Tamiya DF03 Dark Impact Build Guide & Tips Part 1

[@DeliriumElectric]

I'm watching this before I tackle my Keen Hawk rebuild. So thanks for the video!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Any time! Thank you very much for watching and leaving a comment - all the best from Mark... :)

[@danhornik598]

I'm building my first rc car, so this was super helpful to follow alongside the instructions. Having this as a visual reference helped me make sure that the pieces I've gathered are the correct ones and eliminates the unsureness I had on my own. Thanks man. Looking forward to completing the rest of the build with ya🤘🏼

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi Dan and thanks for the comment. Glad to hear that it helped! I wish you luck and enjoyment with your first build. I'm sure it will turn out great in the end. Best regards from Mark... 👍👍

[@fonswalma3574]

Nice kit mark, enjoy🤘🤘

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks very much, Fons, all the best to you, my mate! 👍

[@TonysRcTechboom]

Get innnn Mark i got a notification 😁🤗😁🤗 hopefully it will continue 🙏 awesome Build and Info with Tips 👍 you done a great job and can't wait for the next Part 🤗 keep safe and sound My Brother from another Mother 👍🥰👍 Love yeah Man 👍🥰😍👍

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks my mate, Tony! 👍 Yay, good on KZbin (for a change!). Thanks for always leaving a lovely comment. Hope all is well with you and Anna - take care my good brother - love and peace as always! :)

[@TonysRcTechboom]

@@MarkBryanRC 👍😎🥰👍

[@philthyco1]

Nice!!!Make sure you keep the ball diffs in tune after every few runs

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks, that's great advice! Will do! I have heard that the diffs are made of cheese =D

[@philthyco1]

@@MarkBryanRC Not at all..People just don't know how to set up and tune ball diffs correctly so they say they are garbage..it's funny really lol

[@MarkBryanRC]

@@philthyco1 Really glad to hear that, Phil - I was hoping that was the case. I have an original 1986 TA-02 with a rear ball diff, that car has had so many runs that I can't count them - and the thing still works great today! Many thanks for the comments and info, bro! :)

[@philthyco1]

@@MarkBryanRC Yup exactly..I run ball diffs brushless 3s in my Top Force and Durga ..The only time I turned one into cheese was my fault for misadjustment lol

[@rccrawlersmid-wales645]

PhilthyCo RC So how do you tune them? Do they just slacken off in use or something?

[@madsrcbuggy]

So nice watching this, even though I already built mine, it's like being there again. You're doing yours a little more "premium" than mine, I'm looking forward to seeing those alu parts in the build, they are really nice! One extra side note, I have to admire the engineers for this, the gearbox is really well made. I'm looking forward to the spring, get it out for some exercise again!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi Mads - great to read you! Oh yeah, I'm really enjoying this build - a step up from the entry level buggies, for sure! You got that right, the designers did a great job on this one. I hope you don't mind, but I'm stealing that idea of yours to fix the body on with velcro - many thanks for that tip! Definitely looking forward to some warmer weather and some Covid-free Tamiya fun. All the best my friend! :)

[@forzahorizon5_xpert_1]

big like from Xpertboost. keep it up. love your videos.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks for the visit and the nice comment - appreciated! :)

[@thecontractor365]

Hey Mark, that was totally engrossing mate - excellent close-up camera work to show all the details of both manual and parts, and perfectly explained to boot ! I was especially fascinated with how the ball diff went together. I've never seen one up close before. The only one I know about is the MIP upgrade for the Monster Beetle / Blackfoot chassis. I never knew Tamiya had started to incorporate them in some kits. Anyway it must have been refreshing handling Tamiya parts and instructions after building the Carisma. At one point you mentioned using a torque tuned motor that you had 'going spare.' Does this imply that the kit does not come with a motor then ? I saw the unboxing vid but I don't recall if it did or didn't. And yeah locating certain parts. During building every Tamiya I've ever owned I've always been convinced there has been a part missing - there never has. Anyway enjoy the rest of the build and your weekend. Looking forward to part two.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi dude! Yeah, loving this build, everything is going together nicely, and the parts are all a nice, snug fit. It feels premium quality, I can tell you - haha, especially after the Carisma! I do like the Tamiya ball diffs, they require a bit of setting up and maintenance, but you can really feel the difference over a gear diff, lots more traction. Oh, the kit comes with a silver can. The Torque Tuned was from my Racing Fighter (as I fitted a brushless) and should give a couple of mph more. Same here, I was hunting a few parts in this kit (the parts bags are not numbered, strangely) but yes, all parts present and correct! Thanks again, mate, hope all is going well with you. :)

