Tamiya Grasshopper vs Tamiya Hornet: Assembly Kit Comparison

[@user-uh6lm5wv6n]

Im 45 now but man just seeing those boxes takes me right back to being a kid and lusting after these. They were always stacked at the top of the shelf in the toy store, sometimes they would be within reach but lways sealed. I would be absolutely spell bound by the graphics and the boxes.

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, we are about the same age so I know the feeling. Back then nobody told me these existed, but I had the same feeling when visiting the toy stores and seeing all the Nikko and Taiyo ‘Hoppers’ 🙂

[@popeye9048]

Just restored my kids old hornet and caught the bug again and ordered a grasshopper! The feeling of nostalgia is immense 😁

[@NordicRC]

Nice! Yeah, nostalgia and RC history is the key to enjoy these 🙂

[@ianmillerphotography]

just in the process of restoring my Hornet. (bought Christmas '87 - so probably not quite original original according to videos). Not sure what changes, if any were made to the model between 84 - 87. The one bug I don't like. That bumper. It's rubbish. Trying to work out a way of getting something better. Just need some light weight solid plastic that I can put on the front.

[@eddiehitler6985]

"Caught the bug" lol, I saw what you did there ;-)

[@mikeqendro9601]

I'm 57 and bought an original Rough Rider back in 1980 when I was in 11th grade. I am currently restoring my rough rider and decided to build a candy green grasshopper, which is almost finished. I have a comical frog to build when both are finished.

[@NordicRC]

Hi Mike! Yeah, read your other comment. So cool you're awakening the Rough Rider.

[@michaelqendro9825]

@@NordicRC Can't wait to hear that distinctive whine they made while running it around the back yard.

[@bezerker71]

I had one of these with an rsd 40 s sprint motor, battery didnt last very long but was pretty fast for the time and i had a blast with it as a kid. Thanks for tbe nostalgic flashback dude.

[@NordicRC]

Thanks for watching, Bezerker71! Nice I could help bring out some good old memories. So cool you had one of these. Must have been a blast running it as a kid.

[@tamiyamodelbuilder8500]

Great kits! Love that black metallic hornet I might have to do that kit next. Thanks for the video

[@NordicRC]

Tamiya Model Builder Thanks for watching, mate! Yeah beautiful finish Tamiya did on this one. And a very quick build with a pre-cut and pre-plated/painted body :-)

[@tombombadil2793]

I'm 48 Years old and going to buy a Grasshopper . 😊

[@NordicRC]

Nice! I am also in my fourties and just build a Grasshopper last year! :-)

[@oliverhertzog1017]

Greetings from Germany, I am 45 and still Love the Frog.

[@ShenRC]

Wow you got 2 beauties there!Your going to have FUN!

[@NordicRC]

+shenlonco Thank you! Yeah, those two are a lot of fun. My first Grasshopper and Hornet :-) Looking forward running them in the summer time

[@ShenRC]

+Nordic RC Visions sure!there fun buggies!

[@LUMPYWIT]

Great Video. Growing up in the 80s I didn't want the Grasshopper It had to be the Hotshot and Boomerang. Glad I got one know though. Enjoyed the build. Keep up the good work.

[@NordicRC]

Thanks for the nice feedback. Ah, consider yourself lucky. Nobody told me that hobby-models or Tamiya existed back in the 80'ies, so I ran with Nikko and Taiyo "Grasshoppers". The Grasshopper would have been heaven for me and I can't even imagine how it would have been to run a Hotshot back then :-)

[@user-uh6lm5wv6n]

The Hotshot yes!!!

[@2RCPRODUCTIONS]

Nice comparison video!! I subbed!!

[@NordicRC]

Nice! I sub to your channel too! I have no idea why this comment escaped my keen eyes over a year ago. Sorry!

[@2RCPRODUCTIONS]

Nordic RC Visions Thanks and no prob that happens to me too sometimes 😁

[@theibault]

Sweet video my friend. Enjoy the builds, they go together very quickly lol.

[@NordicRC]

+Theibault Thanks for the kind feedback, Omar. Yeah, already got the Grasshopper ready, painting the driver etc. took most of the time :-)

[@thestuffz]

great comparison! I have both (regular versions) but never had a chance to compare part for part side by side. ty.

[@NordicRC]

Thank you very much! Yeah, since I had both kits with no one of them build yet by coincidence it was a perfect oppurtunity :-) Would have been even better with the standard edtions. ... and eould love if somebody did the same with the Grasshopper II and Super Hornet. Already build mine so that is an oppurtunity missed.

[@unmoderatedahole]

This is a great idea for a video.

[@NordicRC]

+True Buggy Thanks. I will do a visual comparison of the finished buggies ... once I get the Hornet assembled too :-)

[@rcsteve1668]

Good comparison just goes to show they're very similar :)

[@NordicRC]

+RC Steve Yeah, basically the same car with different looks :-) Thanks for watching, Steve. Good luck with your own Hornet. Hope to see some running footage from you.

