Sgt.Speirs

Hello Cedric, thanks for your kind words. Yes, the thing with Shapeways is really sad. But if you are still interested in this gearbox, you are here on the right place (as I mentioned in my updated first post in this thread). The current process isn't as convenient for me as Shapeways, but in the last few months I've been able to help a half dozen customers get their King Cabs, Astutes and Madcaps back up and running. One customer was also from France... I will send you via PM. Best regards, Thomas

I posted the final status/pics of my interpretation of a Tamiya Astute in 2024 in my build thread…

Here it is...my interpretation of a Tamiya Astute in 2024:

@ruebiracer: It looks for me like the Avante gear diff with the custom made black cover (the original cover protruding a little bit more. Due to poor availability of the Super Astute (2018) gear diff, this combo was supposed for using in the e.g. King Cab or original Astute.

I think there is no way around it. Even used/scratched Dyna Blaster chassis are hard to source😬

@ruebiracer: After the race weekend, I needed some time to motivate myself to clean my Blaster and check the gearbox and diff blades for wear. Here a picture of the deassembled gearbox with the residues from the wet astroturf in Laupheim: The entire suspension was covered with this stuff. But the 3D printed gearbox cover did a good job and remained tight. Checking the gearbox gear...everything fine. And also the diff blades Looks good with no . So the re-work of the diff joints was a good (and cheap) idea that wasn't avenged. And what's next… After I have cleaned all the parts, I decided to build a Dyna Blaster for my shelf with all the original parts. And secondly, I would like to update my neo-vintage carbon chassis. No new concepts/ideas, but solutions for parts that are no longer available (e.g. replacement for the bronze flanged bushings of the suspension hinges).

Today there is also from my side a short summary of the Tamico Offroad Cup 2024 in Laupheim. First surprise for me and my friends who were several times before there for training sessions...they had changed the track layout and some sections of the track had to be run in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, the weather on Saturday was rainy and cold. Just drizzle, but it kept the track wet through this. As in the previous training days, the truck ran well and the changeover to wet conditions was no real challenge for the Dyna Blaster. I loosened the slipper clutch a little and that was it. In my four training sessions I was constantly second behind my friend Kevin (@wtcc5). And the contender with the third Dyna Blaster I could keep safely behind me. For the qualification run (starting order of the first final), the five fastest consecutive laps counted. Result of these five laps: 10s behind Kevin and 24s ahead of third place. The first two (of five) finals had the same results: Kevin first and I second...both times one lap behind. Then in the third final, Kevin touched the barrier in first position and the steering link popped off. While he was repairing his car, I had enough time to pull out a lead that lasted until the end. First place for the first time… The same thing happened again in the fourth final: Kevin had to repair his car again on lap two, which was enough for me to take first place again. So the last/fifth final has had to bring the decision between us both. Starting from first position, I made a mistake on the double jump while battling with Kevin for first position. And the result... After all my rivals had passed me, I tried to get back to the front, but second place (behind Kevin) was all I could manage. A good second place in the end And the winner shot of our team. My friends and me could achieve 7 of 18 podiums in the Truck class, Retro 2WD, Retro 4WD and Wheelie class…what a successful weekend. And here some shots from the races from Oliver Lowig…thanks for that. It was a great event and I'm looking forward to 2025

I‘m using directupload.eu as Hoster for my pictures, also for my TRF414M 😉

Hello and welcome to the TamiyaClub forum! 😊

Not today, but yesterday. I finished the body shell for my Astute201 (TRF201 in Astute design).

Today some progress in my TRF201 project...I've painted the body shell. Masking the shell for the first layer of coat (PS-4 blue) Demasking of the shell and preparing for the second coat (PS-2 red) First coat of red... And demasking of the last stripes for the white lines (PS-1 white) And the result of the paint job...I'm very happy. Last thing to do...applying the decals. And the final body shell: The end of this project is coming

@guggles: To be honest, my car isn't bulletproof with all the 3D printed parts, but now it works well with my (improving) driving skills (I visited an RC track for the first time in my life in 2023) and less heavy impacts as a result. But 3D printing helps to save original parts and allows us to run vintage cars with less risk of total loss, as there are no spare parts available😊

