It's coming, it's coming!!!

[ZenMoto]

UPS says my new Hilux Hi-Lift kit is on the truck for delivery. :)

Back in the mid 80's, as a snotty early-teen, I lusted over the Bruiser and raced my HotShot every weekend. I was never able to scrape up the cash for the Bruiser though (something I still regret) ...and sold my HotShot while in the Marines.

Well, last year I bought a Losi XXX-4 G+ which got me back into RC for the first time in over a decade. Since then I've acquired a Blackfoot Extreme which I have beaten mercilessly (those dog-bones just don't like the brushless setup I put in it), a Monster Beetle project (how do you strip paint safely on those things?), and a few road cars. ;)

...anyway, to make a short story long, I'm like a kid on Christmas here. Sitting in my office waiting for the UPS truck.

Glad to find that Tamiya has a forum for addicts... er, I mean fans, to come and discuss these wonderful kits. :)

Now if only I could find a nice 959 Rally kit somewhere, my childhood dreams would be covered! :)

Looking forward to learning what I can here. :Tamiya1:

[paintstikker]

quote: (how do you strip paint safely on those things?)

Are you talking about the Lexan? I don't think there is really any way of stripping paint from lexan without damaging it, but I have some stuff called peel way, and I'ma try it this weekend on my Savage body, at least a portion of it. It works great on styrene and ABS, etc, but I haven't tried much of anything else (should work with just about anything).

Anyway, I'd like to see a build on this; I'd get one but I have a 350 for now and I want a King Hauler first....

[4wdmt]

Congratulations! The title of this post alone gets me excited :LOL:.

I know how it feels waiting for a package that you know will be coming anytime now. Hope that UPS guy puts you in the 1st to do list today.

Its eary Christmas for you! Post some pics.

BTW, where and how much? thanks.

[Falcon87]

Use brake fluid to strip the hard Beetle body,I've used it on several Bruiser and Blazer bodies and let it soak for a day.Got my Hilux from Ultimate today but waiting till xmas to open it.

[podfreak]

where is the pics??

[backtomyroots]

Oven cleaner is also a popular way to strip the paint from a Tamiya body. A little less toxic than the brake fluid method.

[4wdmt]

Did it arrive?

[Larrio]

You'll have to take a picture with the UPS driver when he/she delivers it. =D

[ZenMoto]

Ah, no pics of the box (my camera is at home) but it did arrive! :) ...the box is BIG! lol

Thanks for the welcome, by the way.

I'm waiting for the ball bearing kit before I start assembly since the first thing to build, the tranny, needs them, and you can't go around that step on this assembly.

I got the kit from RPP Hobby http://www.shop.rpphobby.com/main.sc

I'm not sure the forum rules for posting prices, but they're on the website. I found them through RC Crawler.com http://rccrawler.com/ and I have to say, the service was fast! :)

As for painting, I was talking about the hard plastic bodied Baja Beetle, so thanks to everyone for the advice, I'll try some EZ Off oven cleaner. ...I knew it was something simple, I just couldn't remember what it was.

Ok, if I get some pics, I'll post em up.

Dale - Oh yeah, the Hilux actually does come with the surfboard, I thought it was just a prop for the photos (see rant below)

Rant: ...when did Tamiya start cheaping on their boxes? The one thing I've always loved about my Tamiya kits (and I've had dozens) are the illustrations on the box. As great as the photo is, I'd still waaaaaay prefer a sweet illustration for the box cover! Am I the only one?

D

[4wdmt]

It's not only you. I can safely say that majority of Tamiya fans prefer the sweet 'ol artist rendetion of the kits inside it.

Have fun building your new Tamiya.

[Larrio]

The advant of technology has made the supply of talented hand drawing artists a rarity in the world today.

[4wdmt]

I guess it's also way much cheaper?

Such great Tamiya talents. That's make Tamiya boxes stands out from the other kit manufacturers. It makes me have 2nd thoughts of throwing them out :LOL:. I guess other people collect them also.

[Larrio]

Cheaper? Yes, I would presume so. Especially since I have first hand experience converting hand drawings into computer renderings (it's definitely NOT fun and VERY time consuming).

[paintstikker]

I think non tamiya fans wanted pics so they could see what the model actually looked like instead of artwork; I prefer the artwork myself being a model builder and collecting all my boxes but oh well.

I'd say the HiLux has better boxart than the F350 though.