NIB Hornet Rerelease - $100. out in december :)

[DJTheo]

I don't understand the skeptics, from the photo of Jason on the first page to the promo photo of the built kit it looks exactly the same except the missing blisters, also Jason knows this stuff better then any other as he is next to the source, why doubt him?

I guess Tamiya didn't want to harm the collectors like with the re-release XR311, so they used a new model number, but still prices with drop significantly as they did also with original Dyna Storms.

That's why I keep saying, njoy the hobby for the fun it provides and not like an investment, as its a bad one.

Cheers

[ngbee]

I think its pretty clear now that the new Hornet will be exactly the same as the original (good news - especially if they re-issue the spares which they would have to do). From the pictures there would appear to be no differences at all.

To answer the bigger question of whether this will open the door for a re-release of all the vintage kits, I still doubt that very much. I think Tamiya would be critcised for re-releasing some of the very early kits that had known design weaknesses. Surely these older designs would need to be updated or re-hashed in some way before being released.

Anyway, if they do release more of them (and I hope they do!) I'll be the first in the queue to buy them (I'll have a Sand Scorcher please)[]

[netsmithUK]

I think anything is possible - its certainly going to be much cheaper for tamiya to release an old kit than develop a new one or even improve an old one. Its just a case of turning on the machine and collecting the cash []

I don't think they'll be criticised either for doing it if they get the pricing right. Sub $100 for a cheap and cheerful kit is not a bad price - previous peoples only other cheep option was their boy racer series which didn't even have dampers. At least with the hornet you are getting somethig bigger and better, which can be upgraded. Reviewers won't be reviewing them as serious contenders or comparing them to modern day racing buggies.

I think Tamiya HQ play their cards very close to their chest, none of the distributors any where else in the world have much clue as to what is going happen next and many of them don't keep their ears to the ground as much as our fantatical members, so I'm not surprised at all distributors haven't heard of it yet.

Chris

[vintageracer]

so has anyone actually got the link to the info of the re-release of the hornet ,, cause if its true , i want 10 of em!!!!!!!!!!![8D]

[vintageracer]

i just lost an auction on the bay for a new hornet body , it went for $123usd , so a few faces will turn sour if the new model does get released for around $100[8D]

(remember its not gonna happen till all the greg martins in the world agree to have their name used!,, lol)

[Lordcroker]

I think that these rumours are true about the re-released Hornet, but I doubt it will be the cheap fun kit that it once was []

It will probably be marketed towards us collectors who are seemingly willing to pay an almost limitless amount of cash for pieces of plastic []............ and priced accordingly.

In my opinion Tamiya would be very stupid to sell them for $100 when I think everybody on here would gladly part with $200+...I know I would lol

I am still dubious about it making it's way out of Japan and America.....so I think that HM customs and exise will make a nice bit of money out of all of us ordering our 'new' Hornets from Hong Kong!!

I for one am getting prepared to sell off my collection in order to raise funds for the re-released Hornet and also one of the last Midnight Pumpkins (or 2 for investment purposes []).....I had better go stock up on black paint [8D]

See you all on ebay heheheheehe!!!

[Martin71RS(2)]

If the rerelease is there the price will not be high I think... the number of "collecters" willing to pay $200 is a lot smaller then the number of people willing to pay $100...you do the maths....Tamiya will profit more from a cheap kit then from an expensive one (in this case)

Also when it would be $200 it would be more expensive then their own 4wd buggies.....bad marketing in my book.

As said earlier all tools/molds/plans are there allready so that cost has been covered a long time ago...

As I think back what my Hornet had to suffer way back when I was young and reckless I can safely say it is very rugged.

I even drove it with full bearings and a technituned motor back then... it survived everything I did with it......

did I mention I want one...???[]

well...I DO!

[Stevenchat2000]

Lol, I remember my girl friend going back 15 years ago who is now my wife [V]lol

Driving over my little hornet with my BMX bike , she stopped right on top of it , no kisses for her that that , still the same now lol

[RichieRich]

Tamiya is probably sitting back looking at how much NIB Hornets are on ebay and they're mad because they're not "in the game anymore". From a business standpoint, it might make sense to re-release the Hornet to capitalize on the market that exists right now. When you throw in the insane prices people are paying for consumables such as front tires, they are probably realizing they're sitting on a goldmine.

[Stevenchat2000]

Yes what Tamiya should do is make all the spares available again , hopefully some one out there is listening in

[supergreg]

I think we are all brainwashed by this beautyful website. I agree to what Martin71RS said above: Regarding a successfull marketing strategy we are a VERY SMALL target market compared to the kids buying modern R/C equipment. Maybe we think that it would be a good business for Tamiya to aim at the collectors market, but I have a feeling that they already checked this with their marketing and financial experts and came to the conclusion that it's NOT.

Maybe I'm wrong and will be disabused in december [8)]. Ready to place my order []

[ngbee]

quote:Originally posted by supergreg

I think we are all brainwashed by this beautyful website. I agree to what Martin71RS said above: Regarding a successfull marketing strategy we are a VERY SMALL target market compared to the kids buying modern R/C equipment. Maybe we think that it would be a good business for Tamiya to aim at the collectors market, but I have a feeling that they already checked this with their marketing and financial experts and came to the conclusion that it's NOT.

Maybe I'm wrong and will be disabused in december [8)]. Ready to place my order []

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I agreee. What self respecting kid of today would buy a Hornet when for the same money he could get a decent car that his mates wont laugh at. I know what its like to have a **** car (compared to everyone elses), I had a 2nd hand Holiday Buggy when I was 12 that I used to try and race (kids can be so cruel..). []

[Neil_S2000]

quote:Originally posted by supergreg

I think we are all brainwashed by this beautyful website. I agree to what Martin71RS said above: Regarding a successfull marketing strategy we are a VERY SMALL target market compared to the kids buying modern R/C equipment. Maybe we think that it would be a good business for Tamiya to aim at the collectors market, but I have a feeling that they already checked this with their marketing and financial experts and came to the conclusion that it's NOT.

Maybe I'm wrong and will be disabused in december [8)]. Ready to place my order []

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Completely agree, Tamiya have to be careful re-releasing old models, if they release too many they will be seen as a company that is living in the past and has run out of ideas. Not a good move when they are trying hard to be seen as making serious professional R/C racing cars. Despite what you may think, lots of the older models - even the most popular ones - will have a very limited market. Most of the people buying Tamiya's products now will be teenagers, many who weren't around when the original models first came out, and I bet you a penny to a pound they would rather buy the latest TRF carbon chassis over a Sand Scorcher.

I'd like to see Tamiya do limited releases of selected models every so often.

[mud4fun]

Guys, I have just read thru this thread and I have a couple of thoughts:

1) The Hornet is an ideal car to re-issue as it is almost identical to the current crop of base model buggies such as Mad Bull, Fighter Buggy and Mad Fighter. Same transaxle rear end with swing arm front. This has proven to be a rugged design and needs little improvement for its intended market. The Mad Bull type chassis differs mainly in the way it holds its battery (in my opinion better than the hornet) and a re-release hornet could well use a Mad Bull chassis.

(I see little point in Tamiya introducing a whole 'new' chassis to their line up when they have one that is very similar in the Fighter buggy. Should be easy enough to drop a Hornet shell on it like they dropped a Grasshopper shell on the Mad Bull [] )

2) My hornet came with Super Champ style spiked rear tyres NOT the Sand Scorcher paddles so if the re-release is faithful to original it won't effect SRB rear tyre prices. The front tyres are the same though but front tyres have never been that expensive anyway for SRB's as many Tamiya kits used those and they don't wear out very quickly as they are not driven wheels.

