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wtcc5

wtcc5's FF-01 addiction

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18 hours ago, DarkSonic said:

@wtcc5 I live in a small city between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart (nearly in the middle)

 

Any tracks in that area? My family is from there (Kuhardt, Germersheim) and it would be cool to bring a car next time I visit :)

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@Tizer & @DarkSonic The world is so small :) This could be a fun day, I would drive 2h for.

 

Today I looked for a suited donor chassis for the tuning project. I found it in a Golf V that I bought months ago and then just stored it:

5632f15e-a36c-4027-bqqjsh.jpeg
 

The body and wheels look untouched. The chassis and the tires are well driven and show signs of wear and scratches.

86597a7f-26fc-4149-82fkgk.jpeg

6fa3ad1b-91f4-466e-b9nkuz.jpeg
 

The seller unfortunately put on these cheap dampers (TT-01?). It also came with a broken rear hex...

fbb876f5-c0c7-4038-8w7jwg.jpeg
 

... and this creative mounting of the rear camberlinks:

8af42633-0836-4f55-bf2jxq.jpeg

 

I also find the decals very strange:

017c32f6-40cd-4839-8o4jst.jpeg
 

In direct comparison you can see that the same graphics were used, but the print is much cheaper and on lower quality vinyl. Strangely the number plate stickers look original. I wonder if this VW branded FF-01 set originally came with these cheaper stickers. To add it to my collection properly, I bought genuine Tamiya decals. The body and wheel set will go back into the box for now. 
 

I will clean the chassis and prepare it for the tuning parts. The tub will leave and be replaced by a HPI chassis clone (no pressure Tizer ;)).

Already good news: The diff is smooth :lol:

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Seems that you are looking for work ;)

I`ve got a Golf IV, too. Still waiting for restauration and joining the collection....

So if you beome unemployed, just give me a call.

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I hope @Tizer won't be mad at me with this post :o

I was too impatient (sorry) and tried to recreate the HPI chassis plate set from the pictures he posted in the first may week. I carefully measured and calculated the scale and used known points from the FF-01 chassis to get as close as possible. It should be pretty accurate regarding shape and cut-outs and will fit a FF-01.

If you read this Tizer, I would still be very happy to get the scans from you to correct eventual differences and make it perfect ;)

 

Here some pictures of the CAD model:

bildschirmfoto2021-06vyk0s.png

bildschirmfoto2021-063gjqv.png

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Haha! Well it already looks the part :D I'll see what I can do about the scans. I'm waiting now for parts to come in from RCmart so I might be able to pull the FF01 apart next time I'm at my workshop. I'll also scan the tub chassis FRP bits.

There's a small FRP plate to hold the servo in place too by the way. Not sure if you can see it well in my pictures.

Are you planning on creating a more modern version of it too? I'd love something that looks vintage, but actually works well with shorty lipo's and brushless.

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@Tizer I was just thinking yesterday looking my FRP FF01 that with the right battery retainers there is easily enough spare for a shorty run centred and longitudinal. Not sure how much advantage it would bring though. 

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2 hours ago, Tizer said:

There's a small FRP plate to hold the servo in place too by the way. Not sure if you can see it well in my pictures.

Are you planning on creating a more modern version of it too? I'd love something that looks vintage, but actually works well with shorty lipo's and brushless.

I saw it, but not good enough to recreate it 1:1, so I didn’t start a CAD model of it, yet. How thick is it? 1mm?

I will 3d print the plates in the coming days and then see how the electronics fit in it.

Initially I haven’t planned a modern version, but it would be easy to draw one. Do you (and maybe Cy) have more wishes regarding a redesign?

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35 minutes ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

I was just thinking yesterday looking my FRP FF01 that with the right battery retainers there is easily enough spare for a shorty run centred and longitudinal. Not sure how much advantage it would bring though. 

No real advantage on low grip surfaces, but starting with medium to high grip, you will notice how much less the cornering is troubled by the centered weight. These were the results of my tests with the KRMF FF-03 conversion.

A longitudinal shorty would be my desired layout, too, for a redesign.

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Quick look suggests I could replace the front battery retainer with the red part, and add a bar (green part) and get a longitudinal shorty on my current chassis.

FF01 FRP Chassis Space Envelope for Longitudinal Shorty Development V1.JPG

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Let's start!

I disassembled the Golf chassis and cleaned every part. In the end I had two piles. One with parts I use on this project...

