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I'm not sure where to put this since it isn't really vintage.

Does anyone have a DF-02 chassis? I just ordered one for my daughter for Christmas and I was wondering if anyone has any input on weak points or anything that needs attention?

All input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Justin

The DF-02 is an entry level four wheel drive kit. Its quite a good value kit , it comes with oil dampers and ball bearings for the prop shaft and diffs to begin with, so the only immediate upgrades to consider are eight 1150 bearings for the front knuckles and rear hubs. I've not had any issue with the plastic propshaft but I only run the kit 540 silver can motor (27T). For hotter motors its advisable to use a TT01 aluminum prop shaft to replace the kit plastic prop shaft. You could go crazy with extra hopups such as the DF02 turnbuckle kit, aluminum steering rack, and aluminum dampers, but then you're approaching the cost of a more capable DB01. I think it's best to do keep the kit as is for a first timer, then ball rcae the hubs for a little more speed (less resistance) and as the motor gets uprated then do the propshaft.

Ground clearance isn't quite as good as some of the other buggies, but going for standard size buggy tires and wheels instead of the kit tires and wheels helps some. The large diameter (2.2") wheels that go on the DF03 Dark Impact are perfect for this. Pro-Line Dirt Hawgs last quite a while on mixed surface use, much better than spikes on concrete/tarmac

This is a very durable platform perfect for bashing. The motor pinion, diff pinions, diff ring gears, and diff spider gears are all metal and hardly wear. Weak points include the front shock tower and possibly the suspension arm mounts molded into the main chassis tub. My son has the Rising Storm - he broke the front shock tower with a front corner hit against a kerb, but uprating to alloy towers front and rear sorted that issue; he's never cracked a suspension mount although you could fill the hollowed out areas to possibly improve the strength.

Its a good looking buggy with reliable drivetrain.

If I were buying now I'd also look at the new TT-02B Neo Scorcher - its very similar to the DF-02 but based ont he latest TT-02 chassis. There are a few 'concerns' about plastic diff gears on the Neo Scorcher/TT-02 but as yet its people commenting during the build process rather than failures in service. The good news is parts are cheap, in line with kit pricing and these are easy to work on.

My son's Rising Storm , with alloy towers..



Wheels now replaced with 2.2 disc wheels and mini pin tyres, ground clearance improves about 1/4"

Thanks fo the info. I bought the rising storm also. I like the looks of it.

I was already thinking about the prop shaft since it's plastic. I'll be installing the yeah racing aluminum shaft already on order along with the other ball bearings and turnbuckles. She wants to race the buggy in novice so I know it'll need the turnbuckles and they were omly $11. I will look into the shock towers also.

Well my daughter is getting a new Tamiya Rising Storm for christmas. She has wanted a 4wd buggy for a while and with my Tower Hobbies discount I was able too get it with free shipping for $130.

As typical with Tamiya it was a fun build and everything fit together perfectly. I have always loved the looks of Tamiya vehicles. They always have some sort of spaceship shapes too them. This one has a really cool looking body.

Everything went together smoothly, but I was dissapointed in one thing. As normal Tamiya it had plastic bushings for the axles. So I ordered some new rubber sealed bearings for it.

I was also a little dissapointed that the diffs aren't sealed for tuning them with different weight oils.

I was impressed with the shocks though. I have never used any Tamiya oil filled shocks before. The front and rear shocks have different colored bladders in them which I thought was odd until I assembled them. I set the shocks up with a base track setup of two hole pistons front and rear, 35wt front oil, 30wt rear oil. I have never had shocks bleed so well before. Even my Team Associated Factory team shocks didn't bleed as well as these did. Once the shocks were assembled without springs I found that the bladders different color is on purpose. The rear shocks do not have any rebound in them. the fronts have 100% rebound in them. I'm guessing this is too aide the vehicle in jumping. Making the front pop up quicker and the rear is a little softer too allow better acceleration?!

I have the buggy assembled with the stock motor in it for now. I won't use the stock ESC though as I will get a waterproof one. I installed an extra Flysky receiver as I will be giving her my Flysky radio. I need too get a servo for it as well and see what servo saver will fit. The stock Tamiya one is far too weak for racing or any sort of fast bashing. I found that AE B44.2 wheels bolt on so I will be getting jconcepts wheels and some tires for the track. The kit tires will be great for bashing. They are a firm mini spike pattern, but are also soft enough to be flexible enough too give and provide some good traction without wearing too fast. The stock wheels are cool looking and I would get more of them for racing, but they feel a little on the heavy side.

So for now this is where the buggy sits until I get the remaining electronics for it. I also want too get aluminum shock towers for it as I have heard those are a weak spot until the aluminum ones are installed. I also want too get the aluminum center drive shaft to replace the plastic one. The outdrives in the diffs and the axle shafts at the wheels are metal with plastic where the dogbones go in. Those will be replaced with aluminm ones as they wear out.

Anyway here's some pics.

Tamiya pic