I feel like I’m a bit of an expert on these. The Nikko F10 chassis this is based on is one if the longest produced platforms. Nikko licensed these to Radio Shack/Tandy (Golden Arrow 😍😍🥰, Black Wolf, and Vortex 🤮) and Sears (Lobo). These featured a digital speed controller and were far superior to the MSCs used by pretty much everyone else. The Hornet and Grasshopper is nearly identical to the nikko, even the gears and differential can be swapped but the Nikko diffs are riveted while Tamiyas’ screw together. I actually broke the rear axle on an F10 and replaced it with one from a grasshopper. It fits perfectly with only a slight adjustment to the pivot blocks. The motor sits slightly higher than in the Nikko making it more prone to rolling over. The Traxxas gears are the same but almost no parts are directly interchangeable. Only the front bumper and bottom plate can be swapped. To get the rear axle to articulate, Traxxas added a single, central ball joint to the rear axle which slides into a bell shaped socket in the chassis. The front suspension arms and shock towers are also wider which gives better stability. The Rhino, Lobo, and Golden Arrow improved stability by replacing the plastic and metal friction dampers with lighter, all plastic ones with larger, stiffer springs. These were all powered by 540 motors of varying quality, the best being in the Rhino, Golden Arrow, and Vortex which could all achieve about 18 mph. I’ve done extensive modifications to them and I’ve seen speeds over 40mph using a 12T 550 on 3S. Do a modern hobby swap on the Spirit and clean that Stinger motor and you’ll be pretty surprised. It will still handle like 💩 because nearly half the weight of the car is in that rear, unsprung axle. Oil dampers do nothing 😂
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for clearing that up mate. Some really good info there. 👌
@MustangsCanTurnToo2 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC I do a lot of driving videos with my modified 80s/90s cars and fewer overviews (I hate hearing my voice on video 😅). I claim to have the world’s fastest nikko dictator 😛
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
You have some cool stuff! Just Subbed 🤘
@davidhiscock19692 жыл бұрын
Excellent information. Many thanks for that. Very interesting 👍
@MustangsCanTurnToo2 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC thanks! I have Speedtator 2.0 ready to go. Hopefully running it tomorrow
@MrFredshb2 жыл бұрын
They called it the spirit because when the throttle stuck it's a free spirit it does what it wants to do 🤣🤣🤣
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Hahaha
@englishbannana12322 жыл бұрын
From my understanding, nikko licenced out that chassis to different companies to use under their name. Traxxas, sears, radio shack etc. So traxxas decided to use this chassis for their first rc car and then reuse it one more time for this spirit. Its pretty neat how many vehicles came from this chassis.
@AMPROEngineering2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the shout out! The Rhino/Bison is definitely an “80’s” de facto design and given Tamiya’s success with the Grasshopper and Hornet, clearly they were on the right track. I may have even mentioned this car on the Rhino buyers guide though it’s been a while. Glad to see someone else poking at Traxxas!
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Your videos were the first that popped up when I searched the Rhino 👌
@AMPROEngineering2 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC Well, for once I can thank KZbin.
@theesotericworldofjason16612 жыл бұрын
Duuuddee, I remember this truck!!!! Thank you for unlocking this core memory! Don't let Traxxas see this video because they'll end up suing Arrma because they released the infraction and they'll claim they did the whole truck thing first
@Reaperman47112 жыл бұрын
I remember reading something about this on rcmania back in the day. it actually motivated me to buy a rhino, which is still on the shelf next to me.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Nice! The Rhino is hold to get hold of!
@TomMustache2 жыл бұрын
Awesome to see a shoutout to AMPRO. It's one of the best RC channels on KZbin.
@cameronf14602 жыл бұрын
That was one of the first R/Cs I wanted as a kid. Saved birthday or Christmas money and got a good ol Rusty instead.
@cameronf14602 жыл бұрын
I had a Nikko viper that was pretty good as far as toys r us r/cs go. Had a 540 motor and used a regular 7.2v stick pack. Went 20-25mph. Was basically hobby grade for that time.
