You have to be realistic. Not all of us can turn out the cash for 501X's. If you expect Tamiya to release nothing but top flight world class competition cars, you have an unrealistic outlook of the RC market in general. The DB01's are great bridge products that I have no doubt will get lots of people in to the racing scene, and maybe from there upgrading to 501X's.

*DOH* That was phrased a little easier than my reply!

I would have to agree that its a good thing to have a car that will bridge the market and Tamiya have had a billion cras that already do just that. Im not the biggest fan of car that claim to be race bred from Tamiya but when the 501X was released it definately made the race community sit up and take notice. The 501X is in no way a 'TOY' like the old Hotshot ,Hornet,Frog etc...they finaly were blessed with a car that would compete against the best of them at a world class level. Tamiya didnt need the Durga or Baldre as they already had the Dark Impact which in my opinion was a great introductory race car. Ive been racing since the first optima was released,worked a few R/C shops and written for a magazine on occassion so I have been around as long as it needs to be to have a fair point of veiw. I have a good collection of post and modern cars that run through many of the manufacturers across the board. Tamiya has only released these 2 cars so they could market and make more $$$ from knock offs much like they always have-(Hot Shot,Super Shot,Hot Shot2 etc...) anyone???
There have been enough 'entry level' offerings that have been released across the board from Tamiya but only one serious contender. Why would you want to cheapen their best offering?

Seriously Jase, you need to take it easy on the durga :lol:

You can't compare the Durga to the Dark Impact - I've raced both - the DI will never be as good as a Durga.

Yes it looks cheap and nasty compared to the 501 (most cars do ;)) but on track it's all good - without needing saddle packs, without needing to rebuild the drivetrain every couple of weeks, and without tearing up undertrays :thumbsup:

And to answer your question - Why would you want to cheapen their best offering?

Easy, So that those with small budgets can still buy a car with the same pedigree (and similar performance) as it's Euro winning cousin :)

Sorry Jase,I never mean to offend you. I know you have a soft spot for the Durga and my argument is not aimed at you. I think you and 'everyone else' gets the point Im making here.
Damn I would have liked racing the D.I. if I were new to the scene. Or even better the Keen Hawk looks damn hot too!

Don't worry mate, you haven't offended me at all.

I understand your point about the Durga and Baldre being "cheapened" versions of the 501x - and I agree that neither of them look anywhere near as "professional" as the 501x, but they are good cars for the market they're aimed at.

Not everyone can afford the expensive race cars (or expensive vintage cars) like yourself ;):lol:

BTW, I just picked up NIB RCL Incident - just finished building it yesterday - it's frickin' excellent :thumbsup:

There is a difference between entry level racer and entry level kit. Things like the DF-02 and DF-03 kits are entry level kits for people who want a fun, cheap off road buggy that they can thrash around with at their house, or local park. These kits are not designed to race well in competion events. The DB-01 kits are entry level as well, but designed around the idea that they can be raced, and race well. They have the proper hop ups availible and were designed with a platform to race.

People say that there are enough entry level kits, but it is no different than the on-road side of the hobby. Just because Tamiya has a TT-01 entry level chassis, that doesn't mean they shouldn't have the TA05 too. Both these kits are much different in their intended audience.

Remember, having options is a good thing!

I noticed that link to Tamiya said a motor was included, should the Durga have a motor supplied? Mine was minus motor.

Cheers!

yeah there should be a 540 motor in the kit I think - at least, mind came with one.

CAClark, if you want a stock 540 send me a PM, you can have the unused one out of my Durga kit. I think you got done as the Durga should definately come with a motor, but (unlike most other Tamiya kits) they don't throw in a TEU-101BK speed controller.

My Durga kit didnt come with the 540 motor, which doesn't matter to me since i dont use it. A lot of the foreign shops such as stellamodels and rcmart give you the choice whether you want the motor or not.

I guess if it saves a couple of pence on shipping it might be best not to get it, I don't use them myself but vicky runs one in her B4 - any more and her car would be in bits (again) :)

Shame on you Jimmy, that car has whupped my ass a few times, Worksop and Don Valley spring immediately to mind :thumbsup:.

I finally picked up my Baldre yesterday and solved the mystery. The shell is asymmetrical. Only the left side of the shell has the motor bulge, so that it fits very snugly around the chassis. I personally really like it.

This is how I moved up the ladder to my 501x worlds

2006-gravelhound
2007 darkimpact
2008 B44
B44 to 501x worlds
I still run the B44 in club races though.

Having been on the scene for quite some time, I like the new approach of Tamiya. In the past (80'ies and 90'ies) Tamiya introduced an entry levell car and tried to race it. Now they seem to make a top notch racer and try to make it into an entry levell car.

Now that I have had time to look over the shape of the Durga more, I am quite liking it, wouldn't be adverse to a Baldre shell as well though :)

I would like the Baldre shell too, well, two of them, one for me, one for my daughter.