What A Pain! But Is It Worth It? Building A Schumacher CAT XLS Masami Vintage Re-release RC Car.

In this video, I kick off the Schumacher XLS Masami build and encounter a few challenges.
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[@doubletapgaming1189]

I remember racing against these back in the day... They made my Optima look really slow...

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

I used to Race for Team Schumacher, nearly 30 years ago! 😳 IF I could, I'd have one of those just for "Kicks"... What Memories! Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

BTW, I only use Hex Head Screws... Just a preference. And yes, I've STABBED meself with Flat Head Screwdrivers!! 😖

[@brianargo9306]

One thing about it. After u build that car every other kit from here on out that u build will be a cake walk. Lol.. good job. I Enjoy ur narration when u do ur videos. It's like ur taking part with the viewers watching and talking about someone else. I always get a Kick out of it.

[@jaimegarcia9032]

much better looking buggy than modern ones my opinion.

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep 100%

[@sullybiker6520]

That's more like an RC airplane or boat kit build. Lots of drilling and gluing. Coming from the _School of Tamiya_ where with the exception of a bit of lexan faffing there's no 'fitting' involved. Looks quite intimidating. The chassis looks more like an F1 car with that sharp taper on both sides. Great vid as usual!

[@prophetate]

I love this playlist, the xls is such a beauty 👍😊 I’m currently building and converting my pro cat to an xls. All parts are available at the Schumacher web shop again 😊

[@stefanrenz4416]

Wow, i love RCKicks, best ever 😍😍😍😍

[@ShenRC]

👍 This is a awesome buggy!

[@flashtech6492]

Great Vid Gavin... I know this is an old video but I just watched it for the first time...something I never really thought about much is how much time and effort goes into making the instruction manuals to build these RC cars..look at all those drawings the illustrations and the wording for the Instructions...UNBELIEVABLE...at any rate I salute all the people involved in working on that aspect of these kits..!!!

[@KMJ187]

I just discovered all these Schumacher re-release kits! I def want to add one to the collection.

[@RCKickschannel]

XLS is well worth the effort

[@greglemieux9809]

This is cool . I bought a Schumacher cougar 2 back in 92. The car was cool and fun. I was a racer and my local tracks didn't supply parts for Schumacher. I went to team Losi products and didn't look back. I did have fun with it though.

[@aviano72]

I just saw Glen @TamiyaLegends build this so it was nice to see your opinion on building this.

[@ss9c1]

Sorry Gavin, but since I am also a "Car Guy/Petrol Head", I just had to laugh when commented about the design & the way parts fit. . ., it reminded me of the British Auto Industry in general, but namely British Leyland/MG Rover Group.

[@markhorsburgh3989]

WOW! That looks amazing, but also like a monumental PITA to build a set up. I had a Schumacher Storm, 2wd truck back in the day and I remember the UJs being a right bum hole to put together. Wish I still had that truck now though. Great work Gavin, happy new year to you and yours when it rolls around. 👍👏

[@RCKickschannel]

Happy New Year!👍🏻

[@Chunky246]

Brings back memories... well the sore fingers anyway. Years back I went from building a fair few Tamiya's and Kyosho's to a Schumacher.... was an education in patience! As someone else said you have to work at them, fettle, drill, try and align - but as you say the end result is amazing.

[@garymurphy5133]

I had Schumacher Boss Cat way back. I remember it was not the best build! The screws were made of cheese and many holes did not line up BUT was a good car when built. 20+ years have passed and you still need to solder the roll bar ends!!!!

[@ernier1777]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but , building of the driveshafts, the secret to easy building of these, is place the plastic parts in very hot water before attaching the metal couplings. Hope this helps. 👍🏼

[@RCRetro]

Great build. For step 10 universal joint driveshafts, were definitely a pain. However, I found the easiest way was to first heat up the plastic with a blow dryer. Then I used a needle nose pliers and the metal connector piece went in much easier. I had no issues with the screws either so I’m not sure what others are talking about. This was probably my most challenging and rewarding build. For some stupid reason, I decided to sell this buggy to justify buying a NIB Tamiya Egress rerelease and a Vintage NIB Kyosho Raider. Now that I look back, there was really no reason for me to sell this kit. Now, whenever I get a new RC car, feel guilty and I try to justify it by thinking about selling one from my collection, I just think about how I sold the CAT XLS and it persuades me not to ever sell any of my vintage RC’s again.

