1:10 Scale Touring Car
Discussion
Thinking about getting another 1:10 electric touring car.
I recently rebuilt my old Tamiya TA03R with 12t brushed motor, but things have moved on a bit since I bought that! The main problem being all bar 2 of my batteries are LiPo, and the battery tray of the Tamiya doesn't accommodate these well.
I'm thinking of keeping it as a "classic" and getting something newer which I can fit a brushless set up in to and use LiPos. I've owned quite a few Tamiyas, but have also been looking at Schumacher, HPI and Associated chassis.
Any recommendations?
I recently rebuilt my old Tamiya TA03R with 12t brushed motor, but things have moved on a bit since I bought that! The main problem being all bar 2 of my batteries are LiPo, and the battery tray of the Tamiya doesn't accommodate these well.
I'm thinking of keeping it as a "classic" and getting something newer which I can fit a brushless set up in to and use LiPos. I've owned quite a few Tamiyas, but have also been looking at Schumacher, HPI and Associated chassis.
Any recommendations?
Haha reading this brought back memories, I had a TA02 chassis BMW back in the day, loved opening that on Christmas day. Yours will be positively modern compared with mine!!
I'll need to dig it out my parents loft when I go back, I've also got the Lunch Box monster truck somewhere.
Awesome times!
I'll need to dig it out my parents loft when I go back, I've also got the Lunch Box monster truck somewhere.
Awesome times!
I loved the Tamiya lunchbox. A friend had one and I was always jealous!
Don't think there's a great deal of difference between the 02 and the 03 apart from the 03 being belt driven. Mine was bought second hand anyway in about 2004. Don't suppose you know how old yours is? No idea with mine, assume late 90s/early 00s though.
Don't think there's a great deal of difference between the 02 and the 03 apart from the 03 being belt driven. Mine was bought second hand anyway in about 2004. Don't suppose you know how old yours is? No idea with mine, assume late 90s/early 00s though.
What are you planning on using it for? I have raced X-ray t2 and t3 chassis and they are very good.
I don't race any more so they are probably on the t4 generation now but I highly recommend them.
You should be able to pick the older cars up very cheap if you are just looking for something to have fun with in a car park
I don't race any more so they are probably on the t4 generation now but I highly recommend them.
You should be able to pick the older cars up very cheap if you are just looking for something to have fun with in a car park
The TA04 and 05 are good chassis, should you find a pro version with the carbon tray you'll be able to fit the newer batteries.
Should be plenty on ebay.
I had a TOA3f which i sold then about 10 years later after going nitro i went back to electric with a TOA4 and 05, although stuck with brushed, wish i had tried brushless. but sold them on again to fund TVR parts lol
Should be plenty on ebay.
I had a TOA3f which i sold then about 10 years later after going nitro i went back to electric with a TOA4 and 05, although stuck with brushed, wish i had tried brushless. but sold them on again to fund TVR parts lol
Depends how keen you are and what your going to do with it.
If your going club racing just get a good 2nd model that will be fine if your planning on doing more national stuff your better off getting the latest car.
I've raced Asdosiated, X-rays and Schumacher's in the past all go well tbh.
I've not raced for a couple of years now so not sure of the newest cars but I'd say X-ray are a slightly better build quality but the Schumacher is very good to. If you get a top end car from either of those 2 you won't go far wrong and they are popular so parts are easily available even on older cars.
Tamiya are also good but the trouble with them is the low end stuff is no good for racing and the top end is bloody expensive and parts are not as easy to get a lot less people use them
If your going club racing just get a good 2nd model that will be fine if your planning on doing more national stuff your better off getting the latest car.
I've raced Asdosiated, X-rays and Schumacher's in the past all go well tbh.
I've not raced for a couple of years now so not sure of the newest cars but I'd say X-ray are a slightly better build quality but the Schumacher is very good to. If you get a top end car from either of those 2 you won't go far wrong and they are popular so parts are easily available even on older cars.
