate them in practice.  Both are rear wheel drive, both (IIRC) have friction shocks as standard, both have limited gearing options.  The WT01 is longer so the wheelbase looks wrong on almost all shells, although it can be shortened (with some modification).  The WT01 can be converted to 4x4.  The WT01 has a (marginally) better steering arrangement.  The ORV has longer shocks as standard, although longer shock towers are available for the WT01.  An original ORV Bush Devil will be a little more fragile due to the age of the plastic, and potentially harder to find any spares not shared with the re-releases.  Neither can be considered a high-tech chassis by any stretch of the imagination, but either will give you hours of guaranteed fun as long as you don't go over the top with power or try to launch it into concrete obstacles.

If I wanted a better-looking truck with more vintage appeal and didn't mind the thought of hunting for spares every now and again, I'd get the vintage Bush Devil.  If I wanted something that I could build from new, thrash straight away, never worry about finding spares but have a big path of customisation potential, the Bush Devil II would win hands down.

Not sure what else is worth mentioning - the Blitzer Beetle and its kin are too low to be considered monster trucks, although they are epic fun (my Blitzer Beetle is my go-to runner any day).  Other Tamiya monster trucks like the Super Clod or TXT-2 are way more expensive.  There's a whole world of choice if you want to go away from Tamiya, but, you don't want to go away from Tamiya, do you?  

[Frog Jumper]

Yeah, the only thing that might hold me back from from getting a Bush Devil (or Super Blackfoot) is how hard it is to find spare parts.  They are out there, but they are getting harder and harder to find.  Its taken me over a year to find all the spare parts I need to rebuild my BD's Tranny.  I gave up on finding a front shock tower long ago and went with the regular BF tower.  That allowed me to use the older BF 3rd party hop-ups, like those from CRP and JG...

Terry

 

 

[Problemchild]

lunchbox for sub £80

http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-58347-lunch-box-2005-monster-truck-1-12-assembly-kit-no-esc/?CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=29724689215&CATCI=pla-239606364295&catargetid=730003540000004138&cadevice=c&gclid=CJCx4fnl7s4CFagy0wodjVgKFA

then sped the extra giving it a few tweaks

 

JJ

[Nobbi1977]

Mudblaster or Blackfoot extreme?

[TurnipJF]

Anything based on the WT-01 chassis would get my vote. When researching my Mad Bull, I found many very favourable reports about its ruggedness, stability, upgrade/customization potential and overall fun factor. Had the Mad Bull not been a bit cheaper and (to my eye) a bit better looking, I would have bought one myself.

[MadInventor]

I'd be very tempted by the GF-01 dump truck. I know it's 4wd, but at around £110 it's in your price bracket, is fairly new so spares are no issue, and if you really want 2wd you can always take the front drive shafts out

 

[Nitomor]

WT01 fits the bill nicely I'd suggest. Mud Blaster II, Blackfoot III and Bush devil II are all variants of the WT01 chassis. Even the Amarok is a WT01 although it is the -N variant which has narrow wishbone arms so not as stable as the others. 

Loads of potential on them, just do a search on wt01 for all you could ever want to know!!

cheers

Nito

ps. We run a fleet of about ten of them now lol.

[Dojo Dave]

Having restored a vintage subaru brat orv chassis and the aquiring a super blackfoot, I definitely prefer the super blackfoot drive train it just seems so much more robust.  Looks good too after a got rid of the original obnoxious decals

[Dojo Dave]

WT 01 has a narrow amorak version which is quite nice.  Been tempted tovget one maybe for Christmas.  Or my birthday, or because its Friday... better stop now whilst I still have a head

[Jason1145]

I've ruled out the narrow Amorak just because it might be easier to roll over... despite it being a nice looker

the GF-01 is also cool looking and a good price but it's not the MT look I'm after for my fleet... But one day I'll grab one!

i think I'm ruling out a vintage version for now as this will be a runner and I don't have too much time for hunting for spares if need be, this is a major factor.

so looks like I'm left with the WT01 chassis (Bush Devil 2 or Mud Blaster 2) or a new ReRe Blackfoot. Can a Blackfoot shell be fitted on the WT-01 chassis?

ive read the new Blackfoot has an issue with one of the rear cvds popping out, it's too short? But a fix is getting a different axle cup and dog done from a ReRe Frog? If that's the only issue it sounds an easy fix... Does this sound about right guys?

