Tamiya 2WD Off-Road Racer Sand Scorcher

[Chilly Duncan]

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New from Tamiya (http://www.tamiya.com):

Tamiya is proud to re-release the Sand Scorcher in celebration of its 30th year anniversary. Whilst remaining faithful to the original layout, this model incorporates modern improvements and has many fine tuned parts. When seeing the new Sand Scorcher, no doubt all R/C enthusiasts will enjoy its nostalgic form and will want to test the dynamic performance of this machine.

About the Model


This is an Officially Licensed 1/10 scale R/C assembly kit of the Sand Scorcher.
Comes equipped with full ball bearings to reduce friction loss.
Type 540 motor included.


Comes loaded with many top quality parts for improved performance such as:


A duralumin plate reinforced 2mm thick FRP main frame for added strength and flexibility to ensure stability.
Newly designed die-cast front and rear suspension arms, front axle, and wheel hubs.
Transparent case protects the R/C mechanisms. The lid can be easily detached by cam locks.
Reinforced front uprights.
Redesigned oil dampers.
Comes in the same original blister pack style packaging.
Detailed hard plastic body included.
ESC (included for US Market)
2-channel R/C system and battery pack separately available.
Can be used with separately available LF1100-6.6V Racing Pack (Item 55105).


note: battery NOT Imported to USA.

58452 1/10 R/C 2WD Off-Road Racer Sand Scorcher (2010)
Availability: Feb

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[CWD_Racing]

OK, who DOESN'T need one of these!!!
"Dear Santa..."

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

So cool to see the re-release of the old kits! My first RC was a Sand Scorcher, and very soon after got a Rough Rider.
How is this kit 4WD? The originals were not

[02edge2wd]

im pretty sure its not 4wd.

[WilliamG]

it's a 2wd not 4wd
I had an original. :wave: And if I hit lotto will get a re-issue. There are so many new rides out there a ''shelf queen'' doesn't fit well into my budget.

[CWD_Racing]

a ''shelf queen'' doesn't fit well into my budget.
You know, I would more than likely just use it to chase the dogs around the living room, but it would almost definitely be a shelf queen in my stable...

[Old_School_RC_1]

*sigh* ....time to start saving up again. :) Awesome job Tamiya!

[BrandonWilcox]

This truck is 2WD. I am unable to change the title of the thread.

Thanks,

Brandon Wilcox
Associate Online Editor

[Chilly Duncan]

Thanks for the catch everyone. If you look at the screenshot below from the Tamiya press release it states 4WD, but there is debate on that so I'll check with Tamiya to be 100% sure. But for now I changed the title to state 2WD instead of 4WD.

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[WilliamG]

You know back in the 80's there was a aftermarket conversion kit to make it a 4wd buggy. It ran a cable from the rear mounted transmition around the mechanism box up front to a differential. I never had one for myself, but can't imagine it worked all that well.

This is the same ''SRB'' chassis as the rough rider/buggy champ. What would be really cool is to release the F150 Ranger version since short course truck racing has exploded recently.

[LongRat]

Somebody posted some pics of their original Scorcher with the 4WD conversion fitted, years ago on a forum (may not have been here). I wish I could credit his user name for this beautiful car, it is the nicest Scorcher I've seen.

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL660/2777486/21709431/378460038.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL660/2777486/21709431/378460042.jpg

[Chilly Duncan]

Heard back from Tamiya and this is 2WD and their press release was incorrect. Now we can move on with life. :)

[Kmot]

And the bottom fall$ out once more from another collector$ item, lol. :p

[recn]

still waiting for the bruiser re-release.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

The above 4WD conversion looks like an old MIP 4wd conversion I had for my gold tub RC1o back in the '80s, with the spedo cable to link the front & rear MIP trannies

[WilliamG]

I believe that Scorcher belongs to ''Shodog'' a member on Tamiya Club and other boards. ;)

[fastharryDOTcom]

I wonder if this will be a special "30th" edition like the 25th porsche?

[4wdmt]

The picture posted by LongRat is 4wd? How does it work?

[NORTEX-T1FK]

The picture posted by LongRat is 4wd? How does it work?
Its cable drive. There is a cable inside the "fuel tubing" looking line like that comes off the tranny.

[4wdmt]

Thanks Nortex, but can you explain more please. I am using my imagination here. How does the "cable" make the front wheels drive?

