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The Astute Junior (Japanese: アスチュートJr., Asuchūto Junia) is a Racing Mini 4WD car released by Tamiya on March 27, 1991. It was based on the Astute 1/10 scale 2WD R/C buggy by the company.

It was featured in the manga and anime Dash! Yonkuro as one of the Team Black Mistral's machines. It also make a cameo in the anime adaptation of Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!.

General info[]

The Astute featuring the low-height, R/C buggy body design, with the large rear spoiler on the rear and damper props on the front and the rear. It has the black, 3-window canopy.

Original model and RS variant[]

Both the original Astute and the RS variant features the red body color, with blue highlight and white trims.

The 'Awesome' decal, the car number 5, the 'LE Fuel' decals were all presented on the original model. The RS variant only has the Tamiya logo decals and the 'RS' decals.

Both variant were equipped with the black Avante-type slick tires, with the original Astute being equipped with the light brown gray large-diameter 6-spoke Teardrop-type wheels, while the RS variant being equipped with the silver plated gray Manta Ray-type wheels. Prior to the 90's, both the Chassis and A parts of the standard model were molded in gray and dark lamé, in which the latter was replaced by the gray ones. The Chassis frame and A parts on the RS variant were molded in metallic gray and black respectively.

Alitalia Version[]

The Alitalia version of the Astute was the free item from Alitalia Airline during the time it was one of the sponsor of the Tamiya Japan Cup.

The Alitalia variant has the white bodyshell, with green highlight and red trims, with the Alitalia logo presented.

About the Astute 1/10 R/C buggy[]

Released in 1989, the Astute was the high-end 2WD R/C buggy released by Tamiya. It is the successor to the company's The Fox R/C buggy.

It has the one-piece FRP-plate chassis, with plastic and FRP supension mounts on the front and rear, the gearbox on the rear, as well as the plastic underpanel. It is supports by the four independent, adjustable double-wishbone suspension with CVA dampers. The 540 motor was mounted into the rear of the R/C buggy, whose power was transfers to the gearbox and then to the rear wheels. A heatsink was added on top of the motor mount to prevents its mechanical speed controller from overheating. It was equipped with the front thin wheels and rear wide wheels with high-profile spike tires.

The Astute, like the Avante, was over-engineered and suffers the similar flaws, with the chassis being very fragile due to having only one piece of FRP plate as well as the fragile lower arms.

Technical info[]

Variant Body Chassis Wheels Tires Motor Dimensions Gear

Standard
(18033)

Color: Red
Material: PS

Type: Zero
Frame: Gray, ABS
A parts: Lame Gray, ABS (Earlier batch)
Gray, ABS (Later batches)

Size: Large
Type: Teardrop-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Light Gray
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 131
Width: 86
Height: 46

5:1
4.2:1

Alitalia Astute
(92074)

Color: White
Material: PS

Type: Zero
Frame: Gray, ABS
A parts: Lame Gray, ABS (Earlier batch)
Gray, ABS (Later batches)

Size: Large
Type: Teardrop-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Light Gray
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 131
Width: 86
Height: 46

5:1
4.2:1

RS
(18077)

Color: Red
Material: ABS

Type: Super-II
Frame: Metallic Gray, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Silver Plated
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 150
Width: 97
Height: 46

4.2:1

RS Red Metallic
(95059)

Color: Red Plated
Material: ABS

Type: Super-II
Frame: Metallic Gray, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Manta Ray-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Silver Plated
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Avante-Type Slick
Color: Black
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 150
Width: 97
Height: 46

4.2:1

Gallery[]

Boxarts[]

See also[]

External links[]

Tamiya Japan[]

Tamiya America[]

Racing Mini 4WD series
Type-1 Hotshot Jr. · Hornet Jr. · The Fox Jr. · Boomerang Jr. · Bigwig Jr. · Falcon Jr. · Super Dragon Jr.* · Thunder Dragon Jr.* · Thunder Shot Jr. · Super Sabre Jr. · Fire Dragon Jr.* · Dash-1 Emperor* · Dash-2 Burning Sun
Type-2 Avante Jr. · Grasshopper II Jr. · Vanquish Jr. · Terra Scorcher Jr.
Type-3 Rising Bird · Dash-3 Shooting Star · Saint Dragon Jr.* · Dash-4 Cannonball* · Dash-5 Dancing Doll* · Winning Bird · Dash-01 Super Emperor* · Nissan Be-1
Type-4 Egress Jr.
Zero Dash-0 Horizon* · Avante 2001 Jr. · Astute Jr. · Manta Ray Jr. · Dash-001 Great Emperor* · Super Astute Jr. · Proto-Emperor ZX · Dyna Storm Jr. ·
FM Crimson Glory · Dash-02 Neo Burning Sun · Aero-Solitude
Type-5 Bear Hawk Jr. · Top-Force Jr. · Terra Conqueror Jr. · Dash-03 Super Shooting Star · Super Avante · Dash-CB1 Geo-Emperor*
Super TZ-X Mad Bull Jr. · Baja King Jr.
VS Dash-X1 Proto-Emperor* · Slash Reaper · Super Sabre Open Top · Top-Force Evolution Open Top · Daihatsu Kopen RMZ and XMZ · Daihatsu Kopen RMZ · Mini 4WD Lupine Racer · Mach-Bullet · Mini 4WD Koala Racer · Little Ryan Mini 4WD Special
Super-II Astute Open Top · Terra Conqueror Open Top · Racing Miku 2012 ver. drives Astute Special · Saber drives Super Sabre Special · Mikoto Misaka drives Thunder Shot Special · Daihatsu Kopen XMZ · Mini 4WD Shirokumakko · Mini 4WD Panda Racer · Mini 4WD Kumamon Version · Mini 4WD Merlion Edition - Singapore 50th Anniversary · Mini 4WD Dog Racer · Mini 4WD Hawk Racer · Mini 4WD Owl Racer · Mini 4WD Pig Racer · Mini 4WD Panda Racer 2 · Mini 4WD Cat Racer
Super XX Thunder Shot Open Top
AR Mini 4WD Lupine Racer 2
VZ Neo-VQS · Dual Ridge Jr. · Toyota GR Yaris · Honda e · Iron Beak · Ray Spear · Mini 4WD Elephant Racer · Mini 4WD Penguin Racer · Eleglitter · Super Avante Jr. (TD4) · Cross Spear 01
Starter Pack Zenquish Progress · Azente Progress · Neo-VQS Advanced Pack
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