Tamiya DF-03 Dark Impact Brushed vs Tamiya DF-03MS Brushless! GPS Speed Test & Jumps!

Speed testing the Tamiya DF-03 Dark Impact (standard & brushed) versus the Tamiya DF-03MS Ltd. Edition (upgraded & brushless) ... and a bit of rewarding fun in the backyard garden with the son and a ramp afterwards!
Well, I am still learning to remember all steps each time and though I will probably never get there fully at least I hope to say that this speed test experience is going to make me remember calibrating my ESC's after fitting a new radio in the future. More info below.
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I must say I am pleased with these results. Both just feels much more right now, although I still want to make a couple of changes before I consider this project all finished.
The Tamiya Dark Impact could need a tiny bit more speed with a larger pinion, now that the new spur gear allows plenty of room for it. And while the top speed of the Tamiya DF-03MS felt quite pleasant, when accelerating too fast I can actually already start to hear the sound of the infamous weak rear ball differential struggling.
So a combination of a larger pinion and a lower KV motor could probably be a good idea if I want to run the MS and keep that diff intact. The Dark Impact's rear diff is already melted (and "locked") from last year's brushless set up.
In case you are wondering about the choice of batteries, the 2006 DF-03's battery compartment is very small and do not allow room for any of my larger hard case 2S LiPo batteries. Although there is room for one of my Awanfi soft pack 3S LiPo's, when plugging it in the cooling fan of the ESC nearly went bye bye and I do not expect the ESC to survive a 3S run either. If interested, check out the unboxing and first tests of the Awanfi batteries here (amazon link in the description box): • WLToys A959-A vs Tamiy...
Watch the past episodes of the Tamiya DF-03 Project here:
Part 1: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 2: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 3: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 4: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 5: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 6: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 7: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
Part 8: • Tamiya DF-03 Project P...
"Part 9" • Tamiya DF-03 Reboot: D...
The #TamiyaDF03 platform is a mid-range/entry-level race spec buggy platform originally introduced with the #TamiyaDarkImpact (Tamiya 58370) and the Tamiya Keen Hawk (Tamiya 58380) in 2006. They share the following standard DF-03 specifications:
- DF-03 ABS Monocoque Bathtub Frame
- Shaft-driven 4WD
- Aluminum Propeller Shaft
- Polycarbonate body
- Length: 387 mm
- Width: 250 mm
- Height: 132-145 mm
- Lowest Ground Clearance: 24 mm
- Wheel base: 272 mm
- Tread: 217 mm (Front) 203 mm (Rear)
- Tire Width/Diameter: 33/87 mm (Front) 43/87mm (Rear)
- Weight: Approx. 1200 g
- Sealed Gear Boxes w/ Ball Differentials Front/Rear
- Gear Ratio: 9.17:1
- 4-wheel Double Wishbone Suspension
- Steering: 3-piece Tie Rod
- CVA Oil Filled Dampers
- Full Ball Bearings
- Dual Block high-density spike tire K front/rear
- Supplied w/ brushed RS-540 motor and ESC
In 2007 the first MS edition of the DT-02 chassis with a Sand Viper Body appeared (Tamiya 49475) and in 2013 an MS edition of the Dark Impact followed (Tamiya 84370). The third and latest MS Edition is of the TT-02B Dual Ridge (Tamiya 84418).
Apart from a specially designed decal/sticker sheet to re-create the MS color scheme of the TRF driver Satoshi Maezumi (hence the "MS") hop-up-options are included in the #TamiyaDF03MS Edition (Tamiya 84370). The DF-03 MS featured in this video includes additional hop-up options. (find a complete list of all hop-ups in the previous DF-03 Project videos).
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The Tamiya DF-03 Family:
- Tamiya 58370 Dark Impact 2006
- Tamiya 58380 Keen Hawk 2006
- Tamiya 58387 Avante Mk. II 2007
- Tamiya 84370 DF-03 MS Edition (Dark Impact) 2013
- Tamiya 84400 Dark Impact White Version 2015
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The Tamiya MS Edition Family:
- Tamiya 49475 DT-02 MS Edition (Sand Viper) 2007
- Tamiya 84370 DF-03 MS Edition (Dark Impact) 2013
- Tamiya 84418 TT-02B MS Edition (Dual Ridge) 2015
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Nordic RC Visions Statement:
This video features homemade footage of my own radio-controlled unit, the Tamiya DF-03 MS (Tamiya 84370) and the Tamiya DF-03 Dark Impact (Tamiya 58370), from my personal RC model collection. All rights reserved.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Love it 😊 Great to see the young ones enjoying the hobby 👊🏻

[@NordicRC]

Thanks, my friend. Yeah, he is really enjoying the RC's this summer :-)

[@HaydadRC]

