Tamiya TA03RS

[Dangeruss]

In mid 1997 Tamiya released the second variant of their third generation 1/10 4wd electric touring car platform, the TA03RS. As its suffix suggested it was the rear motor, short wheelbase version of the TA03. Constructed from ABS plastic the RS featured a new open tub chassis to reduce the wheelbase by 20mm over the TA03F while still retaining the four-wheel independent lower H-arm under fixed camber link suspension, oil-filled plastic bodied coilver CVA shocks with clip in spring spacers sporting shorter front shocks than the front motor version, low profile molded plastic shock towers and twin bellcrank steering with plastic center link, spherical end tie rods and direct mounted servo saver. The side loading transverse battery however was now considerably closer to the 540 motor which was mounted just forward of the rear axles. With bevel gear differentials front and rear the TA03RS used the same belt driven four-wheel drive system with bottom loading diffs for easier servicing, albeit with a shorter belt. Metal dogbones continued to reside at each corner and passed through plastic hubs before terminating with a set of 12mm hex drives. Single piece plastic wheels, rubber tires, and a clear lexan body would vary based on which of the four different models that were available, each of which included a Mabuchi RS-540 motor and bushings in the unassembled kit: