firefoxussr

I too once had a Tool fetish. Then I sold it.

Recommendations anyone for a good filling material for this type of body? Assuming I use some sort of putty or body filler and back it with fiberglass. I want to eliminate the body post holes, I will be doing stealth-mounts for this car.

This is just cool to see that Tamiya does in fact make models with multi-piece bucks: http://www.autoindustriya.com/features/making-plastic-fantastic-a-tour-of-tamiya-039-s-cebu-factory.html

Oh the orientation of the bodyclip holes is a non-issue for my build. I'm looking to make rear body posts that extend further towards the back of the chassis to hold a non-standard body. I'll make a post about that and mention you on the build thread. As for the wheels, I want to make the 'coffin spoke' wheels that many Stratos had in 1:1. I would think best size is the standard mini cooper wheel size, as this is for any m-chassis car. I'm guessing for most cars it's just like the Cup Racer 3mm offset front, 6mm rear.

@Mannyp1980 Nairobi.

And yes, the 124 is an oblique reference to my father's old Fiat 124 Spyder road racing car.

Wow... um i need a copy of this. I'm building an M04L with a non-standard body... next week! Also I have a pet project for making some scale Lancia Stratos wheels for m-chassis cars, I could use some expertise.

As many of you have guessed, I'm a lover of all things Lancia. I've owned two Lancias. In high school I had a Lancia Beta Coupe *cue rust jokes*. And during college I bought and drove a Lancia Scorpion aka Montecarlo. The Coupe was fun, and I still tell the story about its rust nearly causing an accident. The Montecarlo was my true love, still to date my favorite car owned. I drove it for nearly a decade, eventually selling it as I needed air conditioning and it needed a proper repainting. I've been in love with all things Montecarlo since I saw the Lancia Rally stradale in the Bayless Fiat-Lancia parts catalog. From that I'd read many articles about the car. So as a Lancia fan, it's odd to say but the Stratos always comes second in my mind in spite of its accomplishments. I've owned more than a few 1/43 scale 037s, a few 1/24 scale Hasegawa, a pair of 1/24 Polisil models, and a 1/18th Kyosho. But the Tamiya 037 is the most interesting. Plus you can actually use it. My family was huge into Fiats and Lancia. Still is to a degree. Clockwise from bottom left: My 1976 Lancia Scorpion, Fiat 124 Coupe, my father's 77 Scorpion, 81 Beta Zagato (Spider), '80 Fiat 124 Spider ITB racecar, and another 124 Spider project car. So for me getting into RC in early 2013, it was quite timely that Tamiya should re-release the body in 2014. Unfortunately there is a bit of hunting required to piece together a working car. I did buy a TA03R, bought the new production belt from Germany and a R-S tub, built it... crashed it (minus bodyshell), rebuilt it. Then it annoyed me that the axles were always a little too wide in front. And the belt kept falling off on the back. The decision was made that I would sell the TA03R-S with the 911 GT1 shell I had that was useless because it was already cut... making duplication a daunting task. Then came the TA05. Originally you guessed it, it was for the Lancia 037 shell. Using the Porsche 911 GT2 body re-release instructions, I shortened the chassis. Again... front track way too wide even with extra thin hexes. If you've read this far, I think you know why I've decided on an M04 as the basis for this project. Additionally the supplied 037 wheels are simply too large in diameter for the body. This isn't surprising. Bearing in mind the body was originally designed for the ORV then redesigned to fit the TA03R-S. The reality is I'm grateful Tamiya made the re-releases. I now own enough bodies bought at a reasonable enough price, that I don't have to treat all of them as shelf queens. More to follow :-D The more you know factoid: Lancia Rally was the car's official designation. The 037 portion is an Abarth project number. And yes, the Group B Lancia Delta S4 is the Abarth 038.

