Popular Post PraetoR Posted January 8 Popular Post Share Posted January 8 (edited) Greetings! Recently, some of you have been very guilty of putting together nice Tamiya builds. This made me jealous and I had to build one! For something whacky, unusual, interesting, silly and oh-so-Tamiya, I went for the T3-01 Dancing Rider. This couldn't be any more "Tamiya" if it tried! Going for a mildly upgraded build, with the 370 size Tamiya Torque Tuned motor, 2s lipo, Tamiya-branded Hobbywing 1060 ESC, Carson radio gear & RC Bearings... uh... bearings. It'll go perfectly well. I ran the Torque Tuned vs the standard motor, before I started building, and the Torque Tuned sounded quite a lot faster. Much higher RPM. The kit comes with this stand, which is used to hold half of the gearbox casing, while you work on the other half. Then, when the build is completed, it acts as a stand for the model. Bag A was for the complete transmission/gearbox. This was a pleasure to build. Very simple, very straightforward, yet utterly bonkers and weird. Just like a Tamiya should. You can just see the little Torque Tuned motor poking out. I was surprised as to how much of an upgrade this appears to be, over the standard 370 motor. I expected a very small power increase, but it sounds quite substantial. Most of the front half of the chassis (this is upside down). That isn't a driveshaft; it just allows the entire thing to pivot, independently of the gearbox/rear half. Remove one body clip and pull out the peg, then the whole thing splits open, for inserting the battery. A very neat solution! This was as far as I got on day 1. I liked what I saw; it seems small, yet chunky and you could already see the potential Tamiya personality we all know and love. Next update, shortly! Edited January 8 by PraetoR 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone-wolf Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Of to a great start and yes seems this model oozes Tamiya charm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Love these things.....so different from the norm! Axle fitment is a bit quirky and you may find after a while that it might start to slip (more glue required). Enjoy 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 (edited) Now I wish Id bought the Tamico Edition! Looks so much fun! Edited January 8 by Kpowell911 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted January 9 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 9 23 hours ago, Lone-wolf said: Of to a great start and yes seems this model oozes Tamiya charm It certainly does. And it only gets more barmy. 20 hours ago, Yorkshireman said: Love these things.....so different from the norm! Axle fitment is a bit quirky and you may find after a while that it might start to slip (more glue required). Enjoy 👍 Yes, so I've been told! I've used superglue and if it starts to slip, I can always upgrade to the proper driveshafts. 19 hours ago, Kpowell911 said: Now I wish Id bought the Tamico Edition! Looks so much fun! As much as I know you like a good, limited Tamiya... the standard one will still be a laugh! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted January 9 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 9 Day two saw me starting with the servo. I used the old one out of my FTX Outlaw. It's a cheap Etronix item, with plastic gears, but it's more than up to the task of moving this thing from side-to-side. The servo mount is reversible, so you can get the height correct. Servo arm is weird... obviously. Instructions to build the AA battery box. Ignored! Servo mounted. The servo saver was very fiddly to build. Definitely the most awkward part of the build! The servo slides into place, along channels, then is bolted on. It's a nice design. Got the rear end/gearbox mounted. Then fitted the electronics tray. I was worried the 1060 ESC might have been a little big, but there's plenty of room. There's another tray that can be bolted above this one (if you have the ESC clearance), for fitting a transponder. A racing scene using these would be fantastic! A bit weird that having the servo saver centred causes the rear end to be off-centre. There is no adjustment in the servo arm. This is what you have. I'd have thought that Tamiya would have had this dead straight! Front end on. We are getting there! With the wheels/tyres and rear guard fitted, the chassis is basically complete! Funky looking thing! I just had the driver and self-righting arms to bolt on. Chassis completed! Again, because the servo saver isn't straight, when the rear end is, the self-righting arms aren't at equal heights. I've messed around, but that is how it is. Anyway, it's very cool and I'm looking forward to showing you the painted body (it's already done!). 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I don't remember the rear end been out like that but it's few years ago now and I've since fitted the aluminium adjustable links...Worth the £10 (if you can get them). Looking forward to seeing the body 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 It looks mental 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted January 10 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 10 (edited) Bodyshell masked off. This was very fiddly, as getting your hand in was not easy! I don't see any man hands ever being able to get in there, without struggling. I have no idea what really big men are supposed to do! Anyway, after much struggle, it was masked off. Most were fine. The headlamps were squint, but that didn't really matter, as I'd be using the standard headlight stickers. I figured a really lairy paint job was in order. As the box art grey/silver was waaaay too understated, for something this bonkers. Fluorescent orange... now that's more like it! All stickered up and mounted. It was looking good. Now, I just needed to paint the driver and tidy the cables. Most of the stickers were great. The side panels, especially, I did a really good job of. However, the headlights and the beams that go up the side of the windscreen... those were a different story. The curve of the polycarbonate caused real issues. The stickers are on, but they're lumpy/ripply, with air bubbles. Bit of a shame, but it looks good at anything but right up close. Unfortunately, my Voltz 1300mah 2s lipo didn't fit, but Overlander do their own 1300mah 2s that just fits. I bought one of those. Edited January 10 by PraetoR 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted January 10 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 10 Last day! I've never painted a driver figure, before. However, I think I did a pretty good job! A bit heavy-handed with the paint, but I'm happy, at least! Went for a properly retro design and paint scheme. And now, with the bodyshell fitted, the build is done! What a weird model. I'm very much looking forward to trying it out. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Looking really good mate and i think you went with the right colour and looking forward seeing it in action 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shergar Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 I’ve always wondered what was inside these! Cheers 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 On 10/01/2024 at 22:24, Stormbringer said: Looking really good mate and i think you went with the right colour and looking forward seeing it in action Thanks. Yeah, the colour is great. Couldn't be having it understated! 19 hours ago, Shergar said: I’ve always wondered what was inside these! Cheers 👍 No worries! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 I dont think 1 of those could ever be understated no matter the colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 Took it out for the first run. What a laugh! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 looks like you had fun with it tho I really liked the self righting and self toppling of it as well looked great fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Told you so ! 🤣 See you went for the adjustable arms and stiffer springs 👍 Wider wheels and tyres next maybe? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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