@DirtyPlumbus2 жыл бұрын
Having just built my first lunchbox yesterday that rear end was definitely immediately recognizable.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Lunchbox is my all time favourite Tamiya. I have 3 😅
@ravenlorans2 жыл бұрын
What are you talking about? How hard is it to put the Sandwich in a Zip Lock, put it in the Lunchbox, put a bag of chips in it, maybe even a jello cup and a drink....? Unless it was too small... Yeah Yeah Yeah... I know, Not the Lunchbox you were talking about... you were talking about one of those that come with a Flask/Canteen for Coffee....
@DirtyPlumbus2 жыл бұрын
@@ravenlorans 🤣
@FarmerFpv2 жыл бұрын
I have 2 of the original Midnight Pumpkins with 1980s 12-turn trinity brushed motors. The servo plugs are male. It was my dad's and it still runs with a mechanical speed control with a ceramic resistor. lol.
@DirtyPlumbus2 жыл бұрын
@@FarmerFpv that's awesome. I was looking at one of the new ones the other day and thinking about picking it up. Nice looking truck.
@a.marvincausey53522 жыл бұрын
Gold Pan RC-10 was my first experience with the mechanical speed control. Thought I was uptown when I got my first Novak ESC.
@mikeupton54062 жыл бұрын
Oh Mr.Phil oh sitting here having a giggle fest on this one. I saw those shocks and then you turned over the chassis 😆 then mentioned the "stuff" that they have pulled. The stuck speed controller. This is R/C YT gold. On a "I'm not proud of it" R/C moment. I really love the Mercedes CLK, I used to have a CLK that was about as accurate as was the norm for Lexan in the 90s and would race it around on my raggedy Optima with road tires on it in the parking lot in front of the hobby shop or in front of my house. I have tried for so long to get the Tamiya CLK body kit. And always missed it, out of stock. So this week found that it was available from Amain, but the whole kit. I went to the dark side. Bought a whole RERE TEETEE just for the body and the wheels and tires. I'm not proud of it. I reconciled this self inflicted financial injury at the hands of another certain company's wanton acts of piracy because the thing was on sale, I get a really nice CLK body set and maybe I can trade that TT-0U812 chassis for a used not too beat 2wd slash roller and mount this Holiday Buggy body on it. Kind of a tribute car.
@jdsrcs80612 жыл бұрын
I still run that remote on my 3906!!! Works great. I like vintage RC's!!!🤘🤘🤘
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Nice!
@philthyco12 жыл бұрын
The funny thing about Traxxas is they started off as a ready to run company but all their cars were rip offs of some other companies car but these days they sue anyone for anything similar to theirs.. They even sued HBO Max for having Max in the name smh lol
@Breener792 жыл бұрын
Traxxas Cat was my first "hobby grade" rc. What a pile, lol!! Thanks for bringing back the memories.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it 👌
@kashmurray11992 жыл бұрын
Remember those days. That was pretty funny.
@the_minimalistic_adventure2 жыл бұрын
Holy crap. So much Nostalgia!
@thepassenger64992 жыл бұрын
Traxxas engineer: "This car will drive people crazy!" Traxxas CEO: "That's the spirit!"
@rcwreck-creation2 жыл бұрын
They call it Spirit, cause the bloody thing is possessed!? 😂😂😂😂😂
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Haha, yes 😅
@hock3y4lyf33 ай бұрын
my very first hobby grade car that I got 18 years ago, very cool to see another!
@Nappen872 жыл бұрын
i wanted one so bad when i was a kid. bring backs alot of good memories
@jrc-fabs16342 жыл бұрын
I still have one of those remotes and it still works! Oldie and a goodie
@garethbayman87132 жыл бұрын
I dug my old 20 year old rc out last year and it also did the old runaway all the time.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Oops! 😅
@Pablo6682 жыл бұрын
Ha ha nice work. That must have been fun. The joys of old radio gear and manual speed controllers.