I just noticed you're in Namibia how cool ! I know it's not local, but my wife is a Kenyan. #tamiyaglobal

I made an excel sheet* with all of my cars so I know where I want to put parts when I swap power systems and receivers. *it's Google Sheets

Got it wet on it's first run with body.

This thing is super fun to drive. I'd say it's 90% complete. [pic blocked from phtobucket] I'm planning on neatening up the wiring and relocating the ESC just under the rear intercooler area. And of course adding a 13 turn motor, it's 17turn for testing. [pic blocked from phtobucket] The wheels look like they rub as a co-worker pointed out, but I assure you they don't. I have aluminum tape in place to protect any potential rubbing spots. [pic blocked from phtobucket] I'm also planning to neaten up the wheel arches (I know how, just haven't done it) as well as some other areas. [pic blocked from phtobucket]

Almost finished. [pic blocked from phtobucket]

I like this a lot by the way. I'll be building up a TA05 IFS, and I'm thinking a 458 will be my run-hard body.

Never heard of Massdrop, interesting site thanks.

TA05 with short wheelbase, as specified in the 911 GT2 re-release body instructions. Take a formula, distill it, then make it special. The TA05 represents the fifth time around on an idea, and sometimes the idea comes out so good it will outshine its newer counterparts, the TA06 is beautiful but hard to service. The TA05 shows not simplicity but elegance- no more parts than it needs and no less than it needs. The TA05 demonstrates adaptability too by having the ability to become a low profile chassis (IFS). The TA05 with shortened wheelbase adds agility but comes with the need for more precise and calm steering. These lessons apply to both my graphic design and future professional piloting. The TA05 and 3Racing FGX are the only chassis of which I own multiple copies. They both have that je ne sais quoi.

I'll be 36 this year. I didn't even have a hobby grade RC until I was my early 30s. I was previously into media and music (vinyl records were my hobby). So when I was getting in my 30s, I thought it's high time I try doing RC flying again after my last RC plane did wingtip cartwheels and had a whole 30 seconds of flying time So before I bought an RC plane, I saw many forum posts recommending you buy an RC car to learn orientation, i.e. vehicle coming at you with directions reversed. And that was it. I bought a Nikko touring car then an HPI Sprint 2 after I went to a drift meet. After that I bought an F103 with Ferrari 412T1 shell and then the Tamiya Lancia 037 release hooked me. All the while I really wanted the Lancia Stratos from HPI and got a Cup Racer chassis, mint but second hand. I'm now up to a dozen or so RCs, at least half are Tamiya of course

I had to de-power some of the RCs I gave to my nephews at that age. Brushed, the worst performing ESCs, and NiMH all the way.

Thanks for the insight. I don't plan on running servo savers. I did that with my M06 and destroyed the servo saver after one bodyless roll. I think I'll just risk the 7 dollar HobbyKing drift servo, which i've become very fond of.

M04s interest me. I have one to rebuild. It will be a first of its kind as I will be running a different body than ever supplied by with the kit.

Thanks yes. The Lotus was won over a month ago, came pre-built. Should be interesting to drive. At some point I will rebuild my Cup Racer too, it is getting new bearings and rear hubs (something is wrong with the right rear hub, even rebuilt the diff).

Here it is at long last, all the way from Italy. A decade out of production m-chassis with original unpainted body. To me the Lotus should be an m-chassis, because the real thing is so compact. I have to say this chassis makes the dainty Cup Racer seem like a truck. And because I'm inquisitive, I have an uncut body in that box!

You have my interest! I've been thinking when I get to building my new shells making light fixtures for the headlights and foglamps. Perhaps you'd like to collaborate? Like I'd do the 3d-design for the foglamps, headlights too if they don't look right.

Finally put the KillerbodyRC alloy wheels on the Integrale XV01. My what a difference it makes. Martini body any month now....

Handling is near perfect now. Still pulls to the left, but I'll get that figured out. It will be running a 13.5 turn setup initially. I think after removing the damper spacers, the car is sufficiently low. [pic blocked from phtobucket]