sydstele73 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 (edited) Good morning all. I'm brand new here (just posted in the intro section) and hoping you kind people will help me in getting started. I'm a middle aged nerd living in Sussex with my son who has autism and I'm always looking for new things for us to do together. Rc cars appealed to us both. The rough idea is to have some fun building, 'tuning' and informally racing a pair of cars together. I've done some initial research, and while I'd love to build a 1:8 nitro 4-stroke (I'll maybe shelve that one for now!), I think a better starting point would be electric. We both love old Minis so hoping to build a pair of those, perhaps on a Tamiya chassis as the kits look good to my eyes. But looking at on road vehicles. Seems the M03 etc are almost collectors items so have been looking at the TT-02 chassis (not certain if mini bodyshells are readily available for this?). Spare parts seem to be everywhere though. Also came across the Kamtec mini chassis which looks comparable if a little less 'sophisticated' to my eyes. So the first questions are: Is either of these a reasonable starting point for us? (Both very 'handy' with good technical knowledge generally and loads of tools etc) Would like to build from scratch. If thats a yes, is it worth opting for the Tt-02r chassis as I will undoubtedly want to hop up very quickly in terms of speed and handling? Some pointers in this area would be useful...have read that oil filled shocks, alu drive shafts etc are popular upgrades. And lastly, has anyone here ever compiled a list of motor upgrade options that will fit the chassis? Thank you for reading and any pointers would be very much appreciated. Have a great weekend! 🙂 Edited April 19 by sydstele73 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 If you’d like to run them off road at all I’d suggest something other than a tamiya. They’re great fun to build but there are much more capable cars out there. If you do go the tamiya route expect to spend at least double what the kit cost by the time you add electronics, batteries, paint etc. then double that again if you want to put a load of upgrades on it! As with any RC purchase, buy the best version you can afford. The upgrades will always be worth the extra money if you plan to do them anyway. my personal recommendation would be the Arrma 3s range. Lots of options and they all share a lot of parts which keeps spares cost down. They don’t do kits but there are loads of upgrades available from loads of manufacturers so you can tinker til your hearts content. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydstele73 Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 Thanks for the reply TommyC. We're looking at mainly on road vehicles and to be honest very much looking forward to the construction/tinkering side of things so quite set on a kit vs a ready vehicle. That's what leant me towards the Tamiya/Kamtec initially. But as the basic tt-02 is mainly plastic, and we'll be upgrading parts quickly, I was wondering if the tt-02r would be more cost effective? Sorry, not dismissing your kind advice, but looking for an on road kit that can be developed over time and will accept a mini cooper type body shell. Thanks very much for your reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I believe Tamiya do the Mini again?? but there are some different chassis to look at, most of the “M” chassis labelled are the Mini scale and will work. The old M03 chassis was epic though, made for some proper fun and cheap racing here you go, and before somebody screams its the wrong wheel base, i am aware. These as far as i am aware can be built up to accept the Tamiya Mini shell, using differing parts in the kits or available separately. https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-escort-mkii-rally-mf-01x-1334538 These will need some wheels/tyres and body shell. https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-m-07-concept-chassis-kit-420907 https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-m-08-chassis-kit-440893 These are all Mini sized and will take a Tamiya shell. https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-citroen-2cv-rally-m-05ra-437886 https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-1000-tcr-berlina-corse-mb-01--1349197 Here are all the “M” chassis type cars, https://www.modelsport.co.uk/rc-models-toys-9900/rc-electric-models-990010/tamiya/m-05/m-05ra/m-06/m-07/m-08/mb-01/mf-01x? Finally whilst your putting a basket together get a set of rubber shielded bearings from Rcbearings on eBay or they have there own site and a bit cheaper. as regards to the electrics, inc batteries, chargers, radio gear, servo’s, motors and esc’s. I would say buy the best you can afford, some stuff is cheap for a good reason. its a load to go through mate, but when your both out together and laughing and being happy, thats worth more than the money it costs…… imo cheers, Gaz. