That was great Gav. I bought one in 2004, I put it I under the bed for 10 years without touching it! I got it out from under the bed and started driving it, great rc car. I now have a brushless motor and ESC in it. The Bandit is a great RC Buggy. 🤓🇦🇺
I still have the multiple burn scars from the resistor on my old Rustler LMAO. BUT! if it wasn't for my 99 Rustler, I would have never fallen in love with the hobby!
I was working at my local hobby shop back when the original Bandit was being sold. It was was 1997 or 1998, so the Bandit was about 3 or 4 years old. It was available as a kit, but by the time you added the radio, servos etc. it was only about a 5 to 10 US. Dollar difference. Back then it came with a mechanical speed control. The changes through the years were 1. ESC 2. 12 turn motor 3. Wheel bearings upgraded from 5x8mm to 5x11mm 4. Waterproof ESC and servo after the Slash came out with them 5. All metal gear transmission like the Slash. Other than those changes it was only color of the plastic and bodies that have changed.
On the very latest bandit the gearbox is very beefed up, the chassis and body is longer than the original and on the latest chassis there’s no step in it, it’s all smooth and rounded off
My first RC was a Ruslter kit back in 2000. I thought the mechanical speed control was so cool because it mounted direct to the servo and it had 5 steps instead of other brands that just had 3. I remember my 1800mah NiCd battery gave me 8 minutes of run time.
I am omeone that had a Bullet, Radicator, and TRX-1 all new, then in 1999 buying a Rustler and 4-Tec (still have that 4-Tec), finally about 5 years ago I bought another 2wd Rustler. There are actually very few parts that are radically different between the Bandit they sold back then, and the Bandit they sell today (Rustler too.) If I'm not mistaken, every single part is directly interchangeable between the old and new models, which is a testament to them getting it good back then.
This reminds me so much of my original Stampede with the mechanical speed controller/resistor. I remember having to cut the transmission cover to fit a larger pinion to the motor. Mine had a clear body and I had no idea I had to paint the inside. Good times.
A mate of mine got one of these back in the day. Handled like crap out of the box but he put a weight in the front and it fixed the problem. Very cool car though
This would have been from a later release given its pre-finished body. The early Bandits (as well as the rustlers and stampedes) had clear bodies. There was a transition between the earliest ones to the later models (like the Pro-Trax models and the XL1 esc generation) and I'm willing to bet this falls in that in-between generation. My bandit was from around 1996 and did not include the slipper or the pre-finished body. Nice find Gavin!
Think it might have been released at the same time as the pre-painted body variants. Perhaps basically a slightly cheaper kit with the unpainted body too move more stock out too market in a few select areas or a store exclusive deal maybe. Before scaling up the parts that could deal with painting the bodies & caught up basically over 3 - 6 months. Stampede #3610 Bandit #2410 rustler #3710 Or simply kids cracked the bodies a lot learning too control the rc & parents ended up buying a spare too repaint. *edit* Oh hang on... manual says 2401 bandit there. Thats an unassembled kit on a quick google here.
Bandit and Rustler, along with many other Traxxas models, were available both RTR and Kit form with unpainted bodies. Which is why the manual is so thorough, because someone that bought the kit needed it to be.
I do love a proper or old school bandit , I still remember them being sold in the hobby shops. Back then in the 90s I thought they were hideous. Live them now though. They feel like they handle well just running outside but on a track they fall short out then against a Schumacher cougar , a B2 , Mardave Cobra , Losi xx and they just don’t steer as well and lack the adjustment you need to race. However saying that they do go quite well with a little work. A chap at our rc club runs a silver coloured 95 Bandit. You should try find a trx1 or trx3 buggy they are awesome. Nice video and bandit looks good in blue
I drove a recent Bandit on the weekend with the 12 turn Titan motor. It gets up to speed quickly but its top speed is pretty low. I found it to understeer more than expected until it dropped most of its speed. I understand it is built that way being an entry level car, but I would like to think it could be adjusted to be a little sharper. Probably only with adjustable upper turn buckles though.
