tamiya, inc. jp eng. Tamiya RC US M551 Sheridan Full Option RC Tank Kit Limited Edition TAM56043. Inside the kit, the Hornet is a relatively simple model to build. Ages: 12 months and up. In my view, it also lacks a lot of it’s charm. Add to Cart. Broadly, you might re… I’m still gonna buy me a Hornet one day…. when you see all the original wires and the 3 step speed controllers that’s what makes the vintage Rc car great the old style not the esc that’s for new models cars on off/road like brushless motor cars also has brake A product of 1985 thinking. Handling is another matter though, and the car has a tendency to swing it’s tail about and can be a bit of a handful on a loose surface. But the Hornet basically uses the same chassis platform (the chassis actually has “RCC Grasshopper” stamped onto it since the Grasshopper was the first to use it) together with a range of extra features – in particular a Mabuchi 540 motor instead of the Grasshopper’s 380 motor. The Hornet stands as one of Tamiya's most popular R/C cars ever released, helping launch a 2WD R/C buggy boom worldwide. Of course, you could paint and decal your Hornet any way you liked, but as with all my Tamiyas I think I love the original designs too much to deviate. The nostalgia website for vintage radio controlled cars & other toys, from Tamiya, Nikko, Kyosho, Tyco, Taiyo, Radio Shack, Shinsei, AYK, Marui, Tomy, and many more. With an incredible collection of detailed RC model cars and vehicles as well as other remote controlled toys and accessories, the Japanese brand has become one of the biggest names in the industry. Tamiya’s various re-releases have all contained differences to the original models. Tamiya Hornet re-release review, 40th anniversary edition This is my first Tamiya. I know you don’t discuss them on the site, but I was wondering if you could explain what you mean by “and in a few cases, they look truly hideous compared to the originals” — I’d like to know which re-releases to steer clear of for my first build. Overall length: 400mm; Overall width: 230mm; Overall height: 150mm; Weight: 874g; Solid bathtub frame with side bumpers; High performance Type 540 motor It just would have required more patience and to save up for a bit longer :/ But it was totally possible. But somehow, Tamiya’s designers managed to incorporate subtle references beyond merely the name, and developed this car to remind you of a Hornet insect in a few different ways. Surely there’s more satisfaction in owning a true original from the 1980s, than a reissue. Tamiya has released a remake of this car. Many collectors of Tamiya cars consider the first 100 Tamiya models to be a “golden era” as these were the cars released at the height of the R/C craze in the 1980s, and are now the most collectible. I think I’ll try and get that going too. And the re-release differs very little from the original Hornet. The Hornet stands as one of Tamiyas most popular R/C cars ever released, helping launch a 2WD R/C buggy boom worldwide. Thanks again for the helpful tips. Im thinking about buying one and you gave all that i need. But this just makes it all the more entertaining. About this model. It’s not overpriced. The revolutionary 1984 2WD off-road buggy is back and more fun than ever before! FREE Shipping by Amazon. As always, restoration of an original with original spare parts, is the most satisfying project if you really want to relive this classic as it was. And many collectors today remember seeing them playing in stores, in their youth. It would go on to become one of the most popular R/C kits of all time and was re-released in December 2004 with a few alterations. The Grasshopper was released a few months earlier and I will discuss it in detail another time. Hi dude, I too grew up in the eighties and could never get my hands on a Tamiya and I’m with you 100% on that score. And this is also how the manual suggests you build and detail the model. HC-0335050 £ 10.96. They have the black (not white) plastic wheel bearings at the wheels, which were only found in earlier Hornet kits. 99. Tamiya 1/14 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3348 6x4 Tipper Truck TAM56361. but still good to have the rerelease car to get the parts out to fix the vintage Countless afternoons after school were spent running that car around makeshift dirt tracks near my house, usually only for 10-15 minutes at a time though as that’s all a typical 1200mAH Ni-Cd battery would last for in those days! The rear dampers are some really nice, metal, oil-filled units however, that do a reasonable job. I still have that old Hornet to this day. Tamiya has never released any sales figures. At Wonderland Models our Tamiya Hornet and Grasshopper spares and hop-up parts range