Tamiya TRF418
#1921
Tech Champion
iTrader: (34)
Any place to still pick up a NIB 418 at a good price now that the 419 is so close?
I love this car. For you watch people it is like if Timex and Breitling had a baby. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking while the fit, finish and precision is amazing.
I got pounded yesterday by folks running into me and the car just kept running to finish the main. There were other brands (won't mention them) that barely got hit and were out of the race.
I love this car. For you watch people it is like if Timex and Breitling had a baby. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking while the fit, finish and precision is amazing.
I got pounded yesterday by folks running into me and the car just kept running to finish the main. There were other brands (won't mention them) that barely got hit and were out of the race.
If you really have your heart set on one
There is a guy in Socal that's had a bnib 418 listed for a while now
#1922
Tech Elite
iTrader: (77)
Certainly don't hear comments like this often about 41X cars
If you really have your heart set on one
There is a guy in Socal that's had a bnib 418 listed for a while now
If you really have your heart set on one
There is a guy in Socal that's had a bnib 418 listed for a while now
Thanks.
#1925
I'm tempted to hang onto mine as a slower class car / parts grabber - few races a year where 21.5t is required - but that would also mean a new motor/speedo/servo etc.
And the only parts that will interchange are plastics which are a)cheap and b)wear items. Can't even keep it sitting there with stuff like shocks and diffs ready to go.
What would a rebuilt used one go for realistically? 250? 300?
And the only parts that will interchange are plastics which are a)cheap and b)wear items. Can't even keep it sitting there with stuff like shocks and diffs ready to go.
What would a rebuilt used one go for realistically? 250? 300?
#1927
Tech Elite
iTrader: (8)
I think all the 41X series sedans are great handling cars, especially in 13.5 and 17.5 racing classes. Like it's predecessors, the 418 is without a doubt a competitive chassis in these classes.
I think people are so quick to judge and we should step back and realize the chassis handling issues were noticeable during super highly competitive modified races. In reality, especially in North America, most of us wont be running at such high speeds or up against such competition. The chassis you have now is fine, it does the job. Yes, it might break from time to time but that's inevitable.
Enjoy the 418 chassis, it's truly a work of art and engineering all wrapped in one.
... ps. I own a BD7 and find the 418 more aesthetically pleasing than my current chassis. I bet they would both handle the same at the speeds i"m running.
I think people are so quick to judge and we should step back and realize the chassis handling issues were noticeable during super highly competitive modified races. In reality, especially in North America, most of us wont be running at such high speeds or up against such competition. The chassis you have now is fine, it does the job. Yes, it might break from time to time but that's inevitable.
Enjoy the 418 chassis, it's truly a work of art and engineering all wrapped in one.
... ps. I own a BD7 and find the 418 more aesthetically pleasing than my current chassis. I bet they would both handle the same at the speeds i"m running.
#1928
Tech Champion
iTrader: (34)
I think all the 41X series sedans are great handling cars, especially in 13.5 and 17.5 racing classes. Like it's predecessors, the 418 is without a doubt a competitive chassis in these classes.
I think people are so quick to judge and we should step back and realize the chassis handling issues were noticeable during super highly competitive modified races. In reality, especially in North America, most of us wont be running at such high speeds or up against such competition. The chassis you have now is fine, it does the job. Yes, it might break from time to time but that's inevitable.
Enjoy the 418 chassis, it's truly a work of art and engineering all wrapped in one.
... ps. I own a BD7 and find the 418 more aesthetically pleasing than my current chassis. I bet they would both handle the same at the speeds i"m running.
I think people are so quick to judge and we should step back and realize the chassis handling issues were noticeable during super highly competitive modified races. In reality, especially in North America, most of us wont be running at such high speeds or up against such competition. The chassis you have now is fine, it does the job. Yes, it might break from time to time but that's inevitable.
Enjoy the 418 chassis, it's truly a work of art and engineering all wrapped in one.
... ps. I own a BD7 and find the 418 more aesthetically pleasing than my current chassis. I bet they would both handle the same at the speeds i"m running.
They are very pretty cars, that work well
#1929
I think fit and finish are part of the equation (okay, finish more for aesthetics), but one aspect which may be considered part of the precision is tolerance and I find this is not on par with the 418. Tolerance is not tight enough to ensure things don't shift around, and I found on my chassis, the split suspension blocks have to be realigned very carefully if disturbed (say when adding/taking out shims), otherwise you can end up with wild problems (like unequal toe). This is not okay in my view. Tamiya now provide a different design split block for the 419, (like the Yokomo one) so I guess I'm not the only one who noticed the problem. Even the single blocks can move around a bit enough to require careful tightening down for a play free suspension assembly.
There are other areas that need attention in my view, such as the bulkheads, the shock towers, the servo and motor mounts. Locating keys are useless if they allow that much movement. Not to mention adding to the cost of manufacture for no benefit. These need to have tighter tolerances (probably more expensive), or could use a better design with inserted steel pins captured by (grub)screws (hopefully cheaper if they would cleverly use screws already there) or interference captured steel pins in one of the mating parts.
The Avid from Robitronic comes to mind as a good example of very tight tolerance and brilliant locating keys that properly did their job.
There are other areas that need attention in my view, such as the bulkheads, the shock towers, the servo and motor mounts. Locating keys are useless if they allow that much movement. Not to mention adding to the cost of manufacture for no benefit. These need to have tighter tolerances (probably more expensive), or could use a better design with inserted steel pins captured by (grub)screws (hopefully cheaper if they would cleverly use screws already there) or interference captured steel pins in one of the mating parts.
The Avid from Robitronic comes to mind as a good example of very tight tolerance and brilliant locating keys that properly did their job.
#1930
Tech Elite
iTrader: (77)
+1 on the tighter tolerances. The 418 is amazing to me. I just got back into on road and years ago when I was dabbling in on road I had a TC6.1. I just didn't know any better. Coming from off road I just thought slight slop was normal. My 418 is tight and when adjust things you can get them perfect and they stay perfect. The 6.1 could wiggle .5mm all day long. It does make a difference.
Most people at our track either have Tamiya or the BD7 and they seem both very great cars.
Most people at our track either have Tamiya or the BD7 and they seem both very great cars.
#1931
Tech Fanatic
can we run a gear diff infront ? what parts do i need?
#1934
Tech Fanatic
thanks for the diff part number, will be running the stock 116t gear on a none boost 13.5t motor, should i go with 30T or 29t? on a small out door tight track
#1935
Much too long, you need to be about in the 4's for 13.5 non boosted.
You won't achieve it with the stock (116t) spur.