Tamiya Grasshopper…

In this video we finally build my Tamiya Grasshopper…
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[@noack7381]

Spot on, Grasshopper was my first as well when i was 13 years old in 1986, and half a year after my father bought me a Hornet, which i raced my first Tamiya cup with and got 3rd ... and i was hooked for life. Thank you for taking us along, on these strolls down memory lane. I absolutely love it. Greetings from Denmark.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@robertfarrar6212]

Cheers from the USA! There's an original '80s kit here; need to build, paint, decal and run it. Thanks for the reminder!

[@Chunky246]

Indeed, going from the 380 to 540 didn't just increase the speed massively but the battery went from running for 30 mins to about 7 mins 😆 Fun times though.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha how true my friend 🤣👊🏻

[@graemesims5220]

Did u put an 18tooth pinion on the motor or did u source a 10tooth pinion from a lunchbox?

[@masadshah]

There’s nothing like going down memory lane, Glenn. And in my opinion, it's priceless. My older brother’s first RC was the Tamiya Grasshopper and I got hooked being four years younger. My first, years later, was The Hornet. I’m talking late 80’s early 90’s. Jumping recently (December 2022), I finally got my hands on the ultimate - The Avante(2011)! And to me, although very expensive but worth every penny IMO, it was all about the nostalgia, the build experience and owning one.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Oh yeah 😅 The Avante 😍😍😍

[@nickpeat]

Like you Glenn, this was the very first hobby grade RC car I saw back in the day. My older brother got it for his birthday ( I think the model shop must of built it for him ). The following year he upgraded to the boomerang. Then I was finally lucky enough to get the Lunchbox for my first RC Car. I still remember collecting it from 'Trains And Transport' in Preston and carrying it about 2 miles back to the car in a bin bag because the box was so huge 😊. Anyway... my brother bought a rere grasshopper a few years back, he's 49 now and still has a blast of it every few months with his kids. I recently told him the Boomerang got rere'd but he said 'no thanks, the grasshopper is so much more fun back in the day and still is now!' I agree its got to be Tamiya's best selling RC! Sorry for waffling on but when I see this I do get alot of memories coming back as I'm sure a lot of others do! Thanks Nick

[@TAMIYALegends]

That’s a great comment Nick, I really enjoyed reading it 🤩👊🏻

[@mattluszczak8095]

Grass hopper looks such a good buggy.!!! Just goofy in the way it operates

[@TAMIYALegends]

Perfectly put my friend 😅

[@sonofsega816]

In my opinion still the best looking RC car ever created. The shape and colors of the body are legend.

[@FarmerFpv]

The original 1984 Grasshopper was my first car. I bought a second one in 1985 for spare parts because I would go camping off-grid in the States and wanted to make sure I had everything to replace a broken part. I still have it in a box untouched. luckily I had bought spare tires as those were what wore out for me otherwise I would have opened the box. I also have a 1985 Tamiya Hotshot 4WD buggy complete in the box. It's new in the box but the box was opened by me back then. Not sure why I never built it. I will once my son is old enough to drive RCs competently. Right now he just goes full throttle into walls and me. lol.

[@JunkfoodZombieGuns]

I wanted a Grasshopper so bad when I was a kid, but we could never afford anything like that. My brother and I always had to settle for the cheap ones from the toy store and they weren't even close. I'd kill to have an original one like that now to fulfill a childhood dream. I'll get one of the new ones, but the new stickers that are different from the originals are such a bummer.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Great comment my friend 😎👊🏻

[@tims7887]

I was super excited for this video to come out! Like most of you, this was also my first RC car. I was in the 4th grade and my life changed the day I got the grasshopper. Funny story, I had been saving for what felt like forever to get this car but one day I came home from school and my parents tricked me and told me I was in trouble and I was grounded and told me to go straight to my room. I was so scared but I marched up to my room only to discover the Grasshopper box sitting on my bed. Man! I was so stoked. I probably cried to be honest from the emotional confusion but dang was I happy and hooked. Here I am 47 now and I have an RC car still sitting right next to my bed and my wife is fully supportive. Thank you for your Channel. Brings back such memories.

