Nissan 350Z Race Car
Model Number: 58304
Released
TBA
Drive
4WD shaft driven
Suspension
Four wheel independent double wishbone, friction dampers
Chassis Description
Molded composite tub
Body Type
Lexan polycarbonate
Motor
RS-540SH
Scale
1/10 Touring Car
Tires
front:27mm Racing Radial
Rear:27mm Racing Radial
Following the release of the extremely popular R/C High Performance Racing Car Enzo Ferrari (item 58302), Tamiya presents the second R/C car kit employing the no-nonsense TT-01 chassis. Typically used for new items in the XB Pro series, the TT-01 chassis features fewer parts than other chassis, making for easier assembly and setting options. Drive and wheel shafts employ sturdy, lightweight resin for effective weight savings. Built for both ease and performance the TT-01 is fun, friendly, and fast. The body replicates the 350Z racing concept car, which was unveiled at the same time as the market version of the 350Z.
[from Tamiya]
Reviews
Wireless
The TT-01 Nissan 350Z Race Car is the first on-road car I have ever owned. I wanted a runner for Snet to go alongside my King Blackfoot and a quick scout round gave me two options. Moosey's runner TA-02SW Taisan GT2 or a NIB TT-01 350Z Race Car from James at Fusion. Feeling somewhat indecisive I bought both and gave the Taisan to Claire to set and and run as she wished. James did a great deal on the car and within a couple of days it arrive impeccably packed and ready to build. I sourced a number of hop-ups including the racing steering set, carbon chassis brace, metal motor mount, TRF fluorine coated dampers, full ballrace set and a Tamiya Super Modified 11t motor. An ESC goes without saying I guess. Anyways, I digress - onto the car itself...
The kit comes ready to assemble with a 3-step speed controller. It's Tamiya's entry-level touring car so everything's chunkily moulded in plastic and non-adjustable making the car a breeze to slot together. What I noticed immediately is that some of the plastics are that shiny brittle plastic that you get on cheaper models. Unfortunately, my chassis also had a moulding fault, but this was recitified quickly and efficiently by James at Fusion - first class as always.
The car is a 4WD model with a beefy looking ABS tub style chassis. This item features a centre channel where the prop shaft runs along. A geared diff at either end and big heavy-duty looking plasic diff output cups transmit the power via Falcon style dogbones to the stub axles, again featuring meating looking plastic. The centre shaft is also a Falcon style one and looks chunky. Either side of the centre propshaft sits a bay. On one side sits the 7.2v pack, mounted longitudinally and on the other goes the motor, ESC, steering servo and receiver. Pretty chocka on that side then...!
Suspension is double wishbone all round, completely unadjustable and fitted with friction shocks. Wheels are black spoked affairs with slick tyres.
The body is a gem. Really good detail and a high-downforce rear wing that looks like it'll actually do something. The decals are all pre-cut which is odd. Makes it really quick to apply them but they don't look as good as cutting them out yourself. I painted my car box colours, save for the red which I switched for a Kandy Apple pearlescent affair. Lovely...!
I can't comment on how the standard car goes as mine features a number of hop-ups including those TRF shocks. Suffice so say it goes like the wind and handles with real precision. Turn in is initially sharp, then fading out into neutral understeer under power. Slow turns with power on the apex cause the back end to snap out and you have to be pretty quick to catch it. I expect a ball diff that allows for a certain degree of slip would help here. I'll have to flatten the torque curve on my ESC a little to avoid this. The only vice I have experienced so far is that the car doesn't seem overly stable at high speed. A little twitch here or there can send the car spinning, although this could have been down to the surface I was running on, the cold temperatures and my lack of experience with on-road cars.
The propshaft on my car appears to bow at high rpm and actually fouls the channel it runs it making a horrible clacking noise. This is due to the higher rpm motor and will be fixed by replacing it with the hop-up aluminium propshaft that can't flex.
All-in-all it's a great looking car and an ideal introduction to on-road racing for the beginner. A few hop-ups later and you'll be able to take on some fairly serious opposition. That body is also the best looking of all the on-road cars I've seen absolutely gorgeous...!