Tamiya Grasshopper Build and Thoughts on it

[@trevorfrancis3175]

An iconic kit for sure!

[@AddamsPlayground]

Yes it is! Not the best performing thing at all but it is still a joy to drive. They chattering and hopping all over the place gives it a real personality!

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

This is the car that started all the madness for me in the early 80's. Lol

[@AddamsPlayground]

Yeah, I think a lot of folks got started with a Grasshopper or a Hornet back then. My first was the Super Blackfoot but I had piles of toy grade stuff before that one that got me hooked. After the Blackfoot I never bought another toys grade one until I had kids!

[@ralphhowing3473]

@@flyingfortressrc1794 My little brother got the frog my first kit was the Fox but you are so right the frog and the grasshopper started everything.

[@justindurand9110]

Nice touch using the sticker scraps on the helmet!

[@AddamsPlayground]

Thanks! I saw the excess there and thought I should try and use it for something!

[@HEATER_]

I loved building my Grasshopper back in the day! It was pretty speedy! I put foam tires on it because I would mostly run it in the street.

[@AddamsPlayground]

They are still fun ones to build and drive! The street does eat up the knobbies very fast! The Grasshopper is an iconic kit and got many, many folks into RC over the years and still is!

[@bobbylefebvre6298]

I just bought the green grass hopper keeping it stock just ball bearing

[@AddamsPlayground]

The green version looks really cool. In all honesty the best way to keep them is with the stock motor or maybe the sport tuned 380 motor in them. They just feel right being slower and not quite as darty and jumpy without all the extra weight in the rear. It is a great looking one too!

[@davidgoodrich1258]

Just picked up this kit. The green one. Got the sport tuned 540 same one you showed in video. I have never built a kit from scratch. Looking forward to it.

[@AddamsPlayground]

You will enjoy building it. It is really straight forward and the instructions are easy to follow. Make sure you center the servo before putting the servo saver on and insert the rear tire insert as it shows in the instruction. You have to force it in the tire, don't worry, you are no going to hurt the tire or the insert. Put it in sideways and work one side of the tire one a little and then the other side a little, eventually it will pop inside and then you are good! I think in the build video of my green one there are tips on mounting the tires and wheels. They are honestly the hardest part of the build!

[@ramblingimbecile2295]

I'd agree that these vintage re-release cars like the Grasshopper, Hornet, Lunchbox etc should be kept stock as they are out of the box. With the exception of ball race bearings, which really are vital, they're just of an era and should be kept that way. If you want better performance then by a modern release model instead.

[@SeamusMacMattain]

I have 2 rere GHs, one is bone stock and the other is heavily modded, both are great for their purposes, but the stock one always makes me smile like I'm 11 again

[@ralphhowing3473]

Not much to it is there Addam? makes a perfect firs kit!!!

[@AddamsPlayground]

Yes, these are really great first builds and I can see why this has been the start of so many people's love (or sometimes an obsession) with the hobby for decades!

[@mattmclafferty6265]

Thanks! Hare Krishna

[@AddamsPlayground]

I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@nomusicrc]

When you're putting in the centerpiece for the rear tires are you putting it into the tire sideways or are you trying to put it in as it would go into the tire if that makes sense

[@AddamsPlayground]

I have learned the proper way since this video and put them in side ways. I fought these every which way and was struggling with them. I do laugh as one of the most common first kits for people for decades and the come with some of the most difficult tires and wheels to mount! The hornet ones are not as difficult, I guess the sidewalls have a little move give. These paddles are tougher!

[@mrdavester]

What esc comes with that? MIne didn't come with one and now i'm trying to find the best solution.

[@AddamsPlayground]

They used to come with the Tamiya TBLE04S ESC but they have not been including them in a couple years now. All the new kits (if included) come with the HobbyWing 1060 ESC. They are great ESCs but the switch does not work with the factory placement. In this kit is it not a big deal as you can position in the chassis when building to be able to stick your finger inside and turn it on pretty easy. If you get one, make sure it is a true HW ESC. Many of the cheap ones sole one eBay are knockoffs and they do not tend to last long, sometimes not at all. If you get it from a hobby shop online or in store it should be fine. I have gotten them from Amazon but I make sure it is sold by HobbyWing through them.

[@a-gamez-yt4431]

I'm new to this and I'm planning to buy an rc for off road and on road. $160-180 budget any recommendations 😊 very much appreciated thank you

[@AddamsPlayground]

The Grasshopper is a classic but is limited. I would say the the TT02B Plasma edge or the DT03 Neo Fighter or Racing Fighter would be a better buy with more performance out of the box for not much more money. The TT02 kits are great and inexpensive so you could look for one of the Rally cars and do decent off road. If you plan on driving on road more than one of the TT02 kits would be great, just don't go for one of the super detailed race cars as you may struggle getting the sticker on there, they often have over 100 stickers to make up the designs on the bodies and can be overwhelming! Of course there is always the Lunch Box which is a ton of fun as well.

[@juntom10]

You should make a tshirt or sticker with ‘diggydiggydiggy’ lol

[@AddamsPlayground]

LOL!! Not a bad idea!! It would be funny if the word wrapped all the way around and then at the front had the hopper in the middle of them! Thanks for checking it out and thanks for the funny idea!

[@rtracing]

Just ran into your video. What is the model of that brushed/brushless esc that came with the kit? Thanks.

