:confused: Having a slipper installed and the 501 diff halves in the rear makes the diffs as bullet proof as any other car out there, did he have any of that?

I wonder if it will be like:

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/ishywest/index.html

:D

Yes i know it sounds strange but he always had trouble to set the diff right and maintenance was a problem. I agree a sealed drivetrain as in the DB01R shouldn´t be a problem for any track in the world but the loose dirt on my track can be a problem...

well it's as everyone expected: a shaft drive buggy. now the next question would be whether they come with gear diffs...

I'm wandering if this will replace the 511 now or if its just another option to belts.. seems kind of odd to have a buggy winning like the 511 is and just replace with a completly new car. I hate to see them go in this direction.

And as for gear diffs... ehhh.. probably not. I would like to see them but I don't think Tamiya will ever step too far away from Assoc and Kyosho are doing.. big bores? That would be nice.

Why should only Speedtech have the info everyone else doesn´t have?
I would LOVE it if Tamiya does a Shaft driven 4WD buggy, i would buy 4 of them. But i have to agree to my previous speakers it would be extremely strange to win the Euros with a belt driven and then release a shft driven buggy....

I think they will probably have both cars running in parallel, like they do with the TRF41X and TB Evos...

Start saving money then Johannes!;)

Does anyone "know" that it's a full kit rather than a conversion?

I'm guessing full kit just because otherwise I'd imagine they'd be producing more 511's!!

Dave

I've also heard rumors that Tamiya is gonna make a shaft-drive 4WD next.

Looks like the 501 is discontinued but the 511 is still available:
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/cat...d=36450&page=2

They can't seriously have discontinued the 511 already???

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/hobbyshow/index.htm

From the horses mouth - a TRF502X to be shown at the Tokyo hobbyshow next month.

Same in English:
http://www.tamiya.com/english/hobbyshow/10THS_index.htm

1/10 R/C TRF502X Chassis Kit
1/10 R/C 2WD Buggy 【Tentative】TRF201 basic version
OP TRF201 Slipper Clutch Set 【Tentative】

http://www.tamiya.com/trf/images/trf...0/jm_off_1.jpg

http://www.tamiya.com/trf/content/view/1270/191/

Translated text! :eh?:

A JMRCA entered two national championships to offload the main shaft drive 4WD buggy TRF, [TRF502X (tentative) 』decision as presented at the All Japan Hobby Show!

August 27 - 29 Yatabearinaofurodokosu (Tsukuba) Japan National Championship was held in off-road JMRCA, TRF (Tamiyarashingfactore) from the previous housing Satoshi, Kawano Takayuki an entry.
Tournament, TRF is a new shaft to put the buggy 4WD Open Class. The new power source is a brushless motor TRF511 Leveraging expertise from other Sasujiometori & chassis balance Shafutodoraibumashin mind sought to use each type of battery, the final prototype was completed in this war.

Shakedown of the new shaft drive and compete in the qualifying race is suddenly the best points in Round 2 Round 4 4WD buggy is ranked # 08 before qualifying residence. And Kono, Japan's first challenge was to mark off-road at the time the final round in fifth place overall. Compatibility with the new car show master of off-road against Japan and former champion, get qualified seventh overall. 2 A table with a good result to advance to the main!

The new shaft drive 4WD buggy was held October 16-17 at Makuhari Messe on "The 50th All Japan Model Hobby Show" will be presented!
The machine name TRF502X (tentative) Please follow tuned!

http://www.tamiya.com/trf/images/trf...0/jm_off_3.jpg

Good stuff, same shells and shock towers in the pics, hope thats true for the kit as it saves on spares etc!!

Mentions batteries, hope to god it's lipo compatible from the start, I am not serious about dremels!!

Anyone spot the 201 slipper on the item list for the show, wonder what's going on there!?

If the "tentative" release is a base model 201, then the slipper would just be an option for that.

Maybe getting a bit ahead of myself now, but it's possible that Tamiya intend to make the 201 a mass market chassis as well, rather like the DB01/501 relationship.

Prediction: shaft-drive, geared-diff cars will be THE car to have in 2011.

From any manufacturer you care to choose!

Hmmm... I think this is a wise decision from Tamiya, both the 2- and 4WD cars are now going to sell big!

It'll be the 2nd "no brainer" after AE B4 & B44... can't go wrong there!

I don't know if the pic is visible here (it is an attachment at rctech forums here).

http://www.rctech.net/forum/attachme...183-trf502.jpg

About the Model
-Highly durable chassis consists of carbon fiber upper and lower decks and utilizes many aluminum
parts.
-Features an optimized weight distribution designed to match lightweight, block-shaped batteries.
-Shaft-driven 4WD system with the front-mid motor in a longitudinal position offers superb stability
and handling.
-Uses the TRF511’s proven suspension system.
-Kit also includes:
Front/Rear Carbon Fiber Damper Stays
Front/Rear Aluminum Suspension Mounts
Front/Rear Large Ball Differentials
Spur Gear with Built-In Slipper Clutch
Aeration Dampers
Front/Rear Universal Propeller Shafts
Full Ball Bearings

Just to add to the poorly translated piece above, it mentions the use of the suspension geometry knowhow gained from the 511 and optimised design for Brushless and square shaped batteries.

It seems its designed for LiFe/LiPo use already.

edit wasn't refereing to mofs post which seemed to appear as I was typing this.