Newbie Rosino builds an XV-01 and discovers hop-ups dark hole

[Rosino 10]

Hi all,

The story begins in Tokyo approximately 2 years ago. Doing the trip of a lifetime with my wife across Japan we come back to Tokyo for a couple of days and that's when I spot the opportunity to drag her to the Tamiya store as it had been a childhood dream of mine. As a kid I had plenty of ready-to-run cars which I adored and culminated with the build of a Manta Ray in my teenage years. Sadly university, job and life in general put a cap on that passion.. for close to 20yrs.. but when I saw the Lancia Delta waiting for me (I am Italian... and ADORED rally in the 80s-90s..) the temptation was too strong. 

They actually had a TT-02 and a XV-01. A quick chat with the poor chap who barely spoke english convinced me to go for the too-expensive and probably too complex kit of the XV-01. Follows a rush in the store to buy whatever is necessary for the build.. only to discover that time is short, my wife's patience ran out a long while back. We have a lot more to do and paints in aerosol cans allegedly cannot travel with us not even in the hold... 

On the advice of the local chap I pick up a Tamiya receiver, servo and ESC combo. Battery and charger (more on that later). The rest will have to be ordered from the UK.

 

 

Time to continue the exploration in Tokyo. Dream about this build.. and wait for London to start it. 
 

 

[Rosino 10]

Already in the hotel room though things started to look bleak. New to this world abandoned a long while back some strange blue optional extras were tempting me from the very box I had just bought.

 

[Rosino 10]

So back in London we start ordering some shiny blue parts : 

1 x Tamiya #54514 - XV-01 Stabilizer Set (Front & Rear) 
1 x Tamiya #53827 - Stabilizer Rod Stopper 
1 x Tamiya #54378 - RC XV-01 Slipper Clutch Set 
1 x Tamiya #53068 RS540 SPORT TUNED
1 x Tamiya XV-01 Separate Suspension Mounts (1XJ) #54376 
1 x Tamiya XV-01 Separate Suspension Mounts (1XM) #54377 
2 x Tamiya XV-01 Aluminum Suspension Mount XJ #54379
1 x Tamiya XV-01 Front Assembly Universal Shaft 2pcs #54515
1 x Tamiya XV-01 Rear Assembly Universal Shaft 2pcs #54516 
1 x Tamiya (#54121) HT Servo Saver 
1 x Tamiya XV-01 Spring Set - Hard / Medium / Soft #54465 
1 x Tamiya (#53444) 500 600 700 CST Silicone Damper Oil Medium Set 

and that's where i realised that the kind store clerk had basically all the Tamiya standard kit inclusive of batteries straight out of the 1990s. 

So here we go.. we need new ESC and battery :

Overlander VSR-Mini AC LiPo Balance Charger 60W 6A
Core RC 4000mAHr 7.4v 30/60C 2s LiPo
Hobbywing QUICRUN 1060 Brushed Waterproof ESC - Sbec

I pass on all the basic tools which I of course did not have.. 

Build slowly but steadily progresses until I hit the antiroll bars (stabilisers) installation, the front is fine.. but the rear I find a total nightmare, the space is exceedingly tight and i just seem to be able to clear the drive shaft and the suspension uplink both at the same time.. by filing one of the adjusters i go too far and eventually it brakes. Tamiya 4mm adjuster part 51111 is nowhere to be found.. it's on back orders.. few weeks go past.. 

Eventually life takes over.. and build is half finished and put on hold. 

[Rosino 10]

Until last week.. lockdown fever.. means I will find time to do this.. despite a 10months who has joined the equation.. i will make time and find time but will finish this beast

[Rosino 10]

We pick up where we left...

But facing the same issues.. those **** anti-roll bars are getting in the way.. i filed away as much as i could but they are still in the way.. how can Tamiya design something which doesn't work. It was doing my head in..

Until a very helpful soul on this forum took pity and advised me to use spacers on the upper suspension link to give me more room to work with... 

Here a close up with a plastic (for now) spacer from the NN tree on the suspension upper link. You can see the battle bruises some of the parts took when i was being lazy trying to file down the sway bar support whilst still on the car :

 

 

[Rosino 10]

now are at a later stage - electronics fitting..

[Rosino 10]

Electronics are the Tamiya TSU-03 shipped with the 2.4ghz remote the Tokyo guys managed to sell me.. the TRU-08 receiver.. And the ESC QUICRUN 1060 which came recommended by many as way of upgrade for a brushed motor. Waterproof et all. 

But for the life of me I can't make progress as I don't know how to fit the hop-up aluminium horn.. Did i mess up and forgot to order the hi-torque servo saver kit that should go with it ?? Ref 51000 ??

[Rosino 10]

So when in doubt. Order. 51000 has been ordered. Might complete the build with the standard parts and when 51000 gets here finish it off with the hop-up parts. 

In the meantime tempted by too many forum posts I have ordered the following with the precious advice of some of the members here : 

Longer tower shocks with the aluminium dampers and TRF 201 and 501 springs..

1 x Tamiya #54581 - XV-01 Carbon Long Damper Stay (Front) 
1 x Tamiya #54454 - RC XV-01 Aluminum Steering Bridge OP.1454 
1 x Tamiya #54451 - RC XV-01 Aluminum Steering Arms OP.1451 
1 x Tamiya #54448 - RC XV-01 Reinforced Drive Belt - 573mm OP.1448 
1 x Tamiya #6275076 - Urethane Bumper for FF-03 
1 x Tamiya #54582 - XV-01 Carbon Long Damper Stay (Rear) 
2 x Tamiya #54450 - RC 18T Aluminum Pulley - For TA06/XV-01 OP.1450 
1 x Tamiya #54446 - XV-01 Carbon Reinforced K&KK Parts Steering Arm/Bat Hatch OP.1446 
1 x Tamiya #87010 - Sand Paper Fine (P-400, P-600, P-1000) 
1 x Tamiya #87024 - Sand Paper Super Fine (P-1200, P-1500, P-2000) 
1 x Tamiya #54221 - RC TRF201 Front Spring Set (54221) = USD$10.30
1 x Tamiya #53974 - TRF501X Front Spring Set (53974) = USD$9.50
1x Tamiya #54541 CC-01 Aluminum Oil Damper 4PCS 

That's it for now. Hope to complete electronics today/tomorrow and post some finished product pictures. Then tackle the body which apparently is a nightmare in terms of decals. 

