Tamiya Midnight Pumpkin

[Dangeruss]

In 1986 Tamiya presented enthusiasts with another Christmas surprise when they released the 1/12 2wd Midnight Pumpkin monster truck. A platform shared sister to the Lunchbox monster truck that was released earlier in the year, save for revised body mounts, was unchanged in its Pajero based deeply molded ABS plastic chassis and Grasshopper derived long front swing arm suspension with large diameter undampened coil over sliding pillar chrome plated shocks at all four corners. The direct mounted z-bend tie rod steering with ball cups and a Kimbrough style servo saver up front went unaltered, likewise for the taller Hornet style tall rear axle pivot brackets that allowed the suspension to articulate throughout its travel. Electronics continued to reside down the middle of the tub while the battery remained in its transverse bottom loaded location in the center of the truck. The Grasshoppers rigid axle assembly returned as well, powered by a 540 motor that turned its pinion and spur primary drive transmission mated directly to the bevel gear differential with metal axles enthusiastically enough to kick the 'Pumpkin back on its 4.5 inch diameter All Traction Utility rubber tires wrapped around a set of single piece yellow plastic wheels. Perched atop the mini monster was a highly detailed molded plastic Ford F100 body that featured a chrome grille, bumpers, and roll bar mounted light pods. Also included in the unassembled kit was a front brush guard, wheelie bar, mechanical speed controller, Mabuchi RS540 motor, and full set of bushings: