Nicadraus 6130 Posted July 2, 2019 One of the missing piece(s) of the puzzle to complete the aluminum upgrade of this kit that I have planned. Been searching for this part since last year and was lucky to find it today at a local Tamiya hobby center. The two other branches didn't have this in stock. Installed it right away. Before... After... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted July 2, 2019 Aluminum, carbon fiber and carbon reinforced plastic upgrade plan almost complete! 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted July 23, 2019 I guess I have reached my goal in this kit's build... Parts upgrade list: Tamiya: 42216 TRF 44mm Double Cardan Joint Shaft 42222 FF-03 Lightweight Counter Gear 20t 53823 Aluminum Wheel Hub 5mm 53993 TA-05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Arm Set 54064 Aluminum Suspension Mount 1XD 54069 Aluminum Suspension Mount 1A 54223 Aluminum Motor Plate 54230 Stabilizer set (Front & rear) used only front 54234 Aluminum Spur Gear Mount 54235 Aluminum Racing Steering set 54258 FF-03 Carbon Damper Stay 54264 FF-03 Carbon Rear Deck Stiffener 54288 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced A-Parts 54289 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced K-Parts 54290 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced M-Parts 54297 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced Lower deck chassis 54343 M-Chassis Lightweight Idler 54471 Steel Gear Differential Unit for TA-06Pro/FF-03R/XV-01 54495 RM-01 Aluminum Servo Mount 54568 Carbon Reinforced Front Uprights 84361 Aluminum Front Upper Arm Mount 84406 Aluminum Bumper Mount 84406 Carbon Bumper Support 84410 Carbon Steering Plate 3Racing: FF03-12/LB Steering Track FF03-23/WO Graphite Battery Plate FF03-15/WO Graphite Rear Shock Tower with Aluminum mount FF03-09/LB Aluminum Front Bulkhead Stiffener 416-19LB Aluminum Rear Hub Carrier "0" Degree Works1200: W12 - Carbon Fiber ESC Tray 2mm W12 - Carbon Fiber Servo/RX tray 2mm Now it's time to build a rally version of the FF-03 from my spares. I still have a lot of extra hop-up parts to use for my next project. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted August 1, 2019 I finally built my FF-03 RR (Road Rally). I've got so much spares of the FF03, that the only new items I bought for this build are the YR 60mm shocks and road rally tires. I made adjustments on the chassis by cutting some areas to add more droop. I will still grind off some more to make a higher ride height in the front. At least 2.2mm with load. Wheelbase: 246mm (this can still be adjusted to 4 different wheelbases) Front height ground to chassis (w/o servo, esc, battery): 2.1cm Rear height ground to bottom of rear chassis (w/o servo, esc, battery): 2.4cm Used these hop-up parts I have: 54223 Aluminum Motor Plate 54234 Aluminum Spur Gear Mount 54235 Aluminum Racing Steering set 54258 FF-03 Carbon Rear Damper Stay 53823 Aluminum Wheel Hub 5mm 53993 TA-05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Arm Set 54495 RM-01 aluminum servo mount 84410 Carbon Steering Plate Carbon Reinforced bumper mount Carbon Reinforced Upper Arm Mount Carbon Reinforced Rear bulkhead Carbon fiber bumper support - DIY Carbon fiber rear deck stiffener - DIY Carbon fiber ESC tray - DIY Carbon fiber servo/RX tray - DIY Carbon fiber battery holder - Not sure what brand Will still add custom carbon fiber ESC and servo trays (like I did in my other FF-03 and RM-01 aluminum servo mounts. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted August 22, 2019 Finished working on my FF-03 RR this week. Today I did a test run. Very happy with the result. CF ESC and servo/RX tray New stuff. Sanwa MT-44 and Tamiya tool set Changed the steering wheel and installed handle grip wrap Electronics installed with the RX-482 (installed them on both FF-03 cars) Height comparison... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
