KCRC #6: Tamiya Sand Scorcher & Kyosho Beetle Comparison and thoughts

My take on the Sand Scorcher and Kyosho Beetle. This isn't a comprehensive review, just my thoughts on these two fantastic buggies from Kyosho and Tamiya. If you're thinking about getting one or the other, then you may, just possibly, find this useful.

I'll have a running video featuring the Kyosho Beetle up sometime in the near future.

As always, thanks for watching!

[andyf]

Wow, blast from my past! Thanks. After seeing your video I dragged my Sand Scorcher out for a run in some gravel & deep puddles with my son. It's 40 years old, but still as much fun to run as when I was 11 (yes, I'm THAT old!). Also, the electronic box is still totally fine to deal with slow or fast drive through deep puddles or hosing down afterwards, the 7.2 Ni-Cad "bump" battery is still happy to be charged, and my "crystal" based Futaba radio + server set does it job, ,, until the signal range runs out. The suspension will always be what it is technically; however this has never had any influence on my level of immense enjoyment racing the RC. (OK, maybe "racing" is not it's strength, ,, ) Saving up pocket-money for nearly 2 years with my brothers to buy it, the amazing fun of building it over Xmas (mainly "out-sourced" to my older brothers), then the pride of seeing our finished "masterpiece" was/is something priceless & unforgettable. Guess both the old RC and the memories were built to last! I'm totally biased, never built and owned a Kyosho; but I have fallen in love with my Sand Scorcher again; and from your video, hope some more people do too! Thanks again

[garybennett]

Yeah definitely the Tamiya sand scorcher for the looks and vintage feel, one of the best ever kits of all time 😊

[sagnhill]

Im currently building a Sand Scorcher. I up graded the torsion bar to actual coil over shocks. I upgraded to a ball-diff. Im putting in a full interior by Ampro too. Im going to run mine mostly on a beach here where I live in Michigan so I will keep the roll overs to none hopefully. I have a custom RN36 Bruiser too. These two RCs are synonymous with Tamiya. Tamiya made my childhood and into my 20s the happiest I can remember. As a retired 60 year old I am building a lot of their RCs in the next 5 years. Looking forward to it.

[martinelfver]

That was a really well done video, excellent footage and narration. I have a massive soft spot for the Sand Scorcher, but haven’t started the build yet (got the kit sitting patiently in a cupboard though). The Kyosho is a massive nostalgic trip for me, I just can’t resist it. Your cars look absolutely smashing, color choice is superb.

[AddamsPlayground]

Great comparison of the two platforms. Personally I would go with the Sand Scorcher just for the looks and the uniqueness of it. The Kyosho on it cool but it is not terribly different from the Tomahawk and Turbo Scorpion I have already and the Scorcher is vastly different in design. To be honest I still want both! In time I will probably get them both and thanks for taking the time to kind of lay it all out there for everyone to help understand the differences!

[Chris-sdos]

Great content again David - thanks for your review of these two classics

[Blastfromthepastrc]

Very interesting comparison, they both look really cool. I am leaning to getting the Kyosho Beetle though. Thank you for sharing and have a great weekend 👍

[daviddemarco]

Thanks David, Great video, really enjoyed your moving shots and comparison!

[Hillbillypunk]

The re release of the Sand Scorcher is what sparked me to get back into rc. A friend of mine had one years and years ago, it was still 20 years old back then, missing SO many parts, and i always wondered what it would have been like complete (i was born in 1984 so by the time i could walk and feed myself these were already antiquated lol)
So I bought one, and I love it.
Then I saw this video and it forced me to get a Kyosho as well. I put a Castle Sidewinder 3800kv esc/motor in it, and, omg, this thing flys woth a 2s lipo. Ive been bashing it for weeks and nothing has happened other than a few screws coming loose (loctite EVERYTHING)
I honestly couldn't pick just one. I think i have a soft spot for VW's, i also have a Tamiya MFxo1 rally beetle, and ive owned 3 (still have a '66 baja bug) real vw's, my dad had like 6 of them, i just like em.

[notch]

Great comparison! I too am partial to the SRB but I plan to get the Kyosho as well some day. The quirkiness of the SRB chassis and scale has aged so well. I would love to see box stock lap time comparison with identical motors as a potential video idea!

[MysticRiverRC]

I love the Sand Scorcher's timeless looks and detail. It is the one I'd chose as well.

[Toystheyrenot]

Excellent comparison video!👍😊 I love the SandScorcher mainly for it’s looks at first and have used the body on my Frog. Only recently have I got to experience driving it via my re re rough rider.😂 Love the look of the better performing Kyosho beetle too. Especially in blue!👍😊

[kirkhill]

I'm loving your videos David!
My first Tamiya was the original Holiday Buggy. Back then all I could do was drool and dream of a sand Scorcher. I have one now actually three, one Baja Bug, one Buggy Champ and one for later.

[welfarestates]

I'm 53, and in 1981(11yrs old) I saw an advertisement for the Sand Scorcher in the back of a BMX magazine(perhaps BMX Plus!?) Ever since then. although I've owned multiple RC cars in the past, this damn Sand Scorcher has been engraved in my mind. In the BMX magazine advertisement, they showed someone running a hose over the insides of the Sand Scorcher to clean it, and photos of it roosting somewhere on a sandy beach. I still want one so bad.

[rippy]

Just stumbled across this channel and have subscribed 👍 I had both back in the day, the Kyosho is the better performer but the Tamiya is much more robust. I would go for the Tamiya as I was always buying spares for the Kyosho.

[scalemodelmaker]

Thanks for all the great information. Nice clean builds!!

[billymanilli]

Thanks for the review! Very nice looking rides!
I'm in the process of adapting the rear swingarms from the Kyosho into my Sand Scorcher chassis. I LOVE the detail Tamiya put into that model, but then they put THAT rear suspension setup in it, and kinda ruined it! A REAL bug has trailing arms like the Kyosho version... Why'd they do that?

[jamesclarke]

Ha love the sandscorcher, my daughter and I are in a club joined this year and loving it, best thing ever

[isaiahfurrow]

Your videos really have me wanting a Kyosho Beetle, as I don't have any of the trailing arm 2wd Kyosho ReRe kits....and also I'm wanting a Blitzer Beetle in a bad way....
One of the best and worst things about the RC hobby, there's always a giant list of stuff to enjoy, amd kits to want for... and it seems I'm always adding more kits to the list faster than checking ones off the list...lol
Cheers!

[philfrydman]

Thanks vsry interesting comparison. I lke your Sand Scorcher bodyshell painting. Simple one colour no decals yellow headlights. I like it this way: chic.