TRF411X, one of the last one of its kind.

[Collin]

What a day. Had some talks since years with the owner of this model and today I got this beauty for restauration. The project will start by 2025, since there are a few ongoing projects which I do not want to mix up. I am more than happy to be told that I am the right person for this job. It is in general good condition, has wrong dampers and a broken front diff-housing.There will not be any 3D printet parts as replacement, only vacuum casted polycarbonate ones. Should be very durable and look pretty much like injection casted parts. But I think it can not be wrong to make some more measurments here and there.

I never looked so much forward to the upcoming year, this will be a great thing.

[GTodd]

Oh man what couldve been!!!! Favoriting this to watch. Come on Tamiya Take Kyoshos lead and make some prototypes that never came out!

[ThunderDragonCy]

Fantastic. Motor/belt install looks a lot like the TA04/TRF414?

[Collin]

9 hours ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

Fantastic. Motor/belt install looks a lot like the TA04/TRF414?

Might be, I dont know yet. Have never had a belt-driven car in my hand until now. Pretty good start I think

The one on the car is a Pirelli 576, so it will be something generic maybe.

[GermanTA03Guy]

On 6/29/2024 at 2:49 PM, ThunderDragonCy said:

Fantastic. Motor/belt install looks a lot like the TA04/TRF414?

Thats what i thought a trf411x is - like a ta04/trf414 offroad buggy ? Also has some top force vibes going on. Same front knuckles maybe, but a rear stabilizer. The dampers look like my rc10b4 ae small bores.... wheel mounts similar to yokomo.... interesting ! Is there a shell ?

[Collin]

Dampers on this one are not original. Blue sleeved rear an mini sleeved front was what Tamiya did.

[ruebiracer]

So cool news Tom! Happy to watch you tear down and analyzing this Legend! Guess you will measure all parts and make a digital twin.

[Collin]

2 hours ago, ruebiracer said:

So cool news Tom! Happy to watch you tear down and analyzing this Legend! Guess you will measure all parts and make a digital twin.

Yes the owner and another collector want a replica. I think, I want one too : ) But this time I do not go the way of 3D printing, parts will be copied with silicon moulds and cast polycarbonate or something like  this. A 3D model will be done, because for a nice runner a PA12 print is just fine.

[ruebiracer]

So cool they picked you out for the job!  Guess you collected some references with your last projects!

 

[Collin]

Mostly trust. I think this is the main aspekt. My work is quality of course but trust you can't pay.

[Collin]

On 7/2/2024 at 9:35 PM, GermanTA03Guy said:

Thats what i thought a trf411x is - like a ta04/trf414 offroad buggy ? Also has some top force vibes going on. Same front knuckles maybe, but a rear stabilizer. The dampers look like my rc10b4 ae small bores.... wheel mounts similar to yokomo.... interesting ! Is there a shell ?

Ahw, did not read your post well. Seems like there never was a shell, mostly the Parma Tomcat was used and it fits well. Some parts are indeed Top Force such as steering arms and c-hubs.

[ruebiracer]

Tom, did you mean Tomcat? By Parma?

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/99866-my-tamiya-tomcat/

 

[Collin]

Exactly.

[ruebiracer]

Nice shell, really suits the project!

With the upcoming rebirth of Parma, you should be able to get that shell again!

 

[Collin]

Penguin UK does them too

[Collin]

Let the fun games begin : )

[Collin]

@pUs You are a specialist in this field, do you think this belt slipper was added after casting the parts? It honestly does look like glued in.

 

[Collin]

Can not say too much about this restauration but that model was really heavy used and modified. I have spent some time the last week to make a very proper digital twin, doing everything like it was meant to be original. Funny is, no one really knows what was original. There is close to no information about this prototype and the few existing owners are all connected, so I am curious when ever a new one will show up.

For the restauration itself, usual soft and deep cleaning, stict documentation about all segments to locate all bits back where they belong to. The fun part will be the restauration of the front gearbox, which needs to be glued together. I am not shure yet which way to go but less is more, in my opinion.