How different is it from a current model? My brother raced a trx1 then a TRP. The trx1 was outright futuristic, and the trp looks like a bandit with a grp double deck chassis. They were good cars, the LST (?) truck especially so.
Interesting how certain older Traxxas models are starting to have nostalgic appeal. A big one for me is the original E-Maxx (#3906), and I know I'm not alone because the prices on those have skyrocketed. The pre-Revo era is the best one for Traxxas IMO because it's before they became famous for suing everything that moves.
Yes, the reputation of Traxxas the company is extremely low with everyone I talk to about them, but some of the products are fantastic. TRX4 Sport, XMAXX and the TRX4M to name a few.
TRX1 was a great buggy, national champ to boot! I would imagine the geometry of this old bandit to be similar. Also 26 MPH is getting it back in the '90s, not many people realize stock motors of today are quicker than mod motors of yesteryear.
Just like that new Big basher they have it's the Sledge something I think. It's a dang near clone of the Aarma Kraton 8s and traxxas did that after suing Aarma it's amazing that Aarma wasn't sitting and waiting for that day to see revenge😂 but u have a cool little rig
Unpopular opinion: These things were tough as nails for skatepark duty, but drive like absolute chodder, the extreme front kick up makes them understeer badly without a massive increase in power, and the stock servo takes an eon to go from lock to lock. That means once it starts to get sideways you keep chasing it, resulting in the buggy not going where you would like it to. The 8x5 bushings in the drive train destroy the shafts if left as is, and 'upgrading' them to 8x5 ball bearings resulted in the bearings falling to pieces as they could not handle the loads placed on them. Hence the move to 11x5 bearings(a la Tamiya) years later. They were a good beginner car if you had never driven a decent buggy like a mid range tamiya or assoc/losi, but otherwise very meh! I bought this exact one, Blue, mechanical esc. around 2004!
I have new tyres coming for it and a new front bumper and thats about it. I will try and get the correct servos working and back in the car. I tested them today and one is working but super slow, the other is KIA.
That was great Gav. I bought one in 2004, I put it I under the bed for 10 years without touching it! I got it out from under the bed and started driving it, great rc car. I now have a brushless motor and ESC in it.
The Bandit is a great RC Buggy. 🤓🇦🇺
I still have the multiple burn scars from the resistor on my old Rustler LMAO. BUT! if it wasn't for my 99 Rustler, I would have never fallen in love with the hobby!
lol
I was working at my local hobby shop back when the original Bandit was being sold. It was was 1997 or 1998, so the Bandit was about 3 or 4 years old. It was available as a kit, but by the time you added the radio, servos etc. it was only about a 5 to 10 US. Dollar difference.
Back then it came with a mechanical speed control. The changes through the years were
1. ESC
2. 12 turn motor
3. Wheel bearings upgraded from 5x8mm to 5x11mm
4. Waterproof ESC and servo after the Slash came out with them
5. All metal gear transmission like the Slash.
Other than those changes it was only color of the plastic and bodies that have changed.
Thanks for the info. Not that easy to find much about the old stuff.
On the very latest bandit the gearbox is very beefed up, the chassis and body is longer than the original and on the latest chassis there’s no step in it, it’s all smooth and rounded off
Your stash of old rc is awesome...my era lives on!!
Traxxas made the TRX-1 and my god was that a sexy looking buggy. This is taking some style tips from the rc10 B3 i think 🤔
My first RC was a Ruslter kit back in 2000. I thought the mechanical speed control was so cool because it mounted direct to the servo and it had 5 steps instead of other brands that just had 3. I remember my 1800mah NiCd battery gave me 8 minutes of run time.
I am omeone that had a Bullet, Radicator, and TRX-1 all new, then in 1999 buying a Rustler and 4-Tec (still have that 4-Tec), finally about 5 years ago I bought another 2wd Rustler.
