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Those of you who had the Sonic Fighter as your first RC-car, surely have fond memories of it, and probably also don’t think it’s ugly. When it was originally released, it was for most other enthusiasts among us just ugly and unrealistic, and combined with quite terrible handling and inadequate durability, It was at that time by many simply not being considered worthy of belonging to the Tamiya RC-car range. Anyway, I think there is no denial that it was a rather poor attempt at making a new model by using basically the same parts as the even uglier and worse performing predecessor, the Striker.

Although not much appreciated back then, it now belongs to the Tamiya classics, and though it’s not among the favourite models of most enthusiasts, it doesn’t look that bad at all anymore! Once an ugly duckling, Now, 22 years after its release, it still isn’t a swan, but it’s attractive in its own unique way and triggers memories of the “good old days”.

So, as a tribute to the “ugly duckling”, I painted a Keen Hawk body in the Sonic Fighter’s colour scheme and applied original Sonic Fighter stickers. The wing was cut and modified to resemble the wing of the Sonic Fighter. To give the model a proper “military look”, although a hi-vis scheme, I covered the body and wing with Tamiya PS55 matt clearcoat after applying the stickers. The chassis has the same modifications as used for the DF-03 “Racing Master” presented here some time ago, except for the more appropriate black wheelnuts. I tried with white Keen Hawk wheels first to stay in line with the Sonic Fighter’s design, but opted for the dark yellow Avante Mk. II wheels in the end as they compliment the paint scheme better.

I think few enthusiasts would claim the Keen Hawk to be beautiful, and giving it a Sonic Fighter look certainly hasn’t changed that, but as a tribute to the poor ugly duckling, it’s maybe not that bad….. Maybe I should attempt a modern interpretation of the Striker too?