Building Tomley RC’s Tamiya DF-03Ra Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV 4 RC Car (I ALMOST DESTROYED THE DIFF!)

A rare rally car you don't see every day. The limited-edition DF03Ra Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was released back in July 2009, making this kit twelve years old. This is not the first time we have seen the Evolution 4 body released by Tamiya. It first came out way back on the TA03F chassis in 1997!
What makes this kit special apart from its low production numbers is the fact that the car is based on the buggy DF-03 chassis that we have seen on the likes of the Dark Impact and the Avante Mk2. This sounds strange but when you are looking for a chassis that can perform on rough dirt, starting with a buggy is a smart starting point. The kit is packed with extras like an alloy prop shaft, full Tamiya bearings, front and rear ball differentials and a chassis dust cover in the form of a Dark Impact body! That's something you don't see every day from Tamiya.
I didn't know it at the time but I ended up purchasing this kit from Tomley RC. Phil was most kind and put in a little note & a small crawler RC truck totally for free! If you haven't seen his channel, I have put a link below.
Tomley RC: / tomleyrc
You can find way more content from RCKicks on the below links as well as help support the RCKicks channel by becoming a Kicker Patreon:
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RCKicks Facebook Page: / www.rckicks.co.uk
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#TomleyRC #RCKicks #DF03Ra

[@camrowdrone6497]

Very good MrTomely will be happy watching 👊🏻👍🏻

[@paulrobinson9355]

Great Hop Ups and tips banked ready for my Dark Impact build! Super excited about the Thunder Dragon, mines on order and shes due by Friday.......been on order since February and honestly I almost forgot about it - they say good things come to those who wait.......should be Tamiyas new marketing slogan!

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep it feels like the TD has been coming for so long, I wasn't sure we would ever get it Paul. Enjoy your kit :)

[@paulrobinson9355]

One of the best build videos yet!! Really enjoyed and loved the intro, awesome👍😊

[@stewartlewis3503]

Another great video, really enjoyed watching it, mesmerising. Thank God I’m not the only one who still makes build mistakes, even though I’ve built many a kit. Fascinating all the ways Tamyia come up with to take even more money off us! Hop-Up's!!

[@RCKickschannel]

Glad you enjoyed it Stewart :)

[@JeepsCafe]

I love that chassis! It is appropriate for a rally car.

[@garethrosey]

Good timing. I've just had my Dark Impact kit arrive that I'm going to do a brushless build with. There were a few tips that the guys on the Tamiya Club forum gave me. The first couple were to do with the rear diff, replace the cups with the metal versions from the front diff as well replacing the balls with harder ones. The other main one was to put a slipper clutch in, which apparantly is only needed with brushless, so I've gone with one to go with my 4000kv Hobbywing combo.

[@Tamiyastef]

If you have a similar problem as with the diff ever again just glue your allen key to the bolt with some 5 minute epoxy. Let it cure for at least one hour and then you can just unscrew it. Put the allen key with the bolt in boiling water to get the epoxy to soften enough to pull them apart again. No risk of damaging ball bearings or other parts.

[@RCKickschannel]

I like that one 👍🏻👍🏻

[@paulpadilla5288]

That was so cool....got me wanting to build a tamiya kit.....luckily I'm gonna build the Mustang GT for my wife.....lucky her.....have fun and be safe....

[@RCKickschannel]

Thanks Paul. Have fun with the Mustang :)

[@KamalNsouli]

Considering that the steering will be rotating a LOT less than the other parts of the car, it sort of makes sense that bearings would not really be needed or useful for the steering rack honestly. Also I find it hilarious that there are PLENTY of DF03ra hop-ups but no DF03ra kits for sale, and vice versa for the standard DF03 buggy lol.

[@barrycheesemore2928]

Excellent video, really enjoyed it! I wonder if the diff bolt was a bit dodgy in the first place, I'm sure I had one that was many years ago. At least a replacement is easy and relatively cheap to get hold of ;) Look forward to seeing the body complete and the car up and running!!

