Tamiya M-07 Chassis with Datsun 510 body - Completed.

[kitefighter]

Hello everybody.

This is my first return to kit building an RC model since I was a teenager in the early 1980s. Building the Tamiya chassis and installing the electronics was the most wonderful experience.

Trying the mate the body in alignment with the chassis didn't go well to begin with. In desperation, I joined this forum and gained invaluable advice from fellow modellers to whom I would owe a debt of gratitude.

It was very interesting to see how different RC cars are today compared to when I last took an interest in the hobby. 

The only downside for me, is that this was an expensive project and it will be a long time before I have the budget for a second model to keep this one company.

More pictures here:

The next project will be to re-assemble an original release Tamiya Toyota H-Lux, complete with all parts including massive N-Cad Battery, Accoms 3 channel transmitter and shift gate for the three speed gearbox.

All comments welcome. Thanks for looking.

 

[Blista]

Looks good!  I've got a Datsun body on my wishlist but I can't bring myself to put it on a front wheel drive chassis.

One part I can recommend for the M07 is a plug for the pinion hole underneath the chassis.  Stops debris getting in there without needing the tape Tamiya suggest using.  Not such a big deal if you only race on carpet though.

[ThunderDragonCy]

That looks gorgeous! Nice job.

[kitefighter]

15 hours ago, Blista said:

Looks good!  I've got a Datsun body on my wishlist but I can't bring myself to put it on a front wheel drive chassis.

One part I can recommend for the M07 is a plug for the pinion hole underneath the chassis.  Stops debris getting in there without needing the tape Tamiya suggest using.  Not such a big deal if you only race on carpet though.

Thanks for your reply, and I understand your misgivings. I felt the same way, and was looking for a front mounted motor driving rear wheels chassis for a more authentic replica of the Datsun 510 but could find none with a 225mm wheelbase I looked at some of the midship and rear mounted chassis but felt they would be better suited to a sports car body, not a saloon / sedan car. All running models are a compromise in accuracy and scale in one way or another.

Thank you for the tip about the plug in the pinion hole. What body did you used for your M-07 chassis?

[kitefighter]

13 hours ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

That looks gorgeous! Nice job.

Thank you very much.

[Blista]

1 hour ago, kitefighter said:

Thanks for your reply, and I understand your misgivings. I felt the same way, and was looking for a front mounted motor driving rear wheels chassis for a more authentic replica of the Datsun 510 but could find none with a 225mm wheelbase I looked at some of the midship and rear mounted chassis but felt they would be better suited to a sports car body, not a saloon / sedan car. All running models are a compromise in accuracy and scale in one way or another.

Thank you for the tip about the plug in the pinion hole. What body did you used for your M-07 chassis?

The battle for scale accuracy seems to be eternal.  They could bring out a working but perfectly scale 4 cylinder with a 5 speed gearbox and I'd still be thinking "Yeah, but the intake manifold opens on the wrong side for this car."

I used a Honda CRX body.  I've got an M07 and an MF01X, so next step is going to be an M06.  Then I'll start buying more bodies for each.  Something about the m-chassis cars is just so collectable.

[Shodog]

That 510 came out looking nice. 

[kitefighter]

I filmed a short test run video of this car, uploaded on youtube.

 

[Kingfisher]

I need to get that body shell. It looks great with the lights. Nice job!

[kitefighter]

Thanks. Unfortunately, the body is too fragile for serious use and I've found the model too fast for my skill levels. I recently went to a local RC club where they raced Tamiya Mini RC chassis cars and the speed and ferocity of the collisions made me wimp out. So I think this is a great model, but I'm not a racer and this model will end up being a "Shelf Queen".

[kitefighter]

 

[TurnipJF]

Seems a pity to consign such a capable chassis to the shelf. How about getting it a cheap expendable shell for track use and keep the Datsun shell for when it is on display between race meets?

[kitefighter]

I'm afraid such wonderful hobby as RC racing is wasted on me. I simply haven't the skills or courage to drive an RC car as aggressively as a proper racer or tuner. The fun was in building the model and looking at the result. Hats off to those who build their RC cars to drive them as they were designed. Here is someone who knows how. (with credit to the originator of the clip).

 

[WillyChang]

21 hours ago, kitefighter said:

..Here is someone who knows how. (with credit to the originator of the clip).

 

that one is an altogether different shell  

its the Datsun Bluebird 510 by Pandora, it fits a std tourer size driftcar not m-chassis

yeah in real life it does look oddly oversized like 1/8-1/9th scale 

[Drewboyaus]

Hi there that looks excellent!!!

I’m building this one at the moment but just didn’t quite get the front lights aligned with the decals to allow me to happily install led lighting....maybe I’ll see still.

Wondering how you located the body mounting holes (especially the rear body posts)?  Front ones seem about right but the rear looks like it will be in the roof rather than the rear window.

[kitefighter]

Hello,

 

I made a mess of the job at the first attempt. But yes, the rear posts on an M-07 have to go through the roof on the HPI Datsun 510 body.

Please see pictures in the link below to show you where.