Tamiya Heavy Dump Truck Build

[PraetoR]

Hello all, got myself something new and shiny!

 

The Heavy Dump Truck is based on a (yellow, and therefore, awesome) GF-01 chassis and is 4WD, MANY-GEARED and has independent wishbone suspension, all-round.

 

Without further ado; armed with JIS screwdrivers and a glass of single malt (Laphroaig), the build began.

 

 

 

Step 1 was to assemble the diffs. As usual, I like to really cram them with grease.

 

 

 

Yellow multi-geared chassis is best chassis- ask anyone! 

 

 

 

When combining the two chassis halves, it really struck me, JUST HOW SHORT the wheelbase is! I mean, I knew it was short, but DAMN!!

Errm... it's possible the 3900Kv brushless system is going to be a bit lively! So, I've decided to gear it up, from 18t pinion, to 20t.

 

 

 

Frustratingly, the sprue on the parts tree took a small chunk out of one of the chassis parts, right on the part where the two halves seal. Even worse, it's at the bottom!

Serves me right, I suppose; I never did get round to buying a replacement pair of modeller's side cutters. I have now!

 

As for this, I have to work out some way of sealing it. Maybe just super glue? Or glue-gun glue, but I think that'll look bad. Any suggestions?

 

 

 

First glaring omission I've ever seen on a Tamiya manual; see the end of the chassis has four protrusions, just above where I'm to screw that plate onto. However, as you can see, the manual shows no such protrusions. Weird.

 

 

 

Front arms, hubs and driveshafts done. This is as far as I've gotten. Classic TL-01-style, 2-piece suspension arms. Simple, but it works.

 

 

 

Really enjoying it, so far! It's coming together great.

 

Also, yellow chassis. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by PraetoR

[No brains]

it is a nice car, I had one but modified it with long suspension arms, sct badlands wheels and castle 5700kv motor in it, but I was geting tired of the rollovers al the time, that why  I sold it 

Edited June 2, 2021 by No brains

[PraetoR]

Wow, 5700Kv is a lot! What a mean machine!

 

Shame to hear it rolled over a lot, I was hoping that wouldn't be a constant occurrence .

[PraetoR]

So, today I was in Tay Models, getting electrics for the Dump Truck.

 

And I was DUMBFOUNDED when a young couple walked in, with this:

 

 

 

HANG ON!! That's my old Pro-MT!! Where'd you get that?? 

 

 

 

 

 

Turns out, it has changed hands more than once! Anyway, it was nice to see it again and still getting bashed hard. 

Small world!

 

Right! Back to the build...

Rear arms, hubs and driveshafts done.

 

 

 

This is a seriously small chassis! I'm really surprised as to just how tiny it is!

 

 

 

Picked up an Etronix Pulse 4ch radio system. Obviously, I don't need four channels, but it was only a fiver more than the standard 2ch system, of which I already have several.

HOWEVER, there was a bit of a problem! More on that, shortly...

 

Also got this lovely Savox servo. At 10.5kg, it's overkill for this truck, but I wanted a subtle servo, that would blend-in with the aesthetic of this truck, because it sits on the outside of the chassis.

This black servo, with yellow/gold sticker will suit the truck, perfectly.

 

 

 

The SMD sensorless brushless system seems really nice. Although, the large fan makes a racket! The quality of finish -especially on the motor- is better than every other budget-orientated brushless system I've bought.

 

 

 

Next was supposed to be a photograph of the electronics connected and powered, so I could centre the servo, prior to install. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened.

 

While in Tay Models, the radio system box was empty, in the glass cabinet. The transmitter was sitting in-front of the box, on display, as it was the last one and that looks better than simply displaying a box. Close to the transmitter, also on display, was a receiver. I opened the cabinet (I have free reign) and put the transmitter and receiver into the radio system box. It made sense: Etronix Pulse box was empty, the Etronix Pulse Transmitter was in-front and an Etronix Pulse receiver was next to the transmitter. The only other radio systems in there, were the 2ch systems. Stock has been very low, as the supplier have been struggling to obtain and deliver anything.

 

Got home, connected the electrics, turned-on aaaaaand nothing happened! The radio system was not bound and will. not. bind.

 

Turns out, I certainly pick up AN Etronix Pulse receiver, just not THE Etronix Pulse receiver!

It also turns out that some other poor sod had come in and bought a DIFFERENT radio system, but with MY receiver! And I've walked out with HIS one!

 

Must have had both systems out of their respective boxes and on display. It's annoying, because these two similar systems are not cross-compatible and I live more than an hour's drive from Tay Models!

 

So, the build is on hold.

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

Thats a bummer mate 😞

[PraetoR]

It is. I'm REALLY hoping to get it running by the weekend.

[PraetoR]

 

 

So, the Tamiya Mini CVA set arrived in the post this morning!
AND the stock arrived in Tay Models, so I drove through and picked-up the correct radio gear!

The build continues! 

 

 

CVA shocks assembled and fitted. No friction shocks on this Tamiya!

They are plastic and basic, but they are lovely and smooth.

 

 

 

Finally got the chance to to hook-up the electrics and centre the servo.

 

 

 

I told you the chassis was tiny! That's just a 540 size can!! 

No wonder there's a wheelie bar!

 

 

 

Even for a Tamiya, this chassis has a weird steering set-up. It operates beautifully smoothly, though. Helped, in no small part, by the fitment of bearings, rather than the included bushings. 

 

 

 

Battery tray fitted. The electrics are mounted on-top of this, which was supposed to be done at this stage in the build. However, I decided not to, as I needed to test-fit the body shell and tipper bed, to find out how much space I had available.

The SMD ESC I'm using is a LOT bigger, than the included Tamiya ESC. I wasn't sure where/if it would fit.

 

 

 

Bought an F-Parts tree, in black, at the same time I ordered the kit. I felt that the bright yellow wheelie bar, sticking out the back, detracted from the Dump-Truck-aesthetic.

I thought a more subtle, black wheelie bar would be somewhat "masked", leaving the instantly-recognisable Dump Truck shape to be unaffected. If that makes sense?

 

 

 

The bumper is just silliness. It's great!

 

 

 

Opted for a set of Schumacher foams, to help support the tyres and prevent them folding, under load. They fit perfectly and make a huge difference.

 

 

 

Just look at that dinky wheelbase! The front bumper/mount & wheelie bar literally make up more than 1/3 of the overall length!

This thing may even out-wheelie a Lunch Box!

 

 

 

 

Test fitting the body, to ascertain ESC clearance.

Looking at it, I'm so happy with my decision to buy the black wheelie bar parts.

 

 

 

 

 

Right, so the ESC just fits! But only when mounted RIGHT at the back!

Bearing in-mind, that part of the truck slopes upward, so the further forward you mount it, the less room there is.

 

 

 

Yup, the far-side of that ESC is missing the tipper bed, by about a millimetre!

 

 

 

Electrics fitted and wired. With that, the truck is mechanically complete!

 

 

 

Tomorrow, I have to sticker her up, and paint the front grill & exhausts.

Then, she'll be ready for her first run! 

 

 

 

What a difference a day makes. 

[Lone-wolf]

Looking very good, please post a running video

[bertberr]

Love it!  Nothing quite like an over powered Heavy Dump Truck, or any other GF01 / CW01.  Just love the silliness of it.

[Stormbringer]

Gotta see a vid of something even more wheely mad than a Lunchbox/Pumpkin lol 

Coming on a treat tho mate 

[PraetoR]

TADAAAAAAAA!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not a painter, so found hand-painting the exhausts and grill quite tricky. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with the result.

 

I just cannot wait to try it out!

 

Thanks for the comments, guys. I appreciate it.

Edited June 4, 2021 by PraetoR

[Stormbringer]

Looking great there mate really likeing it 

[Kpowell911]

Looks fantastic mate 🙂

[MrCake]

Looks great, can't wait to see the video!