52f9fe4b-51f3-4d79-9cpj5t.jpeg

 

...and one with leftovers.

d1c067b8-9ce2-400e-anvjy5.jpeg

 

This is one of my favorite views. The tuning parts box:

56929219-b407-499c-999k2r.jpeg

 

The secret of the smooth diff was, that it is actually new. Even the plates have nearly no visible trace of the balls. I replaced the pressure bearing:

7d9f8b70-4d2d-45c3-a89jr6.jpeg

 

Then I couldn't made up my mind for a long time, regarding the camber links. I have Eagle Racing ones at home, but their only innovation is the material (aluminium). In the end I went for full adjustable ones:

e7112b1c-54ef-4de3-8qijvr.jpeg

 

The first highlight of the build came next:

72d2d8c0-c9e0-4492-893kft.jpeg

190437f8-f896-4b5f-barjcn.jpeg

31899b80-3da8-485c-ab0jbo.jpeg

 

The Eagle Racing foam bumper combined with my own design plastic lip:

9c3e6f36-ccc9-4535-bokk4c.jpeg

4bf8f226-48e2-4358-bpcjwt.jpeg

04a0a8da-fac9-46bb-asnjn9.jpeg

024d43e1-43cf-49c5-93wjl1.jpeg

 

Gearbox with carbon axles:

c31e7aef-757a-478e-b6wk5z.jpeg

06539d76-6f65-4bcb-8ggkfh.jpeg

7b13aefb-64e2-42e1-bo3k1y.jpeg

 

Highlight number two:

e26c4704-b888-4636-afrjhe.jpeg

7f6d390e-9019-427e-949kvn.jpeg

The bearings fit very good in the hubs. Could be a little force to push them in, but overall good quality.

 

Front unit finished:

72f6c0c1-4d28-478c-abzj4a.jpeg

 

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The rear is much faster to build:

71630921-2bbb-4754-8lakv5.jpeg

07bb9c1e-a94e-430a-a6bjlg.jpeg

db4ec3f6-489b-433c-9thkv3.jpeg

 

The print of the chassis is also done:

a21b809f-0a0f-4f45-9wakkn.jpeg

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a511a992-be9c-4c6f-a0jjlz.jpeg

Yesterday I took the Primera to the track at Dasing. It should've been just the spare car, in case the TT-02 KRv2 should end up unrepairable. But it turned out, that my old club has a strong going fronti class. Why not try to fun-race with them? Phew and my runner was on rails! The RZ motor was fast too, but couldn’t match their 4.3 gearing 17.5t motors. It stayed below 50°C, so if I would've had a bigger pinion... Oh well, I could do only one run, then my self printed bearing insert for the djc broke. Luckily without leading to a accident.

005544cd-95c8-42c5-awnkp6.jpeg

It was a short run for the FF-01, but it made me want much more! Today I examined the damage and repaired it with the final design I put on Shapeways months ago. Definitely a stronger design:

9561fce5-6284-4c7f-85yjw0.jpeg

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... and then I continued my work on the "Tuning FF-01".

48d669cc-66b5-4fab-bvrjcc.jpeg

I installed it to the front- and rear-units with the help of the frp chassis plastic parts.

It fits and looks pretty good:

0a6a97c0-3fca-4e7b-9ajk2u.jpeg

b423139e-1739-4781-at6kim.jpeg

 

Test fitting a sub-c-cell-style battery made me wonder about the strange attachment location. If I use tape to fix the battery to the topdeck, it will float more than 10mm above the lower chassis plate... I discussed with @Quincy and @Tizer, but we came to the consensus, that the stated case must be state of the art in that time.

8746e92e-144a-4c20-9nmk2t.jpeg

3be7f125-1238-4953-as3jag.jpeg

 

This morning I printed the chassis posts and inserts:

6604c91b-d46c-4506-8y2jde.jpeg

efb9c35f-3b73-43ac-bdqjxz.jpeg

It is all plastic and still you could easily drive it that way (it just comes with a bit too much flex).

f38d8e1d-ba47-4b51-9v2kw3.jpeg

 

In the evening I found time to complete the build further. Dampers...

cff7083a-417b-4193-aw8ji0.jpeg

3d82b9f2-aa9e-4f08-9cokea.jpeg

d2838c97-8706-4ac5-azcjxf.jpeg

 

...then Tamiyas suggested tuning wheels and hexes:

97a9906c-37e3-4d26-8rsj8t.jpeg

0fa46627-9d15-4810-ba4knr.jpeg

 

How it looks right now, it definitely is another beast compared to a Tamiya Hop-Up FF-01:

7ddaab37-0595-41c4-az1jpp.jpeg

 

I am already thinking about a limited production run of the chassis plates. Would any of the readers here be on board for set of plates?

