Tamiya Lunchbox 

The Lunchbox makes me feel 8 years old every time 8 take it out. Nothing can bring a smile to my face quicker than that bouncy little van.

This is the era of Tamiya I relate to... Love it.

In the late 80s, I was too young and not granted enough pocket money as a kid to ever afford any RC, but because of the ease of entry to modeling via Tamiya Mini 4WDs in the 90s (I lived in Asia where this hobby was popular), my appreciation and fascination for all things Tamiya grew over time. Having those Tamiya RC Guidebooks that showcase various RCs definitely contributed to my dream of owning a Tamiya RC one day. Many many years later (in the States), and definitely long overdue, I bought my first Tamiya RC in 2018 - Vanessa's Lunch Box! It was such a blast to build and run it. There is nothing quite like taking the Lunch Box out for some asphalt and dirt carnage! Fitted mine with bearings, aluminum body mounts, CVA shocks, Sport Tuned Motor and let it rip! It's just such an iconic piece of Tamiya (RC) history! So glad they still keep producing them in original and other color forms. I hope the younger generations appreciate the appeal of kits like the Lunch Box for years to come!

My first proper RC Car. I can remember me and my dad building it together when I was 10 years old in 1988 before he went to work on nights at Massey Fergusons in Coventry. I took my Lunchbox to race at a local RC club in bedworth. I entered it in the 2wd class which is what it was. My heat came up and I was at the back of the grid in 6th position. Then they called over the speaker ok 3 2 1 Go Go Go accelerated climbed straight over all 5 of my competitors in front of me then got to the first corner and rolled my Lunchbox it was so comical everybody in the crowd laughed. But yeah great fun I had with Vanessa and her lunch box.

Bought my lunchbox in 1988, as a replacement for my ill conceived Nichimo Spirit FF. It was so good! Finally picked up a second one, in Tokyo, in 2019. This time with a spare body and wheels, for running. These are too good not to run. Thanks for the great content!

Had mine in 1988 . I love the way it looks bouncing around great on the beach . Great epic tamiya..

It’s funny as a kid I had no time for the Lunch Box or Wild Willy but now they are 2 of my favourites. Lunch Box has so much character and the way it bounces around it’s like nothing else to drive. It’s brilliant.

This was my second every tamiya kit after my boomerang...my lunchbox was in metallic ford blue was fun on the beach ...hope you're day is going well Glenn 😎👊✋ Be cool if someone did a four-wheel drive conversion😁

Loved my Pumpkin. Each to their own mate. Amazing that these reproduction units can still be bought new.

Easy and fun to build, a blast to drive, and like the pumpkin was based on a real monster truck.. personally I’ve always loved the pumpkin, but always wanted a lunchbox. Finally building mine thanks to a certain elf 😁

Got my lunchie when I was 13 paid for by myself with my paper round.... Great memories...

100000% YES!!!! The rubbish streering and suspension made the best laugh I've ever had. I will be adding another one to collection. 👍😁👍😁

Loved mine, donated it to a school club in Coventry so the next generation can have fun with it and get inspired into RC as a hobby 👍

Glenn i never managed to own a Lunchbox mate, but i did own a Mud Blaster and a Blackfoot. They were so much fun driving over really rough off road places near my home, and they were pretty darn quick for their size and weight! I look forward to seeing this LB built and finished mate! Thanks as always my friend! Wes, Liverpool, UK.

I had the original Monster Beetle back in the late 80’s and would race it against my mates Lunchbox. Always wanted a lunchbox, and was pleased when the re release came out. Bought one straight away and now it’s sits pride of place with both my original Monster Beetle and the re released Monster Beetle. The LB is a great kit and would love to see it in the Tamiya Legends decals..

First kit was a lunchbox, second kit was a javelin... No wonder I'm still addicted 35 years later😁

Like so many of us, I have owned many different RC cars, both Tamiya and other brands. When I returned back to this hobby, this was the first kit I bought. I was so excited to build it and have had so much fun running it. You're right Glenn, about the way it runs. It's a skill in itself, keeping it upright and it's so rewarding to hop, wheelie, bounce and slide about. You'd think the simple diff on it would be a negative but it's not. It's part of the magic. This RC truck takes me back to when I was a little lad. The only one thing I miss (like with all the rere's) is being able to bang it straight into reverse to do fun skids on wet surfaces.

The Lunchbox is one of my all time favourites, it is 100% pure FUN 😀👍🏼

Literally just bought my second one yesterday! Still have the original one from the 80's too. Please modify this one as it would be great to see how its done as I want to modify mine. Race slicks, bearings, and a motor

I’ve never commented on any RU-vid channel ever but after owning a couple of Tamiyas as a 13 year old in 1986 and now looking at revisiting the hobby for the first time since then because of binge watching these videos over the past few weeks ! Looking at doing a build with one of my kids that has shown interest in RC I live very close to the beach so looking at the best option monster truck for running on the beach ( is the lunch box a good bet ? ) and also radio gear recommendations ( used to run my hornet , boomerang and hotshot with futaba back in the day of changing out crystals ) but I’m sure the tech has moved on . Apologies for the long comment , thanks I’m advance for any help from anyone and thanks for re - sparking the nostalgia flame ! Keep up the excellent work Glen !

Hello ‘Tamiya Legends’ Channel, and all the subscribers, team, and all involved “behind the scenes”, of course!!! First up, I LOVE the channel, and it brings back so many good childhood memories, with great friends, barely a care in the world, doing what we loved: being introduced to Electric RC!! We would spend hours each moth when they were published, buying “Radio RaceCar” (my favourite), and my 2 best friends’ favourites (Radio Controlled Car Magazine, I think? But R-R-Car was my “bible!); then go to the shopping Centre here in Kent, UK, and spend AGES looking round, dreaming about which kit we would get next, if we had all the means. As it happened, we each had about 4 kits/full-run deals, in total I think. Nearly all Tamiya. I had a Kyosho too, and one Very adventurous boy (as we saw it ) even had an XLS Cat!! Luckily his dad was a highly skilled parts fitter in a BIG name manufacturing company, so he had LOTS of help, whenever needed. Just as well, looking back. It was WAY out of our league at that time and age!! Anyway before I ramble on any more, I am writing to ask you - or any viewer/member or acquaintance, for some advice: In a fit if nostalgia, I bought a Tamiya Avante (my all-time fave Tamiya too!!) 2011 Version, as a “deal” with the usual, R/C, cells, charger etc etc… in, or soon after, 2011. I built it with great care and fond memories. Soon after, other ‘life events’ coughs up, as they do. We moved home very soon after, and my “toys” were all safely packed away. Long story short, during Lockdown, I (began to) clear out the loft. I soon came across my ‘toys”; on seeing the 2011 Avante, which was by far the nicest item, I really thought it is a waste for it to sit, still almost unused. So I’ve decided to sell it on eBay. Problem is, I’ve done very little on ebay! So, essentially. I have NO CLUE what price to ask, or even to start at, to “test the water”. I don’t even know where to list it, for best ‘exposure’ to the best buyers!!! If this post finds any interest, anybody who can take 5 minutes to help a fellow R/C (former!!) nut, I’d be hugely grateful, and of course will supply any info needed. I didn’t post it all in now, as I did not want to waste space & time if no one comes forward to assist! Hope this makes sense. I’m in the UK, so all figures in £ GBP. Note: I’m not Trying to make a profit, o anything; it’s more to not leave it getting dusty and unloved in my loft, given the super quality it is in!!. So, I guess I’ll just wait a bit, and see what responses I guess!! Thank you honestly, in advance, everyone!!!

They are so much fun. I have done a few running videos of my 6yr old driving the one I built for him last Christmas. Great fun in the woods. So much so I am building myself one to run with him.

Yea Glenn what an awesome machine absolutely love mine and it handles being brushless excellently. Great vid Glenn 👍

Yep! This was my first Tamiya I bought with money I saved all summer in 1987. ❤️

Always wanted one in the 80s and never got one. Recently built one for my daughter and we have spent the summer jumping and bashing it about the garden in stock form. She loves it and so do I but I feel I need a more grown up version for me! I like your idea of lowering the car but would that lose any of the Lunchbox charm when running? Can’t wait to see the finished project!

