New on the shelves

Tamiya King Yellow 6x6

School bus RC six-wheeler heads our kit round-up

TAMIYA’S new King Yellow monster bus is an absolute hoot. Based on the same six-wheel-drive running gear as the Konghead truck (Issue 1,488), the King Yellow adds an extra dash of fun thanks to its Us-style school bus body.

It’s finished in Camel Yellow paint with around 50 decals, and Tamiya claims it will climb 40-degree slopes, even if the low-slung front bumper means this vehicle is no rock crawler. The 6x6 format allows it to deal with almost every other kind of terrain, though.

The King Yellow also handles better than its near-half-metre length would lead you to believe, with a decent turn of speed and a quick steering servo; those after greater agility can specify an optional four-wheel steering pack.

A competent 12-year-old child should be able to drive this bus, but they would probably need supervision with the build, which took us around six hours.

Precision parts mean assembly is a satisfying job, with one exception being the fiddly and vague first step, which involves greasing and sliding two tiny dust covers under tight slats on the chassis. After that, if something doesn’t feel like it fits properly, you’ve probably misread the manual. It’s clear, if intricate and almost without words.

Add a further two hours to cut, paint and decorate the body, which could do with being made from slightly thicker polycarbonate. Recommended tools include a set of Lexan scissors for the bodywork, plus a scalpel and safety rule for the decals. Tamiya’s impeccable eight-piece radio control tool set is a sound investment at £28, too.

Assembly Putting whole kit together took us about six hours, with its 50 decals

Box fresh Tamiya’s King Yellow 6x6 can be bought as a kit or with all the radio control equipment in the box