The FWD Buggy Tamiya never Released!?
Status: Extra info
Date: 23-Jul-2009
Comments: 15
The FWD Buggy Tamiya never Released? Seems like it to me!
So how did I come to this idea? Well, a few months ago it suddenly came to me: 'Can you make a FWD buggy by using DF01 suspension on an FF01 chassis?' Well, my next thought was: 'Why not try it out!?'
The modifications are amazingly enough not much more than that. I only needed an FF01 chassis, a full DF01 suspension set (which I got for free from TC forum member IrenL - Thanks again for the parts), DF03 upper arms, some small parts and some twitching with the shock length and setup. I fitted the wheels temporarily, but it does give the look I'm after, and therefor I might keep these wheels. The body is from a Dirt Thrasher, and will need some modification to fit over the spur gear, hence why it's not on the car yet.
What I achieved with just fitting some other parts is quite amazing to me. I now got a buggy, despite the small shock towers the front has got about the same suspension travel as a DF03 has on the front. The rear has pretty poor suspension travel for a buggy, but considering the weight is mostly on the front and I won't drive on the limits of this car, it should do fine. Plus, I with some more setting up on the rear shocks I can get more travel out of them.
Before I can test drive it, I only need to change the gearing to make it a little easier for the motor, add tie-rods and electronics, that's it! :)
PS: This car has been sold.
1
Does this give you an idea of the looks? Low! :)
1
I quite like the looks of it!
1
So why didn't Tamiya release this, just for fun?
1
Top view showing the front end's muscle!
The beefy front and light rear end...
This could be the box art (If it had a body on it)
Half suspension compression on the front...
...Full compression on the rear!
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One last picture of the project...
Comments
mymonsterbeetleisbroken
Cool idea, keep up the good work
mini_mad_matt&son
You'll have to let us know how she drives!
Chain Driven
What a fantastic idea !
def4x4
If you have finished this, like to see some action shots of that great buggy!
Origineelreclamebord
Good to hear the positive response on it
I wasn't really motivated to do much work on it because I have other RC projects as well, but when I started work on it yesterday I actually found the progress pretty satisfying. And now I see the response on it so far, I think I'll order the necessary parts tonight and get this baby running! 
technical.burP
I wonder how this will look with that body on from the side and front. Anyhow, a nice idea. Great competitor for the Kyosho Maxxum or Nishimo FF.
Tizer
can't you use the shocktowers and dampers of an TopForce/Mantaray/Dirttrasher etc. etc.?
I like the idea, might try this myself!
amigamad
i look forward to see and hearing how well it runs .
boogyloop
looks like it could be well balanced with the motor up front and the batt at the rear.
Crash Cramer
I am racking my brain wondering if there is a body that will work on this chassis monster you have devised. I think it is an interesting take on the chassis mix. Let's see more when you have it.
flux density
Great idea ... I think you have to add a bumper to protect the front gearcase.
Makes sense to put the wider tires on the front where the traction is . Really love to see the running pics
Origineelreclamebord
@Tizer: I tried to use these shock towers, but the similarities between the FF01 and TA01/02/DF01 are less than they first might seem. It would take drilling and modifying the chassis parts (either the DF01 and/or FF01), and that's something I'd like to avoid for this project. As it is now it's a plus on the looks (imo) and the front travel wouldn't improve much more, the rear is something I can improve by removing the spacers inside the shock bodies in the rear shocks.
Origineelreclamebord
@Flux density: I might make a bumper for it, a little wider and further forward, maybe a modded TA02 bumper? Anyway, as it is now it would run fine, I just must avoid crashing it!
Origineelreclamebord
Thanks for the nice comments
Well, testing might be today, since I will use the tie rods of my DF03 temporarily on this car. I already changed the gearing (It happened to be that I had the right pinion lying about)! Only slight setback is, I don't have another driver or photographer to help me, and running a car whilst making pictures of it with a DSLR camera can become a challenge. I could give it a try though!
Origineelreclamebord
[Click here]
There's the forum thread, if you people are interested in following the progress
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