Jump to content
ChrisRx718

TA02SW Bits-a Build!

Recommended Posts

If you're familiar with the TA02 then this thread probably isn't for you; I've tried to document as much of the build process as possible!

I consider myself a bit of a TA03 aficionado - at one stage owning 5 and many parts. I've calmed down since then and my collection consists of only 2. 

I had never given the TA02 second-glance, it looked far simpler than the TA03 and I didn't  "get" the affection for them on these forums. That all changed when I saw the 2018 release of 47321 "Porsche 911 GT2 Racing" in 2016.

At the time kits were plentiful and at one stage I recall them being on sale for as little as €120 from the likes of Tamico.

Around this time, I was going through a difficult period in my personal life, then subsequently a much happier time welcoming my 3rd child into the world. 

Fast forward 10 months and suddenly all these kits have disappeared, with them likely having been discontinued by Tamiya :(

There was only one thing for it; I was going to have to commit financial suicide and build one out of bits!

That earlier simplicity I criticised it for helped me here - it's actually quite easy to buy all the parts to build a TA02. What makes it harder is insisting on a specific colour / spec. If I was building one it was going to cost around £200 in parts. I therefore wanted to get the best value for money; I also wanted silver gearboxes and carbon fibre chassis plates.

So the question- "Can you build a TA-02SW from parts alone?" is yes. However "Should you build a TA-02SW from parts alone?" probably not. You'd do better to buy a fixer-upper kit if you can find one used! :lol:

Here's what the 'bones' of it all looks like, after you have sourced parts from all around the world:

50082143058_290344acdd_b.jpg

Obviously the above is minus wheels, tyres, body and stickers. There wasn't enough room :blink:

I am not going to sit and add up what this cost. Suffice to say, I had to buy my wife some new GHD's recently and I think I got off lightly!

Going to start with the most controversial steps, and I know some of you aficionados will be 'Triggered' by the following images. But I couldn't afford a period motor, so...

50082968297_c8e5c0a902_b.jpg 

Take one Trinity Euro Tech Modified Motor (15T) and a sticker from MCI Racing. 

Soak Trinity motor in vegetable oil to get the sticker and adhesive to come off:

50082143083_0c1face7fe_b.jpg

50082143108_9031dd3297_b.jpg

Job's a Good'un as they say. 

Next I'll start building the actual chassis...

 

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 7/6/2020 at 6:20 PM, acprc said:

I like the motor work

I was worried it might upset a few people, but it's very clearly not a real 53153 to the 'trained eye' so I'm not trying to fool anyone.

Onwards!

Step one is to build the rear (ball) differential. This is a usual fayre if you're familiar with a TA03 / M-03 or similar ball differential. I had just a handful of parts before starting this build, the critical washers and 5 large diff balls and a few of the smaller ones. Massive thanks goes to @svenb for sorting me out with all the other bits though.

50082725306_972f3ca67b_b.jpg

And all built up:

50082968332_763495aefc_b.jpg

For the next stages I needed some hardware. As I waited for all the stuff to ship from all around the world, I spent some time studying the manual for the #84431 40th Anniversary Porsche 934 Jagermeister. I found all the screws I would need and then put them in this little container, labelling the lid with the bag reference I needed for each stage of the build:

50082143133_1e4a999b0b_b.jpg

May seem very basic but it saved a heck of a long time later on, meant I didn't get slowed-down searching for the right-length screw.

I really like the look of the silver A & B Parts and eventually found a good deal on both from a German eBay shop. The next step is to install the built differential into the rear diff casing:

50082968367_cee25705e4_b.jpg

Stainless hardware and Yeah Racing ball bearings. I used metal-shielded internally and rubber-shielded on the exposed bearings.

50082725321_68b985d785_b.jpg

Rear gearbox all built. (I did warn you there were lots of pictures)

A quick observation is that it appears the differential is accessible / serviceable through the 'hatch' that I've just attached, to save me dismantling the chassis. Tamiya took a bit of a step backwards here with the TA03, since with that chassis you need to remove the gearbox casing from the chassis plate to get access to the diff! A real nightmare with ball differentials which seem to require constant adjustment.

50082725341_b785645105_b.jpg

The motor from my previous exploits. Hopefully this doesn't upset the purists...

50082143198_b01af92f4f_b.jpg

I read a lot of horror stories about the plastic motor mount, I almost purchased a GPM gunmetal item but in the end I've opted to build it as-is. If it really is as poor as suggested, I'll replace it further down the line. 'Hardened' pinion is again from Yeah Racing.

50082725351_2ea640d47d_b.jpg

All mounted up and ready to install into the rear gearbox.

50082725371_acd77085dd_b.jpg

It mounts from the side but sits to high to be supported underneath, effectively floating on those two screw mounts. I suspect this is why it is considered so weak.

50082725386_727b8cb425_b.jpg

For the next bit I was going to need to get creative, since I couldn't find the gear shafts anywhere for sale separately. For the propshaft ends, my most cost-effective option was to buy the Yeah Racing propshaft set, which includes front and rear coupling. 

50082725391_3c53a64614_b.jpg

I cracked out the dremel and took them to this set of hollow carbon gear shafts intended for an M-chassis (M-03/M-04) which I had in my spares box. I needed further shaft, which I made out of carbon rod (not hollow, middle item). I've done this a few times even with propshafts and it works really well, but you do have to be careful as a lot of extruded carbon rod / tube is not precisely 5mm OD, as it's intended use (I believe) is for making rigid structures on RC Airplanes, not building gearbox parts for 90's RC cars!

50082968432_980dc92ba6_b.jpg

These bits all fit together really nice. In fact those little end 'caps' either side of the idler gear snapped onto my carbon gearbox shafts quite reassuringly :D

50082725416_437772038a_b.jpg

Rear gearbox all built-up. I took this picture before applying grease, because 1) it looks better and 2) I didn't want to get grease on my phone...!

50082725426_62f88c9216_b.jpg

Ready to go.

Next up I would need some kind of chassis. The tub plastic is still easy to find, but doing that would just be too 'regular' of a build. I almost bought some genuine Tamiya TA02 carbon plates on FaceBook Marketplace for £120, but in the end my wallet got the better of me. 

50082968467_853b2a5fdd_b.jpg

This whole setup cost $69US incl. free shipping from RCMart. As we all know, the more money saved on one part means we can spend more on others / more cars! I'm not going to work out what they cost in GBP but I know that $69 is less than £120 :lol:

50082968477_c0da7038ab_b.jpg

I needn't have worried. The carbon parts are finished to a fantastic standard, the edges very clean-cut and definitely on-par with Tamiya.

50082968497_af02ffdb62_b.jpg

Building up the rear damper tower I was in two minds still about Upper Camber suspension links. I read on a thread on TamiyaClub that fitting these introduces an ungainly amount of suspension flop, since the suspension uprights aren't held tight enough against the transverse plain, so they rock back and forth. For now I'm fitting the plastic upper arms, but I was also disappointed to learn that despite using the correct 3x10mm step screws there was quite a lot of play, even with the washers. I ended up using 3 washers either side of the damper tower itself (1 in front, 2 out back) to 'shim' out the huge amounts of slop. Were the Yeah Racing damper towers thinner than the Tamiya ones? Or were my stock of washers simply not the same as the kit-supplied items? Who knows.

50082143303_acc55d3712_b.jpg

Next I had to mount it to the rear gearbox. Again, stainless steel hex hardware cos I like it!

I'll leave it there for now, next up is the rear suspension arm setup, which was a bit of a kafuffle.

  • Like 7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Looking good mate, grey gearcases are a lot easier to get hold of these days, I prefer the black though 🙄

Are you using the tamiya step screws? 

I had fitted step screws to mine as I used the upper camber links but I'll have a look. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah Tamiya Step Screws. Just seen my error though :rolleyes:

I used the widely-available 50579 3x10mm Step Screw

What I needed was the less-common 3x8mm Step Screw, #19804498

Obviously :lol:

I also need to get hold of 2x 19804958 4x5mm Flanged Tube.

Ah well, off to eBay again!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Next stage...

This next step I'm annoyed with, mostly myself for not double-checking but also the eejits on social media who said 'just fit TL01 hinge pins, direct fit'. As I'm sure the more educated TamiyaClub members know, this is codswallop and the hinge pins most certainly do not fit.

