Switching gears, which kit next?

[Saito2]

I had a layout of the Tamiya kits I had planned on getting this summer: a DT02/3 for my daughter,  a Super Clod for a race-Clod build and an Avante runner. That's all out the window thanks to Tamiya. I won't/can't be supporting them anymore (new kits anyway). So, that DT02 is now going to be a Traxxas Bandit for my daughter. That Super Clod will be replaced by an Axial SMT10 and the Avante will be pushed aside for the Cat XLS I've been threatening to buy.

So which do I go for first, the SMT10 (which will torn down, re-bodied and rebuilt to hold brushless power) or the Cat XLS? Both will be totally new to me as I've never laid a finger on a Schumacher or Axial product. The SMT10 will be more useful where I drive and I have a Castle 4600 that desperately needs a home. It would be nice to not have to buy a radio too. The Cat XLS, will be a challenge and I'm not keen on belt drive but I've been assured they have sublime handling. How long do belts last anyways? I run my cars for decades. I know these choices are on opposite sides of the spectrum but Tamiya's MAP has finally given me the push I needed to branch out.

[Jonathon Gillham]

For me it would be the Cat XLS, but then I'm biased towards buggies.  From what I've heard the build is challenging but its worth it in the end.

I wouldn't be concerned about belts, the current Schumacher, Losi and Xray 4wd competition buggies are belt drive as well as just about every touring car out there, so they can't be that bad.  Belts are also pretty cheap ($10 - $20) so replacements every year or so isn't a major, but I would expect them to last a few years anyway.

[Juls1]

You do realise the map is a tamiya America thing only. Ie: American distributor decision. And only for America. It’s not a Tamiya Japan decision. (In other words an American businessman come up with the idea. It’s nothing to do with Tamiya themselves)

You can still buy your tamiyas from Hong Kong and Japan at cheap prices. Also your lfs can sell tamiya at whatever price they like. They just can’t advertise a low price. 

[Biz73]

5 minutes ago, Juls1 said:

You do realise the map is a tamiya America thing only. Ie: American distributor decision. And only for America. It’s not a Tamiya Japan decision. (In other words an American businessman come up with the idea. It’s nothing to do with Tamiya themselves)

You can still buy your tamiyas from Hong Kong and Japan at cheap prices. Also your lfs can sell tamiya at whatever price they like. They just can’t advertise a low price. 

Where did you hear that Tamiya Japan had nothing to do with it?

[Saito2]

Please elaborate. I asked this question when this all went down (hoping it wasn't Tamiya Japan behind it) and no one could give me a concrete answer. The most I've gleaned is that some countries have laws against MAP and that's why every country hasn't been affected. Considering how little pull Tamiya America has claimed to have with Tamiya Japan in the past I'm surprised they could just reset prices for the American market on their own. Sorry for going off topic.

[tamiya3speed]

I have heard similar regarding the MAP decision.  The problem is, you have to find a local dealer who would be willing to sell you a kit closer to the price 3 weeks ago vs the current price.  Not much incentive to the lhs with the price jacked up everywhere else unless they already had it on the shelf and need to move it.  

Hong Kong is a good option but shipping can be expensive.  I have never had an issue with an order from the bigger Hong Kong suppliers (knock on wood).  

[tamiya3speed]

Let me add, I have an XLS nib.  I have heard the build is a nightmare (that is actually the reason I bought it).  Check the manual online so you know what you are getting into.  I hear they run very nice though.

[Grotty Otty]

Go for the XLS. Hardest kit I've built but probably the most rewarding for it. Tricky parts are cutting out the belt covers, the steering assembly (cheat and do it when you first assemble the top deck) and tensioning the front belt whilst tightening up the front gearbox. There is just a few fiddly bits but the end result is awesome. All I've had to do to mine is re-tension the rear belts after about ten runs which is actually quite easy as you just rotate the eccentric bearing holders round. I'm on a nimh, TBLE-02S and a 17.5 brushless which is plenty quick enough. 

[markbt73]

I don't blame you on the Bandit; their new lower pricing is hard to pass up, for a basic basher like that. What is it now, $139 without battery/charger?

Axial stuff is nice, good high quality parts and pleasant to work on. It's a shame that the SMT10 isn't available as a kit for less money. I turned one of the old AX-10 crawlers into a brushless monster years ago, and it was a hoot, and the only thing I ever broke was one front hub.

[TurnipJF]

17 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Please elaborate. I asked this question when this all went down (hoping it wasn't Tamiya Japan behind it) and no one could give me a concrete answer. The most I've gleaned is that some countries have laws against MAP and that's why every country hasn't been affected. Considering how little pull Tamiya America has claimed to have with Tamiya Japan in the past I'm surprised they could just reset prices for the American market on their own. Sorry for going off topic.

I don't claim to have any inside information, but let's consider this logically.

If Tamiya Japan was at the centre of this MAP thing, surely they would want it implemented in every country that doesn't specifically outlaw it. However correct me if I am wrong, but so far it is only the US that has been hit.

So unless Tamiya Japan have something against Americans specifically, logic suggests that this is a Tamiya America initiative, not a directive from head office.

[Mark_C]

I haven't seen much in the way of price rises in the UK, rules are different of course, but all they'd need to do is raise the wholesale price, retailers would have to pass on the increase.

[qatmix]

The thing is MAP doesn’t give tamiya more money. It gives the seller more profit. 

[Sayer]

17 hours ago, qatmix said:

The thing is MAP doesn’t give tamiya more money. It gives the seller more profit. 

The problem is that it hinges on there being people clamoring for Tamiya kits specifically, rather than just "a cool and fast RC car they can have fun with". The seller sees exactly none of the increased profit if the customer balks at the Tamiya price - value ratio and buys a competitor instead.

[skinned]

$430.00 for sand scorcher now in the USA?....geeez..

[smirk-racing]

So sad to see the clod get thrown out with the bathwater. 

What were you planning to use from the super clod? If you were planning on a fully-modded race clod, perhaps you were only going to use the axles. And even with those axles you might be using CVDs that are not from Tamiya. At that point you’re using something like $100 worth of plastic gearbox housings and gears out of what might be a $1000+ racing monster truck. It is a pretty small percentage from Tamiya.

The dual-MOA racing mod clod is a unique vehicle (for those that like solid axle rigs) and no other truck I know of is quite the same. 

You can get all the Tamiya components you need from Crawford Performance Engineering at good prices.