[@rcandgaminglabs8038]

thanks. i always wondered what the the differences were.

[@NordicRC]

whiteboy rc Thanks for watching. Got them both build so one day I will do a comparison with them all finished.

[@jonathanwilliams1593]

Thank you!

[@NordicRC]

Thank you for watching!

[@Kiwi82870]

Thanks

[@NordicRC]

No problem :-) Thanks for watching

[@DavesModelWorkshop]

So which is the best?

[@NordicRC]

Hard to say. But with the 540 motor versus the 380 the Hornet is definitly the fastest. But the Grasshopper has a stable rear axle and a hard body screwed into the chassis which helps with the durability of the chassis.

[@DavesModelWorkshop]

Thanks for the reply. I'm considering a Hornet - currently driving a Sand Scorcher, and interested in how different the experience would be.

[@NordicRC]

Great channel and great Sand Scorcher you have. Subscribed. Not much of a difference, both are two wheel drive buggies though the Grasshopper/Hornet design is younger and perhaps a bit more agile (as young as 1984!). The Hornet/Grasshopper is also a bit lighter, and with the Hornet you’ll get more speed, stock, than with a Sand Scorcher. They are also easier (and much much cheaper, everything is plastic) to make. Takes no time to assemble and paint a stock Grasshopper/Hornet. So the first scratches won’t feel aa bad as with a Scorcher ;-)

[@Hoopi_]

I agree, the Hornet is probably the better one, as it has a 540 motor, which is bigger than the smaller 380 motor in the Grasshopper. Back in the 80s, the Grasshopper was meant to be the ‘budget’ side of the 2, as most of their parts are exactly the same.

[@Hoopi_]

Ahh... 2 of my favourites...

[@NordicRC]

Two of my favorites too :-) Such classic ones.

[@charliekroll3666]

This video is gonna blow up thanks to supreme

[@NordicRC]

Ahhhhhh...... say what?

[@charliekroll3666]

Supreme is realeasing one of these

[@NordicRC]

Ahh yes, the Supreme edition. I haven't noticed any serious increase in interest for my Hornet videos though. Not too sure if the Supreme edition is that popular world wide.

[@Kiwi82870]

Which one is faster

[@NordicRC]

Stock wise The Hornet. Comes with a bigger motor and a bigger pinion. But for a few dollars one could install the same on the Grasshopper.

[@FinlayMorris]

I've never made an RC car, do you think this would be alright?

[@NordicRC]

Yeah. It’s the perfect beginner set!

[@GTMatukka]

How much were these when you bought them? I want them both :D

[@NordicRC]

No idea 🙂 Long time ago. Probably about 100€ each.

[@GTMatukka]

@@NordicRC Nice :) Not a bad price. Zahhak is in the post waiting for a pickup. :P Is the Hopper front springs same as the Hornet's?

[@NordicRC]

Not sure. But the Hornet front shocks have extra parts.

[@gavg1034]

Hi mate I'm built all my kits from xmas lol I'm looking for a retro buggy grasshopper or hornet which would you recommend? thanks

[@NordicRC]

+Gav G Hey Gav! For looks or performance? If you want a 'hopper' I think either a Grasshopper 2 chassis or especially a DT-01 chassis based hopper performs the best. The classic Grasshopper 2 is also coming up in a new rerelease very soon this spring! But if you want one of the two first, I think a Hornet is the best choice. Oil filled rear dampers (although I've heard they don't do much), rear rolling axle (if it is too annoying it can always be fixed with Grasshopper parts) and a 540 type motor + motor mounts. It is also lighter and also gives quick access to the chassis as the body is lexan (though I've heard the wing breaks easily). But I guess it mostly depends on what is more pleasing to your eyes personally. The Grasshopper can easily be equipped with a 540 type motor and mount later on. The Candy Green edition from this video is also being rereleases later this spring. Saves you A LOT of time consuming paint-hours (the paint process of a Hard Body is well, a lot harder than a lexan paint job).

[@gavg1034]

Nordic RC Visions brilliant thanks for that I think the hornet it shall be...yeah I was just reading about the grasshopper 2 great news also the top force...it'd going to be an expensive rc year I think. thanks again 👍

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, every year is an expensive year when caught up in the RC hobby :-) Good luck with your Hornet! Sitting and building my own Hornet at this very moment :-)

[@gavg1034]

Nordic RC Visions great stuff looking forward to your hornet video...enjoy the build 👍

[@NordicRC]

Thanks! Just need to paint the driver, then she's ready :-)

[@corbynova]

Oh man, I can still smell and feel the new tires coming out of the box... oh 1984.

[@NordicRC]

Corby Kearns Nice! I never had a Tamiya in the 1980s but I remember the feeling of opening the new boxes of Nikko and Taiyo as a kid back then. It was a very special time :-)

[@corbynova]

Oh ya, I saved up for a Frog for about 2 years... then bought the Hornet. That was one of the funnest times ever.