There are actually very few parts that are radically different between the Bandit they sold back then, and the Bandit they sell today (Rustler too.) If I'm not mistaken, every single part is directly interchangeable between the old and new models, which is a testament to them getting it good back then.
Yep I just picked up a front bumper new and its the same
6:49 2015 is the part number of the original Traxxas 27 MHz AM receiver.
This reminds me so much of my original Stampede with the mechanical speed controller/resistor. I remember having to cut the transmission cover to fit a larger pinion to the motor. Mine had a clear body and I had no idea I had to paint the inside. Good times.
Just recently dug out my traxxas trx 3 had great memories of building it as a teenager. might sell it on as it’s been sitting on a shelf for years.
I love my Bandy!! The Bandit has always one hell of a good buggy! Nice find no there!
Iv'e been after a good one for ages. Not that easy in the UK, thats for sure.
Got yourself a beautiful shelf queen my friend, love it!! I hope to get ahold of one of them if I can - that's the key find it all together!!!
Me and my M8s put these through Heck!, very tough and hard to damage.
A mate of mine got one of these back in the day. Handled like crap out of the box but he put a weight in the front and it fixed the problem.
Very cool car though
I have a traxxas rustler vintage the cool thing about that all the parts that are made today you can use on the vintage
This would have been from a later release given its pre-finished body. The early Bandits (as well as the rustlers and stampedes) had clear bodies. There was a transition between the earliest ones to the later models (like the Pro-Trax models and the XL1 esc generation) and I'm willing to bet this falls in that in-between generation. My bandit was from around 1996 and did not include the slipper or the pre-finished body. Nice find Gavin!
Thanks for the info. Not a great deal online about the early years of Traxxas and each model.
Think it might have been released at the same time as the pre-painted body variants.
Perhaps basically a slightly cheaper kit with the unpainted body too move more stock out too market in a few select areas or a store exclusive deal maybe.
Before scaling up the parts that could deal with painting the bodies & caught up basically over 3 - 6 months.
Stampede #3610
Bandit #2410
rustler #3710
Or simply kids cracked the bodies a lot learning too control the rc & parents ended up buying a spare too repaint.
*edit*
Oh hang on... manual says 2401 bandit there. Thats an unassembled kit on a quick google here.
Bandit and Rustler, along with many other Traxxas models, were available both RTR and Kit form with unpainted bodies. Which is why the manual is so thorough, because someone that bought the kit needed it to be.
I do love a proper or old school bandit , I still remember them being sold in the hobby shops. Back then in the 90s I thought they were hideous. Live them now though. They feel like they handle well just running outside but on a track they fall short out then against a Schumacher cougar , a B2 , Mardave Cobra , Losi xx and they just don’t steer as well and lack the adjustment you need to race. However saying that they do go quite well with a little work. A chap at our rc club runs a silver coloured 95 Bandit. You should try find a trx1 or trx3 buggy they are awesome. Nice video and bandit looks good in blue
That was my first rc car I ever had when I was 7 man. Have since gone on to win the Australian 1/8 State Titles.
Looks great. Fantastic find. 🤙🏼
Great find Gavin 😊 I found my original servos were a little slow in mine. Overall I found the buggy was slow but handles great
100% agree with you on this one. Some more modern electronics and this would drive great
I drove a recent Bandit on the weekend with the 12 turn Titan motor. It gets up to speed quickly but its top speed is pretty low. I found it to understeer more than expected until it dropped most of its speed. I understand it is built that way being an entry level car, but I would like to think it could be adjusted to be a little sharper. Probably only with adjustable upper turn buckles though.
These vintage Bandits are bulletproof. I have one which I've done some upgrades to. Does 63mph quite easily.
Cool. I was surprised, even with vintage electronics it feel good to drive.
