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wtcc5

wtcc5's TRF415 MSX MRE

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Well… I must have gotten a bit of the TRF fever while building the FF-03evo in the past weeks. It got worse when @Juhunio and @lukej started their TRF415 build threads. And now here we are with another thread… What does this thread offer to the reader then? For the start, my 415 version will fit right in between Juhunios MS and Lukes MSXX MRE. So the reader can follow the late versions history of the 415 in close and all detail.

Tamiya was a real race car manufacturer back then, updating their 415 platform every year, offering new parts regularly to keep the edge in the competition. And it shows. Juhunio had a hard time identifying his version and I would have the same problem just looking at the parts the chassis came with:

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I got a box that says 415MS upgrade set, I got upper bulkheads with different height, a front-one-way, a strange topdeck, hacked rear bulkheads (for the use of LiPo batteries I guess) and other strange parts like the rear suspension arms, that look like Evo3.

 

And then there is the chassis. Undoubtedly an MRE, because you couldn’t buy an upgrade set and it got everything the MRE came with. So I guess the previous owner just added all TRF415 leftover parts he had.

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My build/restoration won’t get as beautiful as Juhunios or Lukes, but I still ordered some nice parts to give it back its bling.

Next on comes the disassembly and cleaning… it is pretty dirty…

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Why do I feel like the three of us are increasingly responsible for this forum’s purchasing of mad old Tamiya Tourers?

Side note, I’m trying to resist the urge to buy 14 BNIB older cars from Japan (FF x2, TA02W x1, TA03R x1, TA04 x1, TA05 x2, TA05 ver.II x1, TA05-IFS x1, TB-02 x1, TB-03 x2, TL-01 x1, TT-01 x1).

Save me? 😂

Luke

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I collected the wanted parts:

 

efba64a0-6235-4e1a-bvdfzp.jpeg

 

Mostly new turnbuckles, tires and the press release picture motor. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my hands on a new original MSX bumper. For now the MSXX bumper needs to fill that space.

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I found some time to do the preparations for the rebuild. In the first step I disassembled the chassis.

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It was quite dirty everywhere you don’t see it. Again the previous owner was a fan of grease. Even the hinge pins and shims on the arms were greased. Overall all went well. A downer is the outer arm pin in front. The previous owner did something stupid here. You cannot remove the pins, because he used a grub screw which is pushed into the c-hub by another grub screw. I still don’t get how he managed to do that. An because the inner grub screw is turned around, I cannot use an Allen wrench to get it out like I can with the outer screw, „insert bad word“. I also cannot remove the spool outdrives. It seems to need a sophisticated method to remove these. I was afraid to damage them (very rare) and just let them be.

 

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The cleaning went on well too. Some dirt was really tough to get off. On the motor area of the bulkheads was some yellow-black dirt, that needed to be soaked in white spirit several times before my brush could remove it.

 

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The actual status of the car. Overall it is in a ok condition. The parts show some wear,  but nothing to worry. It is in a very good runner state. I will shelf it later of course :P

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56 minutes ago, wtcc5 said:

You cannot remove the pins, because he used a grub screw which is pushed into the c-hub by another grub screw. I still don’t get how he managed to do that. An because the inner grub screw is turned around, I cannot use an Allen wrench to get it out like I can with the outer screw

Whaaaaaaaat??? I can't even think of a reason why someone might do that :(

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Lets get it on! Did I mention, that I bought a new chassis plate? I couldn't resist...

 

It all starts with the rear suspension:

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I rebuild the balldiff. The white belt pulley became white as new after cleaning:

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Installing the massive rear bulkheads:

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Next in should be the rear belt... I decided not to install the worn one that came with the car. Instead I wanted to use one that came as spare. Unfortunately that one is 4mm in width... So that is a nono for me. I ordered new rear belts, but need to be patient. So the diff went in without belt and is accompanied by the upper bulkheads: 

img_4865lwccd.jpg

img_4866lcdxf.jpg

 

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Now to very tasty parts:

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A very nice rear suspension for that old age car.

