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wtcc‘s FF-03 addiction

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In hindsight I should have called the „wtcc‘s FF-01 addiction“ thread just „FF-addiction“... Well now I need to start another thread. This time my FF-03 is the protagonist. Some of you may know that I have my FF-03 for three years now. So why this build thread? The reason for it, is the abnormal history of this chassis.

 

It all started 2017 with a standard FF-03 Castrol Honda Civic kit (58467).

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Initially I wanted to buy the FF-03 pro kit, but that wasn’t available anymore at that time. The purchase of several fitting tuning HopUp parts eased that pain. As I wanted to run this kit, this was its first layout:

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The car proved its potential on track more than I would have expected:

 

Again, who knows me, knows, that the car then changed drastically in the following months. I wanted to have more steering and another  f/r-weight balance. With a lot of steps, the car became this:

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In between, I had changed so many parts, that the original chassis got reborn, as my friends and I relived the VW Scirocco Cup:

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Later the car ended in parts and disappeared in his box. Which is a little sad thinking about it. I checked today, many parts are missing or were changed for the development of the KR-MF. For the last days, I thought about a last project for this year. As I missed out on two very good FF-01 offers, the rebuild and tuning of the FF-03 will be the conclusion of this R/C year. I already ordered the parts today and hope to start the build after christmas ^_^

 

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I like how you modified it so much you were able to build another one. I laughed when I saw that so then had to show my wife, hoping she'd tell me to build another TA07 from all the bits but she just rolled her eyes.

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After I received the ordered parts, I recognized that I don't have the parts in my box to build a balldiff to begin with... From my development of the KR-MF I had a geardiff and the fitting housing left. So my plans changed a bit. Ordering the missing parts to build an FF-03pro with body would have cost more than a full kit. The prices for FF-03 kits is on an all time low, ranging even below 100€. I ordered an Opel Vectra FF03, to make it a pro that will be covered by an 1994 JTCC Opel Vectra body:

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Source: https://www.motorfaq.com/showthread.php?tid=2969&page=2

 

So No.1 of 2 FF-03 will become a generously tuned FF-03R variant. At first I had to replace all missing parts of my TRF dampers (the missing parts went into the full tuning FF-01 Castrol Primera shocks). In short, I only had the housing and springs left:

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Then the geardiff needed an overhaul. New oil, 54233 aluminum diff joint set and the 54368 aluminium counter gear shaft:

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Front unit assembly with 54223 aluminium motor plate and 54259 carbon motor stay:

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I know the 54234 aluminium spur gear mount is missing. This part resides in the KR-MF right now ;)

 

Front damper stay with 53993TA05 IFS aluminium rocker arms:

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Steering layout with 54235 aluminium racing steering:

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The 54261 carbon steering link is ordered and will be added later.

 

Front suspension arms and blocks with (strong) 53928 short reversible suspension arm (wrong arms shown here) and aluminium suspension blocks:

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The drivetrain unit and chassis marriage:

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Rear unit with 54230 stabilizer set (not shown):

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54258 carbon damper stay will be added later.

 

 

 

 

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In between I had soo much fun building, that I completely forgot to make build pictures. The blue and the black really make this chassis a beauty. I corrected the wrong a-arms added the stabilizer, the catalogue picture motor and finished the chassis as far as it is possible for me right now:

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Now I am looking forward to the upcoming Hop Up bits :D

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As the car will get a lot carbon fiber bits in the next days, I missed the radio plate HopUp in the tuning parts list. I saw one carbon fiber plate made by 3racing, but wanted one that resembles more the original plastic part. So I walked out in the cold and cut one out of an old chassis:

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This will look good together with the upcoming HopUps.

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f4c48d7d-5acb-4060-81rjzo.jpeg

I have a general question about this kind of steering arms. How is the play in compareson with ballends and adjuster between both arms? is the connector simply scewed with those m3 flatheads with full thread? I am playing with the idear using this to modernize one of my Dyna Storm.

