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Tamiya 58346 The Grasshopper RC Car
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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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Product information
Product Dimensions | 15.3 x 8.77 x 5.3 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 2 pounds |
ASIN | B000BMVIGM |
Item model number | TAM58346 |
Manufacturer recommended age | 15 years and up |
Batteries | 1 Product Specific batteries required. |
Best Sellers Rank | #314,244 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games) #1,218 in Hobby RC Cars |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Manufacturer | HRP (Level 3 Products) |
Date First Available | February 23, 2007 |
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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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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Nothing should be "missing" from the kit. "Missing" implies that it was supposed to be present with the kit. Tamiya's QA/QC and overall model quality are pretty superb. It is a hobby grade RC kit; meaning it does not include certain items, which is common for most hobby RC kits. The items not included in Grasshopper kit are the transmitter/receiver, battery/charger, servo, standard RC/model tools (hobby knife, small screw drivers, pliers, and file) and paint. It does come with a small hex wrench to fit the various nuts for the kit, but there was at least one nut that was in a position that was difficult to reach/tighten with the included wrench. So you may want to consider grabbing an RC tool kit that has small hex sockets.
The kit contents include a small box with all the bags of bolts, washers, nuts, screws and specialty parts (like the transmission gears and grease), a sturdy black resin chassis, a sturdy white resin body/cover, the tires, various injection moulding sprues (the kit pieces that are attached to frames), the decals, and the instructions. The instructions can also be downloaded online at the Tamiya website. Nothing is painted; everything is pretty much either black or white plastic (or metal). You will need to use a hobby knife or plier snips to cut out the kit pieces from the injection moulding sprues. You can either file down the leftover spurs or shave them off with the hobby knife.
The kit is easy and fun to assemble. You have some upgrade options, which include a better motor (the Tamiya RS540 seems to be the most popular, but you will also need an 18T pinion gear if you buy the RS540 motor) and sealed bearings. The sealed bearings used for the kit includes one (1) 5x8x2.5 bearing and nine (9) 5x11x4 bearings. It doesn't have to be Tamiya brand bearings (I used Traxxas aftermarket bearings for the 5x8x2.5) and you might have luck with these at your local hobby shop. The bearings are an ideal upgrade since the included "bearings" are pretty much just plastic or metal spacers.
The one thing that you will really need to pay attention to when assembling the kit are the wheels. They come in three peices per wheel plus the tire. Once they are put together, they are very hard to take apart without gouging the plastic rims. So make sure the back tire treads are oriented properly and if you decide to paint, you are best off painting each piece separate before you assemble them. Another detail: if you decide to leave the center piece unpainted/white/different color like I did for contrast, be sure to either file the back side of the other two pieces clean or paint both the front and back of the other two pieces, as the back side of the other two pieces are slightly visible when assembled. Finally, you will need to paint the outer edges of the rims; they also show slightly when assembled.
If you want the same exact color scheme as the picture on the box, the instructions tell you which Tamiya paint colors to use. TS-26 (Pure White Spray Lacquer) for the main body color. X-18 (semi-gloss black) for the roll cage bars. X-11 (gloss chrome silver) for the body detail. TS-26 (Pure White Spray Lacquer), XF-1 (flat black), XF-2 (flat white), XF-15 (flat flesh), and X-18 (semi-gloss black) for the driver. Alternatively, you can paint the kit whatever colors you want and used some, all, or none of the provided decals. That is the beauty of building the kit yourself :) I found that the local hobby shop was cheaper to buy the paint I wanted than to get Tamiya brand paint online. I went with a mica blue, white, and fluorescent orange color scheme using mainly testors paint. If you plan on doing a bit of detail painting, grab some high quality brushes, otherwise you will be spending a bit of time picking out loose brush hairs from your paint job.
You can use pretty much any standard servo, I used the futaba brand. Roughly the same applies to the transmitter and receiver (both of which come together), again I used futaba's brand, the base model 2ch transmitter, which also came with servos. Not many transmitters include servos, just fyi. For the battery, I used the Tenergy 3800mAh combo with the smart charger.
After all is said and done, you will be spending about two hundred fifty-ish on this kit.
Pros: Fun to build, great quality (vintage) RC kit, pretty simple (less parts to break), durable and easy to use.
Cons: A bit pricey, vintage 1980's technology (good and bad), limited upgrades, not a big aftermarket for replacement parts - once Tamiya discontinues it, parts will likely be a bit difficult to obtain.
Update: 11/11/14 - It is a fun car to drive around. With the Futaba 2DR AM R162JE and Transmitter, the range is very long, like barely can see the car kind of long. I am really impressed with the battery life. Somewhere in the range of 30-45 minutes with the Tenergy 7.2V 3800mAh battery that I bought. The kids have a lot of fun with it too and while it has taken some damage to the chassis, it is running fine. Both of the headlights have been snapped off and a chunk has been taken out of the tail, but most of the damage is from indoor hazards. I am not a big fan of the battery cover design; it falls off a lot. I think a screw or maybe just some duck tape will work, but I haven't bothered trying yet. The wheels get poor traction on tile and hardwood floors, but do a little better on pavement. Works best on carpet. Steering is good, but due to the rear suspension being fixed instead of independent, it bounces around a lot and flips pretty easy. All in all, I am very happy with the car!
I couldn't add a customer photo, so I put the finished car pic on my profile photo.
Top banana fun!!
Somewhat confusingly on a side of the box, it lists ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) as a "SEPARATELY REQUIRED ITEM" (in pictures), but on the left side description (20 items listed), it says ESC is included. Luckily, I found that an
ESC (TEU-105BK) was included.
Building the kit was straight forward, but surprisingly, it took quite some time for me to construct the tire sets. 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 and a model knife.
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. One thing that let me down was that I expected this buggy car could easily run on grass, however it was rather struggling or most of the time it got stuck, just spinning wheels. I guess you need a truck type RC car to enjoy such terrain.
Top reviews from other countries
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.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2019
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.
il est remplacer par un variateur compatible moteur a charbon et moteur bruhsless ''sensored''
le moteur 380 d'origine mérite d’être replacer rapidement