12 replies to this topic

[Hudson]

So I met a guy yesterday and got chatting and he said that he had an old tamiya rc car for sale and would I like to buy it. I went to see it this morning and it's a top force evolution, or it's a top force with hop ups. Clearly an attached photo would help a lot here but I don't have one......... I've looked at every image on the net that I can find to help me identify it and I'm pretty sure it is a TFE, but, the gear box casing is red and the chassis plates are solid black in color as opposed to a patterned black. It has hi-caps, red wheels and the shock mounts are correct for TFE. Can anyone help to confirm that this is defo a TFE (it's the red gear box casing that make me doubt the most). He wants 120 euros for it delivered, bearing in mind that it's effectively a rolling chassis in good condition with a shocking diy paint job on the body and no tail wing, no decals, no box, no manual. Should I buy it??? I need some help making a decision on this as I prefer 2wd vintage stuff really, but if it's a good opportunity................

[TA-Mark]

Re the chassis plates: Top Force has FRP (fibre reinforced plastic) chassis plates with no printed writing. The Evolution has CF (carbon fibre) chassis plates with "Top Force Evolution" and "Carbon Technology" printed on the top plate in white. The DF01 hopup CF plates do not have the same white printing. Front and rear damper towers are a completely different shape between TF and TFE.

Re the red gearbox casings: Red is TA01/TA02 tourer/rally. The DF01 buggys all have black plastic standard.

It sounds like a "bitsa" to me, but if it has the right 'hopup' parts on it, then the price is cheap. To obtain all the parts individually to make up a replica runner is about 5 times or more of the asking price. Check the price/parts list on the yellow Blazing Star in my showroom which was upgraded to TF spec.

[Tamiya Era]

Check forbthe hop up parts installed, if yes then great deal despite the FRP chassis..

[dutch_rc]

An Evo should also have a double set of universals and titanium screws (they will appear darker).
But it's sounds like a pretty good deal anyway.
Could be the gearbox was bashed and some point and that it was replaced with TA01/TA02 parts...
I'd replace that one though.

[Tamiya Era]

shoot some photos so we can analyze it in details

[waterbok]

here some low estimates, 4x hi caps 50, red wheels 40, TF body(with undercowl?) 20, shock plates 15, J parts 10 so its already a nice buy.
if it has these


they are nearly impossible to find at the moment and would set you back for at least another 40.

so go for it and make a nice TF or TF evo out of it.

and if it has this



bingo

here are the main TF parts


TF evo

[Hudson]

Thanks loads for your responses on this, I reckon TA Mark has got it about right - I think it's a standard Top Force with hop up parts (shocks, shock towers, wheels) and a gear box casing from something else. I'm gonna try and get some photos sorted for you guys to look at. In any case I think it's worth the 120 euros and the element of unknown just kinda makes it more exciting....

[Hudson]

Ok so I finally got hold of the car in question and managed to take some snaps, as suspected I think it's a bit of a 'melange' but mostly Top Force Evo, also an unexpected body shell in with it. Can anyone tell me exactly what I've got here??

Attached Thumbnails

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[dutch_rc]

Looks like it's not an original Evolution but that doesn't mean it's a bad buy.
It has some cool upgrades a normal TF wouldn't have.

Chassis plates are FRP instead of carbon (Evo) if I see correctly but shock towers are Evo design.
Wing stay is from a bathtub kit and was probably replaced with the rear gearbox after it went belly up.
Extra shell is a Terra Conqueror - Blazing Star. The wing as well.
Can't tell exactly but it doesn't seem to have universals on the rear.

Altogether well worth restoring, I'd say.

Edit - if there are lightweight ball diffs in the gearboxes, that would be a very nice surprise...

[dutch_rc]

Since I have a bit of a fetish for this chassis, I had a second glance.
I was ready to conclude it is a hopped up Top Force with damage repair.
But the fact that I see screws in the suspension arms instead of shafts, makes me think it's a mix and match after all.
Which isn't a bad thing in my book. Parts are parts if you want to run it...
Turnbuckles and the way they're held down seem to be a bit off too.

Painting a DF-01 body dark really does wonders for it.
Black and gunmetal look quite brilliant.

[Tamiya Era]

Yes. It is most like TF with Hop-Up parts. Not TF Evo.
But easily now u can gather some little bits to make it fully EVO

Good HUnting

[waterbok]

Nice score, the FRP setup is TF evo and looks to be complete even the very hard to get aluminium parts, you got the evo rims, strengthned drive shaft, tamiya alu wheel hexes and the original Tamiya alu motormount. that is your 120 already.
The dampers look like HiCap but the top cap looks different to me. (The Hicaps will be rereleased btw, 84301)

So it should not be to difficult to make a very nice looking Top-Force or even a TF Evo out of this baby.

edit: besides TFevo decals that is

[Hudson]

Thanks for all the input guys, I think I might sell this baby on to someone who's more in to the Top Force thing. After reading waterboks last comments I had a closer look at the shocks and I don't think they are hi-caps - they're very similar but I'm pretty sure they're not the real deal, any suggestions on this? (the photos are not very clear).