Tamiya get serious about off road again !!

[stulec52]

This from RC ZONE dot NET

- Tamiya

This comes as somewhat of a big surprise but it actually seems like Tamiya are serious about a comeback in off-road. Satoshi Maezumi and Kiyo Suzuki, both Tamiya employees, were participating in the event and had been seen testing some interesting new things even before the event.

The most interesting development from Tamiya is the 4wd TRF406X prototype which is said to be quite a radical departure from the current 4wd cars. Due to the project being in a very early stage no pictures were allowed and very little info is available. The current prototype is very much a test bed helping the TRF team collect as much info as possible. An Associated B4 body (Maezumi's shown here) was used for the prototype which gives some information away already as it must be a very slim-line 4wd to fit under that body! What is known is that the prototype is shaft driven and has a double deck carbon fibre chassis.

Also seen from Tamiya was a modified DT-02 2wd buggy used by one of the Tamiya drivers. The major modifications to this chassis was at the front end. The front arms have been turned around for a longer wheelbase while as a consequence the upper links have also had to be re-routed. In addition prototype aluminium steering bellcranks were used on the 2wd. Both Suzuki and Maezumi however run B4's at the race.

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[Floyd]

Its about freekin time !!! It would be great to see Tamiya get back into the off road side of racing , seriously again . Though I hoap they dont do it like they do their road cars and have 800 racing kits with a different body on it . Or release the "special" racing kit just to discontinue it and all its spare parts six months later to release the "New Special" racing kit that none of the old parts will fit ( so on and so on )....

[sosidge]

Well, I think we all know that Tamiya could win the off-road world title if they put their minds to it - with their financial resources and engineering contacts they've taken two touring car world titles in a row...

Question is, are there any commercial benefits to winning off-road electric races nowadays? The class is a minority pursuit.

I'd love to see more TRF off-roaders out there though - I loved the old days of Jamie Booth winning the BRCA title!

[Madmat]

[],gotta love that body

[phiber_optik]

Defently good to see Tamiya gettin into the off roading seriously.... Even the Desert gator is a step up from what they have been producing lately.

[Tamiya Learner]

Yes it would be G8 if they got back into off road. That body looks like a mod'd Gravel Hound and the shocks are the GH hopups.

lets hope they do get back and we can then start getting more competitive with the likes of the B4's etc

Malky

[Floyd]

quote: An Associated B4 body (Maezumi's shown here) was used for the prototype which gives some information away already as it must be a very slim-line 4wd to fit under that body!

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Ummm , I think Stu allready stated that shown is the B4's body that was used to cover the new chassis setup ...

[spiff84]

great, about time. I got so bored of waiting for a TRF buggy i'm trying to build a 4wd buggy out of a Dyna Storm and a TB Evo3, something like this:

http://www.interq.or.jp/horse/race/rc/main.htm

As for offroad being a "minority pursuit", i thought it was coming back in a big way. Tamiya joining in should only increase interest.

[theshopkeeper]

Isn't the body just the regular Desert Gator one just trimmed slightly differently and with custom paint?

[phiber_optik]

Ive just got my desert gator and the front end looks pritty much identical aswell, cept for the shocks the steering looks a little different though.

[XanderP]

Yes i would also say it is modified a desert gator body.

[miramar]

I believe the screenshots below from the Desert Gator manual show quite clearly that the pictured body above can't possibly be a modified Desert Gator body.

[technical.burP]

I welcome Tamiya in the serious off-road biz and look forward holding my first serious Tamiya off-road buggy in my hands after the Dyna Storm and Top Force Evolution. The Desert Gator and Gravel Hound point into the right direction but are still miles away from cars like Losi or Associated.

[minijosh]

Just as long as it's not graphite. I think it's too brittle.