Tamiya TRF102 - Black Edition Chassis - #84432 (Radio Controlled Model Review)

  Released by Tamiya on February 11, 2017, the 2WD TRF102 - Black Edition Formula One chassis kit (#84432) is No.932 in the Limited Sale Series with all the alloy parts anodised black. The original TRF102 kit (#42289) was introduced in July 2015.

  A bodyshell, motor, radio system, wheels, tires, battery, charger and speed controller are required to complete.

  The model was designed to provide superior performance especially with rubber tires. Both the front and rear of the car have been redesigned to fully utilize the flexibility of the chassis, with the effect of excellent road holding and response.

  The model features include: TRF102 Carbon Lower (2.5mm Thick) and Upper (2.0mm Thick) Decks, TRF102 Alloy Motor Mount, F104 Low-Friction Suspension Balls, Reinforced Carbon Reinforced Plastic Front Suspension Arms, TRF102 T-Bar Rear Suspension, Adjustable Metal Upright Set, Integrated Diff Plate/Carbon Rear Shaft, TRF102 Alloy Servo Stay, 1.5mm and 1.8mm T-bars, Hi-Torque Servo Saver and TRF Damper.

Rating: 4 RCScrapyard

How to put on Decals

   After spending lots of time and effort to paint your bodyshell, you come to the point where you make it look good by putting on all those flashy decals, but before you rush in with the scissors and start cutting, there are a few things you should do first.

   Good preparation is key to a perfect job, so before you do anything with your decals, you must first of all wash your hands, and then make sure the bodyshell is clean and no oil or grime from your previously grubby fingers remains on the Polycarbonate Lexan surface. Methylated spirits is the thing to use, or failing that, use one of those wipes you use for your computer monitor screen.

   As the body shell dries, you can carefully cut out the decals from the sheet. Do the big ones first and leave the smallest ones for last.

Choosing the best Wheels

   When it comes to wheels, the majority of people tend to go for what looks good, something that will make their car stand out from the crowd, but are they the best wheels for you when it comes to winning races on the track?

   Quite a number of years ago I read an article in an RC magazine about RC model wheels and how important it is to have the right ones on your car. I was so impressed by that article that I immediately sold off all my old wheels and bought a batch of new ones - why? Read on.