Destined to become a Volkswagen Golf24
Status: Runner
Date: 19-May-2015
Comments: 3
Well it’s been about 15 or so years since I built my last touring car model, which was an HPI Nitro RS4 Dodge Viper. Since I’ve gotten back into R/C I’ve built my Mazda 787B (F1 chassis) and a dozen buggies and trucks, so I figured I was due for something a bit sportier. Now it was just a matter of deciding on what body and chassis I wanted to build.
Then Volkswagen developed the amazing and gorgeous Golf24 to run the Nürburgring 24-hour race, and Tamiya was kind enough to release the body kit, which locked up my decision for the body. But I decided that I didn’t want the TT-01 chassis for this body, I wanted something a little better, and was initially thinking of the TA-06 chassis. But then as fate would have it, Tamiya decided to release a front-motor, all-wheel-drive chassis, just like the real Golf24, and all of the pieces fell into place; the chassis, the XV-01TC Pro.
I realize that the XV-01TC Pro isn’t the greatest chassis, or the lightest, or the most technologically advanced out there, but as it properly matches the real car’s powertrain, it was the obvious choice for me. I decided to build the kit with the included hop-ups, and no more. I’ll give it a few runs to deicide if I want to upgrade to any of the other available components. I did have a nice surprise when I realized that a 7-cell, 8.4V NiMh battery pack fits in this chassis. Tamiya doesn’t mention it anywhere, but they leave room in the battery compartment for the battery connectors, which if you run the battery connector to the top/electronics side of the chassis, the 8.4V pack fits perfectly.
I really wanted to use 32mm wide racing slicks on all 4 corners, but there were interference issues in the front so I got the matching 26mm wide wheels/tires for the fronts. I did have to use 6mm hex adapters on all 4 wheels, and additional 0.5mm wheel spacers in the fronts to make sure the inside of the wheels clear with no interference, but they fit great, and the tires perfectly match the body width at the wheel arches. I plan to paint the mesh portion of the 2-piece wheels TS-38 Gun Metal (similar to the real car), and I am still trying to decide if I’m going to strip the chrome plating on the outer rims and paint those too or not.
I’ve got the preliminary trim on the body done, and all of the fastener holes drilled in all of the other pieces. I just need to finish up the light buckets and rear spoiler trimming, lots of sanding, and then let the paint and sticker fun commence, including the PS-55 Flat Clear externally for the roof and the hood. I hope it finishes up in real life half as good as it already is in my head.
'Installed Options/Hop-Ups'
*Full Ball Bearing Set
*50454 - Racing Slick Tire Set, 26mm (1 Pair)
*50547 - Wide Racing Slick Tires w/ Inner Sponge, 32mm (1 Pair)
*50548 - 2-Piece Mesh Wheels, 26mm (1 Pair)
*50549 - 2-Piece Wide Mesh Wheels, 32mm (1 Pair)
*53113 - Racing Radial/Slick Inner Sponge Set, 26mm
*53162 - 4mm Anodized Aluminum Flange Lock Nuts (Black)
*53569 - Clamp Type Aluminum Wheel Hub (6mm)
*53646 - Wheel Spacer (Blue), (1) 0.5mm spacer on each front wheel
'Installed Electronics'
*53485 - Tamiya Super Modified Motor 11T
*MC400CR - Futaba ESC
*R203GF - Futaba S-FHSS 2.4GHz 3-Channel Receiver
*S3010 - Futaba High Torque BB Servo
*GYC430 - Futaba Steering Rate Gyro
*Update 04/17/2018 – Finally had a chance to get the body finished for this kit. This body set looks amazing, but it took so much time. Three colors on the underside, plus flat clear on the outside for the hood and roof. Then once I was done with all of the paint, I think the 120+ stickers took me something like 7 – 8 hours to apply. Like I said, I love the way it looks, but man I wouldn’t want to have to do it again.
Comments
Klausen
Looks great. I just received mine this week, so looking forward to building it. Gonna look great with the Golf24 body.
Grastens
A nice example of a cool-looking car. Your attention and affection for the subject have conspired to make this a standout model!
rjg1973
really nice!
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