One from the archives: TA-02 hopped up build

[jonboy1 2943]

This is another build I was pressured into by my mate. Those who remember my Zahhak build will remember my friend sent me a message saying he'd seen one for sale and I should jump on it before they all went. That resulted in a TRF201 and a stock Zahhak now sitting in my garage. So I should've just hit delete when he sent me this message:

"Hey Jon, if you were going to build a Delta Integrale, what would be your dream set up?"

Obviously I didn't hit delete, but replied with "TA-02 all day. Why?"

"Was thinking of getting one, but leaning to a TT-02 chassis."

"No no no, far too common - TA-02 was the one it came on originally (ok, it was the TA-01, but let's not be picky now!) plus it's sooo much cooler."

"hmm...."

"Honestly, what you should do is this......."

and so followed my outline for my dream TA-02 chassis. Now, let me explain here. I've always been a buggy boy - I've got Super Gripper branded on my buttock, but I've always had a lot of love for the TA-01/2. I used to spend more time thumbing the Tamiya catalogues than the lingerie section of the Kays catalogue, and a lot of that time was spent oogling over the various TA-02 cars with their awesome looking chassis' and beautiful bodies. However, being brought up in the Cotswolds, hills were much more plentiful than large tarmac areas, so I would never have had anywhere to properly run one, so I always ended up yearning for one but never got one. I nearly squealed with excitement when Tamiya re-released the Calibra TA-02 a couple of years back, and actually reserved one, but ended up not getting it at the time due to my large financial commitment to the DB-01!!! Plus, I never loved that body, so I knew I'd be looking at some modifications etc and just couldn't decide on what at the time. Having now given it some real thought, I knew that had to change.

It just so happened that my friend (the same one) had just bought my Rough Rider project off me, so I had space and cash available, so a plan was ignored and I just hit ebay with an inane grin and a purpose.....

As always, my initial thought was to keep it simple: get a Calibra - everything is nice and new, get to do a box build instead of a resto, get a new body for it and maybe treat myself to some wheels and job done. That lasted for about 3 minutes. A small diversion was taken looking at building one from parts, but that just got tedious, so I started looking for a nice vintage one. I really wanted one with a nice clean chassis tub (you'll appreciate the irony in this later I hope) and I soon found what looked to be ideal: a Blitz Supra with a mint chassis. Deal done - now, what upgrades shall I get for it?.....

A week later it arrived - only a day later than the new set of dampers I had already got for it  

 

 

To say I was happy would be a serious understatement. I'm not entirely convinced it was used more than a couple of times, and then only on carpet. The chassis and the underside in general, is immaculate. The marks on the bumper are actually just paint, they polished out. And it had a few nice upgrades too - full tamiya bearing kit, solid propshaft, manta ray ball diff (will come back to this) and a Dynatech 01R that hasn't even been run in. All this good news meant that I didn't need to spend anything on replacement parts. So I spent it on hop ups instead.... 😁🥳

So after taking everything apart, giving it a good clean (only dust - even the grease in the gearboxes was still white) and working out what path to go with it I assembled all the bits I'd need. The build can begin:

 

[jonboy1 2943]

So a plan had gradually been forming in my head - build up a TA-02 Racing Special - in my mind the ultimate TA-02. There were just 2 obstacles to overcome: The rear stabilizer is almost impossible to find and I have no self control.

Therefore, as mentioned already, a set of TA-03 super low friction dampers had been ordered (yes, the pink ones are basically the same for a fraction of the price, but they're pink!) and I then told myself that if it was ultimate, it would have to have the FRP chassis kit. Now, I know what you're thinking, does this guy have to use 10 words when 1 would do: Stop? Yes, and to answer your other question, I went for the FRP instead of carbon because it's what I would have got as a kid if money were no object, and I really wanted this to be a period correct model. So an FRP kit was soon on my doorstep. Keeping this theme the Calsonic rear universals and TA-02 fronts were soon to follow. With most of the parts in hand I got started.

First up, the rear ball diff:

 

Now, I think this was originally a Manta Ray diff, as it doesn't match anything in either the stock TA-02 or TA-02RS manual, but whatever it was, it was replaced with the light weight alloy version. Ooooooh, shiny.....

Can anyone advise please?

This went in the cleaned up cases with the Tamiya bearings, where it met the lovely Dynatech and an alloy motor mount:

Next up, the high speed gear set:

The eagle eyed amongst you will notice an alloy idler gear in there. I thought it was an upgrade, but it seems on further reading it isn't. So I'll be swapping that back out for the plastic one.

Onto the front:

The other alloy gear makes an appearance here too, but didn't go any further.