50082725471_f7e7f664c6_b.jpg

Instead, I've had to settle with pin screws most likely from one of my TA03's, I found these in my spares stash:

50082143343_d1412148fa_b.jpg

Universal joints are Yeah Racing steel items.

50082143358_d664cfd4b0_b.jpg

All mounted up, this completes the rear gearbox.

50082143373_2037834a9d_b.jpg

Onto the front diff. I toyed with the idea of putting a ball differential up front but it seemed like an unnecessary complication in the end, so opted for the common gear diff. These parts are all readily available, although in error for this pic I actually had some 53218 Touring Car Hard Joint Cup (For Gear Diff) which I had misplaced...

50082968557_bd0cb9b73e_b.jpg

Built the diff with some moly grease and on to the front gearbox casing. Loving these secondary plastic bags that came on the parts from the eBay seller in Germany. Not seen them before, even on stuff from Tamico, does anyone know which importer is double-bagging in this way? Pretty smart looking.

50082968587_7e63399675_b.jpg

Need the other propshaft drive cup and some 1150 and 850 ball bearings for this bit. Again, gears not greased for the pictures but don't panic - they were greased after!

50082968602_14fca23835_b.jpg

50082968612_d35e7785e7_b.jpg

All assembled, you can see now that the differential access to the front is not as convenient as the rear, perhaps reasoning why Tamiya themselves opted for a maintenance-free differential up-front? 

50082968617_49b45fdfff_b.jpg

Front damper tower all assembled, I found some 7mm metal spacers in my spares, god-knows from where but they matched exactly what I needed (shame they're not blue!) These push the damper mounting points forward as the front damper tower leans back at an angle on the TA02.

50082725576_78edf60594_b.jpg

Another shout-out to @svenb for sourcing the damper mounting plate (or; piece of bent metal!) from Germany for me.

50082143438_116119050e_b.jpg

Same issue on the front regarding those incorrect step-screws. Not sure whether to remedy this with the correct step-screws or go down the route of adding adjustable camber / upper arms. One to ponder!

50082143453_bae28c3b53_b.jpg

Front suspension next; I'm trying to work out why I've ended up with so many (9?!) lightweight king pins, I put it down to all the TA03's I've owned / restored over the years!

50082143463_1fa4d1ec8c_b.jpg

Yeah Racing blue aluminium universal driveshafts for the front end. These are actually meant for a CC01, but who fits lightweight aluminium UJ's to an off-roader?! :lol:

50082968677_61ecabdecb_b.jpg

All mounted up and looking rather smart.

50082725636_7b74665397_b.jpg

Now just to unite front and rear gearboxes...

50082968712_eb4da6fd47_b.jpg

For my dampers, I restored an old set of 53280 with some used damper cylinders and TRF damper parts, this worked out far cheaper than finding a genuine built set:

I'll leave the next update for assembling the chassis plates.

Thanks for reading!

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said:

 gears not greased for the pictures but don't panic - they were greased after!

 

Omitting grease from your gears in an RC car is not something to panic about - I never grease my gears and used to race a ta02 and top force regularly (and other cars but I'm specifically referencing the ones with the same gearbox as yours). Never had a problem with noise or wear. As a matter of fact, greasing gears can add extra drag and can turn into grinding paste and make the gears wear down faster. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Forgot to say - looks really good! I have lost count of how many ta01/02 chassis I have. The ta02 was my first tamiya, so this maybe explains why I'm so fond of them. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I thought I had finished this topic but clearly not...

Next stage is to build-up the carbon fibre lower deck. Building from parts you need to have the J-parts which I sourced from RCMart:

50082725666_c22f435e45_b.jpg

Fitting all of these bits is all very straightforward. There's a couple of sets of holes on the chassis towards the battery 'cage' and you can end up installing it offset to one side of the chassis. Not really sure what they're for, possibly another chassis?

50082968737_1559a33aa8_b.jpg

Really all you need is a selection of countersunk hardware.

50082968747_76c5358049_b.jpg

Next most important thing which needs to be sourced are the stand-offs for the steering (or steering posts). Again, massive thanks goes to @svenb for sourcing these for me as they were out of stock everywhere but Modellbau Siedel at the time.

