Collin 1956 Posted November 10, 2021 Hi there. Lucky me, just stumbled over an Astute first release. It was a bargain, some plastic parts such as front bulkhead need to be replaced. Super Astute rere parts are sill available. Do they fit in general? Please let me know what I need to know : ) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kontemax 1725 Posted November 10, 2021 Different parts are: - Front knuckles - Rear Knuckles - Front Arms - Rear Arms - Rear Hubs - All upper arms - Battery tray - Gearbox A list of common parts was faster I believe: - Front Bulkhead - All FRP parts - Front C parts - Bumpers - Rear Arm Blocks - Rear damper stay Bit and pieces alla around Max 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 10, 2021 Ok cool! Going to pick up the Astute tomorrow, striping it on weekend and lets see whats left after. Is the body shell the same? Found a very nice paintet SA shell but not shure if I should buy it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kol__ 3377 Posted November 10, 2021 Congrats on the find @Collin I believe the shells are the same, but someone with better knowledge will confirm I'm sure. Check out this modified Astute shell from revive RC, the revised cockpit is awesome - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353441903718?hash=item524ac77466:g:qDYAAOSw6alhK2Wv 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snappy1 966 Posted November 11, 2021 Yes the shells are the same also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 12, 2021 The case was included, all for 25€. Saying thank you. I striped it yesterday, a hand full of broken parts but I will have a closer look on them after cleaning. Its really funny to see some of those components. Everywhere the brass bushes, creepy gearbox design, chassis flexy as a rubberband. Not shure what I will do with it yet.  4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saito2 6686 Posted November 12, 2021 9 hours ago, Collin said: Its really funny to see some of those components. Everywhere the brass bushes, creepy gearbox design, chassis flexy as a rubberband. Not shure what I will do with it yet. I knew the overly complex/fragile Astute parts were often replaced with Madcap parts BITD but not having any hands-on experience with the Astutes until I got my Super Astute was a real eye opener. I put a good many miles on the Astute's little brother, the Madcap, and had little issue with it. As flexible as the monoplate FRPÂ chassis was and knowing the standard Astute's suspension arms were flexy like the Madcap's I questioned just what Tamiya was thinking when they put this car out. In some ways, I wonder if adding turnbuckles/oil shocks/bearings/metal motor plate to a Madcap might not have made a better buggy than the Astute itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zealot 397 Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/12/2021 at 9:19 PM, Collin said: The case was included, all for 25€. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 14, 2021 Doggoooo Well, 25€ sounds cheap, is cheap but to make it look nice and running you spend another 200€. So even for free would have been expensiv LOL 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 17, 2021 I slept a bit over this project and decided, I will wait for another Astute wrack to completet this one.It is a interesting model from RC history but from the tech point it is very uninteresting to me. I really dont want to spend money into this one... Â 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wtcc5 4899 Posted November 22, 2021 What?! That’s a shame. Please throw money at it  I want that restoration content here  Besides the Dyna series, this is the best vintage buggy… Don’t know about the Astute, but my Super Astute has ballbearings in every A-arm  Can’t wait to run it next spring. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 22, 2021 47 minutes ago, wtcc5 said: What?! That’s a shame. Please throw money at it  I want that restoration content here  Besides the Dyna series, this is the best vintage buggy… Don’t know about the Astute, but my Super Astute has ballbearings in every A-arm  Can’t wait to run it next spring. Well, this is the only way I can see to get out of this disastrous situatuon. https://tamiyabase.com/all-ads-2/for-sale/1-for-sale/482-super-rare-and-exclusive-trf-f  4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonboy1 2943 Posted November 23, 2021 14 hours ago, wtcc5 said: What?! That’s a shame. Please throw money at it  I want that restoration content here  Besides the Dyna series, this is the best vintage buggy… Don’t know about the Astute, but my Super Astute has ballbearings in every A-arm  Can’t wait to run it next spring. Completely agree - throwing money at projects is always the best way! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 23, 2021 Since I put my focus on early TRF buggies, this Astute makes absolutely sense to me and is a very welcome object of desire.But just not simply as a restauration project. Nylon arms and bulkhead/kickup as Tamiya made it for the racing team should be made. It will take some time, there are still some other hidden projects ongoing which took actually over a year by now. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 23, 2021 Goint trough my parts chest, I found one set of CVDs I am not shure if it is the Astute hop-up OP.61 (Tamiya 53061). Obvious not because OP.61 have one ring. Left: Top Force / Mad Cap Center: Dyna Storm Right: ??? Anyone can identifiy it for me? Could it be Avante OP.350? Can anyone give precse measures to the OP.61 please? Â Â 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kontemax 1725 Posted November 25, 2021 Left to right Top Force Astute Dyna Storm Avante, Egress Vanquish Max 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 26, 2021 22 hours ago, kontemax said: Left to right Top Force Astute Dyna Storm Avante, Egress Vanquish Max  Ok, so Astute Tamiya 53061 / OP.61 are the same as Dyna Storm CVDs? Good god, one pair just get sold for €140 on ebay... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kontemax 1725 Posted November 27, 2021 7 hours ago, Collin said:  Ok, so Astute Tamiya 53061 / OP.61 are the same as Dyna Storm CVDs? Good god, one pair just get sold for €140 on ebay... Yes they are the same and yes, the prices are crazy, you can replace them with modern CDV but you must modify the rear hubs. Max  Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonboy1 2943 Posted November 27, 2021 I have a feeling all you have to do is replace the outer bearing for a thinner one (3mm rather than 4) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted November 27, 2021 1 hour ago, jonboy1 said: I have a feeling all you have to do is replace the outer bearing for a thinner one (3mm rather than 4) Exactly. But I thinki it was the inner bearing which need to be 3mm... (anyone confirm)? Anyway, I will start to install aftermarket CVDs on my runners now, just to keep the good original ones for the shelfies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo 1218 Posted January 22, 2022 Â Yeah correct, an 1150x3mm inner bearing inside the rear hub and Top Force / DF01 driveshafts, universals etc will then fit. Â This is the same for Madcap and Super Astute rear hubs. Do you have some direction for this one or is it a project in waiting ? Â Â Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted January 22, 2022 7 hours ago, Thommo said:  Yeah correct, an 1150x3mm inner bearing inside the rear hub and Top Force / DF01 driveshafts, universals etc will then fit.  This is the same for Madcap and Super Astute rear hubs. Do you have some direction for this one or is it a project in waiting ? I have several TRF prototype replica projects in pipeline but I want to keep the Astute as a base for a TRF Astute. Maybe something own with upper deck modification...  Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo 1218 Posted January 22, 2022  I like that direction very much !  Watching with interest over here.  That is a  great start point for sure ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Collin 1956 Posted January 14, 2023 Hi Guys. Now i took my decision to restore the Astute finally. Got some parts already but seems like its near to impossible to find good original plastic parts, right? Already posted this in the trade section but who knows, maybe someone have compassion with me : ) Â Good news, I already found D-Tree bulkhead from SA replica and gearboxjoint. A1/C2/C3 are available at shapeways, I would be okay with 3D printed replicas for now. Also, the gearbox have only one little crack at the front mount, so I can use it for a display model. But A2 really does not look nice to me. Can I replace it with the Super Astute part or any other? Also found cheap aluminum parts on ebay, I cant imagine the quality is too god because of the price of 50USD for a whole set of suspension hubs and mounts and stuff... Â 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pUs 311 Posted January 22, 2023 On 11/26/2021 at 8:57 PM, Collin said:  Ok, so Astute Tamiya 53061 / OP.61 are the same as Dyna Storm CVDs? Good god, one pair just get sold for €140 on ebay... I have quite a good stash of these (new and unused) since I've decided not to race with them anymore. Material is just too weak. Let's sort out our parts swap / interchange soon  Share this post Link to post Share on other sites