511 or 502?

[Aussie Top Force]

Hi everyone,

I've decided to rejoin the R/C Racing world after a 15-year absence. I've decided to go with Tamiya as every man and his dog in Australia has Team Associated cars! I was one of a few that ran a Top Force back in the early 1990's here in Aus as well. Thus going back out there with Tamiya will be history repeating etc etc, alass the Tamiya's today look a whole lot more competitive!

For 2wd the 201 is a no brainer, but for 4wd there is the 511 and 502. I have run both shaft driven and belt cars in the past and have no real preference, except for rear diffs in belt cars swallowing dust!

In the end it comes down to the most reliant and well performing chassis. Can anyone give me some pluses and minuses about there 511's and 502's.

I ask the question as the TRF Drivers are still running 511's after the 502 was released 12 months ago and Lee Martin in his blog prefers the handling of the 511. Can anyone explain the handling differences between the cars?

Regards

David

[rcaddict]

If you can find a TRF511 buy it, otherwise wait for DB02 to be released sometime next year if you can wait.

[DaveG28]

511 if you can find it, otherwise 502...get a db02 for fun but not if you want to win!! They will make everyone look twice though!!

[Origineelreclamebord]

Originally Posted by DaveG28

511 if you can find it, otherwise 502...get a db02 for fun but not if you want to win!! They will make everyone look twice though!!

Maybe they'll get so distracted from the DB02 that you can get a head start?

Anyway, I'd definetely go for a 511, imo it has proven itself more than the 502, plus, it's more of a Tamiya than the 502. Not to mention there are some 502 parts that seem to break easily (or so I read, like the gear casings) but are quite expensive and hard to find...

[DavidAMS]

for offroad racing in oz then i think the 502x would be good...

[muratti]

I run Tamiya since 1992 and have both driven the 511 and 502X. Although i can´t say really negative things about the 502X the 511 is my weapon of choice. I find it easier to drive and spares are not as hard to get as SOME of the 502X ones. I have to add that i always liked shaft driven cars way more than belt driven but with the Fredrik rear diff cover you won´t have troubles when racing on dirt like you Aussies do i guess? I raced one full season on dirt with my 511 and had no problems with the drivetrain. If you don´t crash really hard the 511 needs just Front and rear arms and their hingepins and some center and diff pulleys.
The 502X has the shafts that wear and they are more expensive than the 511 pulleys.
IF you have thick front arms on the 502X and break them it can be a pain to get the bent hingepin out as well as finding a new one.
This porblem doesn´t happen when breaking a front arm on the 511 as the hingpinmount is different to the 502X. This is just one thing i found out when racing both.
All in all i would prefer the 511 to the 502X, for me it is the more balanced, better jumping, cheaper and better to work on buggy.

[Aussie Top Force]

Originally Posted by muratti

I run Tamiya since 1992 and have both driven the 511 and 502X. Although i can´t say really negative things about the 502X the 511 is my weapon of choice. I find it easier to drive and spares are not as hard to get as SOME of the 502X ones. I have to add that i always liked shaft driven cars way more than belt driven but with the Fredrik rear diff cover you won´t have troubles when racing on dirt like you Aussies do i guess? I raced one full season on dirt with my 511 and had no problems with the drivetrain. If you don´t crash really hard the 511 needs just Front and rear arms and their hingepins and some center and diff pulleys.
The 502X has the shafts that wear and they are more expensive than the 511 pulleys.
IF you have thick front arms on the 502X and break them it can be a pain to get the bent hingepin out as well as finding a new one.
This porblem doesn´t happen when breaking a front arm on the 511 as the hingpinmount is different to the 502X. This is just one thing i found out when racing both.
All in all i would prefer the 511 to the 502X, for me it is the more balanced, better jumping, cheaper and better to work on buggy.

Thanks, thats the detail I was looking for!