Are RC Drift cars any good?
Discussion
Anyone got an RC drift car? I have a few Tamiya kits already; Clod, Dark Impact, Land Rover, TT-01 based GT3, and an Axial Crawler. I find they become shelf queens very quickly, not sure if it is because I am precious, or because normal on road or off road cars aren't much fun unless you have lots of space.
I am thinking of a TT-02D and a custom body. How much space do you need to have fun with something similar? Alternative is to go whole hog and buy a Sand Scorcher knowing it will be a shelf queen.
I am thinking of a TT-02D and a custom body. How much space do you need to have fun with something similar? Alternative is to go whole hog and buy a Sand Scorcher knowing it will be a shelf queen.
Please please please do not by a TT02 it is not an RC drift car.
I have been RC drifting for 9 years now and have had many cars.
The trend at the moment is RWD only cars with a gyro to control the slide.
The main chassis used in the UK are either Yokomo or MST. Both are dedicated drift chassis. Most UK track run on carpet with a specific tyre for the surface.
Where are you as the best thing is to go to your local track as most have hire chassis or someone that will let you have a go.
I have been RC drifting for 9 years now and have had many cars.
The trend at the moment is RWD only cars with a gyro to control the slide.
The main chassis used in the UK are either Yokomo or MST. Both are dedicated drift chassis. Most UK track run on carpet with a specific tyre for the surface.
Where are you as the best thing is to go to your local track as most have hire chassis or someone that will let you have a go.
For the average person a 4wd touring car chassis with drift wheels will drift perfectly well on a multistorey car park.
This was a vid I made of mine. It was a Tamiya S15 shell on a secondhand HPI Pro 4 Chassis I got for 70 quid and put my own gear in it. You can get very silly with money on these.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WT3gpGGZP6fXE2VbA
The wheels are the most important thing, then lock the rear axle. Everything after that is willy waving.
This was a vid I made of mine. It was a Tamiya S15 shell on a secondhand HPI Pro 4 Chassis I got for 70 quid and put my own gear in it. You can get very silly with money on these.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WT3gpGGZP6fXE2VbA
The wheels are the most important thing, then lock the rear axle. Everything after that is willy waving.
Edited by The_Jackal on Wednesday 29th April 19:55
Thanks for the help everyone, I guess a bit more clarity is probably needed too.
I have some space, a tarmac drive that would fit about 6 cars, so not really big enough for something fast, but I thought big enough for drifting, if tarmac is smooth enough?
I get lots of enjoyment out of building so nothing RTR.
At the moment I am not really interested in racing or joining a club, busy work and life means this will likely be an occasional thing.
I already have an Axial AX10, so have already done the crawler thing - was fun if a little slow!
Looking at the suggestions I suspect some are probably a bit too expensive, Yokomo seem to start at £220+ for a bare chassis, MST seem hard to find as is the Atomic DRZ and the Kyosho Mini Z- Drift is RTR only. I did wonder about a Sakura D4 at £110 for a chassis, anybody got one? One thing I liked about the TT-02D is its price, a chassis for £85 seems like good value from Jadlam.
I guess the best idea may be to try a set of drift tyres on the old TT-01 and see if I like it, but that doesn't get me something fun to build in lockdown.
I have some space, a tarmac drive that would fit about 6 cars, so not really big enough for something fast, but I thought big enough for drifting, if tarmac is smooth enough?
I get lots of enjoyment out of building so nothing RTR.
At the moment I am not really interested in racing or joining a club, busy work and life means this will likely be an occasional thing.
I already have an Axial AX10, so have already done the crawler thing - was fun if a little slow!
Looking at the suggestions I suspect some are probably a bit too expensive, Yokomo seem to start at £220+ for a bare chassis, MST seem hard to find as is the Atomic DRZ and the Kyosho Mini Z- Drift is RTR only. I did wonder about a Sakura D4 at £110 for a chassis, anybody got one? One thing I liked about the TT-02D is its price, a chassis for £85 seems like good value from Jadlam.
I guess the best idea may be to try a set of drift tyres on the old TT-01 and see if I like it, but that doesn't get me something fun to build in lockdown.
Once you start repairing and upgrading whatever you buy, any car will become one you build. Remember these are hobby grade cars, they are designed to be taken apart and built up like engineering projects. RTR these days doesnt mean a lump of plastic that stays as it is out of the box.
Tamiya do a drift version of their TT cars, but it wouldnt be much different from just buying drift wheels for your current TT car. You can always add a drift shell and other bits as you go along.
Locking your rear diff with drift wheels will give you 90% of some £400 drift porn car.
There may be different ones now but I preferred the Yokomo drift wheels to the HPI ones. A lot easier to drift in tighter places.
