[Chilly Duncan]

New from Tamiya:

Read our exclusive interview with Tamiya America's Fred Medel about this new release here.

The 2WD Blackfoot III monster truck is the 5th generation Tamiya R/C vehicle to use the famous Blackfoot name. It features metal-plated parts for the accent pieces. The reinforced polycarbonate monocoque frame chassis allows easy access to the main components and allows maintenance of the gearbox to be simple and easy. The Gearbox comes pre-assembled from the factory, making it perfect for beginner kit builders. The gearbox used is also the same one used in other famous Tamiya vehicles such as the Wild Willy II, Wilde Dagger and the Twin Detonator. The 2WD drive transmission and four-wheel double wishbone suspension offers sure-footed handling over almost any terrain.

Specifications and Features:

• 1/10 scale R/C assembly kit.
• Reinforced polycarbonate monocoque frame chassis allows easy access and maintenance of the gearbox without the need to disassemble the chassis.
• Gearbox comes pre-assembled, making it perfect for those who are new to kit building in the R/C hobby.
• 2WD rear mounted transmission.
• Equipped with dog-bones and plastic bushings for moving parts. (5x11 bearings may be used as a Hop-Up)
• The four-wheel double wishbone suspension is equipped with front & rear friction dampers.
• Comes with front & rear large diameter (130mm) tires.
• The truck body has been reproduced with durable ABS resin plastic. Tamiya PS (Polycarbonate Spray paint made from synthetic lacquer) is best suited to paint your truck.
• 540 brushed type motor included.
• Comes with a driver figure.
• Tamiya TEU-104BK ESC included. (Forward and reverse with battery safety cut-off)

Note: Radio gear, battery, charger are required and available separately.

58498 - 1/10 R/C Blackfoot III
MSRP $283.00

[packhntr]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW, where's the Monster Beetle?

[st_dragn_wagen]

hmmm.... im conflicted about this one. on one hand it's a blackfoot which i guess you could label a nostalgia series vehicle. on the other hand this is a new generation/version. so why didn't they bring it up to date a little? a slipper clutch would have been nice. a little longer travel suspension. 4 wheel drive. it doesn't have to be as built up as a stampede 4x4 or savage xs but still.... i guess if your going for an old school feel or something that's a little more model kit like as far as modifications go it would be a good truck. but i just can't help but feeling like tamiya kind of dropped the ball on this one

[killaj]

-Longer Shock Towers ($2 in injection-molded plastic)

-Plastic (rear) oil-filled shocks from Durga on all corners

-Sand Scorcher body.

New Gen Monster Beetle which would sell for a $200 street price.

Do it Tamiya. Do it..do it..

[st_dragn_wagen]

the response this truck has gotten is disappointing

[TRF-Inferno]

Originally Posted by st_dragn_wagen

the response this truck has gotten is disappointing

Quite sad, yes. For today's generation of R/C "enthusiasts", it seems that if the car isn't ready to run in half an hour, do 30+ MPH, and comes with everything out of the box, it's not worth looking at.

On a sidenote, I really want to see this "Avante truck" they are releasing.

[fastharryDOTcom]

Originally Posted by TRF-Inferno

Quite sad, yes. For today's generation of R/C "enthusiasts", it seems that if the car isn't ready to run in half an hour, do 30+ MPH, and comes with everything out of the box, it's not worth looking at.

On a sidenote, I really want to see this "Avante truck" they are releasing.

I said this 6 years ago.....RTR's took the "hobbyist" equation out of the Radio Control formula ..

[packhntr]

Originally Posted by fastharryDOTcom

I said this 6 years ago.....RTR's took the "hobbyist" equation out of the Radio Control formula ..

Right you are my friend......right you are. Saw it comming when I was working at my LHS......it's a sad world now.

About the new Avante truck.....Looks nice....but Tamiya replaced all the nice metal parts from the Avante with plastic (even the shocks) and it costs more than the Avante buggy! Kinda ridiculous if you ask me. Horizon dropped it from their lineup.....(the truck that is).....probablt due to it's cost.

[fastharryDOTcom]

Originally Posted by packhntr

Right you are my friend......right you are. Saw it comming when I was working at my LHS......it's a sad world now.

About the new Avante truck.....Looks nice....but Tamiya replaced all the nice metal parts from the Avante with plastic (even the shocks) and it costs more than the Avante buggy! Kinda ridiculous if you ask me. Horizon dropped it from their lineup.....(the truck that is).....probablt due to it's cost.

