Loaded 4WD RC Buggy Makes You Want To Hit The Track - Tamiya TT-02BR

[@richmax13]

Great review! Nice to see more vidoes on the tt02br. I just picked one up a few days ago. It will be my June project!!

[@rcdriver]

Awesome, enjoy the build!

[@matthewjacknisky1881]

I was thinking of picking one of these up to race on carpet. Awesome video and thank you for the review.

[@beauar1]

Falcon was also my first car and I as well built it with my dad. Few years later I built an Avante 2001. I just love tamiyas

[@matthiasbruns8570]

How it drives. Gives me 90s manta ray vibes. Those memories… 😊

[@MrBrinkman721]

That's why this looks so familiar. I was driving the Brian Kenwald edition xxx losi back then. The good old days lol.

[@danielandrews7028]

When building the shocks watch out out for the instructions when it comes to internal spacers. It requires something stupid like 3 internal spacers in the front and 4 in the rear. If you build them like this they will be no better than stock CVAs. Ask yourself “do I like chassis slap slap slappetty slap slap slap”? I suggest ZERO internal spacers in the front and 2 in the rear. When jumping you will get more arm droop, better landings and hardly any chassis slap. It’s incredible no one notices this. My dt02 Ms has the same dampers but those instructions state zero front and 2 rear internal spacers. Buggy handles so much better this way.

[@timothycollette8263]

wish i still had my first buggy (JRX2)..... Awesome story for the Falcon! =) Keep these vids coming!

[@adityamody8942]

Guys at Gallimod are really lovely fella’s visited them in Jan 2022. John is very help full and friendly. They have a basement race track too - heart warming.

[@jeremymiller2340]

You aren't kidding about that body great paint job on that with a graphics very slick-looking Blends in well with the shock Towers very slick-looking buggy

[@gibbson4ever]

The falcon was my first RC also. I mowed a lot of grass to get it.

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Good stuff Greg, thanks!!! Always liked Tamiya products.

[@tomcook5813]

Just a little tip, a dab of paint on the battery terminals will insulate them, just a small thing I’ve learned over the years

[@electricnitrorc]

Nice to see the buggy performing this good. I think even stock tt02b performing well 🙂

[@VestedUTuber]

I mean, the TT-02 itself is a good touring car chassis even if it isn't necessarily a top-end racer. The TT-02B slaps some beefier suspension for jumps on that platform. When it was first released, it being based on a touring car really tended to show, as it didn't like going over rough surfaces, but now that 1/10th scale off-road pretty much runs on indoor carpet and clay these days it actually benefits from its repurposed on-road design. And the TT-02BR just brings up the vehicle quality to match some of the big-name racing brands while still being compatible with the the TT-02 platform's various parts. Between the BR kit and various 3rd party aftermarket options, you could turn a TT-02B into something that would be right at home racing alongside the likes of the Losi, Associated and Kyosho racing buggies while still having access to all of Tamiya's awesome body designs like the Aero Avante (I know that's a DF-02 body but the DF-02 and TT-02B use identical body mounting positions) or the TT-02B MS should you want something that stands out and are willing to sacrifice some aerodynamic optimization for it.

[@mad-beerc3818]

Great to hear your Falcon story! Brilliant! I started in 83 with the Brat! Fantastic times! Love the paint job and it looked good out there on track! Not to shabby from tamiya and like you said mate it has more in it!

[@superfeschi]

The Falcon was my first RC too! Still have it

[@rcdriver]

Awesome!

[@neontetra1000]

That jumps and lands so well I’m almost tempted to try those shocks on my db01 RRR . I think they had a flourine coating internally.

[@andrewmagro7703]

great start off platform but very weak in some real important areas as after a few runs at a track like that front and rear shock towers start to loosen as there only held in with 3 screws and i have had to use a bolt and nylock nut on the top center screw hole to sandwich the tower to the gearbox housing and that fixed that at the moment i'm playing around with pinions and spur had to add some posts to the motor mount to raise it for bigger gears as ran out of room at around 26 teeth but look this is a fun buggy and i can highly recommend it

[@JarrettDorough]

Looks like a sweet ride

[@brendanmcg4358]

Thank you for the video. I am looking at this kit. John at Gallimods is awesome. I've bought a few things from him over the years and the store is always top notch.

[@andyb9994]

Very cool 💯

[@bryanjones7347]

Put the shocks on the front side of the towers not the rear and it’ll save the plastic diff housing from egging out. You will have to trim the body more but it works great and handles way better

[@ofnachix]

When he says “I wish these would come in aluminium but this is fine” he actually means “this plastic will fail soon”. Example steering rack, caster blocks, front knuckles. Remember king pin screws that fall out LOL STEPPED SCREWS!!

[@VestedUTuber]

Judging by your username, you're an OFNA fan... weren't their Hong Nor imports known for brittle plastics and cast aluminum parts?