Great testing on some awesome buggies! Love your opening shots of that beautiful countryside! It was nice to see you enjoying this great hobby with your son!👍😊

[@NordicRC]

Thanks, my friend. Yeah, we are definitely enjoying life here in the country side :-) Thanks again for watching.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Great to see the "nerdy tinkering" paid off! Cheap/free speed upgrades are the best! Lovely to see the fun at the end too - "Ain't I driving fast!" Hehe - priceless. Mikael! :-)

[@NordicRC]

Well, last video was indeed nerdy (really nerdy to film oneself calibrating an ESC and uploading it I would say) but I guess calibration should be considered a normal business in this hobby (a nerdy activity in a nerdy hobby). Have no idea why I forgot it. Maybe too focused on the filming and too focused blaming the motor). Yeah, little Junior is getting confident in his RC skills but still ends up driving into the bushes ... Just like his father 😂

[@billc8971]

Love watching your videos and especially seeing you and your son enjoying the hobby.

[@NordicRC]

Thank you, Bill! I feel so blessed having a hobby my son also enjoys. Hope it will continue 🙂

[@christophercoconis2575]

Ah much better speed out of the MS bro! Got to get another diff for it thou.. Little man is getting so big!! I'm glad that you guy's are having so much fun with the rc's, It's good to know that both our kids have the passion for the hobby now😊 I have to say bro you got some beautiful land there!! That's one thing I don't have here at the new house, Hopefully someday..lol Have a great Tamiya Tuesday!!

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, much better. And I better remember to calibrate each time after this one 🙂 Ahh, diff is practically brand new on the MS. Gonna leave the broken one tightened up in the standard. Can’t allow myself to get a new each time I run it. They burn out so easily. So that’s why I am thinking about getting a gentler KV for the MS. Ahh, yeah, we must be lucky getting a hobby that we can enjoy with our kids too. Well, you got a lot of Family history in your new house so that has to count for something too 🙂

[@christophercoconis2575]

@@NordicRC Yes definitely better bud, Oh sorry I thought the MS had the bad diff in it.. I would double check the tightness on the diff and give the gearbox the a look at it should be like that it should be able to handle a mild brushless system a guy at the track has the Avante DF03 and runs it pretty hard with a hobbywing combo I want to say around 3300 to 3900kv? I'll ask him what he did to the diff to handle the power? Yeah got luck that the kids love the hobby like we do bud! You're right about my house having history but my dream has always been to have farmhouse with a lot on land thou hopefully someday ☺️

[@NordicRC]

christopher coconis Yeah, just heard that a lot of other folks are having trouble too with the rear diff. Ahh, yeah, that motor should be able to do some damage. Would love to hear what he has done to make it last. Maybe the answer is a certain tightness of the diff. Would actually love to throw a gear diff in it of they where around - and not worry anymore 🙂 Hope you will get the farm house one day. I really love having this much space and green around the house.

[@TonysRcTechboom]

Fantastic speed runs , great Jumps , fantastic buggies and a fantastic video bro 👍😁👍

[@NordicRC]

Thank you so much for all the support, Tony!

[@rctrailcats3492]

Liked watching the shadows as the car flew over.

[@NordicRC]

Slo mo shadows are good 🙂

[@PeteWylieRC]

Hi Mikael. Yeah that's more like it! Always worth checking that the electrics are set up properly so a good lesson. You know we all do the thing of showing the GPS speed checker on zero before starting and I'm thinking that if we didn't, people would probably still trust us that it started on zero and we didn't put it in our full sized cars first and drive around to get a higher reading! Anyway great slomo jumps and fun with your son. Also nice views of the countryside. Have a good weekend mate :-)

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, a really good lesson. But I still bet it won’t be the last time I forget to do the basics before the first run 😂 And yes, I’ve actually started to ask myself if the ‘showing the zero’ is necassary. But I guess it’s also for my own sake. I’m the kind that could forget to set it to zero - and this way I can check that I didn’t forget it. The other day I actually filmed a speed run and when returning with the car I found out I had forgotten to mount the GPS. I never seem to amaze myself 🤣😂

[@PeteWylieRC]

@@NordicRC Yeah actually with all the 'fake news' around it's probably a good thing to show the zero. The thing I tend to forget is to actually plug the battery pack in and I'm wondering why the car won't power up! Also if I'm RC'ing with my mate I start watching the wrong car and wonder why it isn't responding to my controls while my actual car is hurtling into a tree!

