e276: Buyers Guide Tamiya Frog Build Up!

[@jakewang243]

The MIP dif designed by AMPRO is the high light of this episode !!

[@AMPROEngineering]

I can’t take credit for the design, just six years of harassing them!

[@sofakingscalerc4656]

So I recently picked up a frog and searched your channel like crazy for info on them. I was like "he doesn't have a frog?" Lol. Looking forward to this series now that you have one!

[@AMPROEngineering]

Yeah project Poison Dart isnt much of a frog now, lol

[@simonkubacki9823]

thanks for being awesome!

[@AMPROEngineering]

Hahah! Thanks man

[@simonkubacki9823]

@@AMPROEngineering no problem, I hope you guava a great day!

[@clintcollins6540]

I love the idea of the hidden ESC to keep the vintage look. And I burst out laughing at the end when he said, "And no, that's NOT the body" lmao. Keep up the good work.

[@AMPROEngineering]

thank you!

[@SteadfastRC]

I get super excited when you do a buyers guide video, I absolutely love them! I have probably watched them all like 5 times each!

[@AMPROEngineering]

Well thank you very much. This video should be good

[@videorage]

The factory power switch position for the frog was mounted in the rear window of the body. Strange but true.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Yes I always hated that about the frog. My original body has the indentations on the back window for that

[@videorage]

@@AMPROEngineering does seem quite strange. I imagine a lot of people snapped the wires to the switch that way.

[@jinda70]

I got a Frog for 20 dollars over 30 years ago and cost me 40 for the Hot Trick Red Prince kit. That was good back in the day.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Oh that's super cool. I bet that kit is awesome

[@jinda70]

@@AMPROEngineering YES!! It was. Hot trick made some of the best upgrades.

[@Pablo668]

Interesting vid. I have a re-re Frog. It goes well. Bearings all the way thru, I put an anti-wear/friction grease in the front damper/spring area, actually damps ok. I also did the center mount steering servo mod and beefier balls/cups/steering rods. A TBLE esc and Spektrum compatible Rx. Quite happy with it, and a bit surprised at how good it is.

[@AMPROEngineering]

That's a pretty good set up you have there. It is surprising how composed this car is given its age

[@robertobuenrostro2781]

Gee this reminds me of RC Action Australia Frog giveaway contest. 🐸

[@AMPROEngineering]

Oh nice!

[@HarryMakesThings]

What I like about old RC, is that you had a lot of different ways of doing the same thing. Because there was no set blueprint or history to base off designers went a bit wild. The space frame of the ORV is an example, you'd never see something like that come out now, I'm sure you'd get laughed out if you suggested it. What I mean is perhaps more clear regarding hop ups and after market parts. Everyone's version of say dampers was very different - maybe due to trying to stand out or because there wasn't that normal standard to work from. Now it's much of a muchness because threaded body coil overs are fairly universal (not that that's bad of course)

[@AMPROEngineering]

What was cool about this Vintage was that people didn't know what to do yet. They were still learning as to what made cars the scale as good as cars that were full-scale

[@jon.steele]

When upgrading to the MIP differential it's worth noting the different size bearings in the Monster Beetle gear set, (850's not 1150 as Brat/Frog) as ive just discovered :) Love the informative build

[@AMPROEngineering]

Man I never realized that. I have always swapped the gears out so good point

[@camrowdrone6497]

Enjoyed 👍🏻

[@AMPROEngineering]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@nobudgetrc6063]

Mine has that same CRP front bumper, along with a rear bumper and chassis brace

[@AMPROEngineering]

They are cool vintage pieces

[@Joe_Hutchinson513]

I've been waiting a long time for an ORV video. Blackfoot next PLEASE

[@AMPROEngineering]

Yes we're going chronologically through the series

[@achdetalonlefuneste4283]

Super cool comme toujours

[@AMPROEngineering]

Thank you!

