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The TB-02 Chassis - Part I

The TB-02 chassis is Tamiya's latest release in the budget oriented line of touring sedans. As most veterans of the Tamiya product line will surely notice, the TB-02 is a sport version of the famous TB Evolution III series chassis. All the same great tuning features that you will find in the Evo III are present in the TB-02. Adjustments include; shock angle position, suspension droop, wheelbase, camber link height and length, gearing, roll center, anti-dive, anti squat and toe-in toe-out adjustment. All of this was accomplished by designing a new bathtub ABS rigid chassis that neatly fits the EVO III stock gear cases and driveline. Newly designed ABS shock towers are used along with utilizing stock component parts from the TA-04 to keep this chassis at an entry level price without sacrificing tune ability. The upper arm mount that distinguished the Surikarn version EVO III is also included in the TB-02 in ABS form. The kit comes with dual ball differentials and the one way unit from the EVO III can be easily used as an option part.

For those of you who are interested in the Tamiya TCS series, the TB-02 should perform quite well in the GT-2 class as that class requires the use of Tub chassis oriented platforms. Depending on your particular budget, the TB-02 is ready to accept any hop-op or stock part from the EVO III. Below you will find a detailed list of what already is available or will be shortly available for this new exciting kit.

The TB-02 will be first released with a Mercedes CLK Vodofone. This body set is ideal for first time painters as it only requires one color to be sprayed and the vinyl stickers are pre-cut. Later releases by the end of the year will include the Xanvi Nismo GT-R (R-34), the 2003 Raybrig NSX and the Subaru WRC 2003.

In this close up photo of the TB EVO III Surikarn Limited, you will notice the camber adjustments that are possible due to the upper arm aluminum mount (53628). The camber change dynamics of

the car may be altered by lowering or raising as well as lengthening or shortening the camber link. This feature is also in the TB-02 kit as the aluminum upper arm mount has been duplicated in ABS plastic. The same adjustments are possible and the plastic arm mount can be later replaced with the aluminum one as a hop op option. The carbon plate shock towers have been duplicated in ABS plastic in the TB-02 and the same shock adjustability is offered. Again, these parts may be replaced with carbon plates as an option part. The TB-02 does not come standard with sway bars, but they may be fitted with the standard EVO III ones as well as the option sway bars that will be released (53677).

The TB-02 chassis gear ratio may be adjusted by selecting the appropriate spur/pinion combination. The standard motor mount is made of plastic and can be upgraded to an aluminum motor mount (53680). The aluminum motor mount will have the same hole pattern drilled into it therefore making gear ratio changes and finding the correct gear mesh easy. The internal gear ratio for the TB-02 is 2.60. (Same as the TB EVO III) The kit comes standard with the following spur sizes in 48 pitch metric: 55, 58 and 61. The kit comes standard with a 19 tooth 48 pitch metric pinion and all three spur sizes come standard. The range of pinion sizes that will work with the TB-02 are 16-25 metric 48. The final drive ratios possible with these gears are; 9.91, 9.33, 8.81, 8.35, 7.94, 7.54, 7.18, 6.85, 6.50, 6.22, 5.96, 5.72

The TB class of cars will fit any budget. The TB-02 is a great starter kit as all the adjustability can be made to tune the car that best suites your driving style.

The TB-02 is available in kit form with the following exciting bodies to choose from:
58310 - Mercedes Benz CLK-DTM Team Vodafone AMG
58311 - RC Xanavi Nismo GT-R (R-34) (This kit includes the newly shaped R-34 body that has a more pronounced slope that should offer the racer more steering when racing.)
58315 - RC Raybrig NSX 2003
58316 - RC Subaru Impreza WRC 2003