Advice wanted

[TWINSET]

A friend of mine works as an occupational therapist - helping people recover skills after accidents or sickness.

She was asking if there is a car that would be suitable for one of her patients that used to build cars before.

The main criteria are simplicity of build, but at the same time, not something that'll only take two minutes.

I don't think oil shocks will be necessary, or anything with a helluva lot of measuring involved, so can anyone recommend anything (then I can print off the manuals to pass on)

Thanks guys

[wriggleandgiggle]

I would recommend something based on the TL-01 chassis, quite easy to build and almost bomb proof...

[icon]

I'd suggest something like a mini cooper. Still has independent suspension but with a very simple drive train (Fwd compared to 4wd). Plus it has friction shocks which are very easy to assemble. The only thing that might be trouble is painting and detailing the body on our cars (whichever she chooses).

[SJoerD]

Interresting question... []

Maybe a Mad Bull (or other Fighter Buggy based car) would be very easy to start of with, but maybe it's too easy... I think it depends on the patients skills and abilities... [8D] Though I hear that somehow fastening the screws takes a lot of strength on the Mad Bull in specific...? [?]

TL-01, M-03, maybe TB-01 could be suitable as well... TL-01 has one size of bearing which make that part easier... []

[Jozza(2)]

The Mad Bull/Fighter buggy kits are fairly simple, but I agree about some of the screws being difficult to do; I had to help my lads with some of them. I've just built my first 3 cars for a long time, 2 Mad Bulls and a Baja Champ, and the TL-01 based Baja Champ was more complex than the Mad Bulls, but mechanically gentler, the screws didn't seem to need as much tightening.

A lot depends on how much of the motor skills of this person have been affected by the accident/illness; I would suggest Mad Bull if mental capacity has been damaged but not strength, or TL-01 based if strength has been affected. Probably worth showing your friend a Fighter Buggy and a TL-01 or TL-01B like the Baja Champ to see what she thinks.

[Shodog]

Why make it easy. Give them an avante or porsche 959.[] one of the lower end buggys or like other said a tl-01 based car would be a good start. they could get around the screw issue by using a cordless screwdriver. that is unless the driving of screws would be part of the therapy.

Jim

[Twmaster]

The Mad Bull is no more physically difficult to assemble than any of the other DT-01 based buggies. Or any other Tamiya model I have encountered for that matter. Having said this I agree with Jim that either a Mad Bull, Mad Fighter etc. or a TL-01 would be a good simple (but not too simple) build to use as a therapy tool.

I hope this idea works for her patient.

[njmlondon]

I don't know about the Mad Bull chassis, but the TL01 derived ones are definately my choice. They are complex enough to take a while to do, but so well designed and made that they fit together without lots of strain. Also, none of the parts are too small to hold and fit without the help of tweezers.

One option you could consider would be the Wild Willy 2. The gearbox is prebuilt so you can avoid that if you want, or strip it to put ball-bearings in if you want a bit more of a challenge. There is no need to cut lexan bodies and of course it goes anywhere.

The fact that it is packages like the old style tamiyas rather than a lexan shell filled with bags is a bonus! And of course there is the finished product... so much cooler than a Mad Bull (imho[])

[TWINSET]

How about a TT01, anyone built one yet?

From the Tamiya 'press' pics, they look a bit easier timewise than a TB01, and they're going fairly cheap on the bay.

At the minute, I think it's either a Mini or a TL01, but I've passed on the instructions for my Min, to see what they think.

Another contributing factor maybe the cost, and I can get a Mini or a TT01 for around £60 shipped.

Jim, thanks for the offer, but shipping your cars over could work out expensive - I will pass on your gracious offer though