Tamiya TamTech Gear 1/16 Mini Frog

[PeterV]

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/minifrog.jpg

From Tamiya's "Coming Soon" items:<BR><BR>
TamTech-Gear is Tamiya’s exciting new genre of R/C car; compact-sized off-road buggies. The first release is based on the classic Frog racer, which was one of Tamiya’s most popular buggy designs during the heydays of the off-road R/C hobby. Completely new design features factory-assembled 2WD chassis combined with colorfully-styled machines intended to attract new users into the R/C racing hobby.


About the Model
Compact-sized and ready-to-run 2WD electric R/C off-road buggy
Overall length: 266mm, Overall width: 183mm, Overall height: 90mm
Racing-ready chassis features 4-wheel independent suspension
High efficiency 370 size electric motor, rear wheel drive train and overall lightweight structure provides extended running time of more than 30 minutes with a 7.2V-600mAh Ni-Cd battery
Newly designed small size ESC, reciever and servo (transmitter uses Expec SP)
Full ball bearings for improved transmission efficiency
Polycarbonate body shell features design patterned after Tamiya’s historically popular “Frog” racing buggy

www.tamiyausa.com

[NitroCrackers]

wow, 30 mins

[Mr. Schumacher]

http://www.realrc.net/images/news/tamiya/tamiya_micro_frog.jpg

http://www.realrc.net/images/news/tamiya_micro_frog_1.jpg

http://www.realrc.net/images/news/tamiya_micro_frog_3.jpg

http://www.realrc.net/images/news/tamiya_micro_frog_4.jpg

[ElectricThunder]

WOW! That looks just absolutely awesome. A lot of things on here have caught my eye, but I haven't wanted any really, but this thing....I may have to buy one of these....:D:D

[performula]

Wow, that looks racier than any of their other buggies aside from the vintage stuff. It looks like a miniature race buggy.

[TRF TT-01]

It looks very cool! I hope they will make a kit version since I like to build R/C cars.

[papazilla]

So they stick a Frog style body on it and call it a mini frog? It is NOTHING like the frog. Not even a vauge similiarity.

[Ryutech]

I'll probably pick one up while I'm here in Japan, but I wish they would release a TamTech Egress... :cool:

[OutFrontFrames]

Awesome... I hope to see more micro / mini off road vehicles from Tamiya..

[duanewho]

Does it come with 1/16 scale "Rapid-Strip" halfshafts? ;)

That is very cool, when can we get a mini-Avante!!!!

[tarheelquality]

Nice seeing Tamiya geeting the Tamtech line going again. When they first came out in the late 80's I dont think the electronics were small enough to really support them properly but now that they are they will be fun.

[^j!nx^]

I still have 8 complete original tamtechs, RTR with battery and chargers. Once in a while ill bust them out and do some hotlaps with my brothers and buddys. This will deffinatly be on my list of want to haves.

[McSmooth]

Anyone else think it should be called "The Tadpole"?

:cool:

[Kden46]

Yeah this looks pretty kewl!!

Did'nt the original Frog come with a 370 motor?

This should be a fun car! Wonder what else they plan on Tamteching?

[Sorcerer001]

Yeah this looks pretty kewl!!

Did'nt the original Frog come with a 370 motor?

This should be a fun car! Wonder what else they plan on Tamteching?

Nope - came with a 540.

[ducati777]

So they stick a Frog style body on it and call it a mini frog? It is NOTHING like the frog. Not even a vauge similiarity.

I agree. The frog was my first hobby grade car, so I clicked on this link expecting to see a mini version of my old car...

Looks like a mini-T to me. Fun idea, but imo you need 4wd in a mini.

[Keyz]

I really like this idea!
It does appear however that this buggy is a 2wd conversion of a 4wd chassis, at least in the front suspension department.
The kickup at the front looks flat like a 4wd; the shock tower is very vertical like a 4wd and from what I can see the front hubs and hub carriers have a gap for a driveshaft.

I did expect a bit more from Tamiya in keeping with their unreal ability with scaling down, but it is still cool. Good to practice buggy racing in my backyard!!

I wish Losi would make an 1/18th buggy and 4wd also, though I expect the problem is the size of the batteries/electronics and the hugging bodies of these types of vehicles compared to trucks. I'd prefer an original mini triple x than a converted mini-t. Still, they must have molded in the front body post on the front bulkead of the Mini-t for some reason....???

Anyway, kudos to Tamiya for another first, 2wd mini buggy!

[twisted]

any off body pics ?

[Natedog]

I really like this idea!
It does appear however that this buggy is a 2wd conversion of a 4wd chassis, at least in the front suspension department.
The kickup at the front looks flat like a 4wd; the shock tower is very vertical like a 4wd and from what I can see the front hubs and hub carriers have a gap for a driveshaft......Anyway, kudos to Tamiya for another first, 2wd mini buggy!