[@cjbainbridge]

Great video, I'd definitely be interested to hear more discussion on the MIP Ball Diff setup for Frogs. I've got the diff coming for my Frog and the Monster Beetle Pinion/Gears required, but this will surely be too slow (as you mentioned in the video) for the Frogs smaller wheels. I presume I might need an adjustable motor mount and different pinion to make it close to the original gearing? I've got several AMPRO bits on my frog, (I really like the underbelly plates in particular, very strong and neat). Any chance you could do a front knuckle to go with the standard (shockless) front end? Similar to 041003-01, but without the shock mount and retaining the original geometry so we can do away with the nasty steel bracket, bolt and spring/lock washers. Love videos and parts, keep them coming!

[@AMPROEngineering]

Personally the car is plenty fast with the stock motor and the Blackfoot gears. I don't like the motor mounts as I've never found them particularly conducive to this application. I've owned two of them and just stopped using them. To make it faster I would just get a little bit better of a stock motor. When you see this running you'll see that it's actually quite good with this ancient stock motor.

[@cjbainbridge]

@@AMPROEngineering That's great to hear, I just presumed the Monster Beetle gearing was more torquey so was a little concerned it would slow my Frog down but if it doesn't/not much that wont be a problem, can't wait for my ball diff to arrive. Thanks for the reply.

[@mysterygamer48]

Damn. I’m jealous of this frog. I’m restoring one I found in my schools makers lab just got the gearbox sorted out and I wish I knew about the diff mod sooner. Would’ve saved me a lot of time and a bit of money.

[@AMPROEngineering]

yeah I totally hear you!

[@rcalltypes8230]

Nice one, I would of fitted all the options too. If you have them, why not. Box art may be?

[@AMPROEngineering]

The body is done...not quite box art...lol

[@rcalltypes8230]

@@AMPROEngineering I wasn’t holding my breath, I’ve seen so many of your Videos. Still, I want to see it lol PS: MIP/AMPRO HotShot, track video 🙏

[@will4688]

Would you do a video on ex transmitter installation and buyers guide ?

[@AMPROEngineering]

I actually am planning that!

[@diver362]

Awesome chassis! I’m sure you already know this, but dunking those bright white rims in some espresso for about 15-30 min will give them a nice bone colour.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Since the video I swap them for the originals on my hornets but that's a good trick

[@diver362]

AMPRO Engineering Awesome! I love your content. Inspired me to pick up an old Hornet and Grasshopper. Wish I could post it here and show you

[@MrWmaginn]

I like what's been done with those front shocks. I wonder if I could achieve the same thing with modern shocks? Also, would they fit?

[@AMPROEngineering]

The geometry isnt good. The best bet is the JunFac front towers (that are hideous), the CRP vintage ones that use small shocks or the Ampro ones seen in episode 233.

[@tacomancini]

Did you ever figure out how to get to the o-ring in those you-g front dampers? I have a pair as well and trying to find out if they are worth putting into use with some tweaking.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Na I never bothered. They arent very good anyway so I didnt think it was worth it. I like the look mainly.

[@emory442]

I was working on a Monster Beetle replica a few years ago, and was frustrated with needing more options with the brass tubing, so I ended up getting a 12" length of it off Ebay (China). Made my project so much easier. I have a question about this build, though. I remember reading over and over back in the day to not wrap the antenna like that. That it would cause problems with reception. Did RCCA steer me wrong all those years ago?

[@AMPROEngineering]

No they did not. It was not good for reception and was susceptible to damage in a roll over. Now I run 2.4 Ghz radios and have the wire inside the car.

[@verdman54]

Still can not get the dog bones to stop falling out of on the re-release 😅

[@AMPROEngineering]

I know, so dumb. You need to limit travel. The dog bone was a much worse option than the original hex. Well done Tamiya.,

[@laurencemaud8205]

Hi,can you still buy those front and rear shocks that you have shown in your video also where could you buy them from and what size are those shocks and what size thread drill do you use for the small hole.Thanks from NewZealand

[@AMPROEngineering]

Not new. Maybe you can find them on ebay but just to be clear, they are not very good. The rears are stock length and the front is something like 45mm. The small hole is a 3mm.