 

After the old turnbuckles look very used, I bought new ones:

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Initially, I wanted to use the old blades of the rear axles, but after cleaning I decided to change them. They were stupid expensive, but because of their size, I couldn't use others than the real ones...

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The spur gear assembly is quite complex and special for the MRE version. I used a new spur. I also got new pulleys, but the old ones turned out fine after cleaning:

img_4877ode3o.jpg

img_48786td9x.jpg

img_4879x6cto.jpg 

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With the rear as far finished as possible at the moment, I went on at the front with the steering assembly. Here I used new turnbuckles and new steering posts:

img_48802vdi1.jpg

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At this time the front belt wasn't delivered...

 

For a week the chassis sat on its place in that condition (found no time to work on it):

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With new motivation and the front belt, I continued:

img_4891gaep3.jpg

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I also found the spool cups and ordered two sets (just in case):

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I am convinced white is the wrong colour for this hobby, but it looks very nice :wub:

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In front I already mentioned the problem with the outer pins. I thought about to remove them for a while, but then decided otherwise. It would have only worked by destroying the C-hubs. These are 2°. I ordered 4° for the box in case I need them sometime.

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Front bulkheads and spool:

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The manual suggested belt tension was pretty tight. I used the second lowest setting for a normal tension:

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Now to the hubs with these small bearings. I cannot imagine these withstanding any impact:

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The front bones became pretty expensive...

 

Turnbuckles:

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On 11/24/2022 at 8:25 PM, wtcc5 said:

img_4895v9e0d.jpg

Does anyone know the reason why these pulleys have only a tooth for every second tooth of the belt? 
 

And in general…great work as in every build thread from you :) 

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@Sgt.Speirs: I don't know. Maybe this was a try to reduce friction. I have never seen pulley like this in every other area were timing belts are used.

 

The build continues with the anti-roll-bars:

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Then the shocktowers with these Carbon Damper Stay Setting Spacer Set. These were included in the original MRE kit. Mine didn't have them...

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Excellent build again! The spur width settings are origininal kit settings, or something you had in mind? I wonder about the old "butterfly" front setting (1B/1A) in front.

 

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@ruebiracer: Kit setting would be XD and so on, so very narrow. I just took over, what the previous owner used, because it makes a lot of sense.

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On 11/28/2022 at 6:16 PM, wtcc5 said:

@Sgt.Speirs: I don't know. Maybe this was a try to reduce friction. I have never seen pulley like this in every other area were timing belts are used.

You're right. They came on the later TA05's, TRF415's and early TRF416's if I remember correctly. The TA05's jumped from a 35 to 36 tooth pulley and the 36's were like this. 

Man, this thread is bringing back so many memories from back when I had my TRF415MSX as a drift chassis (VERY early times in the RC drifting world haha :D ) . I recently bought another which I still have to pull apart to clean and rebuild. Love the attention to detail trying to use all the correct spacers etc.

By the way, those tiny bearings in the front knuckles really were a pain. They wore out so fast!

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This build is getting closer to its end ^_^

Some final nice parts left, like the topdeck with its special belt tensioner & antenna mount:

03fe1201-976b-42f1-avidha.jpeg

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Attaching the simple servo mounts:

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Up to now, I couldn't find the correct thick bumper, so I use the slimmer MSXX bumper:

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Coming out nice :wub::

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The shocks are kind of worn regarding the anodized layer. I decided to use new housings from my stock. The owner had used the grey low friction plastic shock parts. As it matches all the ballcups, I decided to go for it again:

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One millionths shock build :P (bumper used as shock holder):

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Finished:

0af42647-71ec-48e3-9agc96.jpeg

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13 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

This build is getting closer to its end ^_^

Some final nice parts left, like the topdeck with its special belt tensioner & antenna mount:

03fe1201-976b-42f1-avidha.jpeg

20c12d70-d9dd-4141-9rhcgw.jpeg

 

Attaching the simple servo mounts:

0d452f5e-e8a8-4ea5-8c0edb.jpeg

 

Up to now, I couldn't find the correct thick bumper, so I use the slimmer MSXX bumper:

ce5b6cbd-15f4-40f2-bxof74.jpeg

 

Coming out nice :wub::

ec2390de-9a09-4186-8rbceb.jpeg

145bf63a-d610-4792-843flx.jpeg

 

The shocks are kind of worn regarding the anodized layer. I decided to use new housings from my stock. The owner had used the grey low friction plastic shock parts. As it matches all the ballcups, I decided to go for it again:

e3fcdd30-8683-4cd1-8p7dsk.jpeg

One millionths shock build :P (bumper used as shock holder):

a7f71934-12a7-4808-af6em7.jpeg

Finished:

0af42647-71ec-48e3-9agc96.jpeg

8aa40367-0067-4a27-9jif27.jpeg

 

Beautiful 

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Box motor and TRF414 pinion next:

356d3b51-1ee3-42c7-9ktcdn.jpeg

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Tires with self locking screws:

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Looking good so far :wub:

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One important detail since this TRF415 version, is the air channel cut in front of the motor. I really love Tamiyas air channel/venturi effect part and had to get it:

1f264e48-8c98-4e37-a4ydbk.jpeg

 26809d47-5836-4951-awcce8.jpeg

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Time to add the the last bits. The rear belts were nowhere to get. We know it is basically generic Bando stuff. So I searched for the length and found, that 3Racing used it for one of their Sakura cars. Well I couldn't get this in Germany/Europe, too... so I was forced to order it from HKs RCmart:

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I am still not totally happy as it is 3.5mm wide compared to the 3mm width I wanted . Performance and endurance wise it will maybe perform better (on the shelf :rolleyes:)...

 

I also added an old servo and gave it a nice sticker:

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Thats it with the build so far. I still need to make the body. Goal would be to ask the right person to make a replica body of Marcs 2006 car. I just need to find this person.

 

Right now the chassis is not at my home anymore...

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The chassis is back :D

img_5594hpip4.jpg

 

Something special happened last week in Daun (ETS):

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Unfortunately shortly after someone must have touched the still wet marker color :( ... Oh, well, beggars can't be choosers. I got this fantastic picture and the autograph from the champion. And only because I know this great friend and supporter Michael Koos who is always thinking ahead: Dear Michael, it is a pleasure being friends with you!

What I also got is a funny short story about how Marc got mocked by his comrades at the ETS like: "Oh, look, the star is giving autographs." and how he put in a real effort to make it a good looking autograph by having to repeat it several times ^_^

The mocking-story let me thought about these guys being stars. To be honest a lot of them are stars for me. Of course Marc is standing out with all his WCs. Tamiya celebrated him with these special edition chassis. Which is only fair. I even think many of these guys are not celebrated enough by the manufacturers. Coelho, Matsukura, Hagberg, Volker, and so on should be worshipped more.   

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Nice to get the autograph! I’m trying to arrange something similar with my 415 MSXX MRE which I’m trying to build to his exact specs!

Luke

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On 2/4/2023 at 10:15 PM, wtcc5 said:

The chassis is back :D

img_5594hpip4.jpg

 

Something special happened last week in Daun (ETS):

12617413-b111-4ad8-a3htfbb.jpg

img_5593ywdc9.jpg

Unfortunately shortly after someone must have touched the still wet marker color :( ... Oh, well, beggars can't be choosers. I got this fantastic picture and the autograph from the champion. And only because I know this great friend and supporter Michael Koos who is always thinking ahead: Dear Michael, it is a pleasure being friends with you!

What I also got is a funny short story about how Marc got mocked by his comrades at the ETS like: "Oh, look, the star is giving autographs." and how he put in a real effort to make it a good looking autograph by having to repeat it several times ^_^

The mocking-story let me thought about these guys being stars. To be honest a lot of them are stars for me. Of course Marc is standing out with all his WCs. Tamiya celebrated him with these special edition chassis. Which is only fair. I even think many of these guys are not celebrated enough by the manufacturers. Coelho, Matsukura, Hagberg, Volker, and so on should be worshipped more.   

Wow! 

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