[@jensman0185]

Excellent video. I would love to see the difference between a df03 and a df03ra at the end of the build

[@RCKickschannel]

Ok I can do that

[@willi19671]

Maybe the best Rally Chassis Tamiya has ever made

[@RCKickschannel]

I haven't build enough unfortunately and I'm only now getting into road & rally chassis. I can say the TF03F doesn't have as much suspension travel as the DF03Ra that's for sure.

[@simong7310]

@@RCKickschannel don't forget the xv01... but if you build the ta03f with no spacers under the pistons AND then put some buggy front springs in (I used associated b4 springs, e. G. The brown or green ones), then you do have some serious travel in the ta03f. One more thing you can do is get the 53337 reinforced low damper stays (hard to get though), you gain another 3mm. Up to a point where the driveshaft angle becomes silly. And it drives gggreat. Just like a xv01 long damper chassis.

[@tonygregg6957]

I quite liked my DF03 build, it does seem slightly heavy but otherwise it's a good buggy. I think Tamiya might argue that bushes are better for the steering, they don't spin like a wheel does so you never get the benefit of a bearing in that type of setup and bushes are more durable.

[@robertpinkney4778]

Can’t help but notice the Super Astute lurking in the background. Any updates planned on it?

[@RCKickschannel]

It’s just had a wheel rim upgrade. I might fit a carbon chassis at some point for fun. Ive put more effort into my Astute and that’s totally finished now.

[@GTFour]

Man I been after one of these for years 😭

[@larrybushwacker]

Bugger I thought you would of had some links to the upgrade parts☹

[@RCKickschannel]

Na, it depends on your country. You can take the upgrade info and hunt out the best option and price for yourself locally. That plus deals change all the time, so I would be messaged about dead links or better prices.

[@robertlongley9153]

Good build can’t wait to see the next video. Just like motor you are correct should have had all bearing. Ugh.

[@RCKickschannel]

Hi Robert, Unboxing video today and then back on the DF-03Ra project tomorrow. :)

[@AddamsPlayground]

Good to se I'm not the only one that gets to step 11 (or whatever) and realize I screwed it all up and have to go back 5 steps and fix something!! :) It happens to us all and if doesn't then you are not building kits!

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep Addam, it's totally normal in most builds to make mistakes that you have to fix, that's why I keep them in my content. I'm no master builder, just an RC fan.

[@KT_One]

Those rear driveshaft angles. Yikes.

[@RCKickschannel]

Definitely not optimal KT that's for sure. That said it feels smooth with no clattering.

[@firesmurfuk]

First in !!!

[@briana2137]

Time to buy some real hex drivers.

[@RCKickschannel]

Feel free to post some in ;)

[@bricearnold4445]

Best ones I’ve used are the MIP/Thorp drivers. The tips stay sharp forever. I have some that are more than twenty years old. Sharp tips help prevent from stripping out the heads of socket head screws. The flip side to ultra hard tips is that they are brittle and can snap if you try to pry with them.

[@leehurst6922]

Great cars except for the god awful alloy gear in the rear gearbox. Why oh why tamiya still include these is ludicrous

[@RCKickschannel]

This ia ball diff front and rear Lee.

[@leehurst6922]

@@RCKickschannel yeah I know. Not the diff gears but the one on the spur layshaft

[@RCKickschannel]

@@leehurst6922 Ok got you. I wonder if you can get an upgrade part?

[@leehurst6922]

@@RCKickschannel you used to be able to. Not sure if you can now. There is a way of putting another type of gear and layshaft in from another car but can't remember which. One of the forums on Facebook details it I think

[@samab3000]

Worst diff design on the DF03. I went through 3 complete new ball diffs on my Keen Hawk. Brushless system will destroy it so much quicker even when using a low kV motor. Poor design

[@RCKickschannel]

That's good to know Sam, thanks. I'm looking for a driver rally chassis and I want to pick the best rally chassis I can.