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Tamiya 58346 The Grasshopper RC Car

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 536 ratings

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  • The leader in hobby products around the world
  • Made using the highest quality components and materials
  • Test for durabitlity and safety
  • Construction type : assembly kit
  • Terrain use : off-road; Drive-train : 2WD RWD
  • 380 type motor (chassis compatible with 540 type motor - sold separately)
  • Requires A : 7.2 battery & chargerRequires B : 2-channel radio gearRequires C : TS plastic model paint
  • Independent swing axle front suspension, rolling rigid axle rear suspension

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$118.89
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WARNING:

CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

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Tamiya

Tamiya 58346 The Grasshopper RC Car


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Product Description

Product Description

Tamiya ventured into the modeling business in 1948, with a scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has been striving to offer merchandise that can truly be called "First in Quality Around the World." Now Tamiya is offering more than 300 different products, both in the fields of precision static models and high performance radio control vehicles. These products are not only sold in Japan but also exported in vast quantities to the United States, Europe, South East Asia, and to many other parts of the world. The standard of excellence achieved by Tamiya is regarded as among the very finest in the world of model hobbies.

From the Manufacturer

Based on 1-seater buggies seen tearing-up dirt tracks across the U.S. in the 80's, the Grasshopper first made its appearance in R/C stores in 1984. Boasting easy assembly and easy control, the lightweight Grasshopper proved an instant hit as the perfect entry level R/C kit. Also compatible with a whole range of option parts such as 540 motor and ball bearings, the Grasshopper was an entry level car that could keep up with the owners driving experience. Packed with all the fantastic features of the original kit, this fun 2WD buggy is a blast on both off-road and on-road tracks. Whether it was your first or will be your first, the Grasshopper guarantees to please. Simple But Tough 2WD Chassis The perfect combination of simple assembly and tough exterior is what made the Grasshopper so special. Durable plastic body is fastened to bathtub resin monocoque chassis by screws, creating a solid frame that can absorb any type of rough handling. Off-road tracks can be tackled with ease thanks to coil spring dampers and independent swing axle front and rigid axle rear suspension. Diff loaded sealed gearbox keeps out the dirt and stones for smooth driving and cornering. Paddle style rear tires and grooved front tires combine with 3-piece assembly type wheels for excellent grip performance on dirt tracks. Half-body driver figure adds that finishing touch to a fun off-road R/C car.

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From 10 year old

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
536 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the ease of construction of the toy car. They say it's a simple fun project that's great for introducing to children. They also like the speed of the car, saying it'll handle all outdoor terrains. Customers also like that it'd be a great starter car. However, some customers are disappointed that the kit didn't include an ESC. Opinions are mixed on quality, ease of assembly, and performance.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention28 positive0 negative

Customers find the construction of the toy to be easy. They say it's a simple fun project that's great for introducing basic mechanical skills. Customers also say the car has a low top end and fun handling. They mention that it'll make a perfect starter car and a great kit for all ages.

"...Pros: Fun to build, great quality (vintage) RC kit, pretty simple (less parts to break), durable and easy to use...." Read more

"This is a super fun car and is a super easy build. It can be completed in a day. The included ESC programs easily...." Read more

"...Zippy off the mark with the 380 motor, low top end and fun handling makes a perfect starter car for a youngster...." Read more

"...stock motor is quite slow, compared TT-01 (540), but it is still fun to drive...." Read more

11 customers mention8 positive3 negative

Customers like the speed of the toy and game. They mention it's super fast and can handle all outdoor terrains. Customers also appreciate the fast service and delivery.

"...This gave me a noticeable increase in speed...." Read more

"...Once assembled, this thing looks pretty cool and mine goes unbelievably fast...." Read more

"...Indeed, the performance of this RC car with an old 380-type stock motor is quite slow, compared TT-01 (540), but it is still fun to drive...." Read more

"...As far as performance, it is better and faster than what you'd buy pre-assembled, and leaps and bounds better than anything I ever had as a child...." Read more

11 customers mention9 positive2 negative

Customers like the value of the toy. They mention it's a huge upgrade for very little cost. They also say the work is tedious but worth it.