[@ryanpatterson7388]

Had a Pro-Cat nearly 30 years ago...

[@BreatheRC]

Great video :) many thanks

[@jameslovell863]

On the battery straps just use a longer bolt and fit a nut on top with some good retainer to lock it. 5.5 socket from the top then. Another good tip is to make lexan shims to put between the front diff bearing housings and the crash back posts--stops it moving back and getting out of line when you crash and no need to overtighten the thru bolts.

[@muzzoommodels721]

Nice video - they get easier when you've built a few!

[@whome7004]

Great Introduction at the beginning!Really Nice your upping RC Kicks Game, and You must be growing, I don't see how you wouldn't be! Marry Christmas Abit later!

[@vaughanlockett658]

There was a after market titanium screw set the bottom tray spray black .not a easy case to set up

[@simondsimmons3004]

Step 10. Schumachers revenge :)

[@ed5753]

Hi Gavin ;-), one more great video of yours, thanks for doing this. On step 10 I used a hair dryer to heat the plastic part and everything was much easier.

[@AB-80X]

Who's Glen?

[@ed5753]

@@AB-80X Gavin! Sounds like I watch both Gavin and Glenn’s (Tamiya Legend) channels. ;-) Thanks AB-80X.

[@jameslovell863]

The ally rear transmission housing, and ally rear upper sus and shock tower mount also both very effective in stopping the rear of the car getting bent in a crash such as brushing a wall in a sports hall otherwise it used to be bend it back fairly brutally on occasion.... high tensile machine screws for lower rear mounts also good as the wood screws don't fit the holes tight to help said alignment and easily get bent too.

[@thevisitor6267]

The Hoboa Hyper VSE is an awesome buggy.

[@mrlt1]

Small diagnol cutters work very well for axle assembly also. Those are like Traxxas axles. I'm a little surprised they didn't make a cvd set for it to update the car a bit.

[@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA]

Nice build 😎👍🏻

[@philmoffett366]

It is a brilliant buggy but in order to get to the "brilliant buggy" stage you have to have the patience of a saint and the angels with that saint also has to have bloody good patience🤯 I snapped two drive shafts and had to order more cost next to nothing but still very annoying also the battery straps hold nothing other than the smallest of nimh and don't get me started on the c-clips for the shocks managed to get them on after a trip to A&E to get 6 stitches in my hand after the pliers that were holding them went through my hand😖😭

[@RCKickschannel]

So a fun build by the sounds of it. Great when finished and if you are not bothered about building it, I see a few new but built come up on eBay each month so that would be a better way to go.

[@marksapollo]

Seems like a right pain to build this car! Not as easy as Tamiya or Kyosho, I think Team X-ray make the best racing kits building wise. Great video though :)

[@perfectsplit5515]

Damn right. As bad as my Tamiya Avante was in '88, at least it was easy to build. When I worked at John Deere as a Mechanical Engineer in 2007, they taught us about a concept called, "Design for Assembly". The design engineer should see things through the viewpoint of the assembler who has to assemble his machine. When Honda and Toyota hire a new design engineer, that new hire must first work as an assembler for 3 months before creating his first design. I think Tamiya probably incorporates a lot of Design for Assembly principles in their kits. I think this Schumacher CAT was designed with NO Design for Assembly principles. It is such a nightmare to build.

[@AB-80X]

X-Ray, Associated, TLR and Mugen all are really great builds.

[@marksapollo]

@@AB-80X Agree with that.

[@bharris0128]

My only real dislike with this car . was their use of all round-head-phillips-screws. I have a tendency to over tighten, so I too easily stripped a few.

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep, a swap out to hex is a good upgrade before build choice

[@Lemonbangoreo]

Love your channel!

[@redblue40rc33]

I have the 1989 version.....needs a few parts to get BK to the way when I first built it......those u joints....tip, use a heat gun or cigarette lighter to warm up plastic drive shaft joints to insert metal joints......old trick to save fingers..... never had a problem with breaking....still got it😉...... Novak rooster esc, graupner 540, futaba tx ..... Esc burned up yrs ago but would scat down the highway.....handled very good

[@perfectsplit5515]

The Losi JRX2 already had the Universal joints pre-assembled. You just had to assemble the telescoping drive shafts. The Schumacher CAT requires you to physically assemble the Universal joints piece by piece! It is a nightmare when you first start out. It takes a while to get the hang of it.

