Just finished building the chassis of my XR311 along with the RC Channel Full Metal Kit. What a piece of RC engineering! Absolutely glorious RC kit that deserves recognition as the car that started it all with regard to off-road Tamiya vehicles.
I built one back in 1977 it had the plastic protection cover for the suspension torsion bars right from the start I still have it 44 years later. The original kit cost my Dad £44 for my Christmas present The gearbox will feel tight until you power it up this is normal. I built a re issue back in 2012 as a nostalgia trip and it reinforced my thoughts that all tamiya kits should be as enjoyable to build as the early kits but alot of the newer kits aren't. In those days it was as much about the education of the build as well as the running of the models. I also still have my original Lamborghini Cheetah which was £53 for Christmas 1979 which still runs fine. I still have the original Tamiya price guide and the receipt. It was always frustrating how easily the original plastic torsion bars snapped especially as a child I used my models alot. I've now converted my cheetah to the metal torsion bars used on the re issue XR311. Its Amazing how many people are surprised at the metal content of the chassis these early models have but for me I'm 56 now it was the norm and how I grew up with tamiya models. The suspension should be set up with the radio gear and battery fitted and also the body so it sits correctly at all up weight. Great to see how much you appreciate these older kits.
It’s magnificent Glen!!!!!!!. As I said in the unboxing video I was aware of a couple of these still kicking around in the model shop I went in in around 81-82. I was only around 11 going on 12 and was transfixed by the holiday buggy and the like at that time.. Never gave these the time of day and I can honestly say that was my loss. A different thing altogether.. Now I’m old and can appreciate things more I must see if the wife will let me get one.. the thing is Glen I will keep it to display and that will be that👍👍👍👍
Bought one from Eltham models in about 1979? Seem to remember sandscorher models on the shelf too? Had a three speed speed controller, my mate had a Lamborghini cheetah with a variable wiper speed controller on his dearer kit. Acoms radio fitted, I was on yellow frequency, 27.145mgz I think? Another mate had his tx and Rx on the same freq, we just swapped the two crystals over, it seemed to work! The bodies were very heavy and keep on breaking when we rolled them so we tended to leave them off, they went faster and for longer on the nicad batteries we had then. Ran them into the ground and if they broke we could get spares and or advice from the many model shops about then in East London, radio active, ace supplies, hermits models etc. All gone now, such happy times!
I love the XR-311! Dare I say the best kit ever I have built. Never built anything like it before or since. Thanks for sharing Glenn. Memory lane. Just finished the SW-01 Lunch Box and the comparison is laughable with the differences in materials. 👍🤓🇦🇺
@@TAMIYALegends it just so different and simple yet you really get to appreciate the design and I was 6 years old when this came out. Lots of aluminium and metal, very 70’s. Only catch is it’s not a real driver. That glued hard shell is not forgiving and the glue bond is just not the best. But I’m totally happy with it being a shelfie. Stay safe mate and I’m looking forward to the body build. 👍
I’ll be honest, I scrolled past these many a time on model shop websites assuming it was on a DF03ra chassis or something. I didn’t realise it was on this awesome 1977 old school chassis. One on order from Fusion Hobbies now 🥳
Also impressive to see that a model from 1977 has better engineered and more precise suspension and steering than some far more modern cars (cough cough TT01 and TT02)....
Saw one in 1977 running along a woodland path! Had one myself in 1980 (first payday) and its still ready to run when i replace the very, very worn cheetah tires. Lost that body when a speed controller caught light, my fault small puddle splash! Have the re issue and am going to 'full metal' running gear it... PS. Rough Rider/ Sand Scorcher, Toyota Hilux/ Blazing Blazer and very heavy Tiger II first generation to follow.
Awesome build and quirkly design Glenn. One tip for running in a gearbox one guy at a club told me years ago, is to connect a single AA battery to the motor and hold the battery your fingers and run motor both in reverse and forward. Checks everything is free and reduces damage in the event you made a mistake with the build. Sworn by it ever since.
Good morning Glen!! Great little bit of Tamiya timeline you got there!!! Really educational video as well! Boy things have changed. I really appreciate the simplicity of the chassis as right now I’m struggling with this boomerang! It’s kicking my ass as I have big hands. Thanks buddy for the entertaining break from my build!! Can’t wait to see the final results! See you again soon buddy! Thanks
Another Icon From The Tamiya Legacy , Great to have one in my Collection and just watching you enjoy the build so so much has just inspired me to build mine so i just ordered the olive drab and the olive drab2 just in case i need a slightly different colour but i know now this will be a great build and is always a little eaiser when you see someone else do one first so for that thanks Glen, as its always a great variety with your channel mt friend, cant wait for the bodyshell video , cheers mate :-))
After building the chassis and seeing how delicate some of the components are, now I understand why any of the ones I saw back in the day were always broke. That aside, it has a completely different feel to the build. It's almost like it's hand crafted instead of a production kit. Definitely glad you talked me into it. :-)
Awesome! I had an original and did a resto on it a many years ago and like you Glenn totally enjoyed building this model and the rere is really close to the original! Such a vintage design and feel! I don't think the XR311 gets enough praise it deserves really! The first off road car tamiya released is one hell of a claim to fame!
