AABT Model Kit Reviews

Tamiya, a worldwide name in modelling and craftwork, bring you the Dark Impact Electric Off-Road Buggy. They have certainly made it sexy and stylish, including the price tag. Expect to pay around £100-140 for this entry-level 1/10 kit.

So, what does £140 give you? Well, there’s a host of features, still bearing in mind they’ve made entry level status with this kit. Tamiya seem to have all their work cut out, it’s surprisingly difficult to design an off-roader that will appeal to a wide audience and also perform the way you want it.

• As you would expect with Tamiya kits, you get the full instructional booklet including decal sheets and correct application techniques.

• Injection moulded chassis, very strong and durable. Definitely a plus side, considering the terrain it’s designed for.

• Massive wheels, particularly large for a 1/10 model, and a superb tyre design enabling you to make the most of off-road racing on most terrains.

• It’s 4WD! Yes it has a fatter than standard prop-shaft, off-centre on the car at the top, floating above the battery back (which is concealed by a plate, accessible from the underneath). Stainless steel rod, angles down from the rear gearbox to the front.

• Battery compartment, as stated above, can be accessed from the underside of the chassis, meaning you won’t have to fiddle around with taking slip pins out and then the shell off. Just flip the buggy over, without scratching the shell of course, and swap your battery pack over, it’s all over and done with in a jiffy.

• Shock Absorbers. Oil Filled. Complete with a selection of ride height adjusters. I don’t often see these lower-end vehicles with oil-filled absorbers, but who said this is low-end with the features we have so far.

• Option parts can be supplied also. Heat-sink bar, Slipper Clutch set, Aluminium Oil Damper set and Damper spring set at additional cost (not included with standard kit).

Time to Build

I’d waited a couple of weeks for Vince (Mr AABT Techie) to get this in, just for me, to build, test and review. The build was just like any other Tamiya build I had no option parts so it was just the standard kit, everything fitted as it should with only a few spares left in case of damage etc. AABT supplied me with the electric essentials. A HiTec Ranger II N 2ch Radio Gear kit, a standard 540 motor (nothing special), 2x HiTec HS-311 servos, though only 1 required due to the supply of a nifty ESC (electronic speed controller, for those not in the know.

The build took about 6 hours of life out of me, though a tough and sweaty 6 hours, mixed with hard concentration. Whenever I build models, I can never tear myself away from them, even for a ciggy or tea break.

Anyway, I’m off-tracking, back to the build. So approx six hours later, at about 3am…I’m done. The impressive Dark Impact has been built by the wonderful skilful hands of me. Aching fingers and palms an’ all. The only thing I didn’t do was paint the shell, there was no need, I’m not reviewing on looks, we can see how sexy it is from outside the box.

Overview

The following day I decided to take it out, only local, literally outside the front of my house in the roadway, just to tweak the trim for the steering servo. Then off to the greensward for a nice muddy succession of jumps and rolls.

Just like to add a 540 is perfect for this model, gives just the right power you need for the anti-gravity test and donuts in the mud. Unfortunately, as I was alone in my testing period, I don’t have any photos of my days’ events just a couple of blurred images from my camera phone while pelting down the green, and subsequently forgetting to steer around the tree. And though I may have hit the tree, this is where the strong and durable chassis shell comes in to play. Absolutely no scuffs or damage at all.

I don’t honestly think I could say a bad word about this buggy, it has a very smooth operation considering the amount of complex components that are within. The only downside (for me anyway), is that it’s not nitro buggy. I prefer nitro and petrol to anything and that’s what I’ll be reviewing next.

Out of ten though, my personal opinion would be a 9. It’s a Tamiya, which gets my rocks off for a start, but like most Tamiya cars, underneath the shell it’s a rolling ball of plastic. However I still prefer the belt driven 4WD to this model.

So it’s a nine out of ten for me.