Advice please

[Returner]

That should read racing fighter which is the upgrade to the mad fighter ... doh

[TurnipJF]

Ah, the DT-03. Good choice!

[Nitomor]

Entertaining chassis with plenty of upgrades available and pretty versatile. Enjoy.

 

[ALEXKYRIAK]

 

On 07/01/2018 at 9:40 AM, Nitomor said:

The DT03 is a great chassis to drive but it wont take a beating like the WT01 can.

 

Just been looking through the WT-01 manual. Looks an interesting vehicle. Why does the gearbox come pre-assembled? 

[Nitomor]

Probably just to make it an easier/quicker build for the new gen. Most here disassemble it, fit bearings, check grease and re assemble anyway as a matter of course. It's only about 5 screws plus the two on the motor. 

[novicelad]

The WT-01 is on my birthday list 

[ALEXKYRIAK]

Hmmm. WT-01. Tempting vehicle. Much reading has been done, but must say no. The kit-queue is a bit long at the mo and the free time tokens sparse. 

[WillyChang]

On 8 January 2018 at 9:22 PM, ALEXKYRIAK said:

 

Just been looking through the WT-01 manual. Looks an interesting vehicle. Why does the gearbox come pre-assembled? 

Think we've been asking that Q since WR02 Wild Willy II appeared in 1999 

 

[Returner]

I need to reopen this topic ... I bought a racing fighter 2wd .... and yes I’ve got the bug again I now need another and I’m going for a 4wd for more of a build challenge ..... so dark impact ? 

[Juggular]

21 minutes ago, Returner said:

I now need another

LOL... yes, we all know that "need."  

[1]   I only have DF02, but DF03 (Dark Impact) looks like an improvement.  It's a bit more involved when it comes to assembly.  If I'm not mistaken, the slipper clutch is optional, but it comes with two ball differentials.  The battery door is at the bottom because the space for the battery is what's strengthening the chassis and prevents flexing.  DF01 comes with a molded center shaft casing that stiffens the tub.  DF03's battery case is a lot stiffer.  The motor is in the rear like Racing Fighter.  

[2]   DB01 Durga is another option.  Belt driven.  The motor is in the center.   DB01 is more like a racing spec car.  Recent ones like DB01rr or DB01rrr are rather expensive.  

[3]   XV01 is another belt-driven car.  Front motor.  It drives like a 1:1 because real cars have engines in the front.  Most XV01 come with smaller wheels, like on-road cars going on a rally.  Asterion is a truck version.  

 

[Nitomor]

There’s all the rere shot cars too, Hotshot, Boomerang, Bigwig.

[Jonathon Gillham]

1 hour ago, Returner said:

I need to reopen this topic ... I bought a racing fighter 2wd .... and yes I’ve got the bug again I now need another and I’m going for a 4wd for more of a build challenge ..... so dark impact ? 

By all accounts the Dark Impact is a great car, the only problem is that some parts are becoming hard to find. The DB01 would be a better option but costs more. You can still get the Durga kit for reasonable money though, but the RR version is very expensive.

I have the TT02B and they are great as a basher and there are heaps of upgrades available,  but don't expect great performance from them even if you spend a lot. Performance is similar to the rerelease buggies like the Boomerang.

It really depends what you are wanting from the buggy. If its performance then spend the money upfront on a DB01RR (or look at other brands race kits)rather than buying a cheap kit and spending more on upgrades and still having worse performance. If its a basher then look at the TT02B due to price and parts availability. If you like the build experiemce and the look then look at the rerelease buggies

[TurnipJF]

The TT-02B is probably the closest thing to a 4WD sibling of the DT-03, being more of a successor to the DF-01 and DF-02 in terms of design and spec than the DF-03, which seems to have been a bit of an evolutionary dead end for Tamiya. So if you'd like something of a similar level to your current model, but with 4WD, the TT-02B should do nicely.

 

If parts and upgrades were still easily available for the DF-03, I'd say give it a go, but with things as they are, I cannot in good conscience recommend it.

 

There is talk of a possible re-release of one of the Thunder Shot family of buggies, so it might be worth waiting until Nuremberg to see if anything comes to light. If it does, this might be worth a go, presenting more of a building challenge than most modern kits, while still resulting in a capable 4WD model with a touch of history.

 

Or since you have a new build under your belt, maybe the next step would be a restoration? A used DF-01 shouldn't cost a fortune, and the parts to rebuild it are still easily available. The end result is a capable 4WD buggy that should be a good companion for your DT-03.

 

[Jonathon Gillham]

9 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

 

Or since you have a new build under your belt, maybe the next step would be a restoration? A used DF-01 shouldn't cost a fortune, and the parts to rebuild it are still easily available. The end result is a capable 4WD buggy that should be a good companion for your DT-03.

