Tamiya TGX-Mk1 TRF Chassis Kit & Hop-Up Parts - New Build Thread

[futureworks 1038]

Following on from my post in the General area several days ago, this is going to be my build project over the holiday period. Not my first nitro by any means, but my first TGX, which is also 1/8 scale as most of you probably know.The TRF variant is also the only TGX model Tamiya produced with black plastic parts; all the others were grey, and Tamiya never released any of the parts as spares in black, so these are unique to this specific kit.

Stage 1 complete - I’ve been into the loft, and after some rooting around, I have found everything I think I’ll need 😊. This will just be a chassis kit build, no body as it’s just not part of the hobby I enjoy, I’m just a chassis builder.

I’ve got a choice of two engines, both shown in the build manual (more on that when the build gets to that point), but will probably go with the Tamiya FS—15RS for the classic look together with the manifold and classic ‘cigar’ shaped TM-2 muffler. And of course there’s all the hop up parts  which should result in a pretty amazing end product I would think (even without titanium screws @svenb 😀).

More in a day or so once I have cracked into the kit and got started!

[njmlondon 750]

Excited by this.

Never built a nitro myself but find myself drawn to these big beasts. 1/8th is reassuringly hefty!

[acprc 1590]

Nice to see a TGX build

[futureworks 1038]

So a bit of preamble before I get started later on today.

According to Tamiyabase (https://tamiyabase.com/tamiya-models/44015) the TGX Mk.1 TRF Special Chassis Kit was released as Kit number 44015 8th December 1998, just over 26 years ago. The release price was 39,800 yen, so about £200/USD255/€245/AUD400. It came as standard with, so the Tamiya blurb says, 14 hop up parts included in the kit. I've taken a pic of the box side as it shows ten of these which I've listed below. The rest from what I can see in the manual parts listing comprise upgraded tyres, various full ball bearings, and upgraded brake pads and pinion gears.

53280 TA03 Super Low Friction Damper Set (in silver, which were only available in this kit and the TG10-Mk.1 Chassis kit 44020, never as a separate hop up in this colour)

53281 Progressive Force Spring Set

53252 TGX Rear Aluminum Upright

53208 Lightweight Flywheel

53200 Front One-Way

53245 TGX Ball Diff

53242 TGX Aluminum Engine Mount

53199 TGX Stabiliser Set

53201 TGX 2-Speed Transmission

53355 TGX Urethane Bumper

The standard car when built (with engine and muffler as well) would look like the 2nd image, a poor one but which can be found on the 44015 product page at Tamiya USA (https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/18-nitro-engine/18-gp-tgx-mk1-trf-sp-chassis/). So my plan is to add all the other hop-ups which were not included, and make this a 'Top-Spec TRF'. Parts to be added are:

53376 TGX Carbon Upper Deck

53377 TGX Racing Chassis

53377 TGX Racing Chassis

53197 TGX Turnbuckle Shaft Set

41005 Nitro Fuel Filter 

41014 Fuel Indicator 

53157 Aluminum King Pins

53397 TGX Reinforced Propeller Shaft 

53289 TGX Hard Alu Front Suspension Arm Set 

53290 TGX Hard Aluminum Rear Suspension Arm Set 

53198 TGX Universal Shaft Set x 2 

53368 (TGX, TG10) Aluminum Brake Arm Set 

Engine & Related Parts – I’ve got two engine choices, and will build with the Tamiya option first.

41031 FS-15RS Engine + 41022 TM-2 Race-Tuned Muffler + 41028 TM-2 Vertical Manifold 

or

O.S. Max LD15-X Power Block Engine + O.S. E-1000 Silencer 

So should look pretty good when it's done. More later!

[svenb 4621]

Fantastic looking kit David.

Have you got the Tamiya receiver and servos for ?

What amazes me is the prices the wheels and tyres sell for! 

What's the body of choice?

[futureworks 1038]

1 hour ago, svenb said:

Fantastic looking kit David.

Have you got the Tamiya receiver and servos for ?

What amazes me is the prices the wheels and tyres sell for! 

What's the body of choice?

Thanks Steve, no receiver but I do have a pair of new Tamiya servos. Mind you it’ll never be run by me - I just build the more involving vintage or oldish chassis kits that appeal to me and haven’t done a body in years (and one would be £200 or so for a TGX; a bit like the wheels you mentioned, crazy prices but that’s rarity plus popularity I guess). Once I’ve built it and admired it for a while, I’ll rebuild to kit standard and sell all the hop up parts and the chassis and engines on so someone else can make use of it all. I’m quite happy enough just to have a photographic record of the finished article in my showroom, and then move on to the next build 👍whilst keeping on the lookout for new projects to buy 😊.

[futureworks 1038]

Right, off we go. All parts laid out, Parts bag A opened, and the A parts trees as well - no surprise that the first steps involve assembling the rear diff, and the front one way, and putting together the front and rear gearbox housings. Not the most fascinating, but by the end of the 2nd page I’ll be cracking into the hop up lower aluminum suspension arms.

