TRF501X Racing Buggy!!!
 

Check out what Tamiya are displaying at the Shizuoka show starting today!

pic source: http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/PredatorXharashu/diary/

I heard about this a while back but im surprised how similar it looks to the Yokomo BX. Even the shocks look like they could be off the yoke. It doesn't appear to be on the list of releases so I guess its not coming out yet??

:-O i hope this doesnt mean that they arent going to persue a TRF version of the DI (which i still say will be the trf406x).... Knowing Tamiya though they'll probably develop and release both... same way they have the 415 and the evo 5

Lets hope so. :) Now if only I could get hold of one.. hmmm.

I know you won't get ANY sense if you contact hobby co in the UK (Tamiya's UK distributor) but there are ways and means.

http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0106.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0107.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0110.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0110.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0111.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0112.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0113.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0115.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0116.JPG

thats got to be the first belt drive i've been tempted by... only cause its a tamiya :-P

I found on the tamiya japan site a pic of the cheap 2wd (sand viper) and below it in the pic is the shell that i've seen related to the 406x, its a b4 shell, so looks like that was there, so maybe someone has some pics of it..

definately liking the new threaded shocks they got for off-road!!!

I beleive the pics 'rumoured' to be the trf406x is a dt-02 with some hand made mods....

Got to say the front wishbones and blue castor blocks look like they are BJ4 parts odd?

On several of the sites it says that the TRF501 will be available fall/end of the year.

Here's a pic of a full option DF03 from the show.

http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0139.JPG

there are also opt for the DI
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0139.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0140.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0138.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0133.JPG
http://www.pro-s-futaba.co.jp/hsphoto/SANY0131.JPG

And rear arms from the B4, right? The fact that it is displayed as the TRF501X most likely mean that it's still very much a prototype. When Tamiya first got back into competitive TC racing 7-8 years ago there first prototypes had the X after their name, i.e. TRF404X & TRF414X.

Also when I first heard the rumors about Tamiya definitely testing and developing a serious race buggy they apparently were running the BJ4WE. I have even seen pics of this around 2 months ago maybe.

So what I would guess they've done is that they have now decided on the general layout. Then they will start working with that with a suspension they know and will then develop their own during the next months.

Probably at the Japanese championships in September (I believe) a more production ready buggy will be used.

The current prototype was used by TRF driver Satoshi Maezumi at the recent GW buggy race at Yatabe Arena, finishing third.

http://yaggy.exblog.jp/

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200605/06...3_12271864.jpg

The 406x is listed on this page - http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~c-yellow/2...Japan_4WD.html - as a 4wd, only thing shown though is a b4 body painted in what looks to be Satoshi Maezumis' colors. I've seen references elsewere and always refered to as a 4wd buggy.

They cant possibly drop the development of a TRF offroad shaft drive, it's just not like tamiya. They've classically always been pro shaft drive. If they think it's still worth developing the TB Evo platform when the 415 is doing so well, then i'm sure they'll release a shaft offroad TRF car..

hate to spoil it.... but....

http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~c-yellow/050724017.jpg thats the same shell that they show in 4wd...

there is always this homebrew though....

http://www.interq.or.jp/horse/race/rc/P5220023.jpg

Same paint, different sticker placment and the nose is cut shorter... also sides maybe a bit deeper, hard to tell that though.

http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~c-yellow/2...attention.html
Scroll down the page to were it says 406x and stick the text through babelfish, sounds like the df03 to me. Found this before the DI was announced...

Hmmm, all looks great to me.. The Impact looks really nice with those hop ups, the shocks are tasty looking for sure.

I shall mostly be getting a set... and springs, they just look sweet, and after using the saloon TRF shocks, they are just so ubber simple to build and fill, will make running AE and Losi shocks pointless....

Some close up pictures here:

http://www.geocities.jp/hobbyshows/j...uoka/rc/03.htm

http://www.hobby-one.co.jp/hobby/abc-08.jpg

Found this linked on the Radio control zone site, made by same people who make that conversion for the zx5... looks good but the batteries should still go down the middle.

More photos here, also Jason @ Jconcepts ahs confirmed that he has supplied Tamiya with parts and bodyshells. http://www.mini-zone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1580