15 replies to this topic

[TSR]

Issued in 1966, the 1/24 scale Dynamic "Bandit" RTR is not so scarce, but the more expensive "Super Bandit" really is. In my many years of collecting, I have run across very few intact examples, even fewer of them in their original boxes.







Cool thingie...



This is a page from Vintage Slot Cars, a small booklet I wrote in 1997 to revive the interest in these nice old toys. Here is a live one from the museum:



Besides differences in body colors, the main differences between the Bandit and the Super Bandit are the chassis and the motor. The Bandit's body was metallic rootbeer when issued in the original cardboard window box, and a dark shade of solid red for the later issues sold in a clear-plastic box. The Super Bandit was always sold in the clear-plastic box featuring a green and white insert. While the Bandit had a chassis featuring solid axle bearings, the Super Bandit had a Dynaflex chassis with spring-loaded axle bearings forming a crude suspension that had a tendency to chew up the crown gear rather rapidly.



While the Bandit used the standard Mabuchi FT16D painted in metallic purple, the Super Bandit had a "Green Hornet II" motor, a Mabuchi FT16D painted in a light metallic green right over the original purple. It was also fitted with the early Mura "broken" magnets and the stock armature rewound and balanced by Mura with red #28 wire. Several versions existed, but all were made from the "purple" stock motor.



Note that the armature has been balanced, but the stack has not been machined. Later versions have the stack machined and polished.

The example below is particularly interesting because it is fitted with a Dynamic motor that I had never seen:



Yes indeed, this is a rewound, balanced version of the 1967 Mabuchi FT16DBB motor featuring an uncaged ball bearing in its can! Lately we have seen these motors in their stock version appearing in various genuine kits (Monogram 1/32 scale "series 4", Testor Meyers Manx dune buggy, Dynamic Lotus 49B RTR, etc.) but NEVER as a rewound, balanced version! In fact the only examples known are the Mura Magnum 88 and Dyna-Rewind "Enduro" motors that were never sold but as separate motors.





It also features brass spring posts, new black-oxide brush springs, and pin-tab retainers.
Quite a rare version if I may say, the first one I have ever seen, and I have seen tens of thousands of vintage slot cars...

I love to find stuff like this, don't you? And thanks to the wonderful Internet and Slotblog!, you have now a virtual museum at your disposal.

[slotbaker]

It's just as well that you find them, because if I found them, I'd be running them.

They are great to see, that's for sure.

[TSR]

Steve,

I would not blame you, they are just toys. But you should think about playing with something else unless you wish to throw good money down the toilet or light your cigars with 1000-dollar bills...

NIB: probably several THOUSANDS in greenbacks.

Used even little: only hundreds...

[Horsepower]

I love seeing this stuff! Dynamic was my favorite. Please forgive my impudence, oh great guru, but how do you know this motor wasn't some one-off deal that someone cooked up? Believe me, I know that YOU know, but I want to know...

[TSR]

Gary,

For several reasons:
1) It's WAY too clean to be an amateur job.
2) Every part of the car is in pristine condition. No one fits a rewind with a nearly impossible-to-find Dynamic sticker in a car that was never used. The rewinds generally come after the original motor has blown up. By that time the car shows signs of use.
3) The arm has its pinion on the can side, a RARITY for a rewound arm in the 1960s. Most were endbell-side driven. In fact the Super Bandit is the only RTR ever sold in the 1960s with a "serious" rewound arm, and its red wire is characteristic.
The motor has springs that I have never seen before. These are unique and were obviously made for that particular type of motor.

Then you have to guess of course, but this is why I went to Slot Car History school...

[NY Nick]

I had a Bandit that had a gold body?

Does anyone do repops of the Bandit body?

Thanks,

[TSR]

I am sure that SOMEONE makes it... but not sure who. Maybe Tom Anderson?

Nick, if you had a gold one, it means that someone bought a clear one (Dynamic sold them pre-trimmed, clear but with the decals already applied) and simply... painted it.