Another FF-01 fan and I will take a set each already. Higher production numbers will lower the price significantly for all of us ;)

 

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18 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

a511a992-be9c-4c6f-a0jjlz.jpeg

Yesterday I took the Primera to the track at Dasing. It should've been just the spare car, in case the TT-02 KRv2 should end up unrepairable. But it turned out, that my old club has a strong going fronti class. Why not try to fun-race with them? Phew and my runner was on rails! The RZ motor was fast too, but couldn’t match their 4.3 gearing 17.5t motors. It stayed below 50°C, so if I would've had a bigger pinion... Oh well, I could do only one run, then my self printed bearing insert for the djc broke. Luckily without leading to a accident.

005544cd-95c8-42c5-awnkp6.jpeg

 

 

What a beautiful track!

18 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

 

0fa46627-9d15-4810-ba4knr.jpeg

 

How it looks right now, it definitely is another beast compared to a Tamiya Hop-Up FF-01:

7ddaab37-0595-41c4-az1jpp.jpeg

 

I am already thinking about a limited production run of the chassis plates. Would any of the readers here be on board for set of plates?

Another FF-01 fan and I will take a set each already. Higher production numbers will lower the price significantly for all of us ;)

 

Beautiful build as usual! 

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That track looks fantastic! I am so excited to do some proper track running with my FF01 now.

Thanks for the offer on the plates, but I think if I do something I'll go my own way with it. Cheers!

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Unfortunately there is no real interest in this HPI chassis. Not even on Fb in the Tamiya Legends group...

Unimpressed of this setback, I continued with completing the steering setup. The parts of the original FRP set arrived.

b1e8d0b3-3270-4980-8q9kw4.jpeg

Everything fits just like we know it.

4dd42306-6acc-4cbb-97fkrq.jpeg

4e09930e-a1db-4fe9-bx0kyh.jpeg

I added the front inserts:

be9bd38d-6211-49d3-bwdjek.jpeg

The connection to the steering arm now moved behind the servo arm, because of the longer (steering) arms:

a0f8b76d-e3f9-49dc-b9ojhz.jpeg

d47cb2f7-152c-4f16-8kbjx8.jpeg

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Great build and I like the different way with many non Tamiya Hopups. Eagle Racing parts are top stuff, have had many things from them for my TB03 and my M-Chassis. Especially M06 parts are upper cool. Was not aware, that they made so much stuff for the FF01, too!

And I like your chassis setup from the HPI version Kevin, it even looks functional in the printed version. If you need one set more to start a production run, please let me know the details and possible pricing!;)

Nice track at Dasing, must be fun to drive there!

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Some rare Tamiya material on track:

 

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It was time for a regular service and check of my runner.

db9bdf1f-d6c5-4cdd-8ynjxq.jpeg

d06d3280-ed5d-4ec2-8n6jsl.jpeg

Especially the shocks needed a service. Fine dust got into the oil and the lower seal accumulated a lot of dirt. In front I also wanted more ride height and used a thinner shim under the piston. The present damper setup:

- TRF damper (42102)

- three-hole piston

- front: 500 cst, rear: 400 cst

- shim under piston front: 1.5mm, rear: 2.5mm

- shortened lower ballcup neck in the rear

- ride height shim front: 5mm, rear: 1mm

- x-ring front and rear (42214)

 

Then I removed the geardiff. Cleaning it was very unpleasant. I should never use putty again. It also got deep into the bearings... On the staircase then I dropped one part and it fell down to the cellar, where I couldn't find it. I really had to hold myself together, not to throw the whole thing in the bin. The standard diff went in the car again. Neither the TT-01 outdrives, nor the TA-02 ones seem to be strong enough to withstand the brutal forces of the FF-01 drivetrain... even though I use the dcj (42372) and the shattering vanished.

d59d5e75-4fcc-4546-bbmj6x.jpeg

 

Also my printed bumper was damaged a lot by the "one" bump we have on the schoolyard track. The new bumper has a champfered front edge and more material to be stronger there.

9b2c67af-61c6-4d7a-850kox.jpeg

f44b0ef5-3d18-49dc-bi3jpu.jpeg

 

I cleaned the dust off the car and the new gearcover got a sticker. The old one broke through the sheer forces of the RZ motor :rolleyes: and because it had a crack already (the motor was very fast and made a lot of fun to drive, its speed suited the car very well). Now the black Sports Tuned is back. 

a4679f94-cba3-47a3-b6uk3c.jpeg

The chassis got a new setup with less camber and toe-out in front.

 

With new tires:

7d9eecc7-e1da-49a0-8e5j6s.jpeg

093d8c71-f789-47ea-9z6k6r.jpeg

55e2248f-ff9f-4bad-9kekab.jpeg

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On Ebay a frenchman offered a vintage tuning part from Tech Racing:

b760b96f-56e9-4cd0-9ivkpv.jpeg

I didn’t see it, but @Quincy did, but the bid went up sky high.