[@robcraighill6315]

Love the grasshopper, loads of fun, easy to build and almost as important... repair when the inevitable happens! 😂

[@dazofthemoo1531]

First was a Hornet basically the same thing. 1986, i was 13. I've recently got back into the hobby. Arrma mostly but I'm really keen on getting some Tamiya. Production cars rather than buggies. TT01 & TT02 i think. They are so good for the price from what i can see. Well, seeing asI'm on the far side of the planet, I'm about to make a cup of tea, hop into bed, and watch some more of your vids. Gunna start with having a peek at your collection. Looks amazing. 🤙

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic thanks for watching my friend 😎👊🏻

[@andymc123]

Love it Glenn. My first car and it always brings a smile to my face. Perfect Saturday morning video 👍👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@stuartphillips2686]

the first RC i saw in person was the Tamiya Audi Quattro Rally (58036) in the early 80s. My first RC car was the Tamiya Hornet (58045). My brother got the Tamiya Hotshot II (58062), which I still have to this day. My Dad bought these from Pickering Hobbies.

[@MikeTheBike58]

I got back into RC models with the first Coronavirus lockdowns. First model I brought was the Candy Green Grasshopper. Fantastic 80s memories,I've so far built Terra Scorcher,Top Force,Subaru Brat,Lunchbox,Neo Fighter,Wild One,Rover MINI Cooper,Blackfoot. Yet to build Super Clod Buster,Agrios,Thunder Shot.

[@darrengrimmer8541]

Love it Glen.. said it before.. Tamiya’s greatest ever buggy.. forget about power performance and all that stuff.. The greatest ever👍👍👍👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Hey buddy 😊 It’s your video next Saturday 😇👊🏻

[@darrengrimmer8541]

@@TAMIYALegends 👍👍

[@craiglizt8074]

My first real RC car was also the Grasshopper. I loved that thing and enjoyed upgrading it with bearings, a 540 motor, and an ESC. I always thought the 3-piece wheels were gorgeous.

[@Hamish1968]

Nice one, everyone needs a Hopper in their life! I built mine with bearings, a Sport Tuned 540 and modern wheels and tyres (using adapters 53913). I have the original oil dampers hop-up (5224) still to fit, but that will probably stop it hopping! 😂

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha it must be allowed to keep hopping 😅

[@MadBeeRC]

Haha nothing will stop a Hopper hopping my friend!

[@HawkinsRC_Official]

Built 2 hoppers already, they're so simple! Except the rear wheels, I broke 2 nails getting them together. Love 'em😎👊🔥

[@TAMIYALegends]

Totally agree so simple but still so enjoyable to put together 😎👊🏻

[@jeramiahweston8095]

My first was a used frog. My second was a new hornet. I bought that over the grasshopper because it had oil filled rear shocks ! Both cars are great!!!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent 😊😊😊

[@wadebeaumont5085]

I had a fully worked Boomerang in the 80’s with an 8.4 battery and yokomo motor that when timed to max power would give me less than 5 minutes runtime. So I bought a grasshopper kit to run between charges and I ended up enjoying running it around with the 380 motor more than my Boomerang. It ran for about 25 minutes and was just simple good fun and also a very tough little buggy. Great memories.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Simply good fun! Perfectly put my friend 😎👊🏻

[@nc-witcher9760]

I have 3 Grasshoppers. I built 2 for my kids (they eventually lost interest), and have the green re-re still in the box for myself. It is such a simple fun rc car to play with. Cheers!

[@John-yf8qh]

The old Grasshopper, great fun and shares a bit of design with my all time favourite, The Lunch Box! I’m not being a swine here Glenn but you’ve gone and put the wheels on the wrong way round. The paddles always face the front on a sandrail. They’re literally for paddling through muck and sand, so the scoop goes to the front. Just switch sides though, no need to remanufacture owt. :) :)

[@TAMIYALegends]

Oh have I 🤔 Bloody hell lol 🙊

[@paulcucit2786]

Oh good, so it's not just me that noticed that! Was starting to think I must have the wrong idea about how sand paddle tyres work 😮

[@mattluszczak8095]

Yeah boys first comment yuyeehhhoooo

[@TAMIYALegends]

Boom 😅👊🏻

[@MadBeeRC]

Hoppertastic Glenn! Still in my opinion one of the best looking buggies especially in boxart with all the extra details painted! As you said its such a Giant in the tamiya and general RC timeline! I love when you go back to basics on your vids buddy! Just fantastic! Cheers James.

[@jamesplymire5342]

I'm working on my Grasshopper right now. Wanted one ever since I was a kid and finally got one. ❤

[@jonoedwards4195]

Love the Grasshopper, Ive two, scored Them from Japan during the plandemic. Fully pimped with tuned 580, bearings, oil shocks, an lights. Thing was My first car back when. Awesome on sand. Great show thanks.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic thanks for watching 😎👊🏻

[@Balthorium]

My first RC car too. I remember the differential gears constantly stripping.

[@wholespeed]

When I built mine several years ago it was destined to be a shelf model so I threw a modified brushed 540 in it never really planning on running it. My son got older and ask me to drive it. Omg that thing is crazy fast with that set up and it’s blast to run. Long Love the Grasshopper!!! Great video. Cheers!

[@scootergti]

Thanks again for putting out a great video. The Grasshopper was my 2nd RC car, the Sears Van was my first. The Grasshopper was easy to build and fun to run. Then came the 540 hop up along with the 7.2v hump battery and I was wearing out tires left and right. I just picked up a NIB rere kit and you beat me to it! That makes 3 I have, one being the original 5843, but not my original one I had as a kid. Definitely a Tamiya staple and a great starter RC car...

[@DustyFingersRC]

Love it. I watch Grasshopper races on in YT, so much fun. Nothing like the 80's vibe you get driving this buggy. Great video, you always have a knack of bringing back the excitement to every Tamiya release.

[@oberon2230]

Awesome! It was my first Tamiya as well, and I swear, to this day it is the one that I had the most fun with, it was the most durable and it took some beating as well. I put the fastest engine into it, it clearly couldn't turn well but man did I love this one. I might rebuy it again. It's an ABSOLUTE MUST to have in your collection! The least favorite part of any Tamiya build is to cut the damn stickers and putting them on.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic comment my friend 😎👊🏻

[@sonicplayroompiano4302]

Wow might have to add this to the collection. Didn't give it much notice but after reading all the comments sounds like a must have. My younger brothers and my first rc car was the tamiya kingcab then the clod buster. We (me) built them together over a couple of Christmases late 80s, maybe early 90s. Fantastic memories. I really hope Tamiya rere's the Kingcab. It was such a good looking truck. Currently own the Tamiya hilux hi lift (with surf board), Blockhead motors Hotshot and now building my first ever Kyosho rc car, the turbo scorpion. First brushless car too so it's all new to me. Awesome fun. I'd love to own an Avante one day...

[@TAMIYALegends]

It’s pretty cheap but the enjoyment factor is off the chart 😅

[@Mongo-pi9qt]

Love it!! I wanted the boomerang as my first car back in the day but couldn’t afford it and ended up with the grass hopper, brilliant fun when it managed to stay on its wheels 😂 Saved up my money from the paper round and ended up with the super sabre. Keep up the videos as they remind me of my youth.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@shapalandoify]

Having built various rc models I’m only just starting my Tamiya journey. First built a terror scorcher then a grasshopper, think I preferred the grasshopper because of its absolute simplicity. Getting it done so swiftly also made it the more enjoyable build, had to build one after reversing my dads into a kerb for it never to be repaired back in about 1988 ish lol.

[@rcicons4915]

Love it! I had this as a kid. It was my 3rd Rc car after the Blackfoot and Lunchbox.