@davidlewis6202 жыл бұрын
Ha-ha, that was fun!! I still have my old original Traxxas Cat from 1986. I had the same problem even back then!! I lived in a big city and kept picking up stray RF signals and had to chase the Cat every which way but loose with my six year old son chasing right behind me!!! I also had the Kangaroo, but I forgot who made it. Anybody remember?
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Nice! Yeah… certainly having some signal issues
@tobydyes2 жыл бұрын
The way they got the shocks in the back it looks like the grasshopper
@jeffreyyerdon60142 жыл бұрын
Love seeing the old RC’s. Keep it coming.
@TheMdavis072 жыл бұрын
Oh man the traxxas spirit I used to have one of these it was probably one of the toughest trucks I ever had we would send it off for x Factor ramp Time after Time and it just kept coming back for more the only thing I hated was how kind of toy grade it was at least the way the chassis was designed but it all ran really good and even though the transmission was odd to me at the time but now after building Tamia midnight pumpkins with a similar solid rear axle setup now realize it wasn't really toy grade it was more based off of some old vintage chassis setups still absolutely loved it and this brings back some really great memories I had playing with it.
@coreybeaty71662 жыл бұрын
It’s a lot of this kind of stuff that is old guys remember, that put a notion in our heads that traxxas is not really hobby quality!
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
😅
@vinnieland61402 жыл бұрын
I have a '99 Stampede and the first thing to be replaced was the mechanical speed control.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yes… very good idea!
@vinnieland61402 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC I still have the msc in my parts bin😁
@Speedbird9172 жыл бұрын
Love a bit of nostalgia. Reminds me how old I am!!!!
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
And me haha
@robertmerinsky33582 жыл бұрын
The Traxxas Kat was my first R/C back in 1985 I loved it! Until I got into racing then I got a RC10 Gold pan.
@just.jose.youtube2 жыл бұрын
I'd love to see inside that chassis and electronics! :p
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I should have looked really. I got distracted halfway through filming this video 😅
@sakfpv84442 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC is it a mechanical speed control?...edit, I just heard you say it is almost at the end of the video
@NickLMears2 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC I also like to see what's inside.
@MrDonofrie2 жыл бұрын
The new Traxxas theme music is on point.
@wolverine350r2 жыл бұрын
I have a Radio Shack Golden Arrow which also uses pretty much the same chassis. It didn't have an MSC though, everything was on a single board.
@roberthartmann7822 жыл бұрын
Yeah. I have couple those in a tote. They was Kool back then.. specially when I was a kid and I couldn't afford any hobby grade rigs.
@larrypage92012 жыл бұрын
Aww you love Traxxas just like us deep down I can tell.
@rrrccc15712 жыл бұрын
Nice ro see how far we have come with the hobby
@chm22 жыл бұрын
I feel like it's sad that you're probably right about the title. Instead of celebrating how far their kits have come, they go full petty king.
@GarcBomber2 жыл бұрын
That's the one you give the nieces/nephews/kid's friends to learn with their first time 😅
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yes… although one that works properly haha
@FastSS02 Жыл бұрын
I had a Sears Lobo I got for Christmas and 3 days later the gears were stripped out of it. Somehow Sears took it back and my parents got a refund. My dad took me to a hobby shop which I didn't even know such a thing existed as a kid back in 1986 or so being about 12. I think the Traxxas Cat was about $10 or $20 more than the Sears POS. You had to keep the wiper arm and board clean or it would glitch out or if it picked up any radio interference it would take off or the steering would glitch like crazy. It didn't have a BEC circuit so it had the 6 cell 7.2V pack for the motor and 4 AA's for the other electronics. The stupid resistors SUCKED and I burned my fingers on them SO many times picking it up since it was mounted just above the rear axle on the side of the chassis. I beat the CRAP out of that thing for YEARS and the only thing I broke was the front shock bottom C clip mount. There were NO other RC cars that used that type of mount so I had to rig it to stay in place. Mine was so early it was a 2 stick radio, years before pistol grips became common! You thought the Spirit was hard to drive, try it with tires HALF that width and just ribbed buggy tires on front. I did manage to burn the rear tires bald! I even ran it on ice by pushing thumb tacks through from the inside and then using duct tape to hold them in place. Worked pretty good on our frozen pond! I tried to rig up front skis but they were just plastic with flat bottoms so they didn't steer well on ice. They did OK with some snow they could grip on.
