Andreascanr 2 Posted August 25, 2018 Hi! I am so glad to have found this forum! Hopefully someone can help me out here. I have an old Tamiya QD monster beetle from the early early 90s. It’s missing both transmitter and receiver antennas. They broke of many years ago. Now I have a six year old son who would love to play with the old car. Would it be possible for someone to help me out with measuring the antennas exact length? That way I would be able to order spares. //Andreas (a hopeful dad) :-) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 Welcome Andeas, its a fun car not just for the young. Finding the right antenna may be hard, the antenna on the car is just an spring wire, remote i have been looking for ages to find replacement. I have a set so i will measure them, maybe you have more luck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreascanr 2 Posted August 25, 2018 Thank you so much for your help and time! I'm looking forward to hearing about the length of the antennas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 Lenght of remote antenna: 50cm, Insert diameter: 4.5mm, thread M3 Lenght of car antenna: 30.5cm the little bend is 1.5cm total wire approx 32cm, wire thickness .9mm 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreascanr 2 Posted August 25, 2018 Big big BIG thanks!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteban s 0 Posted August 25, 2018 Look out on ebay,these come up from time to time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteban s 0 Posted August 25, 2018 Recently bought a car antenna for my QD Monster Beetle on ebay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteban s 0 Posted August 25, 2018 One for sale at this moment on ebay! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 6€ for a piece of metal/piano wire and a bit of plastic. The car antenna can be easily DIY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 I asked a ebay seller of telescopic antenne if he has some that may fit. Also checked a qd remote max diameter which fits would be 5mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 Mmm short but could work L-250mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 25, 2018 If you look at ebay or amazon there are several providers that sell 4.3mm antennas that are approx 450mm long. I also DIY an antenna out of 300mm bicycle shifter cable and an M3 socket screw. Worked Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreascanr 2 Posted August 25, 2018 Thanks for all the great answers and your time. I heard from my local rc-shop that it is really important that the antennas are the exact right length and width. Do you mean that it works even with a slightly shorter antenna? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted August 26, 2018 Exact length imo is important for the 2.4 receiver antenna, with 27mhz I always had different lengths of wire on all kind of different brands receiver. Sure Google can answer that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreascanr 2 Posted August 26, 2018 Oh well he probably was talking about 2.4 ghz then. I'll try. Thank you again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
berman 5315 Posted August 26, 2018 Length is also important with AM radios, not as exact as 2.4ghz though. I was going to buy a QD antenna for my MB, but had 3 new SRB antennas sitting around, so cut the wind off the end and duplicated the QD base with some needle nose pliers. Works fine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreascanr 2 Posted August 28, 2018 I have tried it now with a really really short antenna on the transmitter and a piece of piano-wire om the reciever and it works! My son (and me ofcourse) LOVES IT! It hasn't got the same reach as when I was a kid but it works. I will find a longer antenna to fix it. Btw! Batteries nowadays are a badword of a lot better than in the nineties! Thanks again for the help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterbok 1282 Posted September 18, 2018 So here are the result of todays test. From left to right, original QD, 4.3 x 440mm replacement, 5mmx290mm flexible. Original and replacement on the right Flexible Range test, original Tamiya fully extended, remote held at approx 1m height - distance approx 50m Replacement 440mm - dist. approx 50m Flexible 290mm - dist. approx. 30m Cost: Replacement 440mm about 4€ Flexible 290mm about 5,50€ Really liked the flexible antenna even if range is less as with original but due to the size of the car and taking into account that its for kids. Thumbs Up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites