Never Buy A Tamiya For Racing! OK, I Will Prove It To You. (Racing A Tamiya Durga DB-01 4WD RC)

Noob Goes Racing Tamiya Durga DB-01 project. In this video, I talk about why purchasing a Tamiya RC Is Such A Bad Idea if you want to go racing. Out of the realistic options available, I decided to get a Tamiya Durga DB-01 4WD to prove my point.
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[@pressendforspanish]

I won my first race with a Tamiya Frog, and I won a race at Cal Expo with a Tamiya Hotshot..........in 1985.

[@scottyhehehe5367]

Not sure all the upgrades are super neccesary. A lot of breakage happens because people need better driving skills.

[@Julsnalice]

I raced my db01rr all last season, came in 2nd for the season at my club, raced my trf211xm and got 1st place every meet all season. Yes its only club level, i don’t do as well at interclubs. I’ve got a few xrays, but they have no soul and are the same thing as all the other competition buggys and i dislike driving them. But you should only race tamiyas if your a tamiya nutcase, money isn’t the biggest determining factor for you and you enjoy trawling auction sites, which i think is part of the fun. The DB01 isn’t really competitive but the trf211xm can still hold its own, particularly on older style rougher slippery tracks.

[@Metla666]

I raced a Dark Impact for a season, Had plenty of fun as I just enjoy running Tamiya's. Wasn't competitive, But I've had a lot of competition spec cars and I wasn't competitive with those either.

[@stu.c13]

Tamiya is fine for tamiya class racing. Love a bit of stock m0 or TT chassis racing. However I'd not buy a tamiya to compete against anything else. You can get more car for your money and more spares options with other brands.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

It’s expensive to upgrade now that parts are through the roof when the stuff was readily available it was a killer car.

[@RCKickschannel]

It looks smooth so I'm interested to see just how far I can push it.

[@mhrcracing]

tamiya box stock classes are an exception. we need more of that as mini z has proven

[@dustyw]

TT01 type E and the TT02R are awesome Tamiya racing capable platforms at reasonable prices.

[@RCKickschannel]

Until someone rocks up to the track with a used Schumacher Mission FT thats worth £200 and obliterates £500+ TT02 blings. Don't get me wrong, racing Tamiya TT02 class can be just as much fun, but for less money, you can get more and I have a TT02SRX LOL

[@dustyw]

@@RCKickschannel that's when you race dirty and put them into the wall for trying to show off.

[@afrog2666]

TT-01 has so many options as well, love my TT-01, bone stock, does about 35 kmh hehe. Everything else I have does at least 90, it`s nice to have something with late 90`s/early 2000`s performance tbh.

[@purehillmanimp]

@@RCKickschannelhard not to race a Tamiya in iconic cup 😉 TT01 is competitive against the belt driven race inspired tamiyas though, I wouldn’t write them off completely. Plus they’re cheap and parts are available, which I can’t say about my HPI Pro 2

[@dustyw]

@@afrog2666 😎👍 Nice. I love my Tamiya cars, I just got a Serpent Medius X20 and I admit it's nice, but spending lots of money doesn't make you a better driver 😂😂😂. I still race a HB D413 at my outdoor track and it has no problems keeping up with all the new high price stuff. Dream would be a trf511 but that's out of the budget.

[@MrOrangeBluestreek]

Agree with you. And many thanks for a nice channel. Here in Sweden, we have run the Nordic vintage challenge for many years. Which started with driving the way the cars were intended. Most people bet on RC10s, Cat and Optima. Over the years, many funny cars have been driven with success and less success. Now at a Nordic vintage challenge there are RC10's, Kyosho's, Cougars and some crazy upgraded Tamiya. Mostly new editions, but some original cars still roll in 2WD / 4WD classic, which are cars up to 1994. In the 2WD / 4WD class from 1994 to 1998, almost exclusively RC10, Losi XX and Schumashers are driven. My main cars I have driven are Kyosho Optima and Optima MID in 4WD. In 2WD it has been Ultima and XX. The last few times I have only driven the 4WD class and then with a Kyosho Lazer ZX-s. One of the holy grails of Kyosho Lazers. 🏁 🇸🇪 🤘😎🤘 🇸🇪 🏁

[@possessedplayer]

Awsome vid as always!! Racing my top-force Evo and it performes great, is such a nimbel buggy and absolutely fantastic on the track. So try yours :)

[@fxmodelminiatures3175]

Honestly you have purchased some pretty pointless upgrades for average club racing, time would be better spent just honing the driving skill and stop crashing. The CC parts also can be even more brittle in some cases.

[@RCKickschannel]

I will have you know I finished 1st in the 4WD A final a few weeks ago with my PR Racing SB401 TR 4WD buggy at the local. Granted it was more the car than my driving skills but a win is a win. LOL

[@mikelast5958]

the motor mount belt tensioner is not a tensioner, it just keeps the belt in place on the cog, even with the blue motor mount you still have to tension the belt using the diff(s). and, perhaps the TD4/2 is a fairer example for this idea, the db01 is 17 years old.

[@RCKickschannel]

Really, that sucks. When I looked at it I thought it had two cam tensioners, one on each side. That sucks as it would have made it much easier to dial in the belts.

[@thegarageluthier]

@@RCKickschannel nope just a retainer, tension is done from the diffs.

[@mikelast5958]

​@@RCKickschannel yes, the cams bring the 'retainer' closer only. belt tension is an irritation, you can drill two holes in the top of the belt cover to then check tension by poking a driver through. looking fwd to next ep, cheers!

[@MojitoMixify]

There is a belt tensioner option “available”, except it’s not available. I did the stupid mission, and have built this car from stock to beyond the RRR spec…… I think I’d think twice about racing it due to its expense….. but it does go well!! Current set up is with a 6.5t motor……

[@fremilsson]

Rarely change the belt tension with the reinforced belts. More often need to rebuild diffs, so it's not a problem with the belt tension.

[@chrislang7460]

How many times can you go racing before you are no longer a noob? Genuine question... Love the content

[@RCKickschannel]

When the crashing stops Chris LOL. It's only been nine months.

[@chrislang7460]

@@RCKickschannel erm. Ok. Even the pros crash. You’re definitely at least a serious amateur at this point.

[@RCKickschannel]

I will have you know, I have never been serious about anything and I AM NOT STARTING NOW! LOL ;)

[@chrislang7460]

@@RCKickschannel make sure the marshals pick that dummy up for you

[@traxxasfans]

Tamiya have won world championships

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

when was the last time they won though?

[@SamBalducci]

"Have won". They do not have anything competitive today against the major racing brands. They cannot even update their designs to handle the newer lipo and brushless motors. They still use metric gears which makes it hard to find replacements at any track. Tamiya makes scale toys that happen to run. That is okay.

[@maszkalman3676]

@@Heathcliff_hensel Yeah i googled a little it was in 1995 🤣😆🤣😆 quite recent

[@AnthonyELombardi]

​@@maszkalman36761995 is not recent

[@AnthonyELombardi]

​@@maszkalman36761995 is not recent

[@cuzza1972]

only race Tamiya against other Tamiya in special classes for them

[@markbruton-young9228]

Tamiya are great for getting into the hobby, building kits and running around your back garden but they are just not strong enough for todays pace of racing. Outside of TRF range which are now not available in 2wd and 4wd buggy form, I would say the M07 concept is one of the better ones, even then the M07 diff and shocks are a bit suspect and should be upgraded. If you look at what you can get for your money from say xpress RC in TC and mini scales then its a no brainer to swap brands.

[@acetomatocompany8258]

There's really only one tamiya that can compete with like an rc10 and thats the super astute but as much as I love it the rc10 is better

[@RCKickschannel]

What about the Dyna Storm?

[@acetomatocompany8258]

@RCKickschannel haha I forgot about it, yeah they're so similar but the super astute has a rere so parts are cheaper

[@paulgeddert6125]

TT01E truck racing. Stock, inexpensive, evenly matched. Strong like you've never seen. Best racing class i've ever done, over touring cars and buggies.

[@RCKickschannel]

100% a laugh all day long, especially the trucks.

[@A_Man_In_His_Van]

Umm just buy a trf 501. You doing this the hard and expensive way. It doesn't make Tamiya bad, just expensive. Paying $ 2k for some trickbits obsolete buggy is just as dumb.

[@RCKickschannel]

Like I said in the video, yep a TRF501 is a better value proposition used vs a DB01 Durga, but good luck finding a part when you break it at the track the first day out. It makes Tamiya bad just for this reason LOL. A Trickbits YZ10R is the fastest vintage style RC currently on the market or a closest second after a Tenth Predator depending on the driver and the day, so dumb er...?

[@trying2havefun]

When I was racing I used a kyosho optima mid pro se. then a yz10 or a pro cat. My tamiya was not good enough handling to compete in 4wd a main.

[@chrisgiles5389]

I understand some of the points, but just get a fun car like Hotshot, Boomerang, many of us ran these stock back in the day, the Manteray is a good car out the box like the Topforce for more racing.

[@RCKickschannel]

For having fun with and for driving around a track I’m sure you will enjoy them. For racing to win vintage or modern, I’m going to say no. Well not without some choice upgrade parts a a load of mods as well as some pro drivers and deep pockets

[@Metla666]

I was there, a million years ago, as we bounced our Tamiya's around the track and rolled on every third corner, when whispers were heard of exotic competition cars, Then we saw some in the magazines, Then one fateful weekend both an RC10 and an Ultima were raced on our track. Pretty much everyone knew right there and then that all our cars were obsolete as far as racing was concerned. And since Google tells me the Ultima was released in 1986, that makes this video 38 years behind the curve....

[@broggsey]

Seems like a video telling me you’re gonna make a video that was implied in the title

[@RCKickschannel]

It's a series of videos. Unboxing video, next is a build and first run video (already filmed) and the video after that is upgrading it and running it again, setting times against my PR Racing to see just how close I can get it. Same old format as normal.

[@RandyandCyndi]

Sorry but not to sorry but I’ve never been a fan of the tamiya cars but that’s just me love the he videos brother keep up the great content

[@lo2713]

The main issue with running it in vintage class is the cut off is 04 now for 4wd, but most clubs mine included will let you run something past that date. So long as your not wiping the floor with them. Iv got my Dyna storm enterd into the lakeland classis and going to throw a gravel hound on the track at somepoint, and its bone stock 😂

[@RCKickschannel]

I run the Durga in modern as the lap times are too strong for vintage really and it feels more modern to me. I hope the Dyna holds together long enough to set some good lap times.

[@lo2713]

@@RCKickschannel ive seen some vintage cars up there with the moderns 😮 oh dont worry about the dyna storm. Its been un tamiya’d 😂

[@RCKickschannel]

@@lo2713 The most impressive vintage I've seen running recently was an Ultima JJ in an A final modern. Amazing how nimble and quick it was. It also looked the coolest :)

[@lo2713]

@@RCKickschannel yeah, they can fly with the right driver. A few are hellish quick with them and could easly get an A final, i think there will be a few running at the classic next month, so gonna try and compare there times to the later age groups 👍

[@ryansmith8782]

I wonder if someone could dremel out the chassis and screw on one of the motor heat sinks.

[@RCKickschannel]

Yes I think so and it did cross my mind. The issue is finding a heat sink plate is just as hard.

[@kjoer]

RCKicks, only 40 years behind the curve ;).

[@RCKickschannel]

Hehehehe

[@michaelblair4744]

Not defending Tamiya but you made a point of showing us all the upgrades you needed for the Durga. Then said you spent £700. Didn't you change just about everything on the Cougar? And heaps of stuff on the B6.4? What was the final cost on them?

[@RCKickschannel]

Probably about the same budget for the Durga fully finished as my SB401 TR 4WD.

[@innovirtua]

Egress, TT-02BR are fine racing buggies for newbies, but plenty of better options for the same money or less. M-05, M-07 and M-08 are staples in the minis. That said, I race X-Ray and Xpress. So no. :D

[@SEAN-fx5dm]

If you want to race, do it with what you can afford, racing rc cars in my mind should be about having fun! If that means running a Tamiya car, so be it. Let's be honest, no rc racer is going to be admired like an F1 driver, it's all just a bit of fun at the end of the day, don't take the hobby or yourself too seriously 👍.

[@coryn1980]

You are brave doing this video gavin I got destroyed on the tamiya legends Facebook page saying that the tamiya lunchbox is rubbish and belongs in the bin a big mistake I have said sorry 😞 I would of bin better off putting my hands in a hornets nest

[@RCKickschannel]

Sorry to hear that. Fanboys only ever want to hear one point of view and anything else is just a barrage of abuse and not many logical points. We all know the lunchbox is rubbish. The steering is shocking, as is the front geometry and friction suspension. That said, that’s what makes it so much fun to drive in the garden. I love the body and wheels. I did a load of upgrades and mods to my daughter’s lunchbox and I sorted out the steering and shocks. It now drivers way better.

[@coryn1980]

I had a moment of madness lol I do agree gavin I have got some cva shocks for mine and filter the gearbox brace any tips on sorting the lunchbox steering out mate

[@oliverstoys8411]

I agree with you, Tamiya club very active here in Manila (Philippines), which is important if you want to compete, which require all Tamiya original parts only, which will cost you more than a alternative better/performance brands.

[@markwood6513]

Totally agree, when we were kids, tamiya were rare in the race scene, and that's still the case. We all started with them granted, but racing is a whole different situation.