5f8a8ccb-19f2-4440-9lbkso.jpeg

If I saw it correct, only the ballcups and turnbuckles were included, not the C-hubs, that seem also mandatory for this tuning. So that last bid was euphoric from the auction winner. Nevertheless, all this made me curious to try it myself.

And I even got all the parts at home to build a little more simplistic version of the TechRacing assembly

33649c8e-e78f-46bb-935j93.jpeg

9668f88e-a239-4612-8zhj0y.jpeg

8dbceff6-aaa2-452d-b1xjmo.jpeg

f607d801-1325-4a9d-8t8j95.jpeg

This went on without any problem and makes the rubber soft rear suspension stiff. I have no real hopes to generate more performance with it for our schoolyard racing.

9517cc80-2d88-42cd-b35jav.jpeg

307f055b-965f-44c9-a1hj65.jpeg

7933baea-8fea-4373-8gfkkp.jpeg

 

 

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Oof :o I had to dig deep into the builds section to find this thread again :lol:

I still have two or three FF-01 projects hidden in boxes, but had no desire to work on them. And what I worked on today is just a small thing, that doesn't belong to these projects.

When I started the in July 2020 with the FF-01, I had seen one very nice chassis with full tuning and Mondeo wheels. This picture stuck in my mind for a long time, it went away when I got the Primera fever and recently came up again. Right at the end of my FF-01 addiction I made a good deal (thanks to Michael Koos) for a mint full tuning chassis with new Mondeo body set (as posted here before). This chassis spent months in a box... until now! It was time to make the full tuning-Mondeo-chassis a reality.

All this precious stuff :wub:

0740399f-5a4d-414b-80fk90.jpeg

 

I took my shelf queen Mondeo body and its wheels for this "project". The shelf queen chassis went into the box together with the new Mondeo body set and wheels.

For the real full Hop-Up state only the aluminium diff was missing in this chassis:

3824594d-6d49-4277-9prjol.jpeg

Also some of the tire decals needed replacement.

 

I started with the diff:

dbb0779e-41ed-4170-90mkon.jpeg

 

A little help:

fb155cb9-4689-40e3-9emkkg.jpeg

 

Finished and installed (hidden):

6bfd89f5-18ab-4b9f-a73j1y.jpeg

a455f36d-b93b-4de2-9vtj5q.jpeg

e42f6c91-947c-4563-8t5k55.jpeg

 

Now the tires. New stickers for the look and the inserts help saving the rubber on the shelf:

18e51768-ed3a-4bd7-86uk99.jpeg

d9ecda89-65f8-4689-biakxo.jpeg

 

And here it is... one perfect Mondeo :wub:

6a425675-f5ec-4d2c-asejp5.jpeg

8a4d10df-8933-463e-aicj7m.jpeg

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Perfect indeed!! Nice Chassis. 😎  I still haven't found my first FF-01 yet, but I haven't given up. 😉 Awesome job! 👌 

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Some days ago with the help of Michael Koos, this jewel arrived:

f88e9077-f3ea-42ea-9tvkr5.jpeg

 

It is a shelfqueen, but came very dusty and was build with the excessive use of grease.

df760ab3-93d6-405f-9dukay.jpeg

4d26ddde-511e-47d9-b0iksj.jpeg

 

I cannot put it on the shelf in this state... disassembled:

38ba27fa-a9f4-4559-98fkie.jpeg

 

All parts cleaned:

8530785b-f994-4c2c-bsgj65.jpeg

 

Assembly:

0b5445d5-cabb-41bf-8p8kt1.jpeg

d8e22350-9135-4f69-83nkf5.jpeg

 

I really enjoy this every time :wub:

fbb5e23e-eb99-4490-92tkdu.jpeg

Unfortunately the motor was missing and I had to use one of my stock.

 

Black, gold and blue:

ed16ba99-95b8-483f-8yej7w.jpeg

 

Front suspension added:

571d8f38-09ab-43f0-bwgjgo.jpeg

10801941-ca59-4294-8q9ki5.jpeg

 

Rear unit assembled:

292f6dff-c6f5-43f0-ba8jss.jpeg

 

Tub and steering finished:

2203949b-57f0-43bc-afwjs1.jpeg

 

All units together:

0b3c4d69-2b33-4178-8lvk1z.jpeg

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@ThunderDragonCy: I think it is easier to find a car with the heat sink than the heat sink stand alone. Same issue as with the TA03 heat sink.

And the rare blue FF01 heat sinks always finds @wtcc5 first.... ;)

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