[@redblue40rc33]

@@perfectsplit5515 cigarette lighter makes it easier 😉

[@jecoboost1440]

I put the Schumacher Top Cat 2 wheel drive together. It was kind of a pain in the butt nice car .

[@rdelgado77]

I wish you would’ve been able to ride it because then you would’ve been able to see how this car shifts from 2 Wheel Dr. in the straightaways to four-wheel-drive‘s in the turns and it is done remarkably with a simple one-way bearing that is geared just a little bit lower than the rear transmission. When you witness it actually driving you will understand that there is no other car quite like this one!

[@stevenmathers8948]

Another great video and your influence on my wallet is considerable..😂...my claim to fame is now having my photo in your video..😂...keep up the amazing work Gav and Happy New Year..🥃👍🏻

[@davenew116]

I had that car in about 93 it was fantastic fun

[@RCKickschannel]

Lovely to drive, sucks to build.

[@brianargo9306]

Looks like ur having to work a little to build that car! Lol not as precise as the car ur used to like u said. But it's going to be another nice one to add to ur collection.

[@mattpowe]

great video - do you think do a pro cat re re build (just announced by schumacher)? Appreciate all your videos.

[@RCKickschannel]

I will be getting a pro cat on the show to build yes.

[@dfwnick5309]

Honestly,....it was good for a couple of runs until the pulley fails and the main belt runs out to the side, Believe me,...I owned one in 1987 . Apart from the belt issues, the car is a real cat,.....it grips the ground and the front geometry is perfectly designed,.it flexes when the wheel gets hit and yes no dog bone but a very well thought of telescope designed front shaft and the rubber band that allows the front arms to expand when there is a collision which does not break because of its flexibility. Well....the rest is history...Overall ?...a great buggy....

[@vaughanlockett658]

Can you still bye this car ?

[@redblue40rc33]

Yep....no electronics whatsoever....that's extra🤣.....but hard to find anywhere in the states.....mostly in the uk, etc

[@focalpointvideo]

I love building kits but this car looks way too fiddly. 🙈

[@mad-beerc3818]

Very nice and great vid, I remember l think that this buggy is the only car made that has an elastic band used on it?? and gets away with even making it a cool extra! Or have they done something different on the rere?

[@RCKickschannel]

Nope it has the front crash back system just like the original.

[@mad-beerc3818]

@@RCKickschannel Cool that's good it was a nice touch by Schumacher, l have been a tamiyaclub member for years now but only discovered your channel recently! Must say its brilliant and well done for taking the time and doing the show it does help to keep fuelling the fire even more! I am massive tamiya fan have been for years and can't see it ending soon!! But its defo a help having shows like yours. Cheers buddy.

[@Ben-Lloyd]

I understand you frustration building the kit, but it is a 30 year old design 😂 On the plus side once completed it looks stunning and it did win a world championship 😎

[@RCKickschannel]

100% agree with you on all counts Johnny.

[@Ben-Lloyd]

Who's Johnny?

[@Loran1972]

Carbon or fiberglass ?!!

[@perfectsplit5515]

Is anyone else having issues with the steering? The front hub ball joints have a LOT of friction, and it causes very poor repeatability in the steering. You start out neutral, turn left, then release the steering wheel, but the wheels do NOT go back to neutral. They are still turned a little toward the left. Very rough streering. ... (I got this kit last month to compensate for my poor choices in getting the Nichimo Exceed and Tamiya Avante in '87 and '88)

[@RCKickschannel]

No issues my end. Could be the servo if the steering is not stiff.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@RCKickschannel Fixed the problem by loosening the tightening screws on the hubs.

[@zedstar1297]

Imagine if your belt snapped on race day....

[@RCKickschannel]

Stuff that. Best to have a second car lol

[@jossgower]

I bought the cat back in the 80''s ... hated building it ... never liked it wish I got a RC10

[@gvoluto2816]

its not a DT03 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@perfectsplit5515]

Does anyone else have an issue with the belts sliding to the left or right due to the lack of fences on the lower triple pulleys at the rear? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnqli4Kfo6aekJY

[@rdelgado77]

Can you sell me one fully built?

[@redblue40rc33]

Do the pain n build one.....your memory gets strong on this car....I built mine bk in 1989.... don't need instruction book after that.....you'll always remember it🙂