[@RCKickschannel]

100%, I love my Tamiya cars and some of them are stunning looking and perfect garden runners but purchasing a dedicated car to go racing, sorry nope. I would try a rere DynaStorm if we ever get one but I would need to purchase two kits to race it regularly for parts. I think the Durga is worth a shot and we will find out :)

[@jimmyjohnson6287]

Funny stuff.

[@k1e1v1i1n]

maybe offroad, lots of great onroad racers

[@RCKickschannel]

You do have more Tamiya options onroad but against a Schumacher Mi6 or XRAY? Not so sure these days.

[@dustyw]

Hell yes, on road racing with the TT01 type E and TT02R kits are awesome! Way cheaper and unlimited upgrades. Plus when they break you are not feeling like sht about it 😂.

[@markbruton-young9228]

@@RCKickschannel Mi9 now which is dominating at the moment

[@ggbear1043]

I spent a fortune on an Astute in the 90s. It was too complex with all the toe in and out on the rear end etc. I bought a 2nd hand cougar which was instantly way better in every aspect for 2wd carpet racing. I love and collect Tamiyas but people used to laugh when you turned up to race them ;)

[@RCKickschannel]

I have a vintage Astute and yep, the rear slop was a challenge. I do love having it in the collection and it's a stunner but like you say, for vintage track racing it wouldn't be a recommendation. Now out in the garden on a warm sunny day, not that would be fun. I do hope we see a vintage rere of the Astute but I don't think we will now unfortunately.

[@ripmax333]

So in short, racing a Tamiya buggy its not viable as it can cost you as a proper Racing Buggy if not more. On the other hand racing a on road TT-02 which normaly they separate Class Racing are a lot of Fun, plus inexpensive.

[@Dimsumize]

I'm racing Tamiya tt-01 Euro Truck and a m-05. Great platforms for the box stock racer.

[@wordreet]

My first RC car was the Wild One. It was good fun to build and to drive around. But then I went to the nearest club and found out I should have gone to the club first!!!!!!

[@markwood6513]

Exactly.... I had a Hornet my mate had a Meteor....😂 Racing changed everything.

[@dany_prayogo]

been there with XV01, lots off homework to get the car competitive enough to race it, and if the course is sandy and dusty, it will be break faster, and in the end it will cost twice the price race ready kit from Chinese or taiwan brand and with better suply of parts

[@luccrouset1675]

I recommend the Kyosho Dirtmaster 2wd or the new kyosho SB Dirtcross 4wd coming out soon

[@kevinjhonson5925]

Competitive race kits (NO) fun as heck to drive and build(YES) fun to dump money in to upgrade (YES) I bought a BBX and have probably spent as much on upgrades to handle a 4.5t brushless system than the car cost but that’s the fun of tamiya for me. Making it do what nobody expects it can do pushing it within an inch of its life. Plus they are just the best looking kits hands down.

[@MarJay1980]

I'm a massive Tamiya fan but the evidence suggests that if you want to win you have to buy a Schumacher, Associated or maybe a Kyosho. When Tamiya make top spec cars they overengineer it and show off too much. Schumacher et al are good at simplifying and race testing, which Tamiya don't seem to do, judging by how they design some of their stuff. I still love Tamiya, I still think my TA01 is a great chassis, but I wouldn't delude myself into thinking it would somehow win races against Schumachers and so on.

[@adrianharrison5208]

I have to agree, I don't see Tamiya as a racing company, but I do enjoy tuning them up and taking them to my local track, its the same as people tuning up their road cars for track days, you are not going to be winning any races with them. But it is fun. This, after all, for me, is just a fun hobby that has always been fun since the 80s.

[@ianjohnhorwood2605]

It's unbelievable how much you can spend on an older model kit tamiya just to get a half decent race buggy to enter a classics race , and not current models at that at those prices really is bonkers 🤣 . It beggars belief why those die hard tamiya RC-ers spend big money on tamiya to race , especially when their parts can are hard to come buy . All the different kits and RC'S out there there is something for everyone to make their own RC up from scratch to their liking and specifications for the price it costs to build an older and not current tamiya kit 🤔 . £700 and up is a right chunk of money to spend on any tamiya kit to enter a race with it 🤔 . Nowadays there are plenty of options for alloy and carbon fiber chassis and parts a plenty to make a race buggy , to suit races for indoor or outdoor racing 🤔 . I can understand tamiya collectors and collecting and shelf queens , but prices today are getting on the silly side compared to what quality RC'S you can buy at those tamiya collectors prices 🤔 . When the classic collectors eventually die out , will the young generation want to pay tamiya collectors kits prices . Only the future will tell 🤔 . I am of the age of those first tamiya kit releases , and even I won't purchase the best of what tamiya can possibly offer in RC'S , simply because there are a lot more choices for your money today 🤔 .

[@RC4TheWay]

What exactly are they for Tamiya cars? I do not think they are intended for being shelf queens either? If that's the case why then go for an RC car and not just a static Tamiya model?

[@chucktaylor2772]

Back in the day we raced TA-02'S in our local hobby shop parking lot... Basically the beginning of sedan racing

[@Šimodelar]

Tamiya xv 01 / xv 02 is good for rc rally racing

[@enricomiceli5517]

Absolutely, it needs some extra money to add up and some tuning but the XV01 Is an amazing starter for competitve rally. Problem fox the xv01 is the brushless power, it is not handled pretty well and carten/xrays rally mods are a very advanced products that can offer a lot. XV02 it may be better quality wise but still has some limits!

[@Šimodelar]

​​@@enricomiceli5517I think the xv 01 is more built for on road rallys and the xv 02 is more focused on off-road ones. I've never seen anyone have a problem with a brushless motor, maybe a slipper clutch would help

[@enricomiceli5517]

@@Šimodelar yes, u can get a point in the middle by getting the long damper xv01 chassis, but still i had issue and very fast gear deterioration by running the xv01 brushless. Xv02 with central diff and slipper it can handle brushless better.

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep, good point, two great rally chassis.

[@Šimodelar]

​@@enricomiceli5517 Use slipper clutch! Will help a lot with your problem!

