I Broke Down....

[darren]

Well....being a hard core TTech Fan, I just HAD to pick up a new Tamiya 501X. Last Tamiya car I had was a King Hauler. The kit looks really blinky, and well made., body is off the TTECH idea where LOW PROFILE is the key. Unfortunately, all the BLUE ALUM makes the car really heavy. Thank goodness I already had saddle packs!!!

[wailinonya]

Your not the only one! I am also looking forward to getting a TRF501X. Hopefully I will have it within the next couple of weeks!

[chris burgess]

LOL oooohhh....there's a name for people like you.......how can you drive another 4wd car after the pred? Oh shame on you!

I ought to ban the pair of you right now! LOL

Actually though it does look quite good doesn't it?

[darren]

So,
Mine arrived and it is almost done. (body paint and cut out). Here are my impressions:
Parts fit: almost meticulous. A few pieces had to be modified or "shaved" but on the whole, it was a breeze.
Parts Quality: Well, Tamiya TRF stuff is top notch, all the anodizing matched and the 99% of the car is HEX bits (yeah!). The kit, I believe has moulded graphite arms, definitely not plastic, but I can't confirm this.
Assembly: What a pain in the ass. 2 belts, rollers, huge chuncks of aluminum, sharp graphite EVERYWHERE! be prepared to inhale CA glue and graphite dust! Just seems excessively bulky for a kit after you have built a Pred. Lots of blue bling makes it look pretty though.
Shocks: Apparently, TRF shocks are gods gift to suspension. Personally, I think they are okay. They specify to leaf 1mm of space at the top of the units, but then you can hear the oil squish and it sounds like ass. So, I drilled the aeration holes on the caps and bled them properly. I still think the X10 units are smoother with 1 oring and ti-nitride shafts (no ti-nitride on the 501x).
Drivetrain: Well, certainly not as free as an X10 or any shaft car for that matter. I have built the kit to instruction spec, and they tell you to assemble the belts quite tight (offset diff bushings).
Suspension: while all the arms move freely, the stock springs feel really WAY to soft. And very rare is it that you will run the SAME springs front and rear. Also duelly noted is the lack of FRONT one way and ANY sway bars! Looks like the hidden costs are there. Tamiya hasn't released any info on upgrades, but all TRF upgrades are $$$$. One thing observed, is the use of PIN style REAR axle and HEX style FRONT axles....hmmm.....so....you aren't limited to the TAMIYA rims....HOW CLEVER!!!!

My score is a 7 of 10. <-- why so low? because as a top notch race kit, this should have included titanium screws, sway bars and proper springs. I think that the X10 and BJ4WE, YOK are better values for the same money (in that order). Track test to follow.

[Northy]

Jimmy (oOple.com) is having a 1 way sent with his car, so they are available.

G

[darren]

Yes, the 1 way is available, but not in stock

[Northy]

Well Jimmy got confirmation that one would be coming with his car, so they must have been in stock at one point?

G

[YoKoMo-MX4]

I can't believe they actually did it. The 501X went off my radar shortly after they showed it off at the hobby show. I thought, "PFFT, they'll never release it." Then they went and done it ... Tamiya released this 'real' offroad buggy! After so many years of taunting us! I must have some. How many can I fit under the X-Mas tree? ... for me. ;D

You might be able to tell tell, that I am REALLY excited to get some of these...I can hear my credit card breaking in twain at this moment...

'nuff said,
MX4

[alfonzo]

Looking at the photo's I see plenty of nicely machined anodised aluminium, but nothing that really does much for me. There's nothing groudbreaking about it. Or have I missed something?

[darren]

No, Nothing special, but it doesn't have the alloy steering rack that the photos show . It is just a really neat car, and TRF stuff is really good, the 414, 415 etc.

[wailinonya]

darren: I know the car doesn't come with a front oneway diff, but does it have a oneway on the front layshaft pulley or is the car full time 4WD? A guy at my local track has one of the New Yokomos and said it has an adjustable oneway layshaft pulley, kinda like a XX4. I noticed in the 501X pics it has an adjustment nut on the opposing side of the layshaft like the Yokomo. I assumed the Tamiya pretty much had the same adjustable pulley function, but maybe I was wrong, if I am, what is this other adjustable nut for on the opposing side of the layshaft?

[darren]

Hey Waillin'
There is no front one way. Not in the slightest at all. the 2 nuts on the sides of the layshaft are for holding stuff on. The TRF on way #59351 is outta stock almost everywhere in Toronto

[gramey]

alfonzo said:

Looking at the photo's I see plenty of nicely machined anodised aluminium, but nothing that really does much for me. There's nothing groudbreaking about it. Or have I missed something?

There are only some many ways of doing anything and as far as rc cars go most things have been tried. You were unlikely to see anything ground breaking whoever made it.
What you do get with a Tamiya are comprehensive instructions (Ttech take note) and possibly the best fit and finish on the market of any mass produced kit. Unfortuantely Tamiya learnt long ago how to part racers with their hard earned money, sell them 75% of what they want and make them pay for the rest by way of Hop Ups.
Darren, not sure what your problem was with the shocks as the only problem I've found is when filling them from new you really do need to pump the piston very slowly a few times and then leave them on a shock stand to let all the air come to the top before closing them up.
You say you've drilled aeration holes in the caps, how do you then seal them to stop them leaking?
We havn't gone with the initial rush as the price usually comes down to sensible levels after 2/3 months. I dare say my son & I will get these as we've been die hard Tamiya fans ever since we started rc racing.
They can't be that bad as we used to be the only Tamiya drivers at our club and now there are 9 regulars all running Tamiya's!