Tamiya (non shelf queen) Blackfoot

[NUFCRc 119]

I hate to see something sitting on a shelf getting dusty so here we go...

 

Chassis is standard for now, I intend to upgrade to aluminium in the new year. I have upgraded the following so far..

Carbon front shock tower

Carbon rear arm stopper

Carbon rear shock plate

Aluminium rear arms( from china) very good quality and only around 45 quid. (See photo) 

Aluminium rear wheel hubs

Aluminium battery stopper 

Aluminium front steering arms

Aluminium body mount brace

Aluminium front bumper mount

Aluminium 52t counter gear 

Full bearing kit 

 

 

 

I would love some feedback as what mods you blackfoot owners would recommend on the following:

Motor & pinion 

Bump steer issues

ESC & receiver 

 

Apologies in advance if I've posted this in the wrong section. 

Many thanks 

[Kowalski86 4073]

Id go with an MIP Ball Diff, do the center servo mod, and for electronics go with a HW1060 ESC and FlySky GT3C transmitter/receiver. 

The stock pinion is a long brass 10t, what motor you run comes down to if you want speed or a longer run time. 

Don't worry about bump steer/handling quirks until you've driven it for a few battery packs.

[NUFCRc 119]

Thanks dude. I'll get these ordered ASAP. I was thinking of getting a dirt burners steel pinion and maybe keeping the motor stock until the new year. 

[Kowalski86 4073]

6 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

Thanks dude. I'll get these ordered ASAP. I was thinking of getting a dirt burners steel pinion and maybe keeping the motor stock until the new year. 

Anytime, do you have the little plastic adapter for running a 10t pinion?

If not, it wouldn't hurt to buy an aluminum adapter that would open up your pinion choices. The plastic adapter on my Monster Beetle cracked over time from motor heat.

Also, plan on a high torque servo saver or a Kimbrough, my Beetle broke its stock servo saver.

I'd strongly reccomend to stick to the plastic chassis/front arms. Too much metal makes for a heavy RC.

I think you'd do well just running the kit brass pinion gear and a torque tuned motor.

[Re-Bugged 11297]

Enjoy the tinkering with the the BF @NUFCRc, they are a great looking thing in IMO 😁

All I’ve done to mine is fit a 17.5t Hobbywing Justock G2 motor. As it’s one of the early TBLE-02 ESC’s it’s handled it no worries.  I had a Sport Tuned for a short time but it would get real hot on grass. The Brushless takes it in its stride. I also just cut out some battery retainers from Perspex as the kit ones were in the way of the wires from my LiPo.

I find the 17.5t with the stock pinion is plenty fast enough as to not destroy the hard body, and because with Ron behind the wheel he’s one of the few reckless Tamiya drivers that doesn’t wear a helmet to protect his noggin from a rollover….

Long live the Legend Ramblin’ Ron…

[Frog Jumper 3813]

20 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

 

Bump steer issues

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153727500034?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sFX0ByQ5QPO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-IHU6wS3Qt-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 

[NUFCRc 119]

Thanks @Frog Jumper I will order some. I see they are able to post to the UK.

[Frog Jumper 3813]

Just now, NUFCRc said:

Thanks @Frog Jumper I will order some. I see they are able to post to the UK.

These are likely reproductions of the Parma zero bump steer knuckles.

[NUFCRc 119]

This is going to be quite an expensive build, but will all be worth it in the end. 

[Frog Jumper 3813]

If you decide to use a different pinion from the kit supplied 10t brass and motor mount, you’ll want to find an Adjustable Motor Mount and then use the Thorp extra long pinions.

[Frog Jumper 3813]

18 minutes ago, NUFCRc said:

This is going to be quite an expensive build, but will all be worth it in the end. 

Take your time.  Do one upgrade and drive. See and feel the difference.  Decide if you like.  Then do the next upgrade.  Prolong the fun and spread out the expense.  

[NUFCRc 119]

I would love to get my hands on some of those Thorp parts, they're as rare as hens teeth here and when you do find them they're almost guaranteed to be ridiculously expensive. 