[@grduprc]

Ok I have to say this just bc I haven't seen anyone mention it and if they did I apologize. Tamiya doesn't matter what car it is trf buggy or regular buggy has never been designed for the demand of carpet racing. As far as I know and I could be wrong ever my single one of there buggies have been designed for dirt and only dirt. That being said is almost like me saying I'm going to show up to a f1 event and enter a yugo into the race. I'm not sure how you can basically trash a car or a brand when it was never ment to do what you are asking if it to do. I personally love Tamiya and have been racing with Tamiya cars on and off-road and the cars have done very well for me but then again I used them the way there ment to be used. All in all you saying there a terrible idea for racing is completely wrong if they are being raced on a surface there ment to be raced on. I'm guessing your idea for this video was to stir the pot maybe get some extra views or haters. I will say you have accomplished that. What's the next not to do video why you should not use a RC boat to go bashing on dirt with? Oh wait your hating on Tamiya maybe the next one will be why you shouldn't go bashing at a skate park with a Tamiya. Like I'm actually kinda annoyed by listening to this saying you have to dump a ton of money into a car to go racing. Well when you race a car doing something it isn't intended to do originally you modify it to do it don't you? Like would you take a Subaru out of a dealership and try and run it down a dirt road at well over 100mph or would you at least start off but putting a roll cage in it? This video is just a fail for me. It has left me completely disappointed

[@RCKickschannel]

One question, as carpet racing didn’t become a thing until years later, can you not say the same thing for all the vintage buggies? 🤔 My Cougar Classic was 100% designed for old school dirt tracks but OMG, it loves the carpet. Same for the Ultima JJ, and a load more I could list off. As for hating on Tamiya, sorry that’s just your blinkered one sided fanboy opinion that can’t understand that you can actually love something but also see its limitations. This is an RC entertainment show that points out good and bad regardless of brand. If this video doesn’t fit with your bias narrative, go watch my BBX videos that came out a few months ago. 👍🏻 You say “you are annoyed listening to me say you need to dump a ton of money into parts”. Well if you need to add a slipper kit that’s £50+ when other offerings that cost less come with a slipper included out the box 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’m sorry it upsets your feelings but that is the cold hard fact of the matter and just because you don’t like it, doesn’t make it any less true now does it. A slipper, gear diffs, alloy suspension blocks and alloy suspension mounts as well as some reinforced belts are kind of needed if you want to go carpet racing with modern brushless power while using modern traction tyres to improve reliability as well as some upgraded shocks and springs to improve handling. That’s why in the video I said it’s a better option to get a used 501X as you will probably end up spending less. The issue with that is no replacement parts available so… 🤷🏼‍♂️ Is this really “trashing a brand” as you put it? No it’s just your Tamiya bias and your own feelings projecting something that is not actually in the video. I love Tamiya cars, I have a load of them in my collection that I’m lucky enough to be able to look after. I’m sorry you feel disappointed by this video but I’m not responsible for your feelings.

[@grduprc]

@@RCKickschannel so you want to compare you cougar classic and jj which are absolute racing buggies to as you said the poor man's 501. And then say you again need to dump money into it. Then why wouldn't you start off with the 501. It's not like a jj or the cougar are kits are cheap. Your still comparing a full plastic buggy regardless of price to race bred machines. It's also pretty sad you clearly are looking for this argument saying I have a fanboy opinion bc I said I was disappointed in the video shame your so far away seems like keyboard tough guy move. Your argument is weak and End of the day video was eh at best.

[@RCKickschannel]

But the Durga costs more money and is slower than a stock cougar classic driven by the same person to name just one cheaper alternative around a track? You didn’t answer my question, are not all vintage buggies not designed for carpet? Why wouldn’t I start with a 501, because you can’t get any replacement parts at all for it and a used one is £450-£500 🤷🏼‍♂️ this it’s a terrible option to recommend as a vintage race buggy when you can get a Schumacher Pro Cat for £279 NIB that has low cost replacement parts and upgrades online that you can purchase in seconds 🤦🏼

[@grduprc]

Well to answer your question that is exactly why you don't see a durga or the 501x on the track anywhere especially here in the states. If a car isn't being reproduced why would there really be parts support for it and furthermore why would you want to even race it. The Schumacher is being raced plus plenty of others as parts are available For those cars. Like why even choose the durga to even make the video as exactly what you say parts are hard to come by and have to be upgraded to begine with. I could see if there were a bunch of people running these cars on the track but there not. Again the video just doesn't make sense. It's borderline click bait. Again just disappointed in the video. Like what's next you want to try and run a frog on carpet against the cougar and call the frog a turd on the track. If you want to make comparisons make ones that make sense especially for racing vintage or not

[@Red-Melon]

You really upset the apple cart with that one. I hope Tamiya racers don't throw too much at you on your uk tour 😉 for what it's worth. I think you're right.

[@bluegroovemodelsports9650]

Japan RC Racing market is different , which of course Tamiya leads this structure . Japan RC racing is car specific model classes. So it doesn't matter so much about the cars weakness and downfalls . Because all the racers will have the same issues and slows the racing down to the cars limitations.

[@KnightPoetic]

Seriously I only race Tamiya to smokeand humiliate the pro builds dude.

[@MrGoat73]

You can generally tell a true race buggy by the “function over form” design & build ethos running throughout. Everything is simple, plain, light & strong (usually carbon fibre or glass fibre) Something Tamiyas almost never are! Unless you’re willing to pay multiple hundreds extra. A perfectly well made point in your vid Gav. Of course, the finest drivers can be successful with almost anything! I was always a crap race track driver so a pure race machine would never have helped me……

[@felixvarela4909]

I have to prove you wrong so wrong. I race a series for a Sunday program we are 2 race days in and I am sitting in second. In points. The car I am using is a f104 yes a tamiya with no mods. I placed 4th and 5th behind some really fast guys and 400 plus dollar cars with a 200 dollar car

[@RCKickschannel]

Nice one, doing well! That doesn't prove anything mind Felix, your point has the variable, the driver skills aspect. I can just say you are a faster driver and if you did drive the $400 cars you would be even faster. My video doesn't reference spending more or car is faster or better, if anything it was the opposite. That's like saying Jamie Booth can drive a Manta Ray faster than I can my PR Racing SB401on the same track, thus the Manta Ray is better right. Well only if when Jamie Booth then runs the SB401 and his lap times are slower than the Manta Ray. Thanks for commenting and watching the show :)

[@felixvarela4909]

@RCKickschannel yes but price plays a big part in it as well. I know I can drive an xray faster but I know I can not afford 1. Being a father racer and mechanic to a child racer I have to get in where I can. If someone can then they should get a tamiya because it helps the hobby grow. Not bash them for what they are tho

[@RCKickschannel]

@@felixvarela4909A Tamiya F104 sells for what, £150 - £346 for a F104 Pro sold in March and a Schumacher Icon 1 is what, £200 and even the latest Icon 2 NIB from the store is £335 with 20% included. So if you wanted to race to win and set the fastest lap times you can, would you go F104 and spend basically the same amount as the icon? Also, can you get F104 parts cheaper and easier than an Icon that are available directly from the Schumacher website today? How about upgrade prices? One thing for sure the Ferrari F104 Pro car looks bloody epic 😍

[@michaelcarter3309]

If I was going to race a Tamiya I'd go with the top force plenty of parts and hop ups options can race it without having to upgrade it that's my opinion

[@RCKickschannel]

I know someone who runs a Top Force and a Durga and the Durga is setting consistently faster lap times on carpet. Nothing wrong with the Top Force, I have three of them. A stunning buggy and a fun build and a perfect garden runner for sure. If you have one and fancy trying track driving, 100% take it to the track and have a fun with it, I just wouldn't recommend one to purchase to go track racing.

