LOVE Tamiya RC Cars but HATE Building them? This is for you!

[@Mikupigeon]

Building is fun, especially for kids!

[@MischaESC2]

My first adult RC car is the DT-03. I upgraded it to 2S/3S brushless, and at top speed it's 50+ mph now for not a lot of money. Looking forward to your attempt, Phil! Great video as ever!

[@RACEABLE]

Quiet, beautiful, slow, nostalgic.. (I would like longer videos and your thoughts about the car..i enjoyed them eithrway)

[@Ro99]

I wish there were so many cars that were kit cars like Tamiya’s normal cars. The struggle of building the kit makes it so much more.

[@onemansvideos2134]

I create my kits iv done xmaxx maxx infraction and an arrma XL

[@paulclancy2404]

Me too some reason regular kits take me forever too busy breaking and repairs in between

[@inventions47]

@@onemansvideos2134 sounds like a good idea ! Do you just buy all the upgrades and then asemble with out buying rtr ?

[@JLary71377]

Love Tamiya models. They're a great starter for getting into RC. Like the Grasshopper.

[@alphawlff]

Kyosho kits are very good for this too.

[@JLary71377]

@@alphawlff yeah, when I was a kid in the late 80's early 90's, it was Kyosho vs Tamiya for beginners and Losi vs Associated for more experienced RCers.

[@bennson5f]

I got a electric Schumacher big 6 to get into the hobby properly the bloke who sold it to me said it didn't run n he couldn't fined what was wong with it n couldn't get it to turn on at all so I charged the battery up plugged it in n used it for two years I only paid £60 for it it came with all the original stock electrics controller n manuals with the original box the car n manuals n the box was all in mint condition all as new I was well impressed keep up the good vids tomley as I watching all the time

[@andyrobinsonrc2480]

Love the dt03 I had the black edition that came with lots of optional goodies in the kit. I order the the dt02 more, it’s more nimble and agile. Nice video though ;)

[@vincentstefanelli2556]

tamiya makes the BEST build instruction books in all the R/C kingdom the build is more than half the experience its the reason why Tamiya is better than all the rest

[@Triggered-RC]

Building is the best part! Gonna upload my latest build tomorrow. The TD2. It’s Awesome!

[@Triggered-RC]

Video is up. I love the TD2. Just wish I could drive it.

[@archer8096]

Totally agree. The build/upgrades and repairs are so immensely satisfying.

[@ericwood2790]

That’s crazy that the Armma esc gave it 4 more mph , I have quite a few Tamiya’s and it never occurred to me that changing to another brand esc could increase their performance like that . Good stuff Phil .

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, although someone suggested calibrating the Tamiya ESC, so that may also help

[@ValleyRC]

Still amazes me that there are people who will pay other hobbyists to build their kits for them. I know it can be daunting to a total newcomer but it's so satisfying when you get it finished and you learn a lot, too. Still, let people do whatever makes them happy, I guess!

[@Mrtrc33]

Yep 💯 agree. Building the kit teaches you how the car works . I'm old school 🤙

[@shadow7037932]

Not only that, Tamiy's instructions are EXCELLENT. I've gotten my 8 year old nephew to build a Neo Scorcher kit with minimal help. I just helped do the soldering for the brusheless setup.

[@Granite-City-RC]

I think i'd prefer to do a kit, more rewarding and you get to know the car inside out :)

[@albertsolbo2297]

My first RC was a Tamiya Midnight Pumpkin... Fun to build... fun to drive....I'll always be a Tamiya fan..I just think they're fun RC vehicles...I'm gonna get me one of these DT03s...It looks pretty cool.

[@SharkysGarageRCandMore]

Fun lil buggy. Esc and battery .... Livened it up

[@stephenmyers3194]

I had problems with my one so changed to hobbywing 1060 and got more speed plus changed the pinion gear to 19t. Great little buggoes have two now.

[@brandonreid4511]

I really think this would be a great little first RC for a younger child 👍 Especially with the fact it's 95% built just the easy install a servo and radio and get a battery which is great for a starting spot for learning as a kid 👍👍👍

[@Matt-il8zz]

The perfect Tamiya is a kit with pre-painted body and ball bearings.

