Ta02 Hummer, F-150....help Me Decide?!

[jwrAMC]

My recent re-infection with RCitis has my fleet up from 1 to now 4 Tamiyas (2 1987 BFs, 1 2007 BFX, 1 1999 TL01), 1 MRC (1994 MT10M) and a few 'toy' RCs.

...and the itch for yet another is gnawing at me. I'm pretty much sold on the idea of the TA02 Stadium-truck-type setup, but the various sites out there have me a bit confuzzled.

Seems the Hummer version has alternately been available with and without an included ESC, and the F-150 seems to always list the ESC as included. Are the currently-retailed versions with or without the ESC? The listings on Tower are most confusing as the details for each list both MSC and ESC in their unclear descriptions.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...LXGA76&P=ML

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...=LXGA83&P=7

Beyond the SCs, tires/wheels and the obvious body styles, are there any other differences worth noting? Or is the Hummer using the very same chassis components as the F-150? Same motor?

My preference is based purely on the body, as I've no need for the F-150 shell and would like to have the Hummer bod for display purposes. But the chassis will be run (hard), probably under my Jeep Comanche stadium struck shell (still uncut and unpainted, awaiting such a chassis), so if the Hummer's setup is different, aimed at slower crawling/climbing, while the F-150 is setup from more speed, I'd need to consider that.

Is there another variation of Tamiya stadium truck-style chassis setup I'm not considering that I should? If so, which and why?

Any and all info and links appreciated, including best price-after-shipping sellers.

Lastly, anybody making cool 'scale-looking' wheels/tires for these in the 1.9" sizes?

Thanks in advance!

[Old Skool]

This is the Tamiya usa site and it may help you out a little.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/

Dale

[Mad Ax]

The Hummer shell is wider than the F-150, so the Hummer chassis has special wide suspension arms. I *think* it also has an all-black chassis (instead of black and red like the F-150) but I might be wrong! The F-150 has standard touring car arms.

The wider hummer arms may well give you better handling for racing, although with a regular 1:10 shell you might need to trim the arches or mount it a bit higher to clear the wheels.

I think the F-150 had a bit of a resurgence last year and all the new kits seem to have ESCs included, although there may well still be some older boxes out there with mechanical speedos. I may be incorrect here tho, it's just how it seems to me

[Origineelreclamebord]

The F150 has a wheelbase of 250mm and the width is unknown although if I look at the manual has the susp. arms for the 190mm width. The Hummer has a wheelbase of 280mm and a width of 205mm. Also, the F150 has a lexan shell while the Hummer has a hard plastic shell. This will mean the following:

F150:

- It will be less stable because of the shorter wheelbase (but I like the shorter and less stable wheelbase on for example my M02's, it's just a matter of taste and driving style).

- It will have a lower centre of gravity because of the lighter shell.

- The suspension arms are less wide, and it is lower to the ground, so you'll have less ground clearance and probably in the end a lower centre of gravity than the hummer.

- It is lighter (shorter wheelbase, suspension arms and lighter shell) and so it could prove a bit more competitive on the stretches and the less rough (faster) terrain.

Hummer:

- It will be more stable because of it's longer wheelbase

- It will have a higher centre of gravity due to the shell.

- The suspension arms are wider and it has more ground clearance, but because of that it has an even higher centre of gravity, making it roll over quicker.

- It is heavier, so it will be less competitive on the stretches but may be better on rougher terrain (at lower speeds).

I say this about the centre of gravity because I heard from several people it makes quite a difference. And considering you'll use it hard it would be wiser to use a lexan shell for running (they can just cope with a bit more).

And I don't know what has an ESC included and what hasn't, but it only makes sense if you're keeping the original motor.

[jwrAMC]

The F150 has a wheelbase of 250mm and the width is unknown although if I look at the manual has the susp. arms for the 190mm width. The Hummer has a wheelbase of 280mm and a width of 205mm. Also, the F150 has a lexan shell while the Hummer has a hard plastic shell.

OK, from what I'm reading on Tower, the overall width of the F150 is 7.48" (189mm), which is also the track width since the tires are sticking out of the fenders. The Hummer is 8.1" (205mm) wide overall...but the Hummer has attached side mirrors. I'd think with those gone, the width is down in the F150's range...suggesting both have the same track width, same arms. Got part numbers for the arms to compare?

The Hummer body weight is not an issue as it won't be run on the chassis, only displayed. Lexan will be run.

The wheelbase is now an issue, too, as my Comanche is 267mm...right between the 250 and 280. Is the wheelbase customizable in either or both?

