Every 80's Kid Wanted one of these! - Tamiya Lunchbox 

Wow, copying people's titles now are we Tomley! You should be ashamed!

I got the hornet when i was 14 back in the 80s and had always wanted a lunchbox. Here i am at 48 in japan thanks to the army and one day while walking around in Tokyo i happened to RANDOMLY walk by a Tamiya playmodel factory (and with the power of adult money lol) i now am the proud owner of a black edition lunchbox!!!!!!

Blimey, these Tamiya RCs take me back. I was OBSESSED, used to read the catalogue over and over again. My first car, as was probably everyone's, was the hornet. The first time that motor turned and the car came alive my heart was sold forever.

The Lunch Box was my first hobby grade RC. I built it with my dad as a kid. I found it sitting in a box at my mom’s house and restored it. Now it’s part of the collection I’ve built for my own children.

I’m 49 always wanted one of these as a child and all the rich kids had them . Just bought one after watching this video and can’t wait to be a 12 year old again

My first rc was a Tamiya Wild Willy. My first real wrenching experience, first soldering ever. Loved it! Turned 15, got a moped and started chasing girls for a couple of years while Willy spent time in a box. Got tired of the girls but pulled my Willy out anyway and stuffed a Kyosho Mega motor in it. Made crazy wheelies and had a run time of three minutes... Loved it even more!

I had my 1st lunchbox in 1986 and a junior too. Got my 2nd one in 2022. Only RC i want and need. My daily joy in life.

The original Lunchbox was the first "kit" rc I ever had when I was a kid. Used to race it at the local tracks in the monster truck class. Against Monster Beetles and Blackfoots. I did pretty well with it. Ball bearings, adjustable gearing adaptor and the yellow CVS shocks we had back then. I'm 46 now and I want to get another one. I had such good times with it.

I worked all summer long in my dads auto repair shop when I was 11 (1986) to buy the Tamiya Midnight Pumpkin. Favorite RC ever!

I had a Blackfoot in 1990, winter time so I made ramps out of snow. My best friend had a Midnight Pumpkin, which was faster and sturdier... He did an amazing electric blue paint job on it. I loved my Blackfoot, but it seems like the Pumpkin and Hornet were sturdier and faster, but man when that Blackfoot was done it looked amazing out of the box. I think the Lunch Box, Monster Beatle and Midnight Pumpkin were about the same chassis? We knew one kid that had a Clodbuster about 1 hour bike ride away from us, but we had to make the trip just to see that thing. It was a beast! Thanks for the memories.

Yes! I had one as a kid. When we finished building it I thought, we don’t need the wheelie bar. Took it out on the driveway, hit the gas, it immediately wheelied and flipped backwards on my freshly painted body 😂 Took my butt right back inside the house and mounted the wheelie bar!

You were very lucky to have an RC club

My childhood came flooding back in an instant as soon as I saw the thumbnail.

Nice. I still have my kyosho optima and galaxy from new when i was a kid. Im 42 now. I think my dad loved it as much as i did. Complete with le mans gold motor, ball raced, and SC( yes pre E-sc era) and a handful of Ni-cads. I still call on the knowledge gained from building it when working on full size cars these days and understanding chassis dynamics, suspension etc. Great memories. These days i get my rc fix from building and flying fpv race drones which led to my current job hand making prototype surgical instruments/equipment to go inside beating hearts for cardiovascular research. Magic does happen when you truly love and are passionate about something. Thumbs up!

Recently helped my father in law get back into RC by building a Tamiya Monster Beetle. He said it took him straight back to being a kid again, really enjoyed building it and it was.. Well.. Interesting to say the very least.. But he's now back into the hobby and looking for something faster RTR as he doesn't want to ruin the Beetle as its such a nostalgic trip for him! Just couldn't believe all the plastic bearings! But he enjoyed and loved every minute building it up and that very first run was incredible, knowing its all been built right and running with no issues!

I’ve got a kit unopened. I tear out all the new electronics from my new cars. I wasn’t going to go brushless but I’m going to now! Just the name of it, we didn’t get the joke when we were younger. Lol, our rich kid had a rc10. I had the Marui Hunter, cheapest at the time, 2 best friends had monster beetle and lunch box. They both died so I’m doing tribute builds. Found all 3! Just bought the Tamiya repops. Marui went out of business in 85 I believe. That was hard to get. Took years of getting all the parts. Cost me double the price of an xmaxx. Worth it for nostalgia. Thanks for the memories and built advise! 👊🔥💯

This brings back memories. My cousin would let me drive the lunchbox while drives the Blackfoot. My parents couldn’t afford it. Lucky my cousin was well off.

