Tamiya Grasshopper Upgrades including Oil Shocks

[@RobertXavier-kl8bj]

Best RC video on KZbin because of the Depth of detail and Tips from a true hobbies. Not just another KZbinr trying to sell the next batch of cheap accessories, parts & rtr toys.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for the feedback. Knowing you had Radio Shack and Tyco's, my first ever was a Turbo Hopper whilst friends had a Grasshopper, Hornet and WildOne. I always felt the Grasshopper was what my Turbo Hopper wanted to be so nice to have one and I still get get the nostalgic feeling when using this one. I like the limited capabilities if the rear axle, it all adds to the nostalgia.

[@GreatBirdOfHope]

The battery door upgrade with the servo horn is awesome and genius! Thank you kind sage!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Nice and easy and la free mod as you always get spares with a servo 👍🏼Thanks for watching, appreciated..

[@AddamsPlayground]

Great tips!! The low profile servo is a great one! Cramming the battery in is a pain!! There a ton in here I will be using as well! Thanks for all the great tips and it looks fantastic!!

[@DustyFingersRC]

It is refreshing every time I pop a battery in now lol

[@HaydadRC]

Excellent tips, your Grasshopper is beautiful! Very nicely done video!👍😊

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Hoping it is to the point and helpful. Been studying a lot in trying to keep viewers engaged. It is a journey but love learning to edit as much as RC, nearly. Lol

[@madsrcbuggy]

Oh, that was a great video! Lots of great tips and really well explained, plus you took the time to get good footage. Really now all I got to do is get me a Grasshopper, eh? Another bonus was those aluminium threaded rods, I needed those and I couldn't find them, so I paused your video and did a new search and I now got some in my Amazon basket, happy me!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for the feedback. I am using some new editing software so was learning how to use it when making this. Great to hear you think it turned out OK. Also good that it helped you find something you needed 👍🏼

[@grantmckendry3323]

Videos like this are great for me - well visualised, mods are clearly explained, great for a novice like me to try to replicate. Keep up the great work.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thank you. I really appreciate it cause that was my aim and you wouldn't believe the time it takes getting this sort of content together. On my video's I also add detail in the description to help to so again, thanks for the feedback 👊🏼

[@theoagrc]

Great tips Damien. That servo horn one at the end is spot on dude 🙌🏻👍🏻 Thanks for sharing

[@DustyFingersRC]

Cheers, I did a video for it a while back but thought I would try to cover everything in one video which makes it easy for anyone looking for ideas. Proof that it worked as you missed the other one I did so glad that was of use.

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Great list of Tips! I've got the GHII, but several of those will work. The Batry Door Latch is genius!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks. Shown a couple tips before but thought it was a good idea to make a simple presentation with all my mods with time stamps to make things easy for people. 👍🏼

[@peterhenry65]

Great tips, and cool looking hopper

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, really appreciate that 👍🏼

[@JimbobJames-n2p]

This is excellent. And the paint scheme looks awesome too. Great hop up modifications too. I agree both the Hornet and Grasshopper steering arms are really flimsy almost a thin piece of wire and they are also difficult to fit a battery into. So your space saver servi is a great idea filing the suspension arms to get rid of the binding problem is a very clever fix too. Great work here mate Top marks👌👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for leaving such a great comment. Glad you liked the video and it has made me want to take it out again 👍🏻

[@paulmcnamara16]

Coop upgrades when had mine it was all original except the electronics ran with a Hobbywing 1040 esc, HPI Firebolt motor and one of those small Turnigy 2.2 3s packs thing was mental fun! Look forward to the run video

[@DustyFingersRC]

I tried a faster motor once but it was too fast although cool seeing it go mega quick it wasn't stable enough. I find the 540 Silver can perfect for me on this buggy. Faster but much less chance of loosing control. In fact, now it so cool to drive with these shocks and the Hornet tyres. Had a.great run with it yesterday. 👍🏼

[@paulmcnamara16]

@@DustyFingersRC yeah I got it in a swap so ran it a few times and got rid literally only have two 2wd RCs now my Blackfoot and an onroad chassis. I'm just not good enough a driver to control and have fun with a 2wd!

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@paulmcnamara16 I grew up on 2WD but do love 4WD too. 2WD is great when sliding round a corner. Great fun but understand why people.prefer 4WD 👍🏼 As long as you are having fun hey 👍🏼

[@paulmcnamara16]

@@DustyFingersRC always dude!

[@rc-dom-uk]

Nice. I’m going to do a new hopper build at some point . Thanks for the good ideas mate 👍👍👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

It runs well 👍🏼

[@JF-RC]

Hi there and some great tips for an iconic Tamiya Grasshopper, which could easily be adapted to suit The Hornet too. Great work, love the information. Take care and best wishes to you and the family 😉😁😊

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks John 👍🏼

[@RCBirds]

Great video Damian. Very good explained. Sorry for the delay seeing it not earlier. This servo horn solution is just wow🤩

[@DustyFingersRC]

No worries. I don't get to comment on everything either. If I watch on my TV I can't. All the best 👍🏼

[@FastFreddyRC]

Great video on the hop ups! I'll be referring to this in the future.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, they take a long time for me to make these so appreciate the feedback 👍🏼

[@ValleyRC]

Great looking hopper, mate!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for the comment, come back soon 👊🏼 You have more to catch up with 😆

[@Zack-nj3ej]

Great video! I’ve been trying to work out whether a similar hopper/hornet’s A arms would work on the GH and this video is perfect! I just ordered all the necessary parts to copy your front suspension hop up on my son’s Hopper I. Thanks!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Taken mine out a couple times and it is great. 👍🏼

[@Zack-nj3ej]

@@DustyFingersRC just wanted to update you and let you know that your GH2 front arm hop up for the GH1 improved handling quite a bit. I really appreciate this video! Thanks for the great advice!

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@Zack-nj3ej That's great 👍🏼 slightly wider track too. Did you manage to fit oil shocks?

[@Zack-nj3ej]

@@DustyFingersRC Yep! I installed the same CVA set that you have in the front and I’ve got the Hornet oil filled suspension set up in the rear along with the additional Hornet parts tree components. It also now has Hornet tires. I went with the Blackfoot steering rods and parts for the front along with the Blackfoot servo saver and that also beefs it up a bit. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@Zack-nj3ej That sounds awesome!! Never had a Hornet strangely enough but was thinking of using the parts for the rear articulation but as this had improved so much I stopped spending money and told myself I was satisfied lol. May do it in the future though. I used a Kimbrough servo saver on mine when I changed to the 3mm threaded rods. There are so many different solutions and loved hearing about yours. Thanks 👍

[@M.A.S.Ked-Crusader]

That hopper is a work of art mate 👌

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks mate, channel mascot buggy 👍🏼. Working on some running video footage at the moment. At the same time as getting me head around this new editing software. Lol

[@M.A.S.Ked-Crusader]

@@DustyFingersRC well done, it’s almost to nice to run, like the mods to, good luck editing !!

[@BangForYourBuckRc]

This is one insane looking grasshopper! One of the best I’ve seen. Awesome job on upgrading this and making it one of a kind!👊🏼😃✌🏻💯

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, very much appreciated. Inspired by Blockhead Motors paintwork. Really please with it and fun to drive so glad you liked it. Thanks 👍🏼

[@thesausage351]

Man I just found this channel and it’s going to be a wealth of information. I have a Hornet and Super Hornet, and I’m going to buy a Grasshopper and new Grasshopper, and probably a Blitzen Beetle, so finding great mods for them is exactly what I need. I’m tempted to go to a brushless in one of the buggies, but not totally sold on it.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Welcome aboard! That is a great comment for me to read and I appreciate you. The mods on the buggies you mention work great and made a huge difference for me.