[@michaelcarter3309]

@@RCKickschannel I would race it on carpet I'm just there to have fun not bothered about lap times all about the fun factor 😁 if I was serious about it I'd go Schumacher all the way

[@ksavage681]

@@RCKickschannel Avante beats all of those.

[@stevencurtis-rich4178]

I campaigned one of these back in 2007, at the time it was $2 to £1 so bought the car from Japan. For it to ne raceable you are looking, at the time, CVD driveshafts front and rear, alloy suspension mount front and rear, TRF shocks and a slipper clutch. Today the diffs will not take the power. It handled well back then. If iremember i will post a pic on your fb page.

[@shinkurosuji]

haha,all western brand rc were like isreal were genocide the buyer

[@mynerdythings]

It's sad though. My daughter fell in love with the Tamiya Falcon on sight. She referred to my b44 as 'the Losi' clearly indistinguishable from a jrx2 painted a similar scheme. Returning to racing I could barely tell cars apart, b5m or rb6? Tamiya has style, can't say that about my XB2..

[@RCKickschannel]

Agree, most modern stuff does look all the same. The B6.4 did grow on me but I think it was more becuase I loved driving it, so over time I found its ugly cab forward body mellowed. I liked the simple RochesterRC Blue, white and red livery I painted on it as well. So tempted to get a B6.4CC for the shelf but it makes no financial sense for me when I can get a used B6.4 for half that and drive it. That said I have a B7, so would I ever use a 6.4 again, probably not.

[@allanritchie1539]

You could buy a TT02 S-Type which comes with oil shocks and bearings but no body, worth a go at racing with.

[@rustndust.]

Gavin, you are not doing the hobby any favours. If a tamiya is all someone can afford then they shouldn't be put off from racing, making new friends and being part of a club. All this video shows is your lack of experience in racing and being part of a good welcoming club. It's hard enough to get members especially young ones. Stick to shelf queens.

[@RCKickschannel]

Hi, sorry but you have completely missed the point of this video. Did you actually watch the video or just read the title my friend? In the video you can clearly see I’m saying the Tamiya is more expensive as a choice for a race buggy that won’t perform as well as other choices at the end of the day by the same driver. What I didn’t say and it’s an important point. If you have a Tamiya Hornet, TT02 or whatever already, don’t go racing it. I also didn’t say stock Tamiya classes are rubbish and not fun at all so stop projecting what is clearly not in the video.

[@rustndust.]

@RCKickschannel I watched it. Comparing a tamiya to a schumacher procat is like comparing a corolla to a porsche. Once someone has been around rc racing long enough they can make their own decision whether to buy something else or modify their original car. The way your video came across is that you must spend all this money to make a tamiya competitive. This is false. My local club run tt02 and tt02b , modifications are strictly limited to bearings and driveshafts. They are competitive alot of fun and a great place to start. This is what you should be encouraging but you are not familiar with the whole starter concept. To sum up " all the gear, no idea" basically describes the method you have taken.

[@RCKickschannel]

Again, still totally not getting it. If the Corolla is more expensive than the Porsche, would you recommend the Corolla? NO! If you own a Corolla, would you take it to a track day to have fun with it, yes! 🤦🏼 As for the stock Tamiya class and them being competitive. Are you kidding me! It’s a stock class, obviously these are going to be competitive with themselves hehehhe 🤦🏼 If someone wants to run a Tamiya in a stock class, obviously you need to get a Tamiya. At no point did I say otherwise in this video. Also you will have a load of fun doing it. Again, didn’t say you wouldn’t in the video.

[@rustndust.]

How come you only have 9 likes on your video in your own group after 16 hours? Your fans have spoken.

[@tonyjohansson2967]

Just run Kyosho 😂👍

[@RCKickschannel]

LOL

[@Pablo668]

This should be fun viewing when you take it racing. I agree with the title but I think there is some nuance to be had. It doesn’t help that Tamiya canned their TRF cars and team a while ago now. I think TRF on road cars still do ok though. I remember when Tamiya released a statement when closing down TRF off road. They stated that they weren’t an RC car company, so much as they were a plastic model company that happened to make RC cars as well.

[@RCKickschannel]

Shame we don't see a new TRF buggy but I guess Tamiya just can't justify putting in the dedicated resources required to continue development to be cutting edge.

[@SamBalducci]

Tamiya makes scale toys that happen to be fun to run when not on a shelf. On occasion, depending on the track, you may find a "Tamiya" class or "TCS" class but the focus for Tamiya is making scale toys that run not race ready models. While it is true that there was a time that Tamiya spent the money to have race ready cars, even back in the 80s and 90s they were always more expensive and unless you had a lot of factory support with a very accomplished driver, hard to bring to the track and win. Even the TRF 4xx line while nice, it is not something I would run at any major RC touring car event. The TRF cars are like halo cars of the auto industry. They exist for excitement, but nobody really wants them. Should they break, good luck finding parts and very few 3rd parties making aftermarket parts besides for bling purposes. Tamiya makes scale toys. Tamiya cannot even be bothered to change many of their models to support current brushless technology. The changes would be minor for them to make it such that you can slot into a standard lipo and motor plates do not always support brushless. They do not care; they want you to run brushed motors that will last for a limited amount of time so you can buy another one. The fact that you must buy entire parts tree when only a single part breaks means they are not race focused. They are toy focused. Tamiya makes scale toys. The much-loved TT-02 and the recently released BT-01 are all full of slop you would never have in race focused cars. From time to time, they give you an extremely limited run "R" version of a model to pump up the FOMO and price and they sell the aftermarket parts to make your non-R version and R version at the cost of the base model of the car. They sell the chassis repeatedly with simply a new shell and no differences. They make M-Chassis cars for scale reasons not for race reasons although many tracks have a M-Class it is often limited to about ten cars. Every so often, Tamiya gets something sorta right, like XV-02, but Rally is not extremely popular although there is a niche group who love rally. However, they do not bother to iterate and make weak parts better or offer upgrades, they release a new XV-02 RS for Tarmac instead. Great I guess if you need a Tarmac and a Dirt Rally racer. They make limited runs of chassis and other parts for reasons nobody understands. Tamiya is not racing focused, and a sure indicator is that while 8th scale E-Buggy and other 8th scale classes have taken off while 1/10 is at the same time becoming less popular, Tamiya has not had anything to respond to the market and instead the crowd goes wild for the next possible re-re. Parts support is terrible if you are a racer. It is often faster and cheaper (at least if you are in the USA) to purchase from Hong Kong, Taiwan or even direct from Japan then to source Tamiya parts in the USA. Even if you really want to support your local Hobby Shop, you may be waiting a month for parts while often in less than ten days you are getting your item from Asia direct. Tamiya makes scale toys and that is okay. It is okay to have fun, it is okay to collect. Not every company needs to make race-ready cars and not everyone has the time, money, or dedication to be a club or regional champion. Tamiya is not a race focused company that is fine. Let's not make Tamiya what it is not. Tamiya makes scale toys for enthusiasts and toy collectors and sometimes enthusiasts find a way to race these toys like the TT-02 and M-Chassis, but these cars will never be race focused. Tamiya makes a half effort with the TCS series, but it is really a promotional device and a way to sell more kits and parts replacements. The Tamiya Cup races are nice but not at the level of ROAR/EFRA/BCRA/GT and other racing organizations. In many cases, the Tamiya cars would not even fit within the rules of the major racing leagues. This does not mean you cannot run Tamiya cars at most clubs. Most clubs will let you race whatever you bring and if you have at least 5 like-minded others who want to race Tamiya you can have your own class to your own. I am happy to build, display and run my Tamiya scale toys but that is all they will ever be -- nice run around toys -- Tamiya will never be race focused and that is okay. There are plenty of race focused options for those who care.

