58742 Hornet Evo coming!

[MadAnt]

I wonder if the outboard axle shafts from the ORV Brat will fit? Sure the length of threads is less, but if pin hole on the shank is slightly further out enough that might work to with the original hubs.

I would check, but the closest thing I have to the ORV Brat is a Vintage Monster Beetle and that has hex drive joints.

[MadAnt]

This combination of flames and stripes looks so good.

[markbt73]

For those curious about a full DT-02 rear end swap: Yes, it looks much better.

(And yes, I know the rear camber is a little off. I need to see if I have some shorter links somewhere.)

[matisse]

seeing as i'm unlikley to build this in the near future. someone please mod the rear with DF03 arms and hubs, and then switch to TRF201X C hubs upfront.

 

ta.

[SlideWRX]

I could, I have those parts, but I don't have any Tamiya blue bits to de-color to silver.   I was actually going to check the DF03 hubs on standard DT-02/3 arms to see if it is the same length as the EVO setup, but I suspect the classic wheels won't fit over those bits, so it would be a 2.2" wheel setup only.

[markbt73]

Quick slap-dash paint job, good enough, because I'm not crazy about the Hornet body style anyway, and I plan to run the snot out of this thing. I'll do a different body later. Back to stock rear suspension for now, because I want to try it stock first.

[ThunderDragonCy]

@matisse seeing your post I had a look around for trf201 knuckles and they appear to be non existent these days. However, closer inspection of the hornet evo shows that it has new, dedicated knuckles very much in the way of the trf201 versions. Unfortunately for the terminally nerdy (hi!) they are part of the large parts tree that includes a lot of the front end parts so getting some to try will be difficult and pricy I suspect. Hopefully some aftermarket aluminum versions will appear soon so I can get some yo try.

[matisse]

36 minutes ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

@matisse seeing your post I had a look around for trf201 knuckles and they appear to be non existent these days. However, closer inspection of the hornet evo shows that it has new, dedicated knuckles very much in the way of the trf201 versions. Unfortunately for the terminally nerdy (hi!) they are part of the large parts tree that includes a lot of the front end parts so getting some to try will be difficult and pricy I suspect. Hopefully some aftermarket aluminum versions will appear soon so I can get some yo try.

I figured that might be the case, which is a shame extra caster is rarely a bad thing in my view.

of course, im now wondering if TD2 front hubs and uprights would fit……..

[markbt73]

First drive report: it's sooo good.

I was only out for a few minutes, because it's 26F outside here (that's -3C) and my fingers were getting stiff. But I'm really impressed! It understeers a lot, but I imagine that's mostly the tires. It's very composed over bumps, and tracks nice and straight, and jumps nicely. Drives a lot like an early RC10, if I'm honest. I think we as a community are going to have a lot of fun with this one for a long time to come. Thank you, Tamiya!

[Torhaantje]

I was wondering if the rear A arms would fit the frontend,  being probably the only one who  likes a narrow Hornet evo...

If someone could check, I would be more than greatful.

Rick

[MadAnt]

Street mode, lol.

[ThunderDragonCy]

Super random one this, but I am sitting here drinking coffee on Christmas morning waiting for teenagers to surface. 

There is a lot of talk about the rear track on this car. I was looking at the Graaho lab Grasshopper and GH2 conversions this morning and he has written proper manuals. If you look in them they use 54mm rear drive shafts, which turn out to be the centre prop shafts from a TC01. Graaho keeps the width down despite using DT03 rear arms by providing a 3d printed rear upright that is much less offset than the dt03 version used on the Hornet EVO. 

Whilst the dog bones from the kit are a bit rare (part 13451314) there are universals and double cardin versions available that would just need the regular axle fitting to them. Pricey, but doable. Seems to me there is potentially some combo of either dt03 arms and new narrower rear upright, or a 3d printed mid-width arm that might balance out the look. 

 

[SlideWRX]

Maybe the DF-03 upright (left) with the DT-02/3 lower arm (right). I think that would drop the driveshaft length from 70 to roughly 55-57mm to fit, maybe 54mm?

[ThunderDragonCy]

6 hours ago, SlideWRX said:

Maybe the DF-03 upright (left) with the DT-02/3 lower arm (right). I think that would drop the driveshaft length from 70 to roughly 55-57mm to fit, maybe 54mm?

That looks like it would be spot on

[River19]

Finished up my build today on the EVO.....just need to do the body paint and decals.

It runs.

Cool build, enjoyed it.

[matisse]

On 12/26/2024 at 3:30 AM, SlideWRX said:

Maybe the DF-03 upright (left) with the DT-02/3 lower arm (right). I think that would drop the driveshaft length from 70 to roughly 55-57mm to fit, maybe 54mm?

