I’ve determined to deal with myself with a contemporary package construct, and whereas I’m right down to construct any package from any model (and I want each model supplied extra kits), the height kit-building expertise for me is a bench session with a Tamiya automobile. I like the line-art manuals, I like the elements high quality, and I like Tamiya’s steadily funky design and engineering decisions.
However man, which package do I select? Even with the limiting issue of a $200-ish finances, there are a ton of choices to select from. And what you see right here isn’t even half of what Tamiya affords for wrenching followers. Let’s check out what I’ve obtained on my listing, and possibly you’ll be able to assist me make the decision.
I’m liking the BBX as a result of, as one of many few Tamiya platforms I’ve by no means assembled earlier than, it’ll be a wholly new constructing expertise for me. Making it much more novel, the design is not like nearly each different buggy on the market. Rear trailing arms? A ball differential? Scale styling with a driver determine and window nets? Depend me in.
I do want the motive force determine have been a brand new molding extra in scale with the automobile, and I want the roll cage have been a clipped-on ornamental aspect moderately than screwed to the chassis, if just for ease of cleansing and upkeep. However neither of those are deal breakers, and the BBX is unquestionably a front-runner.
No model does scale fairly like Tamiya, and these spins on Toyota’s traditional 4X4 and Ford’s Twenty first-century replace of its personal off-road legend are very well-rendered right here (above the axles, no less than – I don’t fault Tamiya or any model for not going full-replica for the mechanicals). The CC-02 platform’s wheelbase permits Tamiya to ship genuine 2-door proportions, and there’s no skimping on the small print.
In comparison with the 1/10 scale path truck choices from Traxxas, Axial, and Component (amongst others), the marginally smaller, much less performance-focused CC-02s shall be at an actual drawback for rugged path work … which I’m not involved with within the least. I’m simply in it for the construct, and low-effort walking-path cruising is about as a lot of a problem as I’d be giving these guys.
Get the CC-02 Bronco and Toyota Landcruiser right here and right here
I’ve by no means owned a FAV, which is form of nuts since I’ve needed one ever because it first joined the Tamiya lineup means again in 1984. It simply seems like a ton of enjoyable to construct and element the motive force/gunner and his spring-mounted M50 machine gun, and I dig the old-school trailing arm suspension setup – for seems, anyway. Don’t anticipate a lot from these nail-inside-a-spring “shocks.”
I don’t love that this one could be extra shelf queen than runner (no less than for off-road motion), however then once more, I may bolt on the oil shocks from the Wild One. And now I can’t cease fascinated about it. Hmmm.
Get the Quick Assault Car right here
I’m all concerning the onerous physique right here, portray and detailing the HCT simply seems like an actual deal with. And people turbine wheels, so good. Plus, I’ve at all times been a Honda Metropolis fan, ever since the actual factor caught kid-me’s consideration with the stowaway Motocompo minibike that tucks into the trunk – see it right here in static-model kind, one other Tamiya package I’d like to construct.
The HCT is one other mannequin that will see much more shelf time than play time, if solely as a result of I wouldn’t wish to scar up the gorgeous injection-molded physique. However having it on the shelf in my workplace would look fairly rad.
Get the Honda Metropolis Turbo right here
The Tremendous Astute could be a nostalgia rating for me, I simply thought it seemed the enterprise again within the day. And whereas it might hardly be an A-Fundamental contender in 2025, it might be loads of enjoyable to wheel on an off-road observe (particularly with fashionable rubber). It’s classic by way of and thru, however from the period when trackable RC buggies have been not fun-first automobiles that drivers needed to adapt for racing, however have been as a substitute engineered from the beginning with track-bred options.
Make no mistake, I like me some Tremendous Astute, nevertheless it most likely scratches my “that’s neat!” itch the least of all of the automobiles that made the listing. Additionally, the aggressively early-nineties graphics aren’t actually doing it for me in 2025. Nonetheless need one, however possibly it’s not the one for this explicit treating-myself mission.
Get the Tremendous Astute right here
Aaaand straight after the Tremendous Astute we arrive at one other early-90s buggy blast. I’ve an enormous mushy spot for the Prime-Pressure as a result of it’s mainly the last word Manta Ray, the buggy that birthed the TA-01 and TA-02. I’ve at all times liked these platforms with their neat entrance and rear escape-hatch gearboxes and wire propshaft 4WD system. Simply plain enjoyable to construct, you get the trick FRP chassis, and the styling is peak Japanese anime spaceship. I dig it.
The one actual draw back for the Prime-Pressure is all on me, not the automobile: I don’t have a great spot to essentially take pleasure in it the best way it’s meant to be pushed. However the constructing expertise and enjoyable of simply having it in my assortment would nonetheless go a great distance.
Get the Prime-Pressure EVO right here
The Tyrrell P34 shocked the racing world with its bizarro six-wheel setup, and to me represents the height of F1 innovation earlier than the period of wind tunnels, computer-aided design, and all that. Simply creativeness, drafting pencils, and slide guidelines right here, child. Tamiya’s mannequin of the traditional racer seems superb on its steamroller foam tires, and this one’s one other hard-body providing that I may actually get into detailing.
I do want the P34 had extra happening beneath that lovely physique. It’s mainly a pan automobile with an additional pair of entrance wheels, so the chassis construct would temporary. Enjoyable, however temporary.
Get the Tyrrell P34 right here
The VQS (Vanquish, initially) hits a number of huge, purple, flashing buttons for me. Before everything, I had the unique and liked it. Second, it was a variety of enjoyable to construct and drive with its, hmmm, let’s say enthusiastically engineered 4WD drivetrain and suspension. And in case you’re considering “seems kinda like an economic system Avanti,” properly, you’re just about proper. And the third button? I’m only a sucker for an enclosed cockpit.
I’m having bother remembering what I don’t like concerning the VQS, TBH. Oh, now I keep in mind: the $350-plus pricetag. A lot for my $200-ish cap. The VQS packs in loads of elements and options (together with a full set of ball bearings) to make the worth completely cheap, however extra money is extra money. Perhaps I may mow a number of lawns …
I owned a Wild Willy 2000. I liked my WW2K. I want to love one other WW2K. It’s a enjoyable little wheelie machine, however this time I actually wish to go onerous on the portray and detailing. The cartoonified Jeep physique is unbelievable (by no means thoughts the horizontal grille slots), and Willy himself is a full-body determine that I can see myself pouring time into.
Tamiya does a variety of the constructing for you with this one, going as far as to place the gearbox collectively earlier than heat-shrinking the field. That’s much less kit-building for me, I needed to try this myself! However I’d most likely pull the gearbox aside to switch the bushings with bearings, so I suppose I’d get my wrenching time again.
Get the Wild Willy 2000 right here
Which Would YOU Select?
Actually, I may have added ten extra fashions to this listing, straightforward – simply check out all of Tamiya’s choices on the TT-02 chassis, for starters. Selecting one from this listing is just not straightforward, so I’ll be preserving my eyes out in your solutions within the feedback of the social posts for this text. It doesn’t matter what the ultimate name is, you’ll see it go collectively from begin to end right here at RCDriver.com. Now, in case you’ll excuse me, I’m going to tighten the chin-strap on my considering cap and get to work.
