peter_robinson

iTrader: (21)

yes the chassis flexes more than the possible movement of the shocktower, but you gotta remember, the chassis flexes back...

if the carbon shock tower pops during a race, it's not gonna pop back until you get arround to fixing it. that's why i run the plastic towers.

peter

peter_robinson

iTrader: (21)

the carbon shock towers have the same number of possible camber link positions as the plastic towers...

and i simply said that the modena body is the best because when running TCS there is no weight limmit, and when i was running, it was the only body offered in lightweight form.

it aslo has the best downforce of all tamiya bodies (as tested in the February 2003 issue of R/C World Magazine)

it has 5g of front downforce, and 101g of rear downforce...

the altezza was not listed because it had to much drag.

peter

peter_robinson

iTrader: (21)

i can't say what the body of choice is over there right now...but when i was at the worlds, there were alot of people running the NSX, both new and old style.

but i wouldn't use that race to judge wether or not the body is good, because that race is run on carpet, with no traction additives allowed. Joven Madriaga from the US team used a Corvette almost all of the way through qualifying, and the japanese were amazed to see that that body was working, because they almost never use the corvette over there.

peter

jackhammer74

last year I ran the R34 for TCS, it's kinda beat up now so I was thinking of running The CLK DTM I won in a raffle last year, any thoughts from the experts on this body?

Mike F

good luck, and let us know how you do.

lots of good information on the bodies, keep it coming. Every little gram does count

linger

iTrader: (1)

Peter!
How's it going Mr. national champ?
I agree with Peter. On my previous TA04-R, the carbon shock towers had a nasty habbit of shifting causing a suspension tweak. I used countersunk screws to fix this. The TCS officials didn't mind or notice this.
On my new Ta04-R, I stuck with the plastic towers. I also weighed them. They weigh no more than the carbon ones. The plastic front weighs less and the plastic rear weighs more, they average to be about the same.

Since everyone is talking about bodies, here's my opinion, and I've tried them all.

360 lightweight Modena - very well balanced with decent turn in. Very prone to getting tucked under both rear and on the sides. Also very fragile.

R34 Skyline - Similar to Ferrari but with slightly less steering. Very stable.

Altezza - TONS of turn in. Great for outdoor tracks but not as good for Tamiya's Aliso Viejo track. I've used this body in So-Cal pro-mod with good success. The twitchy nature of this body makes it hard to carve the Tamiya curves smoothly. This body is also really wide - like 200mm. It's tall, but you won't notice the drag.

DTM Mercedes - pushes like a dump truck.

New NSX - haven't tried this one yet, but EJ set the fastest laps with this body at TCS Hayward. Looks like a ton of steering.

izzyracer

iTrader: (27)

Anybody's thought's on the up coming TA04-TRF?
Close-up spy pictures? Anyone?

eeyan

iTrader: (3)

Izzyracer...

So, when is "our" shipment coming in... =) Can't wait to get my hands on this car, I just hope the tub works though... or we're screwed up... LOL

Mike F

There's some pictures on the Settings 04R thread of the TRF version.

So linger, your using the graphite towers, based on the comment you made about using counter sunk screws to fix the problem. Using the counter sunk screws would make the car illegal in GT2 and GT3?

My line of thinking on the graphite towers is toughness. The graphite towers should hold up better then the plastic ones

izzyracer

iTrader: (27)

eeyan,

It say's newly develop suspension blocks...yikes!

From Tamiya
High performance TA04-R chassis' capabilities have been further improved. The chassis has been lightened thanks to various option parts such as the newly designed front one-way unit, a rear differential joint and swing shaft. To achieve top performance, TRF dampers (fluorine coated), newly developed suspension block and front stabilizers have been mounted.

It might be a gamble to use it for GT2!

peter_robinson

iTrader: (21)

to tell you the truth mike, there is really no problem with durability of the plastic towers, but here is my ultimate solution to your delema... get both, and figure out what you personally like better.

linger- i'm assuming this is ling kang tong..? if it is, it's going great. you should send me an email and let me know whats up!

Mike F

That's basically what I'm going to do.

Are you running both one ways?

linger

iTrader: (1)

I used the graphite towers last year with the countersunk screws last year at TCS. They were tamiya countersunk screws, and nobody complained. If you must use the screws that came with the towers, I suggest filling the graphite tower shock holes with CA to decrease the diameter.

I've never seen a TA04 shock tower break. I think the bulkheads would bend way before the tower would snap. I have seen 414 shock towers break though.

linger

iTrader: (1)

I'm curious how Tamiya is gonna price that one. As it is, there isn't much of a price gap between a 414M2 (265 at speedtech) and a TA04-R (210 at speedtech). If they price it more than an 04-R, then it will be really close in pricing to a 414.

I wonder if the newly developed suspension blocks will fit a tub chassis 04-R....do I need new bulkheads too?? since the current suspension block lock into the current bulkheads?

Difuser

iTrader: (2)

Thats a great solution Ling

If you are not countersinking the graphite then the screw would be OK

I countersunk the graphite on the EVO to eliminate that problem

D