Tamiya Nitro Thunder XBG buggy

[StevePond]

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/tamiya/TAM_NT.jpg


Tamiya fans, commence freaking out! The Nitro Thunder is ready-to-run (XBG stands for "eXpert Built Gas"), and according to Tamiya, the .15-powered 1/10 4WD buggy has a power-to-weight ratio equivalent to a big-block powered 1/8 scale ride. Lots of features under the sci-fi looking bodywork, check it out:
> Slide-carb .15 pull-start engine
> Rear exhaust system exits under wing
> Swing-away "impact control" front suspension.
> Universal-joint drive axles
> Large-diameter ball bearings
> Low CG chassis layout with compact fuel tank
> Weight: 2570G; length 440mm; wheelbase: 300mm
43514; $405 retail

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/tamiya/TAM_NT_chassis1.jpg


http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/tamiya/TAM_NT_chassis2.jpg

[silly_boi]

wow!.. that exhaust is awesome.. looks like a jet engine or something.. haha

[Racer Rob]

never saw that one coming! Doesn't look too bad at all.

[dragoneuh]

That is one Serious "TOY"...
Looks Awesome.... :)

[littlebuddha]

man that body's wild looking, especially the neon orang rims too! and those suspension arms look indestructable.

[RC10racer89]

I like the rear exhaust, but wouldn't you have to worry unburt crude building up in the header? Looks cool, but definitely a basher. I doubt you could find a place to race 1/10 nitro buggys.

[RCMadMatt]

It almost looks like an 1/8 scale buggy. Especially the wheel nuts. I wonder if the rear exhaust would be easily plugged up if it lands tail down or in a cartwheel crash? Kinda cool looking, though.

Matt

[Ferrari_Spyder]

i must say thats the hottest jet...i mean buggy there is!

[sugs]

That's pretty cool. I've always liked Tamiya stuff but I would be much more interested if it were 1/8 scale.

[sosidge]

"wheelbase: 300mm"

This is about 10% longer than a 1/10th buggy - let's call it 1:9th scale!

Looks crazy though - hopefully it runs well too!

[Tamiya4ever]

Tower has it up for $334.99 :D Thats not a bad price for a Tamiya. :p

[MaxxGT23]

Pretty sweet, I must say.

[JAnderson]

Parts will be inexpensive and the plastic parts are reinforced material. Due in Oct 2004!

Its fast and fun!

[kitty]

I'd like to read more information about what exactly the "Swing-away "impact control" front suspension" is. It gives me the impression that the front end is somehow spring-hinged so it has more give in a hard frontal impact. Interesting!

I really like the rear exhaust on it. I think that the wing would help keep the stinger from digging into the dirt on a rear landing, though if it landed butt-first from a bad jump, the wing may flex out of the way and cause the pipe to want to sorta "hinge" away from the exhaust port from the crankcase. I see two springs holding the pipe on, so maybe that's why they used two. I wouldn't worry too much about exhaust goop buildup - just pick it up by the front end and give it a little throttle to clear it out.

I really like the looks of this new buggy, and that's coming from a hard-core MT fan.

[sosidge]

I'd like to read more information about what exactly the "Swing-away "impact control" front suspension" is. It gives me the impression that the front end is somehow spring-hinged so it has more give in a hard frontal impact. Interesting!

Possibly a little bit like Schumacher's old Crashback system, where the front suspension assemblies pivoted at the rear, and were held together at the front by O-rings. Schumacher moved away from it - but they are a more competition oriented manufacturer than Tamiya - the system can still save wishbones!

[HauntedMyst]

huh aint that something.

[TRF Drive Hard]

OMG... that is so cool... i think i want that... no wait... i do want it!!! holy crap i want it!!! oh this is gonna be fun to race in new mexico!!! golly geewhiz lol... whoah whoah lol haha ha ahah ahahaahahah mwahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

[nokturnelracer]

I wanna fly that!! Ted... Lay of the capaccino! ;)

[TRF Drive Hard]

Out of all the buggies i have seen, imho... tamiya did it for me this time... dude i want it!!! im drinkin coffee btw, plenty of it... :D

[HauntedMyst]

Ted, get something competative.

[TRF Drive Hard]

Are u saying this isnt???

[metalry101]

Tower has it up for $334.99 :D Thats not a bad price for a Tamiya. :p

ROFLMAO...If only it wasn't true...LMAO...nice one :)

[JAnderson]

I'd like to read more information about what exactly the "Swing-away "impact control" front suspension" is. It gives me the impression that the front end is somehow spring-hinged so it has more give in a hard frontal impact. Interesting!

If you notice inside of the front bumper there is a heavy duty spring. This spring will allow the front bulkhead to swing open like a jaw and save parts due to front end colisions. During normal driving this is locked close with the heavy duty spring. Hope that helps?

Stay tuned to Tamiyausa.com for more info

PS 2speed will come out for this as well

[Dan H]

Looks pretty good. Definitely more offroad capable than the older Kyosho 1/10th buggy.

[mjohnston39]

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/43514nitro/arm.jpg

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/43514nitro/under.jpg

[Buggyracer28]

I can just SEE those steering turnbuckle looking things breaking.. They are soo skinny and right out there in the middle of nowhere! I have to admit tho... this is pretty sweet looking...

