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

[futureworks 1049]

In the end I opted to go with the kit supplied silver dampers, and am very glad that I did as I think they look great. These dampers (which are 53280 TA03 Super Low Friction Aluminum Dampers) only appear in this silver colour in theTGX-TRF and the TG10 Mk.1 Pro chassis kits. They were never available as spare parts, are unique just to these two models, so another reason for sticking with them.

I also added some 53595 TRF Aluminum coloured damper retainers to finish the dampers off, and the front and rear stabiliser set has also been added as you can see from the photo. Next up will be the assembly of the upper carbon deck hop up part, which will involve adding the steering and throttle servos, and the fuel tank before attaching to the chassis. I’ve just seen one of these carbon decks, new like mine, sell on the yahoo auction site in Japan for 35,000 yen, so that’s about £180, and in Japan! The days of buying vintage gear from there at really good prices seems, in general long gone unfortunately (beyond the odd bit of luck here and there), most likely as there is simply less around now whilst more people outside Japan using proxy buying services perhaps - prices there seem fairly comparable with what you’d pay on eBay globally now. 
 

[scoobybooster 416]

Very very nice:-) I see some serious $$$ went into this build.

I'm a big fan of the TGX series myself, i have aquired an absolute TGX beast recently, but haven't found the time to finish it. 
Good to see some more enthusiasts here.

[futureworks 1049]

1 hour ago, scoobybooster said:

Very very nice:-) I see some serious $$$ went into this build.

I'm a big fan of the TGX series myself, i have aquired an absolute TGX beast recently, but haven't found the time to finish it. 
Good to see some more enthusiasts here.

Thanks, and definitely the most expensive Tamiya build project I’ve ever undertaken in the near 20 years since getting back into hobby 🤣…

… But 100% worth it 👍

[futureworks 1049]

This afternoon I  completed the final steps for bag C, which involved installing the steering and throttle servos and related radios equipment, antenna mount, and a few other bits onto the hop up carbon upper deck. I then saw in the hop up instructions that the steering bar built as part of the front gearbox assembly has to be inverted from the kit instructions, so that’s been done as well (after I’d taken the pic) 👍.

Next up: all the steps for Parts Bag D!

 

[futureworks 1049]

Top deck assembly how added, and just the bumper, tyres and body mounts (even though I’m not doing a body for this) to do to complete the chassis. Next up will then be adding the engine and related two speed gear and clutch assembly with flywheel. We are approaching the end game of what has been a great build - quite a piece of kit this, and I’ll add a pic soon with a side by side comparison of this vs a 1/10 scale nitro.

[Siclick33 240]

Beautiful.

I've just acquired an old TGX that I've stripped down to refurbish and rebuild. They are awesome cars but parts are getting painfully difficult to find and are very expensive. I dread to think how much all of those hop-ups are worth 

[futureworks 1049]

Wheels and tyres have now been added, together with the foam bumper guard and the body mounts. 

Next up is the engine assembly before fixing this in place on the chassis plate. The instructions show the model being built with Tamiya’s FS-15RS engine, TM-2 vertical manifold, and TM-2 race tuned muffler, so that’s what I’m going with. The instructions also show later on fitting instructions for the O.S. Max 12LD-X Engine (LD stands for Lay Down I believe, because the engine is on its side, and the X denotes the pull start version of the engine). I have the bigger 15LD-X with matching E-1000 silencer, and I might try fitting that after the build is complete just to see the different look. (Here’s an example in acprc’s showroom: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=128759&id=128759)

I’m now in the process of assembling the flywheel, clutch and two speed pinion onto the motor crank, before adding the manifold, then it gets attached to the chassis. The muffler is added after that, the engine and brake connected to the throttle servo, and fuel pipes added. Then it’ll be pretty much done!

[futureworks 1049]

Done! I’ll add some pictures probably tomorrow when the light is better (terrible weather in the UK today) so you can see it properly, but for now I thought it would be interesting to do a side by side comparison with a 1/10 scale Tamiya (well actually it’s a MRE nitro conversion of a TA01 touring car chassis, so TA01 wheelbase, which is a long term and ongoing project I return to from time to time, and I might even finish it properly one day!).

The TGX sure is a mighty beast, and definitely the best Tamiya I’ve built to date.

[jonboy1 3784]

awesome build thread - thanks for sharing it! 

you know you can't just leave us hanging on that MRE converted TA-01 - looks amazing too!

[futureworks 1049]

I've now added a showroom entry with lots of pics!

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?id=16836&cid=140732&t=17202520155

[Otis311 421]

Awesome! Thank you for documenting this. Sure is a beauty. I totally forgot about that O.S. lay down engine. This takes me back to my best days of RC and seeing all this stuff in magazines.

Those AA batteries remind me of the my Nitro RS4 MT. Those batteries were always dead when I would go to take it for a spin. I have a love hate relationship with nitro cars.

[njmlondon 805]

Wonderful build. Definitely would love to see the lay down engine set up. Never knew that was a thing, but looks cool!

[futureworks 1049]

8 hours ago, njmlondon said:

Wonderful build. Definitely would love to see the lay down engine set up. Never knew that was a thing, but looks cool!

Thanks, it’s been a real pleasure. I’ll probably do another showroom entry with the OS engine set up 👍.

[futureworks 1049]

Right, an update - I spend a few hours this afternoon swapping out the Tamiya engine, manifold and muffler with the OS Max lay down engine and muffler. Looks great, and a full set of pics coming tomorrow - watch this space!

[futureworks 1049]

Showroom entry is now up with the O.S. Max engine added: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?id=16836&cid=140740&t=111202510509

Here they are side by side for comparison purposes - what do you think? O.S. looks the neater installation to me!

[Siclick33 240]

O.S. looks much tidier but for some reason I like the look of the Tamiya engine. The O.S. almost looks electric (if you ignore the fuel tank and muffler ) but there's no denying the Tamiya one is Nitro.

That said, they both look incredible.

[mtbkym01 4896]

Yeah I also prefer the Tamiya engine look, more traditional and how I’ll always think a Nitro RC car should look.

But that OS LD is pretty cool without doubt

[njmlondon 805]

I agree, love the LD but now I see them next to each other, the stock motor just looks right and if it was mine I would probably use that one.

[guggles 367]

Simply stunning! 

 

But you forgot the cable ties for the exhaust coupler