I approve of this message 

[matisse]

7 hours ago, River19 said:

Finished up my build today on the EVO.....just need to do the body paint and decals.

It runs.

Cool build, enjoyed it.

Shortest build thread ever.

almost a haiku.

[River19]

4 hours ago, matisse said:

Shortest build thread ever.

almost a haiku.

Fair point.  lol

I figured with multiple build threads already on a pretty straight forward and common kit, we didn't need another one.

As a side note, my good friend has been watching me reenter the hobby earlier in 2024 after 35 years away and saw how deeply I have gotten into racing with TLR and Schumacher platforms.   His first car was a Grasshopper back in the 80s and based on my experience he just ordered a Hornet EVO to get back into things........gateway drug.....

[River19]

As a second side note......the car actually drives really decently.  Almost to the point of being kinda boring in a good way.

my driveway is gravel but covered in a skim layer of snow and ice and I first ran it with a standard 6 cell NiMh battery and the car was "fine", not fast by today's standards which is really what we know going into this thing BUT it does what a Hornet does.....sends a rooster tail flying and is fun to just slide around and enjoy the smile it puts on your face.

I did solder up a Tamiya connector to bullet connectors to try one of my 2S shorty packs and I would say that gave it a 10% boost or so....possibly more, hard to tell in my limited snow impacted run.

What I will say is the simple change to independent suspension and the CVAs transforms this car into what I called "boring in a good way" in that is actually holds its line and doesn't skip all over the place like the original did.  Sure it understeers something fierce especially with the spiked rears digging in and the skinny ribbed tires up front.

I did tweak a couple things from the box stock setup during the build, the first is I used the long "ball joint eyes" on the rear (not X1 the longer one) AND I went with the 2 hole shock pistons in the rear as I heard others say the rear was really soft so I figured I would go with a little more pack if possible before I swap to a real oil from my TLR collection of weights.  Front shocks just have a couple of the spring collars on as the springs are fairly short and allow a lot of droop unless you add an internal limiter etc.

The 2S will keep me entertained for a bit but I can see my curiosity eventually take over and swap to a Torque Tuned 540 and probably stop there with "mods".

This is a fun runner and "smile maker"........

[Saito2]

Thanks for the update @River19. I am hoping the "boring" in "boring in a good way" doesn't equate to the boring I get from a run-of-the-mill DT02 (that was a lot of use of the word boring ).

[River19]

2 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

Thanks for the update @River19. I am hoping the "boring" in "boring in a good way" doesn't equate to the boring I get from a run-of-the-mill DT02 (that was a lot of use of the word boring ).

The original Hornet's primary trick was ripping burnouts and doing donuts in loose dirt or sand.........this will do that in spades but with the added ability to actually drive level and under control over some rougher bumps that would send the original Hornet rolling or into a bouncing fit.  The EVO should be able to take some reasonable jumps as well if that is your thing.......

It's great fun for the price.

[River19]

OK one more post to pile on to actually driving experience vs. just building it......

Dropping in a Torque Tuned and a 19T pinion is transformational for the EVO.  While the standard silver can 540 gives it a nostalgic vibe, the fact that the new suspension is "decent" the car was kinda begging to have a little more "oomph" and since I had a spare Torque Tuned hanging out with only a battery or two through it I figured why not.  I dug around my RC parts box from the late 1980s in search of a 32 pitch 19 tooth pinion and wouldn't you know it......I had one....

So for the $18 or so the Torque Tuned motor costs and whatever a pinion will run you, if you actually plan on running this Hornet EVO......drop the extra $20-25 on the slight upgrade motor and slap in a 2S Lipo and your smile will grow.  

I think anything more than the Torque Tuned and we may find the weak point in the gearbox or elsewhere.  The faster you go, the faster you break things......

[ThunderDragonCy]

@River19 Good to know. Although i can't speak to the rest of the car, the DT03 trans is tough as old boots. Happily ran a 10.5 brushless with truck wheels in my DT03. 

[Tamiyastef]

29 minutes ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

DT03 trans is tough as old boots

I second that. Ran 10T dragster brushless system and truggy wheels for several years with no issues for the gearbox but lots of other parts got broken and replaced...

[SlideWRX]

On 12/28/2024 at 7:43 PM, Saito2 said:

Thanks for the update @River19. I am hoping the "boring" in "boring in a good way" doesn't equate to the boring I get from a run-of-the-mill DT02 (that was a lot of use of the word boring ).

You could track down a set of friction shocks to make it more bouncy...