@@RCKickschannel I've sent you some pics of mine on FB messenger
Now this is gonna be a interesting video, thanks Gav ❤😊
How different is it from a current model? My brother raced a trx1 then a TRP. The trx1 was outright futuristic, and the trp looks like a bandit with a grp double deck chassis. They were good cars, the LST (?) truck especially so.
I still have my old trx1. Parts for that are really hard to find but luckily the bandit didn’t evolve much from the trx1
When the stampede first came out. I had to build it....its long gone ...i do have a newer stampede lol. It's like my 8th 1 lol
My boy Rick! this is your boy Charly! You always getting spoiled ! Gr8 to hear on the new come up !!
Just got one with the XL-1 esc. Still in the plastic wrap. Never opened. Don't know what it looks like.
Cool
I put a 3650 4000kv in my vintage bandit with an 80 amp ESC good for about 80 km/HR handled really good diff and tyres didn't last though
you might want to look into the Traxxas TCP.
Interesting how certain older Traxxas models are starting to have nostalgic appeal. A big one for me is the original E-Maxx (#3906), and I know I'm not alone because the prices on those have skyrocketed. The pre-Revo era is the best one for Traxxas IMO because it's before they became famous for suing everything that moves.
Yes, the reputation of Traxxas the company is extremely low with everyone I talk to about them, but some of the products are fantastic. TRX4 Sport, XMAXX and the TRX4M to name a few.
Lovely condition 👍
My first real rc was a nitro bandit. It was a constant struggle to keep running
The telescopic drive shaft were already present on the TRX1 of ''91
Top Cat was before 91
TRX1 was a great buggy, national champ to boot! I would imagine the geometry of this old bandit to be similar. Also 26 MPH is getting it back in the '90s, not many people realize stock motors of today are quicker than mod motors of yesteryear.
Have a look at MX Acres channel. He bought one and did gradual upgrades so it ended up being competitive on the racetrack It's a good set of episodes
Love it
WoOow 😊
Would be cool if you could get your hands on a Traxxas Bullet and a TRX-1 and compare them to the RC10 Goldpan and Graphite.
I would love a TRX-1
Just like that new Big basher they have it's the Sledge something I think. It's a dang near clone of the Aarma Kraton 8s and traxxas did that after suing Aarma it's amazing that Aarma wasn't sitting and waiting for that day to see revenge😂 but u have a cool little rig
Be careful pointing out the similarities with the Schumacher driveshafts, Traxxas will probably try suing Schumacher over it🤦♂️😂🤣😂
HEEHHE
Unpopular opinion: These things were tough as nails for skatepark duty, but drive like absolute chodder, the extreme front kick up makes them understeer badly without a massive increase in power, and the stock servo takes an eon to go from lock to lock. That means once it starts to get sideways you keep chasing it, resulting in the buggy not going where you would like it to. The 8x5 bushings in the drive train destroy the shafts if left as is, and 'upgrading' them to 8x5 ball bearings resulted in the bearings falling to pieces as they could not handle the loads placed on them. Hence the move to 11x5 bearings(a la Tamiya) years later. They were a good beginner car if you had never driven a decent buggy like a mid range tamiya or assoc/losi, but otherwise very meh! I bought this exact one, Blue, mechanical esc. around 2004!
Hi that is funny at first they stole ideas from every one .Now they sue anyone that makes better parts for their shit .Sounds fair.Loved my top cat .
as I'm sure you are doing id leave it stock aside from maybe a couple of new servos
I have new tyres coming for it and a new front bumper and thats about it. I will try and get the correct servos working and back in the car. I tested them today and one is working but super slow, the other is KIA.
It come from the vintage trx 3 /top the last Pro Traxxas
You should do the right thing and crush it 👍 #EndTraxxas
And 30 years on, traxxas is still using the same design 🤣
Yep it hasn’t changed that much when you look into it.
I don't think the bandits have changed very much at all over the years other than plastic colours etc
There Manuel’s suck now
Not nearly as good as a Vintage RC 10!
Nope
The 2015 on the receiver is the part number
Is that what it is lol