My Vintage 1986 Tamiya Blackfoot

[@jeffpower6473]

When I was 8 or 9 I waited 2 agonizing years to get one of these. I had pictures and magazine ads pasted all over my room. I was obsessed. I finally got one for Christmas and dad and I spent all night Christmas Eve putting it together. Such good memories. I still have my original Blackfoot , it’s a shelf queen now. I’ve told my wife to bury me with it.

[@theRCelement]

That’s awesome! Great memories lol

[@Toys4Life]

Wow !

[@dexio8601]

Beautiful

[@KOL630]

Lol bury you with it! 😅 I had the same lust for a tamiya car but my parents never bought me one. I was devastated. I’m 40 now and still scarred by this!!!

[@thehomefront1905]

@@KOL630 lol but do you have one now?

[@cradz4979]

Beautiful truck. I have 2 , one as a runner and one shelf queen. Both are ‘86 models. The only other things you’re missing is the servo/speed controller dust cover and driver.

[@clfall]

Blackfoot was the first RC kit I built as a kid in the late 80s, so many good memories. I remember my father regularly having to drive me to the hobby shop to buy replacement half shafts or whatever. Eventually, those were replaced with some sliding universal axles (and ball diff), I want to say they were Thorp or Robinson Racing. Such a fun truck!

[@theRCelement]

That’s awesome! Seems everyone who owned a Tamiya kit had such great childhood memories. My Hornet did the same for me

[@trevorcole3273]

I worked my butt off to save money for this kit in like 1990....I loved it

[@malo_213]

That was also my first Rc truck! I also remember my dad taking to the hobby store to get parts ! Blackfoot would always break down! Great memories!

[@PizzaMakerNSW]

I wish I had one, could never afford it. Was heartbreaking to watch the “rich kids” playing with them in the neighbourhood

[@MikeHunt-nu9lf]

man what a flashback this brought me, i loved my blackfoot!!!

[@bradcomer627]

This made me smile. From the second you hit the throttle til you stopped the video, I had the biggest grin. Nice

[@BLKXJ96]

Man......this brings back some memories. The half shafts in mine were always stripped and I never mowed enough lawns to buy the Thorp driveline.

[@billmorris8496]

I grew up with this. It was a lot of fun when you had others in the neighborhood with them also. I raced mine against the Monster Beetle, the Lunch Box, and the Magic Pumpkin. The 80s gave me a pretty awesome childhood.

[@AGENTARMES]

It was sold out everywhere in 86, so I settled for the Monster Beetle. I still dream of it to this day

[@johnspencer7291]

ive had mine since the late 80s,its 3s lipo now,thorp dif/dogbones,factory works rear uprite shock mod and better tires,its litning fast,internal shocks on all 4 corners,it still wins at the local track,old school rules!

[@zipzip8239]

compared to the cheap radio shack rc trucks at the time that thing was blazing fast. the blackfoot was my first rc truck, it took me weeks to put it together and get it running. when i finally got it to run i hit a curb and snapped the front a-arm (or something around there). i got to drive it maybe 1 minute lol.

[@iprincemajestic2.0]

As a child growing up in the 80s - this thing went 60 mph! In my child mind, of course. 😂😂😂

[@usmcmma]

I had the Blackfoot in 87 and my buddy had the midnight pumpkin. Loved that truck!

[@maggs131]

I saved up and bought this truck and I was so proud if it. Bought a Novak speed control, Reedy 13 triple, foam tires and a bunch of Bolink bodies. It was a cool truck that I raced at a local speedway in a nearby mall. Never won but I had tons of fun.