[@AddamsPlayground]

Mine came with the TBLE02 ESC but since this they has stopped making them, they went to the TBLE04 briefly and then quit making ESCs all together. Now all the ones in the US come with the Hobbywing 1060 ESC, which are great ESCs, the only issue is the switch placement on many kits as the switch is completely different from the old Tamiya ones. You can get creative in some cases, in others you can mount it to the side of the ESC and still turn it on and off or other time it is just easier to leave it on and when you plug it up the ESC will be on. I know in the UK they were coming with Carson ESCs and now I think they have moved to the Hobbywing in the new kits as well!

[@rtracing]

@@AddamsPlayground Thank you for the info. I was interested in the featured esc as it is both brushed and brushless. I guess I will need to decide which motor to run.

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@rtracing I have heard the TBLE ESCs were not the best with brushless motors but I don't have and experience with it though, I am stubborn about change and still love my brushed motors! LOL!

[@danielandrews7028]

Hi Addam, hope you are doing well. Hey is the grasshopper a good option for a beach runner in stock form? That’s all I would use it for. Thanks!

[@AddamsPlayground]

It will do very well in the damp sand or even in coarse drier sand. It will struggle in fine dry sand though. Most any 2wd will struggle in the dry fine sand but the smaller tires and the very hoppy rear end it will hop and spin until it stops and digs a hole. The paddle tires do well and will do amazing in the smooth damp sand!

[@diamond66ist]

I have built many many Tamiya cars , today i built the very basic Grasshopper , the wheels were an absolute pain in the butt with all those tiny screws , drove me mad.

[@AddamsPlayground]

There are tricks to it but yes, they can be a nightmare. After doing a few pairs now they have gotten a lot easier. In one of the Fighting Buggy videos I did there was a segment in there about putting them together that makes it a lot quicker and simpler, granted that doesn't help you on these but maybe in the future as several others have the same wheels! They do take the kid friendly aspect out of the build as I don't know any 12 year olds that would be able to get them together without help!

[@rujay7783]

I have no clue reverse can you help?

[@AddamsPlayground]

What speed control is in your buggy? More than likely you either need to adjust the throttle trim of make sure you have the jumper set to F/B/R on the ESC if you have the Hobbywing 1060 in it.

[@depositionsandstuff7465]

Just purchased this kit: What would you recommend for: ESC Transmitter / Receiver Ball Bearing Kit I purchased a Servo with the kit when I picked it up from a local shop. Was thinking about getting the rest of the parts online. Looking to not spend a fortune.

[@AddamsPlayground]

If it did not come with a ESC then a Hobbywing 1060ia a solid and cheap one to get. For a transmitter/receiver setup I like the Flysky RC FS GT2B as it is only about $40 and comes with a rechargeable battery pack. Bearing you should be able to get a TRB or Fast Eddy bearing kit off of Amazon as well. If you plan on going with a 540 motor a sport tuned is all you need until you start upgrading the suspension. You will need a pinion for that, I cannot remember the tooth count but it is a 32 pitch pinion gear (I want to say 18tooth but I cannot recall). I will check and let you know

[@depositionsandstuff7465]

@@AddamsPlayground Thanks! For the Fast Eddy bearing kit, is there a certain model or type that I should get? There are a million different options on Ebay/Amazon!

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@depositionsandstuff7465 search Amazon for. TRB RC Tamiya Grasshopper Precision Ball Bearing Kit. I use his bearings in all my builds and they are cheaper. If you want the fast Eddie ones search for Fast Eddie bearing kit Grasshopper and it should be in the top results on Amazon too. The pinion size for a 540 motor is the 32p 18 tooth like I though

[@depositionsandstuff7465]

@@AddamsPlayground awesome! Appreciate the super fast response.

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@depositionsandstuff7465 not a problem!

[@yvindRosmer]

Theres something about the audio in you r videos... keep fluctuating back and forth, left and right... and kinda compressed or something

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@yvindRosmer I have heard it from some folks but it seems to be very random. I am not sure if it is an issue on the end device not liking something or what it is. Sorry it sounded wonky. This one is an older one so it was not the best quality to begin with. I think this was me still recording on my old cellphone.

[@yvindRosmer]

@@AddamsPlayground Yep, just checked your recent Tamiya Manta Ray Build video. Sound all good 🔈

[@AddamsPlayground]

@@yvindRosmer Cool! I have upgraded a few things since this one! 😁

[@bendavis8090]

You didn’t have the money and your mom provided? How old are you?

[@AddamsPlayground]

No, my mom gave me money for my birthday and I used it to go buy this. Mommy doesn't need to give me anything but she still enjoys seeing me happy and giving me gifts. Sorry if you didn't get your birthday money this year, maybe you should be nicer.... I have a sugar momma as well that loves buying me pretty things. It is a rough life but somebody has to live it.

[@jalee6587]

Why do you sound like your underwater talking.

[@AddamsPlayground]

Once in a while the playback seems to get distorted on certain devices. I have no idea why, other than it is something with the YT playback.

[@minilamboyt539]

Why do bro sound like he’s about to cry

[@AddamsPlayground]

For some reason occasionally on playback it makes my voice sounds wavering. It only happened for certain people at random times. I am not sure if it is a device issue or a playback issue on the YT.