wtcc5's FF-01 addiction

[Carmine A]

On 1/29/2021 at 3:00 AM, wtcc5 said:

@ThunderDragonCy: Thanks! If you want the file to print them yourself, let me know

Awesome picture! Interestingly the color looks different from what Tamiya suggests.

@Carmine A: This is how the wheels look „cleaned“:

OMG Kevin! That is beyond nice!!! Just think how cool it will be when 3D Printing evolves to make things like Wheels - STRONGER than the Original!! 😁 THANK YOU @ThunderDragonCy !! Getting a 3D Printer in the next few Months. I'll let you know. 😊

[wtcc5]

That time will come sooner or later 

I couldn’t find the motivation to make the body for the Toms Exiv Toyota today, while still wanting to play around a bit. So I collected and prepared the bits for the 1995 STW Primera project. Maybe someone else in the future wants to do something similar...

 

Ingredients:

1x Nissan Primera body

1x H-parts Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 9005356 (mirrors)

1x H-parts JTCC Opel Vectra 9005468 (wing)

1x Carson STW Primera sticker set

1x OZ racing wheels

1x PS-30 brilliant blue
 

 

If you wonder why I don’t use the parts that originally come with the body, then we have to take a look at the changes Nissan did to mirrors and wings for 1995. And there may be a connection to the worldwide STW series switch. Here the mirrors had to be the same as they were on the street car.

Nissan at that time used the same mirror design on different cars. I cannot prove the Primera and the Skyline had exactly the same mirrors, but they look very much the same. So it is no miracle that the Skyline h-part mirrors fit „plug and play“, even the angles (window triangle, etc.) are correct if they are attached to the Primera.

The wing was also changed by Nissan for 1995. The Tamiya JTCC Vectra wing looks very much like Nissans 1995 version except for the endplates, which are a little longer and more angled on the 1995 Primera.

 

[Carmine A]

I would LOVE to do one of mine as a Primera... But how HARD, and expensive would one be?? (In the U.S.)  I don't expect you to know, but I was thinking about it....

MAYBE TBG has one!

[wtcc5]

@Carmine A: In your position I wouldn’t care about the U.S. market. Include  the British and Australien Ebay as well as japanese websites like buyee.jp. Check them regularly and sooner or later one will fall into your hands for a reasonable price. You just need to be faster than @Quincy. He doesn’t seem to sleep 

 

The prices vary between 350€ and 100€ For the body and/or bodyset. They are not easy to get, but not ultrahard. I will soon own 4 (one thanks to Quincy) and only god knows how much Quincy has right now... So if you keep your eyes open and it will come 

[Quincy]

5 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

You just need to be faster than @Quincy. He doesn’t seem to sleep 

I can`t help doing it.

[Carmine A]

8 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

@Carmine A: In your position I wouldn’t care about the U.S. market. Include  the British and Australien Ebay as well as japanese websites like buyee.jp. Check them regularly and sooner or later one will fall into your hands for a reasonable price. You just need to be faster than @Quincy. He doesn’t seem to sleep 

 

The prices vary between 350€ and 100€ For the body and/or bodyset. They are not easy to get, but not ultrahard. I will soon own 4 (one thanks to Quincy) and only god knows how much Quincy has right now... So if you keep your eyes open and it will come 

CHALLENGE may be accepted!! 😂

[Aerobert]

I've started to rebuild my FF-01 Mondeo and have everything disassembled including the ball diff. What grease should I use for re-assembling? Is Tamiya Ball Diff Grease the way to go or are there equal or better options? Ceramic grease for example?

[wtcc5]

14 minutes ago, Aerobert said:

I've started to rebuild my FF-01 Mondeo and have everything disassembled including the ball diff. What grease should I use for re-assembling? Is Tamiya Ball Diff Grease the way to go or are there equal or better options? Ceramic grease for example?

 

I use Team Associated diff lube #6591 for my cars, because the pan car drivers always used it.

[Aerobert]

1 hour ago, wtcc5 said:

I use Team Associated diff lube #6591 for my cars, because the pan car drivers always used it.

Thanks.

[wtcc5]

And another purchase for little money. 

They will become two complete cars soon.

[ThunderDragonCy]

@wtcc5 I was looking around JC Racing Products the other day and flund these

https://www.jcracingproducts.co.uk/rally-wheels/8-spoke

They are 26mm rally width, but well priced so might be worth a look for you for running the car. Loads of other cool wheels and tyres on there. 

[wtcc5]

@ThunderDragonCy Thanks!

My internet search before didn't bring them up.

I ordered two sets in silver. The price is very good and they will be strong enough to race.

[wtcc5]

Right now I really find no motivation to mask bodies... I put the Toms Exiv on the shelf and wait till I want to paint it (in the future).

Therefore I found fun in completing and cleaning the 15€ spare chassis I got recently. From my parts box I added front arms, c-hubs, axles, lower front plate, servo mounts and body posts. I bought a new differential and tub chassis (the old one was not only badly scratched, but had material removed  and was just ready for the bin).

The front bumper was also missing. I added a 3d printed one, a optimized version of the one I showed here days ago.

As this chassis also had a front shocktower in a very good condition, I changed to one with broken shockmounts and used the bodypost as shockmount.

Then from my FF-03s I had the plastic shocks laying around and put them on this car.

The previous owner also put six Calsonic Skyline GT-R wheels (Tamiya 53232) in the package. These were dirty, but look new. Awesome!

Here it is:

Right now, I have no body planned for this one...

