tamiyafier 4 Posted January 11, 2012 Hey guys, I'm back from a bit of a break. After seeing a member here doing a M-04XL, I thought I'd do my own with my scrappy old MX-5 I started with this: I added the double chassis extensions: With the TL-01 arms, TL-01 rear bumper, 39mm dogbones, Speedmind black mesh rims, Celica radials, Tamiya metal hexes and 3Racing dampers. To fit the fronts without a new tower, I had to use long ball cups on the front for the lower damper ends, as the TL-01 arms lay down the shocks a lot more. Closeup: Mocked up with an old Porsche 996 shell from my TL-01 kit, I want to use one of the newer Tamiya 997 GT3 shells though. I haven't driven it yet, though I suspect that I may need grippier rear tires... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skottoman 306 Posted January 11, 2012 Cool project! Yes you will need grippier tires... You might also need wider tires, depends on your offset. Looks like a fun project though, and I LOVE your paint collection. I try and pick up some whenever i'm at a hobby store. Just to have a STASH! Cheers, skottoman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks! I want to see how it drives with the radials first though. If it's anything like my M02, it'll do donuts 'till the cows come home. Still need to mess with the rear suspension to lengthen the wheelbase a tad more... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butler 338 Posted January 11, 2012 Kevin_Mc has done something similar if you look around you might find his thread. Might help you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bromvw 744 Posted January 11, 2012 Hey guys, I'm back from a bit of a break.After seeing a member here doing a M-04XL, I thought I'd do my own with my scrappy old MX-5 Thats pure quality . I like your thinking . I was wondering how to fit a HPI stratos body on a tamiya chassis . I think i've just found the solution Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skottoman 306 Posted January 11, 2012 I was wondering how to fit a HPI stratos body on a tamiya chassis . I think i've just found the solution I don't think there's any way you're going to fit the HPI stratos over the front shock tower of the M04... I have one, and it's a REALLY low nose... I have the body on a CUP racer, and I have a few M04s sitting around. I could test fit, but I'm 99% sure it won't fit. Cheers, Skottoman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bromvw 744 Posted January 11, 2012 I don't think there's any way you're going to fit the HPI stratos over the front shock tower of the M04... I have one, and it's a REALLY low nose... I have the body on a CUP racer, and I have a few M04s sitting around. I could test fit, but I'm 99% sure it won't fit. Cheers, Skottoman i could always use tamiyas method and just chop holes in it lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawdog 23 Posted January 11, 2012 As someone with a M04-XL myself, I can tell you to watch out for traction roll, especially with BL. It's amazing what that extra length does to the handling. For the Porsche body, I think the Tamiya SP549 wide two piece mesh wheels might fit the bill in the rear. {EDIT} Nevermind about the traction roll...I see where you did the TL-01 arms, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks for all the comments guys! I'm not sure who it was, but the build I first saw was with a Z3, which got converted to a red Porsche 911. I stretched the rear suspension with spacers, so that I could move the hub carriers back. To do this, I had to reverse the upper arms too. Before and after (respectively): Mocked up with my R32 GT-R shell. Wheelbase is perfect! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin_Mc 411 Posted January 18, 2012 Very similar to my m-04XL Porsche gt2 (although mine's is a 996)! It looks good so far, I really need to finish the body for mines. I ended up adding a helicopter gyro to keep the tail end in check lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted April 18, 2012 Back again guys! I ordered some two piece rims and an Audi R8 shell for it because it was on sale on RC Mart, also because after a bit of thought the M-04 is a MR, not a RR like the 911. The LMS is RWD for competition purposes, so here we are! Brand new two piece rims, with extra wide 32mm rears paired with a set of tires I've had for about two years now. +4 offset up front, and +10 offset on the back for a pretty awesome looking stance. Deep dish Annnnnnnd, the shell! Audi R8 LMS, minus the wing for now. The uber wide wheels fit in the wheel wells just perfectly. Really happy about that. I trimmed the shell with the score and peel trick, but it doesn't seem to work on wheel wells, so I still need to do some wet sanding. Since I took this photo I've lowered the back by a hole by repositioning the antenna stay, so it sits nice and low now. Shot of that super wide back: Hoping to paint it sometime soon, so any suggestions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin_Mc 411 Posted April 18, 2012 Lovely! The wheels are great and that shell is stunning If you're keeping it as a road car (ie without the wing) I think a really dark blue with either a silver side panel or the same colour as the wheel inserts. I used the score and snap technique yesterday for the first time. I still prefer to used straight and curved scissors but for the pull start hole (nitro shell) I ended up doing the score and snap trick which worked really well. I was sanding down the edges anyway so it was worth trying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted April 19, 2012 Thanks for the suggestion! Your build was what inspired me to do this in the first place, so thanks! I'm going to use the wing, so I'm thinking either gun metal or white with carbon side stripes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted September 8, 2012 Finally finished this shell off. Planning on getting an interior though, the amount of chassis visible through the windows is somewhat irritating. Freshly painted, without the majority of decals. I added some of the rear decals to make it easier for me to mask the black areas. The sides were painted from the outside for the matte look, using the overpsray film trick. The paint job wasn't great, there was some bleeding but I'm quite happy with the result. With decals, and the wing/mirrors painted in gun metal: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IBIFTKH 1369 Posted September 10, 2012 Very nicely done, almost looks too good to run! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucasan 28 Posted September 10, 2012 Why not just smoke the windows? (can't remember the Tamiya PS #) I think the tinted look would very much suit that shell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted September 11, 2012 I was thinking about getting a cockpit kit for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted October 8, 2012 Looks great! I just built a TT-01E with that body. Tricky to paint, you did a great job! I have the same wheels as well..Was having trouble locating tires for the rears...are you running 30mm tires on the 32mm wheels? Can't seem to find the correct tires. I believe they are discontinued. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaPeRo 30 Posted October 9, 2012 Cool projects. You've inspired me to do something similar using a different body. Quick question what is the wheelbase for a M04XL and what is the track width using the TL01 arms? Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin_Mc 411 Posted October 9, 2012 the wheelbase of mine's is 257mm (same as a normal touring car) and the width is the same as a TL-01 too (190mm IIRC) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiyafier 4 Posted October 9, 2012 It's actually a bit narrow, with non-offset rims. Can't remember it off the top of my head, but the front wheels (26mm) are installed in the high-offset direction. The rear tires are Tamiya "wide" racing slicks The wheels are 32mm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
