[diggernz]

Hi Del A yes the dreaded water, an EP RC mans worse enemy. Many an ESC has met its demise with me through a massive water attack. Dry it out straight away. I would put it in the hot water cupboard, Then use a hair dryer, (stolen/borrowed from the missus)on it as well. Water can hang around and it only takes a tiny amount inside the ESC, a drop resting on the PCB circuit board, to fry it. If you turn it off and unplug the battery straight away its usually ok. The steering only thing doesnt sound good. mate. Hope its ok. I wrap my ESC in PVC electrical insulation tape also now for some extra protection. Like a condom for my electronics.

Kyosho Option House tyres front and rear really hook up great.


heres a little (little lol no pun intended) something for you Del and Mike.

[diggernz]

Originally Posted by swannco

Also, what insert are most people using for the rear stock tires? I glued dirt hawgs w/ inserts on my stock rims for mixed dirt/asphalt bashing, and now I want to put the stock tires on a different set of stock wheels for dirt only. Should I glue them? They seem to be very tight.

Tamiya tyres usually dont need glueing as they are an exceptional fit but most other tyres do need glueing. Harder type compound tyres will slip especially when the rims get a bit wet from, say, running on damp grass.That my experience. And ive tried alot of combinations of tyres and rims.

[TamiyaRacer69]

Originally Posted by swannco

Also, what insert are most people using for the rear stock tires? I glued dirt hawgs w/ inserts on my stock rims for mixed dirt/asphalt bashing, and now I want to put the stock tires on a different set of stock wheels for dirt only. Should I glue them? They seem to be very tight.

Hi swannco, and welcome. If they're tight enough then they don't need glue. Another option is to put rubber bands in the groove of the rim where the tire slots in, saves using glue and it works. I've done that to most of my Tamiyas.

Dave,
Love the littlies too, I've got a Midnight Pumpkin in that scale.
The reason for the steering only working, was due to the fact that there was a considerable amount of water in the receiver, mainly around the point where the ESC plugged in. It's all good now though, still going hard. Although the Sport Tuned is starting to give up the game, just-as-well I've got a spare NIB Sport Tuned. New wheels from a Tamiya Dyna Storm and paint for my Gator. It just says "Look at me ...... Love me":wow:

[swannco]

Diggernz,

what are those rims and tires on the buggy in the top right hand of the 1st photo? They look great on that buggy! I'm really curious because my sand viper is turning into a street buggy 75% of the time now.

[TamiyaRacer69]

Looks like Kyosho rims, and Tamiya or Kyosho tires. I've got a set of Tamiya Chrome Edition Blitzer Beetle wheels and tires that fit the Gator,here's a pic of them on one of my creations......

[Choppa]

Hi guys, its my first time on here and would firstly like to say its a great thread you have here, and after looking at your previous posts i have picked up alot. I have only been into RC cars since christmas so its definately a learning expereince. Just wondering if you guys know where i can get a desert gator clear body from. the one i have is ok but just wanted another so i can give it different look. I bought my gator as a RTR not as a kit so it came looking as it does on the box and after seeing some of the pics you guys have posted on here, i definately want something that looks a little different. I have changed the external stickers on the current body at the moment but want to be able to start from fresh....

[Metla]

Your in Melbourne?

There will be dozens of hobby shops, They should all be able to get Tamiya gear. Look in the phone book.

[TamiyaRacer69]

Choppa. Firstly, welcome aboard.

I got the Gator body (as seen in pic) through Time Tunnel models via Tamiya Club. Only cost 8pounds. That's one place you could try, or maybe Tower Hobbies. Just have a serch around the web, I'm sure you'll find something.

[diggernz]

Originally Posted by swannco

Diggernz,

what are those rims and tires on the buggy in the top right hand of the 1st photo? They look great on that buggy! I'm really curious because my sand viper is turning into a street buggy 75% of the time now.

yep they are Kyosho rims with TamiyaTGX radial tyres all 1/8 scale.

[Choppa]

Originally Posted by Metla

Your in Melbourne?

There will be dozens of hobby shops, They should all be able to get Tamiya gear. Look in the phone book.

Already looked in the phone book etc. Not many deal with tamiya, and if they can get it in, they charge a fair bit. Just thought you guys might know of somewhere where they are a little cheaper and more readily available.

[Choppa]

Originally Posted by TamiyaRacer69

Choppa. Firstly, welcome aboard.

I got the Gator body (as seen in pic) through Time Tunnel models via Tamiya Club. Only cost 8pounds. That's one place you could try, or maybe Tower Hobbies. Just have a serch around the web, I'm sure you'll find something.

Thanks mate. I will give those sites a try. Have been looking a bit but not with much luck.

[Choppa]

Just a question for anyone....a mate of mine went out and got himself a Sand viper (after he had a couple of go's of the DT02 he was sold) and is fixed on getting it to go as quick as possible. So he has changed the ESC and got himself a 14turn motor, (17 tooth pinion) but its no quicker than mine which has a RZ motor with stock esc. Any idea why that would be? I really don't mind, but he keeps complaining about it as he has spent a fortune on it to get it to where it is now v me just buying the Rz and putting it in......

