Tamiya Lunchbox

[Dangeruss]

In 1986 Tamiya took its first stunt vehicle back to school with the release of the 1/12 2wd Lunchbox monster truck. Based off the Pajero wheely truck, itself a derivative of the Grasshopper buggy, the Lunchbox received a few minor tweaks to its deeply molded ABS plastic chassis. First was the fitment of larger diameter undampened coilover springs front and rear, followed by the use of taller Hornet style rear pivot brackets to allow the suspension to articulate throughout its travel. Most significantly was movement of the transversely mounted battery from its previously high and rear biased position to its new central, bottom loading location. Front suspension made continued the use of the Grasshoppers long front swing arms and direct mounted z-bend tie rods with ball cups and a Kimbrough style servo saver while electronics were nestled as before, down the center of the tub. The Grasshoppers rigid axle assembly also lived on, powered by a larger 540 motor that put the spin on its pinion and spur primary drive transmission mated directly to the bevel gear differential with metal axles that provided more than enough grunt to lift the 4.5 inch diameter All Traction Utility rubber tires skyward. Care with the throttle was required to not flip the truck over onto its highly detailed molded plastic Dodge Van body that featured a chrome grille, bumpers, and side pipes. Also included in the unassembled kit was a front brush guard, wheelie bar, mechanical speed controller, Mabuchi RS540 motor, and full set of bushings. The Lunchbox was not alone for long as it was quickly joined by a truck shaped sister, the Midnight Pumpkin:

[Frankentruck]

Are the Tamiya servo savers *really* considered to be Kimbrough style? The Kimbroughs have an internal coil spring and the Tamiya have a sloppy outer nylon tension collar. Replacing the Tamiya servo saver with a Kimbrough was always an easy upgrade.

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

Are the Tamiya servo savers *really* considered to be Kimbrough style? The Kimbroughs have an internal coil spring and the Tamiya have a sloppy outer nylon tension collar. Replacing the Tamiya servo saver with a Kimbrough was always an easy upgrade.

Maybe in the sense that they have some form of give to help protect the servo gears? Agreed, not quite apples to apples. My best friend got a Lunchbox the same year I got my Thunder Shot. Always a fun drive. They show it making the jump in the picture, but they left out the part where it flips 50x upon landing.

[1911Colt]

These kits no longer look right without a rocket motor sticking out...

[Lizardking]

This is what happens without a servo saver

[Dangeruss]

Are the Tamiya servo savers *really* considered to be Kimbrough style? The Kimbroughs have an internal coil spring and the Tamiya have a sloppy outer nylon tension collar. Replacing the Tamiya servo saver with a Kimbrough was always an easy upgrade.

Always heard servo mounted savers like these called "Kimbrough style" because that's what they are, "styled to look like a Kimbrough". Like 'Thumbs said, it's not apples to apples. But people call ABS "Styrene" and damperless coilovers "friction shocks" despite neither being technically accurate.