 

This is a really good option too (or a Top Force rere if you can find one). The DF01 is a proper buggy (as in, designed as a buggy not adapted from the onroad version) and has better ride height than the more modern ones. It is probably the most capable of all the entry level buggies despite being 25 odd years old. 

[Saito2]

I'll echo that. The DF02 was always a bit of a step down form the DF01 in my eyes. Oddly, their developments were reversed. The DF01 started as a buggy (Manta Ray) which was adapted to the TA01 which kicked off the touring car craze (and also made a good rally car as it had honest off road roots). The DF02 was actually an offshoot of the TT01, an on road car from the start (much the same as the TT02/TT02B relationship.) I always have a DF01 on my "runners" shelf, ready to go. But, I am also hoping to see a Thundershot series car make a come back this year. Fingers crossed.

[WillyChang]

yup "DF01" name was only awarded posthumously, it'll always be known as the legendary MantaRay!!  No other relationship with DF02 or 03, only shares wheelnuts (maybe).

Its lineage is obvious, harks back to design heritage from Bigwig & Thundershot only with those design weaknesses ironed out. 

MantaRays run great, more reliable & less annoying than DF03. Wheelbase is wide enough to take advantage of 2.2" wheels too, whereas the narrower cars can feel odd perched so high.

 

[Nitomor]

I so hope they rerere the Manta Ray. I had one bitd when I was 14 and thought that Tamiya would never be able to improve on it, it was such a good runner and so robust, I loved it. Unfortunately I missed out on the rere! It really was an evolutionary step for Tamiya, a quantum leap in RC’s imho.

[ThunderDragonCy]

These guys are onto something with the late 80s/ Early 90s vibe. Obviously from my forum name I have a Thunder Dragon but I have modified it with some custom parts and modern kit and it runs great. Also the flipside of the "perched" comment is that it has loads of ground clearance so proper offroad is easy. I needed to put truck wheels on my DT03 to get anywhere near enough ground clearance for my liking. 

I also bought a nice used Blazing Star (DF01 chassis) over the summer and rebuilt it with carbon chassis and all sorts of hop ups. That was a lot of fun but I'll be selling it soon because it is so close in performance and behaviour to the Thunder Dragon. Even dropped back to base spec as it curretly is the DF01 is very capable. Also has lots of parts and hop ups still available thanks to the Top Force ReRe and that it shares gearboxes and driveshafts with several generations or touring cars and modern buggies. There are many more spares, hop ups and options available for the DF01 compared to the Thunder Shot chassis, but you can upgrade it if you get creaive. 

[Juggular]

oh... I think this is turning into a vintage discussion... Manta Ray came out in 1990.  

Depends on what Returner wants, I suppose.  For the 21st century, I think DF03 would be just fine.  

I thought, "DF02 is better, why do people say DF01 is better???"  Then I realized that I don't have a proper DF01.  I have a narrowed version (Hummer).  Since A-arms are much shorter, it's not a proper buggy.  It could be fine as a rally car, but Hummer is not that either.  The shell is just too heavy to be a good rally car.  No wonder Gravel Hound feels superior, in my particular case.  I am glad to know that the proper buggy version of DF01 performs well.  I can't believe how I overlooked that difference.  That was educational for me.  Just as my interest peaked in proper DF01s, Returner might like DF01. Or he might want something newer.  

If Returner wants to go beyond buggies, there are CR01, CC01, or WT01.  CR01 is Tamiya's crawler chassis.  CC01 is something between buggies and crawlers, with realistic bodies. It has independent front suspension and rigid axle in the rear.  WT01 is 4x4 truck chassis as Nitomor already introduced.  Something else to think about.  

 

[Returner]

Finished racing fighter 

 

not quite the right yellow unfortunately 

[Returner]

And thanks for your latest advice

[Returner]

I’ll keep you informed of what I decide 

[Juggular]

4 hours ago, Returner said:

not quite the right yellow unfortunately 

You could still alter a little by spraying another color under the yellow.  White to make it crispier yellow.  Red to give it a bit of orange tint, etc.  Yellow and Black combo makes it look smart.  

[Returner]

Quick update ... so second car was a second hand DT-01 mad bull ..... full rebuild torque tuned motor new shocks 

 

Then a eBay DF-02 Gravel Hound ... again bearings all round nice set of blazing star wheels and tyres (from member here) new body sport tuned motor ..... 

 

Then sand viper from here ..... new hpi motor 1060 Esc new oil shocks all round and a few bits of carbon .... 

 

So what next ?..... I fancy a CC01 or WT01 ? And old ones you want rid of ?

[Returner]

DT02 sand viper