This special edition uses the Dual Ridge Jr. design as used by the winner of the Japan Cup 2021 competition.

• Body: Polycarbonate plastic
• Chassis: VZ
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft which transmits power via a prop shaft to gears on each axle.

So far I've constructed and tested the basic chassis until I decide if I'm going to complete the model as a 'box' version or modify it using various upgrade parts.  The chassis in this model is a really quite nice dark blue in colour and comes with slightly lighter blue wheels. 

The body colour scheme is based on a nice light blue metallic colour on the box illustration which is quite appealing.  What I need to decide is if I want to just paint it that colour and then use the provided stickers to finish the 'look' or if I want to use the base colour and add other decoration maybe even the original checks if I can manage to paint that. 

In addition do I want to add carbon fibre/aluminium parts and accessories to being it up to the BMAX or 'Open' class.

Decisions, decisions...

This is an interesting and very different special limited edition  of a 'Jeepney' which is a Jeep that has been converted into a small bus.  This particular version is one dedicated to the Philippines.  

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: FM-A
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft which transmits power via a directly to gears on each axle.

The base colour of the body is a nice bright red which I opted not to paint as there is a comprehensive set of stickers provided which cover the majority of the body anyway.  I did pick out some detail which I chromed, specifically the wheels, hood ornaments (Llama's) and the bumpers.  If I were to follow the box illustration I'd also make the roof silver, but I'm not sure as I think the red roof works well as it is.  But I can always change it, for the moment though until I decide I've left the destination board sticker in the box.

In terms of customisation I added carbon Fibre stays, twin aluminium rollers both front and rear, mass weight on the sides.  Finally colour coordinated aluminium spacers and balls to top off the posts.

I've also just added a couple of pictures of an alternative body set I recently purchased to give me the option of changing the body shell if I want.  This one is Tamiya part number 95632 and described as 'Dyipne Body Parts Set (Clear Orange)'.  This is a transparent ABS body shell suitable for any FM-A chassis.

23/07/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  Will be updated when constructed.

• Body: ABS
• Chassis: MA
• Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

This car is a design I really like, although I do like some of the out and out racers, I also find cars designed to look like a real world or potentially real world car is far more attractive.  This one looks like a typical super car that could easily come from the stables of one of the big super car manufacturers like Ferrari (see what i did?  'stables' - prancing horse lol).

The colour scheme also works really well with this car especially with the nice silver chrome wheels.

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: MA
• Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

So far I've only constructed and tested the basic chassis until I decide if I'm going to complete the model as a 'box' version or modify it using various upgrade parts.

I also want to paint this body to finish it nicely before adding any stickers containing logo's etc...  But this is on hold till I get hold of a nice can of yellow paint!

23/07/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  Will be updated when constructed.

• Body: ABS
• Chassis: AR
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft with a prop shaft to power gears on each axle.

Back in the 80's I had the original Hot Shot (full size R/C model that is), in fact I still have it and although still fully functional I intend to upgrade it at some point to a more modern electronic speed controller etc... instead of using the old analogue speed controller and servo setup we had back in the days.

Naturally therefore I had to get the Mini-4wd version of my old car that I love.  This kit quite nicely reflects the big brother and when complete  will be a good clone (albeit shrunken).

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: MS
• Motor: Stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

The chassis is constructed and tested and finished as a box version of the model.  I'm likely to leave it like this as this kit is more for nostalgic reasons than out and out racing (its an age thing lol).

The final colour scheme will be the traditional Italian red with details picked out where appropriate in black and silver to represent things like the suspension, roof (which was aluminium on the original).  I will then use the supplied stickers to finish the kit off.  Photo's of the final model will like the other cars be added when its complete.

This is my (current) latest addition to my collection, based on the Manta Ray Mk.II model this one is a special edition 'City Circuit Special'.  This comes in some nicely co-ordinated shades of purple (lilac?!?) with white wheels and violet tyres.  There is also a nice metallic type sticker set which again uses a range of purple colours with some highlights in other colours.  Though that sounds like a bit of a mish-mash of colours I find it actually works and to me looks pretty cool.

• The body is made of ABS plastic.
• The chassis type is the nicely balanced 'MA' design.
• The motor is a stock 130 with a dual shafts each which transmits power directly to gears on each axle.

I've yet to build this as I literally only got it today and also need to decide whether it will be a box model or if I'm going to enhance it.  If anything its the wheels that may get changed, see if I can find some metallic purple ones or failing that maybe gold.  Regardless once built and completed I will add pictures in its final form.

17/07/25 - Update.  I have for now built this kit as a box stock model and very nice it looks too.  I've added pictures of this configuration for you to judge for yourself.  For now it will stay this way, but I can see that this one will be suitable for upgrading at some point.  Note: I did hit one issue, one of the supplied axles was not 100% straight, I mean it looks straight, but sticks in the axle checking tool.  So for now there is a slight wobble on the front axle.  This will get replaced as and when I decide to upgrade it to racing standard, but for now is fine as it is as it still runs ok and looks fine.

21/07/2025 - Added this new model to my collection.  Will be updated when constructed.

• Body: ABS
• Chassis: VZ
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which transmits power to gears on each axle.

This model of a Ray Spear really caught my eye due to the rather nice colour scheme.  To my eyes the clear green body combined with the white and yellow chassis just works.  The clear backed stickers also enhance the design very nicely without compromising the clear bodyshell.

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: VZ
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft with a prop shaft to power gears on each axle.

Apart from spinners this model is almost finished as a box model.  However I did change the wheels from the boring grey ones to some nice metallic green wheels of the same configuration.  I also retained the supplied tyres rather than use the ones provided with the add-on wheels as they are a different colour.

As I've sort of deviated from the box model if you use strict rules I may upgrade the stays etc... and use aluminium spinners, spacers etc... bearing in mind this is potentially a true racer.

This is the third of the Tamiya special 'starter packs' and is based on the 'Rowdy Bull' body shell.  However this is manufactured in a rather nice transparent black body shell.  This has left me in a bit of a quandary as I quite like the body shell as it is so don't really want to paint it so may end up just using the provided stickers where appropriate.  However I also wonder what it would be like if I added say a pearl finish to the inside of the body shell for example.  I may have to have a play with the left over sprue and see how that looks with a colour added on the rear of it.

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: FM-A
• Motor: Upgraded 130 with a single shaft and prop shaft which  transmits power directly to gears on each axle

This has been upgraded using various parts from the supplied upgrade kit including the stays, mass weights, screws etc...  The only additions were some aluminium spinners, spacers, and balls for the top of the posts.  These add-ons are all colour co-ordinated with the balls contrasting for effect.  I also chromed the wheels to improve them from the basic grey colour.

This car is a limited edition model of 'Santa Claus Racer'.  It is based on the design used in several other cars that have been released previously.

• Body: ABS plastic
• Chassis: VS
• Motor: Stock 130 with a single shaft which transmits power using a prop shaft to gears on both axles.

The right hand top picture is a shot of my assembled model.  In this case I did not paint the car apart from picking out some details such as the radiator and the exhaust pipes with a chrome marker pen.  The Santa figure in this kit is provided already fully painted and just needs to be  secured in place.  Long term I'm considering modifying this possibly up to a BMAX standard as it is simply a cool car in my opinion.