Small scale Cavaliers - Part 1: Tamiya

Details of known die cast, remote control and small scale Mk3 Cavaliers
Locked
User avatar
Lowrider Dave
Club Admin
Posts: 2993
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:00 am
Location: Southampton
Contact:

Small scale Cavaliers - Part 1: Tamiya

Post by Lowrider Dave »

Tamiya 1/10 Scale HKS Opel Vectra JTCC (Model nos. 58159/84228)

Tamiya originally released this racing car as a 1/10 scale R/C model on 19 July 1995 and it stayed in production until 1997. At the time of release it cost 13,800 Yen which was approximately £139 for the kit alone - batteries, controller and servos were extra. This model used the front wheel drive FF-01 chassis, a forward mounted RS-540S brushed electric motor drove the front wheels, giving a crisp handling response. Precision ball-type differential was housed in the sealed front gearbox. The ‘Bathtub’ type frame/chassis was made of injection moulded tough ABS resin. It’s was 384mm long, 185mm wide and a wheelbase of 257mm.

In 2010, the kit was reproduced as a limited edition under the model nos. 84228 and used the latest in the FF chassis family - FF03. Whilst retaining the front-mounted 540 motor FWD layout, the new slim chassis design allowed for a longitudinal battery layout with the servos loaded on either side for optimum balance. The suspension was completely revisted and features double wishbone with CVA oil dampers. With the enthusiast in mind (as well as after sales profit), the chassis was designed to handle ‘hop ups’, which is Tamiya speak for upgrades. These ‘hop ups’ are designed to replace plastic kit parts with a better, and sometimes significantly improved, items made from light-weight durable materials such as carbon fibre. Six other R/C models in the Tamiya range share the same chassis so parts aren’t too hard to get.

The body on both kits was the same, the Opel Vectra A saloon. This was supplied as a one piece clear polycarbonate body and a very complex 150 piece sticker/masking set to allow the user to replica the paintwork of the real car - the HKS Opel Vectra that competed in the 1995 Japan Touring Car Championships. This Vectra took 4th place overall, including 1st place finishes at Rd.7, Rd.10, and Rd.12 with British driver Anthony Reid at the wheel. Starting in 1997, Reid is probably better known to UK race fans for his years in BTCC, racing for the likes of Nissan, Ford, MG and BMW.

For those that like a bit of touring car action, here’s Reid having an off at Sugo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oqUu1gVbHo


Original box, car and FF-01 chassis
Image
Image
Image

Re-release box and FF-03 PRO chassis

Image
Image

Photos © their respective owners. Information gathered from multiple sources.
Lowrider Dave.

Archer 2.0 GLS
Locked