DT-03 Frogalike

[Nobbi1977]

Inline with my new ethos off doing the body first i gave this an hour or so today

Going with Frog ish White over Pink

Not a perfect job but I want a basher I am not worried about running, my driving is appaling.

Little rough from the tape

And a small de-greasing accident

Stickers and chassis to follow

[Effigy3]

Radio Control Car Action has a great article in the July 2015 issue on the new DT-03 Aqroshot and the Neo Fighter Buggy is also mentioned:

I'm not sure I'm too keen on the DT-03 chassis so I'm really looking forward to your build and driving impressions. Subbed. You didn't mask the windows? Are there stickers for blacked out windows like with the Desert Gator or do you just not care about clear/translucent windows given it's basher status?

[Nobbi1977]

There are black window stickers in the kit. This might get Aqroshot wheels by the end of the build but I will try stock first.

[Jeffyboy403]

Looks good, I'm gonna do the same paint theme as you when I get my hands on a Neo Fighter

[Nobbi1977]

Well tonight's project was

And an hour later. Not all 100% straight but not bad.

I chose my own locations, I am not a numbers fan so thought I would mix it up a bit.

[Effigy3]

That looks really sharp Nobbi!

[kontemax]

Now you need a couple of headlights.

Max

[Nobbi1977]

I have some Hornet ones somewhere

[kontemax]

They are perfect.

Max

[Nobbi1977]

Couple of nights work. I am working on delayed gratification and trying not to build all in one go.

I have had this for a while so have amassed a few hop-ups

First things first, the boat like chassis

Spongy stuff to hold battery I guess

Must have forgotten to take a pic of the finished article

Front mounts. Shame there is no alloy hop-up for these

Next, Servo

First hop-up. Alloy servo mount

Lets do it again with a bit of thread lock

End of day one.

[Nobbi1977]

Lets put the servo mount in

Next hop-up, turnbuckle kit

Lower arms

Upper arms not going on

Instead we will fit

Next hop-up. Suspension Shafts. I will not need the top ones because I am running turnbuckles so I though I would use them on the pivot. Good idea?

Lots of gap here. I remember this from my DT-02.

Spacer kit I had in stock. 0.5mm and things are a lot less sloppy

More shims for the lower arm

The only issue is I need to go back to the U shaft on the other end and shim that. I know this is not a top notch racer but I want to take out as much play as possible

End of today's playing

Gearbox next and I have still not decided about Diff or drive shafts

[Effigy3]

Nobbi, do you think the DT-03 is going to be more, less or about the same durability as a DT-02?

[Nobbi1977]

The tub is a very tough plastic. I am thinking it will be much of a muchness on the toughness front. Longer wheelbase is supposed to help handling but I am a bad driver so I will never notice. To be honest I a wasting my time with the shimming but it is fun.

[Effigy3]

At some point I'm going to need a "loaner" car for my kids friends who will inevitably want to join us at the track. The novice classes are run-what-ya-brung so it doesn't have to be a racer. It just has to withstand the punishment that a true novice will inflict.

[Muddybaldboy]

I noticed you bought a CVA hop-up shock kit, aren't they included in the kit??

Nice bodywork.

[Nobbi1977]

I noticed you bought a CVA hop-up shock kit, aren't they included in the kit??

Nice bodywork.

They are but I robbed them to use on my DT-01. I have a set of Absima dampers I was going to use but I am happy with the CVAs on my DT-02 so I think I will run with them again.

No building this weekend, Lincoln beer festival will get in the way.

[Nobbi1977]

So I had to shim the U fastener to take out all the play.The casting marks leave a little step so I whipped that off with a little 400 paper and put some 1mm shims

Gearbox next, I am going to build this stock for now with just TRF putty.

Sports tuned and steel pinion

Rear lower arms

Shimmed like front

Done

Hexes and more shims

0.6mm takes all the play out

I am totally happy with the driveshafts and cups, they seem to limit travel quite a bit. Will ***** again when the shocks are on

[Nobbi1977]

Another day

Different mounting for the DT-03 from the DT-02

Another hop up. Not sure if these add value or not

Interesting mounting system.

Shock towers next

But not the plastic ones. Total waste of money but looks nice

Arrrrgh, brass!!!! WHY!

Super glue needs wiping off but it was not 100% dry

Just like CSI the fumes bring out finger prints

No time to build shocks so straight to wheels

Shimmed

Not finished but had to be done

Shocks tomorrow...... Then some electrics

[Nobbi1977]

OK just shocks tonight...

Optional dampers, I had robbed the originals out for another build.

I run the red springs on my DT-02 and like them so I thought would start with them. Light LiPo pack helps keep weight down

Everything I need

Black coating is not very smooth

Bit of paper for polishing off

Shiny

All filled

Fitted

Last hop up. Totally pointless but nice looking

Electrics later. To wet to test run anyway

[Effigy3]

OK just shocks tonight...

All filled

That is so much nicer than what I fashion out of a cardboard box every time I need to build / re-build shocks!

[Nobbi1977]

That is so much nicer than what I fashion out of a cardboard box every time I need to build / re-build shocks!

£3 from Banzai

http://banzaihobby.com/Kyosho-36218R

[Effigy3]

£3 from Banzai

http://banzaihobby.com/Kyosho-36218R

That's cheaper than the cardboard boxes I've been "modifying".

[Nobbi1977]

Finished up. Wiring will need some tidying up, it does not like packs with top cables.

My poor driving again. Need a lot more space to get the best out of this one

https://youtu.be/Uhc8hhPKoDk

[Nobbi1977]

Since that launch of the DT-03T I have been thinking big wheels.

Rears fit great but the fronts need WR-02 axles

progress of time..................................................................................................................

WR-02 parts bag

Anyone need spares?

All fitted

How about a classic truggy body?

Opinions?

[XV Pilot]

Front mounts. Shame there is no alloy hop-up for these

There is now!

http://www.asiatees.com/display?-DT-03-Parts-Hop-Ups-Upgrades&brand=Tamiya&model=DT-03&id=100566&pid=1