I still have my original BigWig. Was over £300 back in the day. I was stoked when I got it for Christmas. This thing flew! I’d like to refurb and rebuild it but haven’t looked at it in decades. Is gathering dust in my dad’s attic. I’m 48 now. Those were great times.
Thank you.. M reliving my childhood through this videos... I bought a 2nd hand BIGWIG and had a crazy Tamiya motor on it ( cant remember which version) and it absolutely flew to the moon !
I had a Boomerang (around 86) that I raced against Yokomo Dogfighters, Kyosho Optimas... was never a 1st place, but 3-6 was pretty normal for me... out of 10-15 cars in the main. Loved that rig... There were also 2 Bigwigs in our class, they were always having steering problems with dirt getting caught in the "Rack and Pinion". I picked up an Optima Mid and started getting 1-3 pretty normally... the Boomerang went to a Truck Puller, Ran a Kyosho 360PT motor with 19.2V. My Class always started at 100 pounds, most my "Boomer" (as I called it) pulled was 185 pounds, 25'. The club has a real weight transfer sled.... this was around 1990. thanks for the memories on these RCs.... everyone looked down at these "plastic" rigs, till they could not pass me.
i always wanted a bigwig when they first came out! i had a supershot, but the bigwig was a bit out of reach! i just got the re-re (one to build, and one to put on the shelf) id really like to get a mechanical speed control for it! love your videos man! i built my first r/c, a grasshopper with my dad when i was 8, and ive been hooked ever since. he has since died, and r/c' ing with him (cars and planes) are precious memories!
I had the bigwig when I was a kid now I’ve just bought the new one so can’t wait to get it built ! Definitely going to try get those decals first , will make all the difference 👍🏼
My bigwig and hotshot rear gearbox tighness was a simple fix… the metal gears right and left, u need to sand down the backside of the flat one. Rub on 320 sandpaper to take down the lip, it will free it up. 😊👍 once u do that, u can tighten the gearbox up. Happy dayz
Take the side shims that fit in the side of the gearbox halves,that the drive shafts fit through and rub them up and down on some medium emery cloth or other abrasive paper,it can cause some damage if the differential is too tight,it's just a tiny intolerance in the plastic gearbox moldings,just taking a tiny amount off the shims will allow the differential to run smoothly,you may have to repeat the assembly a few times to test it,obviously don't take too much off the thrust shims!👍✌
Great build and first drive videos for the BigWig.The car I always wanted but couldn't afford as a kid. Hornet was my first and only. I've just bought 2 x 2017 BW's and also got 2 sets of original BW decals after watching your vid. Thanks for posting! 👊👍👊
I still have an original Bigwig with the proper motor and 8.4 battery. It’s in the loft . I must get it down and give it a run . Still got original box too.
I got mine out this summer. Stripped it got some new parts its cost a big of money I could have bought a new car but will be worth it to get it going again
Revisiting this as I'm building the rere now. The gearbox is very tight (or at least the counter rotating effect of the diff action... the motor drive is quite smooth) if you don't put the gearbox joint bearings in deep enough. You can check: if you loosen the ba4 and ba3 screws in step 3 a bit it will be smoother. So undo the gearbox and really press down the bearings you put in parts g3 and g4. They are actually too tight a bit so some tightness is fine when you've wrapped up step 3.
@@TAMIYALegendsI know this is years later and maybe it’s already figured out, but I found the circlips holding the cups jam it up. I lightly sanded my bevel gears to gain clearance. Or use the original wire clips.
I had the same problem when I was building the nova Fox, I took it apart several times because it was tight but I found no issues it just was the way it was. Once I started running it with the GT motor it loosened up considerably.
My last build was tight like that n I figured out the motor plate that could go on both ways was on backwards, I flipped the motor plate n put the screws for the mesh in the same holes n put it back together n it was perfectly smooth just from that one mistake
I have 2 re re bigwigs ,one runner ,one shelf queen ,check for metal flash on spur gears can cause tight meshing, also will run smoother with the solid aluminum drive shaft and gearbox input shafts from a super hotshot also the universal joints front and rear from a DF-02 ,tamiya number 53791 ,my runner has a technigold too.
I didn't know you did 2 videos. Found this tho."Tamiya enlisted the help of Japans foremost Racing Car designer Takuya Yura. He headed the Moon Craft design company"
Very nice build video Glenn! That gearbox should loosen up after a few runs. ;) Can you believe after all this time, I still haven't painted my BW body? Lol, will be done this winter. Cheers bud!