[@thesausage351]

@@DustyFingersRC Sweet! I made a mod on one of mine, I just forget now whether it was the Hornet or Super, I think the Hornet, but they’re both the same I think. Where the rear member attaches to the chassis, by design, there is a slot to allow for some side to side motion, to sort of mimic an independent rear. I put some blue tac in there to hold the pin at the bottom of the slide. That way the rear was solid, and it’s only motion was up and down, controlled by the shocks. Some people on a forum said I’d gone backwards, however on level ground, and keeping in mind it has an open diff, it will really only drive off one wheel if the other is lifted or dropped, what I did was force the coil overs to control the action. On my front lawn, and particularly on concrete it was a much better driving car. It won’t work for everyone, but it definitely made an improvement for me. What I’d really like to do, although it would remove most of the original cars DNA, is to create a new bellypan, with a single A arm in the front, but with a new top locator that is much sturdier and allow for better shocks to be used and that would make essentially a McPherson strut, and for the back I would just leave a tab to allow an independent diff to be used, and then you could use brushless, etc. However, at that stage I may as well just buy a 1:14 buggy and put the Hornet shell onto it. But that’s not as much fun. However, I will be buying a grasshopper shortly, I think I will remove all the stickers and paint the car, or look for another, unstickered body and have some custom stickers made, using my No30 race number.

[@marlecmarine5393]

Great tips, love the video, l am going to do exactly as you suggested, love the battery box fix, brilliantly simple.....

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, I appreciate your comment. Yeah, the battery door and the space saving servo is a real benefit.

[@BlackSeaRC]

Despite its entry-level design, the Grasshopper can actually be upgraded to make it into a very nice looking and performing buggy, as you have demonstrated in this video. I guess this is the appeal of this model and why it has been a best seller for such a long period. It is also one of those iconic products that proves you don't have to drive the most exotic buggy to have a huge amount of fun.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏼

[@thesausage351]

Agreed! I haven’t got a Grasshopper just yet, but I’ve had an original Hornet and Super Hornet for a few years, and admittedly I haven’t used them in a little while as I got into guitars and work went crazy so I’ve been a little sidetracked, but what I love about them, and this is only my experience, but now I’m getting a little older, you can get one of these cars and drive it flat out, and go through half a dozen batteries and not have a major crash, or damage it beyond repair. I bought a broken 1/10 brushless buggy from eBay and completely stripped it, cleaned it, rebuilt it better than new, and I drove it 3 times, the last time being flat knacker at about 80kph down my street, hit a pot hole and went firing off right into a corner section of the concrete kerb, and snapped the chassis and tore all the front end out. I put that motor into a F1 chassis I had spent a lot of time on, building it as a Ferrari, painting the helmet the same as Sennas, removed the piddly little motor and bolted in the brushless, went out onto the concrete and that thing moved too fast to even track it properly. It had to do 100kph. I stopped it, packed it away and got out my Hornet and had a blast! I was game enough to do jumps in it, I let my kids have a turn, and it was awesome!

[@andyrobinsonrc2480]

Ace video Damien! Loved that and the cool tips and hints. You do exactly the same thing as me with the battery door. Less expensive than the ampro ones Etc, nothing wrong with them at all, the servo horn is a free fox pretty much. Keep up the good work :)

[@DustyFingersRC]

Cheers Andy. Appreciate it 👍🏼

[@wintery193]

Nice video. Great tips. I love the paint job.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks for leaving a comment to let me know you found this useful. I appreciate it 👍🏻

[@wintery193]

@@DustyFingersRC Given me some ideas for when I get another. Gave my nephew my grasshopper his 1st tamiya.... Hopefully he will get the Tamiya bug

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@wintery193 That's good of you, I hope he has fun with it. My son isn't as interested as I would like but once outside with it he loves it!

