FORD FOCUS RS WRC 03
Model Number: 43512
Released
29/10/2003
Drive
Shaft Driven 4WD
Suspension
Independent Friction Shocks
Chassis Description
Resin monocoque
Body Type
Polycarbonate
Motor
FS-12SS
Original Price
28000 Yen
Width
185mm
Length
427mm
Height
143mm
Wheel Base
257mm
Tread Front
Racing Radial
Tread Rear
Racing Radial
Ground Clearance
14mm
Weight
1700g
Scale
1/10
Tires
front:27mm
Rear:27mm
Tamiya's 6th car in its popular TGS XBG range. Tamiya took a standard TGS chassis and added the wheels and body depicting the Ford Focus WRC contender.
Reviews
f1fascination
I purchased two of these TGS chassis'd cars and have had fun restoring this particular one, the Focus, as a runner. They share many parts with the TT01 chassis, and are basically an entry-level nitro touring car.
Being factory-assembled by Mr Tamiya himself, the build-quality is excellent, but quite basic, i.e friction dampers, plastic bushes instead of ball-bearings, etc.
Tamiya offer an extensive range of hop-up options and I am slowly but surely adding them to my 43512 Focus.
Currently mine has the ball-bearings, speed-tuned gears ( which drops the final drive ratio from 10.4:1 to 8.67:1), one-piece mesh wheels with type-b slick tyres, CVA mini-dampers and coloured antenna.
Performance from the FS-12 motor isn't staggering, but certainly acceptable, and fast enough for a beginner in nitro, which is what Tamiya intended with this range of cars.
They certainly could benefit from a two-speed transmission though, as the motor always sounds like it's working hard.
But it makes a great sound, and even though it has a small tank seems quite economical.
Parts for the motor itself are not plentiful on Ebay, so keep an eye on your local hobby shop for anything you might require, but so far mine's proven quite reliable.
I love using mine when I can, I keep the motor oiled up when not in use, and it starts every time after a few pulls.
When not in use it sits on the shelf with its new Focus body and option wheels and tyres.