[@RCKickschannel]

A fantastic comment well put.

[@guillaumew.1264]

As tamiya fan... You sucks... But objectively... You're absolutely right! 🤣

[@RCKickschannel]

Nothing wrong with being a Tamiya fan. I love some of mine and I'm enjoying the DB-01 Durga funny enough :)

[@ventisette.]

TRF cars are made for serious racing, not the rest.

[@jjm2948]

Trf201…the greatest buggy of all time.

[@AnthonyELombardi]

Theirs better

[@jjm2948]

@@AnthonyELombardi name one buggy that the average joe can easily race with. TRF201 is forgiving and that is it’s strength, will it win against pros, nope, not at all, but it’s the easiest to drive and fir that it the best buggy ever produced

[@paulrobinson9355]

Great video! I think I’m the only one who enjoys racing my TD4 and TD2 absolutely brilliant imo abd for my vintage racing watch use my hopped up Zahhak which I love so much so I have a few NIB as just nice to have…..think I have 2 maybe 3 Zahhak’s! Waiting for a Re Dyno Storm 🤞🤞

[@RCKickschannel]

Rere Dyna would make my year, come on Tamiya

[@nidzdotnet76]

This is stiring up a lot of controversy from Aussies. Tamiya cars generally cost a lot less than the expensive Kyosho, Schumacher and Team Associated cars. We also race mainly on dirt tracks and less on indoor carpet tracks. I wouldn't race a vintage Tamiya but I would race a re-re with new parts.

[@RCKickschannel]

What’s the popular models you see at the track for the fast guys?

[@Divefire]

To be fair, that was probably my 501 on ebay... And I sold it because as noted prices have gone mad. Even for the DB-01. Which is a sadness as it's still a decent platform for a race buggy. Personally for this series I'd have gone for a TD2, still would have proved your point but probably cost you £200 less.

[@RCKickschannel]

I went with the DB01 as I like it personally but I got to see one running on carpet and it looked like it had potential. I think if I work on it and try and dial it in as best as I can, I wonder just how far off the pace of my SB401 Type R it really is. Granded the money spent would be better invested in a dedicated racer so the point stands but how close, that is what we will find out.

[@Divefire]

@@RCKickschannel oh it absolutely has potential. It's a perfect club racer even now. If tamiya just kept making it or put an updated one into production. I think you'll get damn close!

[@nc-witcher9760]

I think a lot of TRF racers would disagree. Also It is not the car that gets the wins it is the driver. Back in the 80's I beat plenty of RC10s with my Kyosho Pegasus (I did put oil shocks from the Icarus on the back).

[@RCKickschannel]

I move to strike, due to relevance of testimony. Inadmissible. Driver skill is not relevant to the points raised in this video. A faster driver will drive a slow car faster and a faster car, even faster. Additionally, achievements made in the 80’s and 90’s have again, no relevance to the points raised in the current 2024 market.

[@plasticandprops2017]

In my opinion, I would not spend all that money on all the upgrades for the Durga when you could buy the tt-02BR kit. It already has gear diffs and a bunch of upgrades. No it doesn’t have a slipper but I have been racing mine with no issues with the drive line. Plus parts are easy to get. Here in the states I can pick one up for about $260.00 For what they give you in the kit? That’s a steal!

[@RCKickschannel]

$385 in the UK for a TT02BR. A used RC10 B6.4 is $300 with one or two upgrades already fitted.

[@Triggered-RC]

It is a capable car. I really need to take mine to the track. Took me about 5 or 6 months to get all my upgrades from Japan.

[@Triggered-RC]

Oh yeah, the hardest upgrade to get was the slipper clutch. Cost me over $100 US.

[@RCKickschannel]

I was super lucky to get one from a friend for reasonable money

[@laserbeam1620]

Man, people hate you on Facebook because of this video!! I agree with you though. I LOVE Tamiya but they're not racecars.

[@RCKickschannel]

I am not responsible for other people's feelings, bias or projections. If I was, how could I make a single video? LOL

[@Metla666]

On the flip side, Race cars are terrible for driving around the backyard, or on gravel, or on dirt really. They have become on road cars with jumps.

[@RCKickschannel]

Around a garden you can have a blast with a load of Tamiya cars. If anything that’s when you see the fun that can be had with a good looking Tamiya.

[@duncanmcgregor7946]

So I’ve built two fully hopped up Db01’s (a mad and very expensive journey) and they are superb…..but I agreed Gav, not enough spares availability to race hence I don’t with them. It would be a good re-re for Tamiya if they just issued it in DB01R guise as that had slipper, suspension blocks and aeration shocks (I think that’s correct) which is probably enough to get going at club level with them. Mine are runners/full electrics etc (all Tamiya - v expensive/stupid of me) but the low spares availability just prohibits racing for me with them……my XRay XB2’s are for that for now. Great vid, looking forward to the next one 👍👍👍

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep a rere DB-01RRR would get me to spend some more money that’s for sure

[@oldngreybmx5573]

Oh no! I race tamiyas. I'm gonna have to throw them all away now. Am I allowed to keep my tt01e trucks to race or should I replace them with a 'insert current clique car here) ?

[@RCKickschannel]

Why would you do that?

[@oldngreybmx5573]

@@RCKickschannel well if I can't race them then what use are they? FFS, I just bought that top force last week, I wish you would have told me before.

