This video took me back to my childhood for sure. I wanted an electric buggy to race at our local track wayyyy back circa 1986, and my parents thought that an RC car was something they could just pick up for $40 at Radio Shack. I was working for a whopping 3.35/hr at a grocery store, and saved up money to buy the Hornet, a radio, a spare 540 motor, a Tower 360ST motor (my fave), and all of the running and maintenance supplies. For the better part of two years, I raced the Hornet and WON against many a car I could not afford (Frog, others). MANY good memories of the Hornet. NEVER broke a single part over two years, and would break it down into the early morning hours cleaning and maintaining every part after racing, while watching old-school MTV (those were the great days). I am not sure what happened to my car, I came home from college and don't remember ever seeing it again. Skipping ahead to present day, I am over 50 years old and just found a local RC track and have dove head-first back into the hobby (1/8 scale electric). Wow, the technical side of things are crazy different now with sway bars, droop settings, etc. Still learning, but running my first race next weekend. Thanks for the video!
Its funny how a little car grabs you in the heart. I've always liked the Hornet and never had much time for the Grasshopper. Either way, it's great to see a grown man with a boyhood smile on his face after playing RC. Great wee vid, gets a thumps up.
Oh yes, that takes me back to the 80’s. I had The Hornet all those years ago, tuned it using The Fox components and the Technigold motor. We were running 27mHz radio and mechanical speed controllers in those days, oh those were the days. Yes, on tarmac The Hornet needs road tyres to help it on the smoother surfaces and yes, that pivoting chassis connection is a weak area, but fun factor, well….it’s a Hornet! Fun is what it’s build for. Great video, very nostalgic. 😁👌😉
Had a hornet in high school in England. First test run I drove it into a tree and cracked the frame. Good times. Later bought the Boomerang. Man, I am tempted to buy another Hornet again just to relive the memories.
Yeah mate buy it you won't regret doing so. We've waited nearly 40 years for Tamiya to re release their vintage line up and I won't be able to wait another 40 years . I recently brought 2 Candy green Grasshoppers and a re release of each Super Hot Shot and the original Hot Shot plus a Midnight Pumpkin and a Avante black edition pluses an Egress black edition and now I want to get myself a Hornet too. Oh and I've still got a original 1986 - 1987 Tamiya Fox from when I was a kid. I don't think I'm being greedy, this is my hobby.i absolutely love Tamiya for all their products but especially their RC cars 🥰❤️
My first RC car back in middle school. I never really got too much into the hobby but I had a lot of fun with the hornet. My son loves rc cars and now I’m thinking of picking one up for us to have something to do together
I see an old school aluminum tub chassis rc10 buggy behind his head on the Shelf I had two of them I gave away and I wish I would have never gave them away now I'm kicking myself in the ass for it
Gidday, I ran a Hornet on tarmac, made a front sway bar out of thin brass rod, made little brackets to fit on bottom of front shocks, to front of wishbone pivots,Tarmac wide rubber front tyres, made rigid foam rears, and ford coupe body, with hornet wing mod off back body mounts. Hello from Western Australia
I lusted after this car as a kid back in the 80s, the price of the kit, radio/servo gear, battery and charger was extortionate back then and only the rich kids had them.
Great nostalgic video. I had a standard car maybe 1989ish can't remember mine jumping around much. Maybe having original 540 motor less power helped it! I forgot about the sloppy rear section/axle and motor. Fixed mine with elastic bands? 🤔 😂. A flash back of many happy memories watching this vid.
I had a few of these as a child in the 80s but unfortunately, I lost track of them. Anyway, this and the Hotshot were my favorites, so I might get a re-release of the Hornet (I already have the hotshot) as soon as one pops up at the hobby store.
@@hobbyroom2126 cheers for the advice, I bought a fighting buggy too, the superchamp remake, I started that first, my first one ever. I’ve nearly finished it, but I think I should’ve built the Hornet first. Dam the Fighting Buggy is like jumping in the deep end.😁
You got to love the Hornet😍 it has many failings but when it came out you had a lot of bang for your buck🤣 .. The majority of my original Hornet is still running but over the years i acquired a few more and also the re released when that first came out, which I'm glad to say very little had changed on it. I am now in my 50's🤣 and got back into the hobby about 15-20 years ago and my collection has grown with both modern and vintage cars but the Hornet will always be at the top of my list👍👍👍🏴🏴🏴
Still have my original hornet too and apart from the usual wear and tear, it's still going strong. Nearly fell off my seat when he said that the grasshopper was a better rc car than the hornet!! At least he admitted his mistake 🤣
Shocked u prefer the grasshopper … sounds like u changed ur mind though The Hornet was THE car to have back then! It was sold out in the Uk 2yrs after release 🏎️💨 IMO it looks much better too Get dampened front shocks it sorts the bounce a lot
I prefer the grasshopper for its looks and charm. But after running them both back to back, there is no question that the hornet is the better performer.
im surprised how it handles on grass. are there better options for shocks? i had a fox and remember it eating up bumps like nothing. i still have a kyosho outlaw ultima but its a truck with huge tires so not a fair comparison.
