So, What Have You Done Today?

[skom25 1876]

Ran TT-02B on short track. The same place as always.

At beginning, when I had direct comparison to DT-03 I was amazed how much grip TT-02B had.

When I started to run TT-02B more, I found that it does not have "unlimited" grip. Previously I thought that I can go full power all time. Well, it is not true, even with quite weak Sport Tuned motor.

[Beena 253]

50 minutes ago, Willy iine said:

Sounds good.  I run the Kyosho oil dampers on mine.  Which reminds me, I've still have not received my Defender.. 

These cars have super articulation and running larger tires will rub the fender arches.. and if you raise the body that might defeat the purpose.  I am happy with mine how they came out of the box + oil dampers.   I have 2 Rubicons and one Jimny APIO version.   I removed the spare tires on my Rubicons as they kept bottoming out while taking on steep inclines.  

I was really torn between the Defender and the Jeep.  I really like the Coniston green Defender and I hope I don't get buyers remorse from getting the gunmetal Jeep.

I'll have to look at the Kyosho oil dampers.

[Willy iine 18826]

1 hour ago, Beena said:

I was really torn between the Defender and the Jeep.  I really like the Coniston green Defender and I hope I don't get buyers remorse from getting the gunmetal Jeep.

I'll have to look at the Kyosho oil dampers.

Yeah, I think you'll probably end up with a couple of them.     I still want the Defender with the accessories (orange one)..  My Rubicons are different too.. like my red one is the standard one and the orange one has the accessories on it (I got orange because it's a Kogawa-san color  and why not get the designer's favorite color.. lol).   I know, not much logic with me.

 

In other news, I finished my XM1 Competition Abarth 1000 TCR and posted in the gallery thread.  Please take a look if interested.  The car drives very well and zero rubbing, of course.   I am real happy with my two 1000 TCR's.    I hope some day I can find a 500 Abarth body..

I also have more photos posted on instagram if interested.   #pretendRCshop.   Please check it out.

[Beena 253]

1 minute ago, Willy iine said:

Yeah, I think you'll probably end up with a couple of them.   

🤣 You’re probably right!

[Willy iine 18826]

2 minutes ago, Beena said:

🤣 You’re probably right!

As you already know, the great thing about Mini-Z's is they look fantastic, drives phenomenally well for its size, and it's tiny so you can have a box full of them with little real estate.     I have like 18 of them now.. (not just 4x4's)

[Beena 253]

1 minute ago, Willy iine said:

As you already know, the great thing about Mini-Z's is they look fantastic, drives phenomenally well for its size, and it's tiny so you can have a box full of them with little real estate.     I have like 18 of them now.. (not just 4x4's)

18! 😮 At least they are easier to hide from my wife 🤣

I’ve just had a look at those Kyosho oil filled dampers and they are crazy expensive!

[Willy iine 18826]

1 minute ago, Beena said:

18! 😮 At least they are easier to hide from my wife 🤣

I’ve just had a look at those Kyosho oil filled dampers and they are crazy expensive!

Haha!  Yeah, just slide it in your desk drawer!

You might be hit with some sort of premium since you are in UK?   I bought mine from Kyosho America and it was like $60?

 

[Beena 253]

2 minutes ago, Willy iine said:

Haha!  Yeah, just slide it in your desk drawer!

You might be hit with some sort of premium since you are in UK?   I bought mine from Kyosho America and it was like $60?

 

Yeah they are £90 over here. I’ll have to look at some alternatives as that seems a bit steep. 

[Willy iine 18826]

4 minutes ago, Beena said:

Yeah they are £90 over here. I’ll have to look at some alternatives as that seems a bit steep. 

Yeah, that is expensive...   I suppose if you only plan to just get one (or two) Mini-Z 4x4, might be worth getting them just knowing they are quality dampers.  They haven't leaked or anything either.  

I will say the car drives fine with the factory friction dampers... it's just bouncy..

[Pizza Frog 689]

Yesterday I got some Tamiya-fine surface primer in rust color (oxide red) so I tried it out on a Sand Scorcher body, I really like the primer.

it will become a 'Sand-Hopper'  a Grasshopper with a Scorcher body.  

[JimBear 859]

6 hours ago, Pizza Frog said:

Yesterday I got some Tamiya-fine surface primer in rust color (oxide red) so I tried it out on a Sand Scorcher body, I really like the primer.

it will become a 'Sand-Hopper'  a Grasshopper with a Scorcher body. 

Looking forward to see it. I have been keeping the idea of doing some sort of Sand-Hopper too - how are you dealing with the body - chassis connection?