Hi Glen, awesome build video man, just an aside, don’t use the speed gearing, it’s too fast for the model, i used the slo ⚙️ gearing and it’s almost too fast, the slo gearing is practically perfect 🤩 for it, make sure you do the hardest suspension setting, when you put a battery 🔋 in and the hard body on , it gives the suspension a hell of a work out 🏋️♂️ lol 😂. I painted everything army green, chassis, body,wheels and front bumper . Looks way better. The only difference between the original and the re re is the metal suspension bars from the plastic originals. Ps...... paint everything!!! Pps.....paint everything!!! Ppps...did I mention to paint everything lol 😝
I always wanted one of these when they came out in the 70's, then rough rider and sand scorcher arrived with the enclosed battery box and sealed motor, then the ford ranger came out with the same chassis as the rough rider/sand scorcher. My local model shop didn't have a xr311, but did have the new ford ranger, so that's what I bought. Might be in my attic, or may of got rid of it.
The Ford Ranger is a beautiful model as well. My first RC car was a used Tamiya Holiday Buggy in the early 1980's. Would have loved a Ranger instead though! The XR311 is a great kit too. Just building my re-release version with a full metal upgrade.
I did one with the shocks metal gear and chassis protector from rc channel on eBay I did notice this one was a tad bit slower being heavier but was a lot nice looking. Great video
Awesome vid fella, took me back that one. I’m sure I remember frustration at installing the torsion bars, I’m sure it was awkward for me as a young lad back then. Hope you enjoyed the car as much as I did...
Wow, what a thing of beauty that chassis is!! I'm so tempted to put aside some cash and get one, it's 'vintage' without actually being 'vintage', if that makes sense. I remember a good friend of my older brother had one of these many, many years ago, back in the late 1970's, never saw it running though. I can't wait to see the bodyshell finished and the vehicle up and running, it'll be interesting to see how well it goes. Anyway, great video as always dude!!
I remember seeing this in the window of my local model shop wishing I could afford it. All I had back then was a cheap toy rc car that could barely run on a carpet.
Considering how much earlier this is than the SRB's the suspension seems way more advanced, especially seeing as it's double wishbone front and rear. Gonna have to get one of these kits - thanks Glenn!
People say Tamiya kits are second to kyosho but this seems to be on par, I mean......look at all that sexy metal included in the kit! Just looks a beautiful piece of vintage engineering! Can't wait for my now. 🐣🐰🐤🐇
Tamiya are for people who enjoy building many excellent fun affordable kits that may be driven moderately . Excellent family kits . Kyosho are pricier with an elevated design and components, also almost double the price.
i have my original xr311 nearby as i watch this and although very similar the rere has alot of changes to it, and fyi the original did have a lexan underguard for the chassis bottom
Never considered this......one on order now! Quick question, if having as a shelf queen only do you need to use the thredlock? I'm guessing not. Awesome build Glen 👍
Just FYI, I always ran the front bumper, back in the day the suspension parts, I recall the plastics being quite brittle... I never had an issue with the (plastic) torsion bars, the only breakages I had were the rear suspension upright parts the hubs went through...
Great video as always. Just one comment the clear plastic on the bottom was on the originals as well and the body was made of a different plastic. If you had been in the UK i could have sent you one of my originals to compare side by side.
You are a early riser. I think is still pitch black where you are. Next doing the body. The only weak part I see is the steering part. Got my back in 2010, 1st time re re. Still pushing you to go for the rc channel metal upgrades, you'll go bonkers with the results。
Hello there great video i just ordered and received this truck/car i’m in the process of building it and i seem to have lost a brass bushing i did get bearings as well but i only got 6 as that’s all they sent could i use a different bushing instead of the flanged bushing
Nice! Really like the metal chassis, will have to get one for my collection! On another topic, I am upgrading my OG Blackfoot and currently has a Trinity Slot Machine motor. The brushes need to be replaced, should I replace them or go with a different motor? If I go with a different motor, what I am looking for, I think the Slot Machine is 27T
The more metal the better, when I was a kid all the kits that had the metal in them were out of my price range . That should tell you something about the quality of them .
Why are these so expensive? A guy was selling this as parts no electronics no tires no rear suspension nothing(just a shell really) for $170!! Is it worth spending that much for that condition in your opinion? And what tires would be a suitable replacement for the originals and fit onto the original rims/wheels? Any idea?
' my both cheetah and XR311 with 4 torson bars are no good... i change to spring shocks... no no in oil the spring shocks both are same problem with gearboxs-lock axles... not good design
I have to stop watching your videos, you cost me money. I saw your HotShot video, I had no interest in one btw. But your enjoyment out of it made me order one the next day and even tracked down gold wheels, no regrets ether. Now this one… Yup, ordered one today. 😆