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydstele73 Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 Thanks so much for that Gaz, extremely useful! I guess the first thing is...the tt-02 chassis will not accept a mini shell if I've got that right? So much choices lie within the M-series chassis? And if that's the case, I have a choice between buying a ready to drive model that I could then pick up a mini shell for (eg the citroen/berlina models you linked to, OR buy a more recent M-series chassis such as the M-07/M-08 and build from a kit? For now the latter would be my preferred option as we both fancy a 'proper build'. I have seen that Tamiya are releasing another mini (I believe on the mb-01) that ticks all boxes I think, but not out til late August as far as I can tell (but available to pre-order). Please let me know if I'm in the right ballpark so far!🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyC Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Well if the main draw is building it then Tamiya is hard to beat. Add to that the need for it to be a mini and I don’t think you really have another option! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie1 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I have always found with on road cars is trying to find a decent place to drive them, i do like an on road car, they look cool but a pebble can make them flip, an uneven road surface will really mess up the front, sides and rear of the body, and when they do end up upsides down it fairly quickly messed up/puts holes in the body, off road can drive on road but not the other way around, and kerbs are not an rc cars friend! That being said if you guys want minis you go for it, im sure you will have lots of fun with them, then you will try an off road and never hardly drive them on road ones anymore (is so much more fun) in my eyes anyway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 (edited) Lots of topics to cover here and a few wrong answers above but lets tacke them one at a time. --- I've just built a TT02R, in my opinion definitely worth it (depending were you buy it), It comes with berrings, oil shocks and metl centre driveline, and lots of room to improve further. You lack a body though and this could be a dealbreaker, its certain cheaper to buy the TT02R and add a nice body than hop up a regular TT02 hich came with a body you might not have wanted anyway. The regular TT02 has an ESC and motor, the TT02R doesn't so thats a thing to factor in if you don't have any already. --- Traditinally spaking, the Mini bodies in RC aare 1/10th scalle, which means 210mm wheelbase, 160mm wide, The TT02R is 257mm wheelbase, 190mm wide, so traditional Mini bodies all mentioned above, thats why you've had answers mentioning Mini chassis, However, ignore those. Those cars are very limiting in where they can be run as they are smaller than TT02 sized cars. Tamiya made 1/8th Mini Coper which was 257mm/190mm.... They are super hard to find being long discontinued, but fear not, Team C remade them and are available from L&L now and then, keep an eye out for them here: https://landlmodels.co.uk/products/rover-mini-cooper-258mm-x-190mm-tamiya-tt01-tt02?_pos=7&_sid=cf09b486f&_ss=r In addition, Tamiya Minis are very very lited in terms of perfomance, options and body choice, is not popular scale/size at all, you'll need to find someone who knows what they're advising (not happening here in this thread so far unfortunately). I raced Tamiya Miinis for a long time and choice wasn't great then, its no better now, its far worse. In fact both the M07 anf MF01X cassis Gaz advised up there don't even fit the Mini Cooper body either, the body overhangs don't fit the chasssis. The only Tamiya M-chassis that take a Cooper body are: M01/M02 (long discontinued) M03 (long discontinued) M05 (long discontinued) MB01 (unreleased yet) No other M-chasis can take the Cooper body for a variety of compatibility reasons) --- Kamtec Minis are even smaller than Tamiya Mini chassis, being 1/12th scale, 205mm wheelbase and 150mm width, they are designed for carpt racing indoors at orgnised clubs, if thts a rute you'd like tto go dthen thats a whole different kettle of fish topics lol. ---- In my opinion, its either get a TT02 ad pick a different body, then have a near limitless choice of options to choose from t mske faster or handle better, carbon fibre/alloy parts etc (or get the Mini boody I've linked when its back in stock) Or get a Tamiya Mini, get frustrted by the fraction of things you can do with them and hardly any option paths and a handful of bodies avaailable. Edited April 29 by Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 19 hours ago, Garry said: Lots of topics to cover here and a few wrong answers above but lets tacke them one at a time. --- I've just built a TT02R, in my opinion definitely worth it (depending were you buy it), It comes with berrings, oil shocks and metl centre driveline, and lots of room to improve further. You lack a body though and this could be a dealbreaker, its certain cheaper to buy the TT02R and add a nice body than hop up a regular TT02 hich came with a body you might not have wanted anyway. The regular TT02 has an ESC and motor, the TT02R doesn't so thats a thing to factor in if you don't have any already. --- Traditinally spaking, the Mini bodies in RC aare 1/10th scalle, which means 210mm wheelbase, 160mm wide, The TT02R is 257mm wheelbase, 190mm wide, so traditional Mini bodies all mentioned above, thats why you've had answers mentioning Mini chassis, However, ignore those. Those cars are very limiting in where they can be run as they are smaller than TT02 sized cars. Tamiya made 1/8th Mini Coper which was 257mm/190mm.... They are super hard to find being long discontinued, but fear not, Team C remade them and are available from L&L now and then, keep an eye out for them here: https://landlmodels.co.uk/products/rover-mini-cooper-258mm-x-190mm-tamiya-tt01-tt02?