Running all my cars

[TurnipJF]

2 hours ago, JimBear said:

Did you do any build threads for the other g6-01 (found a photo of the SWAT and some other red six-wheel body)?

I don't think I did - there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy about the build chassis-wise, and I was very much a beginner at styrene work back then.

[TurnipJF]

Two trucks saw some running today, with similar colour schemes, both RWD with buggy ancestry and both running non-standard wheel/tyre options that work so well that I'm surprised Tamiya didn't offer them like this themselves.

 

Blitzer Blackfoot

This rig consists of a Blitzer chassis that I bought off a member of this 'ere forum, restored and then topped with a Blackfoot shell. The wheels and tyres are from a Mad Bull. The combo works so well that I strongly suspect that Tamiya may have considered releasing such a model themselves - they seem designed to go together. The Blitzer Beetle front body post lines up perfectly with the pre-moulded hole in the bonnet, the bottom edge of the body aligns precisely with the top of the tub with no unsightly gap, the wheel and tyre combo fits the chassis and body with just enough clearance to avoid rubbing on things, and the end result is a good-looking and smooth-driving truck.

The chassis has the Big 3, adjustable upper links from a DT-02 and a Torque Tuned motor but is otherwise stock. The shell took a bit of extra effort as I decided to plastic-weld shut all of the unused holes molded into it. Fortunately I managed to keep the bonnet welding inside the areas covered by the decals, and the ones on the rear deck were covered by a carbon-effect decal, so I didn't have to make the welded areas shiny, just flat. I think it turned out well enough to justify the effort.

Today's run was similar to the Sherp's run yesterday, mostly on grass, but I also threw in a few runs on the RBP track. The Torque Tuned motor doesn't give it a great deal of speed, but despite its big wheels and bulky hard plastic body, this is a remarkably nimble rig, able to change direction pretty quickly with understeer turning to controllable oversteer with a lift of the throttle. Obviously it is no match for a lightweight polycarbonate-bodied buggy or touring car, but for a big-wheeled truck, it isn't bad at all.

 

DT-03T Aqroshot

Although similar in overall concept to the Blitzer Blackfoot, this rig has a very different character. For one thing it is a lot faster, with a 10.5t brushless motor and 10BL120 ESC. It is also a fair bit lighter with a lower CoG, so it can be driven hard and fast without flipping over. The chassis has a fair number of alloy and carbon-reinforced bits to help it stay in one piece, which it has managed to do so far. I think that the bigger, wider, softer tyres suit it far better than the anaemic and gripless things that come with the Aqroshot.

Initially I built it with a 13.5t motor, which made it quick but not challengingly so as the DT-03 is a pretty capable chassis. I decided that it could do with a little more power so I switched it to a 10.5t and it is now proper quick, at least by my standards. This is now my quickest 2WD off-roader, in a straight line at least, and I wouldn't want it any quicker - I don't think my reflexes would be up for it.

Today's run started on tarmac, with a few attempts at RBP followed by a lot of hooning around at speed, performing wide power slides, speed runs, etc. I had a few close calls with the architecture, so I moved to the more open grass area for the rest of the pack. The run ended without incident, to the vehicle at least. Not sure I can say the same about my nerves. I think I need to do more driving of fast cars on open tracks. My recent concentration on tight RBP tracks and teapot racing obstacle courses has left me a bit out of practice with the quicker stuff in my fleet.

[Tamiyastef]

18 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

bigger, wider, softer tyres

Any idea what tyres these are exactly?  And rhe wheels? Looks great. So does the Blitzer Blackfoot 

[TurnipJF]

19 minutes ago, Tamiyastef said:

Any idea what tyres these are exactly?  And rhe wheels? Looks great. So does the Blitzer Blackfoot 

Thanks!

The tyres came from a fellow forum member. Not sure which vehicle they came off originally, but I seem to recall the seller saying it was from Radio Shack? They look almost identical to Mad Bull tyres, but feel softer, almost like the ones that come with the Heavy Dump.

The wheels are Tamiya red tinted chrome ones sold as limited edition Wild Willy items.

[Re-Bugged]

On 5/18/2025 at 2:15 AM, TurnipJF said:

When it is not dressed as a S.W.A.T. A.P.C. it moonlights as a racing teapot.

Ahh so that one lives a Double life of the fantastic Tetley Tea Tanker that popped up recently in a group shot, one of my fav Teapot’s of yours.