[@TAMIYALegends]

I’d love to know how many Grasshoppers have actually been sold from day one 🤔🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mattmclafferty6265]

Thanks Glenn, just got my 1st Grass hopper in the mail.. Gauranga

[@lo2713]

I have the grasshopper 2 black edition and love running, it allways brings a smile to my face. It gets 1 run out every year on the last indoor meeting 😁 i do love the look of these and hope to add a grasshopper and hornet to sit on the shelf. If i have room for them that is 😂

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha we are running out of room are we 😅 I know what that’s like 🤣👊🏻

[@lo2713]

@@TAMIYALegends running ? Ran out of room ages ago 😂 but as a lot are runners they can live elsewhere 👍 eldest has moved out so now got a mini mancave 😎

[@LesFishingMoreCatching]

My first build in 4th grade was the Blackfoot which shared the same chassis as the grasshopper or the frog I forget which one.. I put a technigold in it right away. Good old 80s.

[@ronaldlatosinski4066]

My very first rc car back in 83. Wish i had a pic of my face when i came home from school and seen the kit on the living room couch. A memory i will never forget.

[@taimaishu-nao1922]

Glenn, talking about best selling Tamiya chassis, one has to now add the TT-01 and TT-02. Say what you want but they’re now two of Tamiya’s top selling modern chassis for the same reasons that The Grasshopper, Hornet and Lunchbox are iconic. This info comes from Tamiya themselves and a reason why many re-released body sets are often only found on the TT-02.

[@SidcupRC]

Same story for me, friend introduced me to RC with a Grasshopper! 380 and hump pack battery.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Great memories 😎👊🏻

[@malpage164]

A great buggy for the beach on wet sand. It's worth painting the wheels if you have any spare left in the tin. The wheels on my re-re have gone fairly yellow-ish after 7 years!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks for watching 😎👊🏻

[@zoenolan]

That brings back loads of memories of building a Hornet on Christmas day with my dad

[@TAMIYALegends]

Perfect 😇😇😇

[@KT_One]

My first hobby grade RC was a Hornet. First run, body off, I went full throttle and promptly rolled it. Ground off the rear body mounts instantly. Maybe a Grasshopper would have been a better first RC haha ha

[@martinhsrc6699]

I do need a Grasshopper at some point, like you say it’s a special car in Tamiya history

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha I didn’t realise you didn’t have one 🤯 You need to put that right at some point my friend 😅😅😅

[@martinhsrc6699]

@@TAMIYALegends yep I do

[@adrianharrison5208]

The Grasshopper, the car that started a hundred thousand RC journeys 😅 I have an original sitting on the shelf I will restore and look after. I want to get a re-re and drive it as i have never driven one 😢 How about a 380 sports tuned 😊 looks kind of cool just for sitting on the shelf

[@misterrottweiler]

Amazing. My first car back in the mid 80s was a Hornet, which I’ll get another to put in my little collection before too long. Have to say I find it impossible to leave electrics out of mine, I’ve 27 now but they are all fully kitted ready to run lol

[@TAMIYALegends]

That’s very impressive my friend 😇👊🏻

[@rogesome72]

You feel about it like I feel about the hornet. Love this chassis! Raced hornets from 85-87. Rediscovering my hornet last year in my parents garage brought me back to the hobby. Its restored and now I'm up to 5 tamiyas a losi and others. Your channel and groups helped me get back up to speed on where the hobby is now. Thank you!

[@russellbisset3621]

Love going old school 😊 brings back memories 😊

[@jone7940]

It looks so simple to us now but the Grasshopper was the car that had me mesmerised when I first saw it. The fact that you could change/upgrade parts just seemed so fantastic to me.

[@TAMIYALegends]

That’s an excellent point, yes this wasn’t basic back then 🤩👊🏻

[@chrisrcarraher8800]

I still have my original Grasshopper from 86'. Got her back up and running over the past few weeks. I forgot how that mechanical speed controler works more like an on/off switch when it hits the high range! Haha.