[@ofnachix]

@@VestedUTuber no idea, I’m only a Hobao fan who doesn’t race cars

[@dj4monie]

Then why comment? There are step screw upgrades actually. Since you don't race there is little point in me saying much else. The truth is this chassis in AWD buggy stock 17.5T is more than competitive with the entry level Yokomo.

[@gindavid9424]

Great video! May i ask what oil did you put on your front and rear differential? TIA

[@ClayCrawler75]

I tend to like it better than the more expensive buggies.

[@jennyetherington3326]

Great Video Greg 💯 love this

[@rcdriver]

So glad you liked it my Tamiya fan friend!! 🤗

[@fuse557]

Great video!

[@annon1731]

I saw the framed OCC issue! I just got done re-reading that article. I remember how unbelievable it was for me to see the OCC guys on the cover of an RC magazine. Could you do a recap on some of your more famous articles from back in the day? I don't think these newer guys know you're a legend in RC journalism and not just another KZbinr.

[@rcdriver]

Thanks for being a long time reader/ viewer. That was an awesome article to create. Tons of work went into it. You’re right, not many on this platform know my background. I might put something together in the future.

[@annon1731]

@@rcdriver I would love to see it. I have so many questions. That era was the golden age for magazines. I know I’m not the only guy who got started in RC because of your articles. Thank you for showing me a hobby I’ve now been involved with for over 20 years. Someone give this man his flowers!

[@cal440]

I always wanted a Falcon, never got one. I hope they will make a re release

[@chowtm19]

You Race Falcon! You are lucky kid.

[@demonicsrt4]

What's the longest 2s you can fit in the battery tray? I think this would be a great 1st 1/10 4wd kit for my son to build

[@moejr1974]

It'll take the standard size 2s lipo

[@alphawlff]

I pieced together my own version with a carbon chassis.

[@vivos71]

Think the one way front diff would be beneficial for this setup?

[@CraigOverend]

The TT-02BR is ~20mm shorter in wheelbase than most racing buggies and will be more tail happy and suited to tighter tracks.

[@VestedUTuber]

So, most indoor tracks, then.

[@tm5123]

I think the main issue with the TT-02 is that they dont have the option for a slipper clutch, so if you want to go racing, and find yourself on a carpet track, you can blow out the gears landing on power. Sand and other loose stuff, should be totally fine. Love the Falcon btw.

[@dj4monie]

Why do you assume that? You can tune the diffs to have some give/slip and you aren't supposed to land under power. It's you Traxxas fanatics that don't race who do that.

[@danielandrews7028]

The 25T hard coated pinion part number 54578 would be a better match for that 13.5T motor. it would take the final drive gear ratio from 10.7 all the way down to 7.28. right there with the recommended gearing used by Losi and Associated. Amazingly you can use this same pinion for a Tamiya TD2 or TD4 using a 13.5T or 17.5T motor respectively. It makes perfect sense why tamiya would only hard coat the 25T pinion gear and not their other gears. if you need the ratio as close to 7 as possible you can swap out the 70T spur for a 68T spur in any of these buggies.

[@thegreattreon0177]

The chassis looks just like the DF02 platform

[@cpt_mookie]

Wow wonderful looking TT-02! It makes me want to buy my third TT02. If you had to chose between this and the TD4 Super Avante, which would you choose? They are both in the same price range, and if I recall you had similar comments for the both of them.

[@rcdriver]

The Super Avante is a shelf car for me now. I drove it, it’s fun. But I think I’ll drive the BR more frequently.

[@clarencedelacruz7822]

How were you able to shorten the antenna?

[@AC-bl1rl]

What oil rates do you like for the differentials?

[@SleeplessInDallas]

Pretty cool, except the nose-less body, I like vintage buggy with nose before the front shock tower.

[@isaidme0]

So what tires would you have preferred for that car on that track? Thanks

[@adityamody8942]

If i have to pick between this TT02 or XV02 which one is better option. Also any other 4 x 4 kit which would be below $250

[@JoevsRc]

Do you think with the stock setup it would be better on carpet??

[@jaycapino5777]

Hello! Can i ask of the longer shocks translate tp a higher ride height than say the TT02S/R? Thibking of getting one

[@_blood_moon_proto_1500]

so what electrics would you use for an actual full tamiya race spec? cus i am enjoying tamiya buggies

[@letzvisit1661]

Can you get full metal diffs and spurs for the tt02b I want to make a speed buggy but is more durable and longer lasting.

[@babupranav]

So better than the td4?

[@VestedUTuber]

If you're worried about the steering knuckles, steering links or any other parts on this, don't be. This is basically just a racier TT-02B, which in turn is a TT-02 with beefed up suspension and longer A-arms. There's a ton of third-party aftermarket options for this platform.