So far I think I will use a tiny bit of Tamiya ABS cement to put the broken pieces together, then adding a thin film of 0.4mm PC (lexan) to the inside to strengthen everything. Maybe after that using som black Miliput to do cosmetics to the outside. All your experiences are very welcome regarding restoring Tamiya plastic parts.

Cheerio.
T.

[Divefire]

18 hours ago, Collin said:

So far I think I will use a tiny bit of Tamiya ABS cement to put the broken pieces together, then adding a thin film of 0.4mm PC (lexan) to the inside to strengthen everything. Maybe after that using som black Miliput to do cosmetics to the outside. All your experiences are very welcome regarding restoring Tamiya plastic parts.

Cheerio.
T.

I'm not sure how far you'll get with the ABS cement, personally I've never found it makes a strong enough bond to be worthwhile. I'd be tempted to plastic weld if possible with bracing where appropriate. 

That said if you're not looking for running strength and just need static display and accurate measurement strength your orginal plan should be fine. 

Side note, always found this to be a fascinating prototype, in as much of what parts did they use from the stock room and what was made specifically for it? Where's the DNA, what did it evolve from and into!? And then I want to make a TA04 based off road buggy. 😆 

[Collin]

4 hours ago, Divefire said:

I'm not sure how far you'll get with the ABS cement, personally I've never found it makes a strong enough bond to be worthwhile. I'd be tempted to plastic weld if possible with bracing where appropriate. 

That said if you're not looking for running strength and just need static display and accurate measurement strength your orginal plan should be fine. 

Side note, always found this to be a fascinating prototype, in as much of what parts did they use from the stock room and what was made specifically for it? Where's the DNA, what did it evolve from and into!? And then I want to make a TA04 based off road buggy. 😆 

Afaik the rear drivetrain is (or later became) pure Dyna Storm / TR-15T (mid motor). The steering mechanism is mainly taken from the Top Force. Knuckle Arms is form an TA chassis. The front gearbox is totaly on its own and the carbon, thats just connecting parts (hehe) on its own.

The belt and the front and rear pulleys are currently in close inspection. I am curious if I find a source for that or if they are also some handknitten Tamiya parts.

I love RC archeology : )
 

[Divefire]

7 hours ago, Collin said:

Afaik the rear drivetrain is (or later became) pure Dyna Storm / TR-15T (mid motor). The steering mechanism is mainly taken from the Top Force. Knuckle Arms is form an TA chassis. The front gearbox is totaly on its own and the carbon, thats just connecting parts (hehe) on its own.

The belt and the front and rear pulleys are currently in close inspection. I am curious if I find a source for that or if they are also some handknitten Tamiya parts.

I love RC archeology : )
 

Ah I thought the rear gearbox looked familiar! Interesting info and helpful, any idea what front diff it uses or is that still under investigation? 

It's quite possible the pullys and belts are off the parts shelf of another nearby manufacture I suppose? 

One final question, does the kick up at the front come from the chassis shape or a wedge under the front gearbox case?

[Collin]

Kickup? LoL. This is the most weakest point on the whole car which made it so incompetitiv imho. The front gearbox, thin and fragil, is the bumper, sitting flat on the front of the chassis.
The front suspension arms have an kickup angle of 15° just by use of two angeled plastic braces connectet by the 3mm suspension shafts.

About the pulleys, I still have no idear. Knowing the belt is 4mm wide and has a pitch of 2mm, thats where my search begins. 24T and 48T size. Other diff parts are same as rear diff and made unique for this model. 

[Divefire]

16 hours ago, Collin said:

Kickup? LoL. This is the most weakest point on the whole car which made it so incompetitiv imho. The front gearbox, thin and fragil, is the bumper, sitting flat on the front of the chassis.

Good grief! I had no idea, I assumed the design team had learned their lessons! I swear they were allergic to front kickup... 

Thanks for all the info and I hope the pulley hunt turns up something soon!