I have built many, many Tamiya kits and many times the cars will require a bit of break-in before it smoothes out, I try to make sure the gears that turn the diff assembly are turning freely, that being said keep an eye on the entire running gear as it breaks in making sure nothing is getting too hot.
Fantastic build my friend, good, think I've got a similar Servo on my Gptoys S911 and it works fantastic, the car looks fantastic, it runs sweet 👍 great video 👍😁👊
I think the Bigwig has finally been discontinued, as of December 2020. For some reason it seemed to be a slow seller, at least @Tower Hobbies where it never sold out. Got one myself recently and for me it'll always be the iconic unobtainable-at-the-time 1980s Tamiya R/C buggy. I still remember it as the featured buggy in my 1987 Tamiya catalog.
Good build! Love the Bigwig. Yeah!!! I was pretty confused when I had assembled my Boomerang re-re earlier this year. So tight. Took it apart too a couple of times. And even more confused when I found out the front diff was a lot smoother. Ha ha. But it all worked out brilliant when the wheels was on and my Boomer runs perfect I would say. Looks like your Bigwig does too. Got an original Bigwig 5857 too and I noticed in a recent re-build that the rear diff didn’t seem as tight as my Boomer’s. But maybe it’s just the old plastic.
Hated it when it first came out, (still do!)to me it looked like something you would buy from a toy shop not a model shop. In fact I was put off buying another tamiya for the best part of 30yrs and bought marui and Kyosho instead.... Bought an egress 2013 a couple of years back based on its looks and Carbon chassis.... back in the fold!
Hi I LOVE your video's and I just started my Bigwig. Like you the rear end is really stiff. Did you bother to sand down BA26? Or did you run it as is and over time it losend up ?
@@TAMIYALegends sorry to bug you but one more question the '86 version would accept a 8.4V battery, can you run the 2017 version on 8.4 or does it have to be 7.4V?
@@TAMIYALegends my pleasure brings back memories, my friends atm the time had hornts, hotshot but the power of the big wig was astonishing compared Thinking of getting one again
I bought the RR Bigwig last year and managed to source a pristine Technigold on eBay (only £85!), a genuine brand-new 8.4 Gold Power (from Turkey of all places) and a new vintage mechanical speed controller from Japan (not so cheap). I plan to build to as close to retro specs. as possible and wanted to ask you a question: do you think the original mech. speed-controller can be mounted and used? I ask because my kit is still sealed/unopened and I haven't had a chance to assess the chassis/mouldings/mountings etc. Cheers and keep the great videos coming.
Richard Gere Yes I’m pretty sure all the mounts are there for it. Sounds like a great build 😊 Are you going to get a few of the decals from MCI to make her look like the original?
@@TAMIYALegends Great to hear that the orig. MSC can be used (or attempt to be used, given the speed-controller's time in storage). Yes certainly some REPO decals will be the finishing touch. I'll be starting a job in the Middle East in the autumn, and my plan is to take her out there to blast across the Arabian sands (and re-live 1987 when I owned one of these unbelievable mean machines!)
If i ever get this time machine up and running i'll pop into Harry brooks on holloway rd and grab a pile of technigold's at £34.99 and make an absolute killing 🙈
I’m a total novice to modelling and a Building the Bigwig 2017 kit. I have some questions around items that are worrying me. Is there any way I can get in touch , assuming you’d be willing to help me? I had a Falcon in the 80s but my old man built it for me.....
bugkiv Yes not a problem at all, I’m glad to help👊🏻 I guess email through this channel is the easiest or if you’re on Facebook join the TAMIYA Legends Group 😎👊🏻
Havnt driven BIG WIG i would like to.Tamiya for what it is. It;s pretty cool hobby grade stuff. I have an ayyachment to them because I do. It was my opening. I have won nTIONl championships and yeaH ANnd I ran Schumachers but that's a bit of a Pain in the ass. I think an AvNTE Is competitive. It requires aa driver and a pit crew.
@@TAMIYALegends I'm so glad they've re released so many! Hope the Falcon is next, also I'd love a rear wheel drive Fiat Abarth re release (I think body fitment was the reason it was last released on M05 (front drive))
I still have my original BigWig. Was over £300 back in the day. I was stoked when I got it for Christmas. This thing flew! I’d like to refurb and rebuild it but haven’t looked at it in decades. Is gathering dust in my dad’s attic. I’m 48 now. Those were great times.