It's been a long time since the last update here. Last month I found time for two practise days on the local track...and the most important thing: Both days without any technical issues or damages on the car. But there is always something that can be done to improve durability or reduce maintenance time. But first some impressions from the day… ...the Blasters during the break for loading the batteries: Without sound because my camera man (my lovely son) commented too much during the video During maintenance after the first training day at the beginning of August, I saw that one of the diff joints was badly worn. There was a large groove from the drive shaft like here on an old picture from @wtcc5: @wtcc5 uses in his Dyna Blaster the aluminum diff joints with plastic blades on the drive shafts. But the aluminum diff joints are slightly shorter (complete diff in sum 3.0 mm) and I didn’t want to modify or adjust the rear track/hub. In this case I decided to modify the steel diff joints (with a Dremel) so that the plastic blades would also fit. For the second practise day end of August, I made some changes in the electrics - new shorty LiPo batteries instead of stick packs and a Hobbywing 1080 (from my Crawler) instead of the 1060 – only for comparison. I drove five battery packs and tested different gear ratios to find out which suits best to my driving style. And I also “tested” my new (TBG) body with a new color scheme. Impressions of the second training day… Unexpectedly, I got a part from Kevin with which I can replace one of the last remaining original parts that is not specified for the Tamico Offroad Cup...a carbon plate to replace the G2 part. With additional TRF41x/TB Evo front body mounts, it looks durable. And now it is also possible to mount the body at the front in a higher position so that the body will be less damaged by an front impact/crash. And I made some improvements for the c-hubs...brass flanged bushings in the soft PA11 material. And now I’m looking forward for the race next weekend.

I am lucky enough to own both an Egress and an Avante 2011. When I studied the manual of the Vajra, for me it looks like an Egress with the upper and lower chassis plates of an Avante (2011). Of course shock mounts and shocks are different, but the rest looks like an Egress: Front and rear ball diff Center lock for the drive gear Plastic front and rear lower suspension arms Carbon race steering set ... @wtcc5: Bring your Vajra and Egress to the track on Saturday. Then we can compare both with my Avante during the charging / motor cool-down breaks

@bsy2010: @wtcc5, @Quincy and me have registered for the TOC in Laupheim. On the list of participants for this event I see also @davidsen. I hope the weather is more stable than last year.

Similar here…but I will buy some spare parts (bulkhead, suspension arms, body+undertray, gearbox guard), put in my TRF201 gearbox and then I have no concerns to drive with it in a „normal“ way as I can build it back to a shelf queen. In the worst case scenario, I have to wait 6 years for the next re-release run 😜 I think you have to run the car quickly after re-release that you know which parts breaks first depending on your drive style/skills. And these parts you have to source sufficiently 😊

For the shelf, I would prefer a body which looks similar to box art (body on the left side). And the body on the right side which looks more like racing I would use for the Tamico Offroad Cup. PS: I would need also some chrome vinyl sticker for my TOC body 😉

3Dbavaria.com is from my PoV a good alternative for 3D printing. You have a minimum order value of 50€ 25€ (since July 2024), but the prices for the parts themselves are more than fair.

@GTodd: I don't know why the links to the Shapeways parts in my first post didn't work, but I updated these to the latest version? Please let me know if you have any further questions about the gearbox or need support/advice on sourcing the parts.

What an awesome design… With these wheels/tires and the low silhouette the buggy looks like it’s more related with a TRF201 than with a Novafox…great job!👏🏻

JB’s Egress was IMO a mix of an Egress (chassis) and suspension parts which were prototype/pre-series parts of the DF-01 chassis. I wouldn‘t call this TRF-predecessor 😊

@Howards: Are you sure you meant the DF-01? The only TRF 4WD prototype I know is the TRF 411X which used a (rotated/modfied) TRF211X/Dyna Storm gearbox with a belt transmission to the front gearbox. TRF 411X on TamiyaBase TRF 411X on blackholesun

This is an absolutely stunning project, but I don’t understand your information policy since April 2023 when you had shown the „final evolution stage“. Teaser follows teaser follows teaser…for me, the arc of suspense is overstretched and doesn't fulfill yet my expectations of an ending for such a cool project. Or in other words, please „get the cat out of the bag“… 😉