XV Pilot

Going to have to take a break from the hobby for a bit, and likely the forum too. Thanks all - it has been a privilege. Happy Tamiya-ing!

Deleted - already answered by others.

It is possibly a gross oversimplification, but in general softer things grip better. So softer tyres, softer inserts, softer springs, softer shock oils, etc. Another potentially gross oversimplification is to say that you can tune for understeer or oversteer by moving your grip bias backwards or forwards. So therefore, as a broad starting point, to make your car under understeer less, you can fit softer things to the front or harder things to the back. My apologies if I was stating the obvious, but you did ask for general advice!

That is quite common with reproduction bodies unfortunately. The smaller repro houses simply don't have the ability or finances to make the complex moulds that Tamiya and other similar high-end manufacturers can produce. Shapes are therefore often simplified so that they can be molded cheaper and more easily using a one piece mould rather than the multi-piece moulds typically used for the originals.

Well the body shape doesn't resemble that of a standard road car, so I don't think the colour should be one that you would typically find on a standard road car either. Maybe something very bright and luminescent with lots of sponsors stickers, or maybe a two-tone or possibly something with the pearl or flip effect?

Good luck! I hope it works!

It looks like the spur would indeed fit the shaft without a problem. However there is a potential issue with it interfering with the chassis and gear cover. They look a bit tight...

I have a DF-02 in my fleet, but not a TB-01, only a TB-03. I'll have to consult a manual to check...

I used Super Mini CVA shocks on mine. The Mini CVA bodies are a bit too long and you run out of space to get the lower spring retainer in place if you build the shocks short enough to fit the chassis. If you want to follow my example you only need one pack of long ball connectors. All the other ball connectors are the standard size ones.

Give it time. The times on the bottle are optimistic at best. You'll probably want to let it work for longer than specified.

That looks like a very good paint!

Yes indeed! You can use a bag of long ball connectors P/N 9805825 to space the upper links and lower shock mounts further forwards. This stops the right rear upper link from fouling the propshaft gear cover and causing asymmetrical suspension droop. Another improvement is to use a pair of 10mm m3 grub screws to occupy the second set of holes which secure the extension pieces to the rear uprights. This gives them a more secure connection and minimises slop in this area. You can also improve the servo saver by using a tiny piece of tape to reduce slop between the grey and cream pieces like so:

No probs. One thing I should mention - you probably know already - if you aren't running turnbuckles you'll need the TA-01 upper arms too. Luckily they come on the same sprue as the lower ones.

Yes indeed - this is how the TA02SW 911 GT2 kits are supplied, with a 236mm wheelbase shell and chassis.

You can shorten the wheelbase of a TA-02 with flipped TA-01 arms, but the width comes from the extra wide rear wheels.

I found RC to be pretty well integrated and enjoyed across the races when I visited a couple of clubs in South Africa a couple of years back, both cars and planes. Given the country's apartheid history, I found this both surprising and impressive. I don't think that there is anything about the hobby that makes it any more or less attractive to any particular race group. I think it is merely a function of the demographics and economic conditions in any given area.

I run my brushless TT-01 on a 25t spur, 55t pinion, TBLE-02 ESC and 13.5t motor. I haven't clocked it with a GPS as I don't have one small enough, but I would guesstimate a speed upwards of 30mph.

Looks great so far!

The grey bit is part of the chassis and gets covered by a conventional polycarbonate bodyshell. It looks more realistic than most F1 chassis, but I think a conventional layout is likely to have a lower CoG...

Not sure, but if it does, MCI probably make it.

I don't always succeed but I always try to finish one RC project before I embark on another. Since I am planning to start building a FF-02 soon, I thought it best to finish my Tyrrell first. So to this end I made a start this morning on a part I have been putting off for months, namely the driver's helmet which I painted with TS gloss white. Once this is dry I will need to paint the face as best I can using acrylics and a fine brush, then apply the supplied decals. Once the helmet is finished and attached, I will consider this model done. I am not using the tyre decals on this set of foam tyres as they are for running. I will perhaps use them on a set of rubber tyres for the shelf.

Planned my next project, searched through my spares boxes to find out what needs ordering. Turns out not much, just a body, wheels and some turnbuckles.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that!

Looks great so far!

I am a firm believer in kit builds, especially for youngsters starting out in the hobby. To a child (and sometimes to adults too) a RTR is often just an expensive toy, no matter how much it costs or how fast it goes. However building a kit gives the child a stake in the model. They have invested time and effort in its creation, and thus understand it better and are more likely to take proper care of it. Tamiya kits are a great starting point because of the excellent instructions and fit of the parts, which make for an enjoyable and stress-free build. There is a wide variety to choose from, from re-released classics through modern fun machines and club racers right up to pro level competition machines in the TRF range. For your purposes, toughness and convenience will presumably be more important than nostalgia or outright performance, so the DT series would be a good starting point. The DT-01 Mad Bull is simple and tough, similar in layout to the Grasshopper of old, but longer, wider and more stable as a result. They are also extremely tough with a rubbery plastic used in many of the vulnerable areas. Plus the big tyres give it off-road performance to rival many 4WD buggies. The DT-02 is a far more advanced design with double wishbone suspension all round. A variety of models are based on this chassis, so you have several body styles and two different drivetrain spec levels to choose from. It is also tough, apart from the front shock tower which can break now and then. I'd recommend that you either carry spares or fit a Carson brace to reinforce it. Then we have the DT-03 which is in essence an extended DT-02, using the same front and rear suspension but joined by a longer, narrower main chassis. It comes in buggy and truck versions. It has a few weak points in stock form, but the aftermarket parts industry has stepped in to provide plenty of fixes for these so you can toughen it up when/if it breaks. The DT range used to be quite limited in terms of motor choice and wheel size due to their gearing, but since the advent of brushless motors with their prodigious torque, this is no longer such an issue. For example I run a DT-03T on big Mad Bull tyres which give excellent offroad performance, powered by a 13.5t brushless motor which handles the rollout easily without overheating. If you fancy something with a bit more mechanical complexity, the TT-02B is a good bet, as is the re-released DF-01 Manta Ray. Both are 4WD shaft driven buggies with enclosed gearboxes and petty simple beginner friendly assembly. The Manta Ray is the better off-roader in stock form due to its higher ground clearance, but the TT-02B has more upgrade options and is a more stable performer on flatter ground due to its lower centre of gravity. Then there are the fun/stunt models like the classic CW-01 Lunch Box sand Midnight Pumpkin, or the more modern WR-02, GF-01 and G6-01 models with their various bodies. These don't handle as well as any of the buggy options, but for many that is the whole point, providing more of a challenge while doing wheelies and other stunt manoeuvres that kids tend to enjoy.