"...You probably wont do it in 1 sitting. The work is tedious but worth it! You can replace any part that breaks on this car!..." Read more

"Great rerelease." Read more

"...getting a bearing kit before you build, as it’s a huge upgrade for very little cost." Read more

"Exactly what I was looking for, a cheap on-road basher. Product was advertised correctly...." Read more

47 customers mention29 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the quality of the toy. Some mention that the parts are of quality material and fit well together, making it easy to assemble. They also say that the car is incredible, durable, and brings back memories of their childhood. However, others say that it did miss 2 hardware parts and had minimal parts availability. The kit only includes plastic spacer type bearings and the engine is sold separately.

"...All in all, very nice car that brings back memories of my childhood in the 80's that I'm passing on to my kids. I highly recommend." Read more

"...Cons: A bit pricey, vintage 1980's technology (good and bad), limited upgrades, not a big aftermarket for replacement parts - once Tamiya..." Read more

"...Once assembled, this thing looks pretty cool and mine goes unbelievably fast...." Read more

"...Parts can be broken and replaced. This will serve as a good responsibility and work ethic building aid for my boys...." Read more

32 customers mention21 positive11 negative

Customers are mixed about the ease of assembly. Some mention that the simple steps made it easy for their 11 year old nephew to assemble, while others say that there are many steps in the instructions that are hard to follow and in one case the directions are in another language.

"...Pros: Fun to build, great quality (vintage) RC kit, pretty simple (less parts to break), durable and easy to use...." Read more

"...It can be completed in a day. The included ESC programs easily. I used a Futaba reciever and transmitter and they matched at once...." Read more

"...This is a kit and requires you put it all together...." Read more

"...Placing decals was also very easy because unlike my previous TT-01E experience each decal is already pre-cut, so there is no need to use a scissor..." Read more

9 customers mention6 positive3 negative

Customers are mixed about the performance of the toy. Some mention it works great and has no complaints on the product, while others say that they could not get the motor to work and the car is not working correctly.

"...with it too and while it has taken some damage to the chassis, it is running fine...." Read more

"...That added another $100+ to the bill. Still, works great and have no complaints on the product." Read more

"...It's wrong and WILL NOT WORK WITH THE INCLUDED MOTOR! The included ESC has 3 wires for connecting ONLY to a brushless motor!..." Read more

"...upgraded motor to the 540 and the performance difference was noticeable and does make the car more fun to drive." Read more

12 customers mention3 positive9 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the ESC in the kit. They mention that it's the biggest annoyance.

"...I had one in 1985 and after getting it I noticed that it did not include the esc that is clearly marked as included so had to buy extra parts." Read more

"...Our kit did not include an ESC. Purchased one for less than $15 on Amazon.Selected basic transmitter - not sure higher end is necessary...." Read more

"...This kit is just as I remember, but with the added bonus of the ESC, vs the old mechanical speed control...." Read more

"...only reason why I'm not giving this 5 stars is that the kit was supposed to include an ESC, which it did not...." Read more