78Triumph 2610 Posted August 22, 2019 What tires are those on the RR project car? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted August 22, 2019 46 minutes ago, 78Triumph said: What tires are those on the RR project car? It's made by Austar, https://www.lazada.com.ph/-i272559083-s397017325.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1 Here are the specs: Specifications: Material:Rubber Color:Black Outer Diameter: 71mm Inner Diameter: 49mm Tire Width: 28mm Tire Weight: 29g/1pcs 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juls1 1653 Posted August 22, 2019 They are great rally tires, but they a little on the large side, can mean some body trimming. Keen to hear how the FF03 goes on the dirt. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 5, 2019 What I did today... Tested out polyurethane paint on polycarbonate.... It worked. I didn't mix any catalyst in the paint to avoid cracking when the lexan flexes. So basically, polyurethane paint works with polycarbnate. It saves me from buying the Tamiya cans. With this paint, you can also mix to your desired color and shade. Backing with white to bring out the brightness of the yellow. Masked the windows and painted black around them... Mixed silver into thinner 20% silver 80% thinner. Used this for metallic dust. Sprayed it to ad the metallic effect before painting with the base color. Then the base color yellow, backed with white... Protective film off... Painted the rear spoiler and side mirrors to body color, applied the decals... Painted the front grill black. Didn't really like the chrome finish. Test fit on the RR. Still waiting for the Lancia Delta wheels so I used this OZ Racing set borrowed from my FF-01 Test fit on the Pro-R 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
78Triumph 2610 Posted September 7, 2019 That looks hot!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 7, 2019 2 hours ago, 78Triumph said: That looks hot!! Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 7, 2019 So my Scirocco body arrived last night and painted it this morning. Brilliant Blue Silver undercoat 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juls1 1653 Posted September 8, 2019 Looking good, have you run the rally yet? I was going to build a FF02LA for rally, will get around to it one day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 8, 2019 7 hours ago, Juls1 said: Looking good, have you run the rally yet? I was going to build a FF02LA for rally, will get around to it one day. Yes. Watch here: https://imgur.com/gsap1aW I'm really impressed with the outcome as rally car. It's very stable and easy to drive. Even more stable than my cousin's TT-02 and my CC-01. Cornering or power slides is also very easy to achieve. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juls1 1653 Posted September 9, 2019 So forgive me if this info is buried in the last three pages. Are you running the ball diff or a TA06 gear diff? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 9, 2019 3 hours ago, Juls1 said: So forgive me if this info is buried in the last three pages. Are you running the ball diff or a TA06 gear diff? On the RR, I'm using the stock ball diff. I applied AWG (anti-wear grease) to stiffen the differential and thrust bearings. So far it's working the way I expected. On the Pro-R, I'm using of the FF-03 R gear diff with a carbon reinforced gearbox of the R as well. The gear diff has 10k oil which is very stiff and just the way I want it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juls1 1653 Posted September 9, 2019 Yeah I’ve got the gear diff in my hopup FF03, I too have a big pile of stock parts I could nearly build a second car. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 9, 2019 I thought I was done with the aluminum upgrades on the Pro-R. But I guess not... Full aluminum lower suspension mounts 1XD. I have already installed 1A before but had a hard time finding the 1XD mounts. Luckily, RCMart had them in three pieces stock and got all of them. Another upgrade that is coming is the aluminum rear uprights for TRF416. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juls1 1653 Posted September 10, 2019 Yeah racing make the front C hub in alloy, I use it on all my cars with that reversible suspension because that part is so flexy. Even the carbon reinforced isn’t great. http://www.rcmart.com/yeah-racing-ta05ifs005bu-aluminum-bearing-chub-tamiya-ta05ifs-p-28196.html?cPath=595_744_720 they also make the steering knuckle and alloy arms under TB03 parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 10, 2019 50 minutes ago, Juls1 said: Yeah racing make the front C hub in alloy, I use it on all my cars with that reversible suspension because that part is so flexy. Even the carbon reinforced isn’t great. http://www.rcmart.com/yeah-racing-ta05ifs005bu-aluminum-bearing-chub-tamiya-ta05ifs-p-28196.html?cPath=595_744_720 they also make the steering knuckle and alloy arms under TB03 parts. I thought about buying those too but I didn't want to replace the knuckles and c-hubs to aluminum anymore as it will weaken the suspension arms. In case of impact, it is likely to destroy the arms rather than the outer parts because of their strength. That being said, it takes more time to replace the arms than the outer parts. Also, if in case the aluminum knuckles and c-hubs gets dent, damaged, cracked, or misaligned, it's more expensive to replace as well. So I opted to install carbon reinforced plastic parts on the front suspension and I have ordered more spares for replacement at the cost of a pair of knuckles and c-hubs. The rear of the car has less chances of being damaged that's why I decided to add "bling" to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 16, 2019 Some parts arrived today... Aluminum rear uprights (TRF416) and installed them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted September 16, 2019 New photo shoot... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted October 13, 2019 New blue screws on the Pro-R New carbon fiber front bulkhead stiffener and aluminum diff ball joint set for the RR I also made dirt/splash guard for the RR. Because when rallying, that' where all the soil/dirt builds up. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nicadraus 6130 Posted October 17, 2019 Upgrade parts list FF-03 Pro-R Tamiya: 42216 TRF 44mm Double Cardan Joint Shaft 42222 FF-03 Lightweight Counter Gear 20t 53823 Aluminum Wheel Hub 5mm 53993 TA-05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Arm Set 54064 Aluminum Suspension Mount 1XD 54069 Aluminum Suspension Mount 1A 54223 Aluminum Motor Plate 54230 Stabilizer set (Front & rear) used only front 54234 Aluminum Spur Gear Mount 54235 Aluminum Racing Steering set 54258 FF-03 Carbon Damper Stay 54264 FF-03 Carbon Rear Deck Stiffener 54288 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced A-Parts 54289 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced K-Parts 54290 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced M-Parts 54297 FF-03 Carbon Reinforced Lower deck chassis 54343 M-Chassis Lightweight Idler 54471 Steel Gear Differential Unit for TA-06Pro/FF-03R/XV-01 54495 RM-01 Aluminum Servo Mount 54568 Carbon Reinforced Front Uprights 84361 Aluminum Front Upper Arm Mount 84406 Aluminum Bumper Mount 84406 Carbon Bumper Support 84410 Carbon Steering Plate 3Racing: FF03-12/LB Steering Track FF03-23/WO Graphite Battery Plate FF03-15/WO Graphite Rear Shock Tower with Aluminum mount FF03-09/LB Aluminum Front Bulkhead Stiffener 416-19LB Aluminum Rear Hub Carrier "0" Degree Works1200: W12 - Carbon Fiber ESC Tray 2mm W12 - Carbon Fiber Servo/RX tray 2mm W12 - Carbon fiber ESC fan guard FF-03 RR (road and rally) Tamiya: 54223 Aluminum Motor Plate 54234 Aluminum Spur Gear Mount 54235 Aluminum Racing Steering set 54258 FF-03 Carbon Rear Damper Stay 53823 Aluminum Wheel Hub 5mm 53993 TA-05-IFS Aluminum Rocker Arm Set 54495 RM-01 aluminum servo mount 84410 Carbon Steering Plate Carbon Reinforced bumper mount Carbon Reinforced Upper Arm Mount Carbon Reinforced Rear bulkhead Yeah Racing: DSG-0060BU - Aluminum threaded 60mm damper set FF03-013-01G - Graphite front bulkhead FF03-069BU - Aluminum Ball differential Joint set 3Racing: FF03--23/WO Graphite battery Plate Works1200: W12- Carbon fiber bumper support - DIY W12- Carbon fiber rear deck stiffener - DIY W12- Carbon fiber ESC tray - DIY W12- Carbon fiber servo/RX tray - DIY 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites