Resurrect an old RC car?
Discussion
There is quite a market of people who love vintage RC stuff and especially Tamiya. You might want to see if you can sell it on there (e.g. google Iconic RC or just vintage Tamiya) and someone may buy it off you with enough to buy something new
It has to be worth a 5 minute look if it doesn't have sentimental value to you.
It has to be worth a 5 minute look if it doesn't have sentimental value to you.
Love how this has turned into a "my old models" thread.. 
The Skyline has no massive sentimental value, but I'm not desperate to free up the cash right now. I'd be happy to do the chassis mods and make it an off roader.
By the way, it's actually a TA-02W. Does that mean I don't need some of the anti roll parts?
I'd forgotten "hop ups" - ah the memories!
I actually have a 2wd touring car as well. That's old!
The Skyline has no massive sentimental value, but I'm not desperate to free up the cash right now. I'd be happy to do the chassis mods and make it an off roader.
By the way, it's actually a TA-02W. Does that mean I don't need some of the anti roll parts?
I'd forgotten "hop ups" - ah the memories!
I actually have a 2wd touring car as well. That's old!
I've got a few more.... there's a Mini Stock hiding somewhere or another, complete with a carry box and built in quick charger
I had one that would cook up a set of NiCads in ~5min.... not especially great for longevity of course, got a little warm too.
So... when are you getting the parts to get your one up and running then?
I'm likely to wait until my kids are older/I have more time/~~~insert excuse~~~/etc
I had one that would cook up a set of NiCads in ~5min.... not especially great for longevity of course, got a little warm too.
So... when are you getting the parts to get your one up and running then?
I'm likely to wait until my kids are older/I have more time/~~~insert excuse~~~/etc
Well........
Um.........
I couldn't help myself. My inner child went mental when it saw that and I just had to own it.
I won't be building it any time soon as work is mental right now, plus I have several other kit projects on, but I can't wait to get cracking.
The skyline isn't just going to be left in the loft though. I really like this truck idea. Next paycheque will have some bits on the way.
Now then. Colour scheme..? I have silver and purple spray paints in the loft. Any Photoshop artists on this thread?
Um.........
I couldn't help myself. My inner child went mental when it saw that and I just had to own it.
I won't be building it any time soon as work is mental right now, plus I have several other kit projects on, but I can't wait to get cracking.
The skyline isn't just going to be left in the loft though. I really like this truck idea. Next paycheque will have some bits on the way.
Now then. Colour scheme..? I have silver and purple spray paints in the loft. Any Photoshop artists on this thread?
I've looked at the smaller scale stuff in the past. I guess it's just like free-form scalextrix? Those cars are stupidly fast.
I've always been put off 1:16 though as I assume that they'll need mirror-flat tarmac to work. The 1:10 scale ones struggle on the rough stuff near me.
Does anyone know if I can order ball race kits for the TT-02b as a set or do I have to just count the number / size and order?
I've always been put off 1:16 though as I assume that they'll need mirror-flat tarmac to work. The 1:10 scale ones struggle on the rough stuff near me.
Does anyone know if I can order ball race kits for the TT-02b as a set or do I have to just count the number / size and order?
Good man!
I sold off most of my R/C stuff a few years back, just kept my favourites, the only ones if have left are my shelf queen, a little rock crawler, and an electric E-maxx 1/16th, which is bloody mentally quick, it's the fastest R/C car I have ever owned.
From a standing start if you just yank the accelerator it does a back flip and lands back on its wheels!! And it is waterproof, not that I have tested it..
it is a robust little bugger, I have never had to replace a single part after many tumbles.. but it has not been out its box for three years.
I should start playing again
I sold off most of my R/C stuff a few years back, just kept my favourites, the only ones if have left are my shelf queen, a little rock crawler, and an electric E-maxx 1/16th, which is bloody mentally quick, it's the fastest R/C car I have ever owned.
From a standing start if you just yank the accelerator it does a back flip and lands back on its wheels!! And it is waterproof, not that I have tested it..
it is a robust little bugger, I have never had to replace a single part after many tumbles.. but it has not been out its box for three years.
I should start playing again
Rcbearings is a very good source for...well it's obvious. UK based so no slow-boat delivery either (like some suppliers in the far East)
The TT02B is a good car, certainly not a racer but it will provide lots of fun. As with its predecessor the DF02 (based on the TT01 architecture) the one concern I'd have is the ground clearance, which isn't great in stock form.
It can be changed with longer shocks,but not vastly or you'll encourage additional wear at the driveshafts due to the incorrect operating angle. Another tip is to ensure that the chassis bottoms out on the ground before the shocks run out of travel. It may sound counter-intuitive but this ensures additional stresses aren't transferred to the shock mounts over jumps or full compression of the damper.
Finally I would advise against the aluminum upgrades for now. It's very easy to get carried away with alloy stuff but very rarely do you gain anything. It's more likely to bend rather than flex and return to its original form like the plastic counterpart. If you find you are consistently damaging the same part then consider an alloy upgrade - but also be aware that more rigid alloy parts transfer extra stresses to the next immediate part / mounting point, that the plastic would have previously absorbed. It's a vicious circle and an all-aluminium chassis certainly isn't the answer!
The TT02B is a good car, certainly not a racer but it will provide lots of fun. As with its predecessor the DF02 (based on the TT01 architecture) the one concern I'd have is the ground clearance, which isn't great in stock form.
It can be changed with longer shocks,but not vastly or you'll encourage additional wear at the driveshafts due to the incorrect operating angle. Another tip is to ensure that the chassis bottoms out on the ground before the shocks run out of travel. It may sound counter-intuitive but this ensures additional stresses aren't transferred to the shock mounts over jumps or full compression of the damper.
Finally I would advise against the aluminum upgrades for now. It's very easy to get carried away with alloy stuff but very rarely do you gain anything. It's more likely to bend rather than flex and return to its original form like the plastic counterpart. If you find you are consistently damaging the same part then consider an alloy upgrade - but also be aware that more rigid alloy parts transfer extra stresses to the next immediate part / mounting point, that the plastic would have previously absorbed. It's a vicious circle and an all-aluminium chassis certainly isn't the answer!
Thanks - that's really helpful. Is there any particular type of bearing or are they all standard sizes? Will take a look after dinner.
This car is just for hacking about in the "garden" so I'm not planning much by way of performance upgrades. I always liked the ball race as it frees the car up a bit and helps the battery life.
This one.....?
http://www.rcbearings.co.uk/index.php?route=produc...
This car is just for hacking about in the "garden" so I'm not planning much by way of performance upgrades. I always liked the ball race as it frees the car up a bit and helps the battery life.
This one.....?
http://www.rcbearings.co.uk/index.php?route=produc...
Edited by _Al_ on Friday 10th April 21:49
SWMBO and I are taking our time over the Dual Ridge, and she's popped out to see the MIL.
Well there's all this good RC kit sat here and I know she'll be sad if I finish the buggy without her, so suddenly there's a brightly coloured intruder in the build zone...
The skyline lives!
I need to tidy up the cabling in some "non-permanent" way, but a functional test with the wheels in the air looks great. Hopefully I'll give it a shakedown before dark.
Excited!
Well there's all this good RC kit sat here and I know she'll be sad if I finish the buggy without her, so suddenly there's a brightly coloured intruder in the build zone...
The skyline lives!
I need to tidy up the cabling in some "non-permanent" way, but a functional test with the wheels in the air looks great. Hopefully I'll give it a shakedown before dark.
Excited!
Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 25th April 18:03
Success!
It drove itself out and was flying around the local cul-de-sac. Just like the good old days.
Point of fact, it works better than ever. 2.4GHz and modern battery power have really done it the world of good. Feisty, responsive and chuckable. Brilliant! With a digital fast servo it'd be amazing.
Only faults are a badly buckled right rear wheel and a really lousy driveshaft which rattles like crazy at higher speeds.
There's a sort of fault / bonus situation with the tyres. They're distorted and very old, but age has made them hard. She drifts nicely!
It drove itself out and was flying around the local cul-de-sac. Just like the good old days.
Point of fact, it works better than ever. 2.4GHz and modern battery power have really done it the world of good. Feisty, responsive and chuckable. Brilliant! With a digital fast servo it'd be amazing.
Only faults are a badly buckled right rear wheel and a really lousy driveshaft which rattles like crazy at higher speeds.
There's a sort of fault / bonus situation with the tyres. They're distorted and very old, but age has made them hard. She drifts nicely!
Nice to see it rescued.
Good place for servos is 'Hobbyking' - only tip is to make sure you order from their UK warehouse or at the very least the european one. Ordering from the international warehouse is fine, but you'll be hit with import fees and the waiting time is ~ 2 weeks (Royal Fail add £8.00 to any fees incurred, too - bless them!)
Have never had any issues buying from Asiatees, Stellamodels, Banzai Hobby, Tamico etc.
I have those same wheels on my 993 GT2 Porsche
Good place for servos is 'Hobbyking' - only tip is to make sure you order from their UK warehouse or at the very least the european one. Ordering from the international warehouse is fine, but you'll be hit with import fees and the waiting time is ~ 2 weeks (Royal Fail add £8.00 to any fees incurred, too - bless them!)
Have never had any issues buying from Asiatees, Stellamodels, Banzai Hobby, Tamico etc.
I have those same wheels on my 993 GT2 Porsche
Good advice, thanks! I actually bought the dual ridge from them and it has a fast digital servo with it, but I wanted to see how much of the original car still worked.
The only thing that seemed to go badly was my attempts to set up the ESC. It works fine going forward but the brake doesn't work at all. Not sure how to sort that but going to have a play now. Sadly it's raining now so can't run it outside.
Just realised there's a problem. The rear wheels are only getting a tiny amount of drive. The rears do get drive eventually, but they're slow and you can hold them still with one finger easily. Try that on the fronts and you loose that finger!
Edit: just needed to tighten the rear diff.
The only thing that seemed to go badly was my attempts to set up the ESC. It works fine going forward but the brake doesn't work at all. Not sure how to sort that but going to have a play now. Sadly it's raining now so can't run it outside.
Just realised there's a problem. The rear wheels are only getting a tiny amount of drive. The rears do get drive eventually, but they're slow and you can hold them still with one finger easily. Try that on the fronts and you loose that finger!
Edit: just needed to tighten the rear diff.
Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 25th April 20:51
Those look like Tamiya 2 piece wheels? I found them to be very weak, grand for a shelf queen, but not great for a runner.
If you're thinking of replacing them, HPI do (or did) some cool deep offset wheels, or I'm sure you could get something similar from the RC drift sites?
http://www.hpiracing.com/en/product_category/W10TR...
If you're thinking of replacing them, HPI do (or did) some cool deep offset wheels, or I'm sure you could get something similar from the RC drift sites?
http://www.hpiracing.com/en/product_category/W10TR...
They are very flaky, well distorted.
For wandering outside they're fine, but I guess they'll have to go at some point. Are the HPIs a straight fit or do they need any mods?
I'm still planning to convert this to some sort of grass truck though so it'll be good to understand the options!
For wandering outside they're fine, but I guess they'll have to go at some point. Are the HPIs a straight fit or do they need any mods?
I'm still planning to convert this to some sort of grass truck though so it'll be good to understand the options!
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