Fitted:

50082725741_23f2ff82be_b.jpg

Excuse the over exposure B)

Next up is to build the steering arm tie-rods:

50082143568_9092b4ffa4_b.jpg

Annoyingly the 40th Anniversary manual doesn't show the dimension between ball connectors. 

I had to print the manual at 1:1 scale and line it up. To make matters worse I used aluminium turnbuckles and different ball connectors!

50082968782_87c48235d0_b.jpg

All assembled with 850 ball bearings.

50082143603_37f277e456_b.jpg

Installed on the car and fixed with 3mm lock nuts.

50082725241_4ab06c2b7b_b.jpg

Rear geatbox mounted to lower chassis deck. 

50082968267_a289675867_b.jpg

Front gearbox fixed and Yeah Racing propshaft installed.

50082968222_cc66e2fce4_b.jpg

50082725161_4c7def85d2_b.jpg

Upper deck installed. I used Tamiya blue countersunk washers at the front attachment point for a bit of extra bling.

50082142948_366944e938_b.jpg 

Wheel bearings and wheel setup. Nice fat rear wheels for this one B)

50082968167_662e097850_b.jpg

Almost forgot, have aluminium wheel hexes too, albeit these are only 4mm thick so I've since bought 6mm versions, which haven't been delivered yet.

50082142898_2cf039a87a_b.jpg

50082142853_9642410033_b.jpg

ESC installed - gone with a TEU-302BK on this for now. Love these but with no LiPo cutoff you have to be careful running on 2S - or run an alarm.

50082142823_fddfa98fc1_b.jpg

50082142813_3d1edbb70d_b.jpg

50082968057_792d5679cf_b.jpg

50082968037_eb6560e61a_b.jpg

50082142753_69ee3ab377_b.jpg

50082968022_93c9a906e9_b.jpg

50082967987_a10b40d868_b.jpg

Calling that done :D

I've cut and mounted the bodyshell and now I'm in a real quandry over the colour. 

I'm leaning towards a road car in PS-59 Dark Metallic Blue. Or PS-15 Metallic Red. This is currently keeping me awake at night :lol:

Of course I still have the 'race car' GT2 on my TA03-RS

49948964333_e9a774510b_b.jpg

49949467061_f7952a93ee_b.jpg

 

  • Like 11

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nice project!

I'm the complete opposite.. I never understood the love for TA03's, even when they were THE chassis to get in the early days of drifting (Groovy, DRCC etc. forums), yet the TA01 and TA02 have always been my favorite and still are.

What's the sticker set on the black Porsche? Custom or a kit? Love the Playstation graphics. It's so 90's!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
57 minutes ago, Tizer said:

Nice project!

I'm the complete opposite.. I never understood the love for TA03's, even when they were THE chassis to get in the early days of drifting (Groovy, DRCC etc. forums), yet the TA01 and TA02 have always been my favorite and still are.

What's the sticker set on the black Porsche? Custom or a kit? Love the Playstation graphics. It's so 90's!

Thanks,

I remember all those forums. D1RC was the national UK club forum I recall. Those were the days!

Sticker set is from Le-Mans Decals in Spain. They're primarily repro decals for 1/24 kits and slot cars, but can scale anything up to 1/10 and print on vinyl. The quality wasn't great - unfortunately they had pre-cut them quite badly on their machine. I would use them again but request them un-cut so I can do a better job myself! They weren't cheap either, I think they cost me about £42 all-in. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
8 minutes ago, ChrisRx718 said:

Thanks,

I remember all those forums. D1RC was the national UK club forum I recall. Those were the days!

Sticker set is from Le-Mans Decals in Spain. They're primarily repro decals for 1/24 kits and slot cars, but can scale anything up to 1/10 and print on vinyl. The quality wasn't great - unfortunately they had pre-cut them quite badly on their machine. I would use them again but request them un-cut so I can do a better job myself! They weren't cheap either, I think they cost me about £42 all-in. 

Haha yeah I remember your nickname and builds from that time. It's been a while! 10 years ago I was in the UK for the first time to drive the D1RC Worlds.