One way diff does go here though, as I shall now demonstrate:

See - told you

It was at this point I realised the RS doesn't use screw pins to assemble the arms and hubs, but instead uses shafts and e-clips. So with those waiting to arrive, I moved onto the chassis.

The first thing to do was attach the front and rear shock towers:

I made a slight concession to my plan for originality here and replaced the ball studs with flourine coated versions - just thought they looked a bit more subtle than the shiny brass ones.

One additional upgrade to the RS spec that was available back then was the adjustable turnbuckles for the upper arms. As these are long unavailable I built them up from individual parts:

And so onto the rest of the chassis. The only deviation I made here was to upgrade the bronze bushes on the steering assembly to ball bearings. Oh, and yes, I did later discover I should have made two arms the same length, not one of each....

...and that I needed to move the centre battery support over a pitch of holes...Hey, we all make mistakes sometimes!  

and all bolted together:

Starting to look good

The only other job I could do until some more parts arrive was make the front hub assemblies:

I just couldn't fit the blue knuckle arms - I'm not making a vw harlequin car!

And so now I'm at the mercy of the postal services.

At this point I really need to say a HUGE THANK YOU to an amazing person on this forum who has been instrumental to me being able to do this build. He knows who he is, I don't want to name him without his approval, but really, a big thank you mate  

Actually, there's another guy on here who has also done me a big favour in letting me borrow a key item so I can copy it - more on this later. But in the meantime a BIG THANK YOU to you too  

[Juhunio 6830]

Love a good TA02 me. And the 03. And 04. Peak (touring car) Tamiya in my opinion. The different varieties of chassis (tub, FRP, CF), different wheelbases, front or rear motors (on the 03) and the body sets from that era...Alfa 155, AMG C Class, Escort Cosworth, Nissan 300ZX, 934 RSR, 911 GT2, 911 GT1, Audi A4, Pug 206, Nissan R390, Lancia 037, Audi TT...Woof!

After a brief dalliance in the Boomerang / Bigwig era, I've really come to this hobby later in life so didn't get the benefit of browsing those catalogues first time around. But, on the upside, I suppose that left more time for the front end of the Kays catalogue 

BTW, I'm from the Cotswolds(ish) too, so I guess we might both have spent some time drooling in the Beatties in Gloucester during our childhood maybe?

Will be following your build 

[jonboy1 2943]

Totally agree. For me, The TA-02 was the perfect combination of Tamiya at their peak with the glory days of Japanese car design. Nissan Skylines, 300ZXs, Toyota Supras, Celicas - and then there was the fantastic touring car action on at the time - Steve Soper, John Cleland, Tim Harvey all battling it out in Alfas, BMW's, Renaults etc - it was just perfection. 

Hang on - there was a Beatties in Gloucester?? I was brought up a snob (according to my wife) so went shopping mainly in Cheltenham.  There was (and still is I'm pleased to say) the Cheltenham Model Shop which is where I got most of my cars from. but the only model shop I remember in Gloucester was Antics (again, still there.) Bristol had a Beatties which I remember being a true joy to go to on the odd occasion and see their amazing displays.

[Juhunio 6830]

Ah, I'm from further South (Dursley) and mum and dad both worked in Gloucester so we didn't really get as far as Cheltenham until my late teens. But from 17-24 I spent most of my social life in Cheltenham, mostly in the Axiom, Cafe Tabac, Cafe Cont and Gas!

I'm sure there was a Beattie's in Gloucester, but of course can't find any record of it now. It was on Northgate Street, opposite a little record shop (also long gone)...so not far from where Antics is...maybe it was Antics all along and I'm getting fuddled with other memories of Beattie's in Bristol? 

Great to hear the Cheltenham Model Centre is still going 

 

[jonboy1 2943]

Axiom, yes.

Cafe Tabac, yes.

Gas! yes.

also, Two Pigs, Restoration, O'Neills, Bar 21 and Time!

sigh - the amount of brain cells I must have killed off in those places drinking John Smith's Extra Smooth with Jack Daniels chasers.....

I remember the record shop - it wasn't HMV because that was in the middle of King's Walk next to WHSmiths, but can't remember the name of it. I kinda have a feeling there was another model shop not far from Antics  (which may have been called the Gloucester Model Shop back then) which wasn't as good, think it did more planes. "Antics" (or whatever I'm thinking of) had models at the front, RC at the back and trains upstairs.

I'm glad you didn't say you were from the Forest of Dean. We have an old saying about people from there: "Too many people, not enough surnames."

edit: just been told by the aforementioned mate that it was called Cotswold Model Centre

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by jonboy1

[Juhunio 6830]

Crikey, I'd forgotten all about Time, Cheltenham's answer to the superclubs! Pretty good to be fair, they did manage to get some top DJs and I spent a good few nights in there, including NYE 1995 

Yes also to Two Pigs and the Restoration, also spent too much time and money in the Retreat and the Beehive! 