Thank you.. M reliving my childhood through this videos... I bought a 2nd hand BIGWIG and had a crazy Tamiya motor on it ( cant remember which version) and it absolutely flew to the moon !
That is a fantastic looking model!
I had a Boomerang (around 86) that I raced against Yokomo Dogfighters, Kyosho Optimas... was never a 1st place, but 3-6 was pretty normal for me... out of 10-15 cars in the main. Loved that rig... There were also 2 Bigwigs in our class, they were always having steering problems with dirt getting caught in the "Rack and Pinion".
I picked up an Optima Mid and started getting 1-3 pretty normally... the Boomerang went to a Truck Puller, Ran a Kyosho 360PT motor with 19.2V. My Class always started at 100 pounds, most my "Boomer" (as I called it) pulled was 185 pounds, 25'. The club has a real weight transfer sled.... this was around 1990.
thanks for the memories on these RCs.... everyone looked down at these "plastic" rigs, till they could not pass me.
John K
John that was such a pleasure to read my friend 🤩👊🏻
Thanks for watching
Love the BigWig , and this is a great Re-release.
I got alot of love for this buggy
Wow, what memories of friends cars. I got a Kyosho Raider for my first back in 89. Always wanted a big wig or an Avanti. Need to get on eBay later!!
I did mine in the Avante Blue colour and looks really nice and looks closer to the box art imo. Great build
Flibbertigibbet great choice. Always bothered me how the recommended blue looks nothing like the box art!
i always wanted a bigwig when they first came out! i had a supershot, but the bigwig was a bit out of reach! i just got the re-re (one to build, and one to put on the shelf) id really like to get a mechanical speed control for it! love your videos man! i built my first r/c, a grasshopper with my dad when i was 8, and ive been hooked ever since. he has since died, and r/c' ing with him (cars and planes) are precious memories!
r lee
Great comment my friend, it’s all about the memories and nostalgia 🤩👊🏻
I had the bigwig when I was a kid now I’ve just bought the new one so can’t wait to get it built ! Definitely going to try get those decals first , will make all the difference 👍🏼
My bigwig and hotshot rear gearbox tighness was a simple fix… the metal gears right and left, u need to sand down the backside of the flat one. Rub on 320 sandpaper to take down the lip, it will free it up. 😊👍 once u do that, u can tighten the gearbox up.
Happy dayz
AWSOME buggy
David Turner
Thanks David 😊👊🏻
Take the side shims that fit in the side of the gearbox halves,that the drive shafts fit through and rub them up and down on some medium emery cloth or other abrasive paper,it can cause some damage if the differential is too tight,it's just a tiny intolerance in the plastic gearbox moldings,just taking a tiny amount off the shims will allow the differential to run smoothly,you may have to repeat the assembly a few times to test it,obviously don't take too much off the thrust shims!👍✌
great video! your kitty is so cute!
Great build and first drive videos for the BigWig.The car I always wanted but couldn't afford as a kid. Hornet was my first and only. I've just bought 2 x 2017 BW's and also got 2 sets of original BW decals after watching your vid. Thanks for posting! 👊👍👊
That’s an awesome kit ur gonna have fun building it, definitely one I’d love to own myself
Great job...What a great looking car!
Had to do my bodyshell in tamiya metallic blue..its gorgeous
I'm in the midst of building a super hotshot and my rear gearbox is tight also.
Lovely car I have an og bigwig and a new re re just arrived off ebay.
How cool would it be to see a bigwig in full Marmite livery paint scheme !?
I still have an original Bigwig with the proper motor and 8.4 battery. It’s in the loft . I must get it down and give it a run . Still got original box too.
Simon Winn
Now that’s cool Simon, the thing was like a rocket ship back in the day with that combo 🚗💨💨
I’ve just discovered your channel. I love it. Keep up the good work
Simon Winn
Thanks Simon and welcome 👊🏻
I got mine out this summer. Stripped it got some new parts its cost a big of money I could have bought a new car but will be worth it to get it going again
Revisiting this as I'm building the rere now. The gearbox is very tight (or at least the counter rotating effect of the diff action... the motor drive is quite smooth) if you don't put the gearbox joint bearings in deep enough. You can check: if you loosen the ba4 and ba3 screws in step 3 a bit it will be smoother. So undo the gearbox and really press down the bearings you put in parts g3 and g4. They are actually too tight a bit so some tightness is fine when you've wrapped up step 3.