[@iancadwallender9779]

The main reason I do this hobby is for the building.Got a few rtrs,but I just took them apart and re built them

[@PakRC]

Thanks for all the videos, #1 Rc channel, I always look forward to your videos

[@TomleyRC]

Thank you… appreciate it 🤟

[@The-Warm-voice1359]

great half RTR from tamiya But i wonder Why not get all 4x4✌ nice video MR Tomely Awesome job👍🤗

[@ravenlorans]

"Expert" and comes with Bushing....... Yeah!

[@TomleyRC]

Haha

[@rcpete7055]

Prime candidate for a brushless sensored motor if I ever saw one 👍👍🧐🇬🇧

[@TomleyRC]

😛

[@KPtain_RC]

I like your videos, especially your calm sympathetic manner. 😎 I have built a car with the Reely TC-04 chassis, also find this a good platform and not very expensive, especially for beginners...

[@TomleyRC]

Thank you. Appreciate the support. I’ll have to take a look at the Reely

[@caseys_cozy_garage]

Slow buggies are fun. I smile just as much driving my brushed cars as I do my brushless ones

[@Pablo668]

The DT-03 is a really good little chassis. A bit anachronistic of me but it's a chassis I think Tamiya should have made years ago. If a slipper could be engineered into it it would make a good beginning racer with a few hop ups. Looking forward to seeing your speed attempt.

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, nice chassis to work on for sure

[@Emtbtoday]

Loved building them! My first ever was the Tamiya Alfa touring car! Then the escort rally OG loved them! Don't like them new controllers with the big stupid wheel on the sides you get from RCs nowadays loved my Acmos Techniplus AP 202 reciver! Actually still have one brand new in box comes with 2 servos n 2 ch reciver in the Box with 6 ch crystals, I've been watching your channel the past few days and it's getting me back interested in the hobby! Love thay Delta rally you have but I've just no ground around for running a low car and wouldn't know whare to go love that hoonitruck or lookalike one

[@AsurasWrath164]

The pistol grip transmitters aren't stupid at all. For surface applications controlling ist much faster and more responsive with these than with 2-stick radios. That's why the industry shifted towards them.

[@brianellison3525]

I love my old Tamiya Blasters, I've got one with a 3 step mechanical speed controller with a Reedy 11 turn double I can run on 3s. it'll do about 60 mph if I gear it up. But no reverse. Wish more companies would sell rollers instead of RTR, I have a nice radio. And I wont ever use a stock charger. And the garbage batteries? No thank you. But still, if you want it the best it can be, you have to build it yourself. Love your channel, man. Hope you and yours are warm and happy. Be well and have fun.

[@TomleyRC]

Thanks Brian. Appreciate the support. Careful that mechanical speed controller doesn’t get stuck fully open… we’ve all been there haha

[@robbietanker8671]

Whats wrong ?? Building Tamiya Modells ist great,super instructions and the best Qulity of the parts.

[@ihavebolarip6273]

The building is half of the experience.

[@Discofpv]

One to turn two to burn 🔥 haha love that

[@NickT6630]

The DT03 is excellent fun. Its an easy build. The only reason to buy the ready built would be if you dont like painting bodies and want a really good finished pre painted one with decals applied.

[@Tamichtube]

This kit is around 85 Euros now in several German rc stores like Tamico, Modelbau berlinski etc. I was looking for a retro buggy to learn 2wd on and this really hit the spot, especially since I don't need to fix the body myself. Gonna put my 60A surpass hobby 3300kv with 19t pinion in it and change all bushings to bearings and see how it'll run.

[@ioskaioska5166]

Did you do those things? How did it turn out? Could you recommend it?

[@Tamichtube]

@@ioskaioska5166 Yeah I did those changes and run it a few times, works nice on 2s and max speed at around 40 km/h.

[@andreasu.3546]

@@Tamichtube After swapping all the bushings for bearings, wonder if there's still much time saved...

[@Tamichtube]

@@andreasu.3546 Well no need to cut or paint the body and apply decals sure saved a lot of time for me, no way I would manage that in 1h

[@andreasu.3546]

@@Tamichtube Uh, true, I was only thinking about the mechanics. You're right of course, the paint job is very time consuming indeed.

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome looking buggy, Tomley! 😃 Some day I want to get one of those kits! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@mikebird8290]

HI PHIL THANKYOU SIR FOR ANOTHER GREAT INFORMATIVE VIDEO 🇬🇧✌🏼👍🏼

[@TomleyRC]

Thanks Mike

[@mikebird8290]

@@TomleyRC EASY TO SAY WHEN TRUE MY FRIEND 🇬🇧✌🏼

[@michaelcain2174]

Ya know it might not be fast but it looks so planted and stable . Also I was thinking the exact same before you said , Losi should take notes from the Tamiya finish . 👌

[@alphawlff]

Put a 15t motor in it then. That's what I did with mine.

[@michaelcain2174]

@@alphawlff what sort of speeds you getting with that motor ?

[@alphawlff]

@@michaelcain2174 I haven't done any runs with a gps. But I can see a significant increase in speed over the stock motor.

[@kashmurray1199]

Neat buggy. Has potential.

[@rrrccc1571]

Genuinely surprised about the difference with an alternative esc!

[@TomleyRC]

Yes me too

[@rab..]

I love building tamiyas , it's cutting out the stickers that drives me daft !!!

[@robhotson1882]

It's cutting out wheel arches for me

[@rab..]

@@robhotson1882 yep, the arches are a close second for me 😂😂

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, seems a common theme here. I have the same opinion haha

[@bennson5f]

@@TomleyRC me too I hate having to trim body shells so I get my oldest boy to do it lol he loves building them n trimming the bodys

[@islandrc-duke1972]

cool buggy and nice upgrade

[@TomleyRC]

Cheers dude

[@YorkshireRC]

I love building them but hate using them 😂 I buy them, build them and sell them to pay for the next one 👍🏻 for the record I have Arrma’s for bashing and speed runs

[@nemesis8664]

And if you feel terribly lazy (or just don't have the time), you can always gent an XB series Tamiya rc car, wich comes completely assembled from factory. Great video and review, thank you, sir and please: Excuse my bad english.

[@superdriver777]

Just saw this in my local hobby shop yesterday! Tech Toys on Rt. 46 in NNJ if anyone was wondering. (Or, at least one of the "expert semi-assembled" series...can't remember if it was this exact one. )

[@lael1236]

Nice I hope to see that fastest in the world vid soon mate, also I like the build part what I dont like Is the painting the body part 🤣😅 I like fast rwd cars, Its More rewarding when you manage to drive them right!!

[@semperatis]

Quite an interesting little buggy Phil.

[@alphawlff]

This is a good entry level buggy. I went with the kit version though.

[@EJ-74]

Tamiya was epic for it's time but I just couldn't see buying one now except for some nostalgia shelf queen Something like that 🤔 lol Cool vid Tomley 🔥👍✌️

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, more for nostalgia really

[@Mindauxx]

My DT03 has reached 96kmh with GoolRC 60a+4300kv cheap combo and 3s. But now I downgraded to silver can and its the most used RC in my small backyard track.

[@TomleyRC]

Nice!

[@azrul666]

Where’s that World’s Fastest DT03 attempt video? @tomleyrc hopefully you didn’t forget

[@rc-shedshakedown3191]

I don't mind building, love it, but I got the X-SA Hornet because it looks awesome and I snagged a promo last year. Still have to take stuff apart to add bearings 😀

[@TomleyRC]

Nice 👌

[@johnnyhaberfield721]

Some sexy soldering going on there Mr Tomley.✌️

[@TomleyRC]

Always

[@markpoitras9794]

If you haven't already reviewed the Tamiya Toyota land cruiser 40w/tracks (cg-01t) and losi Chevy comaro v100 1/10 4wd black color. If I did miss out dam. Or if not it would be awesome. Love your reviews thank you tomley

[@GTfour01]

Aah, the times they were all kits....

[@andreasu.3546]

I plan on building a kit but love the color of this one. Is that PS43 "Translucent Orange"?

[@rcalltypes8230]

Next: Bearing & a Brushless system. You know you want to 😂

[@franknapolitano9144]

Not too many Tamiya Expert Built RTR Buggies and cars around anymore, like there was in early 2000, so get them now while you still can !

[@TheRCScotsman]

I don't think I've ever met someone who loves Tamiyas, but hates building them... however, more options are always good!

[@TomleyRC]

This is very true haha

[@plops5271]

I got a racing fighter kit my first rc car and all i have left is the body and wheels =) =) I still want a wltoys though

[@TomleyRC]

Nice 👌

[@mark-1rc502]

Nooo, half of the fun of having a Tamiya is the building , I just crap at spraying and curing stickers 😉

[@MegaSockenschuss]

Most of the fun I'd say.

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, I’m crap at the bodies as well 😅

[@mark-1rc502]

@@TomleyRC 😆

[@rcplaytime]

looks nice but needs beefing up alot,😀👍👍

[@bytor1221]

Building them is part of the fun. Welcome to the world of false instant gratification.

[@wordreet]

To my eye, it looks to handle very nicely, and I' going to suggest it could do well at a track meet, once you get it going reasonably quickly.

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, I’m sure it would… with a little tweaking

[@andyrobinsonrc2480]

It makes quite a cool basic racer , my lad used to run one, you need 70g of weight upfront though as it’s to light on the front end

[@wordreet]

@@andyrobinsonrc2480 LoL! I have a Team Associated MT10 with more than 200g of plumbers solder wrapped around the front suspension tower to try and keep it on the ground if I use 3s lipo!!!!!!!!!!!! 😅

[@wordreet]

@@andyrobinsonrc2480 Actually, I really like the more basic cars. I have my original RC10 and RC10 T2 from way back, and recently got a used Rustler. Really enjoyed thrashing it around a "lapsed" pitch and putt course. The local rabbits keep the grass nice and short and the little bunkers make for some fun small but steep jumps!

[@alexhofstee466]

Did you calibrate the Tamiya ESC? If the endpoints (full forward, neutral, full reverse) weren't set correctly it explains the speed difference. I have been dissapointed with the speed of an RC car after upgrading the motor/esc. When I arrived home all dissapointed I forgot to calibrate the ESC. Did that and that made quite the difference. The Arrma ESC looks like a Hobbywing 1060 which calibrates itself. I have a Carson Launcher 19x2T in my DT-03 (and DT-02). The TBLE-2S that came with mine can handle it just fine and it makes it a lot faster (the motor gets hot, not the ESC). A budget upgrade. :)

[@TomleyRC]

No, just plugged it in and drove it… probably would help a little to calibrate it

[@markpace5809]

Great review 👍

[@TomleyRC]

Thanks Mark

[@markmmm1737]

I hate (not hate but...) Tamiya, but I do love the building.

[@chrismlarge1]

Love building them. Hate painting them.

[@andygrant5275]

Hi 👋 what gadget do you use to test speed of your models, I understand you use an app on your phone but what do you attach to your models

[@TomleyRC]

SkyRC GSM020

[@andygrant5275]

Thanks for your reply and keep up your good work reviewing the tv models

[@tobydyes]

When you reverse the transmitter that doesn't seem to be right if I can switch it inside the speed controller I get another speed controller

[@homelesszaya.6548]

Oi! In my old age building them seems to be more fun now. But , as much as I thought rtr in tamiya is blasphemous, it gives people, new , old whatever, a chance to get tamiya detail in a box . 📦 I'm gonna still build my kits but I understand. Even though I assumed tamiya was never a rtr type co. I refer to them as drivable models .

[@bashemrc6871]

Tamiya made some cool stuff but man there still stuck in the 80s. They need to step there game up

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, would be good to see them make something that can compete with today’s offerings

[@TheHiro7164649]

It's a good machine that I also have

[@evoermine]

In terms of “a mild brushless set up” being ok for it, what KV rating would be described as mild for this buggy please.

[@bevinsracing]

I'd say a decent 60amp ESC and a 3650can. 3200 kv would be more then plenty..or even a Traxxas xl5 and a tittan 550 would be faster

[@shadow7037932]

3300 kv or so with 2S would be mild.

[@chrissantora8999]

Question:who hates building Tamiya cars? The build is half the fun and if there's a problem, you know where every part is....nothing wrong with RTR but for me, kits are the best

[@claytonskips]

Can you do vid on the Tamiya hornet

[@vrooom666]

Loved to build them but painting and cutting. i alway screw it up

[@TomleyRC]

Yeah, me too haha

[@michaelinzitari]

If your not a fan of building Tamiya cars (it’s the only reason to buy a Tamiya) then just buy a quality RTR that won’t break when it hits its own shadow

[@miyamotosan972]

I like buildin but I hate when them small plastics brake. Screws bother me as well cuz they strip out way to fast. I prefer working on big RC's.

[@Nlangkirby135]

Has your racing fighter dt03 been consistently durable? Did you eventually replace the bushings with ball bearings?

[@Nlangkirby135]

I also know there is a 1060 esc with a xt60 connector. That could be of interest.

[@cutterbacon]

Please do a review on the new tamiya ESC please the 04 in kits. I'm not liking it. The older one was better. Thx.