Wow this video takes me back.I was 9 back in 1984 and my mum bought me a hornet for xmas.There was a shop called beatties here in Cardiff and i remember seeing my first RC car being driven outside there, it was a red Subaru brat and i was immediately begging for an rc car Back in mid 80s the cars i was seeing on them Tamiya promo video were cars like hotshot,bigwig,monster beetle.Great memories

Love it! Lunchbox is one of the all time classics! I've modded mine so much it's not quite the same thing anymore but I still love it in it's own right. One of my favourites to use. I'm slowly building another one though which will only have hopups and not any drastic mods like the double wishbones and 4-link my current one has. Amusing to see people doubt the strength of the drivetrain. It's probably the most durable all plastic gearbox ever made for RC, especially considering it has no clutch. There's a guy with videos of one running 6s on youtube and even he has only had a couple of issues this whole time and the spares are cheap as chips.

You just brought me back to my childhood from the 80’s! Never had one nor could afford it back then but I always used to go the toy/hobby store (very often) and glance at it thinking it looked so cool and envied people who had it. Thank you for this as I was able to live vicariously through your video and reminisce about that era!

have the same memory, thank you for making this video

I love the lunchbox. It was my first model to get back in the hobby 😅

Can’t beat a few Lunchboxes and a mini track. Good fun!

It's cool to see these are still a fan favorite! And still available!

Haha I had one. Had to put drag rails at the back to stop it from flipping over once u boosted it…..thanks for the memories….

The Lunchbox and Midnight Pumpkin incarnate the charm of Tamiyas kits. Cheap, easy to build, great looks and a lot of fun with the wheelies.

Cool video , I love the lunchbox my mate had one , also a smashing pumpkin

You've managed to make a build video very entertaining. There's real skill to that, seriously. Well done Phil! Love your work :)

Fun lil rig, such nostalgia

My 3rd RC and my first NEW hobby grade RC. Painted the body red and the wheels white. Shaved the tires to make them lighter, hopped up the motor and battery, and drilled holes in the tub for weight reduction. It was so much fun, and surprisingly stable for being top heavy, and very capable off-road. also trimmed the springs and got a wheel bearing kit.

IT HAS MOOR POWER THAN IT NEEDS. THAT TRUCK WILL FLY

Getting the funk out. Project Boxy

My very first RC car was the Lunchbox. Kit came with plastic bearings ..3 step wiper speed contoller..no shocks just springs. Had a blast with it.

⭐My first hobby grade RC & it holds a place in my heart. Thanks for sharing the build 🙆🔥🔥👍Salute 😎

This definitely brings back a lot of memories from 89 , awesome vid👍👍

As a kid back in the 80's I wanted and had the tamiya frog, it was the only one for me and I still love it now. But now in my 50's I have the tamiya lunchbox and have to say it is a properly fun truck, not as nimble as my frog obviously and it has the ability to roll very easily but it looks so good and loads of fun to use.

I love the smell of Tamiya rubber!

Brilliant, my second tamiya, and my first build! Back in the day! Got all the Colours now.

Good to see you have a Lunchbox. I’ve had 2-3 over the years (1 that I built myself ) but sold it to make way for me to move in 2018 when I got married. I do have an original release Clod Buster which needs a little bit of t.l.c to get it back up and running again.

Yep I’m lovin my scx24. Thanks hobby comps , thanks tomleyrc for introducing me to an awesome rc competition site.

OMG! That looks nice!

So glad to see you putting foams in with all that other stuff. Always wanted to see one of these done this way.

Excellent video. Great memories. Some of them claud busters were very nice. I actually can't remember my first rc car. Was nitro so either thunder tiger mta4 or the duel engine thing that blew itself to bits. Lunchbox is lovely 👍

Old school cool 😎

That is one thing I've always wanted is the Tamiya lunchbox. Growing up my dad had the Tamiya sand scorcher

Man the lunch box was a legend when I was a kid I also knew someone with a clodbuster lucky devil!! I still have my bushdevil with the pink wheels. Tamiya still makes me feel like a 10 year old 👍.

My very first "hobby grade" RC was a Tamiya Blackfoot for Christmas 1992 when I was 13 years old.

original madvan👌you got some fantastic rc,s mate😀😀👌👍👍

We're all super jealous 😉 #shoe foot🤣

G’day Tom, AMPRO have lots of great mods for the Lunchbox. Especially one to give the Lunchbox proper double wishbone front steering! Great build. I got mine in the 90s too, with bearings, a lovely flouro lime green.

