The RC Car hobby thread

Ares1000101 said:
So... I have a 1992 Tamiya Stadium Blitzer sitting in my garage.
https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/58106

It worked the last time it was used, only thing I remember was the tie rod on the one side was bent or too short or something.
It has gone unused for about 15 years. Is there any point in Sprucing it up and selling it? Maybe new motor and batteries. Better controller?

It has a custom painted Sharks Rugby body.
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Usually the answer with old 90's vehicles like yours is "NO"... but I've noticed a subtle rise in people valuing old RC's recently. In fact, not long ago I almost dropped R2.5K on an old 94' Traxxas Rustler pro racing kit a guy had sitting in his garage. The difference is it was still a proper composite chassis (can't remember the material) so if I were to upgrade it to a brushless system it would still have been a great buggy.

For Tamiya though, I have no idea. Looking at the images for yours I can definitely tell you that you'll be able to "modernize" it with say a 60 amp esc. and some brushless magic, but unless you really like customizing and building you might hate it. The issue with older models though is usually the plastic. Today's plastics are amazing, and in the case of companies like RPM plastics are actually better than something like aluminium. With older cars though the plastics are very brittle and since you won't easily find replacement parts it's usually a case of get it running and sell it off as a piece of nostalgia or spend a lot of time "modernizing" it just to have it break and be left in a **** in the garage.

P.S. It would make a great little project though and with today's tech its amazingly easy to turn almost anything into an amazing performing RC car. I'd actually suggest keeping it and buying a cheap 2nd hand HSP 2wd or 4wd alongside it if you're serious about resuscitating the hobby, that way you can get a new appreciation for how far we've come and what you might want to do with it in future from a nostalgic perspective.
 
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RaptorSA said:
Usually the answer with old 90's vehicles like yours is "NO"... but I've noticed a subtle rise in people valuing old RC's recently. In fact, not long ago I almost dropped R2.5K on an old 94' Traxxas Rustler pro racing kit a guy had sitting in his garage. The difference is it was still a proper composite chassis (can't remember the material) so if I were to upgrade it to a brushless system it would still have been a great buggy.

For Tamiya though, I have no idea. Looking at the images for yours I can definitely tell you that you'll be able to "modernize" it with say a 60 amp esc. and some brushless magic, but unless you really like customizing and building you might hate it. The issue with older models though is usually the plastic. Today's plastics are amazing, and in the case of companies like RPM plastics are actually better than something like aluminium. With older cars though the plastics are very brittle and since you won't easily find replacement parts it's usually a case of get it running and sell it off as a piece of nostalgia or spend a lot of time "modernizing" it just to have it break and be left in a **** in the garage.

P.S. It would make a great little project though and with today's tech its amazingly easy to turn almost anything into an amazing performing RC car. I'd actually suggest keeping it and buying a cheap 2nd hand HSP 2wd or 4wd alongside it if you're serious about resuscitating the hobby, that way you can get a new appreciation for how far we've come and what you might want to do with it in future from a nostalgic perspective.
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Thanks for your response.

I don't really want to start racing again. I just saw it the other day and thought that something must be done instead of throwing it away. Cos I need to make space in the garage.

So either sell as is or fix it a bit. Then again I don't have money for that this year.

I agree though it would be exciting to fix is as a project. And seeing how much better, faster and more powerful components have become!
 
semaphore said:
I have one of these, need to get new tyres and body I don’t mind destroying

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The Ken Block "Hoonigan" channel on YT gets a shi*on of views.
Watching this, it'll be cool to do videos doing 1/10th scale vids where you replicate his stunts. Won't be easy of course since you need to find areas/environments that matches the original, but I can tell you now if you solved that and replicated the idea you could probably make a living off the advertising coming your way.
 
Ares1000101 said:
Thanks for your response.

I don't really want to start racing again. I just saw it the other day and thought that something must be done instead of throwing it away. Cos I need to make space in the garage.

So either sell as is or fix it a bit. Then again I don't have money for that this year.

I agree though it would be exciting to fix is as a project. And seeing how much better, faster and more powerful components have become!
Click to expand...

No problem man, I'd buy it from you but I wouldn't be able to offer anything that comes close to the nostalgic value you're likely attaching to it, due to the risks involved of course.

Reconsider the hobby however, that's all I can say. It really isn't what it used to be (boring & expensive). Sure, I'm biased so I can't really speak on my behalf, but take it from me when I say that I've actually met a lot of people and potential friends by just running the "new" stuff around our suffocated city slicker complex. In general most people are dying to focus their energy on something different than the day-to-day turmoil of work-home-eat-sh*t-sleep.
 
Videos never do the scale justice but here's a road test of my favorite pair of tyres for the Slash 4x4, Louise MT-Rockets 2.2's... (They're about a 1/3rd of the price for new Traxxas tyres from the local Hobby Shop)

 
RaptorSA said:
No problem man, I'd buy it from you but I wouldn't be able to offer anything that comes close to the nostalgic value you're likely attaching to it, due to the risks involved of course.