Tamiya are also good but the trouble with them is the low end stuff is no good for racing and the top end is bloody expensive and parts are not as easy to get a lot less people use them
In all fairness it depends what you want to do, if you want to race you might want to see what other people are running before buying, that way you can always get help and tips with setups and even borrow spares if you get in a fix - if you just want something fast to bash around in, even most club racer kits will suffice. I ran a Losi XXX-S with a 6.5T rated brushless setup and it coped.
Janesy B said:
Something like a TC4 Club Racer would be ideal I reckon
I like the TC4. What's the difference between a normal TC4 and a club racer?vx220 said:
As above, or Schumacher Mi1
Make sure you can get parts easily
Hadn't specifically looked at the Mi1, but eBay have them for £125 which seems great value. Looks to be plenty of room for lipos of all shapes and sizes. Good suggestion Make sure you can get parts easily

Bungleaio said:
What are you planning on using it for? I have raced X-ray t2 and t3 chassis and they are very good.
I don't race any more so they are probably on the t4 generation now but I highly recommend them.
You should be able to pick the older cars up very cheap if you are just looking for something to have fun with in a car park
Mainly car park bashing, but considering heading to the local club. I know there's plenty of older stuff there so a slightly out of date chassis wouldn't be a problem (as you can guess from the TA03, I'm not too fussed about age!). T3s can seemingly be had for sub £100 on eBay, so a definite contender. I don't race any more so they are probably on the t4 generation now but I highly recommend them.
You should be able to pick the older cars up very cheap if you are just looking for something to have fun with in a car park
pmessling said:
The TA04 and 05 are good chassis, should you find a pro version with the carbon tray you'll be able to fit the newer batteries.
Should be plenty on ebay.
I had a TOA3f which i sold then about 10 years later after going nitro i went back to electric with a TOA4 and 05, although stuck with brushed, wish i had tried brushless. but sold them on again to fund TVR parts lol
Electric all the way for touring cars. Might move away from Tamiya, and the carbon hop up parts are always quite pricey. Selling for TVR parts is a passable excuse for getting rid Should be plenty on ebay.
I had a TOA3f which i sold then about 10 years later after going nitro i went back to electric with a TOA4 and 05, although stuck with brushed, wish i had tried brushless. but sold them on again to fund TVR parts lol

theshrew said:
Depends how keen you are and what your going to do with it.
If your going club racing just get a good 2nd model that will be fine if your planning on doing more national stuff your better off getting the latest car.
I've raced Asdosiated, X-rays and Schumacher's in the past all go well tbh.
I've not raced for a couple of years now so not sure of the newest cars but I'd say X-ray are a slightly better build quality but the Schumacher is very good to. If you get a top end car from either of those 2 you won't go far wrong and they are popular so parts are easily available even on older cars.
Tamiya are also good but the trouble with them is the low end stuff is no good for racing and the top end is bloody expensive and parts are not as easy to get a lot less people use them
As above for the usage. Seems that I'll be moving on to something non-Tamiya from that list. Parts availability is going to be pretty important, as I've hated times in the past where I've had to order bits from far away for the TA03. That said, a lot of parts are interchangeable on newer models anyway I'd imagine.If your going club racing just get a good 2nd model that will be fine if your planning on doing more national stuff your better off getting the latest car.
I've raced Asdosiated, X-rays and Schumacher's in the past all go well tbh.
I've not raced for a couple of years now so not sure of the newest cars but I'd say X-ray are a slightly better build quality but the Schumacher is very good to. If you get a top end car from either of those 2 you won't go far wrong and they are popular so parts are easily available even on older cars.
Tamiya are also good but the trouble with them is the low end stuff is no good for racing and the top end is bloody expensive and parts are not as easy to get a lot less people use them
-crookedtail- said:
I'm sure I got mine in '96!!
