Manta Ray is re-released for 2018

[HornetRacer 1971]

On 5/18/2018 at 1:54 PM, ThunderDragonCy said:

Bit of a random, but apropo of another thread on this I figured out how the DF03 dampers can be offered as a hop up on the Manta Ray.

Had a browse on this over lunchtime and managed to find the Manta Ray 2018 manual. The way you get the 53926 DF03 dampers to fit a DF01 is to add the long eyelet. The stock damper are 75mm eye to eye and have a short end eyelet. The new manual tells you to replace this with part V6 from the kit (the long CVA shock eyelet). This is 7mm longer than the short version. So now you are up to 82mm eye-to-eye. Then it says to leave out the 0-ring from the inside so now you have a DF03 front shock which is 85mm eye to eye, comapred to 87mm for the kit Top Force/Manta Ray shocks. Close enough! And it also says to put the 2 small plastic shock spacers from the kit sprues on the shock shaft above the eyelet. This must to keep the shock piston from hitting the top of the inside of the shock. So there you go. I reckon those DF03 dampers have to be a winner. CVA style so less faff than aeration dampers and under £50 a set if you are willing to wait on shipping from Japan.

The only other person I have ever heard use the word "apropo" is Alan Partridge! LOL

[tamiya3speed]

So can somebody explain why they are recommending dampers that are now discontinued in the US?  Not that you can't find then...but still

[Mahjik]

You can buy them via Amazon, eBay and a few other RC sites that ship from Japan.  Takes a little longer for them to show up, but you can still get them readily today.

[Mahjik]

<not sure why this double posted>

[tamiya3speed]

I completely agree.  I just find it funny that I have to go overseas to get the upgrade dampers for a kit that just hit the market in the States.

[Mahjik]

Technically, it didn't "just" hit the market.  It's a re-release but that doesn't mean all of the older hop-up's are re-released alongside.

[tamiya3speed]

I will venture to say that it is a new release as it has a new kit number and an updated manual regardless of rerelease status or not.  But we seem to see this one differently so I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one.