TD-2 - New Astute

[Sir Crashalot 268]

9 hours ago, Collin said:

But what the h... does it have common with an Avante or Astute?!

 

9 hours ago, toyolien said:

I'm not sure it needs to have anything in common with the original Avante or Astute. 

There's one correlation I can see with the two names chosen for the TD chassis platform.

The original Avante was Tamiya's first competition 4WD buggy. The Astute was Tamiya's first competition 2WD buggy.

[InsaneJim69 1587]

Looks good. But God that old Astute still shames it by quite a margin imo. Makes me want another Astute now 🙄🥺

James.

[Busdriver 6430]

 

need I say more!!!!!

[Busdriver 6430]

5 hours ago, Busdriver said:

 

need I say more!!!!!

I should add you can read this 2 ways😄

[BelknapCrater 179]

11 hours ago, Busdriver said:

 

need I say more!!!!!

Top:

Shares most of its parts with the Fairmont.

Bottom:

Shares most of its parts with the Falcon.

[Saito2 7650]

6 hours ago, Busdriver said:

I should add you can read this 2 ways😄

That the old one is far cooler or that here are two vehicles with the same name that share little in common aside from drive layout? While I admit the old was is beautiful, one could argue that the newer Foxbody Mustang actually wound up transcending the Mustang name. The Fox "5-oh" Mustang had/has an entire following that may or not be into the entire Mustang lineage. In many ways, it brought the US hot-rodder out of the days of carburation and into the world of computer controller fuel injection. The Fox was a bridge between two eras introducing new lighter weight construction techniques, computer engine control and 5-speed overdrive transmissions while retaining the basic Windsor V8 architecture underneath and eventually a tough 8.8 rear end out back. Along with the '32 Ford, 55 Chevy and '69 Camaro, its one of the pivotal cars in the US hot rod movement.  

[tamiya3speed 513]

1 hour ago, Saito2 said:

That the old one is far cooler or that here are two vehicles with the same name that share little in common aside from drive layout? While I admit the old was is beautiful, one could argue that the newer Foxbody Mustang actually wound up transcending the Mustang name. The Fox "5-oh" Mustang had/has an entire following that may or not be into the entire Mustang lineage. In many ways, it brought the US hot-rodder out of the days of carburation and into the world of computer controller fuel injection. The Fox was a bridge between two eras introducing new lighter weight construction techniques, computer engine control and 5-speed overdrive transmissions while retaining the basic Windsor V8 architecture underneath and eventually a tough 8.8 rear end out back. Along with the '32 Ford, 55 Chevy and '69 Camaro, its one of the pivotal cars in the US hot rod movement.  

5.Slow as I used to hear it called around here. Name always made me laugh.

[Busdriver 6430]

8 hours ago, Saito2 said:

That the old one is far cooler or that here are two vehicles with the same name that share little in common aside from drive layout?

That’s it in a nutshell. This goes for both TD2 and TD4 . And I also feel that past memories can cloud ones judgment. I believe people rave and complain in equal measure about the original Avante. Perhaps the new one actually might be better. Same goes for the Astute. I do feel it was unnecessary to call the TD4 super though!! Sorry I seem to have joined two threads into one🙏🏻

[Fruitfly01 596]

Some running footage here, and a look under the hood.  Start at 51.34

 

[Saito2 7650]

9 hours ago, tamiya3speed said:

5.Slow as I used to hear it called around here. Name always made me laugh.

Yeah, that's what we called them too back in their heyday. I used to hate 5.0s as a kid. They were so ubiquitous in the early 90's you couldn't swing a dead cat and not hit one. The fact their owners thought they were the fastest things on the road didn't help their reputation. As I got older, I stopped just being a "Chevy guy" and learned to appreciate (and hate, lol) all cars equally which meant giving some respect to what the Fox Mustang achieved in the hot rod community. 

1 hour ago, Busdriver said:

And I also feel that past memories can cloud ones judgment. I believe people rave and complain in equal measure about the original Avante. Perhaps the new one actually might be better. Same goes for the Astute.

Oh, nostalgia is definitely a factor. I tend to break down buggies I like in two ways. There's the earlier, more realistic stuff like the SRBs, original RC10, and the pre-spaceship Tamiya buggies that most of us agree are pretty cool and classic. The second way is what developed into the late 80's/early 90's competition buggy. They are less realistic but nostalgia has cemented them in my brain as what a cool comp buggy looks like. Buggies like the original Astute, JR-X2, Ultima Pro, and the RC10 Team Car fit in this place in my head and somewhat runs until the hideous cab forward stuff started.

I have no doubt these new iterations are likely better than their predecessors on many levels. Its just my humble opinion that stylistically, the originals look better. Whether that's nostalgia talking or my general dislike for bubble canopy buggies (I was never crazy about the Thundershot's look, just my aesthetic opinion, not putting that buggy down to its fans)

As far as the Avante and the raves/complaints it gets, well, I feel it or and buggy can be loved and still receive both. I graduated from blind fanboyism years ago, though I am sensitive to the nostalgic leanings of some that might not like critique of a cherished buggy from their/our youth. In my own case (and I'm not imposing my thought process on any others as being the "correct" or "right" way to view things), I felt if I were to truly love something, I would have to be objective and accepting of its flaws. Is the original Avante an awesome breakthrough buggy that changed everything about how Tamiya pumped out buggies at the time, a beautiful work of art in some ways? Yes. Was it pretty much a failure at its initial intended goals as a dominating competition buggy that was full of flaws once it was compared to its contemporaries at the time? Yes. For both those things combined I love the original Avante and its story all the more.

