Lunchbox or Monster Beetle

[tadcooke]

39 minutes ago, vanpeebles said:

I would say Monster Beetle. The GH2 is a similar build/spec to the Lunchbox.

I think I'm going to play it safe and get a LB, then when the kids wrestle it off me I'll have an excuse to buy an MB... (then not let them drive it)

[c64orinoco]

12 hours ago, Saito2 said:

I was waiting for that . It seems to the be Tamiyaclub way .

In Dec 2019 I joined Tamiya club with a TT02B on order. Now I have 12, er, no, 13 cars, inlcuding a Lunchbox. I have a Sand Scorcher tucked away for my wife's birthday. She already has a Comical Frog.
Get both the Lunchbox and Monster Beetle, build both and then decide which one you like.

[Frog Jumper]

3 hours ago, tadcooke said:

wow that's a great job! 

Not mine

[Cynan]

32 minutes ago, c64orinoco said:

In Dec 2019 I joined Tamiya club with a TT02B on order. Now I have 12, er, no, 13 cars, inlcuding a Lunchbox. I have a Sand Scorcher tucked away for my wife's birthday. She already has a Comical Frog.
Get both the Lunchbox and Monster Beetle, build both and then decide which one you like.

Lol! I got a HS2 for a 40th present to myself, that’s turned into a second HS2 with mods for a runner, a lunchbox for the nephew, a 3 speed, now a Monster Beetle, an Avante is on back order and soon to be the Super Avante! Also keep looking at an Egress, Top Force Evo and a Wild Willy!

As for space… that’s the question my wife keeps asking all the time!

[tadcooke]

Keeping an eye on MBs on ebay - anyone seen this one? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273817304000?hash=item3fc0c87bc0:g:4LMAAOSwpclcvduX

[Saito2]

That Monster Beetle pictured above looks familiar, similar to one that was built here on Tamiyaclub...

[TurnipJF]

12 hours ago, tadcooke said:

Keeping an eye on MBs on ebay - anyone seen this one? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273817304000?hash=item3fc0c87bc0:g:4LMAAOSwpclcvduX

Hmm. Not quite my cup of tea, but it looks like someone put a lot of effort into it so I hope it gave them joy to do so. Personally I prefer them closer to stock:

 

[tadcooke]

8 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Hmm. Not quite my cup of tea, but it looks like someone put a lot of effort into it so I hope it gave them joy to do so. Personally I prefer them closer to stock:

 

Yes I agree, am interested to see how it drives with those rear wheels, but it's on for £900 so not for me! Looks good with the black bodywork!

[nowinaminute]

Do you prefer front suspension that doesn't move or rear suspension that doesn't move? 🤣

Seriously, though, they both have strengths and weaknesses.

The Lunchbox has a much tougher transmission (maybe the toughest all plastic 1/10 gearbox you can get without a clutch) but the rear suspension locks up under throttle so it's pretty bouncy at the back (although the big tyres help a bit and it's much better off road than the Grasshopper and Hornet that it derives from.) And the front suspension has crazy camber changes so it's a bit all over the place but in a fun way.

They have a reputation for tipping over but I don't find them that bad personally, they understeer so much you can keep them upright but just using a little throttle while turning I find.

MB handles better out if the box I think. The front suspension is fairly over sprung and doesn't move much I find but the rear works really nicely and you can see the arms moving up and down freely over the terrain. It's much less bouncy. It jumps much better too. Hard to jump the Lunchbox more than a few inches without the free energy device in the rear end making it launch into the air with more force than it landed with in the first place.

The gearbox is weaker though and famous for slipping. There are ways to overcome this though. The rear drive shafts have a habit of popping out too and if you use enough o rings to stop it then it makes the arms binds halfway through their travel. I found using actual metal shims between the  drive cups and gearbox rather than o rings INSIDE the cups helped to sort it out, though.

I couldn't say one is better than the other, really. Just different. MB is a bit more refined I would say and Lunchbox is more of a Handful but in a fun way. Both look fantastic. 

 

[KEV THE REV]

On 6/25/2021 at 9:58 AM, Re-Bugged said:

It still gets scratched, plastic will always come off second best with road rash, mine has had a couple of rollovers but I've managed to buff them out. Because the colour of the plastic is all the way through they don't show up nearly as much as a painted shell with the primers and under coats getting exposed. A quick buff up (even over the decals) brings it up good again. I use one that is applied wth a damp cloth.

 

With regard to running out of money or space first, I find they are usually simultaneous events 😉

 

I think the LB will be a great choice, enjoy it.

Love the wheel rim detailing !! - a very sharp looking truck . I need to get mine finished now I've seen yours .

[tadcooke]

18 minutes ago, nowinaminute said:

Do you prefer front suspension that doesn't move or rear suspension that doesn't move? 🤣

Seriously, though, they both have strengths and weaknesses.

The Lunchbox has a much tougher transmission (maybe the toughest all plastic 1/10 gearbox you can get without a clutch) but the rear suspension locks up under throttle so it's pretty bouncy at the back (although the big tyres help a bit and it's much better off road than the Grasshopper and Hornet that it derives from.) And the front suspension has crazy camber changes so it's a bit all over the place but in a fun way.

They have a reputation for tipping over but I don't find them that bad personally, they understeer so much you can keep them upright but just using a little throttle while turning I find.

MB handles better out if the box I think. The front suspension is fairly over sprung and doesn't move much I find but the rear works really nicely and you can see the arms moving up and down freely over the terrain. It's much less bouncy. It jumps much better too. Hard to jump the Lunchbox more than a few inches without the free energy device in the rear end making it launch into the air with more force than it landed with in the first place.

The gearbox is weaker though and famous for slipping. There are ways to overcome this though. The rear drive shafts have a habit of popping out too and if you use enough o rings to stop it then it makes the arms binds halfway through their travel. I found using actual metal shims between the  drive cups and gearbox rather than o rings INSIDE the cups helped to sort it out, though.

I couldn't say one is better than the other, really. Just different. MB is a bit more refined I would say and Lunchbox is more of a Handful but in a fun way. Both look fantastic. 

 

good tips there, thanks! ultimately I can see me ending up with both, but I'm seeing if I can find a repairable MB on ebay to start with, if not then I'll get a new LB, fate will decide!!

[nowinaminute]

3 hours ago, tadcooke said:

good tips there, thanks! ultimately I can see me ending up with both, but I'm seeing if I can find a repairable MB on ebay to start with, if not then I'll get a new LB, fate will decide!!

 

[Saito2]

Here's that one I was thinking of earlier similar to the one in the auction.