One thing to note though is that most Tamiya re-releases still use modern hex drives so you may find those wheels will be for a hex adaptor not the original star design. Even worse is that the modern Mad Bull/Fighter Buggy transaxle uses splined hexes []

3) A price of $100 estimated retail is not any indication of actual retail here in the UK. Despite the exchange rate I'd still suggest that a kit for $100 in US could still be £100+ in UK stores. I'd guess at a price in the same region as the Mad Bull though.

4) An endless supply of spare parts are not guaranteed for re-releases or even 'vintage' kits still in production. The Midnight Pumpkin even when still in production was difficult to source parts for. My LHS couldn't get them and I bought via ebay/mailorder.

[fatboyslim]

If i'm right Tamiya re-released the Dynastorm and (as yet) NO spares have been released!!

So you can get a NIB re-release Dynastorm but still have to pay silly prices for any spares!!

As Ian said the Hornet had Super Champ rear tyres it was the Grasshopper that had Scorcher Padla Traks!!

[Clinehobbies]

Why don't you guys just email tamiya service dept and ask for a replacement bodyset for your old hornet that you found in the attic from your child hood. and see what the reply is from tamiya. when I asked about a bodyset for my bmw m3. he stated it would be a few months untill a new version with the same bodyset was coming out.

Just a thought.

Bill

[Gixer Jay]

Lots of opinions on here.... So we'll all have to wait till December 7th and see what happens...

December 7th will either be a Sad Day or a Tamiya Holiday.

Positive thinking is good guys, but my thoughts and hopes can only be judged by what John at TAMIYA AMERICA told me. If it is re-released I'll take 2 PLEASE!![][][]

[TamiyaDan]

del

[El Mexican]

Worst case scenario:

Tamiya releasing a Super Hornet

with the original Hornet body.[8)]

Its a strange move to re-launch this kit, IMO,

isn´t there already a surplus of 2wb begginers

kits (Fighter buggy, etc)?

[mud4fun]

Other than the battery mounting in the fighter buggy/mad bull which is better than the hornet, I think the Hornet is actually the better chassis design. The steering on the Mad Bull/Fighter Buggy is pretty poor and isn't easy to upgrade. I also found the quality of plastic used on the later fighter buggy chassis types to be less rugged than on the hornet. The shock mounts are also fragile on the fighter buggy/Mad Bull. Maybe Tamiya are going to replace the 2WD buggy lineup with one based on the proper hornet chassis []

Now if they just added a 4 link rear end to that solid axle and wishbones up front it'd be a great little 'Basher' buggy.

Actually I think I've seen a TC member (Westy?) running a conversion on the front end of his Grasshopper/hornet for wishbones, using the existing lower swing arms but a modified steering upright and upper arms looked pretty cool [8D]

[Thunderbug]

Just noticed that Fusion Hobbies are now taking pre-orders for the Hornet. Priced at £110. Was hoping it would be a bit cheaper then that. Better start saving[]

[Fusion-Hobbies]

The price listed is just an estimate at the moment and should come down.

Thanks,

James

[Shodog]

quote:Originally posted by mud4fun

Actually I think I've seen a TC member (Westy?) running a conversion on the front end of his Grasshopper/hornet for wishbones, using the existing lower swing arms but a modified steering upright and upper arms looked pretty cool [8D]

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Here is the buggy your talking about http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...id=26355&id=803 It has the CRP FX-10 Hop up front suspension kit. this is a trick set up. I have a couple but mine are slated to go on my runner Midnight Pumpkin.

[mrlexan]

Shodog, Thanks for posting that link. YOU ROCK! I have one of those NIP and could figure out what it was. GREAT!!!!! Sorry that this is an un-related post.

On the Hornet note, I will be watching closely in Dec. I will take three!!!!! The Hornet was the fourth car I owned and cannot wait to get an affordable NIB kit. Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!

[netsmithUK]

Main UK Distributor seems to think its going to happen - but can't give any details yet.