[@fencenaoghen3569]

Hello my good friend ! As always it's a great vid, Doc' Mark. Clear and detailed, congrats. Wow the Yeah Racing parts... looks amazing, that will be good. 'hope you're ok and yours too. I pray for them my friend. It was a work weekend...What a crazy job we have... Still waiting for some time to start a new build... Ok I stop crying, Your video made me feel good, my friend, keep it up!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Bonjour, mon ami! Thanks as always for the kind words. The YEAH racing alloy hop-ups are looking good on the buggy - coming soon! We are OK thank you, wishing you and yours the best of health too. Oh yes, a crazy job indeed, we must love it or we would not still be doing it. Keep going, we can make it to the half-term holiday! Love and peace to you my excellent friend! :)

[@HaydadRC]

Quite an intricate, detailed build, this one! Excellent presentation as always Mark, have a great weekend my friend!👍😊

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks, Jeremy! I always appreciate your kind words and support. Wishing you a great weekend too, my friend! :)

[@jamesthomson5774]

The research I did on the diff lead me to get ceramic diff balls and the slipper clutch. Haven’t actually run mine yet though

[@seanmcd72]

What motor are you going to run?

[@jamesthomson5774]

@@seanmcd72 Tamiya sport tuned to start with. Possibly brushless at a later date

[@seanmcd72]

@@jamesthomson5774 That's what I just ordered - Sport Tuned, which I will switch to after break everything in :)

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi James - yes I think I read the same advice many times! But I am going to see how long the diff lasts in stock form - it should be interesting! Hope yours holds up well, all the best from Mark...

[@MarkBryanRC]

Good plan, James!

[@Glancyguy74]

@MarkBryanRC this series was great. You do the best build videos by far! I purchased a Avante MkII from Japan last month and used these videos as a guide. It was the best built I have done out of 20 builds in 35 years. When do we get BBX build tutorials?

[@MarkBryanRC]

Many thanks for the kind words, Darren! Great to hear that you approve! I do like that Avante MkII, great little buggy. As for the BBX, I really do like them but I'm just struggling with the cost as money is tight at the moment. Fingers crossed prices come down, I really would love one! Cheers!

[@NordicRC]

Hi Mark. Enjoyed it. Good instructions. I must admit that the rear gear box is not my favorite. Yeah, the diff is alike cheese and that butter metal gear on the main shaft will produce a great amount of real metal butter. But it’s a great buggy nontheless. Got two 🤭🙂

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks, Mikael - yes I have seen both of your beauties! Hmmm... I'm a little worried about the gearbox, I think I will run it for a while and then take it apart to see what wear there is - might do a video about it. Cheers, mate! :O)

[@NordicRC]

@@MarkBryanRC That would be very nice to see your experience and opinion. On one of mine the rear diff is worn down. I was not to keen on getting a new one and see that wear down fast again, so I just tightened it. It’s a real locked diff off roader now 😅😅😅

[@MarkBryanRC]

@@NordicRC I don't blame you for doing that, no use throwing more money at it if the problem is going to reoccur - haha I think that many people swear by a locked diff on an off road buggy! Take it easy, bro! :)

[@RcNickster709]

Nice work my friend. Thanks for sharing

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you, Nick! Appreciate the comment, dude - Cheers!

[@RallyandTrail]

Always a top quality build 👊 Great stuff 👍🙂

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you, ROB! this chassis is a pleasure to build - Cheers!