My first proper RC car was a second hand Lunchbox. Must have been early 1990’s. The school I was at had a man RC club after school. Like everything I owned when I was a kid, I eventually took it apart but never put it back together again. At the beginning of the pandemic, during lockdown I decided to get a kit to build. How great that was. I now have quite a few rereleased Tamiya’s, Traxxas and Arrma RC cars! TRX4 arriving this morning!!

This is exactly the build I was considering ..gonna use my old dr10 electronics in it ..looks like it works great

Love the vintage Tamiya rc stuff, my first ever hobby grade was the Tamiya Terra Scorcher.

I remember my mate got one of these in yellow and bought a grass hopper love every minute of it

No, the one that I can purchase brand new is a king. Blackfoot RC truck by tamiya. That truck was absolutely and pleasure to drive, use, and enjoy. I had so much fun with this truck

I got the Black Edition also.... wanted this RC for about 25yrs!! Great video 👍🏾

I run the same shocks and put the soft blue springs in the rear and black firm sprints up front. Drives great. I did buy the AMPRO axle brace too.

I wanted one of these so bad!!

Original and the best. Hopefully I will be getting myself one this week 😃😃😃 Great video 👍👍👍👍

Wow good stuff nice lunch box💪

Great video, I stupidly put foams in the front wheels back in the early 90s when I bought my ‘Lunchbox’. I only had foams to put in 2 wheels, it holds the front end down which I don’t mind, it’s easier to handle, not as fun with the wheelies. I’ve put a lot of mods in my Lunchbox and I still love it at 48!

I really like your RC videos. You're not trying to be a 'cartoon' or some RC influencer twat. You are super relatable to the over 30 crowd as well, Cheers! A+ Bru.

So cool!!

its on my hit list and i have a great idea for it - hope it pans out

Great video, I got the Black, too. Brushless she don't need😉

Built one of these an original back in 1985ish painted it white, great fun. 👍 had the clodbuster too, painted that blue.

I've had mine about 5 years or so. Love it.ime is bone stock but it's fast enough. They're pretty stout. So robust. I still have the pogo stick shocks, 540 motor, and transmission it's the white one. I hadn't ran it in a while, 6 months maybe, and after charging it, I was disappointed. It wouldn't pill a wheelie!!!! It's a problem when a wheelie won't pull the wheels. I wasn't sure of the batt had low amps despite having 7.6 v. It was still pretty fast, but wouldn't lift the front. I had not glued the tires to the wheels. They would spin and then lock tight. A couple drops of CA glue and YEEHAW!!!! Dangerous again!!!! Can you imagine running one of these into your or anybody else's legs? Ouch, maybe the ER.

Love the oldskool rc's world 🤙 Again, a winner 🤙👌👊

Just stumbled upon your channel great content love the build and definitely most definitely love the lunch box I'm 44 years old I remember growing up and racing my slot cars at the local RC shop and every day staring across from where I sat at was the lunch box next to the cloud buster and I stared at them two trucks always saying I want one of those unfortunately I'm 44 years old never owned a clod buster but I do have a lunch box and I also have the monster beetle and the grasshopper clod buster will be next. All of my retro RC trucks and cars are built stock fresh out the box for shelf and staring purposes. Lol. Thank you so much for the content that you're sharing with all the viewers great job keep up the good work I am now a subscriber and following all future videos will be recommending you to all my other RC buddies so expect more subscribers very soon love that the RCC is so big throughout the whole entire world great job representing the UK thank you so much have a good day cheers mate.

Dude!! You are pretty much living out my childhood dream here!! Owning a Hornet myself, this was the unachievable truck for the rich kids

Oh so you waited 30 years!! Now you finally have the chance

Old school rc baby!!!!!! 👊👊👍👍

I also had the Lunchbox Junior as a kid! Recently built my own Lunchbox, brilliant!

Love how you smell the tires haha. I have some stomper 4x4s from 1980-1981 and every time I dig them out I have to smell them 🤘🏻😂

What a trip down memory lane, never had the pleasure of owning one but looks a ton of fun. Great build mate 💪😁

I had a lunchbox when I was a kid and put a high performance 540 motor. It was indestructible.

This was my first rc car as a kid, loved it

Awesome video Tomely, love that lunch box!

man im 43 and i literally used to drool over the lunchbox as a kid

Pretty amazing little thing indeed, Tomley! 😃 Fantastic bashing!!! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

That was a "wheelie" good vid mate!! Loved it...

I recently built one I know what you mean I always wanted one but as a 40 something adult I have now got one and every time I look at it I have a massive smile on my face.