[@RCKickschannel]

I think you are getting a little confused, so I will try and help you out my friend. The title of the video is, NEVER BUY a Tamiya to go racing. We could call that a future tense, so remember this as it's going to be important later! What it doesn't say and actually isn't in the video AT ALL by the way! Don't Take your Tamiya cars racing. As in cars you have already purchased, past tense. I guess some missed the future tense, past tense school lessons back in the 80's. If you already own a Tamiya and fancy trying racing, why would you not give it a go, you already have the cars? This has nothing to do with the video you have so kindly commented in. I would add some diagrams to help illustrate this rather large misunderstanding but KZbin doesn't have that function. That or you just wanted to be facetious, I know I am.

[@bwjones8903]

Wrong. It's TT-01 E, for spec. Euro Truck. ;D Loving all your great content! Cheers.

[@RCKickschannel]

Sure it's going to be competitive, its a stock tamiya class heheeh Bloody good fun the trucks, I must paint my Fat Fox body up again.

[@guymarotta2596]

ANY RC vehicles can be raced, as long as you race it against similar or the same car, LUCY!!

[@RCKickschannel]

One word, "STRIKER" You could never race them as nobody would finish the race due to 100% chassis snap ;)

[@bluegroovemodelsports9650]

Any car you can get part support for , or you can afford to have plenty of spares . Makes a good racecar

[@RCKickschannel]

You make a good point

[@neontetra1000]

You did not point out the fatal flaw . Tamiya made a sealed drivetrain and then left a whacking Great hole in the middle of the chassis behind the lipo bay. Unless you bung this hole you can be sure a stone will find its way in. I stripped a gear diff and belt on the first 5 mins like that . Also.. it’s. Shame you did not try it stock first to see if the upgrades actually made any difference to lap times . Looking forward to the shakedown!

[@RCKickschannel]

In Tamiya's defence, it does say in the manual to cover it but true LOL. :) It was as stock as I could leave it. Fitting a slipper will just save the drive line as will the gear diffs. You would fit this two options if running on carpet. I didn't fit the shocks, steering and a load of other parts.

[@electric0ant]

Just wanted to point out the default db-01 chassis is just fibre composite, not carbon composite, that comes with the rrr

[@RCKickschannel]

Nice. I couldn’t find much about the chassis you get on each version and what’s different. Also at what point did the chassis change from the old style cell to the closed version and at what point the cell battery bay went flat.

[@mattyouseman7472]

What about a top force or top force evo for me that’s when Tamiya made good products in the TA-01 and manta ray chassis

[@RCKickschannel]

I’ve never seen one going well at a track unfortunately. Just struggling with jumps and crashing on landing and grip rolling. It could be down to just bad setups. I have seen more promising attributes and track performance from the DB-01 Durga so that’s what I went for. A little newer, reasonable ish kit price and upgrade parts are available if not a little expensive.

[@philmoffett366]

I sold one built but unused on eBay about a month ago (ish) with radio gear and a few hop-ups!…….got peanuts for it😢

[@RCKickschannel]

What did it self or if you don’t mind me asking. What hop ups did it have

[@M14armorer]

For 99% of hobbyists Tamiyas are useless for race cars. You’d be hard pressed to pick a worse brand.

[@RC4TheWay]

Which brands would you recommend for racing?

[@stanleysarjali8108]

Your driving skills doesnt improve in proportion to the money that you spend on 'upgrades'. Regardless of brands. The fastest motor and tricked out carbon car with a E-main driver will just hit the wall faster.

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep, crashing looses you the most amount of lap time for sure. Consistency with speed is the key :)

[@stanleysarjali8108]

@@RCKickschannel I did race the DB01R in a stock spec race. Sold it before the next one. Why? Parts support and in some areas, the car was just over engineered and no matter what I did, the motor was always near meltdown even with the finned motor mount and fan(s). The Kyosho ZX5 replacement costs less outta the box without upgrades and went faster. In Tamiya's defence, their TRF road cars are stil very competitive at the local race track.

[@christopheduchesne7864]

Buggy wise I agree. Top end racing is expensive Tamiya wise. But budget racing with non-buggy. The tt01/02 is HUGELY popular. A great way for new drivers to get into racing or just enjoy a level playing field with the stock class (minimal upgrades).

[@RCKickschannel]

Stock class TT02 can be a blast for sure. One could argue a used Schumacher Mission FT dropped into that class would give you a performance advantage for the same money, but it wouldn't be a stock Tamiya class after that then would it. Don't get me started on the TT02SRX UK price LOL. Yes I own one as well so see the hypocrisy of it LOL

[@christopheduchesne7864]

@@RCKickschannel same. I own an sr which I’ve upgraded with way too many hop ups and end up racing my x4-22 which was cheaper overall????

[@rivierarc]

Some people will say you are slating Tamiya. We all know they are good all rounders but as 'proper' racers with a great spares back up they are not. I love Tamiya and 99% of my builds over the years have been variants from Tamiya...... but.... if i wanted to be competitive for something that wasnt a Tamiya only class I had something else, especially buggy wise. Saying that there is something about the Durga. I would definitely have one, not to race though lol

[@RCKickschannel]

Always going to find someone who's offended, or trying to play the sold out card LOL. Most of the time these people haven't even watched the video LOL. The good news is, we have a special button for them. I guess my 60+ Tamiya collection and hundreds of Tamiya build videos over the last four years have no value when you say " I wouldn't recommend getting a Tamiya to go racing" OMG the world stopped spinning on it's access LOL If its good, I report it as good, if its not, well guess what. BBX was great, BT-01 wasn't but could be improved. Avante is stunning but a total track nightmare. I will push the Durga as far as it will go. I think it could set some solid lap times if I can dial it in well. We will find out.

[@rivierarc]

@@RCKickschannel i love those special buttons on here and FB. Makes the social media world a much better place lol. I shall continue watching the Durga content closely. I am not a full on 'buggy' person plus the racing scene isnt for me (just got back into indoor tt01 trucks and Mchassis... it didnt rekindle my youth 'feels') but there is certainly something that Durga has. Unsure what it is as not convinces its the body

[@Paul__FC]

How else will competition have a chance against my ultra-Uber driving skillz if I'm not rocking tamiya. 😊

[@RCKickschannel]

Good to give others the limelight win now and again Paul. HEHEHE

[@adriannorgate9577]

I have to disagree with you, as a broke young teen back in the days I had a Tamiya Thundershot (original release) and I raced at a local track called Top Guns against the likes of Cats, Optima's and so on. (4WD class unmodified) and I made it to A mains and won!

[@RCKickschannel]

Racing the under 5's as a teen just isn't cool man! ;)

[@adriannorgate9577]

@@RCKickschannel LOL I was the youngest at the track. It was a great experience to have all the older guys teach me about gearing and proper shock setup. Years later I have a modest fleet of cars n' crawlers on my shelves.

[@niu7]

I don't think it's a bit fair price comparison. So, currently on ebay i can get Tamiya Durga for about ~~ 200 USD. Let's say we will get upgrades for ~~ 300 USD. This is about 500 USD in total. Let's open modern TLR - 4 WD 1/10 22X-4 ELITE cost 579 USD. Plus you need wheels for it. So in total about 650 USD for a racing buggy.