@havocisomegathegigaddiappl95602 жыл бұрын
That was the traxxas cat as well 🤣they just lowered the chassis and mounts and tires
@marcoreviews2 жыл бұрын
Another fun one! The question is 🙋♀️ did Traxxas rip off top cat 🐈⬛ name from the cartoon? Shhh 🤫 let’s not get them in trouble.
@Ratchet_effect2 жыл бұрын
Phil! this is very nostalgic for a lot! of us RC users. Thanks for sharing oh BTW I had that same run away issue, for me it ended up being the Steering servo that caused it 👍🖖
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
No probs dude. I guess any electrical interference can cause all sorts of issues!
@d_n_r_rc_racing2449 Жыл бұрын
I'm kinda wanting one of these just to mess around with. I think one of these with bearings,a modern xl5 esc,and a better 2.4 radio and servo could make for a fun little car to mess around with.
@livefootagetube Жыл бұрын
Now we know why they call it the spirit because it goes off by itself
@mikebird82902 жыл бұрын
Hi Phil great fun video. Phil I'm looking forward to watching the comp between Josh Matt Logon Tony and yourself very cool 🇬🇧👍🏼
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike. It’s gonna be an awesome Challenge 👌
@Logans_RCAdventures2 жыл бұрын
Phil, dude your favorite Traxxas is legit op. It dominated the RCCA World Cup in 1989
@gabrielpichardo14922 жыл бұрын
Funny how that remote is over 20 years old and i still use it actively between my lunchbox and my dr pepper mini cooper
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Well if it works… it works 👌
@gabrielpichardo14922 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC yup! It was made to last !!
@rctrucks20942 жыл бұрын
I just looked at the link "My favorite Traxxas" and that is the funniest part of my day
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
😅
@rctrucks20942 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC Hopefully they don't sue the company for using batteries
@marcbusby36252 жыл бұрын
I don't think it will be the speed controller tomley. I assume it's still got the 27mhz reciever? I have found that unless your basically on farmland it will glitch out rediculously. I started up an old Tamiya 27 MHz system the other day only to find the steering sitting there twitching
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, probably interference, especially in the middle of an industrial estate!
@ivanrcn50712 жыл бұрын
I believe that you where getting signal interference with that old style radio. Lol
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yes, it seems so! Lol
@sonofsega8162 жыл бұрын
I just restored one this past summer. I intended to use an ESC but keep the AM Radio but after a couple runaways I had to go with a 2.4G radio. And don't bother putting oil in those shocks, it will just leak out and make a mess. 😂 Definitely a cool piece of Traxxas history though.
@d_n_r_rc_racing2449 Жыл бұрын
Would putting the newer style x-rings help the shocks seal better and hold oil?
@chevyb01952 жыл бұрын
I have a vintage Traxxas Blast and I love it.
@tobydyes2 жыл бұрын
Now you can say it's been used every time it scrapes over that jump
@sakfpv84442 жыл бұрын
Remember the duratrax Evader St...with mechanical speed controller...my God it's come a long way hasn't it
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yes… ESC’s are a blessing!
@wadevallbona53142 жыл бұрын
That controller is the same one that I got with my Traxxas Tmaxx 3.3 back in 2009
@harryblox7602 жыл бұрын
I had a Grasshopper in the 80s as a kid and a few gears ago I went to buy a kit and saw that the shop had Hornet kits too. So in the kit, you ih get the basics. What would you advise in terms of speed controller and batteries for a Hornet? I believe I need a steering servo as well. Any information would be appreciated. I've never built one from scratch before.