My first RC was/is a Tamiya Lunchbox. I acquired it in 1987. At the same time my brother got a gold chassis Team Associated RC10. My sport was running over his RC-10 whenever he got caught in tall grass (the only place where my Lunchbox could handle better than that buggy). Initially I wanted a Tamiya Pajero. Because of that and because I was saving up pennies it became an easy decision to buy the lunchbox when it was first released. The Lunchbox shares the chassis so later I bought a Pajero body and the parts to modify my Lunchbox into a Pajero, but I ended up converting it back as I preferred the Lunchbox's big tires. As my first RC it was a great start. My second RC was not nearly as good, a Kyosho Double Dare. With dual motors and four wheel steering it was quick, but with a 5 minute run time, a high center of gravity and dogbone munching axles it was always the truck that should have been better. Later I upgraded it to Kyosho USA-1 suspension which helped the roll over issues and the dogbone durability, but the steering servos of the day never had enough power. My third RC was a used Tamiya Kingcab. The reason it was used, the differential. When I started college all three trucks went into the closet. I finally pulled them out in 2018. Since my start the hobby totally changed. Futaba no longer corner's the transmitter/receiver market. Oil filled shocks and speed controls were now affordable. Differentials now take major punishment, Shaft drive won the four wheel drive debate so things like belts - chains - and dual motors are not in play. Crawling is a thing. Batteries can self-destruct and burn down your house. Bashing can now reach extreme levels. Almost everything needs a wheelie bar. Finally, there are many more manufacturers in the game. Thank you for your channel and keeping us up to speed on the ground vehicle side of the hobby. I look forward to your next Lunchbox update.

Nice build. You have to admire Tamiya's thinking and kit leveraging. Lots of parts are lifted from the grasshopper and Hornet.

What a sweet build and awesome RC in my 58 years IV never seen a lunch box and I luv it As always your video's are fantastic cheers for this one

I love your build videos! So much fun!

I remember one kid who got a Clodbuster for Christmas, it was unbelievable!

Whoever won that Arrma Vorteks and Tamiya XV01 is one lucky chap!Damn!

I had the original Traxxas sledgehammer kit. Loved that thing

Phil... Theres something so natural about your delivery. There are so many RU-vidrs that come across forced or plastic wheras your content always feels so natural and down to earth! Greag stuff!

Monster trucks are one of my two favorite things. The other is best not mentioned here.😂

Oh yeah I enjoyed that Phil. The Lunchbox is one of my absolute faves. I missed it the first time around because I'd stopped doing the hobby by then but this was the one that got me back into the hobby in 2012. Your setup looks just right and similar to how I run mine. I use the Tamiya short shock set which work really well but expensive for what they are. I've just ordered some cheap Chinese ones for my other one but they may be crap. Hard to get ones with soft enough springs at the back. Anyway top fun 😁

My first Hobby Grade RC. Mine was the yellow one. Would love to get one now. But it would simply be a shelf queen as I'd be to afraid to of scratching it

✌😁... I find it very refreshing to hear about your lunchbox craze... man I love them too... absolutely epic my friend cheers

Back in the late 90's, my parents bought 1/24 scale models. If I remember correctly, I had an airplane, a subaru, an apache helicopter. I never managed to put them together. Even if I did, the parts are all in the wrong place. In that single hobbyshop, I saw a lot of the bigger cars. Rc cars. I saw an elderly guy. Start one, it was noisy and it emitted smoke like a real car. I knew it right away it was powered by gas. I went to that shop as a college student in 2010. Bought 1/24 model cuz I still could not afford the RCs. I eventually managed to buy a tt02, then an hpi, an Xray. Thats how i got into the hobby. Now I had brushed/brushles and nitros in my collection.

I'm definitely looking to get a lunchbox sometime soon. 😁

Yeah yeah yet another lunchbox build... but mate after that intro & seeing you grinning like a Chesher cat... I am so adimiring seeing your passion & emotional high. Fabulous!

teenager I owned the midnight punkin...so fun!! regards from France!

"1990 was the first time I'd ever seen a lunchbox.... well... a tamia lunchbox" LMAO i love that

There is not much that beats the experience of building a Tamiya kit!! Either back in the 1990's (I had a King Cab and a Manta Ray) or today. I just wish it had been easier to get bearings and the like, before the interweb, etc, and having to rely on your local model shop (I was lucky having Graham at Bexley Model Centre) or mail order from one of the RC magazines that were about. The black Lunchbox looks absolutely awesome. 👍🏻