Tamiya DF03 Dark Impact Build Guide & Tips Part 1

Hello and welcome to Part 1 of my build guide for the awesome Tamiya racing buggy, the DF-03 Dark Impact. It's a great kit and I'm really enjoying putting it together. In this Part 1 we start the build at step 2 and continue to step 8, completing the construction of the rear gearbox assembly, including the alloy motor plate and 540 motor. Along the way we look at how to construct and tension the rear ball differential. I hope you enjoy the build and join me on the next installment where we complete the front ball differential and gearbox, and add the suspension arms.

I have included a few tips along the way, and I'm using a few extra stainless steel Allen head cap screws and some lovely Yeah racing alloy parts. But please don't be put off if you are building a standard DF-03 kit, all of the build process is exactly the same!

DF-03: Refined Shaft-Drive 4WD Chassis

Durable monocoque bathtub frame sees the heavy battery and R/C mechanism components mounted low and central for the best vehicle balance. Even the oil dampers are located within the wheelbase for greater stability and cornering performance. Compact gearboxes are equipped with ball differentials, and the propeller shaft directly links to the front bevel gear to decrease power loss during transmission. 4-wheel double wishbone suspension with long suspension arms provides excellent shock absorption, and a variety of attachment positions gives the driver many options when tuning.

Specifications
●Length: 387mm　●Width: 250mm　●Height: 145mm　●Lowest Ground Clearance: 24mm ●Wheelbase: 272mm　●Weight: Approx. 1156g　 ●Tread: (Front) 217mm, (Rear) 203mm　●Tire Width/Diameter: (Front) 33/87mm, (Rear) 43/87mm　●Frame: Monocoque ●Drivetrain: Shaft-driven 4WD　 ●Diff. Gear: Front/Rear Ball Diff.　●Steering: 3-piece Tie Rod　●Suspension: 4-wheel Double Wishbone　 ●Dampers: (Front) CVA Damper Mini, (Rear) CVA Oil Damper (Short) ●Gear Ratio: 9.17:1　●Motor: Type RS-540