Then i guess when the parts start showing up from HK I can start upgrading bits and pieces. I would also like to order a second body so if anybody has any advice on a nice one which fits the XV-01 that'd be great. I am tempted by the old Subaru 2001 kit or the Audi Quattro. Whichever has less decals I guess

[njmlondon 570]

Got to love the XV01!

It is avtually a gem of a car straight out of the box. I managed to avoid shinyblueitis for once but did go for the carbon reenforced parts. 

Re the bodys, you can chose almost any TT01 / TL01 / TT02 / TA02 / TA03 / TB01 body... both the Scooby (any vintage, 98 being my favourite but 2001 etc) and the Audi will drop straight on. I think the Scooby's have the easiest decals.

Enjoy!

 

[Nicadraus 6197]

Nice! Can't wait to see this finished. 

[No Slack 454]

17 hours ago, Rosino said:

But for the life of me I can't make progress as I don't know how to fit the hop-up aluminium horn.. Did i mess up and forgot to order the hi-torque servo saver kit that should go with it ?? Ref 51000 ??

 

Correct. #51000 is needed to use the aluminium servo horn. The blue part replaces the shaded part on the instructions.

[Rosino 10]

1 hour ago, njmlondon said:

Got to love the XV01!

It is avtually a gem of a car straight out of the box. I managed to avoid shinyblueitis for once but did go for the carbon reenforced parts. 

Re the bodys, you can chose almost any TT01 / TL01 / TT02 / TA02 / TA03 / TB01 body... both the Scooby (any vintage, 98 being my favourite but 2001 etc) and the Audi will drop straight on. I think the Scooby's have the easiest decals.

Enjoy!

 

Found a beautiful Monte-Carlo '99 body from Modellbau-Seidel 1825324. Trying to figure out if they ship internationally but it's priced very fairly at EUR 30 
RCJAZ even have the correct 0444123 Impreza 18-spoke gold heels and 54861 Rally Block Tires to go with... 

Very very tempting to have a second body shell that can take the full size bumper too.. do you think i need a set of body mounts to be able to swap bodies ? Unless i keep the stock ones uncut for now.. 

[dc-arena 81]

I got mine nearly 18 months ago, and I've not started it yet. Shocking, really. I do keep buying the odd Hop-Up though :d

Following this thread with interest.. I gotta start mine soon! 

[dc-arena 81]

I'd like to know if your motor wires reached?

 

I am not sure what to put in mine, maybe a brushless Hobbywing, but not sure if the cables will reach? It's much longer distance than most cars. Anyone know for sure?

[No Slack 454]

Seidel only ships inside Germany.  My account is still valid from some years ago but due to legal prblems they stopped international shipping. It is a good shop though. 

[Rosino 10]

4 hours ago, dc-arena said:

I'd like to know if your motor wires reached?

 

I am not sure what to put in mine, maybe a brushless Hobbywing, but not sure if the cables will reach? It's much longer distance than most cars. Anyone know for sure?

So the sport can i got did not reach but model sport UK where i bought some of the stuff soldered some extensions for me 

And do start the build. I had not done one in like 20years but it was quite ok (or at least felt like it without having tested it yet 😄..). The only real headache was the anti-roll bars at the rear which for the life of me could not get to work without rubbing against either the upper suspension link or the drive shaft. That aside so far it’s been okaish.

I dread a bit the though of having to disassemble some of the work when the new parts will arrive but hey.. i learnt as i was getting along, there’s literally encyclopaedic amounts of knowledge out there.. I have not even ventured into the brushless motors side.. thought i would start nice and slow with conservative power setup for now.  

[dc-arena 81]

1 hour ago, Rosino said:

So the sport can i got did not reach but model sport UK where i bought some of the stuff soldered some extensions for me 

And do start the build. I had not done one in like 20years but it was quite ok (or at least felt like it without having tested it yet 😄..). The only real headache was the anti-roll bars at the rear which for the life of me could not get to work without rubbing against either the upper suspension link or the drive shaft. That aside so far it’s been okaish.

I dread a bit the though of having to disassemble some of the work when the new parts will arrive but hey.. i learnt as i was getting along, there’s literally encyclopaedic amounts of knowledge out there.. I have not even ventured into the brushless motors side.. thought i would start nice and slow with conservative power setup for now.  

Thanks, it does sound cool. I may try one of the Tamiya Super Stock brushed motors, and the 1060 esc. 
 

good luck with the rest of the build!

[Rosino 10]

So electrics went in.. not a huge challenge except maybe for some of the connections I had not done any in ages but got all to work with lots of spare space tbh.. 

So beast completed for now..

But we have a camber issue... 

But that was easy to rectify with the adjustable suspension links. Only "issue" remains of noticeable symmetrical toe-in. That I have NO idea how to adjust So any guidance much appreciated.. and if for mixed terrain that would be an issue or not. 

[Rosino 10]

Postman arrived with some parts.. Missing 51000 so i can complete upgrade of servo saver.. and then I thought I might as well upgrade from the Tamiya standard one and go for proper one that came highly recommended. Savox SC-1251MG Low Profile Size Servo.