| “ | As the soul is shouting, burning and flying, the blazing dragon will run. | ” |
— The phrase that describes Fire Dragon's Fireball Driving technique in Radicon Boy.
| ||
The Fire Dragon Junior (Japanese: ファイヤードラゴンJr., Faiyā Doragon Junia) is a Racing Mini 4WD car released by Tamiya on June 16, 1988. It was based on the Fire Dragon R/C buggy, which was originally released as body set and later as fully assembly kit with the chassis from Thunder Shot.
Its R/C buggy counterpart was featured in the manga Radicon Boy as Gou Kuruma's 2nd Dragon R/C machine.
The Mini 4WD car itself also made made appearance in the manga and anime series Dash! Yonkuro as Masashi Daidou's machine, and as Kazuki Yamamori's machine in the anime adaptation. It also made a cameo appearance in Hyper Dash! Yonkuro.
General info[]
The Fire Dragon featuring the bodyshell that is ressembling the head of the dragon. It has some key design differences from the Super Dragon Jr.; The canopy has been moved toward the front, mono-shock prop was replaced by a pair of damper props and the flame-like decals. It has the car number 17. The CoroCoro Dragon decals was also presented.
Oddly, the premium variant and the 21st variant's bodyshells are compatible with AR Chassis.
The original Fire Dragon and the Premium variant[]
The original Fire Dragon and its Premium variant features the red body color, with white highlights and orange trims on it.
The original Fire Dragon comes with the white medium diameter 4-spoke Hotshot-type wheels paired with the black high-profile spike tires, while the Premium variant comes with the neon pink large diameter 6-spoke Manta Ray-type wheels paired with the black MS-type spike tires. The original Fire Dragon has its chassis molded in black, while the Premium variant has its chassis and A parts molded in light gun metal.
Unlike most VS Chassis cars, the Premium variant doesn't come with the rear roller stay and instead, it includes the plastic double rollers.
21st Century[]
The Charatoru-exclusive 21st Century variants consists of four color models: Clear red, white, black and clear blue. It has the body decals with red base color, black highlights and orange trims.
It was equipped with the red plated, large diameter 6-spoke Manta Ray-type wheels paired with the MS-type spike tires with the choice of black an white. The clear red and white models has the deep blue chassis frame with red A parts, while the black and clear blue models has the red chassis frame with black A parts. All models comes with the black, 16 mm lightweight plastic rollers.
Clear Special[]
The Clear Special variant was equipped with the clear, polycarbonate bodyshell with plastic mounting attached, meaning it can be painted in any color with spray paint (Usually the special paints for polycarbonate). It has with the film-type body decals on it. Because cutting is also required, this makes the assembly of the car harder for those not used to this. This variant was originally sold as a Stargek-exclusive kit prior to its Japan release date.
It was equipped with the black, large diameter V spoke narrow wheels paired with the red, hard compound arched tires. The polycarbonated-mixed ABS chassis frame and A parts were molded in black and white respectively. Unlike the Premium variant, it comes with a pair of 16 mm lightweight plastic rollers molded in black.
Depends on regions where it sold, It also includes a pair of Fujitsu Premium akaline batteries and is the 3rd limited edition Mini 4WD release to do so since the Cross-Tiger VR limited edition.
About the Fire Dragon 1/10 R/C buggy[]
Originally released as a body set for The Hornet and Thunder Shot and later as the fully assembly kit in 1989, the Fire Dragon is an entry-level R/C buggy.
While it borrows the chassis from the Thunder Shot, it has one difference: the front mono-shock was replaced by the indepentent CVA dampers. All other specifications are the same as Thunder Shot.
It was later re-released in 2008 (3 years after the limited re-released of Thunder Shot.) and would be later released in 2021. The 2021 re-release has the aluminum motor mount and comes with the pre-cut, pre-painted polycarbonate bodyshell.
Despite being a R/C buggy to the Mini 4WD counterpart, it was released a year late than its Mini 4WD sibling.
In media[]
Radicon Boy[]
In Radicon Boy, during the one of the races in the endurance survival race, Gou's Super Dragon's front nose has been cut open, rendering it unusable as it no longer able to use the Dragon Running technique due to the damage to the body. Despite Takeshi Fudou's suggestion of swap the body with the other one, Gou couldn't as without the Dragon Running technique, he will lose.
Just as Gou's tension is increasing, a light was suddenly growing from inside Fudou's rucksack! It was a large box, that someone placed into Fudou's rucksack without him knowing. Opening the box, what Gou found is a body that is similar to his Super Dragon's. He then swapped the bust body with the new body. During the race, Gou is in trouble as he can't use the Dragon Running technique, but after hearing the words from Fudou he is able to use the new technique: the Fireball Driving.
Hyper Dash! Yonkuro[]
In Hyper Dash! Yonkuro, Mr.G released the dragon Mini 4WD cars (including the Fire Dragon Jr.) to stop Yonkuro's Emperor by ramming the car during the first course. The car, along with other dragon Mini 4WD cars, were smashed away by the newly-upgraded Rise-Emperor.
Mini 4WD Hyper Dash Grand Prix[]
Chassis-chan, the mascot and one of the original characters in the game, owns a pink-colored Fire Dragon, equipped with the red-colored rollers and tires.
Technical info[]
| Variant | Body | Chassis | Wheels | Tires | Motor | Dimensions | Gear |
Standard |
Color: Red |
Type: Type-1 |
Size: Medium |
Size: Medium |
Standard |
Length: 127 |
11.2:1 |
Premium |
Color: Red |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
21st Century |
Color: Clear Red |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
21st Century |
Color: Pearl White |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
21st Century |
Color: Black |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
21st Century |
Color: Clear Blue |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
Clear Special |
Color: Clear |
Type: VS |
Size: Large |
Size: Large |
Standard |
Length: 130 |
4.2:1 |
Gallery[]
Boxart[]
See also[]
Related cars[]
Dragon series[]
External link[]
Tamiya Japan[]
- Fire Dragon Jr. (Re-release) at Tamiya Japan
- Fire Dragon Premium at Tamiya Japan
- Fire Dragon Clear Special at Tamiya Japan
Tamiya America[]
- Fire Dragon Jr. at Tamiya America
- Fire Dragon Premium at Tamiya America
- Fire Dragon Clear Special at Tamiya America
R/C Buggy that the Mini 4WD car is based on[]
- 1/10 R/C Buggy Fire Dragon (2008) at Tamiya Japan
- 1/10 R/C Buggy Fire Dragon (2020) at Tamiya Japan
- 1/10 R/C Buggy Fire Dragon (2008) at Tamiya America