There are shock options for the back, but really it’s kind of defeating the purpose. The fun of this car is the charm of 80s technology. Sure there are many buggies that will perform far better, but these were never meant to be performance machines.
What brushless would be in the power class as the 540 Mabuchi that the Hornet comes with wanna get a frog 🐸 and Hornet 🐝 getting back in the hobby have them mad van brushless and the brushless reflex Team Associated,s rtr 1/14 4WD buggy I have the original with the fighter plane look it’s a great car got two of them actually. Anyway I hope all in the RC world are doing well.
Dont know if im mistaken but, i think the difference is the hornet has oil dampers on the back, polycarbon body, 540 motor and differential gear system. has that changed in the last 10 years?
i really like this video i got the vintage ones one thing why dont tamiya make a road tire sand tire are crap they never grip well only when new mabe u can right then a letter lol
This video took me back to my childhood for sure. I wanted an electric buggy to race at our local track wayyyy back circa 1986, and my parents thought that an RC car was something they could just pick up for $40 at Radio Shack. I was working for a whopping 3.35/hr at a grocery store, and saved up money to buy the Hornet, a radio, a spare 540 motor, a Tower 360ST motor (my fave), and all of the running and maintenance supplies. For the better part of two years, I raced the Hornet and WON against many a car I could not afford (Frog, others). MANY good memories of the Hornet. NEVER broke a single part over two years, and would break it down into the early morning hours cleaning and maintaining every part after racing, while watching old-school MTV (those were the great days). I am not sure what happened to my car, I came home from college and don't remember ever seeing it again.
Skipping ahead to present day, I am over 50 years old and just found a local RC track and have dove head-first back into the hobby (1/8 scale electric). Wow, the technical side of things are crazy different now with sway bars, droop settings, etc. Still learning, but running my first race next weekend.
Thanks for the video!
Its funny how a little car grabs you in the heart. I've always liked the Hornet and never had much time for the Grasshopper.
Either way, it's great to see a grown man with a boyhood smile on his face after playing RC. Great wee vid, gets a thumps up.
i really like this comment!!!
That noise as it passes by at full speed takes me right back to my 11 year old self. Anytime Baby!!
Oh yes, that takes me back to the 80’s. I had The Hornet all those years ago, tuned it using The Fox components and the Technigold motor. We were running 27mHz radio and mechanical speed controllers in those days, oh those were the days. Yes, on tarmac The Hornet needs road tyres to help it on the smoother surfaces and yes, that pivoting chassis connection is a weak area, but fun factor, well….it’s a Hornet! Fun is what it’s build for. Great video, very nostalgic. 😁👌😉
Had a hornet in high school in England. First test run I drove it into a tree and cracked the frame. Good times. Later bought the Boomerang. Man, I am tempted to buy another Hornet again just to relive the memories.
i always loved the fox.
Yeah mate buy it you won't regret doing so. We've waited nearly 40 years for Tamiya to re release their vintage line up and I won't be able to wait another 40 years . I recently brought 2 Candy green Grasshoppers and a re release of each Super Hot Shot and the original Hot Shot plus a Midnight Pumpkin and a Avante black edition pluses an Egress black edition and now I want to get myself a Hornet too. Oh and I've still got a original 1986 - 1987 Tamiya Fox from when I was a kid. I don't think I'm being greedy, this is my hobby.i absolutely love Tamiya for all their products but especially their RC cars 🥰❤️
@@JimBoBJames-no5db it has been purchased! Now deciding on a color...
My first RC car back in middle school. I never really got too much into the hobby but I had a lot of fun with the hornet. My son loves rc cars and now I’m thinking of picking one up for us to have something to do together
My first RC , like 39 year's ago !
Still Love the Hornet !
I see an old school aluminum tub chassis rc10 buggy behind his head on the Shelf I had two of them I gave away and I wish I would have never gave them away now I'm kicking myself in the ass for it
The hornet was my 1st Tamiya RC car i got it for Christmas 1987 in kit form and loved the articulation of the back axle cool AF lol
Just checked out your videos chris. Nice job. Keep it up
Gidday, I ran a Hornet on tarmac, made a front sway bar out of thin brass rod, made little brackets to fit on bottom of front shocks, to front of wishbone pivots,Tarmac wide rubber front tyres, made rigid foam rears, and ford coupe body, with hornet wing mod off back body mounts. Hello from Western Australia
Sounds good!
My first hobby grade R/C car! The Hornet was my stepping stone to the Frog!