[@garethcornell6945]

First RC car was a Grasshopper. It promptly got run over by an Ice Cream Van!! It was quickly replaced then with a Hornet. Memories. 😆

[@lionelplunkett9428]

G'day Glenn mate what a Gem # number 1 should be everyone's introduction into RC a lot of people go straight to the top and get turned off. Love it when you talk about GH mate great video mate 👍👍

[@gazr4967]

Grasshopper. So much fun 👍

[@robertvoss6145]

A friend of mine had the Hornet . So to be different , i bought the Grasshopper. Not realising it had the 380 motor . Our races together were pretty one sided until i went back to the model shop and purchased a competition 540 motor . That made things a bit more interesting 😉

[@TAMIYALegends]

Love this comment 🤩👊🏻

[@Santor-]

Ball bearings, sport tuned 380 and a 2 toned paint job will set it off. I had the sand scorcher back in the day, and was mesmerized the first time i saw a grasshopper/hornet. The utter simplicity was baffling, and lighweight too. Its sheer robustness alone is is making this one of the best gems of the tamiya lineup. Compared to the constant breakdowns of the sand scorcher, this thing is a tank! Keep a new chassis tub and suspension arms on hand, and youll be golden for a decade of fun! Better yet, bring 4-5 of them to a park and have fun with family/friends, no one will focus on its shortcomings, rather have alot of laughs and fun due to the crazy handling!

[@danjaz2000]

Gold there Glen. "I saw it and i was hooked instantly " i think we all know that feeling. I know you like your lowered stance and when the pogos sprung straight back up i smiled.

[@peterrenaud9639]

You picked a great one for today my friend 😍🥰

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha I know you love a Grasshopper Pete 🤩👊🏻

[@mikestansbury2510]

man, i remember begging my grandma to buy the hornet for me. finally getting her down to the hobby shop and picking it up was a wreck! when she found out the radio and charger and battery was separate, i almost lost it. the owner was so helpful though, she bought it, but i only got the basic kit. that said, when you build it and start looking for upgrades, it's so much more fun. going from bushings to bearings was the first thing i did. man, that alone is a huge deal! then going with a new motor and watching it jump was insane! speaking of that, who remembers the revolution insane motor? crazy upgrade there. loved working on these back in the 80s and just seeing how fast i could get it going!

[@tonygregg6957]

I probably should have had a grasshopper, but i don't think it had come out when I got my Lancia rally around 83/84. Man I smashed that beautiful body up in about 5 minutes, the Grasshopper might have lasted a bit longer. Keep the videos coming.

[@rc-dom-uk]

dude ! no GH . it’s the car which can flip on flat surfaces 😂👍i love it

[@jasonmarkley6164]

Absolutely my favorite as well ❤

[@alexandrebelinge8996]

the box art is so nice ! Love the wall !

[@terence79chan]

Way to go Glenn! The Grasshopper is such an important car as it dwells in the Tamiya-nostalgic memories of many around our age. 👍

[@markconnor269]

The Grasshopper 🦗 absolutely amazing car 😊 such great memories 👌

[@gavinbrock9777]

I'm building up one with my son at the moment. Great vid Glenn. Love the content.

[@Pablo668]

Nice Glenn. Yeah, the Hornet and Grasshopper were the cars that everyone from back in the day had. They were ubiquitous. I have one, somewhere on it are parts from the very first one I had, maybe only the driver. My Grasshopper is built from spare parts, someones preloved body and a couple of bits and bobs off ebay. All modern electrics, which makes them a tad light funny enough. That gearbox can take quite a powerful modern brushless combo. It's just pointless.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I’ve got a vintage hornet I plan on restoring at some point. I still need a grasshopper in my collection

[@TAMIYALegends]

The Grasshopper and Hornet together is perfection 😇👊🏻

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@TAMIYALegends truly

[@graemesims5220]

Nice one Glenn. I really need to get a GH2 as that was the one I really remember. I’ve a gh plus a hornet (plus lunchbox pumpkin and a pseudo Pajero) but not a gh2 (or super hornet for that matter). Think I need to get there, but so many other things to buy 😆. Cheers Glenn!!!

[@graemesims5220]

I do think the grasshopper looks better with hornet tyres on though 😀

[@rivierarc]

Really think I need a Grasshopper and Lunch Box in my collection. I have never had either.

