Tamiya

You could paint em, plastikote may work, you not a fan of the pink wheels?

You can paint most plastics if you prep them right - basically a rub down with some scotchbrite, a plastic specific primer and then any normal acrylic aerosol, and you'll be right.

If you want to use Plastikote from a DIY store i think they now do a suitable range but avoid any of the Enamel based paints

I've seen people dye plastics with good effect - might be an option for going black

Dyeing darker is the way to go (you can't dye lighter)
You need a saucepan you'll never want to use for food.

It’ll flake off, but dyeing is possible.
Or get Egress wheels, which are the same and in black

Yup, Rit dye is the common brand used for dying wheels afaik

So the Top Force is on the way, as is a Spektrum radio set cheap off eBay and a second hand Novak Sensored brushless setup for a bargain £30!!

Next up is to place the order for all the hop-ups.

Ta for the tips on the wheels, will look into it.

I reckon the pink looks fine with the original colours, but darker compliments bright bodywork better.

Build about to start. Unboxed everything, charged a battery, tyres are on wheels. This could become addictive, already considering my next kit (birthday in a couple of months).

I might have to put this thread on ignore.

I had a Hornet as a kid, did odd jobs and saved up money to buy it. So much fun and anticipation.

The discussion here is like crack cocaine for the wallet.

Too fookin right, I only came in here to reminisce over Christmas, now look what's happened.

That was an enjoyable evening, for the most part. Frustratingly the bolt for the Core servo is too short with the Tamiya servo saver, and the Core servo horn won't take the Tamiya ball joints, plus it's fookin flimsy. Jobs left to do, sort out servo bolt, fit electrics, solder wires onto 15t motor (tested everything with the silver can, all working), fit said motor, screw front end on, cut shell, paint shell, apply some (not all) decals, and then give it good thrash round the park.
Progress so far,

This could become addictive, already considering my next kit

You need at least two to race each other. And another driver - kids are ok, though they can be a bit crashy..

We used to do everything RC as kids.

Used to build race tracks for the cars out in the pastures.

Cars were fun, gliders with a high start was really amazing.... Yeah we had a lot of green space.

https://youtu.be/j_Xv-pLf8D8

I feel like there should be a forum racemeet in the summer...

in.

Yeah, no kids, these aren't toys! But may get a Sunday best buggy for my birthday. We'll see.

Some 2020 releases are out:

Terra Scorcher,
Porsche 911 GT on the TA-03 Chassis,
Mercedes CLK GTR on the TT-01E,
Some kind of racing lorry cab on the TT-01E.

Dark Viper

Uh I really should finish mine

I've just seen this thread.

I have no teenage history other than a never-fulfilled longing for a hornet.

So much so that I convinced my partner to get me a Tamiya for Christmas a couple of years ago. Got totally confused by the build instructions and the box has been gathering dust ever since. I can't even recall which model it was.

Time to dig it out and start asking some very noob questions.

Get to it. It's 30+ years since my last one, tamiya instructions are a doddle, just separate the screw bags, all parts are labelled, maybe read the manual, with the bits in front of you, and just locate the parts, then go back and start building. You'll need long nose pliars, side snips, a good craft knife, screwdrivers, good scissors, and some patience.

It was all in Japanese, as I recall.

Don't matter, pictures tell more than a thousand words!

I picked up the tamiya tool set, comes with 2 screwdrivers, long tweezers, snippers, a file and a craft knife. £15 shipped from Asia (eBay)

All in a handy case.

Just need to buy a car now...