XB versions

XB means eXpert Build. In Tamiya lineup, this means the model is factory assembled and factory body painted and decorated. The model comes with everything needed to be driven right out of the box. These are called RTR (Ready To Run) models... as soon as you got the battery pack charged and batteries fitted into the transmitter.

Well, the box contains the complete vehicle, its radio equipment, a battery pack and a charger. So be carefully when buying abroad: the charger will have to accept 220v (or 110v) and the plug has to fit your country standard. Well, this is not mandatory as long as you already own another charger.

Note that the radio equipment radio is basic, but performs very well: it's Tamiya made, named AdSpec GP. This tranmsitter is sometimes referred to Dark Vador due to its shape .

Several of my models are XB models: the Madbull, the Xsara WRC and the Sand Viper.

XB versions mainly target the RC beginners market. That's why you often find them in supermarkets and toy stores (especially in France, which is probably the country that is most infected by big stores). You can also find them at your local hobby shop since everyone needs to begin one day.

Differences with kit versions

The target market and the cost constraints imply differences between XB and kit version of a model. Not exhaustively, differences affect one or several of these elements:

 Speed controler: often mechanical vs electronic
 Dampers: friction vs hydraulic
 Bearings: plastic vs ball bearings
 Shafts: plastic vs metal
 Body decoration: color and stickersoften vary
 Base chassis: sometimes it's not the same

Again, these differences do not always occur and do not affect the model quality. In fact, some kits are also provided with mechanical speed controlers (for the oldest models of the lineup), friction dampers and/or plastic bearings.
Never forget XB models come with a complet radio equipment, a battery pack and a charger: kits require you buy these elements separately. OK, the battery pack capacity is generally limited (1800 maH for the most part) and the charger is very basic (count an all night long charge). But they are in the box.

Anyway, these elements can easily be changed to enhance the model performances. But for this, you need a complete setup manual to identify each part. This page is meant for that: to help you find the complete manuel corresponding to your XB model.

Finding the manual

The detailed manual is mandatory to better understand a model whereas the one included in XB boxes is very simplified. In case of breakage, the detailed manual will allow to precisely identify what has to be changed, to disassemble all or part of the vehicle to clean it up, to reassemble it the right way, but also to iventory the parts needed to enhance the performances of the model.

Tamiya websites offer some kit manuals to download for free. All are not available, and you also need to know which one you need for your vehicle.
TamiyaClub is an english fans website that holds many manuals. The problem is you must pay to register the site as a premium member otherwise you won't be able to view manual pages bigger than a post stamp. I do not recommend.
The solution is Vintage-RC, la french speaking reference for Tamiya models and other brands. The manual database is completed every day thanks to members who scan their manuals to offer them to other members. You only need to freely register the forum to access this huge database:

Cross reference list

Hereafter is a list of every Tamiya XB model. Very easy to use:
 Find your model reference in the first column (it is written onto the box and on the manual footer)
 Check the model name corresponds to yours
 Read the line and you'll get the reference of the corresponding kit model

Once you registered the forum, get to Vintage-RC manual database to find the manual you are looking for. Sometimes, your model may point to a kit reference which is pretty different from your model. Here's why:
 There is no perfect matching between the XB and the kit lineups
 The XB model is sometime base upon a different chassis even if the body is exactly the same
 The manual of the kit version that exactly matches your XB model may not be yet in the database

Anyway, the recommended manuel in the following list best matches what is available in the site database. Know that Tamiya often releases many models based on the very same chassis but with different bodies.

If you like the free service offered by Vintage-RC, the community will also be very pleased if you participate to the (french speaking) forum. Either to get answers to your question or to help other members with your knowledge. Also, feel free to scan your model manuals if you don't find the exact match into the database.

On some models in the list, there are links that will lead you to pages on this site because I own models based on the same chassis, or even the very same XB model.