[@stonerrc4626]

OMG a original Blackfoot.. impressive sir. That was the first RC truck I ever built. That got me hooked on RC trucks. I put the Green machine 2 motor in mine back in the day.. wow just awesome man.. its definitely in good shape looks awesome.. WOW I need to find one. I still got my hornet and grasshopper... nicely done sir😍😍👍👍👍

[@theRCelement]

That’s awesome! You always have a special place in your memories for your first kit huh. Gotta love the vintage Tamiya’s

[@tomkruze2749]

So Awesome! Thanks for sharing with us. I had a “Frog” back in the 80s then traded it in on a Fix. Gave that to my nephew like 20+ years ago… should have kept it

[@theRCelement]

Nice man! Yeah, you should have kept it. But you can always buy a re-release

[@MrAnon77]

Awesome truck. Remember seeing this in the hobby shop decades ago. 🇺🇸

[@theRCelement]

Oh yeah lol. They did re-release it years ago as well

[@microbuilder]

Reading these comments, I bet theres a lot of 40-somethings here, and I'm one of them lol Like a lot of others, this was my first RC when I was a kid, got it used at the hobby shop and still have it today, minus the body, unfortunately. Great seeing it in original form, 3 speed controller and all. Good stuff!

[@JohnVC]

I had this in 1990 when I was about 14. What a beautiful truck!. I also had a Hornet. My best friend had a Midnight Pumpkin. We heard that one kid a couple towns away had a Clodbuster, so we rode our bikes an hour to go see it. Great times.

[@Cormano980]

Beautiful, this is emblematic for the 80s

[@J007-j5o]

Had this when I was a kid. So much fun, didn’t realize at the time that it was underpowered. I do remember having to change the battery every 5 or 10 minutes lol. It just looks so good, so classic

[@donharsh5469]

Awesome truck black foot and enjoying and watching now 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😁👌😄❤️ awesome video

[@roncr7298]

Awesome I had one qt 14 yr old best rc truck 😎 👍 took long time put together

[@adencollis5941]

Yes I had one of these and my was blue and the best thing was given it a hand full in reverse then gunning it forward and wheeling it only problem it would damage the rear bumper and the gearbox would let go but what fun 😀

[@erikliljenwall8185]

I had the same truck when I was a kid. It looks a lot better than mine did.

[@powersmodelgarage]

Black Foot is always one good looking RC.

[@ALLairBBandPelletGuns]

It's in such beautiful condition, I didn't think you were going to run it...hard to find a true vintage Black foot that clean. Then when you launched it off the jump 😮. I have a re-release to bash..go's great with a 2S, & full bearings. Great vid.

[@aphex4000]

Mechanical speed controller?? That's truly vintage! Awesome find, and great driving! :)

[@jkjeepguy8371]

I had both the Hornet and still have the Blackfoot. Loved building these when I was a young teenager in the mid 80's. Wife keeps asking me to get rid of the Blackfoot. Told her its not gonna happen..ever. Just recently purchased a king motor baja 5b.

[@craigpimlott204]

Mine told me to get rid of my gear .she’s now living on her own ..while I still own my old rc gear and can build em till my hearts content .❤

[@jkjeepguy8371]

@@craigpimlott204 I don't know why they want us to get rid of our toys.

[@johnnieblaizz1]

so Beautiful! I miss mines!

[@killmore75]

That was my first RC truck and replaced bushing to bearings and yellow oil filed shock! Bam! new RC!

[@theRCelement]

Nice buddy!

[@amradio1968]

That truck had so many weak points. If you continuously smashed it into things. I even recall not allowing cool down time for hours and the old resistor speed control would catch fire. Crazy. Each time it broke I tried to make it a little better. I remember replacing the gear box to metal and a monster mash 540 motor with the 9.6 battery, Oil shocks, metal front shock tower/support, mosfet speed controller, lexan f150 body, metal bearings, heavy duty servos, chrome rims. Great memories.

[@christopherdeguzman1137]

Awesome video run! The blackfoot was my second rc truck I got of which my uncle bought for me on my 15th birthday back in 91’. Was a blast to assemble and play with. As for the slipping I knew it would be the tires. It happened to me before🤣.

[@StuartGodin]

My first RC also, lots of memories. Like when my brother tested it and then drove it into the pool. Not a happy day. But recovered well. My Blackfoot does not have a red frame, I thought mine was early 80's. Maybe the red frame is the newer release?

