MST TCR-FF Build

[ChrisRx718 4701]

What's this? A new Project? It's not even a Tamiya?

But Chris, you haven't completed any of your current / ongoing projects, some of which are getting on for 10 years old?

Quite.

 

But, I had every intention of this being a Tamiya project. I first spotted this bodyshell on L&L Models website, which I presume is a Team-C dodgy re-mould of the Tamiya 406 ST body (#58212). So here started the cogs turning in my mind -

Some of you will be able to tell my intention immediately from just this image. 

I wanted to create a BTCC Will Hoy Esso Ultron Peugeot 406 - luckily that is one of the sticker sheets available. A tricky, 2-tone gold and British Racing Green paint job is all that stood in my way.

...And a chassis.

 

Originally it was my full intention to build a BT-01. The newly-announced (at the time) Tamiya chassis which can be assembled in both FWD and RWD. But prices at my local hobby shop were...alarming. £159.99 for a Supra BT-01, which I would need to assemble as FWD. And the instructions didn't include how to do that - to the best of my knowledge.

Then I built my MB-01. Essentially, this is a scaled-down BT-01 in M-Chassis size. This car is super disappointing. It's ungainly, has a terrible steering angle, limited upgrades, tons of suspension slop - and it wasn't even fun to build!!!

I like my RC cars to be "anatomically correct" so to speak. That is, the FWD touring car in this case.

So-

• BT-01 - Too sloppy, too expensive (for what it is - though I have since seen that Tamico will sell you a chassis kit for €69.99)
• FF-02 - Too rare
• FF-03 - Parts too hard to obtain now (I'm still looking for a new, reasonably-priced chassis plate for my FF-03 if anyone sees one)
• TT-02 - with the rear diff outdrives removed? Cheap solution, but seems a bit of a hack job 

This meant looking further afield than Tamiya, sadly.

I looked at-

• 3Racing Sakura FF EVO - Looks very similar to a Tamiya FF03, around £200 though, which was a bit more than I was looking to spend
• 3Racing Cero Sports FWD - Within budget, looks good and is upgrade-able
• MST TCR FF - Well within budget (£90) and it had funky brake discs and calipers. Chassis looks more interesting than others - particularly the limited suspension.

As you'll have seen with the title, I went with the MST. I had done a bit of research (there isn't much about these chassis in forum posts) and I'm well aware they are intended for a kind-of spec series, back-to-basics approach with limited upgrade-ability. 

Part of my research also included looking through @alvinlwh's TCR-M project thread. That car is essentially the same as this, but on a shorter chassis plate and with narrow-er suspension arms. 

Anyhoo...

TCR-FF kit arrived within just 4 days of ordering from Asiatees. Super stuff.

Box is well presented and a kind of 'pizza box' style where it's nice and slim due to the lack of a bodyshell, avoiding high shipping costs as a result.

Inside you get what you'd expect; wheels and tyres, various numbered bags and an instruction manual.

Bags were clearly numbered stage-by-stage, so you don't get any leftover screws or hardware after each step, which is good.

Instruction manual is nowhere near the gold-standard we are used to from Tamiya, though.

Useful little toolkit is included - the black plastic pieces are to introduce camber by effectively increasing the tread of the lower-arm connection points to the main bulkheads. BTCC touring cars did have a lot of camber, so I might go back and fit these...

Front (and only) differential. What. A. Nightmare. 

Tamiya have definitely spoiled us. Assembling this thing was absolutely crucifying. The thrust washer comprises 8 tiny balls which you have to assemble yourself, relying on ball diff grease to hold everything in place. Horrible experience!

All built - another advantage over the BT-01, full ball-bearings throughout.

Front bulkhead and diff assembled. 

Read bulkhead is a mirror of the front, albeit without a differential and motor mount (obviously)

I'm not sure what the plastic is made of, but these virtually brand-new Tamiya nippers did not agree with it. Not impressed, Tamiya  (maybe they had achieved consciousness and were aware that they weren't being used on a Tamiya model? )

Servo arrangement is very Tamiya F103 if you have ever assembled one of those. Mounted upright between two flat blades of plastic which effectively 'clamp' the servo between sheets of double-sided tape. It sounds pants, but the servo is rock-solid. It does mean (like on an F-103) you have to cut off the traditional mounting points for the servo, rendering it pretty useless for any other application).

More to follow, at the photo limit now I'm afraid!

[alvinlwh 7227]

Metal diff and motor holders are more or less the only upgrades for this chassis. Speaking of which if you think the stock diff is hard to build, you got to try the metal one! 😁

I just find it amazing that brands like MST and 3R and provide so much (bearings, universals, CVAs, super hard plastic) OOB for so little money compared to Tamiya. I too was considering a BT/MB but was so put off by the reviews that I decided to go 3R and/or Xpress instead. 

[skom25 2179]

1 hour ago, ChrisRx718 said:

I'm not sure what the plastic is made of, but these virtually brand-new Tamiya nippers did not agree with it. Not impressed, Tamiya  (maybe they had achieved consciousness and were aware that they weren't being used on a Tamiya model? )

They look like "generic" 3$ nippers. I have similar.

