Porsche 911 RSR Safari / Dakar

[Frankster 2033]

I loved the retro Porsche 911 Safari cars and when the TT-02 RSR was released it clicked!  Here is a simple TT-02 build.  Car has been completed prior to the write up but I will try to map out the steps I took should you want to try something similar. 

Many thanks to a few people in the “what did I do today” group for help

This build is low budget with no major hop-ups. Items include:

TT-02 car kit

bearings

Subrau Brat tires

2 pairs of CVA dampers

18 pinion gear

35T Yeah Racing crawler motor

Yeah Racing roof rack with LED

934 Porsche light bucket kit and LED kit

Paint

Hobbywing ESC

Waterproof servo

TT01 Truck foam bumper

 

Edited: Cover photo updated

[Frankster 2033]

TT-02 new in box. Same as a typical build here at the beginning.  For those who do not know, the kit has different options for wheelbase length and ride height.

This is the lowest setting for the front axel.  Note the low pivot stem sticking below the lower arm

[Frankster 2033]

Rear Suspension

I took the rear hubs off and cut the bottom tab off. This is the same as the TT-02T instructions to increase the ride height  
removed

The bottom tab is a limiter.    You can see there difference when I reinstall back onto chassis.  

Left side modified, right side stock  

Both side completed now   You can see the dog bone hits the drive cups  

Looking at the hub, there is also a tab at the top which limits the height.  I also cut this off on both sides 

Top and bottom tabs removed. Full rear suspension articulation 

[Frankster 2033]

Front Suspension

Target is to raise the suspension and also provide max steering ability. 
 

Stock

steering limiter removed from front steering knuckle (after photo)   Not fully finished but will come back to steering later on

Next is the height and clearance. 

need to cut bottom pivot while using existing screws. bottom pivot cut and drilled a hole to accept screw length.  

 

The upper nub on the bottom front arms were filed down to allow for better steering radius.   The lower nib on the bottom arm was removed for better ground clearance.

Before

After

Might be hard to see but steering angle is much better.  Note I also did not install the center drive shaft steering limiter either

View from below after removing the nub hanging low below lower A arm  you can also see the pivot was cut down for better ground clearance.

Suspension articulation front and rear maxed out with better steering radius

with uncut body shell on

Steering did not work smoothly as the suspension arm sagged and the plastic pivot would bind

Hack solution was to use the rubber shaft protector from the 540 monitor as a sleeve.  Used with longer screws it kept the steering arm level

[Frankster 2033]

Dampers

These are CVA to replace the friction dampers which came with the kit  I picked up 2 sets.

Back of box shows different  car applications and lengths

Bonus!  Instructions inside provide a chart as you can use different spacers and damper ends   I picked the configuration which allowed me to use longest damper length at 64mm

Assembled 

Installed

———————

After car was completed and battery added, the car suspension sagged.  I added spacer collars from the friction dampers to lift up the suspension.  Just cut out the stem.   Does the job. Applied this to all 4 dampers 

 

[Frankster 2033]

Wheels and Tires

Using Subaru Brat “Sand Blaster” tires on stock wheels.  These are a tight fit and hard to get on    A little lip sided as a hr rims are suppose to me smaller in diameter.   No tire glue required here.

Testing wheels with uncut body for clearance.

Checking tire clearance with chassis

Tire bulging from rim

Too hard to removed tire so I masked and painted the 2 piece rims.  Rear rims are wider in this kit (Staggered sizes). I used cheap masking tape and now there is tape residue left on the tire rubber.    

Painted insides black and assembled wheelsT

[Frankster 2033]

Motor

Used a smaller 18T pinion for higher torque.    Also changed to a 35T motor   Motor size was inspired by the TT-02T motor which had larger number of turns

 

Installled

[Frankster 2033]

Body Part 1

Completed chassis

Cut the body as per instructions 

Rear tire clearance with large tires

Front tire clearance with large tires

 

Rear full suspension compressed, the arch and tire rub.  I ended up trimming more of the rear bumper off.  It is easier to set my body height when unpainted

Full front suspension compression 

Chassis clearance is approx 27mm with suspension settings and taller tire

 

[Frankster 2033]

Body Part 2

Drilled holes in roof for Yeah Racing roof rack with LED.  This is made from metal and heavy.  Hard to find one that fits the 911 small roof 

Mask body including lights

The box art is based on a famous race car with silver paint.  But to me, Martini cars have to be with a white body.

Painted 2 cans of white +1/2 can of silver + 1/2 can of black

These are Tamiya Porsche 934 LED lights, but modified to fit the TT-02 body

First time painted body with roof rack on the chassis

[Frankster 2033]

Decals Part 1

Looked at many inspirations. 


Considered using Lancia Martini decals on my 911

In the end I wanted to use existing decals but achieve this look

Here are some color photo copied decals and placed on car for mock up review  

The Martini strip did not flow over the wide rear arch gracefully. I decided to keep the Martini stripe location simple at the door rocker panel. Many options were reviewed with the remaining decal locations. 

Closest to box art with location of strip at base or door

[Frankster 2033]

Decals Part 2

Here is the car. 95% complete

Sorry for the poor photos. I will try to take better ones.  
 

Outstanding items includes:

-rally mud flaps

-driver cockpit

-roll cage

-accessories for roof rack

-install light cups and LED kit

-side mirror

-cut the body posts 

[grip-wolrd 189]

Looks amazing!! Perfect use of this body and i like the roof rack.

 

[markbt73 5316]

Wow, that looks terrific! Nice work. Looks like a ton of fun to hoon around with, too.

[Frankster 2033]

Thanks @grip-wolrd and @markbt73 I will give it a run this weekend pending weather conditions 

[mongoose1983 3335]

Looks beautiful !!

[Grastens 2795]

A very inspiring build! Excellent work 

[Nikko85 3454]

Very nice. I think you picked the perfect decal option too.

[Grumpy pants 4485]

The stance makes it look very purposeful.

 

[Frankster 2033]

Thanks @mongoose1983, @Grastens, @Nikko85 and @Grumpy pants   Feedback is welcome 🤗    Great Tamiya community we have here 

[Frankster 2033]

Good RC day. Other than finishing the Manta Ray, also added some parts to 911 RSR Safari. Installed mirrors, cable management, off-road jack with fuel can, shovel to roof rack with bungee cord.
 

RC lights arrived and will start installing the light buckets to the body next.  Also driver cockpit arrived and needs to be painted  

[TurnipJF 9192]

Looking better and better! 👍

[Frankster 2033]

Driver Cockpit

Driver cockpit trimmed. Plastic is quite soft, light and flexible. Anyone know what type of paint to use for this?  

 

[Superluminal 3750]

I use car body spray paint from Halfords;

White plastic primer the whole thing, mask up the driver, grey primer, then satin black all over - unmask driver then paint by hand using Humbrol / Citadel model acrylics the remaining bits.

[Frankster 2033]

1 hour ago, Superluminal said:

I use car body spray paint from Halfords;

White plastic primer the whole thing, mask up the driver, grey primer, then satin black all over - unmask driver then paint by hand using Humbrol / Citadel model acrylics the remaining bits.

Nice cockpit.  
 

Thanks. No Halfords around me.  What is the Tamiya equivalent? TS paints?  How did you make the roll cage?

[Superluminal 3750]

36 minutes ago, Frankster said:

Nice cockpit.  
 

Thanks. No Halfords around me.  What is the Tamiya equivalent? TS paints?  How did you make the roll cage?

TS paint will work fine its just a bit of an expensive way as the cans are quite small / pricey compared to automotive paints.

The roll cage was made from 5mm styrene tube, then some model filler to round off the joints. You can get the profile of the cage by turning the bodyshell upside down and cutting the tubes to fit inside.