Good starter to the hobby
4 Stars
Good starter to the hobby
Review of kit:I owned a Tamiya Grasshopper, Hornet and Falcon back in the mid-late '80s when I was in High School. I loved the Grasshopper then and thought it would make a great entry point into R/C cars for my 8 year old son. The last few Christmases we've gifted him those ultra-small IR remote control helicopters and he's gotten quite good at controlling them so this seemed like a logical next step. The Grasshopper is an easy kit to assemble, probably the easiest there is. If you are older and even the slightest bit experienced driving R/C vehicles I strongly suggest you purchase the The Hornet Electric Radio Control Race Buggy Kit instead. It's nearly the same price but has a better suspension and more powerful motor.The design points that I felt made the Grasshopper a good choice for my son are:- Uses the smaller, slower type 380 motor. It's plenty fast for a beginner learning how to control an R/C car with the added bonus of having a longer run time per battery charge as compared to the more common type 540 motor.- The body is a hard, thick, white plastic rather than the thin, clear Lexan plastic commonly found on R/C cars. This negates the requirement for painting the body.- The tires have decent enough traction for dirt but won't wear out in an instant from running the car on pavement the way spiked tires will. Despite the name, this car will struggle in the grass as the tires will slip a lot, especially if the grass is tall. I expect my son will run this mostly in the driveway and on our street in front of our house.Keep in mind that while this is a hobby level R/C car, it's like the ground floor to the hobby. The suspension performance was weak even back in the 80s so by comparison to a modern R/C car it's almost laughable. It will bottom out frequently and bounce all over the place over rough terrain. It's wicked fun to run casually but this isn't a racer.Required additional items:The box and Tamiya website http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58346 describe the additional components you will need to have an operational Grasshopper. I used Two 7.2V 3800mAh High Power NiMH Batteries with A 7.2V-12V Smart Charger in conjunction with a Futaba 2DR AM R162JE with 2 S3003 27/75MHz Transmitter. Since this is a KIT it should go without saying that some tools such as: medium and small size screw drivers, needle nose pliers, tweezers, X-acto knife, etc will be required for assembly. You'll also likely want at LEAST black paint for the "roll cage bars" and the back of the driving lights. I used Tamiya Models X-18 Mini Acrylic Semi Gloss Paint, Black but you might want more colors so you can paint up the driver figure nicely.Upgrades:If you want to maximize the efficiency, performance and longevity of your Grasshopper your best best is to build it using ball bearing replacements for the plastic and brass bushings that come with the kit. There are many to choose from on Amazon, I suggest this one Tamiya The Grasshopper Sealed Bearing Kit. Sure you could upgrade to the Hornet rear suspension but it's hardly worth the effort as the boost in performance from that upgrade is minimal. There used to be front shock upgrade kits available back in the day but those seem to be mostly unavailable now-a-days. If and when the driver is ready for more speed and power it's an easy and inexpensive thing to swap out the type 380 motor for a type 540-J Motor. If you do this remember to remove the 380-540 adapter plate referred to as "part B7" in the Grasshopper assembly instructions. You also will need an 18T pinion gear (Tamiya 9805997 18T Pinion Gear for 540 Motor) to use the type 540 motor with the Grasshopper. The Tamiya gears are perpetually out of stock and are made of very weak aluminum alloy that wears out quickly. This [[ASIN:B0019OCA7W Extra Hard 5mm Bore .8 Module(31.75P) Pinion 18T] has the same specs.Review of TOY SHOP JAPAN HOBBYONEBefore finalizing your purchase I'd suggest referring to the Other Sellers list on Amazon usually found below the Add to Cart button. I didn't and ended up having my order fulfilled by Toy Shop Japan Hobbyone. As the name suggests, they are in Japan. The total time from day of order to day of delivery was 9 days. The model kit was shipped wrapped in less than single ply corrugated cardboard (see attached image 1). This provides protection from dirt only and as a result the corner of the box was crushed in. Luckily no damage was done to the model parts inside. The product description on Amazon, as well as the Tamiya website Description and Specification tabs clearly state that an electronic speed controller (ESC) is included with the kit. Many customer reviews on Amazon reiterate this fact. My kit was shipped without an ESC. Using the Amazon email tool to contact Toy Shop Japan Hobbyone resulted in a bounced/invalid email notification so I submitted a claim to Amazon directly to which Toy Shop Japan Hobbyone replied with the following: "We have to tell you that the explanation of has an error. Strictly speaking the electronic speed control is not included, it is sold separately. Please send back that you are dissatisfied with a product. Well best regards." This is of course total rubbish. My advice is to steer clear of this vendor.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Michael Schober
5.0 out of 5 stars Tamiya,was sonst
Reviewed in Germany on September 24, 2023
Clorophilla cycles
5.0 out of 5 stars spedizione rapida, in linea con i tempi amazon
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5.0 out of 5 stars Envío rápido y calidad del producto
Reviewed in Spain on October 5, 2019
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Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars Great RC Car Kit for Beginners and Enthusiasts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2019
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Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars Great RC Car Kit for Beginners and Enthusiasts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2019
Having owned a grasshopper as a child that my father had built (minus decals and figure) years prior seeing this kit on sale made me want to buy and build one myself with all the decals and figure installed.

With the help of my girlfriend we put the chassis together in an evening and decals on the shell.

The kit does include the TBLE-02 Brushed/Brushless ESC but requires a servo for steering and radio.
I chose to use a trusty Futaba S3003 servo and a cheap 2.4ghz radio.

Overall we enjoyed putting this kit together and very satisified with the end result. Not to mention there is something about building a model from a kit that you just don't get with a ready to run RC.
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13 people found this helpful
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PETIT Stephane
5.0 out of 5 stars vintage :)
Reviewed in France on August 25, 2018
3 people found this helpful
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