[@wintery193]

@@DustyFingersRC glad he likes it once outside. Does he like building them? Thank you. What I have been told he likes it just wants dryer days

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@wintery193 Bet he would love it even more of you go with yours too 👍🏻

[@RCplamodel]

*Tommy, what a nice grasshopper car!~~~ Thank you for sharing a good video with a nice car! 💯👍👍~~~^_^*

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, appreciate it 👍🏼

[@3TRCGarage]

Awesome review of your mods. Nice production as always. I like how you customize and mod your RCs. I remember when the Grasshopper came out and wanted one badly but already had a Rough Rider with all the parts to convert it to a Sand Scorcher or the F-150. Take care👍🏾

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks much appreciated.. I never thought I would.put oil shocks on as I enjoyed that 80's feeling but things changed. It is still loads of fun to drive so I was glad about that. Thanks again for the great comments and hopefully I will be able to share some running footage soon. 👍🏼

[@renercadventures]

So stunning,thanks for sharing 😹👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thank you very much :)

[@islandrc-duke1972]

cool rc and awesome upgrades

[@DustyFingersRC]

Cheers Duke 👍🏻

[@islandrc-duke1972]

@@DustyFingersRC 🙂👍

[@robcraighill6315]

Nicely done 👍😎

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, appreciate it. Tried to get to the point as much as possible so not to waste anyone's time. Hopefully it was engaging enough to keep retention. I am constantly trying to improve and this is the first time using new editing software. Thanks 👍🏼

[@Toystheyrenot]

Awesome looking hopper and great mods! Love how you installed oil shocks all around. The Spt is also my go to servo and I have them installed in most of my cars. Also did the same thing with the battery door using a servo horn.😂👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Cheers. Drives lovely and I had great fun with it a couple days ago. Hopefully I got some footage to use 👍🏼

[@PeteWylieRC]

Hiya Damian. Firstly what a top job you've done with the presentation and edit on this. Hope it does well for you. Anyway the thing with the front shocks is just what I need for my Hornet. I didn't realise that you could use those Grasshopper 2 A arms and then be able to mount the super mini shocks. Genius! Lots of other great mods too. I do need to get a couple of those low profile servos as the DSServo ones don't fit in everything. Year Hornet rear tyres are the business! Hope you are ok mate. Thanks for a great vid 🙂

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks Pete, spent a lot of time learning some.nrw.editing software at the same time making this. I am hoping it is engaging without much waffle to make things easy for the viewer. Hope to keep improving on the editing side of things. I appreciate the feedback, means a lot. 👍🏼

[@DustyFingersRC]

Oh, yeah, so nice to be able to pop a battery in so easily with a space saving servo. Refreshing to say the least. 👍🏼

[@PeteWylieRC]

@@DustyFingersRC Yeah it's a great format that you've done. What editing software are you using now?

[@DustyFingersRC]

Davinci Resolve Much to learn, can get quite in depth compared to what I used before.

[@PeteWylieRC]

@@DustyFingersRC Yeah learning a new editor is a hell of a challenge. I never got over it when Windows Movie Maker stopped working on my PC. It was so easy to use. Mark Bryan still uses it. Not sure how unless he's not updated windows for about 10 years!

[@albedo9127]

AMPRO Engineering here on KZbin has developed a lot of hop-ups for the Grasshopper/Hornet, including double wishbone front suspension that eliminates bump steer completely and you don't have to modify anything on the chassis.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Yeah, seen his stuff. I use his brace on my Blitzer Beetle. Happy with how this buggy is working now. If you haven't seen Humble Vintage RC and you like 3D printed solutions you should go check them out too 👍🏼

[@KaiCityRC]

Wow, that is one nice looking 'Hopper! Thanks for all the insights and info, very informative. Thanks! 👍👍 Mind if I ask what/where you picked up the light buckets?

[@DustyFingersRC]

They are on eBay. Come with all the fixings so easy to fit. They look better at night than the footage shows, my camera at night didn't do it justice. Thanks for checking it out. 👍🏼

[@KaiCityRC]

@@DustyFingersRC Thanks!

