Help Identifying my Tamiya R/C

[jabz10]

Hi in my late teens I purchased a Tamiya R/C car for general use since I had and interest in R/C. I used it around my property/street and parks etc.
Then it sat on my shelf as a display.

I am looking to get it going again for some nostalgia and I still have an interest in R/C, so I need help in identifying the model, and what upgrades it may have.
I can tell the ESC might need replacing since there are 2 wires that have come out. I also don't think I should try charge/use the NiCad battery. What should I replace it with?

[svenb]

TA03F with a FRP chassis set.

Along with some nice hop ups, servo stays , stabilizers , 53280 dampers,quick release battery holder, aluminium steering set etc👍

[MadInventor]

Nice car. The problem with the leads is easily fixable. You can buy fresh plugs with wires pre-attached. Just look for 'servo leads' on EBay. Then you can cut off the old plug and solder or splice on the new cable. Would be a shame to chuck the ESC for the sake of a new lead.

I'd replace the Nicad with a Nimh battery. LiPo batterys are available that are  formed to the shape of the old nicad size, but LiPos requires a specialist charger, so unless you're familiar with them, or want to stump up for a multi chemistry charger (LiPo / Nicad / Nimh) then Nimh is the way to go.

 

[jabz10]

11 minutes ago, MadInventor said:

Nice car. The problem with the leads is easily fixable. You can buy fresh plugs with wires pre-attached. Just look for 'servo leads' on EBay. Then you can cut off the old plug and solder or splice on the new cable. Would be a shame to chuck the ESC for the sake of a new lead.

I'd replace the Nicad with a Nimh battery. LiPo batterys are available that are  formed to the shape of the old nicad size, but LiPos requires a specialist charger, so unless you're familiar with them, or want to stump up for a multi chemistry charger (LiPo / Nicad / Nimh) then Nimh is the way to go.

 

Great thanks I'll look up the leads, on a further look I see the other wire that's detached is the aerial out of the Acoms receiver, with its rubber bung, is that a simple fix, open it up and re-solder?

I have a multi chemistry charger for other uses, so will use it and likely get a LiPo pack.  Can I run LiPo with the existing ESC etc?

thanks

[KEV THE REV]

Black can Sport Tuned motor in there too . You could swap out the ESC for a Hobby Wing 1060 Quic run for around £15 - £20 , job done

[KEV THE REV]

If you're going to use Li-Po then ditch the ESC . The 1060 is suitable for NiMh & Li-Po there are setting jumpers on the ESC to change from default NiMh to Li-Po battery setting , useable with brushed motors like your motor  . The ariel wire should a simple resolder by opening up the casing

[alvinlwh]

That is a very nice chassis with some good pieces of bling. You must have been a "well funded" teen back then! 😁

[rich_f]

5 hours ago, jabz10 said:

Can I run LiPo with the existing ESC etc?

Yes - I made no changes apart from my charger when I 'switched to lipo'. You just need to make sure never to let the battery go below about 6 volts, otherwise it can damage it. 

If you're worried, go ahead and get a newer esc with low-voltage cutoff especially for this reason, or if you'd rather keep your cool old esc, you can get a low voltage alarm to plug in while you're using it, which will notify you when you need to stop and recharge. 

[jabz10]

Thanks for the help and suggestions.  Also would I need to do any maintenance on the motor? i.e. any oil since its been sitting so long etc?

 

[alvinlwh]

3 hours ago, jabz10 said:

Thanks for the help and suggestions.  Also would I need to do any maintenance on the motor? i.e. any oil since its been sitting so long etc?

 

Nope, I have the same motor, sat for 10 years, just plug it in and go. 

[InsaneJim69]

17 hours ago, svenb said:

TA03F with a FRP chassis set.

Along with some nice hop ups, servo stays , stabilizers , 53280 dampers,quick release battery holder, aluminium steering set etc👍

Also has the Alloy 16T pulleys and more importantly the official Tamiya Alloy motor Heatsink plate !!! The money those go for alone is eye watering these days almost. 

As old as the TA03 is, it's still a great car to drive and imo far nicer than even a TT02. 👍

James.

[M 800STD]

55 minutes ago, InsaneJim69 said:

Also has the Alloy 16T pulleys and more importantly the official Tamiya Alloy motor Heatsink plate !!! The money those go for alone is eye watering these days almost. 

As old as the TA03 is, it's still a great car to drive and imo far nicer than even a TT02. 👍

James.

lol, You beat me to it and agree with your choice of car.

 

Didn't the car come with FRP upper and lower as standard?

Pretty sure the bumper assembly was an extra.

Anti roll bars, springs, dampers, FRP rear anti roll bar mount, rear body post support, aramid belt, 16t pulley, quick release battery plate, servo mount, steering assembly, motor mount/cooling.  Looks like ally rear uprights, front c, knuckles and king pins.

30A esc.

Very nice car.

[InsaneJim69]

Not if the body is original. It would have been the bathtub chassis that came with that kit. But yeah loads of hop ups there. Wander if it has the light weight pulley shafts too. I would strip it down for a rebuild myself and remember what you added, could have ball diffs, front one way etc etc.

I do miss my TA03's, used to race a few back in the late 90's early 2000's. 👍

James.

[M 800STD]

@InsaneJim69  ah, right.

Would love to tear this down and rebuild for op, but that would be taking his fun away.