[Metla]

Originally Posted by Choppa

Just a question for anyone....a mate of mine went out and got himself a Sand viper (after he had a couple of go's of the DT02 he was sold) and is fixed on getting it to go as quick as possible. So he has changed the ESC and got himself a 14turn motor, (17 tooth pinion) but its no quicker than mine which has a RZ motor with stock esc. Any idea why that would be? I really don't mind, but he keeps complaining about it as he has spent a fortune on it to get it to where it is now v me just buying the Rz and putting it in......

The less turns a motor has the less torque it has, meaning it needs to be geared down in order for it to be able to get upto its maximum speed, Due to the limited gearing options on the DT02 anything faster then a 19T is near useless.

All imo of course, some here claim their cars car go like crazy with hot motors, I just think they haven't anything else to compare them to.

Again imo the RZ is a perfect match for the DT-02.

[diggernz]

Yep metla is right. If hes going to want the full potential out of his new motor and ESC he would need a 12 tooth pinion so best he rips out the 14turn before he stuffs it as it will be getting very very hot. Sell that motor and get a BZ or RZ for the best performance in my opinion to. This is a mistake alot of beginners make.

[toonz]

a 19T-23T motor is good for the DT02 already.

speed isn't everything

[Choppa]

Thanks guys. I figured it was over kill. The Rz is definately fast enough, even the top end. I will let him know. A hobby shop he went to told him to put a 19t pinon in it to get more out of it!!! Clearly thats not the case..... since i had the rz i have gone through 2 sets of rear tyres (in only a few months) so i got myself some proline bow tie rears which are fantastic!! grip like crazy and lift the front tyres off the ground!!! Except then it would just understeer, so i got a set of proline 4 rib for the front. now it handles just beautifully. I had tried the dirt hawg 111 on the front but i found they weren't much better than the tamiya stock fronts. took it to a local Rc track and was there with a couple of guys with dark impacts which didn't seem to be that quick even though they had the black sports tune and 19t pinon. do you loose much power through the 4wd? i had though about getting another tamiya as i am now hooked on them, but am not sure if i will get a 4wd if they don't go as well.......

[TamiyaRacer69]

The RZ is great, speed high, run time low. Toonz is right. Speed isn't everything. If you want to enjoy your DT02, go with the Sport Tuned and either 17 or 19 tooth pinion. I was under the impression that my Sport Tuned was stuffed, so I replaced it with a GT Tuned. Still got the same horrible noises coming from the rear end. Through the elimination process,I narrowed it down to my Ball Diff, god only knows why I bought it. I've never really like ball diffs, ie: Nissan King Cab (had two of them) so now my Gator is basically stock standard again, apart from the Sport Tuned, and Super Astute wheels. It's going great, had a blast with it today. Made a temporary off road track in my back yard, I'm just waiting until summer when I can get out there and do what I told the missus I was going to do, in the mean-time I'll enjoy my Gator on 'my track'

[toonz]

del, you need some flames decal on your new gator shell.

time to stock up more 19 pinion

[TamiyaRacer69]

toonz,
Nah, only place flames look good, is on an old skool truck eg:Midnight Pumpkin. It does need some decals though, just enough to break up the over-all look. Nothing too much, just a few random ones here and there.

[Metla]

Originally Posted by Choppa

took it to a local Rc track and was there with a couple of guys with dark impacts which didn't seem to be that quick even though they had the black sports tune and 19t pinon. do you loose much power through the 4wd? i had though about getting another tamiya as i am now hooked on them, but am not sure if i will get a 4wd if they don't go as well.......

You lose a small amount of speed with a Dark Impact, 4WD really comes into its own when you install a faster motor, Holds a line much better then a 2wd and can therefor turn faster laps.

If its just for bashing and using RZ motors then (again imo) The DT-02 is much more fun. I always run my DT-02 rather then my Dark Impact, unless Im at the track, in which case the DT-02 usually stays at home.

Having said that, I gave up trying to make my Dark Impact handle like a Losi...so went and bought a Losi for the track.


(and the Dark Impact doesn't accept a 19T pinion)

[toonz]

its true.
my DI running a BZ is faster than my viper in its sportuned. both great cars with different usage...

[TamiyaRacer69]

Anyone know what the part number is for the 19tooth for the DT02, if so, where can I get one from.

Metla, Losi's are great buggies. I had a XX buggy ages ago, and it was wicked quick. Hence why I no longer have it. Drove it into a concrete curbing at full throttle, by accident of course. Stupid radio interference.

[Metla]

Yeah, I bought a xxx-g+, and bolted a brushless into it.

Shes crazy fast...and I only purchased a 8.5T system, So fast that I have no where practical to use it. After a couple of sick impacts around my section I took it out on the road, great fun drag racing cars but after barrel rolling it and having it stuck on its lid 400 feet away in the middle of the road...

Anyway, Just more reason for me to use my Desert Gator instead.

[toonz]

del, here, 19pinion

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...uct-id=3515007

[TamiyaRacer69]

Cheers toonz. I'll see if my local (useless) hobby shop can get one in for me. Failing that, I'll get one from Tamiya USA