[don.siegel]

Thanks, Philippe, great pics!

I know we've discussed this before, but are you sure that Dynamic didn't release this with a red Bandit body as well? I picked up one on eBay several years ago, identical in all ways to what you show, except that the body is red. And I've seen one or two like this on eBay since then... No, I don't have the original box, but I don't think somebody would replace the body with a red one instead of the original black, doesn't really make any sense! I'll try to post some pics later this week.

Dynamic sold their 16D Green Hornets like this, so not that unusual. And Champion also released several RTRs with rewound motors, 507, 607, and 707 types... So did Cannon come to think of it, I believe, in one of their Vendetta cars...

Don

[TSR]

Hi Don,

I hope that you are feeling better...

Cannon never sold any Vendettas or any of their RTR cars with a rewound motor. However a customer could easily put anything he wanted in their cars, so it is not impossible to find a Vendetta fitted with the 465RW as an example.

Champion indeed sold many of their cars with the option of a stock motor or a rewound unit. Example: the Lola GT with 701 or any of the 702 to 707 motors depending of when it was issued. Changing weekly!

But I do not consider the Champion line in the same vein as the other RTR and kit manufacturers. Champion was a "pro" specialized company like Mura and I clearly separate these from most of the others.

Now for the Bandit: indeed the first issue was root-beer colored, and sold in the triangular cardboard window box. The second issue was sold in the clear plastic box, with an insert almost like that of the Super Bandit but red instead of green. The body was a slightly darker shade of red, NON-METALLIC (see the picture in the book page in the first posting).

HOWEVER, Dynamic also sold a METALLIC red body (backed with silver) for the car, in a clear poly bag with a tag. But this body was never used on the RTR cars, pretty much the same way as any non-orange "La Cucaracha" bodies were never used in the boxed RTR models.

[Edo]

... Does anyone do repops of the Bandit body?...

Hi Nick,

One27ray has repopped the Bandit. You could PM him here on the Blog.

Regards,

Edo

[NY Nick]

Thanks. I will PM him for the info.

The Bandit was the last slot car I had when I was a kid.

[TSR]

Nick,

Fortunately it is not so hard to make one from parts. You can find the original chassis, a Mabuchi stock FT16D motor, and the repro body rather easily. Paint it (or have Tom Andersen do it) in gold and the wheels and tires do not have to be the scarce Dynamic American mags, but some plain-Jane, similar sizes.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be...

[mdiv]

Dom Roselli (here on slotblog) is currently making a dynamic bandit body mold.

I also recommend one27ray because he gave me good information when I asked it.

Tom Anderson may or may not make them as well, I have yet to talk to him on the phone.

You can also ask Ed Sourbeck at EJ's hobbies, or Hermann Steinmann at Herm's...I've talked to both on the phone several times (for upwards of 40 minutes at a time!!!) and they are great people but their stock is growing thin.

Ebay also works but I'm trying to stay off ebay because I spent too much money there.

ANYWAY!

Good Luck, Nick!! Hope to see you at Buzzy's again soon!!

Hey!!! ASK BUZZY!!! he's got tons of mint stuff!

Mike

Nick,

Fortunately it is not so hard to make one from parts. You can find the original chassis, a Mabuchi stock FT16D motor, and the repro body rather easily. Paint it (or have Tom Andersen do it) in gold and the wheels and tires do not have to be the scarce Dynamic American mags, but some plain-Jane, similar sizes.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be...

[mdiv]

LOL I got carried away.

I forgot to THANK the Dokk for this great article!

Thanks, Dokk!

Mikey

[TSR]

Thanks Mike! You will LOVE the book...

[sportblazer350]

i asked the good slot Dokktar for a second book....one much larger than the first......a coffee table sized book......now he promises it soon........i hope it is BIG!!!....and oh yes, i/we will LUV it!!!!!!!!!

and i do plan a vacation trip to the museum one of these summers, and will bring a camera too......man, i luv this hobby!!!!!!!!!!