Jump to content
GooneyBird

Everything you've ever wanted to know about Tamiya TC body post locations

Recommended Posts

... as illustrated by my TT01E and TRF419.

IMG_0308.jpg
(Not shown: difference in price tag)

Someone came up to me at the track, and asked me why I had the front body posts way up into the bumper of the TT. I told him it was so I could swap bodies between that TT and my TRF with relative ease. He looked at me as if I just lit a cup of water on fire, and stammered he never thought about a TRF and a TT having their body posts in the same location.

This got me thinking. At some point I discovered that the two holes in the bumper plate of a TT must have some purpose, and a bit of experimentation showed me that it's so you can get some body posts in there and have them be in the same location as their higher-end chassis'. What I also found, is that there is hardly any information about that on the internet. So I've decided to do a little research, and write an article about body posts. Tamiya touring car body posts, to be precise.

Tamiya's first proper touring car was the TA01.
TA01.jpg
Isn't she pretty?

This car had its body posts on the shock towers, the strongest (and highest) point of the car, but because of the angle of the front shock tower this meant that the forward posts ended up roughly slightly to the rear of the the front axle. On the rear they end up a bit behind the rear axle. I'm not sure if this was arbitrary, or if someone actually put a bit of thought behind it (knowing Tamiya, the latter), but this is where they ended up. Keep your eye out for these, as they turned out to be the de-facto standard for many TCs to come.

The TA01 soon was joined by the TA02...
img2193_19072006234552_1.jpg
.. which had its rear shock towers on a completely different location. But notice how Tamiya made these cool little extensions for the posts? That's so they end up in pretty much the same spot as a TA01. Probably done to maintain backwards compatibility with the older body shells (which, presumably, were already drilled/dimpled for the TA01, let alone the interior sets which had specific cutouts to cater for the rear body posts). As a TA01 and 02 don't differ much up front, the front posts stay put.

At this point I presume Tamiya felt they had to keep a standard going. Because when the TL01 was released it came with hatchback-style body sets, which don't really work with the rear body post locations they'd used up until then. So they moved them forward to cater for the higher roofs and steeper rear windows, ending up roughly above the rear axle instead of aft of it.

maxresdefault.jpg

But! Tamiya had to have something to maintain backwards compatibility with the bodies they already had on the TA01 and 02. At this point I can presume they knew they couldn't easily deviate from these locations. so the TL01 came with a different set of rear body posts, meant to be installed with certain bodies, which put the rear posts on the exact location needed for those. Also note how the front body posts (to the right of the photo above) are angled so they still end up above and slightly aft of the front axle, exactly where the TA01 and 02 have them.
tl01_c.jpg

The TA03, in all its variants (F, R, RS, FS, etc) followed the logic of the TA01/2, and came with a set bent back to suit the rearmost body holes of the older bodies...
1095181d1375104638-veteran-tamiya-ta03-f
...and a set to suit the higher-roofed TL01-style bodies.
img_3?1191410604
(Not the best picture, but it was all I could find. Sorry.)

The TB01, TA04, TA05, TA06, and TA07 all share the same rear post location as the TL01 first introduced, right above the rear axle. But with the TA04 TRF (and related TRF404x), something else was introduced:
Received1.jpg
Note where the front body posts are! They're in the front bumper, as the holes in the shock towers are used to adjust upper shock location.

With the TB02 and TB03 sharing a lot of TA-blood, this carried over, and the TA05, 06 and 07 all had the body posts right above the rear axle and in the front bumper.

But does that mean that Tamiya had forgotten about the rear-facing posts? Not at all. With the introduction of the TT01, you had the option to build it with the mounts at the TL01 location, but also the TA01 location!
IMG_0312.jpg
IMG_0313.jpg

At the front of a TT01, you're to attach the front body posts at the TA01 through 03 location, right above the front axle. But! The front bumper plate of a TT01 has two extra holes, which exactly end up at the TA04 location!
IMG_0320.jpg

Pretty sure this makes the TT01 or 02 one of the most versatile chassis in terms of body post location. The TT02 actually has a slightly more elegant solution for the rear-facing posts. On the 01 they make a bit of a weird bend over the shock tower, but the 02 has these nifty spacers, and allows the posts to be mounted from both ends of the tower.
Schermafbeelding_2017_12_11_om_20_16_23.

But is that all? As the rear of my battered GT86 shell still has a set of holes unaccounted for, no, it's not.
IMG_0309.jpg
IMG_0316.jpg

There's a set of weird, outboard holes. Those were first used with the TRF415:
415_pre.jpg
This car has its roots in racing, and with racing you want to spread the downforce acting on the rear deck as equally as possible. Hence, two body posts on the rear shock tower, but further outwards than the TA01/TL01 posts. All the TRF cars since the 415 has had their rear posts there. See the first picture above this thread, and notice how much further outwards the rear posts on the TRF (the one on the left, duh) are.

Have I missed anything? I'm purposely sticking to the TCs here, and not all the buggy/truck variants (TT02B/DF02/HMMWV) as then the list would probably never end. Do let me know below. :)

 

  • Like 12
  • Thanks 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting read👍

One of the main reasons I go for older TA chassis cars is so I can use some of the pre-drilled body sets like the Escort Cosworth,focus, Merc CLK GTR and the like.

I built up a carbon chassis'ed ta04 up to TRF spec(ish) I was offered a SSG chassis, damper mounts, battery retainer and top deck but went with Carbon instead because of the body mount positions.

The carbon damper mounts allow the option of body mounts, the SSG do not.

The xv-01 pro TC has the body mounts in the tt01/02 position.

I have quite a few older body sets pre-drilled and would like to put them on a later chassis such as the tb03 , but not if I end up with unsightly extra holes!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great post. The TRF419X and XR rear posts are further back but they can be swapped to the other position.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Excellent info!

Here's the only official pic I've seen of the TT-02 with bumper mounted posts (from the 58600 TT-02 Type-S manual). The manual makes no reference to this, or give any kind of instruction as to how to do it:

tt-02-type-s-front-posts.jpg

 

To do this without buying different front posts you need to drill out the B7 and B8 bumper parts to 5.5mm, you can then slide the posts through and hold them in place with pins:

tt-02-stealth-mounts-2.jpg

I use them for stealth mounts, as there's more room than the shock mounted ones:

impreza-07-chassis-side-high.jpg

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Everything you've ever wanted to know about Tamiya TC body post locations - but we're afraid to ask!

Great topic as we all hate unisightly body post holes! 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome post! I have always loved mixing and matching bodies and chassis but never realised how many options there were

I once tried to get the TA03RS Lancia body to match perfectly with a TA02SW chassis... and failed. Now Tamiya is releasing this combination themselves I will be interested to see if they are using new bespoke posts or whether I was just a moron who could not work it out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 11-12-2017 at 10:54 PM, qatmix said:

Great post. The TRF419X and XR rear posts are further back but they can be swapped to the other position.

Really? I did not know that! I'd have to check at the track if I can find anyone with one of those, and take a pic of it next to my 419.

On 11-12-2017 at 11:16 PM, Truck Norris said:

Excellent info!

Here's the only official pic I've seen of the TT-02 with bumper mounted posts (from the 58600 TT-02 Type-S manual). The manual makes no reference to this, or give any kind of instruction as to how to do it:

tt-02-type-s-front-posts.jpg

 

To do this without buying different front posts you need to drill out the B7 and B8 bumper parts to 5.5mm, you can then slide the posts through and hold them in place with pins:

Can't you mount them the way I did with the TT01? I screwed them to the top bumper plate. The hole in the lower plate is large enough to allow a screw head to sit in there, and it certainly seems solid enough. (I've broken 1 body post on a particularly nasty impact. It left the rest of the bumper unscathed)

On 11-12-2017 at 8:41 PM, svenb said:

The xv-01 pro TC has the body mounts in the tt01/02 position.

