My Tamiya TT-01 M3 GT2 Build

[rsmamg]

I have decided to post pictures of my Tamiya RC car build for all of those interested in RC cars and specifically the M3 GT2. I will post video as soon as my car is finished and I find a nice smooth surface to let her loose. Enjoy.

Here is my process so far on the M3. Some shots of the body unpainted and what it will look like on the chassis. Also included are pictures of the Radio Control Unit that I will use to drive her around (not the best, actually the cheapest one I could find). I have posted the tools and paints I have and will use throughout the thread. I learn as I go!

[rsmamg]

At this point, I have started my attempt to cut the body out of the lexan it is composed of. This plastic is very difficult to cut with precision. I dont think I have the proper tools to do this neatly. So I have stopped temporarily to seek advice on how to properly cut the body out. I butchered this one a little towards the beginning.

After some tips, I have finished cutting. The body may look a little rough on the edges but it is indeed smooth. It is the plastic protective film that is on the outside of the body that is all roughed up. That will be peeled off as soon as the painting is finished.

The LED's are connected and working! As you can see I just put them in to show you what they look like. They will be secured in the headlight and taillight areas once the painting it finished.

[rsmamg]

It is finally done

But I totally messed up. First of all, I forgot to mask the appropriate places like the windows and headlight/taillight areas. Thus, the LED's will not be visible and pointless

Second of all, I totally F-ed up putting the stickers on. It was not as easy as my last body. Not sure why. The stickers stuck very well and once they were on, they were on! I tried to adjust the windshield sticker and ended up ripping part of it

Overall, it looks pretty decent. The paint turned out very nice. I kinda gave up midway through the sticker process, knowing that I have already ripped 2 of them and the majority were not aligned.

Please dont make fun of it. I was already in a bad mood when I realized I blew it with the LED's. It was quite fun putting this thing together though!

I already ordered a Porsche 911 body on ebay! So I will have another chance.

[DoNDoN]

Where are the pics?
TEASE!

[Poppin Fresh]

I love R/C cars as a hobby and I race them at a local off-road club!

[Epacy2]

Why post with no info/pics????

[Definitive]

Havent you got the box open at least!!!

Im very into the hobby and might just get this one as a shelf queen. Ive got everything from 5th scale buggies to 1/18 scale BMW and Trophy trucks! Helecopters, you name it.

Can wait to see the build. Here are a few of my RC's. Hope this isnt considered a thread jack. I noticed you reserved some posts above, so your build should stay front and center. Just wanted to share my passion with you!

HPI BAJA-






RC18T-








MicroRS4-

[rsmamg]

sorry it took me a while to get the pictures uploaded to photobucket.

there they are! more to come!

[Green///Hell]

I'm so excited to buy this, I haven't built one in years. My last one was a 996 Turbo when they just came out on a Tamiya Electric chassis.

I never use the stock engine that comes with the kits, I don;t know why but I always buy an upgrade

Glad you posted in the other thread had no idea it was out already. Did it come with the lighting or atleast the tire cement for the rims?

[M-Tuned]

omg!! I miss those mini 4WD I had before!!! there was an animation about and I loved it but I forgot the name of it.....

[rsmamg]

The M3 kit does come with LED's, which is nice. I have never put together a kit with LED's so this will be interesting. Also, the kit did not come with tire cement, but I do not think that the cement is necessary.

At least on my older TT-01, the CLK, the tires snuggly fit around the rim. I'll have to see if this one is the same. Im sure it is.

Im actually a little stuck at this point. The pieces are put together but the electronics are a little confusing.

[quality_sound]

Have you thought about something with swappable crystals? I idea Lynx 3D so I only need one controller.

[BaLLzZz]

NICE >>> i have a futuba 3pj in the box BRAND NEW with rechargeable pack. I used it for one race and then got out of the hobby. It supports 8 different rc cars lemme know if anyone interested.

[ooowowizstev]

I am interested. How much does one of those things go for?

[GTM]

Whoa... Now I really want to get one too!!

[ASAringCaptain]

Originally Posted by BaLLzZz

NICE >>> i have a futuba 3pj in the box BRAND NEW with rechargeable pack. I used it for one race and then got out of the hobby. It supports 8 different rc cars lemme know if anyone interested.

So would the new "crystals" come with the new servos for the steering and angle as well?

[jeff@autocouture]

looks great. Where can these be purchased and how much?

[M3ltdown]

that's awesome!


do you know the size of the body?

if it's 200mm, maybe it could fit my HPI Racer!

[03BeastCharmer]

Makes me think of mine.

My old Tamiya Bruiser w/transmission to shift from 2WD, 4Lo, 4Hi, and my Tamiya E30 M3 painted Lac Silber like my g/f M3. I bet the GT2 body would fit on the E30 as it's also a TT-01 I'll test it out for you if you like..

[rsmamg]

Originally Posted by Studntloan

looks great. Where can these be purchased and how much?

Thank you. I was lucky to find a few of these at a local hobby store in california called ultimate hobbies. They do have a website ultimatehobbies.com. I would try there if you cannot find anything local. Also, ebay and amazon do have some last time I checked, but it will be a little more expensive.

The kit itself cost $125. But to get it running you need a 6-cell battery pack, battery charger, Radio Control (which includes servo to turn the wheels left and right and also includes the receiver which you mount inside the car).

Additional cost is minimum $60.

You will also need some paint to spray the body whatever color you would like (Ill do white to match my car) ~$5.

Looking at ~$200 after tax.

HOWEVER,

I have opted to buy tamiya's "hop-up" parts (performance mods) :

Ball bearing set (for the wheels and some gear): $30

New set of wheels with tires: $30

Aluminum drive shaft (for higher speed motors since the plastic stock one just wont cut it): $11

Upgraded 19 turn motor (lower turns are faster ie. 15 turn much faster than 27 turn): ~$40

Summary: $200 will get you the kit up and running and its plenty of fun. If you want to spice it up, there are plenty of aluminum and carbon fiber replacement parts that can run $100's more!

Originally Posted by darwin316

that's awesome!
do you know the size of the body?
if it's 200mm, maybe it could fit my HPI Racer!

Thanks. The size of the body is 190mm. The 200mm would still fit but you might need to do something about the wheels since they would rub a lot when turning. Maybe wheel extenders? I haven't looked into that yet.

[MMMorish]

Originally Posted by Panda///Monic

I never use the stock engine that comes with the kits, I don;t know why but I always buy an upgrade

Man, what don't you mod?!?!

[uhn2000]

Oh man.. brings me back to my days and love affair with Kyosho... miss it so much. Wish I had time for this stuff.