[@davidfine38]

Awesome! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Hi. Thanks for taking time to drop a comment. Appreciate it.

[@reitplace4765]

New SUb great vid restoring a Road Runner gave me lots of ideas I want it as a runner.

[@DustyFingersRC]

Excellent, cheers. Very satisfying to do a restoration and bring something back to looking good again just the way you want it. Hope you like the content 👍🏻

[@mikeohare4000]

My name is Daniel I am 10 I love your videos they help and inspire me a lot you and AMPRO & fast freddy rc and your the best. 😁

[@DustyFingersRC]

Excellent 👍🏻 You can learn about engineering with this hobby and have a lot of fun at the same time. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻

[@powersmodelgarage]

Looks awesome!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks 😎

[@shanec8812]

Excellent video! New subscriber here!!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Nice one, appreciate the feedback 👍🏻

[@mesakhadhiatma2431]

5 of 8 of those upgrades have been provided for my grasshopper 2 😁 I skipped 5, 6 and 8...

[@DustyFingersRC]

Awesome 👍🏻

[@orrc16]

Very nice 👍😉

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks, appreciate it 👍🏼

[@danwilliams7372]

Great video 👌 Can I ask?…. What blue did you use for the body? And I tried the link for the servo, but it’s currently unavailable. Do you recommend any others for the Grasshopper? Many thanks 👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Hi. Which country are you in? The blue paint is Tamiya TS23 light blue. I also used white TS27 paint.

[@DustyFingersRC]

UK link: amzn.to/4hNXida

[@danwilliams7372]

Thanks ​@@DustyFingersRC I’m in the U.K 👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

@@danwilliams7372 Great 👍🏼

[@RobertXavier-kl8bj]

Would be cool to see a comparison between your 80's / 90's Japanese Classics vs Modern Chinese models "recommended" (paid ad) by many a KZbinr.

[@DustyFingersRC]

I only have the Tamiya models from back in the day and a couple Kyosho's I am currently finishing off. Just the RC's that mean something to me and have some character. It would be an interesting comparison but I can't spend money on something I don't have any personal feeling towards but if a company one day decided to send me one it is a good idea for content. The time, effort and money I have spent on this channel is huge and cost me in many ways. I am just doing it for the love of it but earning money to put food on the table and being a father always comes first for me. The reality of time and effort, aside from cost with no financial support is so huge that I think many don't appreciate. If they did they would at least remember to hit the thumbs up if they had any value from watching.

[@nope4247]

The wu-tang on the motor... Unbelievable!!🎉❤

[@DustyFingersRC]

👍🏻 My original paint job was black and white with a Wu symbol on the front. Will be on one of my older video's. Thanks for watching.

[@HumbleVintageRC]

Wow this is awsome👍👍👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thanks. I love what you do with the 3D printed parts for this and other buggies and encourage anyone to check your channel out 👍🏼

[@mikeohare4000]

Hi Dusty! For grasshopper Servo spt4412. Where would you advise to buy? I don't want to buy a fake. They selling for £10 and £50! So I guess some are fakes?

[@DustyFingersRC]

Bought mine at AliExpress. They are not expensive. Find me on FB and drop me a message, or Instagram and I will send you a link where I got mine if needed. 👍🏻

[@gatsbylee2773]

Awesome!!

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thank you 👊🏼

[@bestamerica]

' i have one R/C tamiya frog car and use traxxas parts / rims wheels / shocks... another R/C tamtrax car is a half tamiya frog chassic and half traxxas stampede chassic... very cooool

[@DustyFingersRC]

😎👍🏻

[@musicnature007]

สุดยอดมาก อยากลองขับสักครั้ง

[@DustyFingersRC]

Thank you 👍🏼

[@DustyFingersRC]

Front oil Shocks - more detail and full list of parts needed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goW3nKWLiKuAjs0 Watch this video to see how Hornet rear tyres can improve the handling in more ways than one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKLElo2ia9WZfrM