Right its been a few years since I last built one but the other day I thought I'd get back into them so went out and bought a Tamiya Plasma Edge Kit (based on the DF-02 chassis). About 6 hours into the build and I'm nearly there but I've come up against a couple of problems.

Hopefully some people on here will have had some expereince with these things.

1. I can't get the piston for the rear shocks screwed any more into the plastic part at the bottom. There's still some thread showing but it just won't screw on any more - I've tried holding the piston with a pair of pliers (as per the instructions) but it still won't screw and the pliers are going to damage the piston.

2. How on earth are you supposed to get the tyres on the rims!?!

30111987 said:

Right its been a few years since I last built one but the other day I thought I'd get back into them so went out and bought a Tamiya Plasma Edge Kit (based on the DF-02 chassis). About 6 hours into the build and I'm nearly there but I've come up against a couple of problems.

Hopefully some people on here will have had some expereince with these things.

1. I can't get the piston for the rear shocks screwed any more into the plastic part at the bottom. There's still some thread showing but it just won't screw on any more - I've tried holding the piston with a pair of pliers (as per the instructions) but it still won't screw and the pliers are going to damage the piston.

Have you tried removing it and trying again from scratch? or if you remove it spin it round. Ive found this can soemtimes make a difference for some reason.

2. How on earth are you supposed to get the tyres on the rims!?!

Can you not push them on at all? if not a few smallish screw drivers to help pull the tyres over the rim edge wont go amiss unless its come with "tyre tools".

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http://www.sydneyrcdrifters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=65062&sid=8bdef071f4190d9d1bd55dcc8713da4d

thanks for the quick reply
will try the hot water trick for the tyres

Yup tried taking the piston out , removing the plastic shavings (its a self tapping screw) and doing it again but it always gets stuck and won't screw in further.

edit: tyres now on

30111987 said:

thanks for the quick reply
will try the hot water trick for the tyres

Yup tried taking the piston out , removing the plastic shavings (its a self tapping screw) and doing it again but it always gets stuck and won't screw in further.

edit: tyres now on

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Also try putting some paper or some material over the shock shaft to get grip without damaging it

306maxi said:

Also try putting some paper or some material over the shock shaft to get grip without damaging it

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Yup done that.

Well there's still a little thread showing but on close inspection of the instructions it appears in the next diagram that there is still thread showing so I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't screw all the way in. Gave it a test run yesterday and all seems fine - no leaks from the dampers

Very nice, where did you test it out of curiosity? I've never been able to find a good place in Edinburgh to have a go with these model cars. Used to be a fan of this things for a while but couldn't get into the hobby.

Just ran it up and down the street where I live. Too much snow anywhere else in my local area. The local school has a big flat, smooth playground so I used to go down there at the weekends when there was no one about when I had RC cars before.

I've built many RC cars, including some Tamiya - they all have a small amount of thread showing on the shock shaft. I always build them by holding the shaft using side cutters, gripping the last thread. It makes a mark, but it doesn't matter.

Best place to run RC cars is at your local RC car club, where you can race against other people. Check the BRCA website http://www.brca.org/

Most clubs are pleased to help newcomers, and some even let you race free the first time!

Come to think og it, there's someone I knew who used to used his model cars in our local supermarket in the car park.

I used to have a car that I controlled on my street for a while from my bedroom window, inspired by the Home alone 3 film. Drove a few neighbours up the wall, Good times.

Ah yes. These clubs, too bad they are all long drives from Auld Reekie. Still, better than nothing.

Last one I used was last year at university, we were supposed to use kyosho mini infernols on a wee figure of 8 track. The poor dears weren't looked after though, some had battery problems and others wouldn't work at all.

I might go and try to buy one if I get the chance mind, wouldn't hurt anything but the wallet.

claymore said:

Ah yes. These clubs, too bad they are all long drives from Auld Reekie. Still, better than nothing.

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There's one in Penicuik

A word of caution! It can be addictive.
When you codger was 12 I bought him a basic electric 10th scale touring car for running around in the road etc.
Move on 4 years and several thousand pounds later and we attended the Electric Touring Car European Championships in Spain as part of the British team!
You have been warned!