[@LargeAlbatross]

Sweet instant gratification that's convenient. I mean it misses half the point of why you buy tamiya in the first place but whatever I don't have the attention span. Now if you'll excuse me, this 2 liter of mountain dew isn't gonna chug itself. I love sugar it makes me sleeeeepy hahaha

[@derricksazrc3411]

Good ole dumbo RC matched up with Tamiya is a match made in Heaven

[@TheUnknown714]

So are tamiyas meant to be that slow or can you mod them to go faster? And if so can the stock internals handle the upgraded electronics?

[@alphawlff]

If you want it to go faster replace the esc and put a faster motor in it. Yes it's that simple.

[@TheUnknown714]

@@alphawlff cool. I'm just trying to make sure that the stock gears ⚙️ can handle higher output.

[@alphawlff]

@@TheUnknown714 The stock gearing can easily handle a 15t brushed motor. That is what I have in mine and it is very fast.

[@hardywoodaway9912]

@@TheUnknown714 stock gears can handle huge amount of power tbh

[@coyster530]

I like the realistic looks of the Tamiya but I like to bash and go pretty hard with my rcs and just feel like all the Tamiyas I've had felt cheap and hate building them maybe this one will be a little better I'm just more of an Arma and Traxxas person then Tamiya

[@juliusdream2683]

What about bearings?

[@fishnrc294]

If you can do donuts & roast a bit sounds like fun to me!

[@EriMCardenasRC]

This is the only RTR from Tamiya?

[@damienparker-burgess7086]

Wens the video of the ftx kotaka out

[@TomleyRC]

Hopefully soon

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Ok.. how much is it if you buy the full assembled version... If anyone knows please tell me

[@inventions47]

2p

[@TomleyRC]

I’m not sure the did a fully ready to run

[@robhotson1882]

If you build it they will come. If you half build it, they will still come lol

[@TomleyRC]

😅

[@coyster530]

Why are so many Tamiyas brushed I'm not a big fan of brushed motors even on my crawlers I try to do a brushless conversion

[@TomleyRC]

Old school… they also come with plastic bushes rather than bearings

[@bmoresbeast]

Eh...they might as well have thrown in the servo...right??

[@YetAnotherDaveAgain]

Great vid as always. I really hope that more manufacturers start offering almost ready to run models. So many of us have more than one model, and have after market radios, it seems natural that assembled, no electronic options would be common place. Bind and fly aircraft are readily available, so why not bind and drive (or as shown here, install and drive)?

[@TomleyRC]

Yes, would be nice to have more rollers offered. Thanks

[@jaydee5253]

Mt8!!!mt8!!! Mt8!!!😁😁

[@jaydee5253]

It will b nice to see videos where people aren't just trying to brake stuff

[@midwestboss8808]

I have a Tamiya M07 fully built for sale on Ebay right now , go check it out , it's ready to race!!

[@bennson5f]

I brought the lunch box in kit form it had 20% of the parts missing I got it from a hobby store n when I took it by I was told that they'd sold me a doner kit that they took bits from if customers came back that had bits missing from the kits thay brought so thay gave me a replacement and returned half the money I paid n I paid £300 it still makes me mad thinking about it n that was10 years ago as I kept getting told it was the way I was building it n as it was my fault I wouldn't get my money back w took it back 4 times then one sale's assistant told me the reason why it had parts missing as it had a shop code written on the bottom of the box in pen that ment for parts only but at least he sorted it out for me

[@wheelsdownrc6348]

I thought the whole point of a tamiya was to build it 😂 . Show of hands who out there buys tamiya for their durability🤔😂

[@TomleyRC]

Yes… that’s pretty much the point, especially nowadays as there are some many RTR options that will blow these away

[@markpoitras9794]

👍

[@scottjones9419]

Tamiya need to move into modern times and supply real bearings with their kits instead of the nylon bearings. Even dirt cheap rc's come equipped with proper bearings.

[@TomleyRC]

I agree

[@Boogie3D]

How can yo hate building RC cars? I have a hard time trying to find a kit to build other than Tamiya :(

[@madrc4963]

If you don't like it .send em to me

[@darkki94]

~150$+50$ for radio and servo for a 17mph ( 18 on a good day ) that doesn't even come with bearings. Damn China has spoiled us really good , for 150$ you can get a 50mph+ car that comes with everything .

[@alphawlff]

Then buy a Chinese rc then.

[@tobydyes]

Just because people say they hit 50 with no video no proof

[@TomleyRC]

I’ve seen lots of video proof.