Purchased a Frog kit recently (just as a shelf queen, my 1980's memories) and it had the orange sticker in the top right corner of the box " electronic forward and reverse speed control included".. The kit was factory shrink wrapped, and guess what ... no speed control inside,,, just wondering if others have had Tamiya kits missing things.. I notice it's made in the phillipines, wondering if there are some QC issues..

What kit # is it....or which one (#) did you order?

#58354 is just a kit. ($150 approx.)
#57756 is the RTR with radio and ESC. ($250 approx.)

I don't know what you paid for the kit, but possibly The Frog was packaged with the wrong box. I also seen on eBay sellers selling "#58354 with ESC" in the title for $134 but the pictures look like it is just a kit with no speed control. Then on the other hand I see a seller picture a TEU 101-BK ESC with the #58354 kit. If you got it on eBay or anywhere else, I would say something to someone if the title says ESC included.

The Frog was my first hobby grade RC back in the day. If you plan on running the pad jumper, there are plenty of cheap ESC to "plop" on in there. But I seen in your post you say "shelf queen". I hope you get the issue resolved, even if it just sits there. Heck, for $139 The Frog with a ESC, I would go out and get a second one to bash around the house.

Having The Frog just sitting somewhere; staring at me, would drive me nuts. No Guts, No Glory!

It was just the kit..But it does have the sticker in the upper right corner of the box.. It will be (mostly) a shelf queen but I do plan on running it from time to time.. That's why it would nice to of had the ESC with it... No problem getting an aftermarket one.. Just not like Tamiya to be missing something that major in a kit..

try giving tamiya a call, or e-mailing them saying the it was missing the ESC

I did email, Tamiya North America, and because I'm in Canada they passed the buck to the Canadian supplier and I e-mailed them on Oct 29 and haven't heard anything. Guess I gota play the waiting game... What does Tamiya care... I gave them my Hundred and some dollars.

I must say Axial seems to have a better customer service dept. Had a problem with a kit of there's that I need an answer to and they were much more responsive.. whether i was in Canada or the US