consists of the Hornet Body and Wing, Sticker Set and much more. Mechanical Speed Control. "B" Parts now says "RCC Lunch Box" on the sprue and fewer parts on it, with wider buttresses on gearbox halves. SKU. That incredible, dynamic box art of the Hornet as it leans out through a turn and kicks up dust, is actually one of my earliest Tamiya memories. Want to Compare Your Willy? (Or if I build an original kit to completion!). The Hornet stands as one of Tamiya's most popular R/C cars ever released, helping launch a 2WD R/C buggy boom worldwide. Well the rear suspension is, as they say “rigid” – there’s no independent suspension at the back. Make sure the transmitter steering is centred (including the steering trim lever). But also note the angular profile, suspension arms, bumper bar, side nerf bars and so on…all are slender and black, similar to a set of black legs supporting a body. Great deals on Tamiya Grasshopper In Hobby Rc Wheels, Tires, Rims & Hubs. I actually don’t have a built Hornet worthy of display just yet, so this article will feature images of one of my new-in-box original kits…, Because, speaking of the fun of hunting down original parts, it’s still possible to hunt down original unbuilt kits as well. It only seems right that the first Tamiya R/C model I write about should be the Tamiya Hornet, as I really do consider it to be the most iconic of all Tamiya’s amazing R/C models over the years. As soon as I got my first job I went straight out and bought a Stadium Blitzer. But it became the vehicle that opened up my world to Tamiya R/C cars. Good times. It’s no wonder Tamiya’s R/C model sales took off in the early 1980s. Please note: All written material and most photos on this website are the original content of this website - unless otherwise stated. HC-0115065 £ 2.68. As for those bodies, I think I remember them. 50. In Stock. I find that when you burn out the speed controller you don’t need to buy another one you just clean the copper on the 3 step speed controller then it will work again or replace the resistor This just added to the car’s character and even little things – like the positioning of the bonnet number “7” off a bit to one side – are just little touches to add a bit more individuality. Product. Also without the re-re’s I wouldn’t have been able to restore my monster beetle et al…….. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I remember falling in love with it the first time I saw an advertisement in a magazine. I particularly love the wheels and tyres on this car, which are shared between it and several other Tamiya buggies. But the impression I got growing up in Australia was that this was by far the most popular Tamiya buggy of the era. Great story, and that’s a pretty big collection you have going there – you always know someone’s quite an enthusiast when they start talking about Mugen Bulldogs and RC10s. Being a bit younger than these other kids, all I could do was stand back and watch. That was in 1993. Also appearing in some Tamiya catalogues, were these action photos of The Hornet…. Under normal use, the Hornet would last a lifetime. R/C Toy Memories is a nostalgia blog run by a long-time collector. The remake Hornet, in pre-built form. You can still find vintage Hornets on eBay and it is one of the cars that has been rereleased so you can buy a brand new one too. Porsche 959 HCO-58336. $179.99 ... Its history stretches back to the 1950s, and includes the 40 serie Add to cart. Pictured below is a vintage new in box kit of the Hornet. grasshopper Price history. Countless afternoons after school were spent running that car around makeshift dirt tracks near my house, usually only for 10-15 minutes at a time though as that’s all a typical 1200mAH Ni-Cd battery would last for in those days. For many, these are no issue. hornet Yes it’s still possible to hunt down original unbuilt kits from the 1980s. This table explains the issues to look for, when purchasing a vintage Tamiya Hornet in any condition. This table explains how the original Tamiya Hornet R/C kit underwent some changes during it's original vintage production run from 1984 to 1992. Or how about the action figure community, where the complete original series of “12 back” Star Wars figures is worth upwards of $30,000? All content © R/C Toy Memories and it's author, 2012 - 2020, unless otherwise credited. Tamiya Paire de Jantes Av Hornet 0555066 - RC TEAM. With front independent suspension using a friction damper, and rolling rigid rear suspension with oil filled dampers, plus a lightweight polycarbonate body, this aggressive vehicle is aptly named. $929.00 Add to Cart. Add to Cart. Often they would copy Tamiya’s ideas, but they were never quite able to copy Tamiya’s eclectic and unusual inspirations – and pull them off. Which may seem like a lot, but it’s barely more than the price tag back in the 1980s after you account for 20-30 years worth of inflation. Yonkuro as Rinko Sumeragi's machine and … The Grasshopper was released a few months earlier and I will discuss it in detail another time. The original model however, is generally much more valuable than the remake. And yet despite these aesthetic considerations the car is still 100% functional and uncompromising as an R/C model. Euro RC FI. It was a picture of the Hornet jumping through the air, dirt flying behind it. It's free, and simply lets you comment in the forum or beneath articles. No, it’s always been pretty affordable to collect original issue Tamiya models compared to other hobbies 🙂. Great article! But it was just so entertaining and challenging to fling the buggy around sandy corners, and try to beat little personal-best lap times, that it will always remain one of my very favourite R/C models. My son had a BLAST playing with it. Initially it was positioned as a “running plastic model”. But also note the angular profile, suspension arms, bumper bar, side nerf bars and so on…all are slender and black, similar to a set of black legs supporting a body. The Hornet stands as one of Tamiya's most popular R/C cars ever released, helping launch a 2WD R/C buggy boom worldwide. The remake Hornet with colour design by Jun Watanabe. Transmitter purchased separately. During the 1980s, each Tamiya buggy came with a special slogan, and for the Hornet of course it’s “Anytime, Baby!”. However, Tamiya has recently re-released this kit. Buggies that run absolutely perfectly can often be a bit boring. Jadlam Racing GB. £109.65. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to R/C Toy Memories, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. They are a lot of fun and well worth the investment!! There was even a sense of violence about it at first – the car seemed tough enough to take the abuse, but the sheer power of it seemed to encourage the other kids to push it to ever higher limits – a sharper ramp, a bigger run-up, and so on. It’s something they carried across several beautiful buggies. HC-0005276 £ 9.40. We had our time?, these cars bring new fans to the hobby with new memories of their own, which as you know are pure magic? Things are only worth what people are prepared to pay. Get it as soon as Tue, Dec 22. Among them, the Hornet was the 45th model to be released. Categories: Electric Off Road, Tamiya, Tamiya Kits, Tamiya Kits. Réf : 0555066. Learn how your comment data is processed. But the fact is that things are only “overpriced” if they’re priced far higher than any reasonable precedent. Tamiya Hornet Kit. the esc not working you need a new one or need to be a pro at electronic to fix it tamiya america, inc. tamiya europe gmbh. ), and blister boxes with lots of little labeled items. The tyres all have high side-walls – not that efficient because they aren’t as rigid during cornering as today’s low-profile tyres. At the time, my only R/C experiences had been Tandy/Radio Shack type models that would trundle around nice enough, but seeing this thing called a “Hornet” introduced me to a new level of excitement. It was an interesting and fun car but somewhat “complicated” with the 4 wheel steering, etc. 🙂. I had painted the original body just like the box and LOVED that “Anytime Baby” sticker. I’ve always really loved Tamiya’s own descriptions of their vehicles, and here’s one of the official Hornet summaries…. However, check out the re-re Sand Rover or Holiday Buggy and compare those to the originals. Many collectors of Tamiya cars consider the first 100 Tamiya models to be a kind of “golden era” as these were the cars released at the height of the R/C craze in the 1980s, and are now the most collectible. Under normal use, the Hornet would last a lifetime. Perhaps it was the fact that my parents could never really afford to buy a Tamiya during the 1980s, but for whatever reason I developed something of a reverence for the Hornet – and indeed all Tamiyas. Arrives before Christmas Only 3 left in stock - order soon. So let’s say a “bit of plastic” sells for $150 under bidding, and someone else lists an identical one for buy-it-now for $150 (or thereabouts). Expensive though they may be, they do exist, and it’s amazing they’ve survived unbuilt over the decades, hidden in attics and the back-rooms of hobby shops around the world…. wild willy m38 The remake Hornet with colour design by Supreme. If you ever hear anyone complain that their Hornet broke or that this car was inherently weak, remember that there are fools in the world who will drive their R/C vehicles off the rooves of houses, or set them on fire. My first was