DT02 MS - TRF?
 

Whilst I don't believe for a second this is a top level competition car - doesn't the TRF sticker usually mean it is? I assume its the DT02 chassis but with all the hop up parts - like the shocks which aren't as good as the 501X shocks, and the steel turnbuckles with random alloy bits stuck on.


http://www.tamiya.com/japan/news/new...es/49475_l.jpg

from that pic, its the exact same DT02 with the difference in shocks, turnbuckles, rear tire and a TRF paint job on a sandviper body.

i don't think that there are much changes and if this is going to be tamiya's TRF 2WD, i'll say its shameless!

they just blinged up a DT02, thats all, you just can't convert a DT02 into a race car, period, I got one to try last year. I seen one with one-off machined alloy steering arms, but thats it.

That looks to me like they have done to the DT02 like they have done to the majority of the touring car range and made an R version.

if the modifications in this DT02 was inspired by Maezumi Satoshi, then it could mean something since it says DT02MS

no, seriously, I have had one, and without redesigning the whole car... you can't make it into a 'racing' buggy, this is just a marketing excercise, that is all.

just a thought.....

the DF03 Dark Impact is like "prequel" to the 501X
maybe this DT02MS is going to be the same case (marketing exercise) before they finally put out the actual TRF2WD

i have a DT02 too and its a great buggy to bash around with, even in stock form.

DF03 was not a prequel to the 501x. It was an evolution to the TA01 based buggies development that was abruptly put into hiatus after Top Force Evolution failed to bring Tamiya at least in the A Main of the 1990s World Championship.

In its place was the now cancelled Neo Shot twin belt drive car which would have been a contender have they continued its development.

Tamiya has always been associated with shaft driven since its first 4wd car was introduced in early 1980s (aka Hotshot) and was afraid that by going onto belt drive, it would drove away most loyal customers who fell in love with the shaft driven in the first place. This was partially true because when they launched DF03, I believe a lot of people jumped on the bandwagon (excluding me...but I will joining that bandwagon soon) and bought Dark Impact because it was different that what everyone was offering not to mention...it was pretty darn good for small money albeit for a few fixable flaws.

I think Tamiya got it backwards in a way with the 501x by how DB01/Durga was announced about more than six months after the introduction of 501x. This is more in line to how Tamiya releases its touring cars where the fully clad TRF comes out first followed by its "Vanilla" version for it which was how 414M to TA04 and 415 to TA05.

Dark Impact
 

I wondered about a Dark Impact as i cant afford the new Accocaited RC10 B44. What are the fixable flaws?. Do you think I would be better delaying till I can afford the Assoc model?

yes, wait. the money you will spend fixing the floors will add up to the same as a B44, and still not be as competitive.

Dark Impact
 

Thanks, Thats what I was thinking. Will look for the best deal when they are out. I hear it will be October now. Wonder who does OAP deals??

For such a SWB car, the rear driveshafts and arms swing back way too far. The could have made the motor space bigger at least or laid the running dear down lower.

Elliott.

The DT02MS is a fully hopped up DT02 chassis. The TRF stickers are there because the MS stands for Maezumi Satoshi and the paint scheme is a replica of his car, which includes the TRF stickers everywhere. It's a limited edition model but it's hard to tell whether the MS replica paint scheme body is prepainted - my Japanese is none existent but web translations do hint at it.

Alloy shocks, ball diff, UJs, turnbuckles, ballraced, motor heatsink (on the 540!) Priced with an rrp of 21000yen, expect to find it in Japan for £60 so very good value for money, but obviously not designed for the serious racer.