222 - Driver's Head For The New BBX

After the release of the new Tamiya BBX and settled that it will be my next kit I'm continuing to collect the parts that will be involved in the building of the car. The BBX is an open cockpit sigle seater buggy, it's driver is view and if leaved out from the build the, in my opinion, the car would look incomplete.

Unfortunately the driver head  that will be provided with the kit it's a Tamiya classic with part of the face and the eyes that need to be painted.

Back in the days I've been a fantasy miniature painter but that talent has not be trained anymore and my eyes art not the same so to solve this "problem" I will did the way I did back in the 2013 completing my Wild One with a F1 driver head instead of the one that came with the kit but trying to do a little improvement in painting it.

Not the best piece to show my lost talent as miniatures painter but most of them are gone due to my poor ability as collector 😅

221 - Shocking Prices

This week I haven't been in the mood to spend time on the workbench. I've spent a lot of time surfing the Web in the search of specific infos or stuff or lurking some forums reading old topics so I've decided to shot a good pic of my Yokomo Wing and Super Wing motors inspired by the fact I've seen one on sale at the shocking price of 180 Euros.

220 - The Long Way To The BBX

I guess that surfing the web during the past days it's pretty clear that the release of the BBX buggy by Tamiya will rapresent a kind of milestone in the hobby. Most of the Tamiyaheads around the globe are warming up their credit cards and I'm one of them.

I'm an accountant and a 4x4 driver two categories that in general like to be prepared so these months between the launch and the release will be dedicated to collect the parts to complete the build of my BBX according to my tastes.

I've decided to go for a classic electronics: brushed motor, brushed ESC and NiMh battery. And I've choesen to go brushed for two reasons: firtst to avoid chinese crap (because to me "made in china" means "crap" no matter if it's high end or budget... it's crap) and second because, to me, this car it's the quintessence of "neo vintage" concept, so it deserves a great classic power plant.

The ESC I've chosen is the KO Propo VFS-FR2 because I love KO and because it's made in Japan. It will be perfect for the BBX, to me.

Concerning motor I'm pretty sure I will go with my Reedy Ultra pink dot, it's a 15x2, a motor that I own from the early 90s, bought new for my Yokomo and very little used. It has a plenty of power and it needs only a good clean and, maybe, a new decal because of the way I store it in the past years.

In alternative I will consider my Peak 15x2 motor, bought on the bay last year, well refurbished and in great shape.

For sure I will swap the wheel hexes for metal oners and probably it will be the only modify I will consider... if the car will come with CVD axles in origin.

Still mumbling about the steering servo.

219 - Delta Ray Buggy: Differential Swapping & Repairs

Today was the day designed for the switch to the ball diff for my Delta Ray buggy and I did it. Unfortunately during the disassembly I've noticed that one of the screw holes in the rear gear case was damaged so I've been forced to dig in my spares box and to change it, I have to admit that it has been a quick operation: it's always a pleasure to work on the TA chassis.

The damaged part...

...and the brand new one

After the diff swap I've grab a battery to check if it was all ok and I've been very happy to find the driving feelings I found years ago driving my Lancia Delta HF Integrale but in buggy form: so exciting!Unfortunaltely my 5000mah batteries shown some lack in running time... a huge lack, to be honest. I have to take some care of and try to save them.

218 - BBX Buggy - Finally Mr. Tamiya! Finally!!!

The entire RC world is rumoring about that, flocks of guys around the globe are getting (like me) more excited  day after day watching at the images coming from the Nurnberg Toy Fair and it's all due to the newest Tamiya release!

Just after the first sight this car brings back to me the same feelings I felt more than 30 years ago browsing the old Tamiya's catalogues: black and white photos with smiling guys that races with Tamiya cars around the world, instructions to built from scratch snow chains for RC cars, list of optional parts, samples of layout for RC tracks, advices to improve driving abilities and safety instructions... how many dreams on that pages!

After all this years a car that carries the same feelings, finally! This time Tamiya did the right thing and I guess all the others will be forced to follow.

(video credit: @TAMIYAINC)