[@StormAutoAdventures]

Amazing find!!!! A friend of my family had a Tamiya Blackfoot in the summer of 1989 and it was so quick that everyone who saw it said wow and/or that truck is fast!! I don't think we would have been impressed like that if it ran like this. Were their better motor options like a brushless in 1989/1990 to make this truck faster back then? I'd love to know what he could have done to make his Blackfoot so fast? I wish I could remember what he said he did to it? It was so long ago.

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

I just came across this video ... Subscribed!!!

[@koodsoaa9546]

Blackfoot was my childhood favorite RC

[@RCRoads]

That is a sweet truck. I would take care of it as really IMO it is a true collectable and will probably only go up in value.

[@trxmh]

Awesome Tamiya classic truck. Looks really nice.

[@theRCelement]

Thanks bro! It’s a classic for sure lol

[@mikedisher30]

The mechanical speed controller will eventually burn out, but who cares just put an upgraded and it’ll never burn out. Awesome find I would definitely buy that ❤👍👍😎

[@eskimojoe6564]

My fav Tamiya truck.

[@bradkalman2353]

I know a lot of people want to keep them vintage but you know if you break parts on you know you can always go to the re-release to get them.

[@theRCelement]

Yeah, I could always buy the rerelease parts if I have to. Thanks bro!

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

My dad still has his original 1986 Blackfoot. But we haven't run it in over 15 years since we haven't done the upgrade to modern batteries yet.

[@schizzultz]

Man i had one of those. Seems i spent more time fixing it than driving it. I do remember upgrading the dog bone axles, they kept stripping out. It was tougher when i was 14 buying parts.

[@coopersharp2921]

I got a blackfoot chassis from some dude for free, and i scrapped a few small parts like a driveshaft and mechanical speed controller for my great grandpas frog. I kinda want to bild one of these now

[@NCmountainsYouTubeChannel]

Interesting I like the old stuff that thangs pretty cool 👌

[@theRCelement]

Thanks buddy!

[@jmaclaren4147]

God Bless our farmers.

[@rogerchevelle7231]

Awesome Truck

[@patrickb6938]

Amazing!

[@billpreston8421]

I had this truck as well! First kit I built myself actually, it wasn't fast necessarily but I think if you freshen it up it will speed up. Note, those old gears will not withstand buushless without a freshing up!

[@RallyandTrail]

Awesome video brother 👊 She’s definitely a beauty 👍😎

[@theRCelement]

Thanks buddy! She is a beauty

[@Paladin5555]

Growing up had the Hornet and then the Blackfoot. Hornet was bulletproof but had endless gear differential problems with the Blackfoot :/

[@killmore75]

the outer aluminum gear box expands causing the differential to slip! Cheer!

[@theRCelement]

Thanks! It was actually the tires just spinning on the wheels. They need glued lol

[@thebeaus-cw6xu]

Can you tell me more about the receiver you used on this? Im just finishing a build of a 1990 - something my dad hoarded away and would never take out of the box and Im finally building it - but turns out finding the right battery, servos and reciever is a bit more difficult than I thought! Initially was going to try to adapt it to a new build style that only has one servo but Im not sure thats going to work - would much rather find the correct parts!

[@kennethbossio2489]

Kinda slow but very controllable . I have the rerelease . It has the MIP ball diff and a Tamiya tz motor . Is a beast to drive. It couldn't handle brushless power honestly. Youde blow it up everytime !

[@marcodeklerk007]

I had this one in my childhood! Loved it, except the batteries were drained quickly :(

[@The-Warm-voice1359]

After the secend jump your truck out of control that normal dude this happen with me sometimes if you want avoid this you must change the vintage electrics ..i have one original with his original radio square acoms i thiniking i must put new ESC And radio FUTABA 3CH and sometimes i told myself its vintage i never changed anything Every time i see him i remember the old days ...well Really perfect video Good job bud 👍😊👍

[@jone7940]

Cool video

[@toolinhand]

The loose transmission is probably the hex dogbones rounding out.

[@Cult1022]

It's slow? Yes, but if I'd buy a first rc car for my kid, I'd go for exactly this kind of car: slow, mechanical, all terrain. I mean I love this when even looking at it!!

