Tamiya Avante blue metallic chrome special build (30th anniversary)
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:33 am
This is my special build of the Tamiya Avante “Tokyo Chrome Special” TCS 2022. It is art and engineering on wheels. The foundation is a meticulously built 2011 reissue Tamiya Avante that goes along with a collectible 30th anniversary 2018 Avante chrome body from Japan. Click on the photo for higher resolution.
1. The 30th anniversary blue chrome body is blue jewelry. Factory cut body and plated on the outside.
2. The stickers require the most work on this vehicle second to painting the driver and cockpit.
3. The rear is ride height is 6 millimeters too long (or too high ). Tamiya shock shaft spacers were inserted in the rear shocks to level the dogbones front to rear and create a more level appearance.
4. The ideal ride height now removes the need for plastic ride height spacers on the shocks.
5. Visually there is too much metal in the front steering assembly for my liking. I added the graphite steering assembly option which better matches the graphite shock tower in the rear. Now the metal and graphite is more balanced.
6. I inserted a small clear antenna for that modern RC look and a chrome yellow body clip.
7. I came across a rare pair of aluminum Avante stickers from the 1980s. I didn’t know what to do with it—until now. It serves as a perfect shelf display sticker.
8. Vintage 1980s Tamiya electronics round out the build and the gold metal accents of the car.
9. Rear shock cap spacers so the screw and end bolt are more flush...who is looking anyway.
10. I worked in the Silicon Valley, and use to live next to Mt. Diablo, so the Avante stickers were always "neat"
1. The 30th anniversary blue chrome body is blue jewelry. Factory cut body and plated on the outside.
2. The stickers require the most work on this vehicle second to painting the driver and cockpit.
3. The rear is ride height is 6 millimeters too long (or too high ). Tamiya shock shaft spacers were inserted in the rear shocks to level the dogbones front to rear and create a more level appearance.
4. The ideal ride height now removes the need for plastic ride height spacers on the shocks.
5. Visually there is too much metal in the front steering assembly for my liking. I added the graphite steering assembly option which better matches the graphite shock tower in the rear. Now the metal and graphite is more balanced.
6. I inserted a small clear antenna for that modern RC look and a chrome yellow body clip.
7. I came across a rare pair of aluminum Avante stickers from the 1980s. I didn’t know what to do with it—until now. It serves as a perfect shelf display sticker.
8. Vintage 1980s Tamiya electronics round out the build and the gold metal accents of the car.
9. Rear shock cap spacers so the screw and end bolt are more flush...who is looking anyway.
10. I worked in the Silicon Valley, and use to live next to Mt. Diablo, so the Avante stickers were always "neat"