I've probably sank £500 into it whilst I was racing 1:10th off road a few years ago. I can't find any clubs that will run 1:10th off road near where I plan to move - everyone seems to be TC these days

jenks69 said:

I've probably sank £500 into it whilst I was racing 1:10th off road a few years ago. I can't find any clubs that will run 1:10th off road near where I plan to move - everyone seems to be TC these days

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What did you have? I had a Losi XX-CR Kinwald Edition with a 14 turn triple and it went like hell

306maxi said:

What did you have? I had a Losi XX-CR Kinwald Edition with a 14 turn triple and it went like hell

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I had:
Tamiya Manta Ray
Tamiya Boomerang modded onto fibreglass chasis

I still have:
Traxxas rad 2 on a TRX1 carbon fibre chasis modded to TRX2 specs
Traxxas Hawk 2, one day I promissed myself I'd trasnfer it to the TRX1 chasis
Schumacher Couger 2000 95 Team
A 1:8th scale le mans body and custom chasis - but never fitted running gear.

I've got several differant electronic speedo's and probably more servos than I could ever run in all the cars at the same time. Tekin and Bobtek jobbies mainly for the speed controllers.

Various motors best I ever had was a 14 quad - ran it in the Hawk2 but the wheels were too heavy and everything just got too hot melted several spur gears and clutch pegs ran it in the Couger for a bit and ran fairly high gear ratios, which worked really well indoors on carpet, but was pants on grass, used to race stock motors for grass with low ratios.

Might dig it all out and have a play soon :slayer:

Well I'm now looking at a set of metal bearings (x8) to make it fully ball raced. Then 23 turn sport tuned motor (any quicker and it will also need a new speed controller). Of course tyres are also going to become a factor. New what I was in for though as I used to run a TT01 based touring car.

30111987 said:

Well I'm now looking at a set of metal bearings (x8) to make it fully ball raced. Then 23 turn sport tuned motor (any quicker and it will also need a new speed controller). Of course tyres are also going to become a factor. New what I was in for though as I used to run a TT01 based touring car.

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Good call - can add a minute or more to your run time

30111987 said:

Well I'm now looking at a set of metal bearings (x8) to make it fully ball raced. Then 23 turn sport tuned motor (any quicker and it will also need a new speed controller). Of course tyres are also going to become a factor. New what I was in for though as I used to run a TT01 based touring car.

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I've always felt Tamiya's were a little crap like that, you always had to buy a heap of stuff to bring it up to a decent spec and then you had to chuck away a load of stuff you'd paid for. My XX-CR KE was fully loaded.

Young Codger was running 3.5t equivalent brushless system when he "retired" . Even indoors they mangaed to race 4.5turn motors. They were just ballistic.
6 sets of battery cells (at about £35 a set) which were only prime for about 2-3 months depending on charge cyles, and then £60-£80 worth of tyres per meeting.
2 chargers/ dischargers,tyre warmers, Spectrum radio etc etc.Plus 000's of miles in the car and overnight hotels. It was ruinous, but good fun.Good camaraderie.
Thank god he took up the guitar and girls. It's cheaper!

pooroldcodger said:

Young Codger was running 3.5t equivalent brushless system when he "retired" . Even indoors they mangaed to race 4.5turn motors. They were just ballistic.
6 sets of battery cells (at about £35 a set) which were only prime for about 2-3 months depending on charge cyles, and then £60-£80 worth of tyres per meeting.
2 chargers/ dischargers,tyre warmers, Spectrum radio etc etc.Plus 000's of miles in the car and overnight hotels. It was ruinous, but good fun.Good camaraderie.
Thank god he took up the guitar and girls. It's cheaper!

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I ran the same batteries for years as I couldn't afford to get new I allways ended up with my step dads cast offs

jenks69 said:

I ran the same batteries for years as I couldn't afford to get new I allways ended up with my step dads cast offs

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That's how we started off, but in competitions, especially at huge outdoor tracks like Halifax, management of the cells, and a smooth fast driving style were essential otherwise you would "dump" well before the race ended.
See pictures of pit table at Halifax 18 months ago. All this gear cost more than the Punto!