A proper antique! Mine probably isn't much newer than that then...Janesy B said:
In all fairness it depends what you want to do, if you want to race you might want to see what other people are running before buying, that way you can always get help and tips with setups and even borrow spares if you get in a fix - if you just want something fast to bash around in, even most club racer kits will suffice. I ran a Losi XXX-S with a 6.5T rated brushless setup and it coped.
As above, mainly it'll be car park bashing. I'm sure even the best chassis won't compensate for my slightly rusty driving skills, so I probably won't worry too much about having the latest kit. Popping down the club and checking out what everyone's currently running is a good shout.Yes going to the local club is a good idea mate.
Very few parts are interchangeable from car to car. You don't break that much anyway tbh just the odd hub or wishbone every car has it's own weak spot. Just get a couple of spares when you find out what it is. Don't get anything to old that's when the parts situation will come into play.
As for what model if your new to racing it won't really matter at all tbh. You have to be a driver of a certain std to get the benefit of the latest car. Get something others run at the club that will help you a lot.
What Model do you fancy ? Your probably buying at the right time lots of people will be selling cars as the new models normally come out at this time of year Ready for the new season.
Very few parts are interchangeable from car to car. You don't break that much anyway tbh just the odd hub or wishbone every car has it's own weak spot. Just get a couple of spares when you find out what it is. Don't get anything to old that's when the parts situation will come into play.
As for what model if your new to racing it won't really matter at all tbh. You have to be a driver of a certain std to get the benefit of the latest car. Get something others run at the club that will help you a lot.
What Model do you fancy ? Your probably buying at the right time lots of people will be selling cars as the new models normally come out at this time of year Ready for the new season.
Janesy B said:
I think the club racer was a re-release with a plastic chassis
Thanks. TC3 or 4 are looking like good options. Plastic or not 
theshrew said:
Yes going to the local club is a good idea mate.
Very few parts are interchangeable from car to car. You don't break that much anyway tbh just the odd hub or wishbone every car has it's own weak spot. Just get a couple of spares when you find out what it is. Don't get anything to old that's when the parts situation will come into play.
As for what model if your new to racing it won't really matter at all tbh. You have to be a driver of a certain std to get the benefit of the latest car. Get something others run at the club that will help you a lot.
What Model do you fancy ? Your probably buying at the right time lots of people will be selling cars as the new models normally come out at this time of year Ready for the new season.
I'm having the whole parts issue with the TA03. Fortunately I've got most of what I need, and have just stocked up on a few more bits.Very few parts are interchangeable from car to car. You don't break that much anyway tbh just the odd hub or wishbone every car has it's own weak spot. Just get a couple of spares when you find out what it is. Don't get anything to old that's when the parts situation will come into play.
As for what model if your new to racing it won't really matter at all tbh. You have to be a driver of a certain std to get the benefit of the latest car. Get something others run at the club that will help you a lot.
What Model do you fancy ? Your probably buying at the right time lots of people will be selling cars as the new models normally come out at this time of year Ready for the new season.
I think it's probably going to be a TC3 or 4 from what people have said and what's about.
vx220 said:
If running in a car park, grab a tc3
Shaft drive for less maintenance!
I like shaft drive. I have a DF02 buggy which is shaft driven. Not only the maintenance thing, but it always seemed to run smoother. The TA03 always sounded so "clattery", even after tensioning the belts and lubricating everything.Shaft drive for less maintenance!
Going to see what comes up on Gumtree / the 'bay over the next couple of weeks. More LiPos on the way, and currently in the process of bringing some NiMHs back to life for the TA03.
Next job will be sorting a good brushless setup...
You should pick up a TC3 for peanuts now they are probably 10 years old if not more but parts might be a issue. Although they are a good car every man and his dog had one. I wouldn't go for a TC4 they weren't very popular.
If you go for one of these then the screws are all imperial size so you will need the correct Allen keys etc.
If you go for one of these then the screws are all imperial size so you will need the correct Allen keys etc.
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