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@Collin I do not have an answer for your question yet, as I didn’t tie down the screws. I will let you know as soon as I install the steering properly.

Just from my experience with the stock FF-03 steering, there will be slop in the assembly...

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Lets install these precious parts!

 

I started with the battery brace. As you can see from the packaging, these aren't Hop Up parts, but repacked kit parts from the real R-version and with the geardiff the unique selling point of the FF-03R:

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Then I replaced the servo plate:

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The rear shock tower geometry surprised me. It is huge and has four mounting points for body posts. Not so long ago and I would've dremeled away the unused carbon area:

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Even the shocks look small, now :rolleyes:

 

Next to be replaced, were the rear chassis stiffeners:

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Until now the chassis didn't have front drive shafts (just axles to hold the hexes). Double cardan joint shafts are one of the most important invention in this hobby as they reduce shatter and wear. Unfortunately they are very expensive. Tamiya wants 48,99€ for a pair of 44mm length. Interestingly the 39mm variant for the TC-01 costs "only" 39,99€... Luckily I have a lot of 44mm shafts laying around, because the KR-MF and TT-02KR all need 46mm shafts. So I could safe a little money here... and I ordered another pair for the FF-01... so much about my saving concept :huh:

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And here now the result of this stage. It really transformed the look:

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There are still more Hop Ups left to add. Some of them are very hard to get, so let me know if you sell them ;)

84130 Titanium screw set (thinking about it, but maybe useless because of all aluminium screws already)

84361Aluminium front upper arm mount (coming soon)

84376 Aluminium bumper mount (wanted!)

84406 Carbon bumper support (wanted!)

53924 Heat sink bar set (thinking about it, but find it kind of ugly)

54091 Aluminium servo stay (will probably be added soon)

54261Carbon steering link (coming soon)

54602 aluminium gear diff unit cover (thinking about it)

 

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The kit for the FF-03pro build arrived. With it the body for the R-version.

Today I worked on it, but adapting the stickers to the Vectra body will take more time.

 

What I will use:

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Marking the cutting lines:

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Cutting, sanding and masking done:

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One color glory:

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Cutting, arranging and understanding the decal position:

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Soon Tamiya will directly deep draw the stickers and like this save the money for the body :D

 

As I had enough with decals, I painted the inside plates of the rims black to look more realistic:

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If I ever finish the decal mess then be prepared for the stance of this bad boy B)

 

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Really nice decal set. Hope you will enjoy it.

What`s your plan on the 2nd FF-03?

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That will become a box stock FF-03 pro.

At the moment I am open for body suggestions. Thinking about to make it a Castrol Civic, but would prefer a more creative idea.

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42 minutes ago, wtcc5 said:

At the moment I am open for body suggestions. Thinking about to make it a Castrol Civic, but would prefer a more creative idea.

Would love to see the Milka Beetle in your collection! 

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@Quincy Over my dead body :huh:

These are soooooo incredibly rare, I could never afford one <_< :P

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I'm going to be GLUED to this one!!! 😊 I just posted in your FF-01 Thread, that I just ordered a FF-03😁😁😊😊💯 p.n. 58467, like your Civic, but I may be looking for an Acura or Mondeo Body. 

I KNOW I'll be getting ideas here!!

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@Carmine A The FF-03 will come with a width of around 180mm (the FF-01 in comparison is around 170mm). I found the Honda Accord body already a little too narrow to put it low on a FF-01. So I would recommend the Mondeo for the FF-03 as it seems wider at the wheelarches.

 

In the last days I continued to work on my FF-03R build. Another not so easy to get Hop-Up arrived:

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Tamiya has a good taste on how much blue a tub chassis needs:

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And then I finished the 1994 Anthony Reid Opel Vectra JTCC livery:

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The challenge was not only to find the perfect position of the decals, but to make the pattern look seamless around the whole body and overcome gaps. I somehow made it look real and now love this livery a lot:

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Stance, baby!