[@ahhobby2527]

Nice to see the new TT02BR taken to a track, thanks for the coverage! How do you find any dirts getting into the chassis tub, was it a big of an issue? The trouble with TT02B from my experience is that the body/chassis do not provide enough closure from dirts so when sands get in, they easily scratched my hop-up metal prop shaft. I ended up having the Tamiya Chassis Cover Set (item 22023) for rally cars, and modify a bit to my usage. What do you think? Appreciate the feedback, cheers.

[@rcdriver]

The track surface I was running on was fairly groomed. Other than a light layer of dust, there wasn’t anything in there to cause an issue. But yes I agree with debris surfaces you run the risk of stuff getting in. Off the top of my head there’s not much to do other than using some self adhesive foam under the driveshaft to prevent rocks from getting wedged in there.

[@ahhobby2527]

@@rcdriver ohh right, I also did put some hard foams around the inner part of the bodyshell, and around the chassis tub where necessary. Protected 97% of the debris from getting in. Some holes only made for cooling fan on the motor heat sink for it to breathe. Thanks for the reply, cheers.

[@Droidy77]

The scratches make it go faster! 😁 But watch out for gravel jamming the steering...

[@ahhobby2527]

@@Droidy77 happened before LOL. Which is why i went with the chassis cover.

[@ahhobby2527]

@@philthyco1 since the TT02 is not bespoke to buggy, it is not as straightforward to velcro as can be done to dedicated 2wd or 4wd race buggies. Hence why i went with the Tamiya’s chassis cover which comes with velcro as well, and I still need to put additional covers using sponge and foams around the front and rear gearbox covers.

[@baddestmofoalive]

The only thing really holding back the TT02 line is lack of slipper clutch imo

[@40ollie67]

Whats different about the tto2br steering than the stock tt02b? It looks like they went meatier without alloy, am I wrong?

[@mikes062]

Do you have a video on flying with lipos or a good resource to get informed? I’m flying delta if that makes a difference. Thanks!

[@rcdriver]

I don’t have a video about it. I think Mark SantaMaria did a video. Last year I flew with 3 LiPo packs. I taped the connectors to the side of the packs and put them in a LiPo sack and placed them in my carryon bag. You cannot put them in checked baggage. TSA only stopped me on the way home. When they asked what it was. I said they are Model Car Lithium batteries. I taped the connections and placed them in a lithium specific bag for safety. They guy said cool and sent me on my way.

[@mikes062]

@@rcdriver awesome, thanks!

[@fromfin90]

if the BR is half as durable as my TT02B with a 3300kv 550 can and HW 10BL60 sensorless esc, it'll be fine haha

[@FreeMan-JPLK]

Cool

[@MarkNash-jf3gh]

Did you actually think after the upgrades it’s still pants and sucks? I missed the point completely

[@GeddyRC]

It's strange to me that it includes carbon fiber parts but then has plastic gears in the diffs. I don't know of a buggy kit that has non-metal diff gears. That doesn't make any sense. Also it looks a little smaller than other 1/10th scale race buggies? Looks like a 1/12th or 1/14th scale to me. Anyone else think it looks kinda small and short?

[@Aaron11411]

I was just thinking that about the plastic. I have to say it looks like it drives great and still retains that Tamiya loose fun factor idk..

[@muddfoot69]

Looks short…no?

[@enricomiceli5517]

It looks good but it is very pricey!

[@Dylan-p2m]

its a cool BASHER and conversation peace. nothing more

[@oliverstoys8411]

Love the design, handling and the look of the new buggy, but tamiya need to update to a stronger plastic parts and durable differentials, you can do a solo run with no issues, but once there two car in the track, i am sure it will break.

[@deltazero3796]

You hit it once and it stays at home as shelf queen. Sad truth.

[@randysgut3214]

@@mikescherrer4923 it’s got plastic gears. don’t get it. go for an arrma senton or a slash 4x4

[@ahhobby2527]

@@randysgut3214 plastic gears are totally fine for race buggies, even high end ones got plastic gears. It’s just that they’re protected by slipper clutch. Those Arrma and Traxxas that you suggested are not even in the same category. Racer vs basher.

[@randysgut3214]

@@ahhobby2527 just an open suggestion for him. if he’s lookin for buggies then surely he can look at their models and find the typhon and bandit and such

[@randysgut3214]

@@mikescherrer4923 look at arrma buggies. tough. lots of extra parts. and good for the price

[@Fly2kill1]

@@randysgut3214 Arrma doesn’t have anything for a racer unless you want to spend hours tuning the TLR Typhoon.

[@LonestarPaul]

no slipper => not raceworthy... as simple as that :) and to think that tamiya still can't get their piston/oil combo right in the box setup after making RC cars for 45yrs is appalling to say the least....