I'll second that! :)

[Ryutech]

http://www.rczone.net/images/articles/tamiya_tamtech_frog.jpg

http://tamiya.com/action/img/frog700_536.jpg

Those are the best chassis shots I could find.

[Tamiya4ever]

I am definatly going to get one. Thanks for the picture with the hopups Ryutech. I am sure they will release a 4wd version at some point. Its nice to see a fun factor returning to RC.

[tcr]

Wow! Awesome! It looks like it has a fully adjustable slipper clutch! I wonder how crazy we can go with the 380 motor!?

[Mr. Schumacher]

I am definatly going to get one. Thanks for the picture with the hopups Ryutech. I am sure they will release a 4wd version at some point. Its nice to see a fun factor returning to RC.

You're right! An insider said Tamiya had a plan for 4WD Hotshot already when this Mini Frog idea born. Unfortunately, Avante was not on the list... :(

[TRF TT-01]

Look at all the hop-up parts for it. There's even aluminum diff joint! Look at that mini version of the Sport Tuned motor.

[kylelucas]

Does anyone have a release date for the Mini Frog?

[mabushi540]

Nope - came with a 540.
my ribbit ribbit came with a 380 and i still race it with the original motor
540 big green frogs and smoke them all. "well" just kiddin

but i actually do hang fairly well with the largerr classss
sorry cant spell real well today on forum my fingers are kinda froggy
lol, i think i love tamtech especially that sweet lambo, killer car ya know.
but this little frog is nodoubt a must have especially with all that nice hop up potential that begs to come out. I say bring on the mini buggy wars!
Just waiting for my loved Brat to appeat now, tick tick tick

[Sorcerer001]

my ribbit ribbit came with a 380 and i still race it with the original motor
540 big green frogs and smoke them all. "well" just kiddin

but i actually do hang fairly well with the largerr classss
sorry cant spell real well today on forum my fingers are kinda froggy
lol, i think i love tamtech especially that sweet lambo, killer car ya know.
but this little frog is nodoubt a must have especially with all that nice hop up potential that begs to come out. I say bring on the mini buggy wars!
Just waiting for my loved Brat to appeat now, tick tick tick

Here's a copy of the original specifications for the original Frog, part # 58041

Specifications

* 1/10 scale off-road vehicle
* 2 wheel drive
* ladder/space frame type chassis
* Fully independent suspension all around with dogbone style rear axle drive and trailing arms
* Front uses spring loaded suspension. Rear uses coil spring over oil filled aluminum dampers
* RS-540 stock motor
* Narrow ribbed front tires with wide pin spike rear tires
* Lexan body

The Brat came with the 380. Of course, you could always detune the Frog with the 380 if the raw power of the 540 was too much. :p

[mabushi540]

Here's a copy of the original specifications for the original Frog, part # 58041

Specifications

* 1/10 scale off-road vehicle
* 2 wheel drive
* ladder/space frame type chassis
* Fully independent suspension all around with dogbone style rear axle drive and trailing arms
* Front uses spring loaded suspension. Rear uses coil spring over oil filled aluminum dampers
* RS-540 stock motor
* Narrow ribbed front tires with wide pin spike rear tires
* Lexan body

The Brat came with the 380. Of course, you could always detune the Frog with the 380 if the raw power of the 540 was too much. :p
My froggy i bought was a used one, it had some used shared parts and even had sway bars along with thorp rear, full ballraced, but i bought for this one for i think 15 dollars, ready to run, but as listed my frog with a 380 kept up with the original 540 frogs as listed above. quite a funny thing to see. and it nodoubt handled better, but yeah you do know the brat is virtually the same right the shocks, gears, bodymounts, rims and tires etc. a popular hop-up option for the brat was the item number 5189 RS-540SD black motor sprint but the Brat came with a RS-380S engine the brat i think is kit 38 #58058 i can post specs if interested have 4 total -two in box, one for a runner and this frog that i run at local track every wednesday on vintage night, none for sell :)

[kylelucas]

Any release date for the NEW 1/16 Mini FROG Tam Tech Gear version?

[Tamiya4ever]

Tower has it listed for mid or late may.

[Sorcerer001]

Our LHS has had them on the shelf for the last month or two.

[birdy233]

Now awaiting the Mini Fox! That's what I'm picking up!

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3346/tamtechtamiya200128gw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[hanafuda]

Or the mini Hornet... I'm not certain which one to go for. Maybe the Fox.

[birdy233]

I'm digging the Fox more than the Hornet, but they both look good!

[oOple]

Mini Frog Review (http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/reviewminifrog/)

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/reviewminifrog/titlebanner.jpg

its a cool lil car alright.. hope they bring out a 4wd version too, would like a mini bigwig!! :)

[birdy233]

pics of all the TamTech cars...sweet!

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2433/fox2wv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Tamiya4ever]

Just found out that Horizon Hobby has the mini Frog but for $10 more than Tower.

[Kden46]

Yah I'm looking at the FOX!!!

The Fox was my very first R/C!!!

Would have been kewl with the mono shock!;)