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Looks GORGEOUS!!! I'm not sure I'd have the patience for those DECKALS!!! 😲😲😲  I'd need at least a decent Heat Gun.

MORE Questions!! I'm 57, not 7, so I'll really try not to flood you with questions! spacer.png THIS Creation!! Is it even a FF Chassis? What are those long Shock Extensions, and how do I get a set? Does it DO anything besides move Weight Distribution?? 

spacer.png I ordered the Pro Case - Thank you so much!!! 😊  Will I need any of these other bits, or will the Stock Internals work? 

spacer.png The Alumininium Suspension Brace. I can see why I need it (as well as others). I know many of you like your Tamiya Bling, but would I still be OK with Yeah Racing instead? I don't have my Inheritance yet... I just went and BLOW my latest Stimulus Check!! 😜  Money is still pathetically tight. 

Thank you so much!!

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@Carmine A

 

1. These extensions are just for weight distribution and I found it interesting to do.

2. Stock internals will fit with the geardiff. It is just the geardiff that has other dimensions compared to the balldiff.

3. That part will only have a minor effect on performance. I wouldn’t have bought it normally. It is just for this full-bling-bling-project. 

 

Hop-Ups for performance that I recommend:

- geardiff

- aluminium outdrives with blades

- hard suspension parts. For example: 54886

- TRF shocks

- double cardan joint shafts

-  clamp type aluminium wheel hubs (53570)

- for the last tenths: adjustable suspension blocks: 54881 or 54882 (wider for 190mm bodies)

 

Everything else is just for the look, but will have nearly no effect on track.

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7 hours ago, wtcc5 said:

Absolutely gorgeous. You create perfectly looking RC cars. Where are the decals from. I only know the yellow-black one and didn't find anything about this version.

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On 1/2/2021 at 11:43 AM, wtcc5 said:

@Carmine A

1. These extensions are just for weight distribution and I found it interesting to do.

I had a feeling... But the look is COOL!! 😎👍👍

2. Stock internals will fit with the geardiff. It is just the geardiff that has other dimensions compared to the balldiff.

Good to hear! I will of course be upgrading in the future (it's why we do this, right?)

3. That part will only have a minor effect on performance. I wouldn’t have bought it normally. It is just for this full-bling-bling-project. 

It's got a sturdier look, if nothing else... I may end up with one or two!! 😜

 

Hop-Ups for performance that I recommend:

- geardiff

- aluminium outdrives with blades

- hard suspension parts. For example: 54886

- TRF shocks

- double cardan joint shafts

-  clamp type aluminium wheel hubs (53570)

- for the last tenths: adjustable suspension blocks: 54881 or 54882 (wider for 190mm bodies)

Everything else is just for the look, but will have nearly no effect on track.

Thank you for the generous Help!! I'm obviously brand new at the FF Chassis Game, and want to do it right. 

It's funny... In the Real World, I still insist on RWD Cars. I prefer the feel, and they're all I've driven on real Tracks.... 

But since my M03 and then M05, in RC, I've found FWD more predictable and Fun!! One of my best Friends, Mark Bryan, got his first FF-03 just last year, and can't stop raving about it. 

And after reading your Threads, and others, I was chomping at the bit to start my own collection!! 😁  I'm not sure about the FF-02... Nobody seems to be impressed with them.

But there's been a lot of interest here - and innovation with parts, on the FF-01!!  I can't wait to get my hands on one of those!  But of course first the FF-03. As soon as it arrives, I'll be starting a Thread - which might end up begging more questions!! 😜  However, I'm honestly excited to get started.

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While the color of a body for the FF-01 is drying, I take the time to post some build pictures of the second FF-03 project.

As expected the build went well and without any problems. Except for the TRF dampers, all other tuning parts of the pro version are kind of meaningless for the performance... Good for the look, but that is all.

Here we go with the transmission:

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Completing the front unit:

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Damper bridge:

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Steering assembly:

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Front suspension:

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