Tamiya Grasshopper RC Buggy Unboxing and Reminiscing....

[@maverick744]

All my friends had the goodies.. The Fox, Monster Beetle, Falcon and The Frog. I so desperately wanted to join that click of friends knowing there was no way I could get into that hobby for in the early 80’s was a wealthy child’s hobby. My mother had passed away 6 days before Christmas and drained my father financially forcing him to sell our house and into an apartment with no furniture literally going from riches to rags overnight, so trying to keep the mind off of a devastated 10 year old he did what all great fathers did. He worked overtime at two jobs and I can remember him grabbing me from an empty window ledge in an empty apartment that I would just stare at the kids at the park driving their RC cars and telling me to get in the car for a ride. He took me to the Hobby House which was the spot for all Hobby related items(no toys) and I can still remember the smell of rubber tires and new plastic and electronics and looking at the prices of just the kits intimidated me immediately.. The Fox- 138.00, no way.. the Monster Beetle-126.00.. I wish.. The Falcon-98.00 getting better.. The hornet-89.00.. maybe.. then saw the coup de grace Rc-10-300.00.. going the wrong way! Then in the corner I saw The Grasshopper.. 63.00 I was sold! It said High Performance! Got a Futaba Attack stick controller for 99.00 then a Tamiya Hump Pack for 40 and a MRC quick charger for 50.. I was out the door knowing I broke my pops but he never flinched.. I stayed up all night building and smelling the tires and around 6:30 AM it was done and took it out immediately and have been hooked ever since.. my first car, very dear to me.. Still have it.. my shelf queen ..great video. Thanks for that

[@TAMIYALegends]

Maverick74 Wow what an amazing story my friend and I can totally relate to it. Thanks for taking the time to share this 😊👊🏻

[@MikeTheBike58]

Know where you are coming from mate,thanks for sharing.

[@John-rw5cx]

Great story. Thanks for taking the time to tell it. That is how I remember my dad, stoic and hard working. The way men used to be. Thanks

[@jasonurban3597]

I'm just getting back into it after all these years it's crazy all the memories it brings back

[@butchmeister80]

Great story

[@STEVOD313]

I asked for the grasshopper for every bday n Xmas as a kid n never got one, I was obsessed with it too, I use to circle it in the rc magazines n dream, well last July I started the Tamiya buildoffs n the first build had to be the grasshopper so after about 25 years of waiting I finally got my grasshopper 👍😎

[@STEVOD313]

These tires almost killed me! In my vid of building this u see it’s nice n sunny n light outside n the next shot I’m finishing up the last tire n if u notice it’s then dark outside, ya i fought for them for hours! I use paint markers to do my drivers n seems to work great

[@jasonurban3597]

Thats awesome congratulations buddy

[@brendanshield]

Tamiya's brand loyalty is amazing. I had an original Hornet in the 80's I'm now 46 and understand why these guys love these rc cars. The box art is incredable, watching this I feel like going online now and buying one.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Brendan Shields It certainly is Brendan 😊 Thanks for watching buddy 👊🏻

[@maverick744]

I hope you did but be careful.. you won’t stop lol

[@walterbaldemor2128]

I love the three, Grasshopper, hornet and frog

[@bradh7472]

I got mine in 1985 at the age of 9. Was amazed by it back then!! Love it. My buddy and I got really into this stuff back in these days. I remember sending off in the mail the order form. My mom paid for it big money! $75. I waited and waited for UPS to deliver it.

[@aussiecoastie72]

The grasshopper is an absolute classic RC car ... it’s so old school ! But that’s it’s charm ! It’s retro magic 🪄and the Tamiya box art is second to none . Your channel is great 👍

[@waddac2]

Great video. Tamiya Brings back great memories from being a teenager. I saved and saved and ended up with 3 Tamiya RC buggies with my parents help. I had The Frog, Wild Willy Jeep and the Boomerang. I preferred the Boomerang as if recall, was 4X4 and also seemed quicker. I made my Father laugh once as just before going to school one day I put The Boomerang under an empty box with Ariel sticking out. Bin Men/Garbage Men came to throw rubbish in the wagon. One came for the box as I watched from a window in my house, he got closer. When about to pick it up, it shot off up the street at speed. It frightened the life out of him. LOL!!!!! I would love to get another and do a review on it as now an adult.

[@TAMIYALegends]

waddac2 Love it 😊👊🏻

[@waddac2]

It was amazing my friend, so much fun. At 46 years of age now, I still laugh about it. Going to try and save for the re-make of Boomerang and recreate the exact same thing but film and put on my KZbin channel to promote how great Tamiya RC Cars are.

[@jonathanpayne2247]

Very cool, loved hearing about your story on the Grasshopper, can totally relate ... Great video's ... Cant wait for part 2! and the the running of it ...

[@kennethjanczak4900]

great to see u try and keep it original and installing the old school speed controller.. nice build and thanks for taking the time to make the video and share it

[@andrezesna3920]

Love the fact you used the old servo throttle

[@craigmeachin9152]

I'M IN LOVE WITH THE GRASSHOPPER BUT MY FAVOURITE AS ALWAYS AND WILL BE THE HORNET

[@kevingray2126]

I had the grasshopper as my first Rc car I was the only one of my friend that had a car with the 380 motor and if I remember correctly it came as standard with a 6 vault battery which took 12 hours to charge all my friends had the cars with 540 motors so I was always at the back . Still had so much fun in the yesteryear Just getting back into the hobby now got a hotshot on order

[@russrh]

I just bought my first grasshopper last night, after seeing one when I was little and never being able to afford one (and ending up with a Tyco Phantom) can't wait to build it

[@ryannewby447]

Top video. Loving the nostalgia. Got the lunch box and want more, subject to approval from Mrs.

[@BURP39R]

I was born in '72. In utter awe at these vehicles still now. Never owned one. Corrr!

[@georgebooth1476]

I got one for my birthday and I love it !

[@gcm747]

I barely had the money to get a Grasshopper back in the ‘80s. A 540 motor upgrade was the dream! 😅

[@buda3d2007]

Same thing with me, there was an Asian goods store in a small alley on the Main Street in Wollongong Australian in the 80s and behind the counter was the grasshopper box, was love at first sight and I bought one back in 2008 as I opted to get a Commodore 64 for Christmas and not the Grasshopper

[@BasBoyRC]

A class starter kit. Thinking when these came out charging took time unless you had the 15mins car quick charger and the 380 would of given a good run time as a 1200 battery did not last long on a 540. Tamiya do a steel version of that pinion now.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Oh gosh yes lol, 1x 1200 Ni-Cad and a 12Hr Trickle charger :-)

[@BasBoyRC]

Those was they days and a battery cost a fortune.

[@NordicRC]

Basildon Trail Blazing Buddies Yeah. Steel pinion.

[@chrisstevensrcadventures9017]

This was my first rc car loved building it with my Dad when I was kid

[@berryyanlunchiu8069]

Nice video illustrated all the details about grasshopper and keep it up.

[@NordicRC]

You love the Grasshopper 😍 Me too. Ohhh... an MSC, huh ☺️

[@TAMIYALegends]

Nordic RC Visions I’m so old Skool 😂

[@addiemonsterrc3990]

The boyfriend has decided to take an interest in my RC addiction and we've decided to initiate him into the hobby with His and Hers Grasshoppers! I'm so stoked to get started, we're gonna do green for his and pink for mine~

[@lee4741]

I think I need to start mine I’ve had it sat in the box since 2005

[@NFornell]

Great vid, nice to hear the old storys :-)

[@fortboy66]

Don't apologise for the enthusiasm! For me, it was buying the tamiya xr311 from Eltham models in about 1980? Massive box, fantastic box art and I couldn't wait to get home to build it. Soon found out it went faster and for longer without its very detailed but heavy and fragile bodywork! My mate had the Lamborghini cheetah with the variable speed control, mine just had the three speed mechanical speed controller. Magical times! My two boys, 5 and 9 will be getting a grasshopper each soon, get them away from the computer with any luck!

[@adamkalang4320]

Do I have to buy the controller seperately?

[@mrgrice9823]

Hi loving the vids. I'm after some advise. I have just built my grasshopper and upgrade the the motor to 540 and bought the 18t-19t pinion set but they don't connect with the gearing. amid missing something?

[@TAMIYALegends]

Mr Grice Hmmm 🤔 You don’t use the plastic bracket that’s on the 380 motor, the 540 bolts straight onto the gearbox. Hopefully that’s the issue 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mrgrice9823]

@@TAMIYALegends no I'm not using the bracket. the diameter of the the pinion isn't big enough.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Mr Grice Ok it sounds like the pinion is the wrong pitch, the manual will tell you which one you need, then see if that matches up with the pinion you bought 🤷🏼‍♂️. Can’t think what else it could be.

[@mrgrice9823]

@@TAMIYALegends ok cheers

[@MikeTheBike58]

You need 18T with 540 motor.

[@Pablo668]

An MSC? You're nuts!! Ah well, vivre la differance. Wholly agree with your comment about the bearings btw. Yeah, I'm 48 and I still get excited when I get and open up a new kit.

[@Andy35G]

Hi there great video, I remember particularly the grasshopper from the 80’s, my uncle had one and I was just too young and had no money. Can you list the upgrades you mentioned in the video please as I’m looking to finally purchase one for my son and myself 🤪👍

[@presleyluis4666]

new to the rc building models, do they not come with a remote control?

[@mrdoofa9357]

Kits like this one from Tamiya don’t come with a transmitter in the kit. You have to buy the transmitter, receiver, steering servo, batteries and paint separately. Places like Modelsport UK, time tunnel models etc do good package deals that include everything you need to get the kit built and running. You’ll also need some basic tools like a Philips or even better JIS screwdriver, good side cutters, long nosed pliers, modelling knife etc.

[@SporeZoo]

This is the one that I always wanted.

[@SporeZoo]

And I finally ordered it today. 😎

[@MikeTheBike58]

Bloody awesome, I have ordered the limited edition Green Grasshopper, to start my RC collection along with the rere Terra Scorcher. Also ordered a 540-J motor and Hornet D parts,any other mods I can make? Or you would recommend?.

[@ishtiaqahmed3629]

Great video 👍👍👍

[@johnnoble01]

Think your a bit off with saying Tamiya wasn't around when you were young as I'm 58 and they were around when I was a kid. Richard Konstam were the distribution agents for Tamiya and used to put their sticker, Riko, on every Tamiya kit, static kits and RC. Back in the late 70's when they released the Cheata and XR 311 I was still in my teens and wanted one really bad! Imo these are the cars that really started the off road car scene and not the Rough rider and Sand Scorcher.

[@TAMIYALegends]

johnnoble01 Lol John I had to re watch the video to understand your comment. I think you misunderstood why I was saying. The Grasshopper was the first Tamiya RC car I saw, up until that I just had toy grade cars from the toy shop. This was just an account of my personal Tamiya journey. And yes this was certainly the golden era of RC for sure 🤩 Thanks for watching buddy 👊🏻

[@johnnoble01]

Oh well, we got that sorted then! 😄😄 Love your enthusiasm for the hobby as well! 👍👍

[@schuttrostig5729]

Check the picture on the box and the top one of the manual: it shows some kind of independent rear suspension with drive shafts and drive shaft covers, pretty much like subaru-brat. Does anyone have the story from tamiya/the box artist why he painted it that way, maybe he was painting way before release and didnt know/see the underside? or did they have 2 version and decided against the one with the independent rear suspension due to cost/build consistency? would be a verry intresting story tamiya could provide some time. Also: if its a shelf queen that will be driven carefully 2-10 times nothing against the nylon bushings. Actually really no use for ballbearings on a shelf queen. And for driving i would use hornet/grasshopper 2 with mod to rear suspension.

[@arado240dd]

i remember these had a small 380 in them,

[@craigandrews772]

Thanks for the video, if the Grasshopper was the second re release, what was first? Looking forward to the next video.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Craig Andrews The Hornet 🐝👊🏻

[@georgebooth1476]

It is so much fun I am going to put a faster motor in mine

[@Superslayer814]

My brother has got that one.

[@Superslayer814]

Yes it's me again

[@TAMIYALegends]

John The RC driver Hey I appreciate you watching my stuff John 😎👊🏻

[@samameduri9438]

Those AV pinions wont work , they are the wrong pitch. You need the original vintage brat " 18 pinion 32 pitch.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Sam Ameduri Well spotted Sam, you’ve saved me some trouble now 😎👊🏻