@GARYU-S442 жыл бұрын
Flashy coloring is cool 😎👌 friends🎶👍🤝
@Xofroggy2 жыл бұрын
nikko was a great company, my dad still has a nikko jeep and hummer that would run just fine today if we could find a battery and the transmitter XD
@markpace58092 жыл бұрын
It's all fun, fun, fun making these reviews, lol 👍
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
I love it 😎
@tobydyes2 жыл бұрын
The electronics might need to be clean that has the old type of ESC in it with the brass or the copper shiny shiny
@Restless20102 жыл бұрын
It looks Very similar to the Radio Shack Golden Arrow suspension, especially with those front A Arms.
@wolfiecrawlsrc582 жыл бұрын
Was there a phone mast or radio transmission local, I remember back when we used crystals, people with cb, or amateur radio enthusiasts causing crashes deliberately using “boots” to amplify their signals etc. just wondering if that could have been an issue. It could also be dirty contacts etc.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I think it was certainly suffering some interference
@exgtt20612 жыл бұрын
Oooh handbags 😄🫣 I wouldn’t take that outfit on but go as far as you dare!!!
@fitfiz2 жыл бұрын
Hahahaha that runways parts🤣🤣🤣
@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA2 жыл бұрын
I was liking the Body! But the chassis looks like an old Vintage Buggy! 😂
@charleshulsey31032 жыл бұрын
1998, this was my first RC. I still have what's left of the body.
@guymarotta25962 жыл бұрын
Looks like a Grasshopper, except for the trailing arm front front suspension.
@rockrollarc97922 жыл бұрын
It has a lot of tamiya parts... The top middle of chassis looks like the monster beetle. The back end looks like the back end off a tamiya mad bull.... So maybe tamiya could sue traxxas(put that in ya pipe n smoke it traxxas). Great vid mr tomley👍
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Haha, imagine Tamiya going after Traxxas 😅
@basementracer2 жыл бұрын
Hello mate, now this is a new one on me, been in RC over 35 years and this isn't one I had heard off. I have to say when you removed the cover I looked right at my Hornet and my Frog and thought..........yup. With regard to the runaway, are you sure it's not just interference? Those old school radio setups were known for it hence 2.4ghz came about. Now all these years later I bet there are computers and all manner of things about in higher densities' that may be playing with that car. Just a thought, I don't think it's the manual SC that's the problem, it's just a slab of board with a resistor and some contact points, it cannot go backwards unless the servo does and for the servo to go backwards it has to be getting that from the receiver which intern is being told by someone/thing else to work that way. I think it's interference mate and actually there is nothing wrong with it. It's just old tech. What do you think? Great vid as always, brought a smile to my face and lets be honest, that's why we have this hobby. Thanks mate,
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I think it was certainly interference from somewhere! Luckily it didn’t end up in the road!
@basementracer2 жыл бұрын
@@TomleyRC Agreed, got to admit though. It would have been hilarious to watch it run away down the road as a truck comes barreling down and totally flattens it rotfl. I know I know, mean bstard but mate, that would have been hilarious.
@kennethsutton15322 жыл бұрын
Omg.. my belly hurts from laughing so hard. Awsome video.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Haha, cheers mate 😅
@IowaBudgetRCBashers2 жыл бұрын
Traxxas bought their designs from tamia for several vehicles, as did Nikko, and taiyo
@wheelsdownrc63482 жыл бұрын
Fast furious and a quarter mile radius, i’m starting to think Traxxas knew something we didn’t😂
@corndog94822 жыл бұрын
Seems to have a spirit of its own
@roberttierney92842 жыл бұрын
The Spirit was around when I got into the hobby in 1996.
@CK4RC Жыл бұрын
I wanted one of these so bad back in the day!
@zachyurkus2 жыл бұрын
Don’t care what Traxxas wants...I want to see it!