My aim will be to do at least one photo per double page spread, and pick up on key build stages and where the hop up parts come in. Comments will be more than welcomed throughout the build, which will be done over the next few weeks I should think - no rush!

Now to get on with the diff and so on. More in due course.

[svenb 4621]

6 hours ago, futureworks said:

Thanks Steve, no receiver but I do have a pair of new Tamiya servos. Mind you it’ll never be run by me - I just build the more involving vintage or oldish chassis kits that appeal to me and haven’t done a body in years (and one would be £200 or so for a TGX; a bit like the wheels you mentioned, crazy prices but that’s rarity plus popularity I guess). Once I’ve built it and admired it for a while, I’ll rebuild to kit standard and sell all the hop up parts and the chassis and engines on so someone else can make use of it all. I’m quite happy enough just to have a photographic record of the finished article in my showroom, and then move on to the next build 👍whilst keeping on the lookout for new projects to buy 😊.

That's fair enough.

I can't part with mine once built even though I should do! 

I've got a TA05 VDF to build over Christmas, never thought I'd be bothered about that type of chassis but the enjoyment of the hop up hunt has got me going.

[futureworks 1038]

10 minutes ago, svenb said:

That's fair enough.

I can't part with mine once built even though I should do! 

I've got a TA05 VDF to build over Christmas, never thought I'd be bothered about that type of chassis but the enjoyment of the hop up hunt has got me going.

Should be a good build that VDF - mine is waiting in the wings for another time https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?id=16836&cid=134951&t=1222202472903

[futureworks 1038]

Found some time today to move things on a bit. I had built the front and rear gearboxes, as pictured, diff (that’s my D sticker to remind me which is which) and the front one way. The next step gets me cracking into some of hop up parts, namely the aluminum lower suspension arms, and turnbuckles for the upper suspension arms (a bit of a surprise these were not part of the standard kit back in the day). Main aim today is to get the rear gearbox and suspension assembly together, which will also involve adding the hop up universals, the aluminium rear upright, and also using a couple of shafts from the hop hop suspension shaft set for the rear upper arms. Then it’ll be a few days before I get back to this. 

[futureworks 1038]

Lovely! And I realised the photos came out better with the lights off! Next up will be the brake arm (another alu hop up) and the two speed spur gear assembly 👍

One extra - to complete this part of the build (stage 8 in the manual), I need to add two 5mm ball connectors for the top connection for the dampers to the damper stay. The kit comes with the standard gold ones, and same goes for the rest of the build where these connectors are used. I think the end result will look a lot better for the chassis by using the silver/alu coloured variants instead, so will dig a new pack out of my store before I go any further, and use those instead.

[svenb 4621]

Lovely indeed 

[Superluminal 4100]

Unusal pin detail for the top links!

[futureworks 1038]

17 minutes ago, Superluminal said:

Unusal pin detail for the top links!

I thought so too, but it’s what’s in the manual. It seems to say 15 on the cap end, so I guess 15mm shaft.

[futureworks 1038]

Back to the project after a few days away. The 5mm ball connectors in alu colour have been added and look right to me, rather than the kit supplied standard brass colour ones. I’ve now laid out all the parts to build the 2-speed transmission and brake assembly onto the rear gearbox, so next up after that will be attaching it all to the TXG hop up racing chassis. 

[futureworks 1038]

I think we’ll go with the blue one, rather than the one that came in the kit 😁.

[futureworks 1038]

So that’s all the steps done using parts bag A. Now on to B which will get the front end sorted with the alu lower suspension arms, universals, turnbuckles, front hubs (plus alu king pin hop up), knuckles and steering assembly, and the hop up reinforced propeller shaft added. That’ll be the next pic once done. For now, worth saying what a pleasure building this kit is being, such good engineering by Tamiya, and everything going together quite beautifully!

[futureworks 1038]

Here’s the latest - finished all steps to the end of parts bag B. Looking good! Dampers next as I crack into parts bag C in a while 👍.

[Wystan Withers 577]

Gorgeous.

[mtbkym01 4778]

A lovely looking kit, following with interest

[svenb 4621]

I think with the blue chassis plate the all blue TA03 dampers would look ace on it.

[futureworks 1038]

1 hour ago, svenb said:

I think with the blue chassis plate the all blue TA03 dampers would look ace on it.

That’s a thought 🤫, I’ll dig some out of my stock and do a photo later with a side by side colour comparison.

[svenb 4621]

👍🏻

[futureworks 1038]

Food for thought - the all blue version, the blue/silver ones (bought for my planned TA03FS-TRF build), and the full silver ones in the TGX TRF kit parts bag C (plus the standard 53280 in champagne colour, just added to show the difference from the silver ones. N.b., I’ve got pics in a showroom entry of all the different TA03 alu dampers here if anyone’s interested: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=140187&id=16836). 

🤔 One to ponder for a moment or two 🤔

[svenb 4621]

All blues a winner, only issue is the guilt you'll feel opening the packaging 😅