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Ferruz

Building a new Manta Ray... with driver?

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You've done an outstanding job.  

If Tamiya sold it like this, I would have bought it in the 90's.  Instead, I waited until last year to get one, and mine is just as tired-looking as it did in the 90's.  Yours look electrifying.  And I'm not even a fan of loud colors (though I do like bright orange).  Tamiya should remake it like just this.  I think they'll sell well.  

 

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@Juggular Thank you for such kind words.

I'm happy you like it that much, as you really helped me out with great technical advice and hints at the beginning of this build. I love how this Neon Manta Ray came out, and driving it really is a blast!

I was only used to the Hornet and the Kyosho Big Boss so far. Lots of fun for sure, but this is another level, it drives with surgical precision.

Here are some shots from today, thanks to my wife that kindly agreed to take some footage under the scorching heat724936897_Screenshot_20190721-171537_VideoPlayer-1440x810.thumb.jpg.fd0af2d21d0041aa2f0d755f5e6bc36c.jpg121595342_Screenshot_20190721-171338_VideoPlayer-1440x810.thumb.jpg.5b656648034e979946c8b1a17a1cd983.jpg

...jumping over the Big Boss :o

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Good thing is, besides the obvious scratches on the rims which were to be expected, the graphics and overall aesthetics are lasting and still look great, regardless of the serious bashing the Manta had to undergo lately.

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Just a little update with some more action we had lately...

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...and a still with the latest addition to the fleet, even though the Manta didn't make it to the car wash on time for the picture ^_^

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Well thanks for the reminder<_< :D

But no, give it at least a couple more months (more or less)! 

Anyway yep, it's quite unbelievable how the weather here manages to get from extremely cold to extremely hot and than back to cold within one year... and every year it does it again and again though deep inside you still think to yourself: "It's not gonna be that cold this time, after such a hot summer" and then... it just does.

I'm not from here and I sincerely hope to end up somewhere warmer soon but, as I said before, bottom line is it's the perfect weather for off road rc! The only thing quite missing in my area are sandy beaches, but we get pretty much anything else on the Earth's menu in terms of terrain/weather conditions. Hard on the cars, but a lot of fun.

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I finally managed to run the Manta Ray at a bmx track that I've been eyeing for a while. 

I had a blast!

It felt like the track was built specifically for buggys, probably also because it's the closest thing to an actual rc track that I've ever experienced. 

Thanks to my wife's patience, we managed to get some photos and footage.

Flying it off those smooth dunes was real fun.

 

Excited before the start...20191020_163420-1134x2016.thumb.jpg.76fff0e75490a20138d2717ea71e15e6.jpg

..and off we go!

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I want to install a Sport Tuned motor on the buggy. It's going to be the current edition, the silver can with sticker. I thought I managed to order a black one but that's what I found in the mailbox, oh well..
I was wondering, will it be good to go with the  TBLE02 ESC just like the old black Sport Tuned is?
I've been running a black one on my Hornet for over two years without a problem so I know it's good, but what about the new one? is it in any way different than the black sport tuned as far as you know?
I've noticed that Tamiya states 23T on the box, when in the old one it just wasn't specified, hence my doubts as the ESC instructions specify that it's compatible with Sport Tuned OR motors that are over 25T.
Once again, it basically comes down to the endless debate: is the Sport Tuned 23T or 27T?
That doesn't really matter to me, but I'd like to know, has any of you tried the new Sport Tuned with that esc?

I have a feeling it's gonna work just fine, but still preferred to ask, thanks everybody in advance for any shared knowledge or feedback!
 

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3 hours ago, Ferruz said:

I want to install a Sport Tuned motor on the buggy. It's going to be the current edition, the silver can with sticker. I thought I managed to order a black one but that's what I found in the mailbox, oh well..
I was wondering, will it be good to go with the  TBLE02 ESC just like the old black Sport Tuned is?
I've been running a black one on my Hornet for over two years without a problem so I know it's good, but what about the new one? is it in any way different than the black sport tuned as far as you know?
I've noticed that Tamiya states 23T on the box, when in the old one it just wasn't specified, hence my doubts as the ESC instructions specify that it's compatible with Sport Tuned OR motors that are over 25T.
Once again, it basically comes down to the endless debate: is the Sport Tuned 23T or 27T?
That doesn't really matter to me, but I'd like to know, has any of you tried the new Sport Tuned with that esc?

I have a feeling it's gonna work just fine, but still preferred to ask, thanks everybody in advance for any shared knowledge or feedback!
 

I would expect it to work fine. A friend runs the Super Stock 23T motors on the TBLE-02S without any problems, in both 2wd and 4wd buggies.

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I've installed a couple of upgrades as well as some improvised protection wraps around the electronics to help insulate the car for the long winter months ahead.

These rudimental shields are little more than just plastic bags cut to fit around the electronics and secured with heat glue but, although not exactly nice to look at, they seem to work very well for now.

