The Tyco Fireball or Tyco Micro Fireball is a simple 2xAA radio controlled car manufactured by Taiyo (Japan) and released globally by Tyco Toys in 1995.
Not to be mistaken for the larger, faster, and full control Tyco Fireball, this micro version carries the same name on the front of the box, no doubt confusing Santa Claus and grandmas around the world alike upon its release.
Features and Performance
With just a forward and reverse (while turning) mode, this isn't a full control (left, right, forward, back) radio controlled car, and so is very much suited towards younger children who may not yet be able to control the steering and driving at the same time, as with a regular RC car.
For everyone else though, these reverse-turn models typically bring back memories of disappointment at Christmas or Birthdays when you realised the car was'nt a normal RC car and so driving it over jumps or around a course was simply out of the question.
And with just 2 x AA batteries powering it, it's not like you could get up to any speed fast enough to take into the air anyway! Strangely enough, 2 x AA batteries is more than enough these days for the modern RC toys from China which often use such low voltage, and get away with it due to smart use of lightweight materials and more powerful low voltage motors.
Recommendation
There is only one single-channel / reverse-turn model I've ever recommended (the excellent Tyco Mini Traxx), and I'm not about to do it with this one 🙂
Nevertheless, those who hold nostalgia with this particular model may find it more endearing, assuming they've forgotten the sheer horror they awoke to on Christmas morning, upon finding out that Santa just doesn't understand RC cars.