 

On 5/19/2025 at 6:05 AM, TurnipJF said:

Grasshopper Black Edition 

I made an attempt at the RBP course which I think I might submit for the 380 class. It isn't a stupendous total, but might be worthy of a podium as long as no more than two other people enter. 😁

🤣😂

Well, I have a 540 in my hopper so it won’t be me taking your moment of triumph 😉

And judging by the reference’s here on RBP attempts the leaderboard is going to be very full this month 👍🏻

[njmlondon]

14 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Blitzer Blackfoot

Love that combo! You are right, I cannot believe it is not an official product. They look made to go together. 

[TurnipJF]

This evening saw another truck having a run:

 

WR-01 Twin Detonator #2

This is the second of my Twin Detonators. The one that had a run a few days ago has a fair few mods, but this one is closer to stock. I like to think of it as my take on how the WR-01 should have been specced as standard. The chassis has the Big 3 of course, along with taller shock towers, puttied diffs and a dual-motor ESC, but is otherwise as the designer intended. The bodyshell has a couple of extra touches in the form of Fiat 500 mirrors and a Beetle front bumper, and the wheels are chrome instead of the stock white. The minimally-decalled look isn't to everyone's tastes, but in my opinion it suits the rig very nicely. This bodyshell is the oldest surviving one in my fleet, having come with my original Twin Detonator - the one which now has a box-art blue shell. It has a few small scuffs that are visible if you look closely enough, but is in pretty awesome condition considering the amount of use it has had over the years.

Like all WR-01s without aftermarket chassis and/or suspension, this doesn't handle all that well at speed due to the front arm mounts having kick-down rather than kick-up, playing havoc with the caster angle. I therefore didn't bother with motor upgrades, sticking with the stock silver cans which are quite fast enough for the way the chassis handles. Like its more modified sibling, it is far better at climbing over things slowly than it is at driving around them at speed, and I am fine with that. I have other rigs for high-speed driving if I am in the mood for it.

This evening's run was cut short by the weather, but I still had enough time to let it stretch its legs on the grassy area followed by a rather hurried trip back home along the river bank as the rain started to fall. Some rigs are an exciting challenge to drive, others are more satisfying than exciting, and this one falls into the second category. After the adrenaline-filled Aqroshot run yesterday, it was nice to relax with a rig that wasn't trying to test my reflexes. Plus, to my eye at least, it just looks good in motion. 

[TurnipJF]

No runner for this evening I'm afraid - 'tis a bit too rainy. The car I was planning on running this evening probably would have been fine with it. My transmitter, not so much.

[TurnipJF]

I was thinking that we might have to go another evening without a runner due to the weather, but as I was about to give up for the night, the rain stopped briefly so I gave this a run:

 

DT-03 Neo Fighter "Deep Purple Edition"

I rather liked the looks of the Neo Fighter Metallic Green Edition, but none were left in stock when I was in a position to get one, so instead I waited until the standard Neo Fighter was on offer, and made myself a Deep Purple Edition. The metallic green one is virtually the same as a standard one, just with a pre-finished metallic green body, green wheels and a different arrangement of the standard decal set, so I followed the same recipe for my Deep Purple Edition by painting the shell in metallic purple, colouring the wheels purple, and following the same decal arrangement as the Metallic Green Edition. Initially I tried dyeing the wheels, but they didn't take the dye too well, so I sprayed and lacquered them instead. The finish wouldn't last long on gravel I'm guessing, but it has held up to grass and tarmac running very nicely so far.

The chassis has been fitted with the compact all-metal axles, outdrives and dogbones as supplied with the Sand Viper, and uses fibre-reinforced parts where available, as well as the all-important alloy gearbox bridges that stop the rear arms from pulling the gearbox apart in a collision. Power comes from a 13.5t Bluebottle fitted with a steel pinion. The shocks are a mixture of Tamiya and aftermarket parts, and the bearings are of the rubber sealed variety for longevity in dirty conditions.

Today's run was fun while it lasted, but it was a short one due to the rain returning while I was out. The tarmac was very wet and the car got itself thoroughly soaked on the outside, but the body follows the chassis lines quite closely and did an excellent job of keeping water out of the innards. I am nonetheless in the process of giving all the wet bits a thorough drying-out, and will re-lube it when dry.

 

[Re-Bugged]

There would have been some impressive water roosting from that one no doubt, and not something you see everyday. 