I've just tested the buggy in an extremely wet environment (skatepark after heavy rain, ponds all over, some very deep) an it had no problems whatsoever for the whole session, I'm quite happy with that.

The upgrades installed are: Sport Tuned motor, 21T pinion, hard steel rear swing shafts, new wheels and tires with a slightly bigger diameter than the originals.

Here are some pics of the parts and some snapshots of the action.

 I apologize in advance if they don't show up or if the link doesn't work: like a few others here, I seem to have ran out of space on the forum so am trying to figure out alrernative ways to keep sharing pics :rolleyes:

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After a long quest, I believe I found the right wheels for my Manta Ray.

Here is is with the Turbo Optima Mid Special wheels + Turbo Optima rere tires.

I think it looks great like this B)

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On 2/23/2020 at 9:09 PM, Ferruz said:

After a long quest, I believe I found the right wheels for my Manta Ray.

Here is is with the Turbo Optima Mid Special wheels + Turbo Optima rere tires.

I think it looks great like this B)

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This car gets better and better, like it a lot!

I read somewhere, that the Turbo Optima wheels are 2.0 Inch wheels, is it correct? Can you use them on Tamiya Egress wheels from the size? Or on the original Manta Ray wheels? And do you run the hard compound or the weaker one, eventually mixed?

Sorry for the bunch of Questions, but I´m searching some more modern tires for my Avante 2001, without switching to medern 2.2 wheels...

Have fon on the next rides,

Matthias

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6 hours ago, ruebiracer said:

This car gets better and better, like it a lot!

I read somewhere, that the Turbo Optima wheels are 2.0 Inch wheels, is it correct? Can you use them on Tamiya Egress wheels from the size? Or on the original Manta Ray wheels? And do you run the hard compound or the weaker one, eventually mixed?

Sorry for the bunch of Questions, but I´m searching some more modern tires for my Avante 2001, without switching to medern 2.2 wheels...

I hear you man, sorting out tires is much more complicated than it seems.

Those wheels are indeed 2.0 inch, to be exact here are the measurements as they came in millimeters: 50x83x36mm. So just a tad less than 2.0.

Article code is OTT244H. 

I've opted for the hard compound.

Original Manta Ray wheels have a wider diameter than the Turbo Optima ones so not sure those tires would fit, the same applies to the Egress I believe? And besides the wheel dimensions, I don't know if the threads on the rims are the same for most (would love to know that). Meaning, given two rims of different brands with same measurement, would any matching tires fit both, or is it also a matter of inner threads being different?  Unfortunately I think it's the second case.

Unless somebody assures you that they fit 'cause they tried it before, I'd stick to the same brand of wheels and tires to avoid surprises.

Manta Ray tires are usually up for sale on the bay, they should fit your avante (though not 100% sure) and the rears of the Egress, they are good and the spikes will last for a bunch of good runs.

Hope that helps.

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59 minutes ago, Ferruz said:

I hear you man, sorting out tires is much more complicated than it seems.

Those wheels are indeed 2.0 inch, to be exact here are the measurements as they came in millimeters: 50x83x36mm. So just a tad less than 2.0.

Article code is OTT244H. 

I've opted for the hard compound.

Original Manta Ray wheels have a wider diameter than the Turbo Optima ones so not sure those tires would fit, the same applies to the Egress I believe? And besides the wheel dimensions, I don't know if the threads on the rims are the same for most (would love to know that). Meaning, given two rims of different brands with same measurement, would any matching tires fit both, or is it also a matter of inner threads being different?  Unfortunately I think it's the second case.

Unless somebody assures you that they fit 'cause they tried it before, I'd stick to the same brand of wheels and tires to avoid surprises.

Manta Ray tires are usually up for sale on the bay, they should fit your avante (though not 100% sure) and the rears of the Egress, they are good and the spikes will last for a bunch of good runs.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. A little bit stretching in diametre should not be a problem. But as you say, it´s not sure if the gaps for the rubber will fit. I guess i have to order a pair and make some tests. I have the Manta Ray tires for my shelfer, they are the same as Manta Ray. Just wanted to try something more modern with more grip, hopefully. Also using medium compound for the rear and hard for the front should help to control the oversteer tendency of the 2001.

In the worst case I have to use the Optima wheels, which are beauties, too. 

Kind regards,

Matthias

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Got the car out again today after some time on the shelf. First spring run with camera bash!

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And some gifs from this last winter 

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I would like to equip my Manta Ray with adjustable tie rods/turnbuckles for the upper suspension arms and steering.

I've seen many around with that upgrade but have never seen a specific tie rod hop up for this car. I assume any will do as long as within the right lenght? 

Does anybody have a specific item to suggest? 

The hop up would be for handling/setup purposes of course, though at this point I wouldn't mind it bringing some extra bling, so blue alloy parts would look best.

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