[@6bigears135]

Love your passion mate My first Rc was a lunchbox ❤

[@andyrobinsonrc2480]

Hi Glenn hope your well. You can’t beat a Hopper build can you, must admit I’ve really got into them along with similar buggy’s, cones from racing them as well I think. Definitely agree with getting as much satisfaction from A hopper build as a high end build. Good stuff ;)

[@merdith6]

built one of those for my brother when we were kids I think it was only like $75 for the kit it was really fast if you put a 540 mabuchi motor in it and bearings in the rear axles and transmission it made the car way faster I think it had the mechanical speed control in it and it worked fine

[@toolbaggers]

Something like this was a Ferrari compared to some of the toy grade stuff back then. I remember I had an RC car, R as in remote not radio control. The car had a hard wire to the 'transmitter.' It could go forward in one speed and it could only make a left turn going in reverse.

[@brucelevall2925]

Hi Glen when I did mine went brushless in grasshopper and found out that I could put a 18 tooth piñon gear the brushless motor is equal to a 10 turn motor brushed

[@ianjenkins4641]

I’ve been watching you for a few years now and love the channel. I had a madcap back in the day and really want Tamiya to re release it so I can buy one. I’ve resisted buying any kit but I always look at the grasshopper or hornet to get me back into it. This makes me want to pull the trigger on one now. Who’s is offering the best new kit price in the UK?

[@TAMIYALegends]

Hey thanks for the lovely comment 😊 Maybe have a look on the Modelsport website 🤔

[@craigme3014]

it was the hornet for me, then the grasshopper.

[@davidwigginsjr603]

The grasshopper was supposed to be my first rc but before I could get it he sold it so my first rc was the Subaru Brat

[@TAMIYALegends]

Subaru Brat 😍😍😍

[@Chris78MalibuSilver]

I have never thought that the Lunchbox was as big of a seller as the Hornet or Grasshopper. I would have thought others have sold more than the Lunchbox?

[@BazFairbrother]

Hi Glenn, great video again, I've had a brilliant idea for display models, 3d printed dummy servos! It wouldn't even need to be a full servo, just the front part and mounts with a moulded spline for the horn. What do you think? Btw I've had to start a new account as I got banned on my previous one that I used to watch and reply from. It's Barry from Bradford 👍🏼

[@mikestansbury2510]

hornet was my first. still have the chassis and upgraded mrp shocks after i smashed it into a parking block with the trinity modified monster motor. had the parma stinger body and the thing was awesome! somebody stole the stinger body and the motor as well as my falcon chassis and rc10t2 and jrxt, but man... that stinger body.... what i wouldn't give to have that again! by the way, do you know how to make the steering on these cars a little better? the new ones i have really stink. hardly any turning radius!

[@dionhammond3815]

Not in my collection yet but it won't be long now!

[@kanenstuff]

Im not sure if I should get the 2005 or 2022 release. Here in Malaysia there dirt cheap 50 quud for the 05 and 65 for the 22 supercharger but not the most exciting car but very nostalgic as these were from my young days.

[@gregandrus1015]

I've never figured out why but the box art hints to independent rear suspension...

[@kyleteal5888]

I think you're the only one that can answer my question, what Tamiya chassis came in white? Mid 80s I then is when the chassis was used.

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

Hornet was rere first Glen in 2004, then grasshopper 6 months later in 2005. I don't think the grasshopper sold more, I think it was the Hornet, I knew three people with Hornets in 84, four including myself, never met anyone with a grasshopper and the local model store would restock and sell the Hornets while the Grasshopper was always on the shelf. Other friends had a Frog, Two had the Mitsubishi Pojero and one had the Black lambo Contach and one had the XR311.

[@jamesplymire5342]

I enjoy building RC kits more than actually running them. 😂

[@alfredyost7972]

Hello Glenn, I am surprised you did not get the candy green Grasshopper. Thoughts?

[@traxxasfans]

I have just built a green one

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic I bet you enjoyed putting it together my friend 😊

[@highrollerdecorators8059]

made me howl that last bit ya legend 😂🤣 leave us a thumbs down if ya think am a dikhead 😂 love ya videos man never stop ,and i get exaclty what you mean with sometimes the simplest are the most fun 👊

[@B501R]

Do u have "The Boomerang"?

[@uroprop]

My first rc😊 so many decades ago