[DudeWalker]

The Hummer is built on the TA-01/DF-01 chassis. The Ford is built on the TA-02 chassis. They are similar but not the exact same. They both come with ESCs as all of the currently produced Tamiyas except the dual motor monster jobs. They have the same gear boxes and internal gears, but the chassis and suspension are different. Many, but not all, hop ups will fit both chassis. The F-150 is still on eBay, but I don't know if Tower will be getting more in. I think it's on its way out? Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[terry.sc]

The F150 uses the shorter TA02 chassis with TA01 suspension arms which give a wheelbase shorter than the TA02 touring cars at 250mm. The overall chassis width is the usual 190mm.

The Hummer uses the longer TA01 chassis with its own unique suspension arms to give a wheelbase of 280mm and an overall chassis width of 200mm.

For more details check out Bluefoots guide here

They have identical performance, both using the exactly the same gearboxes and the standard 540 motor. You can adjust the wheelbase by swapping the various rear wishbones and chassis.

As for scale looking wheels and tyres then the options are Tamiyas range of wheels, or else try rc4wds wheels and tyres Their Landies have to be the most scale steel wheel design around, nut you can get close by modifying Hummer wheels

Any new Tamiya kit will have an ESC included.

[Origineelreclamebord]

I have nothing to add on that really... Only that a quick look at the manuals shows that they have different arms (again, the hummer's look heavier, but probably also a bit more durable).

And about the body... I don't know ways to increase the wheelbase of the body, although some creative people will say to cut it in half, put a piece of lexan in between, put that back together and paint it from the outside... but that will decrease it's durability again... You could also get a second hummer shell without small parts and use that for running... they are not too expensive I think According to Tamiyausa still for sale ($36.00) and ebay is too expensive as far as I can see now...

[jwrAMC]

I have nothing to add on that really... Only that a quick look at the manuals shows that they have different arms (again, the hummer's look heavier, but probably also a bit more durable).

And about the body... I don't know ways to increase the wheelbase of the body, although some creative people will say to cut it in half, put a piece of lexan in between, put that back together and paint it from the outside... but that will decrease it's durability again... You could also get a second hummer shell without small parts and use that for running... they are not too expensive I think According to Tamiyausa still for sale ($36.00) and ebay is too expensive as far as I can see now...

I don't really need a Hummer body to run, since it will raise the ctr of grav, and I really want to run the Comanche on it as it's a stadium-racer-syled piece.

Track width seems perfect for the 02 chassis, so now it's my extra 1/2 of wheelbase that is the issue...which wouldn't be if the body was flat-sided so I could cut my wells wherever I like. This one has the wide Jeep flares that make it very obvious where the wheels should be.

I was, tho, thinking of cutting and shortening it. I figure to cut it first, paint both halves on the inside as usual, then rivet them together, ovrlapping the extra 1/2 inch. Durability would be compromised a bit, but this isn't a rasied, long-travel monster rig, its a stadium truck, so 'bashing' will be minimal. Smaller leaps, shallower mud, etc. Mostly loose dirt and small jumps.

I don't want to have to trial-and-error a bunch of parts, all of which I'll need to buy, in hopes of lessening the 1/2 difference, so I suppose I'll go with the F-150 and start cutting that Jeep.

In the end, my original Blackfoot will run a Jeep Honcho shell...

my Xtreme will run a CJ8 bod

and the F150 will run this Comanche.

An all-Jeep fleet.

Thanks for all the brain-digging, folks!

[200mph Corvette]

I have both trucks and have had years of driving both and will tell you what you need to know about how they perform. I have 2 f-150 1 s-10 and a hummer and have had many hours testing them head to head.

F-150

More ground clearance

Less weight

Better off-road (will go through taller grass and deeper mud)

Jumps much better

Better for speed

Climb steeper grade

Overall a truck built for moving at a higher rate of speed that can go through rougher terrain climb a steeper cement grade and much steeper off-road, also handle jumps better due to much less weight up top, though it likes tip in sharp turns at a high rate of speed and plastic jointed dog bones can only handle so much power.

Hummer

Slight handling advantage

Lower center of gravity

Longer wheel base

Wider track

Less prone to roll over

All metal dog bones

Overall the hummer was lower longer and wider which meant better handling in some cases and has much stronger dog bones to handle more power. Heavy body means roll overs under quick turns and lower ground clearance as well as longer wheel base and wider track with more weight takes away from its off-road capabilities.

[jwrAMC]

...all of which serves to confirm I should stick with the F150. Thanks for the info.

Do the Hummer's dog dones fit the F150 or would I need hop-up parts (and are they available)?

[Bluefoot]

TA04 dogbones will fit your F150. They are all-metal.

[jwrAMC]

TA04 dogbones will fit your F150. They are all-metal.

Thanks....got them in the cart for my next order.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...=LXWC01&P=M

[jwrAMC]

The F-150 is on its way (should arrive Monday) along with all the needed bearings, TA04 dog bones, and an HPI bumper set meant for their Savage...I hope to make the front work with or in place of the stock piece for a more authentic, scale appearance with the 'Andy's' Jeep Comanche body.