47498 Tamiya TA08R Official photos Full spec list and closer look.

The Tamiya TA08 pro is a great car, especially on lower grip surfaces. It however was too flexy to really be a contender on high grip surfaces. I addressed it with at top-deck and that really helped transform the car.. and now we have the TA08-R and Tamiya has also decided this is the best way forward. 

The specifications for the new R model are really impressive and there are some very exciting new parts included. As you can see there is a new motor mount and front and rear aluminium upper arm mounts. These are needed to mount the 2.0mm thick carbon upper deck. There is also a carbon fibre rear bodypost mount, to replace the plastic ones.. I personally would run my own rear tower as it allows easier fitment of conventional touring car bodies. Importantly, there is also a revised lower deck with more stiffeners to address some of the flex in the original kit that will be (Available separately).

The rest of the car is adorned with all of the hop-ups that are available for the car. I really am quite excited to see how the car could perform with these new option parts. I am quite excited to get my hands on it.

Here is the official list of option parts.

Here are the new parts.. some very cool things included

• NEW-The 2.0mm carbon fiber upper deck connects front and rear bulkheads for pitch rigidity and utilizes a 630-ball bearing at the rear for roll rigidity.
• NEW-Front and rear aluminum upper arm mounts provide enhanced rigidity.
• NEW-The aluminum motor mount has two screw-attached, upper deck attachment points.
• NEW-Rear body mount uses carbon fiber plates and aluminum posts, and limits body wobble and ensures stable rear traction. Body mount extensions (from Item 54604) allow attachment of bodies of different heights.
• NEW-Additional ribs on the lower deck limit its deformation for superior suspension performance and help limit damage after unexpected crashes.
• Gear units are front direct pulley (aluminum direct coupling) and rear gear differential (aluminum differential joint). Item 42351 TRF420 Center Pulley and 71T spur gear are used at the center for stability even under high load.
• The drive shafts are double cardan shafts at the front and lightweight universal shafts at the rear.
• Front aluminum pipes and cross joints are lightweight aluminum.
• NEW-Aluminum wheel hubs limit wheel deformation and ensure stable tire grip.
• Comes with 43mm swing shafts, Super Short Big Bore size dampers and front and rear carbon fiber damper stays, plus adjustable suspension mounts.
• The model comes in a convenient carry case.

Here is the list of additional hop-ups

• 51565: TRF419 Gear Differential Unit Aluminum Diff Joint (2pcs.)
• 22004: TA08 Aluminum Servo Mount
• 22005: TA08 Carbon Damper Stays (Front & Rear)
• 22016: TA08 Low Friction King Pin Balls (4pcs.)
• 42319: Lightweight Cross Joints for Double Cardan Joint Shafts (4pcs.)
• 42320: Lightweight Joint Casings for Double Cardan Joint Shafts (2pcs.)
• 42346: TRF420 Wheel Axles (2pcs.)
• 42351: TRF420 Center Pulley
• 42357: Cross Joints for Low Friction Assembly Universal Shafts
• 42359: VG O-Rings for Oil Dampers (30°)

• 42111: G-Range Click screw (Brass)
• 42361: 43mm Drive Shafts for Low Friction Double Cardan Joint Shafts (2pcs.)
• 42363: Axle Shafts for TRF420 Double Cardan Joint Shafts (2pcs.)
• 42374: VG O-Rings for Gear Differentials (40°)
• 53823: Clamp Type Aluminum Wheel Hub (5mm Thick)
• 53968: 5x5mm Hard Hex Head Ball Head Connector (5pcs.)
• 53969: 5x8mm Hard Hex Head Ball Head Connector (5pcs.)
• 54121: Aluminum Horn for High Torque Servo Saver
• 54642: 4mm Flange Lock Nut (Black, 8pcs.)
• 51647: TRF420 Aluminum Front Direct Cups (2pcs.)
• 54704: TA07 Aluminum Steering Arm Set
• 54881: Aluminum Adjustable Suspension Mount (A)
• 54883: Aluminum Adjustable Separate Suspension Mounts (XB)
• 54884: Aluminum Adjustable Separate Suspension Mounts (A)
• 54949: TA07 Adjustable Ackerman Set
• 1/10 scale R/C touring car chassis kit.

Here are some photos of the chassis from the Tamiya Live event today.

The Upper deck has many flex adjustments like the TRF420X

Here you can see the Rear aluminium upper arm mounts

The rear of the upper deck has a 630 bearing for smooth flex characteristics

The rear bodypost holder is carbon, and has an aluminium extension post

The front aluminium upper arm mount 

The chassis photo.. Gotta love those Tamiya connectors 😉

Overall, this looks superb.. Release should be around Dec so maybe Santa will be bringing me one of these... Or at least I hope some of these parts will be available separately.