[RC Racing] RC Advice

[Griffin]

I'm thinking about getting a remote control car. I would like something that goes off road aswell as on road but looks like a road car i.e. Evo etc. I know Tamiya do the TB-01 chassis for off and onroad and I wondered if the Astra DTM shell would look and work alright on it (as that shell is suited to the Touring Car TL-01 chassis).

Any help will be gratefully received, cheers!

[KC]

I believe the Astra DTM shell will fit, but I think you won't be happy with the ground clearance for any off road going. The body sits very low won the TL01 chassis and would most likely drag on anything other smooth pavement. You might try one of their rally bodies, I think they make one of most every model being raced this year.

[Hobson]

What KC said is true. The Astra won't go off-road without looking stupid. It would have to be quite high up to get enough clearance.
See www.tamiya.com/ for all things Tamiya.

[Griffin]

Thanks alot. I'll keep looking!

[Griffin]

Another idea! Could I use the Astra body on the TB01 chassis for on-road use rather than off road. Is it possible to lower the chassis/body so it acts like a TL01 chassis?

[Hobson]

You can do that, you will need a set of new springs to stiffen the car.

[Griffin]

Originally posted by Hobson
You can do that, you will need a set of new springs to stiffen the car.

Thanks for the advice. I'm a BTCC fan and so would like the touring car Astra shell even tough it's DTM (anyone know if this years BTCC Astra will be made into a body seeing as the vectra has?), but I would also like to use the chassis with an Evo body offroad too so thats why I was asking.

[touringlegend]

Remember to check out the other topic, Miniature Touring Cars, Griffin!

I'm also thinking of getting that DTM Astra, paint it in BTCC colours, then take it and get it signed next year!

[Griffin]

Ok, cheerz. I presume your the touringlegend from tocaforum right?

[touringlegend]

yep thats me!

[zealot]

Hey Griffin! I have a TB01, and if you are thinking about racing on-road, I'd look elsewhere. The car is heavy, and even after lowering it by cutting the shock springs, it just doesn't handle like a road car. Imagaine driving a full-size truck on the track, and you have a pretty good idea of how it handles. It's all right for off road, but if you want an on-road tourer, opt for the TL01 or other Tamiya road car.

[KC]

I have raced and owned the following Tamiya cars...

TA02 Diebels Alt Mercedes EVO DTM
TA03 Mercedes D2 DTM
FF Mondeo BTCC
Mini Renault Alpine Rallye Monte Carlo Winner
F102 & F103 F1 cars

The biggest problem with Tamiya cars is that they are great for racing with other Tamiya cars. None of my Tamiya tourers can come close to my Associated TC3. And the TC3 is much cheaper, in the US, to race. I love my old front wheel drive car, it is fully optioned out and is a blast to drive, but it won't see the shadow of the newer AWD tourers by Associated, Schumacher, Yokomo, Losi, and HPI Racing. If your local club has a class for Tamiya cars its great fun, they are realistic looking and handle like the full size versions. But, after getting a car ready to race with bearings and and spring sets, it can get pretty expensive.

The F1 cars however are the bets out there. My Tamiya F1 with the kit mabuchi motor turned batter lap times than my 4 cell 1/12th scale pan car on carpet and was much more fun to race.

[zealot]

I have found the same thing – Tamiya's are a blast to build, paint, and drive, but you really don't want to race them against competition cars like the Associated or Losi.

The reason is, IMHO, Tamiyas are more realistic than their counterparts. I've got two F1 cars (an old one from the early '80s and the F103) and a F103L that hasn't seen the track yet (but I'm so excited!) and they are a BLAST to drive and race agaisnt other Tamiya F1 cars.