[wtcc5]

I made a short video of my runner with dcj:

 

[ruebiracer]

20 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

I made a short video of my runner with dcj:

 

Perfect work Kevin! Sound is really good and constant, even on big angles. Will be interesting to drive! Now an oil filled gear diff with 300.000 oil and kick some FF03´s in the back!

 

Kind regards,

Matthias

[wtcc5]

@ruebiracer: Thanks!

I installed the TA-03 diff in my runner today and filled it with a little putty. My hope is that it will not leak. Right now it is closer to 600.000cst, but once it is run, I hope it will go down to 300.000cst.

I guess it would be possible for me to design and produce a perfect fit sealed geardiff for the FF-01. I just don’t know if it makes sense. Racing this car is just for fun. Any tuning has to be strictly limited, otherwise it will end up in a KR-FF01... and we all know what that means 

[ruebiracer]

3 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

@ruebiracer: Thanks!

I installed the TA-03 diff in my runner today and filled it with a little putty. My hope is that it will not leak. Right now it is closer to 600.000cst, but once it is run, I hope it will go down to 300.000cst.

I guess it would be possible for me to design and produce a perfect fit sealed geardiff for the FF-01. I just don’t know if it makes sense. Racing this car is just for fun. Any tuning has to be strictly limited, otherwise it will end up in a KR-FF01... and we all know what that means 

I´m also thinking since years of a Manta Ray gear diff replacement. Imagine the application on Vintage Tamiyas: Hazzle free running on Sundays, no break down off the diffs. They are not too bad, if built and maintained correctly, but cannot be adjusted that much. I built a M03 runner for my friend with a oil filled gear diff, and it´s great since years. It could be used in principle in the TA01/02, Top Force, TA03, FF01 and so on. I´m still wondering that 3 Racing or some of the companies doesn´t offer a version for these...

Her´s my take on the m03 diff, unfortunately the Spec R I used back then have disappeared...

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=121229&id=34024

And really, it´s already a KRFF01, isn´t it? I mean DCJ´s, Carbon rear upper deck, and still so much FF01 charme. I like it very much!

I had an idea recently about this task, have to make some trial testing, but could work, though. Will let you know, if I have success in the end...

Have a nice Sunday,

Matthias

[wtcc5]

A chassis a day keeps the doctor away 

In the upcoming week I want to make the STW Primera body. The chassis was another good deal (62€). It belonged to a female R/C racer who participated in the Tamiya European championship once. The chassis was very well maintained. The bottom is nearly scratchfree, the bumper is in a very good shape too. Just the electronic plate was very ugly. With it I also added one new steering hub, a new can motor and new damper membranes.

Right now I can’t get enough of these wheels. I love the look! Two weeks ago these were ugly as badword for me and now they look so fitting and cool  I even thought about making a 1995 BTCC Mondeo just because of the wheels 

 

But first I need to finish the body. As the 1995 Primeras had a more pronounced front splitter, I am thinking about a design to print and then glue to the body...

[Quincy]

22 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

@ruebiracer: Thanks!

I installed the TA-03 diff in my runner today and filled it with a little putty. My hope is that it will not leak. Right now it is closer to 600.000cst, but once it is run, I hope it will go down to 300.000cst.

You are cheating

[wtcc5]

No, I am saving diff pressure plates 

[Carmine A]

I need to ask.... I've heard a few times about FF-01s and EXPLODING C Hubs!!!💣 

What exactly is happening? Are DCJs the ONLY fix? 

I'm still about a Month away from starting to snatch my first FF-01.... I know - it's Tamiya, so it's GOT to have some odd quirk or even issue.

I just want to know what I'll have to fix on the Front Suspension. 😉  And probably HOW and where to get the upgrade Parts.

...... Unlike many People who THINK they're in the Hobby, but rarely build beyond bog standard - I love the Repairs, Updates, Mods and Upgrades!! 😁 It's one of the reasons why I'm so fascinated by the FF Chassis Cars!

I'll probably get a FF-02, just to have one!! 😜  Doesn't look like too many Companies support the "middle child".

[wtcc5]

I don’t know about „exploding C-hubs“...

The only problems Quincy and I ever had were with the fine teeth of the diff outdrives / pressure plates.

As soon as were are allowed to visit the indoor tracks again, we will test this chassis on high grip. Then we will maybe discover more weak spots.

 

I continued with the STW Primera project.

As the body was kind of ruined by the base layer for the car paint, I had no choice as to sand the whole body from the outside before painting it (again from the outside).

Masking and painting the outside is so much easier and hasslefree. Now, if only the color would sparkle more...

I love the brilliant blue 

 

I also started with the decals. I love how thin the foil is that Carson used for their decals, but I hate the plastic material they used. Even with heat they will hardly adapt to curvy surfaces without wrinkles. It is a real pain. And I have problems finding enough pictures to see where all the decals go. Especially the rear of the car is still a mystery...

A teaser picture:

[Chris_Ward]

Not sure if this helps, but I pulled a skin file from a touring car addon for the STW Nissan, might help with some of the placement.

[wtcc5]

@Chris_Ward: Thank you very much!

I searched for hours yesterday evening, but couldn’t find a decent correct rear view.

This one still differs from the pictures I found, but I now I know which sponsor logos go where in the rear!

Thanks again!

[Carmine A]

20 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

I don’t know about „exploding C-hubs“...

The only problems Quincy and I ever had were with the fine teeth of the diff outdrives / pressure plates.

As soon as were are allowed to visit the indoor tracks again, we will test this chassis on high grip. Then we will maybe discover more weak spots........

I probably worded that wrong... There was some reason why one of you 3D Printed a different C-Hub for it.