Trick trucks from Tamiya

Radio Control Car Action, Apr 2003 by Hetmanski, Kevin

THE TRUCK STOPS HERE

The National Radio Control Truck Pulling Association (NRCTPA) Worlds is one of the country's premier annual monster truck events. It draws more than 300 competitors from around the U.S. and is dominated by Tamiya's classic Clod Buster and its TXT-1. Tamiya has noticed the popularity of its trucks at this event. In 2001, Gary Demory of Tamiya America attended; he competed in the Stock class with a TXT-1. In 2002, Tamiya sent Gary and its own truck guy, Joe Anderson, to join the NRCTPA guys. The two Tamiya reps each built a couple of sweet factory rides to compete. I nabbed them afterward so that I'd be able to give you a closer look.

GARY'S TXT-1

Gary's TXT-1 is relativity tame compared with some of the TXT-is out there; he uses Tamiya factory hop-ups to enhance the truck's performance and looks.

Parts

TAMIYA

* Lightweight chassis-53520; $125.99

* Ball hearings

-5x8 (3)-53030;$22.79

-5x11 (8)-53029; $10.59

-6x12 (16)-53065; $10.59

* Aluminum servo mounts-53493; $39.99

* Super Stock Type S motor (2)-49247; $38 each

* Blue-anodized

-axle guards-53493; $39.99

-dampers-53492; $36.99

-cantilevers-53490; $39.99

NOVAK

* Super Rooster ESC (2)-1860; $119.99 each

FUTABA

* Steering servo-S9402; $99.99

TRINITY

* RC 1700, 6-cell Sport Pack-RC1778; $29.99

PRO-LINE

* Giant Trac tires-1056-00; $29/pair

GARY'S

CLOD BUSTER

Gary let his imagination run wild on this monster! He combined a Tamiya TXT-1 chassis with a set of Clod Buster gearboxes. Maybe, if we're lucky, Tamiya will release a kit similar to this and call it the "Clod Buster Type R" or something like that. Tamiya, are you listening?

Parts

TAMIYA

* Lightweight chassis-53520; $125.99

* Blue-anodized cantilevers-53490; $39.99

* Super Stock Type S motor (2)-49247; $38 each

* Ball bearings

-5x8 (4)-53030; $22.79

-6x12 (16)-53065; $10.59

NOVAK

* Cyclone C2 ESC (2)-1775; $139.99 each

FUTABA

* Steering servo-S9402; $99.99

TRINITY

* RC 1700, 6-cell Sport Pack-RC1778; $29.99

THUNDER TECH RACING

* Clod Buster servo mount-ALU-CB04; $40

JOE'S TXT-1

Like Gary, Joe swapped the stock TXT-1 chassis for Tamiya's optional light-frame chassis. The many suspension-mounting positions allow him to tweak the truck's damping to his liking. Joe gave the clear body that came with the truck his own paint scheme.

Parts

TAMIYA

* Lightweight chassis-53520; $125.99

* Ball bearings

-5x8 (3)-53030;$22.79

-5x11 (8)-53029; $10.59

-6x12 (16)-53065; $10.59

* Aluminum servo mounts-53493; $39.99

* Blue-anodized

-axle guards-53493; $39.99

-dampers-53492; $36.99

NOVAK

* Super Rooster ESC (2)-1860; $119.99 each

FUTABA

* Front steering servo-S9402; $99.99

* 1/4-scale, rear steering servo-S5301; $94.99 PEAK PERFORMANCE

* Power Max 2400mAh, 6-cell pack-PEK4110; $39.99

JOE'S CLOD BUSTER

Joe mated two Clod gearboxes with a Thunder Tech Racing Centurion chassis and topped off his creation with a Tamiya Ford Lightning body from a TL-01 sedan. I especially like Joe's custom-painted white-to-white fade.

Parts

TAMIYA

* Ball bearings

-5x8 (4)-53030; $22.79

-6x12 (16)-53065; $10.59

* Ford Lightning body-98700; $25

THUNDER TECH RACING

* Centurion chassis kit-CENT-01; $499.95

TRINITY

* Retro Series Pure Gold 12-turn motors

(2)-9236, $34.99 each

NOVAK

* Super Rooster ESC-1860; $119.99

FUTABA

* Steering servo-S9402; $99.99

PEAK PERFORMANCE

* RC 2400, 6-cell Club Sport Pack-PEK9410; $39.99

SOURCE GUIDE FUTABA distributed exclusively by Hobbico/Great Planes Model Distributors Co. (800) 637-7660; futaba-rc.com.

NOVAK ELECTRONICS INC. (949) 833-8873; teamnovak.com.

PEAK PERFORMANCE (714) 692-8533; peakmotors.com.

PRO-LINE (909) 849-9781; pro-lineracing.com.

TAMIYA AMERICA INC. (800) 8264922; tamiyausa.com.

TEAM ORION INC. (714) 694-2812; team-orion.com.

THUNDER TECH RACING (815) 467-0621-, thundertechracing.com.

TRINITY PRODUCTS INC. (732) 635-1600; teamtrinity.com.