Great video!! 👍 This is definitely a car i would haved loved to own back in the day, and I am still tempted to pick up even now. Id probably never run it. It'd just sit on the shelf looking absolutely gorgeous!!😏👍

I've never owned a Lunchbox! Always wanted one but as a kid I couldn't afford one. Now it's just on my KITS TO BUILD list

Awesome video! I bought a used one for £30 for my 5 year old and he has been bashing it hard for years now, brilliant car and one that’s staying in the fleet forever

Brilliant Glen.. Now this one is one of only a few kits from back then I had new!!!. I got it from the model Engineers show at Wembley conference centre with my Christmas money.. Had it on my lap on the way home on the bus!!!. Great fun!! Really pleased you have got one again on the channel Glen👍👍👍👍👍

So much love for the Lunch Box! 😍😎

My Son and I are just finishing the build for this. It was his graduation present. All painted now just glass chrome and stickers. Though I am considering putting the stickers on then running another coat of clear.😁😁

My first monster back in the day and l dove it to death!!! Such happy times! Epic in monster races at my old club too! (Not in performance though lol) was a bloody nightmare to drive on a track had no chance against the likes of the BF & MB but we all could not stop laughing! The LB and MP really did produce the most fun! Great vid Glenn 👍 Bang for bucks probably wins the fun award! and agree boxart for sure! But do one to run in tamiya Legends too ✌😄

I always wanted one of these as a kid. Went for a Frog to an RC10 tho. Just ordered a re re and looking forward to upgrading with bearings, shocks, and mild electronics.

It was my first tamiya kit 32 years ago !! (I was 15) You just reminded me how much I miss him, I need to buy one back urgently. I would paint it exactly like then, apple green. This is the second kit that you made me buy Gleen !!! The Hot Shot and now the lunche box. I really love your channel, so many memories come back thanks to you. Thanks buddy, keep taking us back in time. A +

It's probably the most fun to drive of the three cars I've got (Lunchbox, TT02 Audi Quattro and DT02 Sand Viper). In terms of building, I would say it's my least favourite. The fact that it's such an old design really shines through, with lots of fiddly and annoying bits.

😁👍 Yep lunchie one of my favorites! Fun as heck to run for sure always have a blast with mine!

I had mine last Wednesday its got a sports motor ànd all metal bearings in it and I'm just in the middle of painting the body but I'm doing it in Ford tonic blue and its looking awesome

Great videos mate. Just happened to get my own tamiya lunch box black edition today - very exited to build it 😁

They were amazing! My friend had the lunchbox and i had de midnight pumkin! Great toys

My first Rc, will always have a spot on the shelf for one of these. So many good memories with me and my school mates back in the day.👍 keeping it shiney side up was always a challenge haha

Hi 👋 glen ‘ I have one in box art in my living room on a lit shelf and thanks to your first video back in the day 🤣had to go straight on line and buy one as I didn’t have one as kid and always wanted one 💪💪there’s loads of videos on RU-vid of drifting ones and boy they look brilliant have to do a video of that mate !! Loads of views for that I think 😎😎cheers and bloody good channel…. Paul uk 🇬🇧 follower

Brilliant, my second tamiya, 1st build back in the day, got all the Colours now, try and find a blue one now!

The Lunchbox was the first Tamiya kit I saw as a kid. Friend of mine got one and I was in awe. Pestered my parents everyday for months to get one. Finally my birthday came and my dad and I went to the local hobby ship to pick one up. Unfortunately they were sold out And I had to settle for a Blackfoot. In the end it was a better kit but if it wasn’t for the Lunchbox I wouldn’t have been getting a car that day. Eventually ended up with one and it was everything I remembered that first day seeing it. Very important car to my history with rc.

I think your plans for it sounds really cool! Would love to see it like that! For me, it's weird, because I wanted one back in the 80'ies, but for some reason I still haven't managed to get me one, maybe someday! I got these strange plans to get a Black Edition together with a Grasshopper II Black Edition and they both get those nice gold and orange stickers, they would make a great pair, I think!