[@NordicRC]

Pete Wylie RC Videos Ha ha, good to hear I am not the only one 🙂 Well, at least your forgetfullness is easy to correct. My forgetfullness involves the basic set up of the car. Everything from unglued tires to non-calibrated ESC’s ☺️

[@theibault]

Really enjoyed the jumps! Sweet video my friend. ;)

[@NordicRC]

Hi Omar! Yeah, of all I thought you would enjoy some slo mo jumps 🙂

[@AdventureTimeRC]

Great show down Mikael I live these buggies they just look cool at any speed and so nice in the air👍😁

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, love the DF-03. And thanks Brent. Hope to get some cool wide dirt jumps here at some point for some good jump action 🙂

[@STEVOD313]

Awesome bro I need one of these

[@NordicRC]

Thanks, Steve! Both the DF-02 and DF-03 are cool little modern classics and icons from the 0's :-)

[@islandrc-duke1972]

Sweet video and great comparing of the RCs .

[@NordicRC]

Thanks a lot, Duke! Love making these videos 🙂

[@madsrcbuggy]

"Lille Fjols" That should be the next official name from Tamiya for their DF-03! :D

[@NordicRC]

Ha ha, maybe it could be a cool Danish Ltd. DF-03 Edition 😂

[@RCModSquad]

I really enjoyed this! It makes me want to dig out my Golden Arrow! 😜👍🏻👍🏻

[@NordicRC]

Nice! Glad I could inspire to get more of the old ones outside again 🙂

[@VoidXRC]

Nice speed runs and jumps!

[@NordicRC]

Thanks, Michael! We had fun :-)

[@ShenRC]

Nice! 26mph is how fast my upgraded brushed tamiya holiday buggy does that a nice speed.

[@NordicRC]

He he, yeah, got a DT-02 in the 40+ kph but that speed feels a little faster in a 2WD than a 4WD :-) I wouldn't mind getting this one closer to 50 than 40 kph, but the weak rear diff is already making funny noises accelerating with this speed.

[@philthyco1]

First thing to do is to set up the Throttle EPA and Steering EPA..Then get into programming all the other settings like LVC,Brake and punch

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, normally I remember to calibrate but I tend to forget things when too focused on other things, like filming etc. Good thing it was so slow at first. If it had run a little faster I would probably never have suspected I had forgotten it, being so focused on blaming the unspecified motor. What is LVC?

[@aviano72]

Now that was better :)

[@NordicRC]

Defintely 🙂 Thanks, my friend.

[@BasBoyRC]

One a small difference the other huge. But good there was improvements.

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, and I think I even wrote +3 kph for the standard. I think the first run was 27 the second 32 so +5 kph. That’s pretty good for just changing the spur without any pinion changes. And yeah, I think after this one I will remember to calibrate all the time in the future 🙂

[@moderatortobiaswitton]

👍🏼 Do you know if it's still possible to buy the DF-03 MS Tamiya. Unfortunately, no chance here in Germany :(

[@NordicRC]

No, it’s out of production. It pops up now and then on eBay but for hilarious amounts

[@moderatortobiaswitton]

@@NordicRCokay, thanks!

[@moderatortobiaswitton]

I could get one, brand-new! But I am not sure. Costs 300 €, without motor, tires and electric. The body is not painted, right?

[@NordicRC]

Uhh, yeah, it’s gonna get really expensive then ... yeah, you need two different Tamiya spray cans (white and metallic blue) to paint the body and wing

[@sullybiker6520]

I'd be curious if removing that wing makes much difference. It's got big frontal area.

[@NordicRC]

Yeah, sometimes removing a wing can gain a little in top speed

[@lilvirtt3577]

Do you use a slipper clutch on any of these and where can I get one?

[@NordicRC]

The MS version came stock with the slipper clutch. The Dark Impact none. I think you will have to search for it. DF-03 parts are becoming a little more sparse. Try Tamico (in Europe) or eBay/Amazon.

[@lilvirtt3577]

@@NordicRC Yeah, I live in Europe, thanks

[@lilvirtt3577]

​@@NordicRC Does Tamico have front diffs for sale? Can't find any

[@bradkalman2353]

Still the cars should go at least 30+ no offense Mike and I think you should have 3 speed run cars from Tamiya 1 fwd 1 2wd 1 4 wd those should be the on road cars and you should see how fast you can get each configure rated cars to do that.

[@NordicRC]

No, these cars should no go at least +30 (if that is mph). Maybe other DF-03’s - not mine - at least not now ☺️ I have others for that. But your suggestion about the FWD, 2WD and 4WD sounds awesome 🙂

[@bradkalman2353]

All Tamiyas are regularly are run at 30+mph all time.

[@simonetessitore8434]

:-O good sert good

[@NordicRC]

Thanks a lot for watching, Simon!

[@shacans1]

Man my hit 58 kph with 4600kv brusless that i by fof 80 euros with esc and its woterprof... i will send you the video

[@NordicRC]

That's fast :-)

[@shacans1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vOlYuLgpenjc0

[@wallonthefloor]

so many plastic parts!