What to get to bash with?

[Peter_B]

I now have a few cars, some vintage (Blackfoot, RC10, Procat, Twin Detonator), a couple of re-releases (Boomerang, Super Clodbuster). A couple of them aren't yet runners (Procat and RC10).

At the minute my running is at the same time as my little boys, with their Lunchbox and Mad Bull).

They're getting better (not 4 'til November) but they do seem to like a collision. I like to try and keep my cars "nice" so I'm wary of running them knowing they are likely to get a whack.

Mostly I run the Clodbuster as that's big enough to shrug off the hits (although there is then the risk of their cars coming off worst). But, as much as I love the Clod, sometimes I fancy a change.

So I got to thinking of what else I could get, that would be different, and that could take a knock or two. I'm thinking maybe 2wd, puts me in the same boat as the boys, and I'm also thinking of something with larger wheels.

I'd love a Monster Beetle but that would be one I'd want to keep nice. Then I got to thinking of something like an Aqroshot, or a Stadium Blitzer/Thunder.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

[wilsonian]

What about something that uses the TT-02B chassis or perhaps the DT-03?

[Peter_B]

2 minutes ago, wilsonian said:

What about something that uses the TT-02B chassis or perhaps the DT-03?

I'd probably prefer to go more truck-ish, it more suits the garden running that we do.

But, by all means, throw some model names at me and I'll have a peek (I can never keep track of what chassis is under which model).

[ThunderDragonCy]

I love my DT03 with truck wheels on it. Just get a super cheap Neo Fighter off one of the German shops, graft on your favourite body if you don't like the Neo. Options are, get some Blitzer Beetle uprights and wheels, some 2.2" truck tyres (i use Schumacher Cut Stagger and Vee4) or get Lunchbox or Mad Bull uprights and some Mad Bull wheels and have a modern Bull that actually handles. Here's my Grasshopper DT(0)3

 

[Munchbox]

For the DT03 you're looking at the Neo Fighter or Racing Fighter. Tt02b is the neo scorcher and Plasma Edge 2. 

Both are buggies, the TT02b having extremely small clearance. I can't say I would recommend either for bumper cars with the likes of 2 extremely rugged cars like the Lunchbox and Mad Bull. If anything the Dt02 is supposedly stronger than the dt03, the 03 having reports of rear arm support breaking off the gearboxes.

You should consider another Lunchbox or Mad Bull. For something different a WT01 could be a good basher. For other brands check out the Traxxas Stampede and Ecx Ruckus, both very capable monster truck type bashers with readily available upgrade and replacement parts.

[Peter_B]

Just now, ThunderDragonCy said:

I love my DT03 with truck wheels on it. Just get a super cheap Neo Fighter off one of the German shops, graft on your favourite body if you don't like the Neo. Options are, get some Blitzer Beetle uprights and wheels, some 2.2" truck tyres (i use Schumacher Cut Stagger and Vee4) or get Lunchbox or Mad Bull uprights and some Mad Bull wheels and have a modern Bull that actually handles. Here's my Grasshopper DT(0)3

 

Isn't the Aqroshot based on the DT03? With the Blitzer style wheels already?

[wilsonian]

Fighter Buggy

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-racing-fighter-buggy-dt-03/rc-car-products/397241

 

Plasma Edge

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-plasma-edge-ii-buggy-tt-02b-/rc-car-products/397244

 

[Prescient]

Traxxas X Max 

[ThunderDragonCy]

10 minutes ago, Peter_B said:

Isn't the Aqroshot based on the DT03? With the Blitzer style wheels already?

Yes, but it is rare for some reason and miles more expensive than the Neo Fighter. It would be worth adding it up with the truck parts, but you can p8ck up a Neo Fighter with ESC on eBay for about £68. You can alwats sell the brand new buggy wheels and tyres to make a bit back.

[ThunderDragonCy]

PS - the tyres on the Aqroshot are small and rubbish so budget for something bigger and toothier anyway.

[Peter_B]

2 minutes ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

Yes, but it is rare for some reason and miles more expensive than the Neo Fighter. It would be worth adding it up with the truck parts, but you can p8ck up a Neo Fighter with ESC on eBay for about £68. You can alwats sell the brand new buggy wheels and tyres to make a bit back.

Aqroshot is on Tamico for 84 euros at the minute.

[Peter_B]

4 minutes ago, Prescient said:

Traxxas X Max 

I don't want to run people over!

[ThunderDragonCy]

Perfect. Get some big tyres are you're golden. I would recommend getting some adhesive 1:1 car wheel weights. I have stashed about 40 grams around the front of my 03 and it really helps the handling. My build thread gas loads on the setups I have tried for various surfaces. Mine has a lot of hop ups now but you don't need them really. I just like tinkering. 

[ThunderDragonCy]

 

[Prescient]

7 minutes ago, Peter_B said:

I don't want to run people over!

Honestly if you aren't getting satisfaction from the Super Clod and Twin Detonator which are probably Tamiya's two best and most resilient off road bashers, the buggies and stadium trucks although a bit faster will leave you cold. 

If you want more speed and bashability then you really need to move to a Brushless Traxxas such as X Maxx or possibly the brushless 4x4 Stampede / Slash if budget is tight. 

I presume you are running a Hobbywing 860 and 3s lipo in your Clod on the silvercans because if not that's £50 well spent.

