Lights On! Tamiya 458 Challenge with LED lights.

As soon as you install LED lights in an RC car, it adds a whole new feeling of excitement.
It is certainly a nice way to enjoy driving. You can go all out and have them blinking or the chassis glowing. However you like it, research what's right for you and you'll enjoy the added attraction.

TT02 Chassis

Lights can be activated without switching on the car.

Tamiya TLU-01 LED light kit

Installing LED lights on 1/10 Italia 458 Challenge

If you ever wanted to enjoy a little drifting at night, Tamiya packaged up a nice light kit installation set for their 1/10 models. The kit is made simple to install and use. I fit it into my 458 Challenge fairly quickly. Here's what you'll need to get.

Pick up  the TLU-01 option parts LED kit. 

Everything you need is in the box one front and one rear lamp set.
I added another light set for the front because I preferred the front LED orange

The module is light weight so not to hinder your car.

The system is able t re-rout and use the cars battery conveniently.

front and rear plugs.

Quick test before wiring.

The body can take two sizes of LED o3 and o5. Special adaptors are used for either size.  

If you use the wrong ones it won't be a sure fit.

Center the module and use supplied double sided tape to affix it to the body.

If you position it right you can still turn on and off the lights without removing the body. Also consider the balance of the RC. Use some black electrical tape to help fasten the wiring and follow the contour of the body to prevent rubbing on any moving parts and to maintain a neat uncluttered look.

Once you've positioned everything the way you like it you are done. Pop on the body and turn off the lights. Because I changed the front LED to orange I have a spare white o5 set. 

Stock to drift spec tires on the 458

Changing the tires on the the Tamiya 458 Challenge is simple. Tamiya has a nice hop-up set you can pick up from your favorite hobby store. The ones to get should be 26mm. All four wheels front and back are the same size. You'll need just the wheel T-tool to get the nuts off the tire and change the tires.
Be careful not to loose the pin that sits behind the disc brakes.

26mm Drift Spec in set of two.

Stock gray grip tires.

Front and rear tires are the same width.

The only tool you'll need to sweeten up your ride.

Tamiya TT02 Italia 458 Challenge review

About a month or so into the official release of the Italia 458 Challenge and it is here for review. This is an XB kit, it includes just about all you need to get on the road running. The expert built series (XB) saves you a lot of time building and painting and lets you enjoy driving as soon as you get home by just adding 4 AA batteries to the controller. Even an experience builder can enjoy the saved time.

2013 TT02 Italia 458 Challenge by Tamiya

Pros.

The price is really reasonable allowing anyone to get into this enjoyable hobby.

So what’s in the box? You get the new TT02 prebuilt chassis, with an (ESC) electronic speed controller, a steering servo, 2.4 GHz receiver and stock motor ready installed. The whole setup is already done for you. At a glance the design is very clean. The entire system is easily accessible for routine maintenance.  The Chassis on and off switch is located conveniently so it can be switched easily with the body on. The chassis is well molded and rigid giving you a sturdy drive.

Cons.

The questionable parts seem to be around the wheel areas. This includes the wheel hub axels and disc break plastic parts. They look to be vulnerable to breakage from an accidental crash or wear and tear.  Some of the cheaper looking parts are most likely used to keep the price down. Optional parts are left up to you. The body is great, well painted and decaled also flexible enough to absorb those bumpy occasions. But the flimsy part is the side view mirrors. They lose their position easily and rotate a bit due to vibration and are easily disturbed by touching them. Take extra precaution when removing the car from a bag, so they don't get torn out.

Overall this body and chassis looks and drives great right out the box. Get ready to enjoy power slides and drifting 

Unboxed 

Under the hood

Quick access to electronics

Front Wheel Assembly 

TT02 Rear Suspension

Ferrari 458 challenge TT02 First Run  

Out of the box bare bones first run. 

It drives very smooth good handling. Brakes pretty well, good control. 

Down and out! End of an era?

An Era slowly diming it’s lights. As I posted earlier this month it looks as if the market for the RC Mini-Z and Dnano is really coming to a halt. There obviously has been a decline in the RC market. This is most likely caused by various factors but perhaps a direct cause of it is the recent economy and changing interest to other digital to devices that now occupy our time. Not to worry, there will always be fans of RC hobby, but the places to really enjoy them are rapidly disappearing.   If you are a fan of Dnano or Mini-Z it is best to know the market for them have already past its peak. This month several shops that I know announced their motion to get out of the business. Perhaps the matter is the operations just aren’t lucrative anymore. Many parts suppliers and web-shops have been disappearing. Some Hobby shops in Tokyo have already stopped stocking them and a well known shop Rakusei Model has ended business in electric town.  Even Kyosho’s own flagship indoor race shops closed it’s doors only after 4 years of operations. I've personally waited two years to try and get a vital part, just to find out the company has stopped manufacturing them. You will be better off to stock a few spare parts. If you are a collector you’ll still enjoy having these cars regardless. Hopefully they will hang around for a while longer. Just in case get your favorite one now. Happy driving! 

Nanotrax 

Atomic Mods