 

 

[zomboided]

WT-01 for me (4x4x4 Blackfoot III actually).  I like the ORV chassis, but the WT-01 is so much more interesting to tinker with and appears to be able to handle hotter motors without having to address the weakness of the ORV gearbox.

[Jason1145]

After a few YouTube videos I'm liking the look of the Mud Blaster 2 ( car body?) that means I'd still need a truck bodied MT too. Arrrgghhhh Tamiya you make too many cool cars! I need to lie down in a dark room.

[Nitomor]

The Blackfoot III is the blackfoot shell on the WT01 chassis. It's one of the most versatile chassis Tamiya make.

Some of the fleet...

The narrow track Amarok with BFIII decals and GF01 wheels. The Amarok shell fits the WT01 wheelbase perfectly.

Mud Blaster II with an Impreza WRC shell

Blackfoot III (which is the BF shell on a WT01 chassis) This particular one is a dual brushless 4x4x4

Es cossie bodied...

Skyline R34 bodied...

And one I made for my son's friend...

Or this stillborn project based on the WT01N

Since you mention the Mud Blaster II, probably the most durable since it is lexan bodied but as you can see, pretty much any shell can be made to fit, here is mine painted in rally livery rather than the stock puke colour scheme! 

 

Just some ideas anyway...

[berman]

11 hours ago, MadInventor said:

I'd be very tempted by the GF-01 dump truck. I know it's 4wd, but at around £110 it's in your price bracket, is fairly new so spares are no issue, and if you really want 2wd you can always take the front drive shafts out

 

It's actually A brilliant little truck, in stock form. I am quite surprised at how well it handles considering it has a short wheelbase, pogo sticks, and being a variant of the wheelie brigade.

 

[Nitomor]

GF01 is great with its square wheelbase, though it is of course 4wd, there is of course the WR02 chassis though for 2wd to also consider!

[Jason1145]

Berman that is so wrong that it's right, a dump truck going that fast is quite comical! I have the good ol WR02 chassis already (WW2) so that's enough wheelie action for now

Nitomor... I see how flexible the WT-01 is now, thanks for those photo ops, look great.

Ebay UK has a fresh built BF 2016 up for sale right now but I'm letting it go... I'm now looking for the cheapest WT-01 I can get to the UK... My only reservation of the Mud Blaster 2 is the ugly box art finish but I am sure I can come up with something prettier as its only a lexan shell.

and once I have the WT-01 I can scope out either a BF shell or another of my favourites, the Subaru Brat and see if that'd fit, think that would look quite nice, a MT Brat?

[Nitomor]

The Mud Blaster is the Subaru Brat shell, the box art is awful but the body is clear so you have a blank canvas. Mine I just painted in rally blue and then used an impreza wrc decal set (currently sitting on my drift car) and only used some of the Mud Blaster decals on the rear bed, and of course the window surround decals etc.. 

[Jason1145]

11 minutes ago, Nitomor said:

The Mud Blaster is the Subaru Brat shell, the box art is awful but the body is clear so you have a blank canvas. Mine I just painted in rally blue and then used an impreza wrc decal set (currently sitting on my drift car) and only used some of the Mud Blaster decals on the rear bed, and of course the window surround decals etc.. 

And the planets align..... bliss

That is the best news I've had today.... such a coincidence I really had no idea..... so I'm basically getting my Subaru Brat on a WT-01 chassis.... like it was already made... which ofcourse it was, I just didn't know it lol.

Thanks so much Nitomor..... I'm searching out one right now during my lunch break if my colleagues stop pestering me!

[taffer]

I thought the mud blaster 2 colour scheme was decent when I did mine box art, I thought it was the name which didn't really fit in, should have been called something else!

they are a great chassis but not great straight from the box, they need a lot of upgrades and tinkering to get the best out of them

(I'm in the process of finishing my WF01 atm, its a fun upgrade process but costs extra money!)

[Jason1145]

Taffer I am sure you're MB2 came out great and ofcourse it's just a persona taste

So Taffer, did you mean your upgrades to a WT-01 or WF01?

What upgrades did you/are making to the Mud Blaster then if it's the WT-01 chassis you mean?