Excellent this is great timing my friend, I’m actually starting to build one again today 😊😊😊
@@TAMIYALegendsI know this is years later and maybe it’s already figured out, but I found the circlips holding the cups jam it up. I lightly sanded my bevel gears to gain clearance. Or use the original wire clips.
I love the Bigwig
Don't know why some ppl hate it...
mark kokojenko
I’m 100% with you Mark, it’s a stunning looking buggy 😍👊🏻
Great built video 👍👍👍
I had the same problem when I was building the nova Fox, I took it apart several times because it was tight but I found no issues it just was the way it was. Once I started running it with the GT motor it loosened up considerably.
How do you find the gt motor ?thinking of sticking one on my novafox
Try the bz
@@mattluszczak8095 Actually putting one in this weekend
Another one of my grail cars
bespin custom props Bombarta
One of my all time favourites 🤩👊🏻
My last build was tight like that n I figured out the motor plate that could go on both ways was on backwards, I flipped the motor plate n put the screws for the mesh in the same holes n put it back together n it was perfectly smooth just from that one mistake
The diff wi be all right. M' Wild one had a really tight diff, after about 10 laps, it was like butter.
J McLaren
Absolutely spot on buddy 😊
Thanks for watching 👊🏻
I have 2 re re bigwigs ,one runner ,one shelf queen ,check for metal flash on spur gears can cause tight meshing, also will run smoother with the solid aluminum drive shaft and gearbox input shafts from a super hotshot also the universal joints front and rear from a DF-02 ,tamiya number 53791 ,my runner has a technigold too.
I didn't know you did 2 videos.
Found this tho."Tamiya enlisted the help of Japans foremost Racing Car designer Takuya Yura. He headed the Moon Craft design company"
I still have mine from 1989. I wished I could get the decals and so on for it. I have a crack in the shell.
Nidz Blah
You can get re production decals from the MCI Racing website and a re production shell from TBG (team blue groove) on eBay 👊🏻
Very nice build video Glenn! That gearbox should loosen up after a few runs. ;) Can you believe after all this time, I still haven't painted my BW body? Lol, will be done this winter. Cheers bud!
Cool video bro
Had a look at mine the rear does seem to be a bit stiffer had it couple of years still haven't ran it shelf queen
Just bought this 10 minutes ago lol 😝
Scott Farcus
Excellent 😊😊😊
nice cat, is he fully ball raced?
I have built many, many Tamiya kits and many times the cars will require a bit of break-in before it smoothes out, I try to make sure the gears that turn the diff assembly are turning freely, that being said keep an eye on the entire running gear as it breaks in making sure nothing is getting too hot.
Way back in the day I’d run in the silver can on a C or D cell battery. Then I’d run in the drivetrain on a couple C or D cell batteries.
Fantastic build my friend, good, think I've got a similar Servo on my Gptoys S911 and it works fantastic, the car looks fantastic, it runs sweet 👍 great video 👍😁👊
you could use a hotshot boomerang gearbox
Can I run the included 25T GT motor on an 8.4 battery or is it only rated for a 7.2? If not , what happens if I do run it with an 8.4? Thanks
pancho1576
Yes you can run a 8.4v no problem 😊👊🏻
I think the Bigwig has finally been discontinued, as of December 2020. For some reason it seemed to be a slow seller, at least @Tower Hobbies where it never sold out. Got one myself recently and for me it'll always be the iconic unobtainable-at-the-time 1980s Tamiya R/C buggy. I still remember it as the featured buggy in my 1987 Tamiya catalog.
Ho many do you have RX 540vz, love your collection..
What motor does it get now then
Good build! Love the Bigwig. Yeah!!! I was pretty confused when I had assembled my Boomerang re-re earlier this year. So tight. Took it apart too a couple of times. And even more confused when I found out the front diff was a lot smoother. Ha ha. But it all worked out brilliant when the wheels was on and my Boomer runs perfect I would say. Looks like your Bigwig does too. Got an original Bigwig 5857 too and I noticed in a recent re-build that the rear diff didn’t seem as tight as my Boomer’s. But maybe it’s just the old plastic.
I’m really glad others have experienced this lol, I thought I was going mad! I bet that rear gearbox was opened up around 8x times 😂😂😂
Hated it when it first came out, (still do!)to me it looked like something you would buy from a toy shop not a model shop. In fact I was put off buying another tamiya for the best part of 30yrs and bought marui and Kyosho instead....