Love the lunchbox 😀👍👍

Glenn you summed this truck up right and the only mods I done to my black one was a brushless system and bearings, don't see the point of upgrading the suspension as you will lose the characteristics of this truck but I did put a cm piece of tube on the top of the shock to cut down a bit of the droop and it makes it handle better. 👍

I really didn’t care for the Lunch Box but HAD to have the Pumpkin. I bought it (and love it) and now I’m infatuated with the Lunch Box and decided I needed one too. Currently have one purchased on back order! It’s weird how that can happen with R/C. Still enjoying the channel and the FB group!

After deciding to get back into the hobby, my first ever NIB kit had to be the Lunchbox - if only I knew how hooked I would be (...and now my son is too)!

First thing it reminded me of u sitting there with the Lunchbox was the A-team van. Thats probably y its so cool.

Oh My How did i get that wrong thinking Clod buster but hey thats another beauty fun beast i suppose ,WoW the LunchBox, i bought mine about a month ago and along with a extra body and set of standard decals from Tony's Tamiya and got the black for the second shell for running and Blow and behold was on ebay tonight and there was a NIB one for $189 AUD(postage Included) which is cheap out here when generally there anything from, $250-$350 so i had to click on it and know i have a spare in the cupboard among 10's and 20's of other Gems but If ya Love Rc and See a Bargin its sorta hard to pass up - well for me its almost impossible he he he - But as U say What A Fun And Happy bouncy Thing that it is put a smile on any face and change any mood for that Tamiya smashed this one outta the Park - Awesome Video Glenn Thankx for sharing :-)

Lunchbox is still on my to get list for sure..

I think everyone should have a FUN r/c in their collection me and my daughter have the wild Willy 2, so much fun.love lunch box took👍😃

The Lunchbox is an awesome looking truck, but for my self, I prefer the midnight pumpkin. I have upgraded mine (still brushed electronics) It was originally the chrome edition, but I ended up tearing it down, painting the chassis red, putting a black body set on it, put a sport tuned motor in it paired up to an 18 tooth pinion. It screams now, and I still enjoy it to this day.

Nice channel!

Def the most fun kit! Ive got 2, love em! Thanks my friend, yet again another enjoyable vid.. Hare Krishna! :-)

Love driving my Lunchy!!! It’s whacky and drives terrible and makes me smile!!!

Lol I had a Midnight Pumpkin. My middle school had an RC car club and my father bought me the RTR version that could run on AA batteries.

Love the lunchbox

Timeless coolness

I reckon you can’t go wrong with the pumpkin and lunchbox tbh 👍

My fave ever (just for its looks) I could only afford a lunchbox Jr in the 90s

Look at it! 😎🤙

BEST. TAMIYA. EVER.

The original was TS47 chrome yellow it's the exact colour the designer used on the original box art painting excellent video again 👍

I had the blackfoot and still have it but needs restored,never had much interest in the lunchbox back then but now i want one.

My friend had the midnight pumpkin and it didn’t flip on turns as eaysy as the lunchbox which I had. I put in a different pinion gear ⚙️ and it couldn’t wheelie anymore but it was way faster than my buddies midnight pumpkin. And yes the lunchbox looks awesome great looking monster van...

Love my Vanessa 👊🏻👍🏻

I’m like you, I saw a mate with a Lunchbox when I was young but I was more interested in the speed and handling of Thundershot that another friend had. But now the Lunchie is one of my favourites to drive now

Midnight Pumpkin, All the way, Everyday!!!!

I had one of these and I found an old photo of me driving it I think I was about 10yrs and my brother had the midnight pumpkin, I can not to this day think what happened to them both ,wish I still had them ..

Lunchbox over Midnight Pumpkin any day. I am with you on this one. Ok I am a little opiniated. For being the most fun Kit I think Wild Willy still is unbeatable. :)

Got to love a lunch box ! Look forward to seeing the TL lunchy when it’s done , I’m sure you know but if you wanted a body that you didn’t have to worry about damaging Kamtec do a repro of the Parma lunchbox body in polycarbonate ;)

Had the blackfoot back in the day and now have the urge to get the lunchbox.

I've seen the monster beetle run through snow it actually for two wheel drive runs through the snow pretty good.

