Getting a Tamiya RC kit up and running

[Pflanzgarten]

https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/tamiya-rc-58571...

Years ago my wife bought me a model of one of our 911s and rather disrespectfully it’s sat in the loft ever since.

No we’ve had kids and they’re at the age where they’re starting to enjoy lego kits etc I thought I might try and see if this piques an interest.

I notice the link above has a kit for £75, is that all I need to get going? Batteries, charger and remote control etc?

It won’t need to be championship spec, more a bit of fun on the driveway with some cones to race around. To be honest I hope the fun will be more in building it together and getting them to understand how a vehicle works.

[clockworks]

You'll probably need an electronic speed controller (ESC) as well, as noted at the end of the package description.
If the kit comes with a mechanical speed controller, you will need a second servo to run it, but binning it and going for an ESC is much better.

[Pflanzgarten]

clockworks said:

You'll probably need an electronic speed controller (ESC) as well, as noted at the end of the package description.
If the kit comes with a mechanical speed controller, you will need a second servo to run it, but binning it and going for an ESC is much better.

Not that I have the foggiest what one is, it says on the description that the ESC is included (albeit with mine being over ten years old it may not have one).

[thepritch]

Pflanzgarten said:

Not that I have the foggiest what one is, it says on the description that the ESC is included (albeit with mine being over ten years old it may not have one).

I’d say that bundle looks fine. Reading different links to the main Porsche kit, other sites suggest it has :

Electronic Speed Control (esc): Includes Tamiya TBLE-02S ESC (electronic speed control) Capable of running sensor brushless motors and brushed motors alike. (21.5 Turn BL motor limit) (23 Turn brushed motor limit)

Also it should have a 540 motor in the kit too.

I’d definitely open the box first and check you have both these. A speed controller is an electronic box that controls the speed of the motor - it is attached to the RC receiver box that receives the commands from your handheld transmitter.

Enjoy! Your now making me think about rebuild my old race cars. Haven’t run them for 20years!

[Pflanzgarten]

Hopefully that’s everything!

[clockworks]

Orange sticker says "ESC included", printing on box says it isn't.

Best open the box and have a look inside.

[generationx]

TT-02 chassis is a simple, robust thing and nearly falls together. It’s worth picking up a bearing set (Jadlam will be able to help) to install during the build, everything will last longer. Only a few quid these days.

This kit has two “box art” colour schemes, the Martini one and a road version, which is much easier.

There’s a lot of info available on the TamiyaClub forums, and plenty of other resource on the ‘net.

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php

Take your time and enjoy. I built mine fully upgraded but this was not a wise decision financially…

[Pflanzgarten]

This is what’s in the “complicated” bag, no idea what I’m looking for really!

Also what tools I’ll need.

[generationx]

The instruction manual takes you through the build process very comprehensively, have separate containers for bags A, B etc. there’s a spanner and Allen keys included, you’ll need some cutters and/or a knife to remove plastic parts from the tree and a cross-head (preferably JIC spec but you can get away with Phillips). Then some scissors to cut out the body.

[thepritch]

Pflanzgarten said:

This is what’s in the “complicated” bag, no idea what I’m looking for really!

Also what tools I’ll need.

Great. To workout whether the kit has the ESC or not, you’re looking for an small black ‘electronic’ box with wires coming from it. You have the motor above, but I couldn’t see behind some of the labels. If you have one in the kit it will be obvious that it’s an electronic box, as opposed to mechanical parts that screw together.

[thepritch]

thepritch said:

Great. To workout whether the kit has the ESC or not, you’re looking for an small black ‘electronic’ box with wires coming from it. You have the motor above, but I couldn’t see behind some of the labels. If you have one in the kit it will be obvious that it’s an electronic box, as opposed to mechanical parts that screw together.

Can you see in the pic of the assembled car above - there is a rectangular box with a green square sticker on it quite far forward in the chassis but behind the front wheels. That’s the RC receiver (part of the bundle you need to buy) and just behind it is another small black box with some wires - that would, unless I’m mistaken, be the ESC - that’s the bit you’re looking for to determine the bundle you need to buy.

[Pflanzgarten]

Doesn’t look like it’s in there to me, my thing with wires I can see is the motor. Shame but I doubt it’s a warranty claim after ten years or whatever!

[untakenname]

Worth getting a modern lipos and esc/brushless motor combo, pretty cheap these days from hobbywing.

[generationx]

A Tamiya ESC looks something like this:

[Pflanzgarten]

Yeah none of that.

[_Al_]

generationx said:

A Tamiya ESC looks something like this:

I’ve only had one of those - it didn’t last long. The other one I had I bought cheap in the 90s and it’s still going strong.