[@RCKickschannel]

You will spend way more than that on upgrades for a Durga. I would say at best you will spend the same money as the TLR. At the end of the day you will have spent the same money or more but would be consistently slower on the track and have a much bigger replacement parts bill. A modern race buggy like the B7 I built last week is a million miles away from a Tamiya Durga, it just is. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the Durga while I had it and I now own a NIB 501x and a used 501x (content coming) because I enjoyed it so much, but do I think this will be competitive vs my PR Racing SB401 Type R, no chance.

[@niu7]

@@RCKickschannel thanks for answering! What's your opinion about Optima Mid vs moder buggy? Especially Optima Mid '87 WC Worlds Spec. It seems buggy itself has a plenty of upgraded parts from the box, but on another hand it's belt driven 🤔

[@RCKickschannel]

@@niu7If you want a vintage buggy that’s as good as a modern buggy to take to the track, the best I’ve seen performance wise is a 2WD Kyosho Ultima JJ, 4WD Tenth Technology X10 or X11 Predator or the 4WD Trickbits YZ10R

[@RobertDolman-c2c]

Only get the top of the range touring cars they make

[@RCKickschannel]

Some of them are stunning looking. I would love to collect a few and put none race bodies on them. Totally not the point I know but I like them for the looks, I wouldn’t race them.

[@alfredyost7972]

Hello Gavin, I do agree with you. I have never tried to race a Tamiya car. I think that Tamiya kits have a place in the R/C market. Tamiya kits are very good for people who are just starting to build R/C car kits. Tamiya kits also are very scale and look good. The only Tamiya kit I might try to race is the BBX. It is more modern, but even that kit will require a few modifications. Thoughts?

[@RCKickschannel]

Phil from TomleyRC Had a BBX on the track driving against my Triggers Broom Cougar and it went way better than I expected. Modern race tyres and a few choice upgrades and it will be fun. It wouldn’t be my first choice if you are looking to race seriously, but it will be fun and look great. Obviously you can get faster for less but…

[@alfredyost7972]

@@RCKickschannel I agree, you can get better 2wd cars. I think it might be a good place to start. Thoughts?

[@grantpepperell8807]

I’ve had top brands in the past! Been there got the t - shirt. Nothing like racing a Tamiya at the pointy end and upsetting the guys with the $1000 plus setups . All good fun of course 🤙

[@RCKickschannel]

I hope to see if I can do the same with the Durga :) Can I dial it in enough to see how close it can come to my PRSB401 Type R Modern buggy.

[@grantpepperell8807]

@@RCKickschannel awesome 😎- love your Vids Gavin 👍

[@fxmodelminiatures3175]

Since when was a DB01 considered vintage.😅

[@RCKickschannel]

2007 was seventeen years ago now! One more year and it can go out drinking with its mates! Actually I ran it in the modern class the other day as it's lap times are looking promising.

[@thegarageluthier]

Haha both the TRF501X cars you had shown were mine, I just listed another 2 with original boxes if you are interested, I decided no one really needs 6 of them.

[@RCKickschannel]

Love one but saving every penny for the UK RCKicks Grand Tour currently.

[@thegarageluthier]

@@RCKickschannel IF you havent already, the TRF503 front and rear hubs are the same as the RRR and are a good option.

[@CheckYourSheds]

Some of the NIB Japan ones aren't bad value. I got one delivered a couple of weeks ago. I've already spent "some" money on upgrades. I didn't bother with the gear diffs though.

[@RCKickschannel]

You don't need them if you are not running on carpet. I do hear the ball diffs fail pretty easily but thats just what I have been told.

[@CheckYourSheds]

@@RCKickschannel I couldn't find the slipper at a price that didn't make me cry so I thought I'd leave the diffs until I could do everything at once.

[@Racoon1008]

Last Tamiya I had for racing was the F104. Everyone on the track told me I was crazy for investing in a Tamiya until the first race day came when I was neck to neck with Xray's X1 during the race. I remember a friend telling me after the race "I had one of those and I left it on a top of a trash can for some kid to pick it up, now I feel like an idiot"

[@RCKickschannel]

Different drivers so hard to validate true comparison but let’s just say the two are the same. Are the values still the same and can you find parts as easily? Also how long ago was this? Have things changed since then? 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Racoon1008]

@@RCKickschannel Well as for the price, I could have got an Xray from the start for the same price of upgraded Tamiya. We raced F1 class until 2 years ago, but due to EU regulations some of the materials used in our F1 HUDY tires were banned and there was no good alternative tire to use for outdoor high speed tracks.

[@kanenstuff]

I got my first Tamiya TT02 and its only my second electric car and with all the hops ups to make half decent I spent a small fortune. Here in Malaysia I could of got a 1/5th scale Rovan buggy, so for me its a no go.

[@rlw85]

Would it have been cheaper to buy the chassis and the upgrade bits than buying the full kit and the upgrades there seems to be more stuff going back in the box than on the car

[@RCKickschannel]

This is a good subject as yes, sometimes it can be, sometimes it can't. The issue comes when the parts are so hard to find individually and cost so much. It can also take way longer to get a car up and running if you hunt for the parts one at a time vs getting a kit and then upgradinging it as you go but when you are finally finished, yes it could have cost you less just to find the parts. All depends I guess as well on how far you want to take the upgrades.

[@rlw85]

@@RCKickschannel I think 🤔 I’d just buy a car with lots of parts and competitive out of the box. This RC hobby seems to be very complicated

[@thegreattreon0177]

Tamiya's on road platforms are on point. You can take one out the box and pretty much be competitive from the start by changing just the tires and shocks but the off road platforms just don't have the gearing, balance, or rigidity to hold up. Now the flip side to that is if you can get a Dyna Storm, Egress, or Top Force, you can walk the dog on folk all day with those cars but parts for those are expensive so I really wouldn't recommend those either unless you have a bottomless bank account and don't even let the thought of trying to race any Tamiya stadium truck come anywhere near your head!

[@alaricbragg7843]

Very true. Years ago back in the 1990s I spectated at an RC Club meeting and it was a rag-tag mixture of adult modellers with sophisticated Losis and kids with entry-level Tamiyas. The Losis rocketed away, the Tamiyas were sluggish and ran out of power quickly. Don't get me wrong, there will always be a case and place for Tamiya RC models. But if you are going to be the next Matt Francis or Brian Kinwald, don't invest in a Tamiya buggy or truck unless you have bucket loads of cash to practically rebuild the car with non-Tamiya parts to a competitive level and you know what you are doing. Or you live in Japan. Have you raced a Stadium Thunder over jumps against a Kinwald-era Losi? Apples and oranges! And not much has changed since then.