Ref.	XB model name		Ref.	Corresponding kit name
57004	Blazing Star		58204	Blazing Star
57005	Calsonic Skyline GT-R		58191	Calsonic Skyline GT-R
57018	Wild Willy 2		58242	Wild Willy 2
57060	Toyota Hilux High-Lift		58397	Toyota Hilux High-Lift
57501	Rookie Rabbit		58184	Fighter Buggy RX
57701	RTR Pajero Rally Sports		58132	Mitsubishi Pajero Metaltop Wide
57702	Ford SVT F-150 Lightning		58222	Ford SVT F-150 Lightning
57703	Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R		58228	Ford Mustang Cobra R
57704	Subaru Impreza WRC'99		58226	Subaru Impreza WRC'99
57705	Calsonic Skyline GT-R		58255	Calsonic Skyline GT-R R34
57706	Lancer Evo VI WRC		58219	Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IV
57707	Castrol Toms Supra 2000		58264	Castrol Toms Supra 2000
57708	Super Manta Ray		58087	Manta Ray
57709	Madbull		58205	Madbull
57710	Mercedes CLK DTM D2		58260	Mercedes Benz CLK DTM 2000 Team D2
57711	Neo Top Force		58100	Top Force
57712	HKS Racing Altezza		58191	Calsonic Skyline GTR
57713	Subaru Impreza WRC 2001		58273	Subaru Impreza WRC 2001
57714	M1025 Humvee		58087	Manta Ray
57715	Mugen integra Type R Blanche		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57716	Mugen integra Type R Bleue		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57717	Subaru Impreza WRC 2002		58305	Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
57718	Nissan Skyline		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57719	CLK-DTM 2002 AMG Mercedes		58318	Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM
57720	Nissan 350Z Race Car		58304	Nissan 350Z Race Car
57721	Pro ABT-Audi TT-R		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57722	Subaru Impreza WRC 2003		58305	Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
57723	Gravel Hound		58328	Gravel Hound
57724	Ford Focus RS WRC '03		58335	Ford Escort WRC
57725	Raybrig NSX 2003		58313	Raybrig NSX 2003
57726	Calsonic Skyline GT-R 2003		58314	Calsonic Skyline GT-R 2003
57727	Mighty Bull		58231	Wild Dagger
57728	Porsche Carrera GT		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57729	Overlander		58231	Wild Dagger
57730	Calsonic Impul Z		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57731	Rising Storm		58334	Rising Storm
57732	Citroen Xsara WRC 2004		58332	Citroen Xsara WRC 2004
57733	Subaru Impreza WRC 2004		58333	Subaru Impreza WRC 2004
57734	Xanavi Nismo Z		58330	Xanavi Nismo Z
57735	Raybrig NSX 2004		58339	Raybrig NSX 2004
57736	Rover Mini Cooper Monte Carlo		58211	Rover Mini Cooper Racing
57737	Enzo Ferrari		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57738	Tyrell P34 Six Wheeler		49154	Tyrell P34 Six Wheeler
57739	Road Hawk		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57740	Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM 2004		58341	Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM 2004
57741	The Hornet		58336	The Hornet
57742	Rover Mini Cooper		58211	Rover Mini Cooper Racing
57743	Wild Willy 2		58242	Wild Willy 2
57744	Mini Cooper 2002		58400	Mini Cooper S 2006
57745	Raybrig NSX 2005		58339	Raybrig NSX 2004
57746	The Grasshopper		58346	The Grasshopper
57747	Audi A4 DTM 2005		58355	Audi A4 DTM 2005
57748	Desert Gator		58344	Desert Gator
57749	Lunch Box		58347	Lunch Box
57750	Esso Ultraflo		58359	Esso Ultraflo Supra
57751	Nismo R34 GT-R Z-tune		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57752	Midnight Pumpkin Metallic Special		58365	Midnight Pumpkin Chrome Metallic
57753	Arta NSX 2005		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57754	Suzuki Swift Super 1600		58368	Suzuki Swift Super 1600
57755	Sand Viper		58374	Sand Viper
57756	The Frog		58354	The Frog
57757	NISMO Coppermix Silvia		58373	NISMO Coppermix Silvia
57758	Ferrari FXX		58377	Ferrari FXX
57759	Mobil 1 SC		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57760	Audi A4 DTM 2006		58355	Audi A4 DTM 2005
57761	Open Interface Tom's SC430		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57762	M1025 Hummer		58087	Manta Ray
57763	Mazda RX-7		58382	Mazda RX-7
57764	BMW 320si WTCC 2006		58385	BMW 320si WTCC 2006 Team Germany
57765	Nismo Coppermix Silvia		58386	Nismo Coppermix Silvia
57766	Mazda RX-7 Drift		58388	Mazda RX-7
57767	Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo '07		58390	Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo '07
57768	Volkswagen Beetle		58383	Volkswagen Beetle
57769	Cayenne 2007 S Transsyberia 2007		58406	Cayenne 2007 S Transsyberia 2007
57770	BMW Z4 M Coupe Racing		58393	BMW Z4 M Coupe Racing
57771	Eclipse Advan SC430		58302	Enzo Ferrari
57772	Plasma Edge		58399	Plasma Edge
57773	Mini Cooper S 2006		58400	Mini Cooper S 2006
57774	Neo Falcon		58401	Neo Falcon
57775	Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo		58402	Nissan Fairlady Z Ver Nismo
57776	Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – VIP 2007		58407	Porsche 911 GT3 Cup VIP 07
57777	Suzuki SX4 WRC		58408	Suzuki SX4 WRC
57778	Volkswagen Golf GTI Cup Car		58410	Volkswagen Golf GTI Cup Car
57779	Nissan GT-R		58411	Nissan GT-R
57780	Lamborghini Countach LP500S		58413	Lamborghini Countach LP500S
57781	Rising Fighter		58416	Rising Fighter
57782	Mitsubishi Pajero Metaltop Wide		58132	Mitsubishi Pajero Metaltop Wide
57783	Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Drift-Spec		58428	Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Drift-Spec
57784	Porsche 911 GT3		58422	Porsche 911 GT3 Cup KTR
57785	Hotshot 2008		58391	Hotshot
57786	Subaru Impreza WRC 08		58426	Subaru Impreza WRC 08
57787	Fiat 500		58427	Fiat 500
57788	Xanavi NISMO GT-R R35		58402	Nissan Fairlady Z Ver Nismo
57789	Levant Brushless		?	?
57790	ORC Amemiya SCG-7		58402	Nissan Fairlady Z Ver Nismo
57791	Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM 2008		58433	Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM 2008
57792	Toyota Aristo		58432	Aristo
57793	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X		58432	Aristo
57794	Cusco Dunlop Subaru Impreza		58402	Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo
57795	Hatsune Miku Studio GLAD BMW Z4		58432	Aristo
57796	Super Levant		?	?
57797	Team Repsol Mitsubishi Racing Lancer		58087	Manta Ray
57798	Fiat Abarth 500 Assetto Corse		58444	Fiat Abarth 500 Assetto Corse
57799	BMW M3 GT2 2009		58449	BMW M3 GT2 2009
57800	BMW M3 E30 Sport Evo Drift-Spec		58451	BMW M3 E30 Sport Evo
57801	Nissan GT-R R35 Drift-Spec		58455	Nissan GT-R R35 Drift-Spec

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First publication: february 05, 2009 Last modified: february 01, 2010

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