Building an R/C Car Kit: Unboxing Tamiya's "The Grasshopper"

Years ago (many, many years ago), the only way you could get into the R/C hobby was to go to your local hobby shop or call in an order from a hobby "superstore" such as Tower Hobbies. There, you were presented with your options. In most cases, those options were rows and rows of kits.

Mind you, these weren't "complete package" kits that would contain everything you'd need in one convenient package. No, these were "here's the vehicle, now you need to add a motor, a radio, a this, and a that..." containers. There was work involved, and often, a small investment of both time and money.

Between those days and now, it's much easier to get a vehicle and start enjoying it. Still, there's something said for taking the time to create your own vehicle from the ground up. After sitting on the sidelines for a few years, I felt it was time to get into the game and  assemble my first, "real" R/C kit.

For this project, I chose the re-release version of Tamiya's "The Grasshopper". There were a few reasons that went into the decision, but the primary deciders were price, looks, and the opportunity to experience a Tamiya product.

As I kick off this project, I'll document the steps and thoughts that go into it. Who knows, it may encourage others to explore this "traditional" avenue of enjoying R/C vehicles.

Tamiya's "The Grasshopper" (Re-release) Resources:

• TamiyaUSA's "The Grasshopper" Product Page
• TowerHobbies.com - Tamiya's "The Grasshopper" Re-release Kit - $99.99

Tamiya "The Grasshopper" Box Art Gallery