[@NordicRC]

I can imagine :-) ...or not ... running the Nikko Turbo Panther was one of the funniest times ever, and I can't even imagine how it must have felt running a Hornet back then as a kid. Must have been heaven :-)

[@GTMatukka]

More Hornet vids 😎 Should i just buy The Hornet and Lunchbox together or something else on the price range? Damn this Tamiya bug! I received the receiver today. Hooray!

[@NordicRC]

Can't get enough of Hoppers and Hornets :-) I think you should buy excately the one you like the most. It's all about personal preference when it comes to choices like a Tamiya :-)

[@j0nnyism]

Ur lucky u got the black metallic hornet my rims were white like the grasshoppers plus I had to cut the body out of the mold which was a chore all that filing !! But at least I could choose my own colour. Which ended up being black anyway. Hornets are amazing

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, they truely are amazing. Your're lucky too - you got the edition with the clear lexan and the white rims. In my book that one is the REAL Hornet :-) Box art and beautiful. Got this on sale and because I really wanted to see that metal plated body. These pre-painted editions also make up great winter projects, as I have no other choice than to paint outdoors. Thanks for watching. Hope to make some cool Hornet running videos next summer. Hope you will be watching.

[@Hoopi_]

Hmm... It took Tamiya a while to make the Hornet black metallic. As you showed, the black metallic was released in 2014, but the original rerelease was in 2004! That’s 10 years exactly...

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, 1984, 2004 and 2014. Ohh and now 2018 if one wants to count the Supreme edition :-) Thanks a lot for watching and all the support with the interesting comments on my channel today, Wilson!

[@Hoopi_]

WAIT... The Hornet Supreme is real?! I thought someone just made custom stickers for it! I better go and have a look...

[@Hoopi_]

I just bought a Hornet, but it’s just the original 2004 rerelease. Do you have any tips building it? I’ve built a Hotshot and Bigwig but they’re pretty much the same. The Hornet on the other hand has a completely different chassis.

[@Hoopi_]

Back in the day, I had a Tamiya Hornet. Unfortunately, I put a technigold motor into it and sent it running at the speed of sound! But then I crashed it and that was the end of it... :( Anyway, I wonder if they’ll ever rerelease the technigold motor...

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, it's real but I think more "supreme-lovers" than "tamiya-lovers" will pick it up. Very over-prized since the only difference is a couple of flame stickers and Supreme logos.

[@Create_o_raptor]

the hornet is what pops up when somebody says "an rc car".. it is that type of vehicle..

[@NordicRC]

DINO IDEAS I agree! It's an iconic buggy. Just uploaded a video with some Tamiya models, among them the Hornet.

[@adamspitfire]

The live axle on the back is absolutely rubbish, it fishtailes over the slightest bump and rolls over if your not careful. I would love to glue the gears together and create an lsd for donuts lol

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, by modern standards, the whole rear axle is a faulty design. But it sure was popular back then and it still provides tons of fun 😀

[@davidturner2365]

Don't know why they put a 380 in the grasshopper it killed the performance

[@NordicRC]

+David Turner Keeping costs down I guess. Maybe a snart move considering the fact it was one of the best selling models in the mid-80s. It's actually still fun to run, though I know what you mean. Looking forward to running my Hornet with a 540 from the start :-)

[@nickwoodruff3321]

The 380 was appropriate for the grasshopper considering it was intended to be their "entry" level buggy mainly aimed at younger or new hobbyists. Not to mention the fact that the re-release is still faster than just about every toy grade rc in the same price range today.

[@rcgeneration824]

I once had a grasshopper, fun to build and run but please don't ever run it, let alone make jumps on solid asphalt or concrete. The body is very frail and unless you have a spare body to spare, be my guest.

[@NordicRC]

Ahh, these things where meant to be run. I can't not run them :-) Got all the hopper/hornets. They are so much fun to run :-) The body is quite sturdy but it's a hard body and behaves/brakes like any hard body would do.

[@Hoopi_]

Yeah, those front dampers were not the best. They were just springs! Not even filled with oil! But at least the shell can be bashed and can still survive, as always coming from Tamiya.

[@saracarrasquilla6955]

SUPREME?

[@NordicRC]

Supreme?

[@NordicRC]

The Hornet Supreme?

[@johnrohlfs9607]

🇺🇸thanks from John Robert Bruffett Junior of United States of America !!!!!!!!

[@NordicRC]

Greetings here from Scandinavia, John!

[@rambobronco]

Maybe the crappy music could not exist and the guy could actually talk?

[@NordicRC]

Cat got my tongue ;-)

[@eaglepointtactical8532]

cant stand this techno music.....

[@NordicRC]

Sorry. Me neither, but sometimes things turn out in a certain way in the editing proces, which is hard to change afterwards.

[@javerselektronik7954]

Thanks

[@NordicRC]

Thanks a lot for watching! Check out some of my newer videos with the Hoppers and Hornets :-)