DB-02 or DB-01 BALDRE..?? new chassis or new buggy
 

Looks like the big Tamiya has either a new chassis/body set for the DB-01 or they are coming out with a DB-02 ( BALDRE )... From what I could see of this prototype.. was that it seemed to have a chassis with the same shape and layout of the DB-01 but with open cell slots like a touring car ...and a Metal type of heat sink under where the motor sits:eh?::wtf:... also the body that they were using was a bit different in shape compared to the Durga.... The Japanese chap wouldn`t give me any other info accept for the Name..:wtf::rolleyes:.. and I couldn`t snap any quick shots of it... :cry::eh?::yawn:.. I was able to pilfer this pic from the Tamiya USA site... but the body looks the same but there isn`t any chassis pictures... looks like it might be out soon over here..:o

http://www.tamiyausa.com/images/prod...ader_58404.jpg

I had assumed that the Baldre (if released as a kit in its own right) would be on a DB01 just like the Durga.

Perhaps what you saw was an as-yet-unreleased hop-up chassis? Or perhaps the Baldre will have some hop-ups in it?

God, I have enough trouble getting people to call it a Durga, they'll collapse if I try to introduce them to Baldre as well. "Baldy" and "Baldrick" come to mind straightaway :eh?:

This is why my stock answer to the oft-asked question "What is it?" is usually "a Tamiya and it cost 75 quid".

great we go go from the Dirk Diggler to the Baldrick... turnip anyone...

Tamiya showed the Baldre at the German Toy Fair some weeks ago. It did clearly state DB01 chassis over there and from the picture I couldn't see any changes to the Durga chassis. Here's the pic:

http://www.rc-junkies.net/toyfair/al...ir2008-186.jpg

Would be nice if you did spot some un released hop ups :thumbsup:

I'll see what I can dig up.....;)

The pictures always show the left side of the buggy. I wonder if the right side also has that motor bulge.

Only the left side of the buggy sports the motor bulge (clearance). I am surprised you cant tell by looking at the pic provided.

I think sim probably means the Baldre body rather than the chassis. I would be surprised if it was assymetric!

Maybe they cant call it a Durga in Germany for some reason. The name might be taken by another product.

Nope, you can buy a Durga over here in Germany although the name is silly. The Baldre (another silly name) is a DB-01 with another shell on is. Tamiya do the same thing with the Gravel Hound and another intensely stupidlynamed car, no?

If you look at the pics carefully the Baldy has DB-01 stickers on the wing...

I suggest Tamiya make a Father Ted special edition called the "Feck, Arse!" or an Allo Allo style "Back Passage" and get rid of the double entendres alltogether...:yawn:

Ya, sorry. I meant the bulge on the body.

guys...see the balding explaination here....

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...oduct-id=58404
:p

When will the Baldre be released ?

I was thinking of buying another Durga as a spare but may hang on a while if the Baldre is out soon.

The Baldre is due out in mid April.

its available at stella to order now for the 9th april
http://www.stellamodels.net/catalog/...oducts_id=3323

I'd gladly grab a Baldre shell for my Durga (which I haven't had delivered yet even LOL).... though the Durga has grown on me..... either way need to find where to get a nice paint job done which ever way!

Cheers!

Yep it looks like Tamiya have yet again lowered the bar with this release. I really like my 501x but cant understand these current offerings.:thumbdown:

Jason it's quite simple - This is Tamiya's 501 for the masses - stick pack chassis and sealed drivetrain means that this car will appeal to a wider market.

Tamiya will sell lots more of these than the 501, but unlike the Dark Impact series the Durga/Baldre are actually competative on the track with a few optional parts.

Until the track was closed, I was turning faster laptimes at Ipswich with my Durga than I did with my 501 :thumbsup:

imagine if they sold only the 501X ! they'd go bust! :lol: The Durga is a mass market car - it's also more desirable to some people from a cost, usability, maintenance stand point.
I really think it's a fantastic move by Tamiya to create a budget racer that will actually work well - and has an upgrade path to take you to the trophy zone.

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.