First up, let’s talk about what the Vanquish and VQS have in common. In fact, from what we have seen, not much has changed other than a few key improvements. It’s clear that the VQS remains faithful to its Vanquish roots. We utilized a MaxAmps battery to power the buggy. VQS’ battery door is secured and released by two body pins. Set to release about the time you are reading this article, the long-awaited Vanquish rerelease features all of the things that made the Vanquish sought after and even better. Well, get ready folks, the Vanquish is finally getting rereleased, this time under the VQS moniker. Vanquish starved fans asked when or if Tamiya planned on rereleasing the Vanquish kit. Even the Avante and its variants have seen multiple rereleases since their initial drops.ĭue to its rarity, collectability and lack of a rerelease, the secondary market for vintage Vanquishes over the past few years, for even well-driven examples, would fetch prices north of three to four hundred bucks and sometimes even more. Every rerelease gets gobbled up by Tamiyaphiles worldwide. Since then, Tamiya has rereleased many of its most iconic RC kits for old and new generations to enjoy. Unfortunately for drivers and collectors, Tamiya ended production of the Vanquish in 1992. The Vanquish quickly became a favorite among Tamiya fans for its good looks and unique mechanics. Like the Avante, the Vanquish featured a jet fighter-like body replete with a clear canopy, helmeted pilot and jet-like “air intakes.” Its aesthetic is sleek and aggressive and looks like it could comfortably live on an aircraft carrier’s flight deck. So much so that at the time of its release, the Vanquish was affectionately referred to by some as the “poorman’s Avante.” These are good things, right? Let’s not forget this was the 80s, a time when excess and indulgence were commonplace and sometimes even expected. The basic architecture of the off road racer still carried Avante’s distinctive DNA, but it was now made more reliable and as a bonus, carried a lower overall price. Instead, the Vanquish went back to basics and replaced many components with robust ABS plastic parts instead. The Vanquish was also a shaft driven four-wheel drive buggy, but it shed many of the Avante’s trademark cutting-edge parts and materials such as super adjustable aluminum and steel suspension linkages and a double decker FRP chassis. Later in 1988, Tamiya came back with a new take on the Avante platform. As fantastic as the kit was, it did suffer from being overly engineered with its major Achilles heels being fragility and cost. Perhaps it pushed it a tad passed the limit. The Avante pushed 80s RC technology to its leading edge and then some. When I first saw it back in 1988 I knew that I had to have it and when it was rereleased in 2011, I had to have it again. Sometimes they bring it back decades later to hook new fans and reignite the passions of older ones.įor this writer it was the Tamiya Avante off road buggy that got me hooked. The company continually innovates and creates new products that consumers never knew that they needed until they see it. Tamiya doesn’t sit on its laurels, pat itself on the back, and tell itself just how awesome it is. For those who grew up on Tamiya products, seeing the red, blue and white Star Mark logo emblazoned on a box means that there’s something very special inside. For most of the brand’s fans, it’s all about the company’s uncompromising quality, intuitive build-ability, and deeply engrained nostalgia designed and built right into its kits. Tamiya’s incredibly loyal following doesn’t owe itself to an unbroken string of RC racing world championships or claims of having record-breaking accomplishments.
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