has anything come of the 'evo' prototype that ishy was running?

I think they are still developing it - though with this beast possibly just around the corner who knows.

i'm not sure about this description the prototypes all apear to use B4 & losi wheels the usa description states

Includes Tamiya wheels, transparent body, wing and TRF markings

i do hope this car and the new hot bodies will take yokomo as an example and adopt a wheel design that is compatible with the allready established losi front and losi/B4 rear design. This will mean many more people would have the option to change chassis without having to spend extra money on new wheels.

Terry do you mean this car.

Hopefully you should see it running at the indoor series if not before.

The car has been going well on the testing we've done lately

The wheels in the attached tumbnail look like the ones on the DarkImpakt.
In the US description i think they wrote that are dishwheels attached.

If the wheelsize is the same as the one from the DF03 chassis they won't fit on other cars.
But other wheels will fit on the Tamiya chassis. I have Kyosho wheels from my Lazer ZX-5 on an DarkImpact and they fit very well.

The wheels do look like the same as impact wheels - I wasnt aware there were white versions avaialble - but then again ive utterly overlooked the impact and mine still sits untouched on the toyroom floor! :)

I don't think its very clear what the final 501X will look like, never mind what wheels it will have - I wouldn't mind losi style or tamiya/kyosho hex.

they will be DF03 wheels I beleive, and the Kyosho wheels will fit, but will make the car too wide.

Jim, what you doing with the DF03, and KM-RC have the conversion up on their site now.... I could always do a conversion reveiw for you...

mr west, will it be available in any sort of form?

I think if i had the choice, i'd rather have that to the 501.:o

is it based on the evo4 or 5?

Where did you get that pic ?

It seems like in that pic, not only are the wheels from a DI - suggesting Tamiya is going to use it's hexes - but the shocks look like genuine Tamiya TRF shocks, not some AE/Yokomo copies. I would prefer the TRF shocks (best shocks ever) so that's a good thing.

I also have the impression that the body differs from previous pics. Anone else noticed that ?

Stefke - that pic of is mike (and pro-racings) own car, they are designing and building it themselves from mainly Tamiya components

That explains a lot. Looks good for a private project.

Shame about the shocks. I REALLY like those TRF shocks and I'm a bit fed up with Associated shocks.

Jimmy, looks like I'm going to be another early TRF501 owner. Thanks ;)

nice one
Most of the photos show the 501x using Associated shocks, but the new Tamiya shocks (like those for the impact) look very similar but I would imagine are up to Tamiyas high standards. so I would guess those will be included with the car.


heres some large images of the prototype - I would imagine all the non-tamiya parts will be gone by now.
http://www.rc-champ.co.jp/49401_c.JPG
http://www.rc-champ.co.jp/49401_a.JPG

TRF501X and Rheinard could be a tough combination!
I wondered why all of a sudden he was racing buggies, and he has driven quite a few different cars in the past 2 years (Durango, BJ4) so I imagine it was actually R & D..

Hara was running a Durango also, now Hot Bodies have a shaft drive car out, go figure???

Dunno how many times I'm gonna say it, but it's great to see all these cars coming out. :afro:

Totally "inspired by" but nice all the same. I will test how strong it is, I will have to sell it after I review it but I'll give it some beating first.

Now that I've sold my ZX5 (I never got along with that car) I'm returning to a belter. As far as I know, I have the following options :

• The XX4 : I never liked the layout of the drivetrain so no
• the XXX4 : doesn't seem to work as it should on this side of the pond
• The Yokomo : Looks VERY nice and could be tempted by it, but parts over here are as rare as a unicorn
• So that leaves the new Tamiya. It looks very nice and Tamiya parts are in abundance in shops here or on the internet.

I think those are all the belters available, unless the new HB 4WD truns out to be belt driven, but I seriously doubt that.

I like the XX4 for how it drives but I dislike working on the car. The X-5 is nicer in a lot of ways, maybe worth considering ?

I can't really see this Tamiya being more popular than the Yokomo, but you never know. I just don't think Tamiya UK will support the car in this country.

Right. I totally forgot the X-5. Looks like a nice car and since Losi is the only decently supported brand over here since we lost our AE importer, it's worth a look because of the shared components.

As our dealers here are rather cr*p when it comes to high end stuff, I mostly do my shopping over the net, and the cheap asian shops always support Tamiya stuff.

I wouldn't know where to buy an X-5 here in Belgium. I guess I could order one from Lesro Models in the UK ? I bought the ZX5 there and they seem good people to deal with. How much would an X5 set me back ?

It's just ...... : the TRF looks soooooooo damn good. :D

After seeing ALL Jimmy's photo's I would go with a X-5 or the XX4. The open belt/diff cars seem to exposed for most of you race tracks........
I have got about 30 runs on my BX with lots of crashes and so far all I have broken, well bent was a front shock eyelet. The car is tuff as nails......;) This all on a indoor,dry, hard pack, low grip track.

that looks very simlier to ryans RL-1, custom car he made . . . .

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1042


hummm, cell lay out is different using the 2 -4 layout. i bet this ill be expensive tho

The production version TRF501X is currently displayed at the Hobby Show in Japan. All Tamiya now...suspension, dampers etc. Tamiya wheels with Losi front hex and Associated style rear.

Here are some pics.

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/hobbysho...hoto/49401.jpg
http://www.tamiya.com/japan/hobbysho...to/49401_3.jpg
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/prs/SANY0112.JPGhttp://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/prs/SANY0108.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/prs/SANY0120.JPGhttp://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/prs/SANY0111.JPG


More here:

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/hobbysho...ews1.htm#49401
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/prs-1.htm
http://www.hobby-one.co.jp/hobby/ta.html