The TT-02 is probably the most common entry level touring car chassis on
the market. Pretty much every body these days seems to be
available on the TT-02, and a quick search shows that it has been used
in dozens of models already, and that's not even including the drift
variant. The TT-02B is a buggy version which uses longer
suspension arms for a wider track width and taller shocks for more
suspension travel. This version was available as the Dual Ridge,
the Neo Scorcher, and the Plasma Edge. It is still very much an
entry level kit though, as evidenced by the fact that the 57987
version is called the "Chassis First Try Kit" shown in the inset on the
right. The TT-02B MS version is intended to be the other end of
the spectrum. "MS" stands for "Satoshi Maezumi", one of Tamiya's
team drivers, and this version has lots of upgrade options and
Maezumi-san's pink, white, and blue paint scheme. This was
released as a limited edition chassis kit without tires and using the
Dual Ridge body. The MS version costs a lot more than a regular
TT-02B, but when you consider that it comes with about $230 of upgrades
in the box, it is a pretty good deal. I got an even better deal
because I got a copy already built which had been modified. It
wasn't well advertised so I didn't really know what was included until I
got it apart, but I found another $250 of upgrades in my box. I
added a few more things of my own and the result is a pretty ultimate
TT-02. My table of parts below is divided so that you can see what
comes with the kit, what came with my purchase, and what I added
myself.The TT-02B chassis uses a plastic bathtub and pretty much plastic everything else. Even the gears, drive cups, dogbones, and suspension links are plastic. Everything is fixed length and nothing is adjustable. It is a 4WD, shaft drive model with four wheel, double wishbone independent suspension. The MS version changes out the important drive cup and axle parts with steel, and adds a few aluminum bits as well. My previous owner took it further and added aluminum shocks and a Sport Tuned motor. I added some aluminum steering parts and ended up with a really great chassis. This thing drives better than an entry level chassis has any right to. I'm not sure I would recommend sinking this much money into one if starting from scratch, but since I got almost everything in the box I got really lucky.
Update: This model was destroyed in the 2022 fire. It has become extremely rare and probably cannot be replaced.
 Page 1: Assembly |
 Page 2: Final Photos |