[@DustyFingersRC]

I got one at Christmas for one of my DT-02'S. I ordered ceramic bearings to use instead of the supplied ones. Not fitted it yet due to time constraints and constant Lunchbox action with my son.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hello my friend! I looked at those ceramic bearings but they were so expensive! Good call though, from what I've heard. Oh well, there are a lot worse things you could be doing than playing Lunchboxes with your son! All the best - cheers! :)

[@robbrennanrc]

Hi dude. Well that brought back some memories of doing mine especially the not being able to find that brass bush for the spur gear. As you know catching up on my YT fixes after recent events so have watched both your Subaru snow vids (great stuff with camera tracking) but hope you don't mind I haven't commented. Hope all is well with you, Lou and the kids?

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hiya matey! Glad you are feeling better - thanks for catching up, and you never have to worry about the comments, dude! Oh well, I had to do something with the camera as my best mate was out of action! Thanks for the compliment - needs must as they say. Things are OK, not brilliant TBH - still waiting on treatment for Lou, but you know what a fighter she is! Elle is coming home tonight, so that will be cool to see her. All the best, dudester! :)

[@JF-RC]

Oh that's a proper gearbox assembly. Certainly see that the model requires a higher skill set than tge TT02 etc... Nice tutorial 👌 👍 😀

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks, John! 👍 Yeah, this really is a step up from the entry level kits - nice bit of metal and some good quality plastics in there. It's a dream to put together, I'm really enjoying this one! All the best my good friend! :)

[@3TRCGarage]

Hi Mark, another great tutorial. How do you mount the camera? Seems like compared to your Carisma build their are no fitment issues. Tamiya has excellent quality control. Plastic is a good way to set the gear mesh so is receipt paper. I’ve been using little magnetic bowls from Amazon to hold and magnetize small parts that love to jump off the table and roll away. Love your teaching style, your real students are lucky to have you! Take care Brother👍🏾

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks a bunch, Paul! The camera is mounted on a stick attached to a shelf above the work bench, luckily it has a zoom so I can adjust the view to suit the action! Oh yeah, this buggy is a dream to put together, everything just slides into place as it should. Good idea with the magnetic bowl, I have a couple of them, too. Many thanks for the compliment, I try my best! Hope all is well with you and your family, take it easy my friend. :)

[@CMBProjects]

Great vid! You would like to see my homemade 1/5 49cc RC cars!

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks very much! They sound very interesting! :)

[@CMBProjects]

@@MarkBryanRC yes, they are! You can check them out on my channel😁👍

[@bigfoot8361]

hi Mark, the parts bags arent lettered abc etc. the parts list in the manual are still considered abc etc but there was screws everywhere . now waiting for front oneway and have finished the ball diff. interesting build, thanks and keep safe

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hi there! Oh yeah, because there were no letters on the parts bags, I just tipped them into a big pot! So many metal parts to sort through! Don't know why they didn't do it like in most other kits? Anyway, good luck with your build - stay safe too! :)

[@rccrawlersmid-wales645]

God that diff looks fiddly to do... great tips there with the grease and magnetised screwdriver. Wish I'd thought of a magnet while I was rebuilding a loose ball race for my bicycle headset the other day! 🤦🏻‍♂️ I think I've still got dents in my fingers from squashing them hard enough to stick so I could pick each one up. Hey... maybe I could magnetise my fingers? BY GEORGE I THINK I'VE CRACKED IT 🤔

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hello, Steve! Yeah, a bit fiddly to make the diff - you need 3 hands! Haha, magnetised fingers? Sorry, dude, but unless you are a robot, I think you are gonna struggle there! I recently rebuilt a bicycle freewheel gear, about 50 bearings, using the same magnet technique - works a treat! Hope all is well down there in Wales - take it easy, mate! :)

[@paulgarwood192]

Thanks Mark Nice build upload. Your thoughts on the Escort release? Being a rally fan, interested in what/if you do?