Too bad the quality isn't all that, but it still does look very cool. I like it when someone thinks out of the box and builds an alternative livery. Box-art is boring

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

High quality and inspiring build thread, props.

I need to haul out my NIB TA02 kits and bits and decide what to do with them all! 

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's just impressive!!! 👌👍👍

I can NOT say one word about your method of getting to this... If you've seen my Build Thread here, I've basically done the same thing!!! Built an OVER $250.00usd M05!! 😲😳

..... And how I've kept it all from my Wife - a COP'S Daughter - has to earn me some kind of Award!! 🏆

AMAZINGLY, I've never owned a TA-ANYTHING! 😳  I was on "Hobby Hiatus" from 1994-2002, which I believe was the TA-02/03 real heyday, even though some are sold in recent years (because TAMIYA!)  A buddy of mine had the Chevy S10 - was that a TA-02? I just don't know.

So..... HOW are these Chassis?? Seeing how you cobbled this together, with a mix of nice Hopups, has really made me curious about these.  I'm definitely following. I want to see where this goes - and HOW it goes!! 😊

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks, I really must finish this one, it's been languishing in a box since I wrote this up.

Bodyshell isn't even masked yet! Paint choice is finally decided, I just need to get on with it.

 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/11/2020 at 6:39 PM, ChrisRx718 said:

Thanks, I really must finish this one, it's been languishing in a box since I wrote this up.

Bodyshell isn't even masked yet! Paint choice is finally decided, I just need to get on with it.

 

Yes please continue.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/11/2020 at 4:39 PM, ChrisRx718 said:

Thanks, I really must finish this one, it's been languishing in a box since I wrote this up.

Bodyshell isn't even masked yet! Paint choice is finally decided, I just need to get on with it.

 

Cracking build @ChrisRx718, I love your graphics to frame your pictures too, really good

What paint choice did you go for? Nice warm week ahead, ideal for painting :D

Really looking forward to seeing it finished, I'm not normally into big wings but that shell is a beautiful thing B)

Where do you stand on gluing tyres to rims, particularly a build like this which uses those wider (more expensive, less common) rears? I kind of get it with box-standard 24/26mm rims, but these wider ones, especially the chromed ones?? Makes me verrrry nervous 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Juhunio said:

Cracking build @ChrisRx718, I love your graphics to frame your pictures too, really good

What paint choice did you go for? Nice warm week ahead, ideal for painting :D

Really looking forward to seeing it finished, I'm not normally into big wings but that shell is a beautiful thing B)

Where do you stand on gluing tyres to rims, particularly a build like this which uses those wider (more expensive, less common) rears? I kind of get it with box-standard 24/26mm rims, but these wider ones, especially the chromed ones?? Makes me verrrry nervous 

I'm going with PS59 Dark Metallic Blue, after trying and failing to do a good job at body lines using Kyosho tape on my Scirocco, I took the safe option of going with a dark colour!

I thought I would be ready to hit the ground running so-to-speak, but I've just opened the box and I haven't even masked this up yet. What a pain, especially since I don't have a genuine sticker set, so therefore no window masks. Out comes the tape.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/11/2020 at 8:39 AM, ChrisRx718 said:

Paint choice is finally decided, I just need to get on with it.

I'm ready!!! 1c7c590a2316c74208f6637ae43ade58_large-1.png.cad45edb133c1169b51cf3019721d2db.png

  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/11/2020 at 8:39 AM, ChrisRx718 said:

Thanks, I really must finish this one, it's been languishing in a box since I wrote this up.

Bodyshell isn't even masked yet! Paint choice is finally decided, I just need to get on with it.

 

Ok, now Carmine A and i are ready

Stage Curtains, Theatre Curtains, Flame Retardant Fabrics, Stage Curtain  Tracks, Stage Rigging

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Very educational build thread @ChrisRx718; it will come in handy for anyone who'd want to build a TA02SW later on.

One teeny tiny thing I noticed though: your kingpins are not exactly the same; you seem to be using 2 different kinds. 

Not that I'm OCD or anything. 

 

 

...What?

 

:lol:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes - it looks like you are using a mix of TA01 and TA02 kingpins, which are different sizes and made of different metals. 

The TA01 ones are longer and you can see they protrude more than the 02 version. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...