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The Avante Junior (Japanese: アバンテJr., Abante Junia) is a Mini 4WD car released by Tamiya on December 15, 1988. It is based on the famous R/C buggy Avante by the same company. It is also the first to employ the Type-2 Chassis. There's also the Black Special version which is based on the same version of its R/C buggy.

Tamiya would later release the VS Chassis variant known as Avante RS on December 21, 2004.

It was first featured in the manga Mini 4 Top as the racing machines for Hayato Takamura and Shuichi Saino. It was also featured in the manga and anime series Dash! Yonkuro as Yonma Yoshimoto's machine and later as a machine for Fujiyama of Team Heavy Metal.

Both the Avante Jr. and its R/C counterpart were also featured together in the manga Moero! Avante Kyoudai as the Ohzora brothers' primary machines, which were joined by the Avante 2001s later in the story.

General info[]

The Avante Junior is the smaller sibling to its R/C buggy counterpart and feature the same, futuristic racing buggy body design. There are damper props on the front nose and the on the rear, with the tie-rod props accompanies the the front damper props.

Original variant and Black Special[]

The original Avante features the Avante blue body color, with various manufacturer decals on over it. The Black Special, on the other hands, features the smoke body color.

Both were equipped with the newly-designed 6-spoke Teardrop-type wheels and the black, Avante-type slick tires, which sets the standards for any future large diameter wheels design for future Mini 4WD cars. The standard models has its chassis molded in gray, while the Black Special has its chassis molded in black. A re-issue of the Black Special variant released in 2019 has the ABS plastic chassis frame instead.

Unlike its R/C buggy counterpart, the wheels for the standard model were molded in white instead of yellow. On the other hand, the Black Special spots the neon pink wheels.

One later Avante models, the Aero Avante, would later reuse the original's Black Special variant's color scheme for its Black Special variant.

RS variant[]

The RS variant features the similar color schemes as the standard model, but lost many of the original decals and are replaced by Tamiya logos and 'RS' marks. The RS variant is notable to be the first to utilizes the foil-type decals, which would later used in many future Mini 4WD cars.

It was equipped with the VS Chassis as opposed to the Type-2 and is equipped with the chromed large diameter mesh-type wheels akin to that of the RS variant of the Super Astute Jr and was paired with the black Avante-type slick tires. The chassis frame and A parts were molded in black, and was equipped with the blue, 16mm ringless lightweight plastic rollers on the front.

Special version[]

Released in 1990, the limited Special version variant features the same body color as the standard model, but with the chassis and wheels molded in clear and yellow respectively.

Champion's Gold variant[]

The Asia-exclusive Champion's Gold variant, based upon the standard model, features the gold plated bodyshell and was equipped with neon green wheels and red tires.

RS Purple Special variant[]

The Bunka-exclusive Avante RS Purple Special features the matte purple plated bodyshell.

It was equipped with the purple plated large diameter 5-spoke lightweight narrow wheels paired with the purple arched tires. The chassis frame and the A parts were molded in purple.

Yellow Special variant[]

The Yellow Special (Clear Body) features a polycarbonate body and a white polycarbonate ABS reinforced chassis. It comes with black large diameter 5-spoke lightweight narrow wheels with yellow arched tires.

30th Anniversary Special Kit variant[]

The limited 30th Anniversary Special Kit is mostly the same as the standard Avante Jr., except it comes with an additional blue plated bodyshell, two sets of body decals and an ABS chassis frame.

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

TAMIYA_RC_Avante_(filmed_in_1988)

TAMIYA RC Avante (filmed in 1988)

The original Avante R/C buggy promotional video.

Released on March 31, 1988, the Avante 1/10 scale R/C buggy is the most advanced R/C buggy to be released by Tamiya at that time.

It features the double-deck fiber-reinforced-plastic chassis supported by four independent, adjustable multi-link, double-wishbone suspension that has been matched with the aluminum oil dampers. The use of an electronic speed controller is required, a first for a Tamiya R/C buggy.

The 530 motor and battery are both placed in a longitudinal position on the left and right side of the middle of the chassis respectively. It has a Mabuchi-made RX-540VZ Technigold motor. There's a center differential which distributes torque to both front and rear differentials which was then distributes power to all four wheels.

Tamiya_RC_Avante_(2011)

Tamiya RC Avante (2011)

The Avante (2011) promotional video.

The Avante was intended to be more customizable than any other R/C buggy at the time. However, it suffers a lot of problems; The aluminum suspension and front knuckle parts are fragile, the front suspension can bottom out and its handling was subpar when compared to the other R/C buggies. Some of those problems were later fixed with the releases of new models based on the Avante, including the Vanquish, Egress and Avante 2001.

Tamiya would later release the renewal version of Avante in 2011 which fixed the aforementioned problems. Some of those improvements were also carried over to the re-release of Egress, as well as the new Vajra R/C truggy. Later, the Black Special variant of the Avante 2011 (Based on the aforementioned Avante Jr. Black Special Mini 4WD car), comes with all the hop-up parts as standard, was released in January 2012.

In media[]

Spoiler alert!

This section of the article may contains details concerning the progression of the plot. If you do not want it to be spoiled for you, skip this section!

Moero! Avante Kyoudai[]

Shouichi, the older of the Ohzora brothers, brought the Avante R/C buggy using his savings (as the Avante itself is very expensive). Upon seeing the R/C buggy, Shouichi's younger brother Fuuta brought the Avante Jr. himself. Together, they were the Avante brothers.

Later in the series, Shouchi's Avante was crushed by the wood pipes while saving the uncontrollable 2001 test car from it. Although his Avante was busted, many of its salvaged parts were used in his new Avante 2001 R/C buggy, which was modified from said test car. (This is despite the fact that he already has a Avante 2001 that was scratch built.)

Let's & Go! Tsubasa: The Next Racers[]

A gold Avante Jr. was made by Kitaro Kiba at the request of Professor Tsuchiya and was planned to be showcased at a race tournament in a Mini 4WD research center (Which is Professor Tsuchiya's lab). The bodyshell and chassis were made of pure gold and unfortunately due to this, it was targeted by the Phantom Thief Baron and later his son, Baron the 2nd.

The gold Avante itself contains a data chip which contains records of people playing the Mini 4WD cars in the 30 years period. Due to its chassis and bodyshell being made of gold, it is much heavy, so much so that it can't move. It was later equipped with high-torque motor to rectify this.

Technical info[]

Variant Body Chassis Wheels Tires Motor Dimensions Gear

Standard
(18014)

Color: Blue
Material: PS

Type: Type-2
Frame: Gray, ABS
A parts: Gray, ABS

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

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

Standard

Length: 128
Width: 86
Height: 50

5.1
4.2:1

Black Special
(18506, 95501)

Color: Smoke
Material: PS

Type: Type-2
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Teardrop-Type
Spoke: 6
Fitment: Staggered
Color: Fluorescent Pink
Material: Polypropylene

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

Standard

Length: 128
Width: 86
Height: 50

5.1
4.2:1

Special
(18507)

Color: Blue
Material: PS

Type: Type-2
Frame: Clear
A parts: Clear

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

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

Standard

Length: 128
Width: 86
Height: 50

5.1
4.2:1

RS
(18058)

Color: Blue
Material: PS

Type: VS
Frame: Black, ABS
A parts: Black, ABS

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

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

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4:1

RS
Purple Special

(92210)

Color: Pearl Purple
Material: ABS

Type: VS
Frame: Purple, ABS
A parts: Purple, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Narrow Lightweight
Spoke: 5
Fitment: Squared
Color: Purple Plated
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Arched
Color: Purple
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 145
Width: 92
Height: 50

4.2:1

Champion's Gold
(93001)

Color: Gold Plated
Material: PS

Type: Type-2
Frame: Gray, ABS
A parts: Gray, ABS

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

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

Standard

Length: 128
Width: 86
Height: 50

5.1
4.2:1

Yellow Special
(95060)

