Vintage Tamiya Wild Willy - Newly Finished Build and Overview

No video

Vintage Tamiya Wild Willy - Newly Finished Build and Overview

Рет қаралды 5,710

4 жыл бұрын

Last year I purchased a Vintage Long Wheel Base Wild Willy kit that was mostly but never completely finished. I had the opportunity to finish the kit (all the parts were there) and be the first one to have it completely finished. I have wanted one of these kits since I was a teen in the 1980's and finally 30+ years later I own one. Its a fantastic kit and the amount of metal parts and the amazing setup on the rear axel / gearbox is really over engineered. Let me know if you wanted one of these growing up and what your thoughts are on the build!

Пікірлер: 51

@Roberto_79 2 жыл бұрын

I've just pulled mine out of the attic for a makeover… New metal bearings all round, a complete respray, and new decal set. Currently shopping to replace my winch which broke and disappeared many many years ago. Everything else is as it was when I bought it back in 1984

@KMJ187 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@therattyfire5468 3 жыл бұрын

I'm currently restoring the same model that my son in law got as a pup. A few new parts required and some repairs, but, its a labour of love. 👍

@KMJ187 3 жыл бұрын

That is great. These kits are so iconic. I wanted one so bad as a kid. Only took me 30++ years to get one.

@longthanly7061 4 жыл бұрын

Finally, you own an RC Jeep Willy. We are happy for you.

@KMJ187 4 жыл бұрын

Long Than Ly ?

@mattster197 Жыл бұрын

I hated the mechanical speed control on my Kyosho Javelin. I upgraded to an electronic speed control in no time. I melted Tamiya plugs left and right using 14 and 13 turn high power brushed motors to propel that sucker at amazing speeds. Back then lol I still have it and the brushed motor which works, new brushes and a clean of the stator and I am golden.

@KMJ187 Жыл бұрын

The old mechanicals were terrible b it's what we had though. Modern electronics in effect are amazing

@PeteWylieRC 3 жыл бұрын

Oh wow that's amazing to have a Wild Willy 1 in perfect condition. What a trip down memory lane that was. Mine was the short wheelbase one. I remember the electronics box being so tight for space. Also remember that the old receivers were 3 times the size! The thing that was a real weak point was that the bearing on the front wheel was enclosed within the wheel but the back of the wheel would break off. Don't know if they made later models more durable. Also as you say the pinion being permanently attached to the motor was a real issue. Mine fell into disuse once the gears wore down. It's a shame that the WW2 doesn't have the vertical bars on the front grille. Was a weak point though where the winch attached. I changed mine so the winch was actually attached to the radiator. Don't blame you for not running this one much. As you say you just can't get the parts. Very interesting video and always good to have more Willy chat 😁

@KMJ187 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I am quite proud of this kit, I have wanted one since a kid in the 80s, took me near 30 years to get one! Even when Ebay boomed the hobby 20 years ago, these were already expensive. Thanks again!

@michaelfeldman2328 3 жыл бұрын

First rc car I ever drove.

@STEVOD313 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome original

@philthyco1 4 жыл бұрын

Very nice restoration bro!!

@philthyco1 4 жыл бұрын

Oh nice an original build!!

@pattyofurniture5674 2 жыл бұрын

I have a full set of wild willy wheels and tires with foam inserts that have never been used

@KMJ187 2 жыл бұрын

Wow that's amazing

@KaizerTest 3 жыл бұрын

Pretty cool video brother. I'm an old Tamiya guy that got into Tamiya around 1983. I always wanted a Willy but ended up with buggies mostly. I could only have one back then and I chose the Frog because of handling. Interesting to see the Willy gearbox and suspension up close. I had a big collection of re-re's but sold off a lot of them because I'm also into new stuff. But I can't quit Tamiya completely. I have a Clod and Lunchbox in boxes still. I wish they would re-release the Willy in original form...that would be epic!😀

@KMJ187 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the comment. Yes the 80s was def the golden age of RC. The weird designs as everyone was trying to figure things out. Love it.

@KaizerTest 3 жыл бұрын

@@KMJ187 Hahaha...yes weird designs for sure. I was always afraid when buying a Tamiya that there wouldn't be some inherent defect. I found this out with the aluminum gearbox plates separating on my Frog and the gears stripping as a result...lol. These days you just hit KZfaq and watch reviews. We were in the dark back then. I also never dreamed I'd have an RC car that would do 132Mph or 212 Kph 😀 I have evolved with the hobby but I still love Tamiya. I sell some Tamiya stuff but then I always miss them and get a few more....lol.

@Funco1979 9 ай бұрын

I got one in 1985 and it's a very nice kit. I remember it was well made, weighed a ton and it would roll quite easily. Very tight radio box. I built The Hornet several months after WW and it was much easier. NIB kits are selling for a fortune now on the net and good used ones are expensive too. They should have re released this its much nicer than WW2.