[TurnipJF 9867]

Been pondering my next G6-01 bodyshell project, found some inspiration:

 

[Pizza Frog 689]

3 hours ago, JimBear said:

Looking forward to see it. I have been keeping the idea of doing some sort of Sand-Hopper too - how are you dealing with the body - chassis connection?

I don't fully know yet but I'll post photos once I've found a way to do it.  (still have to buy a Grasshopper)

It's good to know others have a similar idea!

 

[JimBear 859]

25 minutes ago, Pizza Frog said:

I don't fully know yet but I'll post photos once I've found a way to do it.  (still have to buy a Grasshopper)

It's good to know others have a similar idea!

I was thinking of the Blitzer Beetle pieces (I think they are number #9115049) - perhaps adjusting them to fit?

[Willy iine 18826]

For me, spent most of the morning doing house chores and a couple maintenance items on the house in prep for Fall/Winter.  

I'm going to start the 2nd MB01 today (test mule #2 for FWD) and put my finished MiniCooper body on it.  I do not intend to spend much time on it or any more hopups (besides bearings, CVA SuperMini, Hi Torque servo saver)..  Electronics is JX cheapo but fast $14 servo, 1060, factory silver can, and a Futaba receiver.   This time I'm going to take what I learned from test mule #1 and cut the steering parts while I assemble to get the max turn radius allowed so that I don't have to redo it later. 

My other XM1S (sport version, non-CF) is arriving today.  It's for when I might want to do another 1000 TCR in a different color scheme.. or when I encounter another body with similar issue.  The XM1's have excellent adjustability for both track width and wheel base (210).

 

[Erol27 57]

Applied my own designed and printed decals to my VW Golf Rally.

 

[Honza 1115]

Can you guess what have I done today? 😀

[Pizza Frog 689]

12 hours ago, JimBear said:

I was thinking of the Blitzer Beetle pieces (I think they are number #9115049) - perhaps adjusting them to fit?

I'll see if that works (I have a blitzer beetle)

I'm hoping that the front body mount only needs to be raised up on a long stalk or tube.  

I'm going to prime the entire chassis and gearbox with red oxide primer and then a thin coat of flat silver to give it an oxidized metal look.  

[Kowalski86 4075]

4 hours ago, Erol27 said:

Applied my own designed and printed decals to my VW Golf Rally.

 

That should be the stock kit! Nice work livening it up a bit.

I meant to share this over the weekend (but error -200), I met up with a Tamiya fan with a few nice TT-02s and an original Hotshot that saw quite a few races back in the day.

[Pizza Frog 689]

Love the tiger stripes on that Hotshot.

[Snakehands 124]

Today I looked at my still in box Escort MkII, and thought 'shall I shan't I' build it, then just ordered one of these instead for £100.

I wonder if a 959 body will fit on it? 

[Erol27 57]

5 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

That should be the stock kit! Nice work livening it up a bit.

I meant to share this over the weekend (but error -200), I met up with a Tamiya fan with a few nice TT-02s and an original Hotshot that saw quite a few races back in the day.

Thanks, I just felt it was lacking detail and decals. Loving the Hotshot - I've got an original one as well I had as a Christmas present back in '85/86? Never raced it though.

[TurnipJF 9867]

10 hours ago, Honza said:

Can you guess what have I done today? 😀

Printed a thing? To make a VLWB M-05?

[Honza 1115]

27 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Printed a thing? To make a VLWB M-05?

Correct. It'll be more like FF-05 (Just like M-03 became FF-02) - I just got TL-01 suspension parts. This time, I want to keep printed parts on minimum, which is why I decided to extend the chassis by 19mm, instead of reworking the rear axle. This is the first prototype (that fits), the design still needs some adjustments.. but I'm happy that it worked

[Willy iine 18826]

So yesterday I finished the MB01 in FWD orientation and drove the car with body and Billy inside.  The car drives fine, wasn't expecting much from this chassis anyway since it's super basic and entry level, but I found that it rotates well dispite the limited steering angle disadvantage.

The front still rubs just a hair while turning so going to make my own hub today to see if I can tuck the front wheels in by 1mm.   If that goes well, I will consider putting the Super Mini CVA's on there as well.  

Update.. the good news is I still had a pair of 4mm thick hex hubs so I used that on the front and ran my MiniCooper body.  There is basically no more rubbing so decided it did the trick.  I also ran my Sabre-mini FWD to compare the 2 cars.  The turn radius of the Sabre is significantly smaller vs the MB01 even with the modification I did on the MB01.  Anyway, I am finished with the MB01 and plan to move on.  I will not be installing oil dampers as it drives fine without it.. plus, I can only do so much with a FWD car in small space. 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Willy iine