[TurnipJF]

21 hours ago, Re-Bugged said:

There would have been some impressive water roosting from that one no doubt, and not something you see everyday. 

The rooster tails were indeed rather impressive.

 

[TurnipJF]

The weather has cleared, so I thought I might give this a run:

 

Rising Fighter

A nice simple runner, this is a close-to-stock build with the only mods being the Big 3, a rebuildable 27t motor and a "clickety-clack delete" gearbox brace. The shocks have 3-hole pistons drilled out to 3mm per hole, very thin oil in the rear and no oil in the front. Gas shocks at the front seem to be the way forward for these pod-and-swing-arm buggies, at least in my experience, as they allow the suspension to work despite the very low unsprung weight. The rear tyres are worn almost to slicks, which is how my wife likes them.

This is my wife's favorite 2WD buggy as she likes the somewhat crazy way it drives even with the oil shocks fitted. She has named it "Gonzo" after the mad muppet. When we take 2WD buggies to the park, I typically take a DT-0-something, but she takes Gonzo, and has a great time doing stunts with him while I drive a circuit layout. The thing is, if we swap buggies, she can typically drive the DT around the track quicker than I can. Does driving a very basic RC improve your skills with a more advanced one? Maybe I should try to improve my RBP times with my M-07 by practising with my M-01? Worth a try!

Today's run was an entertaining affair, with a combination of tarmac and grass driving, attempting to replicate the two-wheel balancing acts, J-turns, drifts and other such things that my wife enjoys doing with Gonzo. I can't say I was terribly successful as I have very little practice with this buggy, and I suspect that she is simply a better driver than me.

[TurnipJF]

Back to the rally shelf for this evening's runner:

 

TT-01 Subaru Impreza

This is a TT-01 that I mildly modified for rally use. The downstops were trimmed for greater suspension travel, the somewhat vulnerable plastic upper arm mounts were replaced with alloy ones, in silver so as not to show scratches, and an alloy propshaft was added, also in silver. Turnbuckles and a ballraced alloy steering set replaced the standard plastic bits. 2 degree toe-in rear hubs help keep the rear end behaving itself, and the front hubs have been replaced with the more robust items that come with the TT-01E. A carbon brace keeps the chassis stiff and a breathable fabric cover keeps debris out of the tub. It has two sets of shocks - Mini CVAs for rough terrain and Super Mini CVAs for tarmac stages - making for quick and easy damping and ride height changes. It runs a 13.5t Justock motor and has a fair turn of speed.

I have considered upgrading to a TT-02 for casual rally driving, but having raced this head-to-head against a TT-02 in rally spec and won, I'm not too sure that it would actually be an upgrade. Until I feel the need for an XV-02, this will probably remain my highest-spec rally car.

Today's run was on tarmac with the Super Mini CVAs fitted, and was my first attempt at this month's RBP. Much of it was spent getting used to the layout, so the lap count wasn't astronomical, but the car handled well and went where I told it to (which wasn't always the right way ). Not a problem though - there are plenty more opportunities to run the RBP circuit, and several more cars to run it with. Let's see what makes it onto the track tomorrow.

[Pylon80]

44 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Back to the rally shelf for this evening's runner:

 

TT-01 Subaru Impreza

This is a TT-01 that I mildly modified for rally use. The downstops were trimmed for greater suspension travel, the somewhat vulnerable plastic upper arm mounts were replaced with alloy ones, in silver so as not to show scratches, an alloy propshaft was added, also in silver, and a breathable fabric chassis cover was made and fitted to keep debris out of the tub. Turnbuckles and a ballraced alloy steering set replaced the standard plastic bits. It has two sets of shocks - Mini CVAs for rough terrain and Super Mini CVAs for tarmac stages - making for quick and easy damping and ride height changes. It runs a 13.5t Justock motor and has a fair turn of speed. I have considered upgrading to a TT-02 for casual rally driving, but having raced this head-to-head against a TT-02 in rally spec and won, I'm not too sure that it would actually be an upgrade. Until I can afford an XV-02, this will probably remain my highest-spec rally car.

Today's run was on tarmac with the Super Mini CVAs fitted, and was my first attempt at this month's RBP. Much of it was spent getting used to the layout, so the lap count wasn't astronomical, but the car handled well and went where I told it to (which wasn't always the right way ). Not a problem though - there are plenty more opportunities to run the RBP circuit, and several more cars to run it with. Let's see what makes it onto the track tomorrow.

