TurnipJF

The RM-01 looks very different to a standard F-104, but appears to have the same rear end as the F-014V2 Pro. One could argue that the F-104V2 Pro is really a RM-01/F-104 hybrid.

As per title really - given that they didn't make it onto the list at Nuremberg, do you think we'll be seeing them later this year, or at all?

I'd say a TL-01. A versatile chassis that can be a buggy, truck, rally car, drifter or straight touring car, and still remains competitive against more modern entry level chassis, or even non-entry level ones if updated to LA spec.

On the subject of tools: a fancy tool set is nice to have, but for the vast majority of hobby level kits, all you need is a JIS screwdriver and a craft knife. The kit comes supplied with a perfectly adequate box spanner and Allen key for the wheel nuts and pinion grub screw. Flush cutters are handy for removing parts from sprues, but you can achieve similarly neat results with a knife and some care. Likewise curved scissors can be handy for some bodyshell trimming tasks, but many people trim entire bodyshells with a knife using the score and snap technique.

Having built the DT-03, and comparing it's manual to that of the MF-01X, I'd say that if you can build one, you can build the other. The MF-01X has more pieces being 4WD, but assembly is no more difficult, only more time consuming. Both should be well within the capabilities of most people, beginners included.

I blame the variety. I started off in the hobby with a Mad Bull, which extensive research told me would be a good all rounder, able to be used on a variety of terrain while being simple to maintain for a newcomer. And it was a great intro, keeping me happy for several months. But then I discovered the joys of racing, so a more race worthy model had to be added to the fleet the form of a F-103. This led to experiencing the wonders of brushless power, so a more capable fast basher was added in the form of an Aqroshot. And then I discovered rallying, so one of those came to the fleet too when Tamico had the M-03 Suzuki Swifts on special. Now I find myself considering a touring car, and a vintage resto, and a 4WD buggy, and, and, and... I like the idea of finding a focus for my fleet and concentrating on a given category of model, but at this point I don't know what I am going to enjoy most. The only way I am going to find this out is to try as many types as I can.

Not the sort of thing one would want to rely on to build a kit perhaps, but as the OP says, probably good enough to use for emergency field repairs where a lack of quality can be made up for by convenience and not-so-expensive-that-losing-it-is-a-disaster value.

GPM and Yeah Racing are manufacturers in their own right AFAIK, with their products distributed via a variety of outlets. Neither are as good as Tamiya, but they are pretty decent - certainly a lot better than Integy, which I have read is comparable to Jazrider.

Good choice on the Rising Storm. I have had a go with my mate's one and it is a blast. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

This looks awesome - wish it was more popular in the UK too.

Nope, just looked at the manual.

Although the front tower is vertical, the mounting points for the body posts are set at a raked angle within the tower moulding, so 50482 is still the appropriate set of posts for the FF-01.

3mm front, 5mm rear, measured under the axles.

The poor groundhog looked either frozen or terrified...

Although they may be the ones with the lowest licensing fees...

I am curious as to the alternative body. Karmann Ghia, Kubelwagen, Thing or Schwimmwagen? Or something else entirely? Personally I wish someone would come up with a wide-eye Baja kit for the SS. I like the look of Baja bugs in general, but far prefer wide-eye to narrow-eye kits.

In my experience brass lasts longer than aluminium but not as long as steel.

I'd buy one if they did!

Also bear in mind that the chunky gears and open diff design of the gearbox don't exactly lend themselves to quiet running. Unless freshly packed with grease, one would expect it to be quite noisy compared to other cars with enclosed diffs and/or finer pitch gears.

I think every chassis should have two bodies. One for running and one for display. If I ever do a great job on a shell, I'd feel reluctant to run it, and when/if I do run it, it would be very gently. The chassis wouldn't get to be used at its full potential. However with a second shell kept pristine for display, I wouldn't be worried about running the other one, and would thus be able to enjoy the chassis, confident that any chassis damage can be repaired with replacement parts - something that is seldom possible with a shell.

The TT-02 equivalent of GB1 has a shorter shank portion. If a TT-01/DF-02 GB1 is fitted to a TT-02, it needs to be filed or machined shorter to fit. By the same logic then, if a TT-02 part is to be fitted to a TT-01, it will need shimming or a spacer of some sort to fit. However the TT-02 gears are made of the same plastic as the more recent black TT-01 gears, so if the OP purchases the black gearset he linked to, it would be as strong as a TT-02 gear anyway, and a direct fit with no need for shims or spacers.

I'd check if it has been ballraced and find out more about the electrics that come with it.

Yes, that will contain two of them. You can see one towards the upper left of the picture.

Not a part that tends to wear out quickly, but yes, they can wear out through a combination of a lot of mileage and a strong motor. Or possibly a bearing or alignment issue. Replacements are easy enough to get hold of as part of the TT-01 plastic gear set.

It is also not unheard of for the input shaft bearing (MA11 in the above picture) or the spacer behind it to be omitted by accident, which would also result in mis-meshing under hard acceleration while appearing to work normally under light loads.