[LongRat]

It rotates in the outer sheath, like a completely flexible drive shaft. Obviously it isn't going to transmit the insane torque of brushless motors from 2009, but I bet it made a difference back then.

[pajero1980]

much same as a mechanical speedo cable on older cars or motorbikes, the ends have keyed or square drives while the inner cable is round and flexible os the drive can be taken around curves but not like right angles!

im getting me one for sure!

[iom]

Somebody posted some pics of their original Scorcher with the 4WD conversion fitted, years ago on a forum (may not have been here). I wish I could credit his user name for this beautiful car, it is the nicest Scorcher I've seen.

Jim/Shodog is the owner.

[enpi099]

Did you notice the new decals ?
They are similar in shape and color to the originals, but writings are totally different and of non-existent brands.
WHY ?!?!?
Copyright issues ? :confused:

[desfjr1300]

Yeah, it's not like they're Marlboro stickers, but I'd bet there's some sort of trademark or licensing issue. Tamiya always has been very good about realism.

I can live with it.:driving:

[FESTER2004]

and this comes with a hefty price tag.....379.99 from tower hobbies--yikes too much.....was gonna buy this but not for that much.....i figure 199

[birdy233]

and this comes with a hefty price tag.....379.99 from tower hobbies--yikes too much.....was gonna buy this but not for that much.....i figure 199

Why you would have thought $199 when the Buggy Champ which is almost identical cost's $319 from Tower...:confused:

I order from overseas, they are $238 from Japan

[Kmot]

Not too long ago, NIB originals were going for $1500 on ebay.

[FESTER2004]

i dunno ,lol.....the buggy champ is way tooooo expensive not to sound cheap.i said it before u use to be able to get a midnight pumpkin for 99.99 and a blackfoot extreme for 99.99 , now they are like 129.99
maybe this is why i am getting out of the hobby prices are far to steep 4 me...but then again paintball is expensive sometimes

[birdy233]

i dunno ,lol.....the buggy champ is way tooooo expensive not to sound cheap.i said it before u use to be able to get a midnight pumpkin for 99.99 and a blackfoot extreme for 99.99 , now they are like 129.99
maybe this is why i am getting out of the hobby prices are far to steep 4 me...but then again paintball is expensive sometimes

Whoa, that is an apples to oranges comparison. The Midnight Pumpkin and Blackfoot are all plastic, chassis, gear box suspension, etc. Of course you can get them for $99/$129.

The Sand Scorcher has all metal gearbox, suspension arms, shocks, etc. Very little plastic on the chassis except for the sealed radio box.

Have you ever seen or know what a Sand Scorcher is? :huh:

[desfjr1300]

Yes. Old school tech completely incapable of running with today's big boys without HUGE expenditures.

And the equipment used to make it has been paid for many times over by now.

I'm with Fester. My first Scorcher set me back a whopping 79.99 off the shelf, no way in hell I'm paying almost $400 for the same thing now. I'm glad to see it resurrected only because it may mean parts will once again become available.

I'm a sucker for old Tamiya's like anyone else, but not THAT big a sucker!

[creech]

My first Scorcher set me back a whopping 79.99 off the shelf

I'd like to be the first to call BS on that :D

[desfjr1300]

Fine by me. I don't have the receipt to prove it. That was only 27 YEARS ago afterall. I only remember the sale price because that's what ALL Tamiya's sold for at my LHS. At the time, I thought it was a lot.

Nonetheless, let's say I'm lying, and the actual price was $175. Does that make you feel better? Either way, it sure as hell ain't worth $400 now, not to me anyway.

If I had money to just throw away, sure, I'd hop right in line with the rest of you. But $400 bucks these days buys a FAR more capable car from ANY of the big manufacturers, and while Tamiya might think they've found the motherload by milking the nostalgia crowd, there's still a few of us out there that ditched the rose-colored glasses long ago.

[Dan H]

I'd like to be the first to call BS on that :D


In the 1950's, you could probably buy a cheeseburger for 50 cents.

Do you know what inflation means?:rolleyes:

[FESTER2004]

Yes. Old school tech completely incapable of running with today's big boys without HUGE expenditures.

And the equipment used to make it has been paid for many times over by now.

I'm with Fester. My first Scorcher set me back a whopping 79.99 off the shelf, no way in hell I'm paying almost $400 for the same thing now. I'm glad to see it resurrected only because it may mean parts will once again become available.

