Monster TLT and Tamtech Buggy Champ

[Jchung]

Just finished working on these two RC's. Everything is fine except one minor problem that I overlooked. I relocated the receiver on the tamtech, and the body is just hanging on the edge of the RX case. So the body is slightly off angle. No biggie, I will wait until tomorrow to fix it. Then I might start on the Hotshot after.

Although the TLT is complete (finally!), it is still in its testing stage. Originally, I planned to use a sub-c 4 cell 2x2 configuration for the truck, but it was too big. Right now, I found that the Mini-T pack is perfect fit. But I am not sure if it will provide enough power for the 13T motor. If it even moves it, then I am satisfied. Of course, then I will need a matched pack for, hopefully, better performance.

For the tamtech, I am going to order a few goodies for it later. Right now I am looking at a set of alloy shocks, blue wheel washers, blue motor plate with clear cover, steel outdrives, and a new body. The wheel washers on it right now are from the Minizilla. Another mod I did was relocating the antenna. In stock form, it sticks out from the roof (see the hole). But since the original rough rider had the antenna coming out from the motor cage, I decided to do something like that too. So I fabbed a piece out of shapelock (good stuff!) to mount the antenna on the rear. I think it looks a lot better. I am going to go with blue color for this buggy.

 

[kjr2]

That TLT is the sickest!!!! AWESOME little rig!

 

[Jchung]

Thanks!!! I gotta get a pic of it with the cut clear body tomorrow, need to ream out the antenna hole. I need some ideas for a paintjob, then I'll decide if I want to paint it myself or get it custom painted. Right now, I am just thinking of purple lightning on a black body.:tmb

Just noticed that the TLT took me almost a year to complete. Started the day before school started, and now I have only 3 more weeks before back to school.:ack

 

[4wdmt]

lets run those little critters! they look nice. I agree with Kjr, that tlt is sick!

 

[Jchung]

I just tested out the buggy champ in my room to make sure it works fine. Very smooth transmission. Only thing I changed is a HPI steel 11T pinion for the brushless motor. I am running the mamba25 with 8k motor on 6 cells. I will give its first run outside tomorrow. :tami

 

[William]

great little rides, and I remember when you started the TLT, very little tamiya left now.

 

[Jchung]

Thanks Will!

I just gave the Buggy Champ a run outside on the pavement. The buggy is really smooth, handles really well even with the stock spring shocks. Another thing that I found surprising is that I actually LIKE the stock spring shocks. I LOVE how it bounces up and down...like the vintage stuff:tmb

The gearing could go down a little I would say. The mamba is not even warm. The stock pinion with the stock motor is 16T. I thought since I am going to a higher RPM motor (mamba 8k), I would drop the pinion down. I am using a 11T right now. There is a lot of torque, but I feel that it could certainly go faster. Going to order a 12T and 13T from liquidRC now, love the 99 cent shipping!:tmb

Next up: TLT first run.:tong

 

[Jchung]

Gave the TLT a run right before dinner. I am surprised that it even moved. The battery pack is a stock Losi MLST 6 cell 2/3A pack and the motor is a Hara 13x1. It sort of felt like a 19T in a TLT. I am going to get a better Mini-T config pack for it later. The battery pack is perfect fit in the front compartment, so I don't know what else I could go with.

Handling was better than I thought. Since the front/rear diffs are unlocked, the turning radius was very small. The suspension movement was surprisingly smooth. But runtime was not that good. I probably had around 5 minutes.:bang

Then I ran the buggy champ again. MAN! What a difference in speed lol! Flipped it on its lid a few times. The top lights popped off and some cosmetic damage. Also ran into the curb at full speed when I thought there was a car coming, nothing broke though. Tough buggy!

I am addicted to Tamtechs. I think I might pick up a Fox Mini too, always love the look of the Fox. Also for the onroad Tamtechs, a 280ZX is being released next month (along with a gold edition Lunchbox), I want one of each!

 

[william g]

280zx huh, will have to see pics of that. I know a guy used to rally a 280

 

[Rapko]

That TLT changed my whole outlook on minis...Normally I hate'em but that is sweet. :tmb

 

[Jchung]

Thanks Rapko!

Check this out! The gold edition LB!
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=49459

I wish Tamiya makes a Tamtech Avante and Sand Scorcher. I do see a Tamtech Sand Scorcher coming from Tamiya in the future since Tamiya likes to use a chassis with many different bodies. They wouldn't waste their GB02 on just the Buggy Champ.:reye

:tami

 

[blackomen]

That makes me want to get a buggy so bad. You definitely get extra cool points for the rear mounted antenna. Any interference from the motor having the antenna wire run across it, or is that not a problem for brushless?

 

[Jchung]

Nope, I didn't notice any interference with the antenna over the motor. There is a slight "lag" when I let go of the throttle for the buggy to slow down. But I am not sure if that is interference or the side effect of having AM receivers?

 

[Supreme Reign]

I love the scale look of the old school buggies. Current 1:10 and 1:8 stuff is as horrendous as the "trucks." Your TLT temps me to make a stock size version, but I'm addicted to 1:12 and 1:16 scale right now.

 

[Savage03]

Love the buggy champ! I have a wild boar and frog. I want the buggy next. You can run at least a 16 or 17 pinion, I was using a 18 on mine for the street and talk about wicked fast! Would pull the front wheels with ease, now if someone would just make a wheelie bar.

 

[Jchung]

Thanks! I just got some hopups tonight for my buggy champ and dark impact:tami

Oh and I spotted this little guy and just had to have it...going to put it in the back of the F350 for a mini Tamiya mog...maybe add some details like an antenna...and I need to make a mini radio....:rof

I WISH it was really RC, it's 1/87.:drool

 

[Savage03]

Nice buy on the shocks! I hated those stock bouncers, to darn bouncy. The tamiya shocks are way overpriced tho but at the time they were all that was available, no 3R ones. Wonder if 3R will make alum. from arms for the BC?
Couple other upgrades that are worthy are the metal outdrives and 3R cvds. Stay away from the servo saver upgrade, it really doesnt help much.

 

[Jchung]

Thanks Savage, I read a lot of your posts on one18th, very helpful stuff!

About the 3R driveshafts, is it really a necessary? Have you broken the stock ones? I have the metal outdrives on my list of "To Buy" right now too. Actually I think the reason I am not having any problems with the driveshafts and outdrives right now is because I am running such a low pinion (11t), so there is probably not a lot of centrifugal force to warp my outdrives yet.

I also have 3R alloy rear bulkhead, rear shock tower, wheel adaptors and Tamiya alum turnbuckles and wheel collars in blue on the list.

I was going to hopup my stock HotBodies Minizilla before I got the Tamtech. But now the top priority is hopping up the BC:willy

 

[Savage03]

Well with the mamba theirs alot of power going to those axles. I didnt run them long enough to say if they would hold up. They were pretty cheap so I did it plus they come with the purty blue hexes to. Nice the bulkhead! I want that tranny case next to. I just ordered the cover for the servo.
Haha I was gonna say i have tons of info on these on 18th but I dont like to promote other sites and some places have rules about that.

 

[Jchung]

At first I was going to just stick to Tamiya hopups so the buggy will be legible in future Tamiya races. But the 3R stuff are just too pretty!