[@MarkBryanRC]

Cheers, Paul. The Escort? Do you mean the MF-01 or the TT02 version? I think probably the MF with the MkII body. Yeah, love it mate, but a few money issues at the moment as my wife is off work. Hopefully when things are looking better I can get one. Otherwise I might see if I can afford the Escort Turbo body shell and fit it to an existing chassis I have. All the best, Paul... :)

[@paulgarwood192]

@@MarkBryanRC sorry, the MF-01, I only found out about the TT02 version this morning. Thinking of you and your’s during these hard times. Hoping the winds of change brings many a rally kit your way 👍🤓🇦🇺

[@MarkBryanRC]

@@paulgarwood192 Thanks Paul, that's really kind of you mate. :)

[@BenAppleTre]

Oh my goodness those ball diffs!!! :-) Cracking video Mark & looks like a great kitty too, was thinking of getting one a while ago. Hope u all ok... :-) Ben

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thanks Ben! Yeah, those ball diffs are a pain in the proverbial, but satisfying to build in the end! Sure is a lovely kit to put together, I recommend it so far! All good here, mate - hope all is well with you! 👍

[@PeteWylieRC]

Hiya matey. Well I enjoyed that to the full on the big telly while drinking beer and eating snacks. Didn't realise what a good spec this kit was. What a lot of different bearing sizes! I do wonder if the high spec components of this will translate into performance benefits that you will notice as a park basher rather than a serious racer? I'm sure that it will be great but I wonder how much different it will be to a cheapy TT-02B? Fantastic build though, especially with all those hop up parts that you got sent. I've been a bit lazy this week and have got nothing to put up video wise. I did remix another Sand Scorcher video but because I'd used the previously edited footage as the source, it turned out rubbish when I put it together. What I need to do is to go back to the original camera files but I can't quite be bothered right now. Anyway how's work been going? Mine's still much the same. This post Christmas winter season does seem to be dragging more than usual. I think that the lack of being able to meet friends and family is rather trying when the weather is rubbish. Anyway I do have delicious beer and projects to be getting on with so it's not all bad. Hope you are enjoying your Friday matey. Any vaccinations in your family yet? Will be us young men before too long hopefully. Cheers for now 😀

[@MarkBryanRC]

Hiya Pete! Hope the weekend's going well... Drinks and a snack is the best way to enjoy these vides! Yeah, this kit feels a bit special and is a joy to put together! Definitely gone crazy with all the different bearing sizes, easy to get mixed up. I reckon you will be able to tell the difference between this and an entry level TT-02B - like the TT02 and the XV01, performance isn't miles apart, but the feeling when you drive then is like chalk and cheese! Can't really describe it though! Anyway, thanks for watching matey, never mind about not uploading, we need a break from that now and again. I also did a couple of remixes lately, and decided not to go with them! It's a real faff to go back to the original raw footage, ain't it? Work is still like Groundhog Day, hopefully things will get back to normality soon. Definitely dragging on, feels like it should be March already! My parents have had the first jab, and Dad is suffering with side effects, but Mum is OK. I have to do a self test kit twice a week, I hate that back of the throat prodding and twisting, aaarrrgghhh! Enjoy the ales, and have a lovely Sunday, mate! :))

[@dedeksaragih]

I LIKE IT

[@MarkBryanRC]

Thank you so much, your comment is appreciated my friend! :)

[@OllisRCCars]

Nice Video👌 I subscribed

[@MarkBryanRC]

Awesome thank you!

[@TheCironni]

If you had to choose would you go for this or a TT02B? I'm looking to build something with grunt using brushless. By the time you hop up the drive train and other bits on TT02B you're nearly at the same price as the Dark Impact.

[@MarkBryanRC]

That's a hard question! The TT02B is a great buggy, but has it's issues, mainly the weak diff bevel gears. The DF03 is a better design and made out of much better materials, plus comes with bearings and much better steering. The DF is my choice, but I have been warned that the ball diffs are weak - although mine is going strong still, but with a stock motor! Good luck with your project!

[@TheCironni]

@@MarkBryanRC Thank you so much! Really appreciate it!

[@MarkBryanRC]

@@TheCironni 😀👌👍

[@pukeylukey2852]

Did they upgrade the alloy drivegear to steel? because everyone had problems with IT

[@MarkBryanRC]

No, I don't think anything has changed in the kit, but for the record, my DF03 has been faultless! 😎👍

[@pukeylukey2852]

@@MarkBryanRC are you running brushless motor od do what kv and how much do you use IT? Are you using a slipper clutch ? People reporter the alloy drive gear gets worn out and it damages the drive train.

[@MarkBryanRC]

No, my DF03 is totally stock with the Marbuchi motor. That is probably why mine is still good. I don't think these buggies were designed for high KV brushless motors!