Tamiya TT-02BR Project

There sure have been a lot of versions of the TT-02.  As of the date of this writing, I count 125 individual kits using 13 versions of this chassis.  The original basic TT-02 touring car chassis came out in 2013 and has been sold with at least 50 different bodies and 8 more were available on the TT-02D drift variant.  There were standalone versions of these basic chassis with no body included, and then there were many upgraded variants such as the TT-02S, TT-02D S, TT-02R, TT-02RR, TT-0SR, and TT-02SRX.  The TT-02T was a truck version and the TT-02FT was a truck version with tracks.  The TT-02B buggy version used longer suspension arms, bigger wheels and tires, and longer travel shocks.  The previous ultimate version of the buggy was the TT-02B MS which I built in 2020 but subsequently lost in a fire.  It represented an incredibly deluxe version of a TT-02B and I would have really like to replace it, but it was just not feasible at any reasonable price since it was limited edition and out of production since 2015.  Then my fortunes turned around in 2023 when Tamiya released the TT-02BR.  In many ways this chassis is even more deluxe and upgraded than the MS version, but unfortunately lacks the epic MS livery.  In fact, it doesn't include any livery at all, although a Neo Scorcher body is included in the box.

So what's the difference?  The table below lists all of the upgrade parts that come in the box compared to a standard TT-02B, and the list is long.  The MS chassis was actually not that deluxe and included ball bearings, FRP shock towers, and an aluminum prop shaft and rear uprights.  The shocks were just white plastic CVA shocks.  The BR kicks this up several more notches with TRF aluminum shocks, full hex hardware, carbon shock towers, CVA axles, sealed gear differentials, and turnbuckles.  Although this is a very expensive chassis for a TT-02, I calculate that the upgrades alone have an MSRP of about $450 so it is actually a pretty good value if you intend to upgrade it anyway.  The only obvious upgrades it does not include are the aluminum steering cranks and bridge.

I used a 23T Super Stock motor in my copy to try to get some decent performance out of it without making it into something it isn't.  I also put on some basic dual block tires (not included in the kit) in hard K compound.  I painted the body in two-tone white and violet blue.  Even though the kit came with a TRF 201 racing wing, I prefer the basic wing from the Neo Scorcher so I used that.  It's a good looking, fun, durable 4WD buggy that I can drive hard without worrying about damaging something that's too valuable to drive.