58344: Desert Gator from Steffen showroom, The DT-02RA: One that won't be shown at the 49th Hobby Show in Shizuoka

Model: (Click to see more) 58344: Desert Gator
Status: How To Guide
Date: 18-Apr-2010
Comments: 4

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DT-02RA conversion:

Originally invented by Il Maligno as the RR-01 chassis (rear motor, rear wheel drive) this is an interesting alternative to fitting TL-01 suspension arms to an M-04 chassis to get a rwd 190 mm touring car chassis. In Tamiya speak RA is used for cars with with Rally Arm suspension, often 190 mm wide 4wd sedans.

The DT-02 already comes with long travel suspension (and ballbearings and an ESC in most version), so it’s quite suited to the conversion. It’s also rear motored, not mid-motored like the M-04 making it an ideal candidate for something like a rwd 996 or 997 GT3 build.

Basically everything is plug-and-play except for hitting the right wheelbase which involves fiddling with the rear suspension hubs and arms. I ended up turning the rear hubs upside down, drilling what then becomes the upper mounting whole to fit the screw connecting it to the upper suspension arm. Since the rear hub is narrower on what is now the lower end a 5 mm spacer needs to be fitted. Something like Tamiya’s shock spacers work a treat.

I’ve configured mine to 260 mm wheelbase, but if you flip the rear suspension arms you’ll have something like 250 mm. But the resulting drive shaft angle is quite alarming, and mounting the rear shocks become an issue.

Like the DF-03RA you can use the body buggy as a chassis cover to protect the electronics

Parts list:

0445572 TA-01 knuckles with 1150 bearings (bearings are included most DT-02 kits)

9805502 M03/M04/FF02/FF01 wheel shafts (I used some cheap ones from Yeah Racing)

TL-01 rear suspension arms, need 4 which means buying two TL-01 C-parts packs number 50737 (two rear arms in each pack). If you use the TL-01 front suspension arms the front end becomes too narrow.

TL-01 C-hubs and TL-01/M-chassis rear hubs, both of which are on the TL-01 B-parts tree, part number 50736

39 mm drive shaft, for instance 50883

Steering arms, length approx. 11 (left) and 30 (right) mm between the plastic ends. Alternatively use 53300 and cut to size

Rear upper suspension arm, length approx. 15 mm. (between the plastic ends) Alternatively use 53303 and cut to size

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a pm.