Restoration project: Yokomo MR-4 TC Custom... legendary touring car.

[PraetoR]

'lo all,

 

How goes? I've been meaning to restore this old Yokomo for a while, now. She's a relic from the 1990s and was one of the best competition touring cars in the world. Released as a successor to the MR-4 TC and was replaced by the MR-4 TC Special, this was a highly successful chassis, which remained competitive for a good, long while.

 

I owned it, years ago (circa 2003-ish, when I started racing in competition), but sold it to a friend, who raced it himself, before eventually replacing it with a more modern car. I didn't see it for years, after that.

 

About 6 years ago, I started a little RC touring car club, indoor racing, purely for fun, amongst friends. Low budget, brushed motors, ni-mh batteries, trophies at the end of the year. It was a laugh. We needed some cars, so I contacted the same guy and bought the old Yoke back off him! It was brilliant! It acted as the sort of "club" car, with many people borrowing it. Eventually it fell to my girlfriend... who put it into a wall!! 

 

So, it has sat, broken, gathering dust, at the bottom of her bedroom cupbard, for about 3 years now.

 

She needs saved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restoration video- part 1 (just an introduction):

 

 

 

I'll be doing a few videos on it, as well as posting updates on here, so do please drop by often.

 

Current "to do" list:

Repair the damage/replace broken parts.

Full rebuild.

New front posts.

New shell.

New wheels/tyres.

New electronics (unsure, see video).

 

Really isn't much, but the real challenge will be finding any parts!!

 

Cheers!

 

 

Edited July 26, 2017 by Praet0r87

[sean-vrs]

1 hour ago, Praet0r87 said:

'lo all,

 

How goes? I've been meaning to restore this old Yokomo for a while, now. She's a relic from the 1990s and was one of the best competition touring cars in the world. Released as a successor to the MR-4 TC and was replaced by the MR-4 TC Special, this was a highly successful chassis, which remained competitive for a good, long while.

 

I owned it, years ago (circa 2003-ish, when I started racing in competition), but sold it to a friend, who raced it himself, before eventually replacing it with a more modern car. I didn't see it for years, after that.

 

About 6 years ago, I started a little RC touring car club, indoor racing, purely for fun, amongst friends. Low budget, brushed motors, ni-mh batteries, trophies at the end of the year. It was a laugh. We needed some cars, so I contacted the same guy and bought the old Yoke back off him! It was brilliant! It acted as the sort of "club" car, with many people borrowing it. Eventually it fell to my girlfriend... who put it into a wall!! 

 

So, it has sat, broken, gathering dust, at the bottom of her bedroom cupbard, for about 3 years now.

 

She needs saved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restoration video- part 1 (just an introduction):

 

 

 

I'll be doing a few videos on it, as well as posting updates on here, so do please drop buy often.

 

Current "to do" list:

Repair the damage/replace broken parts.

Full rebuild.

New front posts.

New shell.

New wheels/tyres.

New electronics (unsure, see video).

 

Really isn't much, but the real challenge will be finding any parts!!

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

When you look at the list of replacement parts it sounds like triggers broom!

 

 

Edited July 26, 2017 by sean-vrs

[PraetoR]

It is EXACTLY like Trigger's broom!

[PraetoR]

Some progress, last night.

 

Ripped out the electronics, except servo, I might do that later. Replaced the top deck with one from the MR-4 TC Special (wasn't particularly necessary, but there was a tiny crack and the whole thing looked a bit scabby). Also replaced both rear wishbones with "heavy duty" items... or they may be just the standard MR-4 TC suspension arms. I can't seem to get clear info, on that.

 

 

Top deck was used, but in good condition. Other parts (including bumper, which I don't need) are new-old stock.

 

 

It genuinely doesn't look like progress... it looks worse! But it is progress, really!

 

 

TC Special top deck does look better

 

 

Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3bfzk3FD1s&t=25s

 

I have to wait, until I get back from offshore, before proceeding further. The shell will be.. emm.. The Tamiya The Ferrari The Ferrari Not currently in stock.

 

Cheers!

[Tamiyacowboy]

 

Owned one of these myself MR4-TC custom and fitted it with a honda accord shell in arctic white also fitted it with a silverado truck shell as a drifter to, my rims where white dish race rims but i swapped them out for drift rims and boots. i turned it into a drifter that a straight out racer 

[PraetoR]

Yeah, I remember discussing one of these with you on another thread, waaay back when. I have a brand new set of tyres on brand new white dish rims, so I might go down that route. depends if they suit the red Ferrari.

[XV Pilot]

I too raced one of these BITD. It was the nightmare of finding parts that drove me back to Tamiya...

[PraetoR]

Some work done yesterday: new electronics.

 

Alturn waterproof, ball-bearing servo.

Code RC 2.4ghz radio system.

SkyRC Cheetah sensored 17.5t brushless system.

 

 

 

All fitted!

 

 

 

Should go like a new one!

 

Very quick post today, it's all in the video:

 

Cheers!

[PraetoR]

Getting the thing to handle properly. Since I've been banging-on about the handling, from the start... I guess it really had better be good!

 

 

[PraetoR]

She's finished!!

 

Not much to say, really... info in the video