295LikesTamiya mini cooper
06-17-2014 | 04:31 PM
What he was referring to was that were not seeing as many new Mini racers showing up. I suspect he believes it's due to the new rules. Of course, some started racing Mini because of switch to B/L motors. I suspect tho, that these are not the new racers that he was referring to.
06-17-2014 | 04:34 PM
Tech Apprentice
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Posts: 63
From: 12144
Depends where you buy, doesn't it? My V2 was $118. My Gold edition was $132. Shipped, each was under $150. I've seen full, all plastic kits online for around the same prices.
They supply you with a body, sure, but the kit tires are useless and the brushed motor/ESC are equally useless, due to races running brushless.
So, you've got an all plastic car, with a body, but no tires, shocks, bearings or upgraded parts that are useful for club racing. Tell me where the advantage of the regular kit is, outside of new racers entering the hobby.
My apologies if this comes across as harsh, but the reality is that the special editions make economic sense.
They supply you with a body, sure, but the kit tires are useless and the brushed motor/ESC are equally useless, due to races running brushless.
So, you've got an all plastic car, with a body, but no tires, shocks, bearings or upgraded parts that are useful for club racing. Tell me where the advantage of the regular kit is, outside of new racers entering the hobby.
My apologies if this comes across as harsh, but the reality is that the special editions make economic sense.
06-17-2014 | 05:12 PM
Wow, lucky you! Prices around me are not even remotely close, unless I want to order from Japan but then I make up for the low price in shipping costs. Best I could find stateside was about $165 for the all plastic m05, a bearing kit and mini cva shocks. Seems like the minis are a lot more popular in Australia and Japan than they are in the US, which probably makes a big difference in pricing.
06-17-2014 | 06:42 PM
Tech Elite
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: All over the place
Change the ballstuds with lower profile studs like those used on the older TRF cars (hex head). They are 1 mm lower, so they'll improve the angle. I am not sure, but if Tamiya makes a carbon shock support you might want to give that a try (that might work with the current ballstuds).
06-17-2014 | 06:48 PM
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06-17-2014 | 07:48 PM
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hy guys,
i am heaving an issue building my V2...
at step 17 -19
building the SWB Model , the rear upper mounts for the uprights do not move as they should when attached. the arms hardly can move if attached.
as long as i think tamiya would have known this before releasing, i guess i made some mistakes
but which ?
as you can see on the photo, the angle after attaching is to much..
thanks for your help...
i am heaving an issue building my V2...
at step 17 -19
building the SWB Model , the rear upper mounts for the uprights do not move as they should when attached. the arms hardly can move if attached.
as long as i think tamiya would have known this before releasing, i guess i made some mistakes
but which ?
as you can see on the photo, the angle after attaching is to much..
thanks for your help...
06-17-2014 | 07:52 PM
BTW: I apologize to all the local hobby shops that can't match this pricing. It's not entirely your fault. The thing you have to understand is that I'm a disabled guy on a fixed pension. I can't keep up with local pricing. With S Grips being the mushy things they are now, I can easily burn through a set every week. At about $20/pr (mounted) plus race fees, gas and everything else that goes along with this hobby...well, if it weren't for cheap new stuff and even cheaper used stuff, I couldn't participate.
Last edited by monkeyracing; 06-17-2014 at 08:50 PM.
06-17-2014 | 09:29 PM
Tech Elite
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,972
From: All over the place
I don't think anyone needs to apologise. That's what credit cards are for: to vote for competition. Local shops will either adapt or perish. In the great land of Oz where I reside, shops have demonstrated they can adapt and some did so very well, with really competitive prices. Others have bailed out. At a statistical population level it is clear the consumer is still king and shops that don't acknowledge this, pay the price (pun may or may not be intended).
06-17-2014 | 10:46 PM
Banzai does have very low prices and shipping is inexpensive. For parts inside the SAL shipping option, takes a couple of weeks to the states but you end up paying $3-$6 for shipping and prices are a fraction of towerhobbies.
Kits you don't have the option of going SAL, so you have to use EMS ($35-$40).. Banzais prices though are usually cheaper than RCMart, since they are in Japan / country of oring
Kits you don't have the option of going SAL, so you have to use EMS ($35-$40).. Banzais prices though are usually cheaper than RCMart, since they are in Japan / country of oring
06-17-2014 | 11:32 PM
Tech Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 290
From: Australia
Don't waste your time and money with useless crap. Buy the Tamiya shocks if you want a good shock. The CVA minis would be a better choice than yours, but you can go the whole hog and get the TRF. One good thing is they'll be with you forever. Use the money you're going to save if you go to your local track before wasting money on tires and get some local advice.
06-17-2014 | 11:50 PM
I like ordering from TQRC also. Ships fast and carries a lot of the cool stuff that most other shops don't carry. Sean is a standup guy.
I do support my LHS, but there are things they can't get that TQ can. But thats what happens when you mostly run F1 and mini...
I do support my LHS, but there are things they can't get that TQ can. But thats what happens when you mostly run F1 and mini...
06-18-2014 | 05:20 AM
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From: 12144
I was going to order some stuff from TQRC, but they want to charge me tax and shipping which made the prices the same as my LHS. The only place locally that carries mini parts is a track that races them and because they order so little, their prices are usually over retail. $17 from Banzai for 4 mounted tires is a great deal, will definitely keep them in mind.
06-18-2014 | 07:12 AM
Tech Regular
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Posts: 376
From: Valencia, CA
I will never have that problem with TQ. They are the best I ever dealt with. I get my orders shipped and received very quick.
06-18-2014 | 08:07 AM
Tech Adept
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 153
From: socal
Wow, lucky you! Prices around me are not even remotely close, unless I want to order from Japan but then I make up for the low price in shipping costs. Best I could find stateside was about $165 for the all plastic m05, a bearing kit and mini cva shocks. Seems like the minis are a lot more popular in Australia and Japan than they are in the US, which probably makes a big difference in pricing.