I forgot that one! Thanks. Somehow, I always seem to forget that the XV01 was turned into a decent tourer too. In my mind it's perpetually a rally car.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bit of a re open a thread, but the tb evo has body posts for both the front bumper and centre of the front wheel. Noticed this purely by luck, was able to fit a focus body on it😏

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Cool! That's the first time I've seen those universal-style body posts above the wheels. Those are usually specific to the chassis and not those universal screw-in-from-below types.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So the above axle front posts? Is there a way to do that on a TA06 IFS?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

And another question, the TL01 body post location is the same as TT01 and 02? I’ve got a body that is pre drilled for TL01, and am looking for a chassis to fit it too, if it fits TL01, TT01 and TT02, that opens up my options greatly, cheers 

PS. This Tamiya touring car caper is all new to me

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, mtbkym01 said:

And another question, the TL01 body post location is the same as TT01 and 02? I’ve got a body that is pre drilled for TL01, and am looking for a chassis to fit it too, if it fits TL01, TT01 and TT02, that opens up my options greatly, cheers 

PS. This Tamiya touring car caper is all new to me

Yes, you may have to fiddle around with the TT's posts depending on what body you have. 

What body have you got? 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 hours ago, GooneyBird said:

Cool! That's the first time I've seen those universal-style body posts above the wheels. Those are usually specific to the chassis and not those universal screw-in-from-below types.

These are the parts that came with the TB evo kit. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
11 hours ago, mtbkym01 said:

So the above axle front posts? Is there a way to do that on a TA06 IFS?

In short, No😕

Try some extra long posts and heat and bend them to fit or if you clever unlike me 3print some. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 minutes ago, svenb said:

Yes, you may have to fiddle around with the TT's posts depending on what body you have. 

What body have you got? 

2001 Subaru WRX

48812150923_d0c0719eb0_k.jpg

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/28/2019 at 5:49 AM, svenb said:

Bit of a re open a thread, but the tb evo has body posts for both the front bumper and centre of the front wheel. Noticed this purely by luck, was able to fit a focus body on it😏

Sorry to drag this back up but do you think you can re-upload the photo? I’m trying to figure out what I can do with my Evo IV.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
8 hours ago, Burntartichoke said:

Sorry to drag this back up but do you think you can re-upload the photo? I’m trying to figure out what I can do with my Evo IV.

Yes I can, but I was talking about the TB evolution(the first one) not the evo IV. 

As far a can tell with the IV unless you get creative with extra long posts ie heat and bend or 3D print something your stuck with the bumper mounted post position. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
8 hours ago, Burntartichoke said:

Sorry to drag this back up but do you think you can re-upload the photo? I’m trying to figure out what I can do with my Evo IV.

Deleted the photo, I'll take another one tonight 

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

apologies for bumping such an old thread, but if i wanted to install those “thru the bumper” body mounts for my tt02, what tamiya part am i specifically looking for? 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 minutes ago, goth brooks said:

apologies for bumping such an old thread, but if i wanted to install those “thru the bumper” body mounts for my tt02, what tamiya part am i specifically looking for? 

No worries, that's what we're here for. :)

Any 'straight' body post set will work. The Tamiya-sanctioned option would be 51253 (from the TA05 onwards), 51102 (TA04), or 19005741 (CC01). Though all will leave you with more parts than you really need or can fit. 

There are a lot of aftermarket body post sets for all manner of cars. As long as they mount with a single screw from underneath it'll work.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i wish i could ask all these questions to an actual human face to face but hobby stores near me are still closed due to the pandemic and i just want to make sure what i buy online is what im actually looking for. 

im trying to mate a vaterra c10 chevy body to my tt02 with using the predrilled holes in the chevy. its hard to tell if the body posts that come with the tamiya 19005471 parts bag are threaded to accept a screw from the underside? or are yall just using your own hardware and tapping them yourself.

i am not nearly as diy in regards to some of this rc stuff as i am with my other hobbies. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, goth brooks said:

im trying to mate a vaterra c10 chevy body to my tt02 with using the predrilled holes in the chevy. its hard to tell if the body posts that come with the tamiya 19005471 parts bag are threaded to accept a screw from the underside? or are yall just using your own hardware and tapping them yourself.

They come drilled from the underside to accept about 10mm of M3 machine or self-tapping thread. The manual states that you should use 12mm self-tapping screws, probably to account for the thickness of the chassis that the screws have to fit through to reach the posts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dumb question here...just finishing up a TT02 build...can someone tell me what is used as the lower stopper on the body post? Basically what holds the body in place from the underside? Not sure if I’m reading the manual right, which seems to suggest using a snap pin. Just seems like a hack solution if I’m reading it right. I was expecting a washer or something that mounts to the post. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...