[PraetoR]

Thanks, chaps 

[PraetoR]

For those asking for a video 

 

 

 

I'll be honest, it's more of a struggle than I expected; when I bought it, I didn't realise it was quite this small.

 

Going to fit the included brushed system, as I was barely able to go anywhere near the throttle and was tense the entire time!

 

[Nitroholic]

yeah...I'd say the brushed motor is a wise move.

 

It can;t take hte throttle without lifting the front all the time, and if you tamed it by gearing up, it was nose diving under braking and digging the bumper in.

I think it will be more fun running a bit more sedately....as the chassis design just isn;t ever going to handle anything more.

 

It will still be bonkers...because...well, it IS bonkers 🙂

[PraetoR]

Thanks for the input, Nitroholic.

 

I'll definitely be fitting the brushed system. I actually managed to rob some of the fun out of it, just by going with too much power. It was pretty-much undriveable!

 

It's running a 20t pinion, which is the larger option, but I think I'll keep it, just to try and tame it, a little.

 

Cheers.

[Stormbringer]

OMG it does like to wheely but does look lotta fun 

[Yrkoon]

wow i want one, i thought my lunch box wheelied, that truck is on another level of daftness 😄

 

i do have a spare brushless system kicking around, should i try it on my lunch box? running lunchey on its second stock 27 turn motor and 2s turns out tamiya stock motors dont like massive puddles lol

Edited June 8, 2021 by Yrkoon

[walkbythesea]

Title of thread needs changing to:

 

Tamiya Top Heavy Dump Truck Build

 

👍😂🤣👍😂🤣🤣

[PraetoR]

14 hours ago, Stormbringer said:

OMG it does like to wheely but does look lotta fun 

 

It needs to wheelie less! Brushed is the way to go. 

 

 

12 hours ago, Yrkoon said:

wow i want one, i thought my lunch box wheelied, that truck is on another level of daftness 😄

 

i do have a spare brushless system kicking around, should i try it on my lunch box? running lunchey on its second stock 27 turn motor and 2s turns out tamiya stock motors dont like massive puddles lol

 

I'm going to do a Lunch Box Vs Dump Truck wheelie test and see who comes out on top.

 

You could try it. I don't think it'll help the handling!

 

 

11 hours ago, walkbythesea said:

Title of thread needs changing to:

 

Tamiya Top Heavy Dump Truck Build

 

👍😂🤣👍😂🤣🤣

 

It definitely is top heavy!

[No brains]

it is top heavy, I have weighted the body some time ago, and if i remember it was about 380 grams, mine I ran only on very loose sand it was undriveble on grass with the castle 5700kv motor in it and still on sand I had to be gentle with the trigger.

 

Did not want to put a brushed motor in it because for me it was then to slow and boring.

Edited June 8, 2021 by No brains

[PraetoR]

On 08/06/2021 at 17:35, No brains said:

it is top heavy, I have weighted the body some time ago, and if i remember it was about 380 grams, mine I ran only on very loose sand it was undriveble on grass with the castle 5700kv motor in it and still on sand I had to be gentle with the trigger.

 

Did not want to put a brushed motor in it because for me it was then to slow and boring.

 

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, although I don't think I'll find it boring brushed. I find my Lunch Box to be great fun and that's only running a 27t brushed motor.

 

 

Brushed setup fitted. Hobbywing 1060 and a Holmes Hobbies Trailmaster Sport 27t 540.

 

Hopefully, this will bring more enjoyment, as I really didn't like the whole "having to be super gentle and wary with inputs, as if walking on eggshells" thing. My Lunch Box is a hoot, can be fully ragged and I can see this being very similar.

 

Less is more, in this case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[No brains]

I hope that it works for you, I did not liked it brushed, I still have a wr-02 with a 3800kv motor in it with high speed gears I like that car more because it is only rear wheel drive you do not get the front roll overs that you get with the gf-01, and I widened the wr-02 so it do not roll over a lott, but it is stil a wheely king.