Tamiya Brat

[Dangeruss]

In 1983 Tamiya would create yet another highly popular 1/10 2wd electric off-road platform when they released the Subaru Brat. Modeled after it's full-size namesake the Brat used an entirely new ORV (Off Road Vehicle) chassis that was unlike anything they had previously designed. Rather than using a fiberglass plate or plastic tub the ORV was constructed from a pair of molded plastic space frame style halves joined together by crossmember spacers. Front suspension consisted of metal uprights which attached diminutively small oval shaped front arms to the chassis, sprung by undampened horizontally opposed coil springs hidden inside the front crossmember that acted on the lower arms via plunger and molded in arm standoffs, all stabilized by pair of hairpin style sway bars. Steering was equally rudimentary with z bend adjustable tie rods and ballcups run to a direct mount servo saver. Outback oversized trailing style swing arms would be fitted with undampened plastic bodied coilovers extending forward rather than upwards to their chassis side mounts. In the middle was a bottom loaded transverse battery mount and mechanical speed controller nestled just above in-between the frame halves. The simplification of components continued with the drivetrain as the pinion and spur gears acted directly on the non-differential gear inside a plastic housing with metal side plates. Metal dog bones hidden inside rubber boots exited on each side and led to the wide three-piece plastic beadlock wheels and Sandblaster 915 Treaded tires lifted from the F-150 Ranger parts bin. The whole assembly was then topped off by what Tamiya did best, the highly detail injection molded plastic Subaru Brat body. A large front bumper, roll bar, driver figure, bushings and Mabushi RS380SE motor were also included with the unassembled kit, which would also serve as the basis for the Lanica Rally car and Frog off-road buggy which hit the shelves the same year: