Vyger, I checked out the mods and upper plates and about double-side taping the battery. Not too worried about it. Doubt I'd be in contention for a podium, even if I had a carpet specific chassis.

Robk, the F104W GP is discontinued and hunting for a limited edition chassis is a painful, time consuming, and often expensive proposition. Also, I would need to pick up a narrow F104 front end/kingpins/etc. for TCS, as the wide setup is not allowed. Then if I ran the wide setup at TQ, would need the retro high profile tire sets and an old-school body (even if I'm not fast, I want it to look right. Hahaha).

This is where I bought my cars from
http://rc-art.net/product_eng/4950344842629
$225 + shipping

Whoa, thanks Robk, great resource! Hmmm... same price as TRF102 at Tower right now... So many decisions, too little money

WOOHoo!

Just ordered me a TRF102 from Tower (used the coupon) and got it for $229.96 shipped!!

I love me some T-bar F1's. Guess I'll be retiring the TRF101 and focusing on the Lightning FX and the TRF102 now!!

I have read through this thread and have seen many of the upgrades people chose... I'll be running on medium bite carpet, what are some "necessary" upgrades I'll want for that surface??

Thanks in advance!

medium bite carpet... the only necessary upgrade I would recommend is the Bezerk T-bar
Save your Tamiya ones for TCS events.

Sweet, thanks Markus!! I'll definitely have to order a couple of those.

I'm already chompin'at the bit to get this thing - looking at decal sets and bodies right now - man, I have a problem. . .

These usually don't break, so 1 of each will do ya (1.5 and 1.8) plus getting 2 helps justify the shipping. Good Luck.

The stock 1.8mm t-bar should be good for the rug and is fairly durable. I would suggest getting a few softer center springs for tuning and carry a spare t-bar and the front arm plastic parts tree. $20 worth of spares and tuning parts is all you really need to keep in rolling after a bad crash and tune for track condition.

Mark

Thanks Mark!! Great suggestions, appreciate the advice. I'll definitely order a set of front arms. and good idea about the shock springs… I even have a few from my 101 and 104's.

Thanks guys, now I just need the thing to get here already.

which is better car trf 101 or trf 102?

If you're running on carpet, the Lightning FX. Honestly, I haven't even run the 102 yet. No need. With the FX, it's better than the 101 which is supposedly better than the 102, on carpet anyway.

I'm a huge Tamiya fan so will get the 102 running at some point - but I don't even have gear in it right now. Our carpet track is small, and no one run's F1 at the moment so I just take it (FX/101) out a couple times a month and run some laps.

Sorry, I'm no help.

I find it kinda amusingly ironic that Tamiya builds (and advertises it as) a car aimed at the average low grip car park track and then some people are surprised (and sometimes quite negative about) the fact it doesn't work well on carpet and needs lots of mods to make it even close to competitive with other brands...

On low grip asphalt its one of the best cars I've run but then I've only run a 103, a (heavily modded) 3Racing 109 and the 102...

I wasn't trying to be negative (even though you apparently took it that way) about the carpet thing - I love Tamiya cars and have 16 of their kits [that I currently own, not including the ones I've passed along] and will always have an affinity for them.

He asked which is better. Not which is better for "blank" type of surface. As such, they are for low grip parking lot racing and honestly, I think either would be ok for that, actually as you say, they would be great for that. I would put my completely "hopped-up" F104 against a 101 or 102 any day.

I run on carpet right now and just threw that in there as I have recent experience with that type of surface. Again, wasn't trying to be negative, or misleading. But, if he is racing on carpet - there are better options.

To bigb11:
If you're running the car outside on a prepared asphalt or unprepared parking lot track - TRF102.
If you're running on the rug - TRF101.
Are you going to race at a local track? Maybe go see what people are running there. You could also get advice from racers at your specific track.

Hope that helps, and good luck.
[by the way, thanks for the micro Corvette bodies - I've got one painted up, looks great!]

I need af1 for parking lot racing ,which would be better trf 101 or trf 102?

imo, let me say again, In My Opinion, go with the 102.