I’m Ready To Jump Into A Tamiya BBX Build, Here’s What I’m Stoked On

Peter Vieira February 4, 2026 News

YES, I’m aware I’m very, very late to the Tamiya BBX game. But that doesn’t mean I’m not super-stoked to put this buggy together, and don’t be surprised if I paint mine orange like Greg’s, because dang, that looks good.

I was excited enough when my BBX arrived from AMain Hobbies, and even more excited once I got a look at the parts bags and manual. I already knew what I was getting into, but having the kit and manual in my hands amped up my hype level, like, a lot. And, it was just nice to be building a Tamiya kit, which I haven’t done in a while. It’s like reuniting with an old friend.

… or friends, as it’s always nice to see these two guys. Yes, I will read before assembly, thank you!

My boys. Never change these guys, Tamiya.

I am weirdly pumped to put together this ball differential, I can’t even remember how long it’s been since I had a car that wasn’t equipped with a gear differential (or a pair of them). Such a fascinating mechanism, invented by Cecil Schumacher way back in 1978 and used on Schumacher’s first-ever car, the polycarbonate-chassis 1/12 scale X1.

I wouldn’t say I’m excited for a servo-saver, but I do appreciate how Tamiya does theirs with the multiple spring leafs. Good resistance without the bulk of a coil spring.

Here’s a thing Tamiya didn’t have to do, but it’s nice they did: angle the bellcranks to match the arms’ kick-up angle, which minimizes bump-steer.

I screen-grabbed this just because I like the split shock tower design. I suppose there’s some shock-angle fine tuning opportunity there, by spacing the tower closer to or farther away from the chassis, but I don’t think that’s meant to be a feature.

What is meant to be a feature is the extra space between the upper arms and their mounts, so you can space the arms forward or back to adjust caster angle. Will I ever use this feature? Probably not, but still: neat. (Yes, I say “neat,” I never said I was cool).

Man, I haven’t put together a rear suspension setup like this since my Tamiya Vanquish back in the early 90s. I like the way the control links tuck into the big end of the trailing arm, and I really like how it’s something unusual, not the default H-arm-and-camber-link design.

Look out, I’m gonna be painting a driver figure. Probably badly. Maybe I’ll do step-by-step How To on bad figure painting, in case any of you are frustrated by your driver figures not looking messed up enough.