The record store on NG street in Glos was a small, long and narrow indie joint sandwiched between the big discount store (whatever it was then, I think its a Wilko now) and something else. Lots of vinyl, which I loved (and still do). There was another one in that strip of shops at the front of the bus station, which you could walk through to get from the buses to the fountains by the cinema. Can't remember what it was called, but it was a vinyl paradise too.

Speaking of the FoD, a couple of the lads from EMF used to hang out in that record store on the bus station. Unbelievable. 

Sorry, this has taken your build thread way off piste. Enjoyable bit of reminiscing though 

[jonboy1 2943]

I've just been reliably informed that Antics is the one on Northgate, always has been, Cotswold Model Centre used to be on Market Parade, which was more round to the bus depot.

No need to apologise - nice to have a little reminisce on a Friday afternoon   

[Madcap mayhem 2]

Great posts so far jonboy1, can’t wait to see the finished chassis running!  The aforementioned mate in the first post must be the best mate ever if you allow yourself to be pressured into purchasing more cars!!!  On the subject of old shops in Gloucester I was given an old I.C engine last week with the original pice sticker on it!

[jonboy1 2943]

@Madcap mayhem I'd know that justifying nomenclature anywhere! You can hide behind a false name but your sarcasm is as identifiable as your fingerprints. For yes! It is you my Tamiya inciting nemesis (good one Shaggy!) 

Ladies and gentlemen - here speaketh the man who has made me buy several Tamiya cars and unearthed my lovely flame painted Terra Scorcher!

Don't believe a word he says (except about the name and address of the now long gone Cotswold Models store in Gloucester he was bang on right about that!) 

[Grumpy pants 4468]

Great thread JB, nicely written and funny too 👍

[jonboy1 2943]

A little update as I'm waiting for a couple of parts before I can get the chassis buttoned up.

The high strength servo saver arrived, so I could get the steering servo fitted. I've been debating what to do about the servo; part of me thought of fitting something like an AS7 as that would've been what I probably bought back then to go with my Techniplus mk4, but as the car already came with a very nice Sanwa set up (dare I say a lot nicer than the Techniplus equivalent) I decided to put it back in. So here is the Sanwa ERG-XS (Expert Racers Gear) with alloy mounts and high strength servo saver:

The shafts for the rear arms also arrived, so they could go together too. A pair of 0.1mm shims were employed on each side to remove all slop and a lovely, precise set up resulted:

 

[jonboy1 2943]

The last job I could do was one that I'd been putting off as a special treat. As it was the weekend, I thought it would be ok. It was to build these beauties:

In my mind it's impossible to look at these and not think they are worth every penny (and pound) more than the pink ones - they are just gorgeous.

I've filled them with 400wt oil as per the instructions. I'm not sure if that's the right one for my type of shelf, so I'll need to look into that  

I'm not going to be fitting the dampers until I've got the arms and driveshafts fitted, so they're tucked away nice and safely for now.

Therefore, the chassis currently looks like this:

The very, very observant of you will have noticed I have swapped out the short ball connectors on the turnbuckles from grey to black - I thought I had enough of one colour in my stock to do the whole car but it turned out I was wrong !!! so I bought some more black ones. I promise I will nip off the little sprue attachment nubs too, just didn't have my blade to hand! 

[ploots 185]

Off topic slightly the Antics on Northgate Street used to be called The Model Shop to me it was a proper shop, they had a desk at the back of the shop where they would do minor repairs and out the back they would do full builds also upstairs had the model railway stuff, the other shop was Cotswold Models that was near the bus station 

[jonboy1 2943]

keep the off topic stuff coming - it saves me having to try to be witty and entertaining  

Thank you @ploots - I thought it wasn't called Antics back then! That's exactly how I remember it - they often had a few build RC cars in the window that I would just stop and stare at longingly.

For the life of me I can't remember what Cotswold Models used to be like, I know I would've gone in there plenty but it just isn't ringing any bells! 

 

[ploots 185]

To be honest I'm struggling to remember what Cotswold Models was like, I know I went there many times but The Model Shop just had me drooling every time I approached it, the built cars in the window just pulled me in

[jonboy1 2943]

So, an update is well over due. Although, with @Superluminal doing his awesome build thread on the TA-02RS there isn't much point me carrying on... 😥😪😭🤧😭

But I will  

So I forgot to take a couple of stage pictures, but I finished off the front end, which was just a case of fitting the shafts and clips to the front assemblies I'd already built up and installing them with the U shaped stay.