I recommend to buy e.g. #74035 which are awesome.

[ChrisRx718 4701]

31 minutes ago, skom25 said:

They look like "generic" 3$ nippers. I have similar.

I recommend to buy e.g. #74035 which are awesome.

Nope, these were genuine Tamiya #69942 Modeler's Side Cutter!! But they didn't put up much of a fight 

 

1 hour ago, alvinlwh said:

Metal diff and motor holders are more or less the only upgrades for this chassis. Speaking of which if you think the stock diff is hard to build, you got to try the metal one! 😁

I just find it amazing that brands like MST and 3R and provide so much (bearings, universals, CVAs, super hard plastic) OOB for so little money compared to Tamiya. I too was considering a BT/MB but was so put off by the reviews that I decided to go 3R and/or Xpress instead. 

Yeah I tried to keep the cost down on this as much as possible, the motor heatsink caught my eye but to be honest, this is basically being used as a step-up from a bodyshell holder, so it seemed overkill!

[skom25 2179]

12 minutes ago, ChrisRx718 said:

Nope, these were genuine Tamiya #69942 Modeler's Side Cutter!! But they didn't put up much of a fight 

I know, but I have doubts about quality. I think they are just cheap nippers with Tamiya logo.

Looking forward to see build! One day I will try to build FWD car. I even thought to use XV-01 as a platform.

[alvinlwh 7227]

2 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said:

genuine Tamiya #69942

My 69942 has a broken spring, and it is 20+ years old. I only use it for rough cuts. For more precise cuts, I use 74001. For even more precise cuts (normally static models), I use a Army Painter one. I also got a pink Bandai side cutter for my girl. If I have lots of money, I will get a pair of God's Hand. 

[Carmine A 2455]

@ChrisRx718 I'm definitely interested! I HATE real FWD cars with a passion... but love FWD RC cars! No explanation, but then, do we really need one? 🤪

Didn't even know MST made such a chassis. I may also have a deep dislike for ball diffs (no arguments, IMO diff choices are quite subjective!)... I had to shell out some big bux for a new gearbox case and sealed gear diff for my FF-03. I wonder if that's even an option for this MST TCR-FF.... which frankly, looks great for the price! I could have bought FOUR of these, for what I put into my FF-03, to get it where I like it.... 

Never thought of ripping the rear drive out of a TT-02. Curious about that cheap and cheerful option!

Meanwhile I'll be watching this with interest.

[Old_Corny 315]

Interesting build and that body is great. Loved the old BTCC cars!

[TwistedxSlayer 1303]

Loving this so far.

 

My friend has a real life replica of the 406 BTCC car. I'll see if I can dig some pictures out of it from way back when.

[Eric Bloodsmith 2]

MST's TCR-M is really popular at my LHS, especially the one that comes with a miata/mx-5 styled body. I was tempted to go for it, but didn't want to buy a shorty pack for it. That convinced me to buy 3Racing's M4 instead, since it could take a standard stick pack.

I built the M4 back in september. A 4wd, belt-driven, graphite chassis, that could be built with 210mm or 225mm wheelbase, and take a shorty pack or a standard lipo. The build went together flawlessly, all hex machine screws throughout. Tapping the holes for this kit is what convinced me to go with machine screws for my BT-01 I plan on starting next month. It's just so satisfying to tap those holes and smoothly twist the screw in.

[alvinlwh 7227]

On 11/28/2024 at 3:55 PM, Eric Bloodsmith said:

That convinced me to buy 3Racing's M4 instead

I got the TCR-M, MG Evo and M4 and have to say the M4 is my favourite, at the moment. 

Going to try out the Cero, Arrow and Execute next. Maybe also a XM too, just to add a Tamiya into the mix. 

[JimBear 1024]

It's been on my internal "FF list" for a good while, and reading up on it, I see that it has variable wheelbases, 245, 251 and 257 mm. Is there anything at all body-wise for the 245 mm wheelbase? If I ever get around to buying one, it would probably be built as 257 mm, so I am just curious.

[alvinlwh 7227]

5 hours ago, JimBear said:

 

Worng chassis. 

[JimBear 1024]

56 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

No! To get other wheelbases, you need to get the optional chassis plate. 210638 gets you 233/239/245 mm. Stock is 210 or 225 only. 

Odd ... the specifications I have seen in several places does not mention any 210 or 225 mm wheelbase - only the longer ones.

Are we talking about the same model? (see below)

https://shop.robitronic.com/en/mst532189

[alvinlwh 7227]

2 hours ago, JimBear said:

Odd ... the specifications I have seen in several places does not mention any 210 or 225 mm wheelbase - only the longer ones.

Are we talking about the same model? (see below)

https://shop.robitronic.com/en/mst532189

Opps, my mistake. It was the TCR-M I was talking about. Sorry. 

[JimBear 1024]

8 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

Opps, my mistake. It was the TCR-M I was talking about. Sorry. 

Aaah, no worries!