the Wild Willy and I remember my dad mostly putting that together himself, I helped a little bit. Skip to the end of the images gallery . Sometimes things are overpriced out there. Get the best deals for tamiya hornet at eBay.com. Mabuchi 540 motor with black, protruding plastic endbell, "B" Parts says "RCC Grasshopper" on the sprue, and has shallow support buttresses on the gearbox halves, Black Mechanical Speed Control with fuse attached, Box has Tamiya's address location as "Oshika, Shizuoka-City" (their earlier headquarters), Model number is written as "5845" (not "58045"), Cardboard kit divider carries illustrations of early models circa 1984, Black Mechanical Speed Control now has no fuse attached, Cardboard kit divider now carries illustrations of mid-1980s models. 4.5 out of 5 stars 115 ratings. I picked up a Tamiya Hornet re-release as a summer project for the kids. After doing some more research over the years, I have found that Tamiya published several similar photos of the hornet – each slightly different (as you can see from the angle of the car, and the background colour), but featuring the same two example cars. Add to Cart. yes I like the Tamiya original kits more so then the rerelease ones I remember the protective balloon for the speed control was a really neat feature and also remembered it being FAST. I actually have a video of me driving it in the street in front of my house, somewhere around 1985. I have never seen one in a store or in person other than mine in person even back in the day but it seems to have been relatively successful. Mind you, I had no idea at first what range of models were available. The rereleases are great if you are not a collector. This just added to the car’s character and even little things – like the positioning of the bonnet number “7″ off a bit to one side – are just little touches to add a bit more individuality. Each wheel comes in three-pieces, all joined together by little screws so they are quite elaborate. Broadly, you might refer to these buggies as “character cars” due to the fact they came in eye-catching shapes, colours, and with quirky decals and unusual names. I had to, I loved the dang thing so much just looking at it. Surely the vintage model is more to be proud of? So it’s impact on the toy market has been massive. Throw in 3 RC10’s, a Marui Hunter and Mugen Bulldog and I had quite the collection when I was a kid. Add to Cart. the original car flat out in reverse then left then up again will make like a Knight Rider effect Very Rare Gold wheels, I havn't seen gold original wheels on a grasshoper before. In terms of the Hotshot, another change is that the iconic round silver resistors under the rear wing are non-functional (because it comes with an ESC), so they just sit there and do nothing. The revolutionary 1984 2WD off-road buggy is back and more fun than ever before! The decals are pretty iconic too. Tamiya A Parts For Lunch Box. Accounting for inflation, paying $150 for something in 1985 is about the same as paying $385 in 2012 (in Australia). But this just makes it all the more entertaining. But unlike Youtube where nobody has the videos very organized… below is an attempt to catalogue the two distinct ones that exist. It was featured in the manga and anime Dash! Even the headlights are way down the front – like a pair of eyes. I’ve personally paid as much as $400 for a single Sand Scorcher original NIP black front bumper in the past too (just so you know – I’ve put my money where my mouth is!). But I don’t agree when people say “I wouldn’t have been able to restore X without the re-re’s”. They are completely modern entry level buggies, with nothing but the old body shell on top. But moving on now… let’s look at Tamiya model number #58045, The Hornet. It was a lot of fun and an honest hobby. The decals are pretty iconic too. First released on the 9th of October, 1984, I suspect it went on to become Tamiya’s biggest selling R/C car ever – although I have no specific proof. R/C Toy Memories is a 100% free, independent and ad-free website. The place for all things Tamiya. Even the headlights are way down the front – like a pair of eyes. I personally don’t have much interest in the re-released Tamiya cars. My wife isn’t going to like my eBay purchases 🙂, This website is fantastic. Original, unbuilt kits are more likely to be somewhere in the range of $350 – $450. Batteries: 1 x 7.2volt, Optional 4 x AA (Car). But I do understand that a reissue of something offers a cheaper, easier, brand new way to relive the past. Yet the reissued Hornet kit can be found online for about $110. The friends in question were fairly well known people in the town where I lived, so there were quite a lot of people at this party – maybe 50 or so.