Making the Boomerang run again
Despite the overall excellent condition of this model, it needs some work. As a shelf queen, some parts were not needed. Especially the parts needed to transmit servo movement to the wheels. A little work with a thin screw and nuts later, everything now works fine.
On the rear part, things get a little bit trickier: the motor was installed without the plates used to set the position of the motor depending on the motor pinion you choose to install. Not counting the installed pinion is an 18T which is not meant for this model (that's why the ratio is so long and the buggy so slow). Hopefully, the parts I need are fully compatible with the 2007 re-released HotShot (and the 2008 Boomerang re-release, of course). When my order arrived, I just had to install everything with a 15T motor pinion that gives the best balance between speed and throttle. Furthermore, I decided to give it a Sport Tuned motor: more powerful than the stock Mabuchi 540, it won't damage the gearbox.
No custom changes: the chassis is already fully ballraced. The only change will be an electronic speed controller to replace the mechanical speedo. For me, this buggy is just perfect as it is: I love it.
First runs
They took place on a pebble playground. No fool driving or hazardous jumps with this old model as parts are not that easy to find out.
The run ended early because of the erratic electronic speed controller (a plug needs repair). Back home, the check up let me notice the motor pinion is too big and that the adjustment plates for motor pinion are missing. This explains why the buggy was running so slow, even if the stock Mabuchi 540 can not deliver great performances.
As for the buggy handling, it looks very sane and is much comparable to the Baja King's. They have a 20 year difference in conception, but I wouldn't bet which one would arrive first in a race.
I Just have to finish its setup and to run it again to have a better idea about it. Anyway, I love this Boomerang, both for its handling and for its look.
And now the traditional promotion video of when it was released back in 1986 (© Tamiya)
For the second run, I had received the missing parts and fitted them: a 15 tooth pinion, the Sport Tuned motor, and the adjustment plates for the motor. I also changed the suspension setup: for the rear, I added a second big spacer on each damper because they were too soft with only one big spacer. At the front, I replaced the thin spacer with a big one: too hard, the drivetrain became bouncy. So I fitted the intermediate spacer which looks to be the best setup.
With these little improvements, the Boomerang is nothing else but a true delight to drive. On any aspect, it handles as efficiently as the Baja King. The 15 tooth pinion with the Sport Tuned motor make it a fast buggy that corners very well. One of its drawbacks is to sweep all the pebbles that tend to block the steering: sadly, the chassis design doesn't allow any kind of protection. Good news is the 2008 re-release of the Boomerang that comes with the Super Sabre chassis cover: problem solved.