_pos=7&_sid=cf09b486f&_ss=r In addition, Tamiya Minis are very very lited in terms of perfomance, options and body choice, is not popular scale/size at all, you'll need to find someone who knows what they're advising (not happening here in this thread so far unfortunately). I raced Tamiya Miinis for a long time and choice wasn't great then, its no better now, its far worse. In fact both the M07 anf MF01X cassis Gaz advised up there don't even fit the Mini Cooper body either, the body overhangs don't fit the chasssis. The only Tamiya M-chassis that take a Cooper body are: M01/M02 (long discontinued) M03 (long discontinued) M05 (long discontinued) MB01 (unreleased yet) No other M-chasis can take the Cooper body for a variety of compatibility reasons) --- Kamtec Minis are even smaller than Tamiya Mini chassis, being 1/12th scale, 205mm wheelbase and 150mm width, they are designed for carpt racing indoors at orgnised clubs, if thts a rute you'd like tto go dthen thats a whole different kettle of fish topics lol. ---- In my opinion, its either get a TT02 ad pick a different body, then have a near limitless choice of options to choose from t mske faster or handle better, carbon fibre/alloy parts etc (or get the Mini boody I've linked when its back in stock) Or get a Tamiya Mini, get frustrted by the fraction of things you can do with them and hardly any option paths and a handful of bodies avaailable. Pm sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 21 hours ago, Garry said: Lots of topics to cover here and a few wrong answers above but lets tacke them one at a time. --- I've just built a TT02R, in my opinion definitely worth it (depending were you buy it), It comes with berrings, oil shocks and metl centre driveline, and lots of room to improve further. You lack a body though and this could be a dealbreaker, its certain cheaper to buy the TT02R and add a nice body than hop up a regular TT02 hich came with a body you might not have wanted anyway. The regular TT02 has an ESC and motor, the TT02R doesn't so thats a thing to factor in if you don't have any already. --- Traditinally spaking, the Mini bodies in RC aare 1/10th scalle, which means 210mm wheelbase, 160mm wide, The TT02R is 257mm wheelbase, 190mm wide, so traditional Mini bodies all mentioned above, thats why you've had answers mentioning Mini chassis, However, ignore those. Those cars are very limiting in where they can be run as they are smaller than TT02 sized cars. Tamiya made 1/8th Mini Coper which was 257mm/190mm.... They are super hard to find being long discontinued, but fear not, Team C remade them and are available from L&L now and then, keep an eye out for them here: https://landlmodels.co.uk/products/rover-mini-cooper-258mm-x-190mm-tamiya-tt01-tt02?_pos=7&_sid=cf09b486f&_ss=r In addition, Tamiya Minis are very very lited in terms of perfomance, options and body choice, is not popular scale/size at all, you'll need to find someone who knows what they're advising (not happening here in this thread so far unfortunately). I raced Tamiya Miinis for a long time and choice wasn't great then, its no better now, its far worse. In fact both the M07 anf MF01X cassis Gaz advised up there don't even fit the Mini Cooper body either, the body overhangs don't fit the chasssis. The only Tamiya M-chassis that take a Cooper body are: M01/M02 (long discontinued) M03 (long discontinued) M05 (long discontinued) MB01 (unreleased yet) No other M-chasis can take the Cooper body for a variety of compatibility reasons) --- Kamtec Minis are even smaller than Tamiya Mini chassis, being 1/12th scale, 205mm wheelbase and 150mm width, they are designed for carpt racing indoors at orgnised clubs, if thts a rute you'd like tto go dthen thats a whole different kettle of fish topics lol. ---- In my opinion, its either get a TT02 ad pick a different body, then have a near limitless choice of options to choose from t mske faster or handle better, carbon fibre/alloy parts etc (or get the Mini boody I've linked when its back in stock) Or get a Tamiya Mini, get frustrted by the fraction of things you can do with them and hardly any option paths and a handful of bodies avaailable. XM-01 Pro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 (edited) 13 hours ago, Kpowell911 said: XM-01 Pro? Yep that goes 210mm, thats a the dearest way to put a mini body on a car that size though and definitely not recommended (could buy two TT02R kits for the price), and still very limited in other areas like body choice. Edited May 1 by Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Maybe OP should just wait for this if theyre set on Mini’s? https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-mini-cooper-racing-mb-01-1369256 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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