[kitty]

JAnderson, thank you for pointing out the spring and for the explanation of how it works. =)
mjohnston39, thank you for the pictures to further demonstrate JAnderson's explanation. =)

Quite interesting, indeed!

[JAnderson]

We have bashed this thing all over and its very tough!

[Old_School_RC_1]

WOW WOW WOW WOW!! Love tamiya, glad to see them "break the mold" and lead the way again, this thing looks awesome!

[Tamiya4ever]

Here is a link to the Japanese page. It shows the buddy more in detail. :D

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/43514nitro/index.htm

[4wdmt]

now here is the english version :D :

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=43514

this tamiya buggy have some kind of unique appeal. looks radical.

[TNX]

Janderson,

Are the wheels 17mm, will this buggy accept regular 8 scale wheels? My track might even let me race this puppy :)

[rcaddikt]

TNX

According to the USA page the wheels are 12mm.

I may have to get this buggy. I really like these truck/buggy chassis designs that are routing the exhaust out the back. I'm somewhat **** about keeping every car I have clean. Seems these type chassis would help keep the brush out of my hands.

[Tamiya4ever]

We have bashed this thing all over and its very tough!

Oh did you get one already? How is the performance and speed? Easy to tune? Looks like you can do everything without taking the body off.

[cool head]

i'm impressed! would there be a "kit" available. if so, i'm very interested. i'm getting sick of dumping money in 1/8 scale.

[Mr. Schumacher]

Look close to the steering system please. It's a sloppy design! Nice suspension indeed.

[alkyula]

wonder if it can use 1/8 buggy wheels and tires, and that spur gear is super wide (but plastic). looks really cool, but for that price you might as well go all out buggy wise and go 1/8 scale, as you can get a few nice rtr buggys for 350$.

[TNX]

alkyula,

The point of this buggy is something different. I think it is very cool. It will be a rocket, and it will be Tamiya tough. Looks like fun. Hopefully we some type of 1/10 scale 4wd gas racing class. There are the HPI MT2, the Academy truck and the new buggy, The Tamiya buggy, Kyosho has a few versions of a 4WD chassis, that WInner thing from Smartech. It would easy to drive for newbies, as 4WD is always easier than 2WD (for me anyway).

[jocktheglide165]

cool idea sticking that pipe to the rear straight back.

[alkyula]

i understand the fact this buggy is something different, and im sure it will be high quality like all tamiya kits. im jsut saying 320$+ is alot for a 1/10 4wd buggy, when you can get a proven GS storm rtr or an xtm xterminator 1/8 4wd for about
330-350$. then agian some people jsut dont want what everyone else has on the block, and this buggy fits that perfectly.

[mjohnston39]

Tower usually lists prices high before the kit actually comes in so I wouldn't be suprised to see the 350ish price drop...

Mike.

[Old_School_RC_1]

wonder if it can use 1/8 buggy wheels and tires....

Per the specs on the Tamiya website, the car has 12mm hubs, so i would imagine any current 1/10 scale touring or staduim truck wheel would fit, though maybe with some work. Seems like the axle is a lot larger..I would hope Tamiya would make it compatible with the tons of wheels already on the market, i hate kit specific stuff like that....

Still, this is totally going to be my next buy. On the Tamiya Japan web page (English version of course) they show the "Nitro Force" - same buggy with tarmac tires....pretty nice! Maybe we'll get a kit version yet!
:) :) :)

http://www.tamiya.com/english/news/news0412/44044.jpg

[Cain]

would like to see some 1/10 scale 4wd nitro buggy racing going on. Looks like it could be a fun class and wouldn't beat up the track so hard like the 1/8 scales.

[TRF TT-01]

Ya, there is a kit version of the buggy. Here's a site that you might want to visit. http://www.tamiya.com/english/news/news0412/news6.htm#44044
It has info on the Nitro Force (Kit version)

[Old_School_RC_1]

1/10 4wd would indeed be sweet - they can run on smaller tracks - all the tracks around here are small and don't have enough room for the 1/8 buggies to really get going.

[TRF TT-01]

Tamiya has a detailed info on the assenbly kit right now. but you need to know Japanese. The website is http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/44044force/index.htm

[craig3636]

i have the nitro thunder and the hubs are 17mm hex, 1/8th wheels should fit ok. :)

[Remedy1]

Tamiya made a similar kind of Nitro 4wd 1/10 scale chassis Staidum truck back in 1994 or 1995 I think. It's in the 1995 issues of R/C Car action. Steve or any other editor here remember or able to pull out anyone one of the 12 issues of 1995, I'm pretty sure you'll see it.

Issue may-be the 1995 Buggy shoot out of Tamiya Dyna storm,Kyosho Ultima?, RC10,Losi XX, Schumacher Cougar,Traxxas TRX buggy.

Similar to the Dyna blaster electric stadium racing truck they had back in '95.
I think I may have it in my archive of mags from back then. I'll look for it.


Also, just a heads up. Tower has 40$ coupon for the anything $300 and up. So the Thunder XBG rounds off to be about $299 now.

Edit: The name of the Tamiya Nitro Stadium racer was the : GP Stadium Racing Truck TR-15T (http://www.offroadmarkt.de/carson-fanspage.php)2nd row pics. If you do a search on google for it, Tamiya took the picture off. But that chassis at glance highly resembles the XBG Thunder Kit seen today.