Reconsider the hobby however, that's all I can say. It really isn't what it used to be (boring & expensive). Sure, I'm biased so I can't really speak on my behalf, but take it from me when I say that I've actually met a lot of people and potential friends by just running the "new" stuff around our suffocated city slicker complex. In general most people are dying to focus their energy on something different than the day-to-day turmoil of work-home-eat-sh*t-sleep.
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It would be fun to play on weekends, but I don't think it would be a lasting hobby.
And the thing with me is, if I put too much thought into RC, I will wake up next week with R10k dropped on my cc, and a new top of the range setup sitting in my lounge.
 
Ares1000101 said:
It would be fun to play on weekends, but I don't think it would be a lasting hobby.
And the thing with me is, if I put too much thought into RC, I will wake up next week with R10k dropped on my cc, and a new top of the range setup sitting in my lounge.
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10k unfortunately won't buy you a top of the range setup :-( an okay mid range though
 
RaptorSA said:
So I spoke to the guy at B&B Importers where I get all my stuff. I was interested because he had some Team Associated buggy kits that he was getting ready to roll out. Those things look amazing. I think spec. buggy racing where you really start getting into proper setups... toe, camber, shock oil weight, motor turn adjustments etc. must be a shartload of fun.

Apparently there's an epic racing club known as the SuperBowl where they do dirt and carpet racing etc. They have a few classes you can compete in. The problem is the damn track is in Benoni :crying:

https://www.sarda-rc.org/clubs/rc-superbowl-rcsb/
https://www.facebook.com/RC.Superbowl/

I really wish there was something closer. The BMX Track at Jukskei Park would be a perfect spot for setting up a dirt track, there's tons more unused space and you don't need a lot. Wish I knew how to start/run something like this so we could get some people in the Randburg/Roodepoort/JHB area involved, I just don't know enough about the sport. Apparently 10th scale carpet buggy racing is now the preferred "in thing", which sounds great to me. I can see why dirt racing becomes too cumbersome for some, a few hours of fun for a full day of cleaning & rebuilding probably isn't too accessible for most people's schedules.
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For some reason I don't get email notifications. I'm not sure how to send an inbox message here. Can you inbox me and I'll give you my cell phone number. Then you can whatsapp me next time?

Damn, benoni is so far! Sucks. 2 days ago I bought a 1:10th HPI touring car (porsche 911 turbo body). A carpet track would be awesome! Bought and installed ansmann drift wheels this morning too from rcedge.co.za

Maybe if we can get like 5 RC enthusiasts together we can start something on this side of the world.

But please do inbox me. I'm so keen to get out with my offroad cars!

Apparently there's an on road track at key west shopping mall? As soon as I've learned to drift a bit better I'm gonna go check it out.
 
Lupus said:
Nice :)
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Thanks :) I'm enjoying my on road car a lot more. They don't break as easily as off roads. Both my off roads are out of action and in need of repairs. But I've decided to spend money on the on road instead. So much more fun! My balcony has become a drift track.
 
deadendfingerboards said:
Thanks :) I'm enjoying my on road car a lot more. They don't break as easily as off roads. Both my off roads are out of action and in need of repairs. But I've decided to spend money on the on road instead. So much more fun! My balcony has become a drift track.
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Yeah my Brontosaurus is once again on ice after one trip off road, granted my son did hammer it but the gear cover lifted and stones got in and I lost a bearing :(.
He also drove it into a storm water drain at full tilt :) it wedged quite nicely.
 
RaptorSA said:
The Ken Block "Hoonigan" channel on YT gets a shi*on of views.
Watching this, it'll be cool to do videos doing 1/10th scale vids where you replicate his stunts. Won't be easy of course since you need to find areas/environments that matches the original, but I can tell you now if you solved that and replicated the idea you could probably make a living off the advertising coming your way.
Click to expand...

True, but who really has time for that. :P
 
So managed to finally get a battery for my son's little 1/24th scale HSP, plug it into charger nothing sigh. Think it might be the bloody charger after all.
Also some how misplaced one of my transmitters.
 
I'm getting to the point of just selling mine, don't get a chance to ride them. When I do I then have to fix it which takes me months.
Also trying to find a battery or a charger for a specific one sucks. I'll pump money back into my pc :)
 
Lupus said:
I'm getting to the point of just selling mine, don't get a chance to ride them. When I do I then have to fix it which takes me months.
Also trying to find a battery or a charger for a specific one sucks. I'll pump money back into my pc :)
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Hey Lupus. What all are you thinking of selling? Can you send me an email with a list, pics and prices?

[email protected]

I'm keen. Always looking to add new cars and parts to my collection.

I look forward to your reply...
 
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