Bought an egress 2013 a couple of years back based on its looks and Carbon chassis.... back in the fold!
Had the original kit early 90ties! This is a really classic Tamiya kit! You only drive them once and then they end up as Queen Shelves?
Hi I LOVE your video's and I just started my Bigwig. Like you the rear end is really stiff. Did you bother to sand down BA26? Or did you run it as is and over time it losend up ?
Kristof Cappoen
Thanks Kristof 😊👊🏻
Yeah one battery through it and it was all good 😊🚗💨💨💨
@@TAMIYALegends sorry to bug you but one more question the '86 version would accept a 8.4V battery, can you run the 2017 version on 8.4 or does it have to be 7.4V?
My aunty got mine from Japan about 34 years ago
Craig Wallace
Excellent thanks for watching Craig 😊👊🏻
@@TAMIYALegends my pleasure brings back memories, my friends atm the time had hornts, hotshot but the power of the big wig was astonishing compared
Thinking of getting one again
I bought the RR Bigwig last year and managed to source a pristine Technigold on eBay (only £85!), a genuine brand-new 8.4 Gold Power (from Turkey of all places) and a new vintage mechanical speed controller from Japan (not so cheap). I plan to build to as close to retro specs. as possible and wanted to ask you a question: do you think the original mech. speed-controller can be mounted and used? I ask because my kit is still sealed/unopened and I haven't had a chance to assess the chassis/mouldings/mountings etc. Cheers and keep the great videos coming.
Richard Gere
Yes I’m pretty sure all the mounts are there for it. Sounds like a great build 😊 Are you going to get a few of the decals from MCI to make her look like the original?
@@TAMIYALegends Great to hear that the orig. MSC can be used (or attempt to be used, given the speed-controller's time in storage). Yes certainly some REPO decals will be the finishing touch. I'll be starting a job in the Middle East in the autumn, and my plan is to take her out there to blast across the Arabian sands (and re-live 1987 when I owned one of these unbelievable mean machines!)
If i ever get this time machine up and running i'll pop into Harry brooks on holloway rd and grab a pile of technigold's at £34.99 and make an absolute killing 🙈
John Josey don’t bother with them ,better of grabbing a pile of blazing blazers !😂
I’m a total novice to modelling and a
Building the Bigwig 2017 kit. I have some questions around items that are worrying me. Is there any way I can get in touch , assuming you’d be willing to help me? I had a Falcon in the 80s but my old man built it for me.....
bugkiv
Yes not a problem at all, I’m glad to help👊🏻
I guess email through this channel is the easiest or if you’re on Facebook join the TAMIYA Legends Group 😎👊🏻
TAMIYA Legends great! Will do it via FB! Thanks !!
The bigwig looks like it goes fast.
Can you still buy these types cars and trucks trucks in buggies
James Powell
Yes buddy, you can still buy them 👊🏻
My aunty brought one back from Japan in 87 for me
Havnt driven BIG WIG i would like to.Tamiya for what it is. It;s pretty cool hobby grade stuff. I have an ayyachment to them because I do. It was my opening. I have won nTIONl championships and yeaH ANnd I ran Schumachers but that's a bit of a Pain in the ass. I think an AvNTE Is competitive. It requires aa driver and a pit crew.
You worry as much as me. I get really hung up on things and want to make sure I get it right. I loose sleep over this stuff.
DustyFingers
Yeah I like to do my best, but I don’t make mistakes 😬
Thanks for watching buddy
the reason of tight gear box is the e-clip is too thick. it was a thinner c-clip in 1986. you can fix it by sanding the back of BA26
賴憲中
Awesome information thank you 😊👊🏻
👍
Are you actually in Ontario? I made the mistake in assuming you were in the UK.
James West
Yeah I’m in Ontario for another a few months more,, then back to the uk 😞
@@TAMIYALegends I prefer the weather in UK than the burning hot here in Ontario, it's crazy hot and dry.
Sorry I meant the solid aluminium prop shaft from a super hotshot.
bigwig wanted to be a topforce
"it's one of the kits you couldn't afford" (looks up at grasshopper on wall I couldn't afford lol)
elevensixty
I couldn’t afford most of them lol, the thing I was running was made from about 4x different cars 😂
@@TAMIYALegends I'm so glad they've re released so many! Hope the Falcon is next, also I'd love a rear wheel drive Fiat Abarth re release (I think body fitment was the reason it was last released on M05 (front drive))
Dont screw de casing so Much.
Can barely understand him.