 

[Peter_B]

1 minute ago, Prescient said:

Honestly if you aren't getting satisfaction from the Super Clod and Twin Detonator which are probably Tamiya's two best and most resilient off road bashers, the buggies and stadium trucks although a bit faster will leave you cold. 

If you want more speed and bashability then you really need to move to a Brushless Traxxas such as X Maxx or possibly the brushless 4x4 Stampede / Slash if budget is tight. 

I presume you are running a Hobbywing 860 and 3s lipo in your Clod on the silvercans because if not that's £50 well spent.

 

It's not that I'm not satisfied with them. I'm actually pretty happy with the speed and handling of both of them.

Both are running TEU-106BK ESC's and I only run 7.2v NiMH. But like I say it's not about performance.

It's just that I sometimes fancy a change from a 4wd monster truck and something where I don't mind too much if it gets a knock from the boys cars.

[Percymon]

I'll throw a wild card in, in the form of the Levant.

Never a great seller due to the Traxxas Slash /EMaxx presence and silly initial Tamiya pricing, but they are 100 euros at Tamico currently which for a reasonable tough  (lexan body) big tyred stadium truck that will shrug off a few knocks and work weel in the garden thats a good deal..

XB prebuilt and painted, just add eletrics..

 

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-XB-Levant-ohne-Elektronik

 

[Prescient]

20 minutes ago, Peter_B said:

It's not that I'm not satisfied with them. I'm actually pretty happy with the speed and handling of both of them.

Both are running TEU-106BK ESC's and I only run 7.2v NiMH. But like I say it's not about performance.

It's just that I sometimes fancy a change from a 4wd monster truck and something where I don't mind too much if it gets a knock from the boys cars.

In that case a Stadium Blitzer or Stadium Thunder from time tunnel models. Bargains at the moment, I prefer the Thunder's looks but both are classics. 

Polycarbonate shells so more resilient than the Blitzer Beetle that shares the chassis.

Alternatively, curve ball of the Kong Head or Wild Willy 2

[Peter_B]

23 minutes ago, Percymon said:

I'll throw a wild card in, in the form of the Levant.

Never a great seller due to the Traxxas Slash /EMaxx presence and silly initial Tamiya pricing, but they are 100 euros at Tamico currently which for a reasonable tough  (lexan body) big tyred stadium truck that will shrug off a few knocks and work weel in the garden thats a good deal..

XB prebuilt and painted, just add eletrics..

 

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-XB-Levant-ohne-Elektronik

 

That does look interesting. Can't find much info about it or spares etc though.

 

24 minutes ago, Prescient said:

In that case a Stadium Blitzer or Stadium Thunder from time tunnel models. Bargains at the moment, I prefer the Thunder's looks but both are classics. 

Polycarbonate shells so more resilient than the Blitzer Beetle that shares the chassis.

Alternatively, curve ball of the Kong Head or Wild Willy 2

I like the Stadium Thunder too.

Aqroshot seems to be more "current" though so parts might be more readily available.

Neither the Konghead or Wild Willy 2 grab me really. That upcoming Konghead with the school bus body interests me more.

[TurnipJF]

In terms of offroad ability and handling, I can recommend a DT-03T Aqroshot with Mad Bull wheels and tyres. All the offroad practicality of the DT-01 Mad Bull, with the considerably more refined suspension of the DT-03 platform, and (to my eye at least) a really attractive bodyshell with sleek modern looks.

 

As for the rear arm "issue", the DT-02 and DT-03 share the same gearbox and arms, so I don't see how one can be any stronger or weaker than the other. 

[Peter_B]

8 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

In terms of offroad ability and handling, I can recommend a DT-03T Aqroshot with Mad Bull wheels and tyres. All the offroad practicality of the DT-01 Mad Bull, with the considerably more refined suspension of the DT-03 platform, and (to my eye at least) a really attractive bodyshell with sleek modern looks.

 

As for the rear arm "issue", the DT-02 and DT-03 share the same gearbox and arms, so I don't see how one can be any stronger or weaker than the other. 

Thanks, I think I'm leaning towards the Aqroshot. Especially with the price at Tamico.

Do Mad Bull wheels fit straight on?

[TurnipJF]

 

8 minutes ago, Peter_B said:

Thanks, I think I'm leaning towards the Aqroshot. Especially with the price at Tamico.

Do Mad Bull wheels fit straight on?

Yes they do. The Aqroshot is supplied with the long stub axles required for the Mad Bull wheels, so they bolt straight on with no mods.

[Prescient]

Another plus for the Aqroshot is you can buy a whole racing fighter buggy for spares and the hop ups list is almost endless. 

Great thread thanks to @Nitomor here.

 

[nowinaminute]

If you're wiling to stray from Tamiya, I hear nothing but good about the 2WD ECX torment, seems like incredible vfm and way tougher than it has any right to be.

[magnumb]

I've had more fun with my HPI Wheely King than other kit. I keep going back to it. The only other kit close to it seems to be MST MTX-1 which is launching soon.

Solid axle, fun and easy to work on, can be configured in many different ways and cheap. The kit originally came out as a 2WD and now only offered in 4WD, but just take out the drive shaft for 2wd. This truck doesn't need brushless and giant packs....it's plenty fun with just a bushed setup on 2s. Also check out the crawler king it configured a little different with a longer wheelbase.

My Blackfoot is close 2nd as it also lots of character.