Trf502??

[scotty]

I've been told to wait before thinking about buying a 4WD off roader as Tamiya are set to unveil their next chassis at the tokyo hobby show in october. Talk is it's a shaft drive machine. They just won the Euros 2WD and 4WD and i thought they'd stick with the belt drive design mmm
Scotty

[Dom]

Scott - I think the "magic date" will be very close to mid-Oct. No more clues...

As soon as the news is "out", I'll do my best to hunt down a pic and post it here.
Now we've got to post the pic here - not just a link.

Consider yourself "challenged"... LOL!!!!

[scotty]

part num Tam 42183, now thinking this'll have gear diffs after speaking to the man in the know. Mmmm

[Dom]

And now it looks like the TRF417 will be released at the same time.

I'm assuming that Tamiya have had these things in development for months now - the TRF502 since the Euros in Bilbao (or the aborted Worlds in SA). Bet they never thought it'd win another Euros this year! Big embarrasment as Tamiya will have planned this launch for quite a while now, and Lee's win has caused all these questions (mostly why?!)

50th ALL JAPAN PLAMODEL HOBBY SHOW is where they're both going to be shown, apparently.

[scotty]

Yeah bit of a predicament Dom, win the euros with the belt drive car and then get all geared up for releasing a shaft drive car . Taken from oople, 2 TRF502 chassis running at the JMRCA and doing really well going by the report.

[scotty]

Not the best pic but getting the general idea.
Scotty

[Dom]

Close, but no cigar - still part of the rumour-mill.
But first blood to you - if it turns out to be the beast (100%!) then I'll give you the credit.

Although the challenge really should have been more accurate - got to be the "real deal" and naked (nae shells!)

[Dom]

Now, this is a link...
link (http://www.tamiya.com/trf/content/blogsection/6/191/)

[scotty]

Dom settle pal, not looking for credit or interested in a race big yin. Just passing on what i was shown pal, looks interesting. Same geometry as the 511, totally torn between the 2 lol. Great link by the way pal.

[Dom]

No problem Scott - I'm just playing.
I'm just too competitive!!! (re: Sick)

Pondering myself. Will obviously give the "shaft" the once over and probably stick one in the bag for next year. I'll wait to see what level I'm playing next year.

I mean, if it's 2&4WD on the same day again, then I'll not be playing with both cars on the same day again. It's just too much.

If I enter the Nationals next year, then yeah, maybe I'll run four cars - TRF201/AC201GTO and then the TRF511/TRF502 (502 name is "only probable" at present).

Have to see how funds go. I could buy it, but what's the point? If I don't race it, it'll be a bloody shelf-queen and I can't stand that. I've never seen the point of people buying ANY car (real or otherwise) just to look at it. A picture does that!

And it'll be up to running, to see if the 502 will bring anything majorly +ve to the party. I'm sure the 511 will be able to lap almost as quickly, probably quicker depending on conditions. So not sure spending hundreds of pounds replacing half my spares, and the 511, just to achieve the same?

I'm dying to see it, but will be waiting to see what others can do with it, before I make any decision...

[Dan]

The way I look at it, whether it's shaft or belt driven they all crash the same and break if I hit the jump wrong or clash with another speedy racer! :)

But seriously I love my shaft drive ZX5FS (as you know!)

4WD off road, I'll buy shaft drive every time and 4WD on road, I'll buy belt drive every time. Easy peasy ;)

Dan :cool:

[scotty]

That's what i'm thinking Dan but the 511's a lovely piece of kit. Had a good look at Doms and it's really nice and still very capable.

[Dan]

That's what i'm thinking Dan but the 511's a lovely piece of kit. Had a good look at Doms and it's really nice and still very capable.

See your point Scotty, the Tamiya cars are all very pretty and obviously capable

[Dom]

Looks like a number of clues are pointing at a Tamiya policy of either creating cars slightly lower spec than the current TRF201 & TRF511, or in parallel.

The show is to highlight 3 new cars, but the "201 basic" will be a stripped down 201. Therefore it then looks like the 502 might be thought of as the same or just a parallel option. TRF417 looks like the only upgrade, IMO.

Much like my theory on mid or rear motored 2WD, belt or shaft drive will maybe favour different surfaces, and depending on where you are, will dictate what you want to use to get the best times.

Speak to a F1 engineer - if they didn't have rules preventing it, they'd have 5 or 6 different chassis, so they could compete at the various circuits they go to. If they allowed it, all the teams would have to do that, if for instance Ferrari did it, they'd all have to.

So I'm starting to think that this car isn't as much about a replacement for the 511 (hence it would have been called the 512 or 521? & there are other clues) but as an alternative to pick up if conditions suit it. Then at least Tamiya's TRF team and the brand win. Does it matter to "sales" which specific model (or for that matter driver?) wins?

I think this is a big assault on the Worlds. Durango will know it's coming... Vassa - July - 2011...

And I hate to say this, but Losi are preparing a new stable of 10th off-road cars. Don't know if Losi are still capable, but their new cars are coming...

[Dan]

Ooh new Losi's, now that IS interesting!! Any pics?

[Dave]

Developed by the world championship winning Tamiya Racing Factory team, Tamiya have announced the arrival of the TRF502X. This 1/10th scale buggy sports a conventional layout and shape which features a shaft driven 4wd system as well as carbon fibre chassis, top decks & damper stays as well as an aluminium motor mount which has been designed with the best possible shape and strength. Large durable front and rear ball differentials enable excellent power transmission and when used in conjunction with a brushless motor and a LiPo battery, the TRF502X with its shaft drive set up and high-speed layout design, is perfect for technical tracks. Expect a November release in the USA.

http://www.redrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/TamiyaTRF502X-1-400x297.jpg

More... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RedRc/~3/Mzl5-9Uk_Zc/)

[scotty]

Not as much blue bling as i was expecting but still a dam fine looking Tamiya buggy, now the hard part, Shaft or Belt??????
Scotty

[hann42]

Not as much blue bling as i was expecting but still a dam fine looking Tamiya buggy, now the hard part, Shaft or Belt??????
Scotty

Looked like a D4

[KC]

Just going from what I have heard Scotty, you always prefer the shaft.

[scotty]

Lmao ya cheeky beggar lol.

[Dom]

Video!!!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZOXR5JtIzo)

[Dom]

Some photos from the stand at the Tamiya show...
http://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/42183.jpg
http://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/42183_2.jpghttp://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/42183_3.jpg
http://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/42183_4.jpghttp://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/42183_5.jpg

Plus some extra screen grabs from Tamiya Live video...
http://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/TRF502-dis-1.jpghttp://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/TRF502-dis-2.jpghttp://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/TRF502-dis-3.jpg

AND an extra special spot - similar disassembled pic of the new TRF417 parts...
http://nesystems.dyndns.org/TRF502/TRF417-dis-1.jpg

[raymondkerr]

Looks nice, but why the heck would they show it on display with NiMH cells installed. ? weird.

[Dom]

I know.
I immediately saw that and started wondering if this car has really been designed for Lipos, from stage one. I don't suspect it is, and I'll probably be piling weight into the back of the 502 as well.

I'm going to do some testing with the 511 with lighter rear springs - see if I can get rid of what should be unnecessary brass/lead...

[scotty]

26TH November is release day. Roll on Roll on. Gonna be BRAW.
Scotty....