[Frog Jumper 3813]

3 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

I would love to get my hands on some of those Thorp parts, they're as rare as hens teeth here and when you do find them they're almost guaranteed to be ridiculously expensive. 

Too bad you aren't in the US.  I have extra Thorp stuff that I'm willing to part with for cheap.

Terry

 

 

 

[NUFCRc 119]

I did live over there for a few months back in 2021, Fort Wayne, Indiana. I did like the USA.

[Frog Jumper 3813]

5 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

I did live over there for a few months back in 2021, Fort Wayne, Indiana. I did like it and I might end up back there one day. 

I have a cousin in Fort Pain...

Terry

 

[NUFCRc 119]

I was thinking about upgrading the front end with turnbuckles rather than those steering arms and the flimsy plastic connectors. Have any of you done this to your blackfoot?

[Frog Jumper 3813]

4 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

I was thinking about upgrading the front end with turnbuckles rather than those steering arms and the flimsy plastic connectors. Have any of you done this to your blackfoot?

Some old pictures...

https://imgur.com/gallery/tamiya-blackfoot-front-shocks-GdyhSf4

LOL, and old video...

https://imgur.com/a/7I5oE57

 

[NUFCRc 119]

11 hours ago, Frog Jumper said:

Some old pictures...

https://imgur.com/gallery/tamiya-blackfoot-front-shocks-GdyhSf4

LOL, and old video...

https://imgur.com/a/7I5oE57

 

Thanks dude. Much appreciated. 

[NUFCRc 119]

What turnbuckle would I need? I will be doing the centre servo mount modification. 

[Frog Jumper 3813]

57 minutes ago, NUFCRc said:

What turnbuckle would I need? I will be doing the centre servo mount modification. 

So that kinda depends on how or what you use to attach to the steering knuckles and the servo saver, and also what kind of servo saver you use.

Here are my recommendations:
1.  Find and buy the connectors that you want to use.  In my case, I like the "ball links", or the ball ends that have the metal ball embedded  (something similar to this:  https://tinyurl.com/ykjavsam)
2.  Find and buy the servo and servo saver you want to use.  Install how you want.
3.  Install your choice of connectors to the servo saver.  Install connectors to steering knuckle.
4.  Eye ball "center" for everything and (using measuring tape or calipers), measure the length of rod you will need between each set of connectors.
5.  Go to your local hardware store and buy some cheap threaded rod.  Cut to length.  Cut new / cut short as needed.
6.  Once you figure out what length threaded rod you need, look for Turnbuckles in the approx. same length.  Longer is better, you can trim some of the excess rod if you have to.

I've tried all kinds of connectors and rods and turnbuckles.  The "heavy duty" plastic ones work well (no need for fancy metal ones), and I love Lunsford T-Buckles, but I don't think they are in business anymore...

Terry

 

[NUFCRc 119]

4 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said:

So that kinda depends on how or what you use to attach to the steering knuckles and the servo saver, and also what kind of servo saver you use.

Here are my recommendations:
1.  Find and buy the connectors that you want to use.  In my case, I like the "ball links", or the ball ends that have the metal ball embedded  (something similar to this:  https://tinyurl.com/ykjavsam)
2.  Find and buy the servo and servo saver you want to use.  Install how you want.
3.  Install your choice of connectors to the servo saver.  Install connectors to steering knuckle.
4.  Eye ball "center" for everything and (using measuring tape or calipers), measure the length of rod you will need between each set of connectors.
5.  Go to your local hardware store and buy some cheap threaded rod.  Cut to length.  Cut new / cut short as needed.
6.  Once you figure out what length threaded rod you need, look for Turnbuckles in the approx. same length.  Longer is better, you can trim some of the excess rod if you have to.

I've tried all kinds of connectors and rods and turnbuckles.  The "heavy duty" plastic ones work well (no need for fancy metal ones), and I love Lunsford T-Buckles, but I don't think they are in business anymore...

Terry

 

Thank you, much appreciated.