I would love to take a peak at the chassis, without the breathable cover

Your collection never ends and every car really looks sorted out and thoroughly "finished" 👍 I wish I could say the same... You're one of a kind! 😀

[Tamiyastef]

1 hour ago, Pylon80 said:

every car really looks sorted out and thoroughly "finished"

I'm jealous. But completely agree I'm the only one that can change that for my own fleet. Need to get my priorities sorted.

[TurnipJF]

1 hour ago, Pylon80 said:

I would love to take a peak at the chassis, without the breathable cover

Sure thing! I've put some in the "Words are bad, m'kay?" thread.

 

1 hour ago, Pylon80 said:

Every car really looks sorted out and thoroughly "finished".

Thanks! I have a strict policy about this, not allowing myself to proceed to the next project until the one I am on is finished. Sometimes it is frustrating, but it helps me keep on track when it comes to saving for parts, etc, and it helps keep things orderly on my rather small build desk.

[njmlondon]

2 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Thanks! I have a strict policy about this, not allowing myself to proceed to the next project until the one I am on is finished. 

I am literally the opposite... but wish I wasn't and am trying really really hard to be better. 

Not doing very well though!

[njmlondon]

10 hours ago, njmlondon said:

I am literally the opposite... but wish I wasn't and am trying really really hard to be better. 

Not doing very well though!

To prove my point, a FanRC RC10 has just arrived… whoops.😬 

[TurnipJF]

It rained earlier today so the ground is damp, but the lack of standing water meant I could take another open-windowed buggy out for a run without soaking the electrics. 

 

DT-01 Rookie Rabbit/Fighter Buggy RX

This buggy was found at the Unit 21 clearout sale for a bargain price, so it came home with us along with the wreck that became the Thunder Shot shown in an earlier post. Unlike the Thunder Shot which required a complete restoration with a lot of new parts, this one was in pretty good nick apart from the gearbox innards which had somehow ingested a screw and were a right mess, and the bodyshell which although intact, had clearly slid some distance on its roof. I sanded out the scratches, sprayed the shell in TS gloss aluminium with a satin lacquer on top, replaced the plastic gears, fitted a steel pinion, ballraced it, ditched the pogo sticks in favor of some budget alloy oil shocks, swapped out the fixed length plastic track rods for adjustable metal ones, added red wheel nuts and subtle decals to tie in with the red shocks, popped on a set of Carson multi-surface tyres on chrome wheels and put an Anakin Skywalker pen topper in the cockpit. I think the spaceshippy body shape works well with the silver paint, minimal decals and SciFi driver figure.

The DT-01 is IMO the best handling of Tamiya's pod-and-swingarm buggy designs, with the extremely laid back rear shocks that actually allow the rear suspension to work, the built-in anti-clickety-clack brace at the front of the gearbox, the long wheelbase and wide stance giving it plenty of stability, and the shock mounts that make oil shock upgrades quick and easy. The only issue that I have with the design is how the steering pushrod can get caught on the chassis if the steering is over-extended in a collision, causing it to get stuck at an angle. Some people replace it with a ball link setup, but I like the good old heatshrink approach which lifts the pushrod away from the chassis and reduces slop without the need to remove plastic and weaken the steering assembly.

While the DT-01 may be Tamiya's best-handling pod-and-swingarm buggy design, it is by no means their best-handling buggy design overall and there are plenty of better candidates for RBP, so today's run was a purely casual affair with no attempt at the RBP course. The Carson tyres worked acceptably on the damp tarmac, but there wasn't a whole lot of grip available, so the run consisted mostly of rowdy slides, donuts and other such antics, probably subconsciously inspired by the Burnout Wars video I watched last night on YouTube. No lap counts were set, but fun was had.  

[JimBear]

Man, I confess to being (or rather, have become) a DT-01 fan. It's basic, and sturdy. The only thing I just don't really like is the battery holder being "half-open", meaning stuff gets in but doesn't really get out, which it turn is hard on the battery and its external condition.

I've always sort of wanted a Mad Bull, and still grumble a bit to myself about missing out on them when they were plentiful and cheap. You can still build a bitza, and it's on my Million Projects list.

At the moment I think we have about three, with one runner, presently sporting the above shown Fighter Buggy RX body (original stickers and plastic white). Yours looks quite classy with the silver, I'd say.

[TurnipJF]

6 hours ago, JimBear said:

Man, I confess to being (or rather, have become) a DT-01 fan. It's basic, and sturdy

It is indeed, and also a great performer for what it is. 

6 hours ago, JimBear said:

At the moment I think we have about three, with one runner, presently sporting the above shown Fighter Buggy RX body (original stickers and plastic white).

Very nice! What is needed to get the other two running?

[JimBear]

8 hours ago, TurnipJF said:

Very nice! What is needed to get the other two running?

Bits and bobs - a set of tyres/rims, a body and a new chassis at least. I'd have to round everything up to assess, the original Mad Fighter has gone through a few iterations, with Ebay wrecks added as needed.

[TurnipJF]

Here is today's runner, brought to you courtesy of the truck shelf:

 

WT-01 Daisytruck

This rig has the chassis of a Blackfoot III bearing the body of a Stadium Raider, which uses a different decal set but the same moulding as the Wild Dagger which is based on the twin-motored WR-01. It is therefore a perfect fit on this chassis, with no unusual trimming or wheel arch enlargement required. My wife and I painted the bodyshell together, and added the wing from an NSX and mirrors from a Fiat 500, both painted satin black. The wheels are from a Twin Detonator, originally white, dyed purple. The chassis has the Big 3, with extended shock towers for longer suspension travel. A 17t brushed motor pushes it along at a healthy pace, and toe-in rear hubs help keep it on the straight and narrow. Unlike its twin-motor siblings, this truck has front kick-up rather than kick-down, and handles really well at speed. Until my Aqroshot joined the fleet, this was my fastest, best-handling truck.

I thoroughly enjoyed today's run with it, mostly on tarmac, navigating a teapot race-style obstacle course set up by my wife. I reckon it is a good idea using a truck like this for teapot racing practice, as the racing teapots themselves are smaller and more nimble, so if I can get a large 2WS model around the course without incurring any penalties, it should be easy to do the same with a compact 4WS model. Closer to the event I'll get some practice in with the teapots themselves.

I am having a great time with this challenge, rediscovering the joys of running models that haven't been out in a while. I am also enjoying @Big Jon's "Beatin' the Fleet" thread in which he is doing the same with his cars. Anyone else out there fancy undertaking the same challenge, running everything in their fleet and sharing the experience with us on the forum? I can recommend it!  

[Big Jon]

I’m really enjoying this whole thing. It’s been fun deciding which to run next, and you have a tremendous fleet. I have a G6-01 that hasn’t turned a tire in almost a year, and a free day tomorrow, so the G6 and my trail rig are going to take some abuse down by the creek. Looking forward to your next update!

[TurnipJF]

Poor weather put a stop to my RC plans yesterday, but the sun was out today, giving me the opportunity to run this:

 

F104 V2 Pro Black Edition

Yes, I know what some of you might be thinking. "Turnip has his F104s muddled up. Isn't that an F104 Pro II?"  However I assure you that it really is a V2 Pro Black Edition, albeit one with a fair few hop-ups and the updated bodyshell supplied with the Pro II.

At the time I acquired it, I was faced with a choice between either a TRF101 or the F104 V2 Pro Black Edition and a bunch of hop-ups to take it to TRF level. As you can see, I chose the F104. Some might question my decision, but I have my reasons. Firstly, as evidenced by some of the other runners shown in this thread, I am a sucker for special colour editions, especially black ones. Secondly, there is nothing all that special about keeping up with a field of TRFs if you are driving a TRF yourself, but there are some bragging rights attached to being competitive against a field of TRFs if one is driving an F104, even if it is a hopped-up special edition one.

It wears the latest F104 Pro II bodyshell and wing set for display and gentle running such as it saw today, but when on the race track it wears the older but more robust F104 Pro bodyshell and wings. These new ones look very nice and all, but the long front wing support tends to droop after the first few collisions, whereas the stubbier F104 Pro version can take hit after hit without losing its shape. The livery is inspired by the gunmetal-and-yellow Mercedes AMG GT3.

Today's run was a relaxed affair, just feeling out the chassis and getting used to it again as I haven't given it a run in quite a while, and almost all of my previous running with it was on carpet. It is just as nimble as I remember it, able to change direction so fast that it seems to do so ahead of the control inputs, and accelerates just as rapidly. I wish there was still a carpet track nearby with an F1 class. Unit 21, how we miss you!