[@nightwrenchernj3674]

the differential gears would always start to grind

[@astridsactionrc545]

My Monster Beetle has the MIP Super Ball Diff. Completely eliminates diff gear chatter.

[@theRCelement]

Oh nice! Probably a pretty sweet upgrade huh

[@drakorc]

nice video 👍

[@chelsealou7666]

I have one all original. Only thing missing is windscreen and guy inside

[@brianbeck7468]

I'm glad your comments finally got enabled!

[@theRCelement]

Thanks man! Finally!

[@elias7858]

Woah just 4 minutes ago? The truck looks good!

[@theRCelement]

Thanks bro!!

[@magnum44pi11]

Vintage & classic

[@theRCelement]

Agreed buddy!

[@RcOffroad9513]

This was pretty cool! 😎 subbed

[@JayTeeRC]

😍😍😍

[@williamgambill3922]

Makes me want my lunchbox that I lowered with batt in tub put striker 2 arms oil shocks ect all that to keep up with a Traxxas sledgehammer good old days before purpose built race trucks were out

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

A 6 cell modern nimh battery is the way to go

[@lowercentenary]

Any idea if this can be made to do wheelies like wild willy? Or is it just not possible? Very realistic at this speed too...

[@adammccarthy2157]

Mine used to eat gear boxes and drive shafts for fun

[@kasparov9944]

Great truck, would you sell it?

[@bradkalman2353]

I just got one of those.

[@rsegaloff2642]

Do the rerelease gears fit the original?

[@gregkennedy3368]

I had one of these,best I can remember it had dog bones and they would always strip

[@martinneps9387]

I am looking for the king Blackfoot and I cannot find one I would love to have another one of those please comment back if you ever seen 1 of those

[@theRCelement]

No, I haven’t seen the King Bkackfoot

[@martinneps9387]

@@theRCelement That RC truck is fun they are right off the rip they do wheelies in everything else

[@homeworkpictureshq]

Cool... Just upload my new Blackfood video

[@theRCelement]

Cool! I will give it a look 🤙

[@bradkalman2353]

How do you think it would run with a GT tuned motor?

[@originalrcfun7368]

I would put a MIP ball diff in it if running anything hotter than stock motor.

[@bradkalman2353]

@@originalrcfun7368 GT tuned I think will be fine in there I run them in grasshoppers and hornets so a GT tuned I think is going to be fine and with the gearbox it has cuz the MIP piece is over 60 bucks.

[@christopherdeguzman1137]

Will be more than fine. I’m running a Tamiya Super stock BZ motor with a Tamiya esc and it runs fine. I just run it with a Nickel metal hydride battery not the lipo. To me, the motor already gives it the speed and power.

[@williamgambill3922]

I feel for the people who got a Blackfoot in the day without thorp products hot trick ect the truck had many durability issues I had a Subaru brat after 250.00 dollars back then a lot when your young with every hop up I could find it was still not the most durable yes its a classic classic nightmare lol

[@vicferrarisgarage]

Not to be a KBW. Great video. But It sounds funny when you say Tumy with an a. Vowels are long as in a girls Tammi then an a.

[@theRCelement]

Lol yeah I’m back and forth with the way I pronounce it. When I was a kid I always said it like II said it in the video lol. Then when I got back into RC years ago and heard everyone saying Tamiya how it’s suppose to be pronounced, I was a little upset because I was so use to the way I said it and It was wrong 😂

[@butchmeister80]

What broke on the jump

[@theRCelement]

The AA batteries that control the servos kept jarring loose and powering off

[@clintkeene1146]

I have one of those

[@jenniroe5079]

My dad had a black foot

[@marcbourdeau3522]

the tires are spinning on the rim

[@theRCelement]

Good call! At the very end of the video I figured it out and talk about it. But you are right 👍

[@pongosp]

Not made to be jumped i think

[@bradkalman2353]

Get some WD-40 and clean off the rust.

[@davidrubin9258]

DUDE, IT'S ONLY A 2S!!! NOT FAST!!!

[@jarin12ga]

The stock transmission and dog bones were crap in those.

[@Juggernaut-fg2up]

My first truck❤