Tamiya Tamtech Grasshopper Project
Page 1: RTR Original
This new generation of Tamtech-Gear models is packaged a little differently than the older models (compare to The Frog).
The RTR is still shown vertically in the front window, but the box is a
bit smaller. The side panel shows the updated chassis
highlighting the new 4AA battery box.
The bottom and rear panels have a lot more information than the front
and
sides did. Here many of the features and specifications are
elucidated. I was actually surprised to see so much information
presented in English given that this model was only available for the
Japanese domestic market.
Here is the model as it appeared straight out of the box. With the
body on it looks just like any of the older Tamtech models, but on the
right you can see the chassis a bit more closely. The black fuse
holder is immediately evident, a feature I've never seen on a similar RC
model. It hardly seems necessary. Perhaps the use of AA
batteries and the presence of a fuse allows the categorization of this
model for children in Japan. Pure speculation. I did end up
replacing the connector with an XT30 so I could use a proper LiPo, but
the model is otherwise stock.
Let's compare the GB-01S chassis with the original GB-01. In each
image, the Frog is on the left using the original chassis and the
Grasshopper is on the right using the S version. From above you
can clearly see that the wheelbase is identical and both models use the
same suspension. You can see the 4AA battery box protruding and
taking up the space where the receiver used to go. The new version
integrates the receiver with the ESC. You'd have to look very
closely to notice, but the S version also now supports a full size
steering servo (TSU-03) instead of the long out of production and
strangely shaped TSU-02. From below you can see that the S chassis
is slightly wider. This allows for a bigger battery door.
Less evident is the fact that the chassis tub is also a different,
softer kind of plastic now. The physical changes seem limited to
the chassis tub.
Here is the 4AA battery pack which I tried for 30 seconds before
immediately deciding it had to go. My little 2s LiPo shown fit
perfectly with room to spare and massively increased the
performance. On the right you can see a comparison with the full
size and tiny size Grasshoppers. The differences in
proportions are evident in a side by side comparison, as is the vastly
different front suspension.
©2022 Eric Albrecht