I'm a sucker for old Tamiya's like anyone else, but not THAT big a sucker!

thanks man!!!!!, for agreen' with me!!!

dan- i dont care if its all metal...$379,they have rocks in their heads,for the $$i would buy a way better quality r/c

[FESTER2004]

i am not out to start at flame match here but some of their prices are crazy!

[pajero1980]

I have one on pre-order, i was to young to see it first time around, for me its just a nice scale looking bug body and scale chassis, I know its no where near the latest in performance and to even use it as a basher will mean quite a bit of maintenance and upgrades.
Hell yea i could get the latest whatever brushless super dooper buggy but im not racing here either, i have other modern cars to bash with more force to.
I also have the re-re buggy champ and running that has been some of the best fun i had for ages with an rc as it just handles all over the place and with no diff is more challenging to control.

If its to expensive for you dont buy it! easy!

Thanks

Lee:)

[jwaj2002]

how long until the release parts for it...I need the body and all the little body parts for my tamiya monster beetle restoration..

[jwaj2002]

and this comes with a hefty price tag.....379.99 from tower hobbies--yikes too much.....was gonna buy this but not for that much.....i figure 199

HobbyTown told me 320

[creech]

I believe a more realistic price for a Scorcher back in the day would have been $150-170. It was on par with my Wild Willy. That's the part I call BS on. I dunno, maybe you lived in the underground of Hong Kong at the time.

As far as comparing it to todays buggies.... that's just not a valid comparison. If you plan on racing the Sand Scorcher, you are on drugs. This kit is for nostalgia alone, and will sell by the truckload for that reason. I believe most of these kits won't even hit the dirt.

The price on the re-release will be 20-25% less than the quoted $400, so the price is that much less prohibitive. So, worst case scenario, you're paying a little more than twice what you paid back then. Seems about right, given inflation over 30 years.

If you picked this hobby because it was easy on the pocketbook, I think you made a mistake.

[FESTER2004]

how long until the release parts for it...I need the body and all the little body parts for my tamiya monster beetle restoration..

I am praying they reissue the beetle

[jwaj2002]

so am I fester, but I still want parts to restore my monster beetle, the biggy is the body, also need shocks

[Sorcerer001]

I think the price is fair considering the materials and the fact that Tamiya knew this wouldn't have broad market appeal. As previously mentioned, you can buy a much more capable car these days for half the price - this car was reproduced to appeal to a smaller market - requiring a higher retail price in order to support production. Chances are, it'll be a limited run. If not, maybe we'll see the price come down significantly. Or not.

[birdy233]

so am I fester, but I still want parts to restore my monster beetle, the biggy is the body, also need shocks


The body has been available, just order up the blitzer beetle body from Tamiya America, $33.00

[jwaj2002]

is that a complete body? body windows, headlights/taillights and what not?

[timie1]

All these people talking about inflation over 30 odd years, you may want to have a look at this..............http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

The price towers is charging does seem a little steep even if you take inflation into account. Still, if you had one in the day and fell in love with it and then sold it years ago, then you'll probably be buying a new re-issue just so you can fall in love all over again.

You have to remember, Tamiya is a company and they are in business to make money. They aren't going to be re-issuing anything and giving it away out of the kindness of their hearts. They are in business to make money, and there will be loads of people with more money than brains who will buy the over inflated re-issues and therefore Tamiya will make their money.

If other RC companies actually HAD models that were worthy of a re-issue, they'd be doing the same. I can only think of a few over all the other RC companies combined that have been in business long enough to warrant a re-issue. The Gold tub RC10 is one of them. The problem with that is in a way, they are still making them - just an evolved version. Tamiya stopped making all these things long ago, so that is why it's worth of a re-issue.

I'm with Fester, it is a tad expensive for what it is, but I can fully understand why they are doing it and it will be successful this time round to the people who KNOW about it.

[ss13t]

Strangely enough, both Tamiya and Tower list the Scorcher's retail price as 505 and the Buggy Champ's as 513. By this logic the Scorcher should be cheaper than the BC?

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

Anyone see this?
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/01/altces_life-sized_rc_vw_bug.html

[Dan H]

holy moly. How the hell are they going to use the transmitter?! lol

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

it'll take 4-5 guys to drive it.... 3 to hold the transmitter, one for throttle, one for steering. Look out corner marshals!