Round the back it was time for the illusive little brass collars to be fitted tot he hard rear drives:

Like so:

I also fitted a couple of 4mm alloy spacers to the rear turnbuckle mounts (as ably located by @KEV THE REV ) as they look a lot nicer than a stack of washers:

And that's pretty much it for the chassis!

A set of alloy clamp drive hexes were installed and then on went the lovely 5 spoke alloys.

The front bumper still needs to go on, but I just want to check the body fitment beforehand. 

I'm in the process of putting something together for the rear stabilizer thanks to @Turbotom and I will install the rest of the Sanwa radio gear, but otherwise that's it for the chassis for now.  

Next up: the body............................... 

[Juhunio 6830]

On 5/31/2022 at 2:17 PM, ploots said:

Off topic slightly the Antics on Northgate Street used to be called The Model Shop to me it was a proper shop, they had a desk at the back of the shop where they would do minor repairs and out the back they would do full builds also upstairs had the model railway stuff, the other shop was Cotswold Models that was near the bus station 

This sounds very familiar, definitely what I had confused with Beatties in my fuddled hazy memory 

[Juhunio 6830]

On 5/31/2022 at 2:28 PM, jonboy1 said:

For the life of me I can't remember what Cotswold Models used to be like, I know I would've gone in there plenty but it just isn't ringing any bells! 

me either... @ploots was it in that strip of 'walk through' shops between the bus stops and Station Road, or on Market Parade near the cool but slightly scary second hand record shop? 

[Superluminal 3750]

9 hours ago, jonboy1 said:

So, an update is well over due. Although, with @Superluminal doing his awesome build thread on the TA-02RS there isn't much point me carrying on... 😥😪😭🤧😭

 

Aww shucks, cheers dude! Yours is just as special in its own unique way 

Out of interest what rear drive shafts are you using with the hard joint cups? Do yours slide out a bit too much as well?

[jonboy1 2943]

12 hours ago, Superluminal said:

Aww shucks, cheers dude! Yours is just as special in its own unique way 

Out of interest what rear drive shafts are you using with the hard joint cups? Do yours slide out a bit too much as well?

Stop - you'll make me blush! 

I'm using the 53115's but I popped a red o-ring in the end of the cup which seems to keep it nicely in place.

[Superluminal 3750]

Hmmm, im using an o-ring too, feels like i could put another too or three in to close up the gap. Did you press them right into the bottom of the cup?

[Pylon80 2628]

On 5/28/2022 at 3:57 AM, Madcap mayhem said:

Great posts so far jonboy1, can’t wait to see the finished chassis running!  The aforementioned mate in the first post must be the best mate ever if you allow yourself to be pressured into purchasing more cars!!!  On the subject of old shops in Gloucester I was given an old I.C engine last week with the original pice sticker on it!

Yep the FP series was basically the rock bottom of the lineup back in the 90's and they have seen an almost ridiculous surge in value on feeBay over the past 5 years or so. I just sold a used 25FP for more than double its original price while larger ball raced engines appear to be impossible to sell! Sorry for a 'slightly' off topic comments on a very good thread 😅

[jonboy1 2943]

I had to take a small break while my credit card cooled down after the recent flourish of activity buying all this stuff for the TA-02, but now it's back to a normal state I thought I could sneak in a few more bits  for it  

First, and sadly not pictured (I will rectify this later) I managed to get my clammy hands on a Tamiya rear stabiliser set, so that's now fitted and doing a magnificent job of keeping the wheels level on the shelf  

The other job I've been tinkering with in my noggin is the wheel situation. I've got a body set for this chassis already, and had some very specific wheels in mind to go with it. The original wheels Tamiya made were too narrow both in width and offset (really didn't want huge hex spacers) and they also had a big feature missing from them. That's all aside from the minor issue of being seemingly impossible to find anyhow! After searching every other manufacturer and coming close with one (but not close enough) I figured I'd end up designing and printing some wheels myself. By pure fluke I was on another website which had a picture of the original wheels and I realised they were 2 piece rims! I already had a set of split rims - it couldn't be that hard to make some new centres could it!.....

Well, apparently I didn't engage my brain before sending the first set to the printers, as I didn't just get the size of the hex slightly off but majorly, so another set was ordered, and these fitted perfectly!

I'd already painted the barrels of the wheels (as I painted the inners of the first set without test fitting them on the chassis!)  so these inners just need smoothing and painting and they'll be ready for the body!  

[jonboy1 2943]

I just realised you can actually see the rear stabiliser hiding in the background of that picture, so I wasn't lying!

I also forgot to mention I changed the motor over for something more in keeping: