DF-03 vs TT-02B. Which would you choose?

[Killajb]

I favor the DF-03 in this comparison.  I'm assuming once you purchase either a TT-02B or the DF-03, you will eventually add more hop-ups until you've reached the limits of what either can do.  The DF-03 (in my opinion) would be the more capable design in the end.   Here's an excellent example of what you can do:

 

[DTSCB]

On 6/19/2024 at 9:46 PM, Honza said:

I didn't build it, I just found the blog. 😃 The slipper pads do have flats, they are just not as pronounced as on Tamiya parts.

So, are you going to try to build one?

If someone produces a fully English parts list... I might give it a try if I can find one place with all of the parts (aka only one shipping charge).

[Sogogi]

If getting spares /hop ups are not hard nor expensive, I would go with df-03…

[TurnipJF]

I'm of the view that a nice car sitting on the shelf doing nothing because I can't find parts to repair it is nowhere near as much fun as a not-quite-as-nice car out being run because I was able to fix it last time it broke.

Hence my fleet containing a TT-02B but no DF-03. 😀

[Honza]

14 hours ago, DTSCB said:

So, are you going to try to build one?

If someone produces a fully English parts list...

I don't have a TT-02B, so I'm not building it. But some parts can be useful for my other projects 😁

There's photo that shows all the parts needed. Except for shims on the top right, or PNs are visible. The YR mount is probably not necessary, if you use XV-02 0.6 spur instead of the suggested 48p one.

I also found follow-up posts that show detailed build, modifications and parts athat were not shown in the initial post:

- Part2

- Part3

- Part4

You can use Google translate to get somewhat intelligible translation

 

[DTSCB]

21 hours ago, Sogogi said:

If getting spares /hop ups are not hard nor expensive, I would go with df-03…

I already have a few TT-02Bs and no DF-03.  Now, if Tamiya came out with a Truck variant... a DF-03T... I'd be all over that.

7 hours ago, Honza said:

I don't have a TT-02B, so I'm not building it. But some parts can be useful for my other projects 😁

There's photo that shows all the parts needed. Except for shims on the top right, or PNs are visible. The YR mount is probably not necessary, if you use XV-02 0.6 spur instead of the suggested 48p one.

I also found follow-up posts that show detailed build, modifications and parts athat were not shown in the initial post:

- Part2

- Part3

- Part4

You can use Google translate to get somewhat intelligible translation

 

Thanks!

I'll start building an updated parts list for review here before I pull the trigger.

[Juls1]

The TD4 is heads and shoulders above either the TT02B or DF03. But i appreciate it has a polarising look. The Df03 is a good buggy but support in terms of aftermarket parts has basically dried up.

If the TT02BR had a slipper clutch option then its a solid choice, but without it the total transmission struggles to hold together under the power of a stock class 17.5t race motor, particularly with high grip tires.

The TD4 is a the better option if a modern ish Tamiya runner is what you want. But i think as with being silly and buying a Tamiya instead of any of the other stronger, faster and potentially cheaper non Tamiya options, the model you want is the one that appeals to you most, and in that case. They are all solid options. 
 

lets face the music here, if Tamiya is your thing, then how much money is involved doesn’t really play that big of a role in the choices available to you. 

[DTSCB]

On 6/17/2024 at 10:32 AM, Honza said:

Found out, that TT-02B can have a slipper as well. I wonder why there isn't an official Tamiya part, seems like XV-02 slipper would fit after couple of modifications to the spur shaft...

Link to a Japanese blog that describes how it's build.

@Honza Do you remember where you found this picture?  I don't see it on any of the blog links.  The most notable thing about this picture is the white colored slipper pad. 

I should also note that, the blog is dated back in 2019.  So... I'll see which parts I can still find. 

I started with the 6mm OD and 5ID pipe... I couldn't find one in brass, like the OOP, but I eventually found one in stainless steel. 

I'm currently trying to figure out if a tamiya slipper clutch hop-up will get me closer on the parts I need or if this won't be much in the tamiya parts department.

[DTSCB]

initial parts list:
6mm OD, 5MM ID brass metal pipe (cut to 5mm-7mm, if too short, use washers as needed as spacers when tightening, must be longer than bearing) $10
1160 bearing (4mm thick) (Tamiya 19805802) $7.25/2
slim nut M5? Kyosho 1-N5050N nut (M5x5.0) $2/5
Kyosho washers: 1-W500#06? -> Washer(M5x8x0.5/10pcs) 1-W500805 $4/10
Kyosho slipper shaft: FA538 $2
Kyosho slipper spring: FA536 $3
Kyosho Slipper disc OL023 $3
Tamiya DB01 Slipper Pad OP-1027/54027 (Hard to find right now!?!) should be $4-8, but only found around $13 and may require extra shipping costs
Tamiya TRF201 48 Pitch Spur Gear (79T) SP-1415/51415 $3
Yeah Racing TT02B motor mount

which means I'll need a 48p pinion...

More parts...
Tamiya 13450053 Hotshot Propeller Shaft $14
Tamiya 19804181 1/14 Trailer Joint Cup $10/2

The joint cup is fixed with a 3x3mm set screw

Tamiya trailer iron shaft 13555112?  $10 (tamiya usa on sale for $4 right now...)

Total around $73 plus shipping from several places

[Honza]

10 hours ago, DTSCB said:

@Honza Do you remember where you found this picture?  I don't see it on any of the blog links.  The most notable thing about this picture is the white colored slipper pad. 

I should also note that, the blog is dated back in 2019.  So... I'll see which parts I can still find. 

I started with the 6mm OD and 5ID pipe... I couldn't find one in brass, like the OOP, but I eventually found one in stainless steel. 

I'm currently trying to figure out if a tamiya slipper clutch hop-up will get me closer on the parts I need or if this won't be much in the tamiya parts department.

The picture was in another blog post, linked on the bottom of the post I linked here, there's no other photo of the slipper. I guess that those slipper pads are just another Tamiya option, now for example available for TD4.

I didn't even realised it's 5 year old already.. yet still no slipper upgrade from Tamiya or any other manufacturer.

I guess that someone could make a custom shaft to fit the XV-02 slipper, but it'd require lathe and milling machine...

 

[TurnipJF]

If MIP found it profitable enough to make a Monster Beetle ball diff, perhaps they would consider a TT-02B slipper? I'm sure there are more TT02Bs out there than Monster Beetles...

[Kowalski86]

On 6/30/2024 at 10:00 AM, Juls1 said:

If the TT02BR had a slipper clutch option then its a solid choice, but without it the total transmission struggles to hold together under the power of a stock class 17.5t race motor, particularly with high grip tires.

The real irony is that a number of competitive buggy racers run slipper eliminators. What the TT02B needs is a more robust diff that isn't plastic-on-plastic-on-plastic.

[Howards]

20 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

The real irony is that a number of competitive buggy racers run slipper eliminators

This is for stock class racing where motor power is artificially limited, isn't it? They'll run a ball diff unless on a super high grip surface so get the transmission slip that way.

[jsven008]

Since I own the following 4wd Tamiya buggies I'll rate these: DF02, DF03, TT02B, TT02BR, and a DB-01 Durga.

Best to Worst for Brushless Fun:

1) DB01 (Durga) - Belt-drive. Mid-engine. Race-bred TRF501 heritage. Solid Durability. Affordable Price (~$190 USD). Still Available in 2024. What's not to like?

2) TT02BR - A very solid TT02B which is much better than the base model with over 14 hop-ups included. Why so many hop-ups? Because, let's be honest, most of the base TT02B parts needed to be replaced.  When you consider the total cost of the hop-ups and the street price of this kit (~$250 USD), it is a very good deal. You'd be hard-pressed to build a better TT02B for the same price or even close to it. The only TT02B I'd buy.

3) DF03 (Dark Impact)- A thoughtfully-designed solid performer. The DF03 is well above the DF02 and TT02B in terms of engineering and performance design; it's a much more advanced car. It's also a much better car overall and it is only slightly more expensive at ~$150 USD. The only aspect that really lets it down is the flimsy ABS chassis, but there are ways to reinforce it such as using JB Weld.

4) DF02 (Rising Storm) - A durable and affordable entry-level car. It was designed for brushed motors 20 years ago, but with its metal gears it still holds up well to brushless power. Although the TT02B offers a number of advantages over the DF02, such as an improved spur gear design and motor mount, I still prefer driving the DF02. While it might be an entry-level car, its high-level fun.

5) TT02B (Plasma Edge II) - An entry-level car designed to sell hop-ups. Most parts on this car are barely adequate for brushless, meaning you'll spend more time upgrading or fixing it than driving. As hobby-grade cars go (i.e. Arrma, Traxxas, Losi, Associated etc) this is at the very bottom of the heap. I fully hopped-up my base TT02B because, well, it needed it. When I think about it, there is not a single part on this car I would keep.