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
😅
@BraydenWolframe Жыл бұрын
Holy moly the rc hobby has come a long way! That thing looks like it just rolled off a walmart shelf. lol
@TheRCScotsman2 жыл бұрын
The irony of RC's worst patent-trolls copying the work of other manufacturers!
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I guess it’s easy for them to forget their roots when there’s money at stake!
@astridsactionrc5452 жыл бұрын
I have two of those. One is complete in box. Plus a Cat, and a Street Sport.
@tobydyes2 жыл бұрын
Yeah but you can always change the remote the power system as long as the car is good it's good
@andyrobinsonrc24802 жыл бұрын
I remember my neighbour having one of these, I’m pretty sure he used to race my Tamiya’s with it
@rickyyoung3 ай бұрын
Got given an early Nikko by a guy at work the other week. A Nikko Frame Buggy 'Black Fox'
@caststhrowsbladespews2 жыл бұрын
Top Quality right there
@Nanaki14222 жыл бұрын
I used to have the resistor blocks burn out on my Rustler with that mechanical speed control and cause runaways like you were having. Oh and there was a small fire or too.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, those bad boys got hot!
@MrCaprinut2 жыл бұрын
Running on the lower speeds is the problem as it burns out the resistor. Full speed is not through the resistor so if you had driven more full speed the problem would have been solved. I never burned any of my resistors on any of my cars at that time (Lunchbox, Hornet, Celica GRB, Clod, Hirobo, Striker that I borrowed among a few) Problem was do lack of service (burnt switch plate which make burn marks, not adjusting end point of MSC arm properly). Sadlly more crashes was due the transmitter lost signal (only happen to me once, total wreck at 35mph (Kyosho Pug 205 Turbo 16).
@givman20042 жыл бұрын
I am sure when i was buying a Traxxas Nitro Hawk in about 1995, this was one of the alternates I was looking at.
@dannyhamby63342 жыл бұрын
I hardly ever see a video of my very first ever hobby grade rc car. The traxxas street sport! I think it was the predecessor to the 4 Tec. It would be cool to see you do a video on it if ever posssible.
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
I had a Street Sport a few years back! Sold it on before doing anything with it though
@dstjamesrc63952 жыл бұрын
In the best Jeremy Clarkson voice “POWWWWWAAAARRR”
@Moggmodels232 жыл бұрын
Nice video tomley looks brilliant video bit slow for my liking 👍😀
@Sideshowgaz57792 жыл бұрын
Need to watch this one quickly before the lawsuit gets it removed :-)
@digiprez772 жыл бұрын
I thought they looked pretty cool at first, but I assumed it was some kind of new pan chassis and when I found out it was just a re-skinned Cat I totally lost interest... I think the box is the best feature of this car.
@tobydyes2 жыл бұрын
Put a three-turn motor in it that'll wake it up and shouldn't break the plastic gears in the rear
@HillBillyKuztomz2 жыл бұрын
I still have one aswell upgraded the electronics works great still
@masjuggalo2 жыл бұрын
To be fair in 99/00 they were like $99.99 RTR. a futaba pistol radio was $110 and the box radio was $75 .
@PhilipCockram2 жыл бұрын
Traxxas trying to sue companies for using "Max" in their name or descriptions is over the top , petty and wasteful litigation IMO .......and just like Gibson guitars ...... it turns customers off . I like the retro reviews though. Hope to see more .
@TastierBackInThe80s2 жыл бұрын
That's a Nikko F10 Bison! Just with on-road wheels and body.
@Sleeved_fb2 жыл бұрын
Definitely a spirit of its own 😂
@TomleyRC2 жыл бұрын
😅
@MCsCreations2 жыл бұрын
Pretty nice truck, Phil!!! 😂 GoPro and the car having issues at the same time? Is there any possibility of interference or something? 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
@vaugr19172 жыл бұрын
Always thought that car looked so cool
@mikeymike32402 жыл бұрын
It’s a really cool bit of kit, imho lol 😝. I like it a lot.