locksmack

Hey all,

I currently own and run a HPI RS$ 3 Evo Nitro Car. It is great fun but I want to try out some electric action.

I have my eyes on a Tamiya TA05. I have a few questions about it (and comparison to the RS4).

How is the handling compared to the RS4? This is my main concern. I want better handling than my RS4 if possible. Not that my RS4 is bad, but I would prefer it to be better.

Can the TA05 handle a brushless setup as stock, or does the drivetrain need to be upgraded?

How is the overall durability of this car?

Thanks!

mkoresh12

I have a RS4 Evo+ and had a Tamiya TA05(now sold). The TA05 is an excellent handling car especially for the price. I had a 13.5 brushless with Lipo and didn't have any drive train issues. I raced mine and with not that many mods help its own with the TC5's and Xrays at the local club. It is a hefty chassis compared to those but it represented well considering it costs less than half of those cars. In stock form I felt the shocks were too soft and led to too much body roll for racing. Get some stiffer springs or shock oil will fix this. The only issue I had with breakage was on the uprights. They didn't actually break on me but if I hit the wall too hard the kingpin would strip out and not hold together. The hits were mostly my fault so I wouldn't say its not a durable car. Other than this the only other thing I ever had to repair was the rear bulkhead. Again, my fault. Had a really hard crash, stripped the screws on the bulkhead. Go to the electric on road forum and check out the TA05 thread. One of the guys had a 3.5 brushless setup. Maybe you can ask him how the drivetrain held up to that. Stock for stock it was better handling out of the box than the RS4. It also is very adjustable out of the box. They also have a MS version that has the carbon fiber chassis and all the upgrades included.

locksmack

Thanks for the response mkoresh12, great info!

I may look into getting one of these. I can pick up the kit for $250 (australian). I have an old AM Rx and Tx I can use for now and a couple of old servos. Any recommendations for ESC and motor?

Another thing I am thinking is maybe a brushless is a little too much for me (and my track) at the moment. I find that my RS4 is too fast for a lot of the track and with my low skill level, I wouldnt want to be going too quick. Maybe I should get a modified motor or something to start with?

Also, for beginning should I just stick with NiMh or go to lipo?

Thanks!

mkoresh12

Well if your racing on a track I'd check with their rules for Electric. We can only run 27T brushed or 13.5 brushless. A 13.5 brushless isn't super fast. Comparable to a 19-27T brushed motor. Plus you don't have worry about the maintenence issues of using brushed motors.(springs, brushes) Unless of course you like to do these things. Start with a 13.5 or if you want to slow it down a little more go to the 17.5. If you get a combo with ESC you can usually run brushed motors as well. Li-Po. If you have the money, get it. Its worth it. They last much longer than comparable mah NiMH cells and have more punch. I could barely get through a 5 minute heat using 4200 mah NiMH cells and running a 27T brushed motor. I now run a 4000mah Lipo and have about 3000 mah left after the heat. Plus I only need one battery. I can charge it up between heats and be ready to go. I had to have several NiMH packs. 4 decent NiMH packs were far more expensive than the 1 lipo pack I had.