[matisse 1626]

Looks like it really is the same chassis with a different front end, so thats very interesting, especialy as the side pods for the lateral battery mounts should work on the TD4.

[Kol__ 3510]

2 hours ago, Fruitfly01 said:

Some running footage here, and a look under the hood.  Start at 51.34

 

Thanks @Fruitfly01

Here's some screen grabs of a side by side with the Avante and the inside of the Astute showing the side mounted battery...

[Richardrpm 99]

I hope Tamiya offers the same hop ups as the Super avante but in red for this new astute. 
 

[Fruitfly01 596]

The car seems like a slightly tweaked version of the TD4. The transversely mounted battery explains the side pods on the TD4 chassis.  Of course the TD2 has no prop shaft or front gearbox, but still uses 4WD components at the front end, including caster blocks and live axles.  A new 2WD "wide" front Star Dish wheel has been designed, using hex hubs, fitted with the last iteration of ribbed tire.  If I'm right, the new Star Dish front wheel is a true 2.2" wheel and can be fitted with DB01/DF03 front mini pin tires or dual block tires, and others from other manufacturers.

Edit:  As an after thought, was any hoping to see a true 2.2" version of the lightweight wheel?

2nd edit:  I never expected a TD2 as Tamiya's next 2WD chassis, but I was waiting for Tamiya to release a mid engine 2WD buggy of sorts at some time.  I was expecting something more like a TT02B, sans prop and front gearbox, or a more traditional 2WD buggy with a reversed gearbox and transverse motor which is probably what the TD2 is closest to in design. - a mid engine 4WD, sans prop and front gearbox. 

 

[Honza 1167]

3 hours ago, Kol__ said:

Here's some screen grabs of a side by side with the Avante and the inside of the Astute showing the side mounted battery...

It looks like it uses A30 part present in TD4 kit. So it should be really easy to convert to transverse battery on the TD4

[matisse 1626]

5 minutes ago, Honza said:

It looks like it uses A30 part present in TD4 kit. So it should be really easy to convert to transverse battery on the TD4

Goes off to look at the TD4 manual…….

[BelknapCrater 179]

1 hour ago, Honza said:

It looks like it uses A30 part present in TD4 kit. So it should be really easy to convert to transverse battery on the TD4

And yet still does not use A24, as well as four as-yet unused hard points on the tub: one on either side of the motor and just in front of the front damper brace mount. So they’re not done exhibiting all the variants of this chassis. Probably a truck. Everyone loves trucks.

[SlideWRX 919]

Looks like the 2wd has more kick up at the front end. The rear end is identical to the 4wd; the port for the shaft drive is still there.

[Busdriver 6430]

now I’ve seen them both together I’ve decided on non box art themes for them. TD4 in BRG with yellow stripe, yellow wheels with chrome rim edge, I also may not leave the panels clear. Just like the old Lotus scheme. May even think about an open cockpit 60’s formula one style and the TD2 in Gold Leaf racing colours of Red , Gold and White. Not sure about the wheels. Cockpit may go same way. Love them both!! Definitely an old formula 1 vibe for me.

[djmcnz 755]

So this confirms the transverse battery possibility but it doesn't look like the Avante body can accommodate a full length battery that way, and the Astute body doesn't look like it will fit over the Avante front end. If this is correct some body modding could be required unless they release a different shell for the Avante.

[toyolien 5902]

And a new 2wd front wheel with 12mm hex fitting. Shame they opted for the wider 2wd front wheel though. Would have preferred a slim one. But, maybe that'll come.

[silvertriple 4083]

19 minutes ago, djmcnz said:

So this confirms the transverse battery possibility but it doesn't look like the Avante body can accommodate a full length battery that way, and the Astute body doesn't look like it will fit over the Avante front end. If this is correct some body modding could be required unless they release a different shell for the Avante.

Shorty lipo + Astute TD-2 battery ends and that's it. Done!

[djmcnz 755]

1 minute ago, silvertriple said:

Shorty lipo + Astute TD-2 battery ends and that's it. Done!

As I said, it doesn't look like it will fit a full length battery without modification. 😉

[silvertriple 4083]

2 minutes ago, djmcnz said:

As I said, it doesn't look like it will fit a full length battery without modification. 😉

Agree... But between a mod to fit a full length battery and a shorty lipo, I would tend to go for the second one... Matter of personal choice for those interested by the TD-4, which I'm not sure to be part of...

[Sir Crashalot 268]

2 hours ago, toyolien said:

And a new 2wd front wheel with 12mm hex fitting. Shame they opted for the wider 2wd front wheel though. Would have preferred a slim one. But, maybe that'll come.

You could always slice the inner bead off the wheel to create the narrow fronts.