Color: Clear
Material: Polycarbonate with Plastic Mount

Type: VS
Frame: White, Polycarbonate-Mixed ABS
A parts: Yellow, ABS

Size: Large
Type: Narrow Lightweight
Spoke: 5
Fitment: Squared
Color: Black
Material: Polypropylene

Size: Large
Type: Arched
Color: Yellow
Material: Med. Elastomer

Standard

Length: 147
Width: 88
Height: 45

4.2:1

30th Anniversary
(95474)

Color: Blue (1st set)
Blue Plated (2nd set)
Material: PS (Both)

Type: Type-2
Frame: Gray, ABS
A parts: Gray, ABS

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

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

Standard

Length: 128
Width: 86
Height: 50

5.1
4.2:1

Gallery[]

Boxarts[]

Images[]

Trivia[]

  • The Avante Jr. has the most variants and successors that were based on it.
  • It is one of the two Avante Mini 4WD cars (The other is Aero Avante) that introduce the new chassis.
  • It was chosen to be a cover car for the 2012 season of Tamiya Japan Cup temporarily before it was replaced by the Aero Avante.
  • The later re-issues of the Avante Jr. has its decal design changed due to trademark issues. This is also true for its RC buggy counterpart.

See also[]

Avante series[]

Related[]

External links[]

Tamiya Japan[]

Tamiya America[]

Bunka[]

R/C buggy That the Mini 4WD Car is Based On[]

Mini 4WD cars from Dash! Yonkuro franchise
Dash Warriors Mini 4WD Championship arc Boomerang Jr. · Monster Beetle Jr. · Hotshot Jr. · Falcon Jr. · Super Dragon Jr. · Hornet Jr. · Dash-1 Emperor · Dash-2 Burning Sun · Dash-3 Shooting Star · Dash-4 Cannonball · Dash-5 Dancing Doll · Dash-01 Super Emperor · Dash-0 Horizon · Dash-W1 Wild Saurus · Dash-02 Neo Burning Sun · Dash-001 Great Emperor
Black Mistral arc Horizon Boundless · Liberty Emperor
Shin Dash! Yonkuro Dash-CB1 Geo-Emperor · Dash-CB2 Blazing Sun · Dash-03 Super Shooting Star · Dash-04 Cannonball Wail · Dash-05 Dame the Dancing Doll · Dash-CBW Command Saurus
Hyper Dash! Yonkuro Rise-Emperor · Shooting Proud Star · God Burning Sun · Cannon D Ball · Dancing Divine Doll
Mini 4WD Championship participants Fire Dragon Jr. · The Fox Jr. · Thunder Dragon Jr. · Rising Bird · Bigwig Jr. · Avante Jr. · Thunder Shot Jr. · Clod Buster Jr. · Lunch Box Jr.
U Team and U Team 2 Dash-X1 Proto-Emperor · Crusader · Black Chopper · Black Bomber · Black Fighter · Black Attacker · Proto-Emperor ZX · Proto-Emperor Coretank
Team Momotaro Samurai Crimson Glory · Crimson R · Crimson T · Crimson E · Crimson A
Team Ninja Warriors Terra Scorcher Jr. · Dash-X5 Shadow Emperor
Team Heavy Metal Dash-X2 God Emperor · Dash-X3 Hurricane Emperor · Dash-X4 Devil Emperor
Amazon Horizons Sid Horizon · Buzz Horizon · Gal Horizon · Luke Horizon · Coco Horizon
from Black Mistral arc Aero-Solitude · Manta Ray Jr. · Black Mistral
Dark Dominion Night Seek · Night Seek Trigger · Night Seek Shield · Night Seek Rod · Night Seek Edge · Night Seek Saucer · Night Seek G · Over the Horizon · Dancing Bloom Doll · Beast Emperor · Big Burning Sun · Shooting Billion Star · Cannon Bad Ball
Others Daihatsu Kopen XMZ · Astralster · Abilista · Raikiri · Festa Jaune · Silwolf
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
* denotes Premium version available
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