Yes..it’s the most fun to drive..even around my dirt oval!..I just got me one three months ago..put in a full brushless system and hooked it up to my Sanyo radio..I did cheat a little and got the SA version..but it was only $50 more!…

It should be called the Fun Box.

well... you are almost right.. everybody should have a Wild Willy, and after that a lunchbox.. hahaha

Glenn , paint custom lighting bolts too! Sounds great. 👍

I've put 12T 550 titan motor and xl5 esc from my stampede and it's crazy fun. The motor almost rub the rear tire 🙂

I keep my yellow shell for display and brought a black edition shell with pink stripper decals on it for running at meets...... always gets attention 🤣🤣🤣

My plan for my next lunchbox is yellow but with white wheels. I think that combination looks really good. You can buy white wheels like those on the pajero cw01

This is my first in collection hope to buy more soon I cheated got xsa pre built need to try build a buggy kit asap

i have one the black one unbuilt just got few week ago:) cheers if u want fun ... madbull full hop ups BZ motor.. its super fun..never flips ..turning circle not great..😆

I always preferred the pumpkin lol

I have a recommendation or request I'd like to see. I want to build a rally car and 2 stick out. The Mitsubishi pajero rally sport would be a good one for your channel on the cc-01 chassis. A rally suv is rare and one I am also interested in but less exciting for your channel is the vw cirroco rally on tt-01e. It's a nice looking body for sure. My 2 cents, i enjoy your channel.

boom, said it would be the lunchbox :D

That's what I say about their kits personality and character.

I think.. the Pumpkin's body looked a bit big for the chassis. I made my first Pumpkin using Hornet parts a friend gave me back in 1989. Bought all the chassis and plastics, but made myself longer axles and adapters to use Marui Big Bear wheels and tyres and that looked much better, as those a quite a bit wider and a little taller.

Your opening question is rhetorical, right? Answer is YES!!!👍💪😀😁. But I watched the video until the end. If you can, get a Black Edition. It got oil filled shocks and sticker colours which fit better to more body colours than yellow, red or orange.

Like it don’t love it but would love to see the body lower just like the MadVan. But since you have shown me car I have never thought about before. I will be watching to see if my mine changes as well.

ITS MY FAVE SHELF QUEEN LOL sorry for caps

I always wantd one of these back in the day but did not get one till 8 years ago my wife got me one for Christmas.. I bought myself another one two weeks back to go box art, as you say every collection should have a box art Lunchbox :) the ESc will be getting replaced with oneof the old tamiya mecahnical speed controlers just for the look of it... I was just looking on the Tamiya wedsite at the TamTech-Gear Hornet and they say the original full-sized R/C Hornet was the most popular Tamiya R/C car of all time, I would love to know

Hi just a quick question Can you spray lacquer over the stickers for the lunchbox or will it ruin them?

I painted mine tamiya camel yellow over a white primer . 👍

You can paint this body in another paint scheme if you wanted to. You can paint it in green and get decals from the UK to make this van look very similar the the "Scooby Doo" van. Basically a monster version of the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. It looks very good that way. Thoughts?

I forgot did you get the mini lunch box too which has four wheel drive four wheel steering?

I bought the Black Edition on Saturday, spent all night building it, and the servo seems to be bad. It's stuck in Nascar mode--it only wants to turn left. I really don't want to pull the car back apart to swap the servo, this was my first R/C build, so I'm incredibly disappointed. I'm going to take it back to Hobbytown and see if one of the guys can tell me for sure that the servo is the issue, and maybe they'll swap it for a few bucks. I bought everything from them, including an Arma Typhon that day. Hopefully the Turbo Optima Gold will be in stock soon, b/c it's a childhood dream car of mine, along with the Tamiya Monster Beetle.

There can not be enough lunch boxes. I think the Tamiya Legends version could be an intresting look, perhaps you could paint it with like a blue stripe or something, so it doesnt look like a unpainted white shell. :D

Built 2 for lazy friends, never had one of my own. I would love to find a Box or Pumpkin to restore.

Build your TRF Lunchie and enjoy it. By the time it has retired, Box Art ones will be selling for cheap, as everyone will be back to work... hopefully