Tamiya do a drift version of their TT cars, but it wouldnt be much different from just buying drift wheels for your current TT car. You can always add a drift shell and other bits as you go along.
Locking your rear diff with drift wheels will give you 90% of some £400 drift porn car.
There may be different ones now but I preferred the Yokomo drift wheels to the HPI ones. A lot easier to drift in tighter places.
If I were you I'd buy some drift wheels for your TT01 and have a go. If you like if then buy a locked diff. These are cheap and will give you enough to be able to gauge whether or not you actually like drifting or not.
I've had a TT02 "drifter" with the mods mentioned above and then after that an MST MS01D pro which cost £500+ and the Tamiya was just as much fun for drifting around the driveway.
I've had a TT02 "drifter" with the mods mentioned above and then after that an MST MS01D pro which cost £500+ and the Tamiya was just as much fun for drifting around the driveway.
DarthtaterM16 said:
If I were you I'd buy some drift wheels for your TT01 and have a go. If you like if then buy a locked diff. These are cheap and will give you enough to be able to gauge whether or not you actually like drifting or not.
I've had a TT02 "drifter" with the mods mentioned above and then after that an MST MS01D pro which cost £500+ and the Tamiya was just as much fun for drifting around the driveway.
I picked up a second hand TT-02D chassis for £45 on ebay yesterday, it looks pretty complete and in reasonable condition. I can have some fun tidying it up and fitting a new body and electronics. Hoping it is as much fun as you suggest.I've had a TT02 "drifter" with the mods mentioned above and then after that an MST MS01D pro which cost £500+ and the Tamiya was just as much fun for drifting around the driveway.
Remember you dont need to buy a locked diff, just jam the gears up in the diff.
Various options are, putty, epoxy and hot glue.
If you have a diff that can be tightened then that is an option too. It really transforms how easy it is to drift.
Get some pics up when you are sliding it around.
Various options are, putty, epoxy and hot glue.
If you have a diff that can be tightened then that is an option too. It really transforms how easy it is to drift.
Get some pics up when you are sliding it around.
The_Jackal said:
Remember you dont need to buy a locked diff, just jam the gears up in the diff.
Various options are, putty, epoxy and hot glue.
If you have a diff that can be tightened then that is an option too. It really transforms how easy it is to drift.
Get some pics up when you are sliding it around.
Yeah locking the existing diff works just as well. I think (iirc) the locked diff for my TT01(2) was something like £12 on ebay so I just grabbed one.Various options are, putty, epoxy and hot glue.
If you have a diff that can be tightened then that is an option too. It really transforms how easy it is to drift.
Get some pics up when you are sliding it around.
It really isn't necessary to spend mega money to get drifting.
Have fun!
Blue tac in the rear diff used to be the way!
Drifting is far less stressful on drivetrain parts and you don't need as much space. I find it's great fun - I tried serious club RC drifting but they all took themselves so seriously that it just sapped the fun out of it.
4WD touring car, drift tyres, blue tac and you're golden!
Just be sure it doesn't get out of hand...
Drifting is far less stressful on drivetrain parts and you don't need as much space. I find it's great fun - I tried serious club RC drifting but they all took themselves so seriously that it just sapped the fun out of it.
4WD touring car, drift tyres, blue tac and you're golden!
Just be sure it doesn't get out of hand...
C.A.R. said:
Blue tac in the rear diff used to be the way!
Drifting is far less stressful on drivetrain parts and you don't need as much space. I find it's great fun - I tried serious club RC drifting but they all took themselves so seriously that it just sapped the fun out of it.
4WD touring car, drift tyres, blue tac and you're golden!
Just be sure it doesn't get out of hand...
Are those TA03's?Drifting is far less stressful on drivetrain parts and you don't need as much space. I find it's great fun - I tried serious club RC drifting but they all took themselves so seriously that it just sapped the fun out of it.
4WD touring car, drift tyres, blue tac and you're golden!
Just be sure it doesn't get out of hand...
lufbramatt said:
yes, a mixture of TA-03R and TA-03F, with the hop-up chassis plates. I have a TA-03R with the firbre-lyte carbon saddle pack chassis to replace the tub, made a big difference.
I love those. I had a TA03FS when I was younger. Had that one for longer than any of the other cars I've had. I'd love to get another one day.Up and running this afternoon with an old shell I had and the electronics out of another car. I think I am going to enjoy drifting. One challenge I have is the tarmac driveway I am using has a slope on it. This makes drifting very challenging as the slope alters the slide dynamics quite a lot! I guess if I can drift on a slope, it will make me better after lockdown when I can find somewhere flatter.
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