[@bestamerica]

' my both ORV cars are both either motors on the both sides... 1- motor on the right side frog 1- motor on the left side half tamtraxx

[@AMPROEngineering]

I'll have to check that out

[@crashsoome]

Are any of the blue Parts still available for purchase anywhere? Ty ps. I have an 80's frog it came with 3 different gear ratios, cool option but a big pain as you had to remove and split the gear case every time. I have a thorp ball diff in that one.

[@AMPROEngineering]

Sorry man, all this is used now. Yes, I think all the frogs came with that. I had a few thorps but I got rid of them all for the MIP one. Boy they were a lot better than those old bevel gears.

[@RC-ty5ym]

First like, then watch

[@AMPROEngineering]

Glad to hear it

[@ambaradan66]

Major issue back in the days was rear axle/drivecup exagonal design. Has it been fixed with the re-release? Any option available?

[@AMPROEngineering]

So...kind of. They made a version with dog bones that would not work right due to the extreme geometry of the trailing arm extension, so they would fall out. Then they made a CVD axle...that would bind until full extension. So not really. This pissed me off so much that I solved it with the double wishbone rear suspension I designed. Episode 35.

[@ambaradan66]

@@AMPROEngineering thanks. The Frog was my first ever racing buggy and thought about buying the re-release version cause my old one broke the chassis and ended up in pieces i've sold to a buddy. Two issues i know were keeping me from buying it, besides the stupid dogbones design, the other one is the front lower end of the chassis, right before the front suspensions where the alluminum lower plate screws and the chassis is thinner. Snapped the chassis twice exactly in the same spot. ( such a disapointment and delusion lead my choice to Hirobo Rock n'Go for the next season)

[@bestamerica]

' i have 2 tamiya ORV cars... 1- tamiya frog car 1- half tamiya / half traxxas car already in my channel video

[@AMPROEngineering]

Oh perfect.

[@truestory9891]

It's ridiculous how expensive the CRP bumper and Nerf side bars/rails are I understand the vintage standpoint but still tho

[@AMPROEngineering]

Oh yeah they are high now. Used to be all over eBay for next to nothing.

[@martinneps9387]

The super Blackfoot trucks the originals did you ever make in upgrade for the front End of those trucks please comment back I purchased to of Them in the front ends are sloppy please comment back thank you

[@AMPROEngineering]

It will be done when you see it here. I have not touched either.

[@martinneps9387]

@@AMPROEngineering Because I picked up the 1st Gen. Of the Blackfoot's And the front ends are sloppy

[@brucebenner7606]

the msc its not slow it needs to move around more to the left and right witch means u only had it in first gear lol not 3rd gear

[@AMPROEngineering]

Sorry you lost me.

[@ericcxxxx]

Why 2 esc???

[@AMPROEngineering]

I like the look of the original speed control but utterly despise them. Also I have an entire tub full of them so this allows me to get rid of them without throwing them out. It also adds weight which makes these cars handle much better given the significantly lighter lithium batteries they now have

[@ericcxxxx]

@@AMPROEngineering ok cool thanks

[@ericcxxxx]

@@AMPROEngineering and what esc do you recommend for the 540 motor?

[@drumzilla60]

Those You G shocks are soooo bad, but could of been so good....

[@AMPROEngineering]

They are so bad indeed.....but they look so good....so bad....

[@millboss1372]

Cool as s@#t man!

[@AMPROEngineering]

Haha! Thanks!

[@wildcat650power]

Should just not bother with the MSC....its something most don't care to see and usually makes the model look awkward imo

[@AMPROEngineering]

I do hate them but I cant bring myself to toss them.