@KMJ187 9 ай бұрын

I got really into the hobby around 1988 - by then - these were harder to find and not cheap - my first kit was a knock off hornet. I wanted one of these original wild willys forever. I finally got this one and finished building it semi new. I love it

@Funco1979 9 ай бұрын

@@KMJ187 I paid $180 (Australian) kit only in 1985. Mine was the same as yours - LWB. Installed the JR Propo tilt stick RC system - the trigger type were an extra $100 then and were the minority. It is a nice kit and I really like the look of it from the side - the chassis under the body.

@KMJ187 9 ай бұрын

@@Funco1979 my first kit was an academy minicraft lazer. It was a hornet close $49.99 usa. Towerhobbies had a combo for $99.99 with the kit - pistol radio - battery back -12v charger. $100 total was awesome and had all I needed to get started on the cheap

@Funco1979 9 ай бұрын

@@KMJ187 it sounds a good price did it have the RS540 motor?

@KMJ187 9 ай бұрын

@@Funco1979 it did have a 540 motor. It was an exact hornet clone. If you watch my grasshopper video I have a minicraft laser in the video. I have found two on eBay new in the box in the last 20 years.

@BasBoyRC 4 жыл бұрын

One of the Holly Grail kits. I wish Tamiya re-iusue as the prices are silly for what they go for.

@KMJ187 4 жыл бұрын

Bas Boy RC supply and demand. Those of us that grew up with these have an emotional attachment. I wish they would rerelease. I would put an ESC and modern motor and bash it crazy.

@brucebenner7606 4 жыл бұрын

i got these cars what lipo battery will fit thanks i just solder 2 wires to the msc with a just plug then u dont have to worry about 4aa battery's the swb its crap i dont like it at all ...2nd ones the best..... the one u have i should know i got them both thats why tamiya changed some parts make it better only thing i dont like about this car is the tape that hold the steering servo down so i made a plate to go under the 2 nuts and made 2 holes for the servo arms to be screwed into it made it much stronger when it hit something with the front wheels but i like this car so much make u lolol out first time u drive it hey well every time lol paint it box art and put the hook on it at the front lol

@tonys4250 4 жыл бұрын

I got one but I didn't know it was a wheelie jeep everyone else was getting the grasshopper or the hornet and I thought I would be different and get a jeep. I didn't stand a chance against those buggies.

@Mini-z1994 4 жыл бұрын

A fantastic find, i doubt you'll find one like this again honestly anytime soon, unless Tamiya comes out with a re-release of it. And yeah more of a dust cover then waterproofing it heh.

@KMJ187 4 жыл бұрын

I would love a re-release to bash! I do not think they ever will, this thing is so complex. I can see why the went with the much simpler Lunchbox/pumpkin later.

@Mini-z1994 4 жыл бұрын

@@KMJ187 Yeah, it's not impossible though considering they re-released the bruiser, frog. Wonder if the wheelbase matches up closely with one of the newer wheelie cars like the awd gf01 or wr02 wild willie, maybe they could re-release a similar styled kit based on those...

@Vassilika1 2 жыл бұрын

5:58 those are huge ball bearings, like 8mm skateboard bearings! Is that so? Nice truck btw! :-)

@KMJ187 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah. Massive for an RC car. Different era.

@homeworkpictureshq 2 жыл бұрын

Cool

@richardgere9365 4 жыл бұрын

That's a thing of beauty. Pure 80s RC analog gold. Shelf queen or runner? If you decide to run, please share the footage!

@KMJ187 4 жыл бұрын

I ran it (once) for just a couple minutes. I don't trust the mechanical sc 😂 maybe I'll put a ESC in it for one run!

@richardgere9365 4 жыл бұрын

@@KMJ187 The old Tamiya SCs, when paired with the right power sources, ran beautifully and their distinctive varying pitch as they went through the speeds was something that added to their appeal. As I recall, the WW1 made a kind of hissing noise caused by friction as its wheelie bar scraped along the ground. If you could find one of the vintage Tamiya hump-back 7.2 packs and run it with the original MSC, even just for one run, that would be truly special! You did well to get a semi-completed kit. NIBs of this classic now go for lunatic prices on eBay (and not in particularly good condition either).

@KMJ187 4 жыл бұрын

@@richardgere9365 Oh I know they work, I grew up with them :-) But there is always that chance of it getting (stuck) its always there, and that is the last thing I want to happen with this kit :-D

@richardgere9365 4 жыл бұрын

@@KMJ187 Fair enough. I have a vintage Hotshot in near showroom condition and have the same concerns (especially with old BE/battery eliminator + sudden loss of control + brittle plastic). Enjoy the painting process and I look forward to seeing the finished vehicle!