Thanks....I was told I was crazy at the time...I could probably dig up some of those old posts, lol...


Thre is no doubt it was good for sales...but it destroyed the "hobbyist" base....

[st_dragn_wagen]

you forgot crash into solid objects at full speed and not break.
somewhere this hobby (and society) made a wrong turn. i blame all the damn lazy spoiled technology dependent bastard kids now-a-days.
plug and play. ya know what. plug the screwdriver into the screw and thread it into the hole. then play with what you built. there's your plug and play. im surprised legos are still around.

the more i see this truck the more i want one, just to tinker with and modify

[catalysst]

here's hoping tamiya doesn't discontinue it in a couple months like everything else

[ss13t]

The problem is not that it's a kit. Some of us LOVE kit building. The problem is that this chassis just really looks bad. I love kits, but not enough to warrant buying one over an RTR that performs much better. After the one day of kit building is done you're left with a truck that sits on the shelf for years because it drives like crap. On the plus side that body will look damn good sitting on a shelf.

[CWD_Racing]

I would say, it would be nice to build the kit, but in the same vein as the Frog, Grasshopper, etc. the level of expectation that it will be a "performer" has to be different. Last kit I built was the Tamiya VW Bug on the M-chassis, solely for the purpose of tooling around with it. I've got no expectations that it will perform amazingly well. Same case here with the Blackfoot. I know I could make it a project, and have it be a blast to pull off the shelf and have a good time with it, but also not freak out about putting the remote in anyone's hands.

[WilliamG]

to bad they are using the extreme chassis.

I'd rather see the frog space frame chassis and upgraded body posts so it would be like the original a lot more.

Shouldn't it be BlackFoot 4?
Blackfoot
Super Blackfoot
King Blackfoot
Blackfoot Extreme

[twisted]

Originally Posted by WilliamG

to bad they are using the extreme chassis.

I'd rather see the frog space frame chassis and upgraded body posts so it would be like the original a lot more.

Shouldn't it be BlackFoot 4?
Blackfoot
Super Blackfoot
King Blackfoot
Blackfoot Extreme

I’m sure your readers are asking, “Wouldn’t this be the 5th truck?” The reason we’ve called this new product the Blackfoot III is due to it being the third kit using the original “step-side” body. Tamiya felt it was time to bring back the step side body after a long absence.

[Dan H]

The only thing that pisses me off still is Tamiya is still slow to incorporate battery slots for brick style lipo packs. Urgggh

[ss13t]

Originally Posted by Dan H

The only thing that pisses me off still is Tamiya is still slow to incorporate battery slots for brick style lipo packs. Urgggh

Agreed... And plastic bushings & friction shocks??? Ewww..

[b-man777]

Hey all: I like the looks of this newer truck as well ,but Tamiya has always been a company that has had a hard time finding a balance between price and performance. I'm not saying every vehicle they release has to be out of the box world champion worthy because not everyone is a racer and we need inexpensive basher type vehicles as well ,but at least make them with more up to date technology and not just re-release outdated technology just for nostalgia's sake. Just my $0.02 worth thanks

[Sorcerer001]

Absolutely NOT feeling this thing. The chassis and suspension just seem like an afterthought - simply a means of carrying around that awesome body and not much more. I get nostalgic when I see pics of my original Blackfoot, but the body is the only thing that appeals to me on this new one.

[redbarton]

Eh, other than the body, a Traxxas Stampede is superior in just about every way. I will pass.

Come on Tamiya! Give us something new! An SCT for instance! The rumored Avante truck sounds interesting though...

[379]

I'm digging the 80s F150 body, but I'm not sure about 2WD.

[packhntr]

Ya know...it just dawned on me.....this is the Blackfoot 3.......where was the Blackfoot 2? I have been in the hobby since 83, and there has been the Blackfoot, Super Blackfoot, King Blackfoot, Blackfoot Extreme, but I do not recall there EVER being a Blackfoot 2! Am I missing something here?

[Krazytrain]

I like it, the styrene body looks good and screams for lights, however I probably won't get it because Wheely kings are just better, and I realized that the Styrene body is not good for painting or bashing

[FESTER2004]

its a blackfoot extreme chassis...too many probs with the original????hello didnt you bring back the frog with the same chassis?

now I hoping the monster beetle comes back!

what the heck i would buy a Blackfoot 3,lol

[fastharryDOTcom]

my original Monster Beetle with Parma 56 Ford Stepside Body and Thorp options....I still use it too...



Though you might like to see the original chassis in all it's Glory...