I lusted after this car as a kid back in the 80s, the price of the kit, radio/servo gear, battery and charger was extortionate back then and only the rich kids had them.
Great nostalgic video. I had a standard car maybe 1989ish can't remember mine jumping around much. Maybe having original 540 motor less power helped it! I forgot about the sloppy rear section/axle and motor. Fixed mine with elastic bands? 🤔 😂. A flash back of many happy memories watching this vid.
Hell yeah man my first rc when I was 10. 👍👍
I had a few of these as a child in the 80s but unfortunately, I lost track of them. Anyway, this and the Hotshot were my favorites, so I might get a re-release of the Hornet (I already have the hotshot) as soon as one pops up at the hobby store.
You should! It’s a fun build. And I highly recommend the rear gearbox brace to eliminate slapping !!
lets be honest these are 100% for the nostalgia, and thats all they gotta be for.
Just bought a Hornet, I was tossen up Grasshopper or Hornet. I was very pleased about what you said, I'll still buy a grasshopper one day.😁👍
Good choice my friend! Mind those decals… I made a mistake on mine and thank goodness I use Windex to apply them
@@hobbyroom2126 cheers for the advice, I bought a fighting buggy too, the superchamp remake, I started that first, my first one ever. I’ve nearly finished it, but I think I should’ve built the Hornet first. Dam the Fighting Buggy is like jumping in the deep end.😁
Nice run.
I dig the hornet 🐝.
You got to love the Hornet😍 it has many failings but when it came out you had a lot of bang for your buck🤣 .. The majority of my original Hornet is still running but over the years i acquired a few more and also the re released when that first came out, which I'm glad to say very little had changed on it. I am now in my 50's🤣 and got back into the hobby about 15-20 years ago and my collection has grown with both modern and vintage cars but the Hornet will always be at the top of my list👍👍👍🏴🏴🏴
Still have my original hornet too and apart from the usual wear and tear, it's still going strong. Nearly fell off my seat when he said that the grasshopper was a better rc car than the hornet!!
At least he admitted his mistake 🤣
Love this. Brings me back to the 80’s. Looks pretty powerful is it totally stock?
Klasse der kleine, habe auch einen.
Looks pretty quick
Might as well build the Frog!! 😆
Wow 80s are back.
Any tips on hobbywink 1060 power switch mounting in the hornet?
Shocked u prefer the grasshopper … sounds like u changed ur mind though
The Hornet was THE car to have back then! It was sold out in the Uk 2yrs after release 🏎️💨
IMO it looks much better too
Get dampened front shocks it sorts the bounce a lot
I prefer the grasshopper for its looks and charm. But after running them both back to back, there is no question that the hornet is the better performer.
im surprised how it handles on grass. are there better options for shocks? i had a fox and remember it eating up bumps like nothing. i still have a kyosho outlaw ultima but its a truck with huge tires so not a fair comparison.
There are shock options for the back, but really it’s kind of defeating the purpose. The fun of this car is the charm of 80s technology. Sure there are many buggies that will perform far better, but these were never meant to be performance machines.
What brushless would be in the power class as the 540 Mabuchi that the Hornet comes with wanna get a frog 🐸 and Hornet 🐝 getting back in the hobby have them mad van brushless and the brushless reflex Team Associated,s rtr 1/14 4WD buggy I have the original with the fighter plane look it’s a great car got two of them actually. Anyway I hope all in the RC world are doing well.
I think I have the “sport tuned” in it
dam that looks like 30mph. how fast did they go?
Great video. what stand do you use to hold the car up? Thank you👍
I have the exact same stand for every one of my horses so that I do not get flat spots. It is just a $10 aluminum cheapie found on eBay.
I felt a bit ridiculous buying 150 of them, but when you factor in the price of tires, it’s well worth it
@@harleymeister1 yup!
Just don’t use the setscrew that they come with. It damages the threads and prevents the top from screwing up and down.
I love mine, so iconic and fun to drive. A true classic.
Dont know if im mistaken but, i think the difference is the hornet has oil dampers on the back, polycarbon body, 540 motor and differential gear system. has that changed in the last 10 years?
You have that correct! Although the grasshopper does have the same differential gearing as the hornet
Also the hornets rear axle floats where as the Grasshopper has a fixed hinge pin
i really like this video i got the vintage ones one thing why dont tamiya make a road tire sand tire are crap they never grip well only when new mabe u can right then a letter lol
There’s no silver around the driver ?
Hi, where did you get the glass display? I'm looking for that.
Ilia!! $60 each. I have 2 built and 2 more in boxes waiting for me
Nice!, I need 2 of those. Does a Clod Buster fit in there?
No. In fact some of the longer buggies will not even fit in sideways…
So much clicking! Man learn to be smoother on the controls lol
That suspension is awful 😖