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Here is a comparison of the completed steering linkage assemblies.  The overall geometry is the same, but the materials are quite different.

These photos compare the front end of the chassis with the steering linkages installed.  Note how much further the TRF carbon chassis extends forward to cover the bottom of the front bulkhead.

Now the front suspension and gearbox assembly can be installed onto the chassis.  The standard model also installs the front bumper at this point, while on the TRF model it was already part of the bulkhead assembly.  A close look at the picture on the left will also reveal an idler pulley which can be used for belt tensioning.  The TRF version doesn't have one.

The rear suspension and gearbox assembly now gets the same treatment.  This is also the time to install the drive belt which is NOT the same between the models.  Apparently the TRF belt uses aramid fibers which prevents it from stretching under prolonged tension.  This is why it doesn't need a tensioner.  

The TRF version comes with front and rear stabilizer bars out of the box.  In keeping with the rest of the model, they are coated in bright colors.  The standard model has provisions for sway bars, but they are optional aftermarket parts.

These pictures compare the completed standard and TRF chassis.  External dimensions are the same, but there are a lot of external and internal parts which differ considerably.  You may notice that an upper carbon chassis brace has been installed on the TRF chassis while the standard chassis just uses an FRP bar.  The standard chassis doesn't need as much help with torsional rigidity since the bathtub is so much deeper than the flat plate used by the TRF chassis.  Also note the purple spacers on the rear axles.  Those will be important shortly.  I found it interesting how the sway bars just slip into holes on the uprights.  No connecting rods or ball studs are needed.

A couple of more pictures comparing the chassis varieties.  You can clearly see how the wheelbases line up exactly and how the batteries are positioned in the same place.  I've also installed the final items: the body posts.

Remember earlier when I mentioned that the TRF chassis uses longer rear drive cups (compared below)?  The Porsche 911 GT1 has a wider rear track than the front and also uses much wider tires in the rear.  The TA-03 R-S chassis does not have any additional track width in the rear, but the original 58193 model from 1997 used rear wheels with a different offset to obtain the wider track.  All four tires were the same size.  I figured I could do even better than that by using Tamiya's really nice chrome and gold two piece wheels which are wider in the rear.  This would achieve the tire and track width all in one step and be the ultimate in realism.  What I did not realize is that the TRF version of the chassis has the additional rear width built in.  That purple spacer we saw earlier along with the longer drive cups push the rear wheel outward.  That meant that I couldn't use the wider two piece wheels and I couldn't use the original wheels with extra offset either.  I couldn't even steal the drive cups from the standard model because the bearing seat is too short for the wider uprights from the TRF chassis.  I needed four front wheels to make it work.  The TRF chassis actually did come with wheels and tires, but they are a different style that didn't look right with the GT1 body.

The second photo shows the original Dyna-Run motor I managed to find.  I love the sound of an old school low turn brushed motor.

The final step was to install the electronics.  I'm using a regular NiMH battery because it fits perfectly and the car doesn't need to be any faster.  I was worried that my usual 60A ESC wouldn't be able to handle to 13T motor, but so far it is OK.  This model was never intended to use a mechanical speed controller.

The first step is always to cut out the body and drill the holes which has been completed in the picture on the left.  The body is intended to make the front splitter black using stickers, but I have always found that these are the first to start peeling so I decided to mask that area and paint it black instead. The windows have also been masked.

The paint job is pretty easy to start since it is nearly all white.  I backed the whole thing in silver and then black.  The black is to make the inside dark, and the silver is to keep the black from tinting the white toward gray since the white tends to be thin.  It appears to have worked well.  Finally, I smoked the windows.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I cut out the vast quantity of stickers.  These are not original stickers; they are from MCI Racing.  I also used a couple of the Tamiya stickers from the Street version of the sticker sheet to fill in black areas that were not quite covered or to improve the gradient in areas like the hood louvers.

The sticker application took a very long time, but I knew that was going to be the case when I chose this complex livery over the much simpler Street version.  The black areas around the edges of the tail lights were particularly difficult.  The wing in the photo on the right is not quite complete.  I was waiting for semi-gloss black paint to do the vertical supports.  There are also stickers on the tires which are always a challenge to adhere properly.  The wheels were molded in gold, but I painted them gold anyway and then used a chrome pen to do the outer rim like the real car.

This livery is among the best in my collection and represents a bit of a dream project.  The combination of the super rare TRF chassis which hardly fits any bodies and the special GT1 Porsche really makes for a spectacular RC model.  It's resemblance to the real car is remarkable. Here are a couple of pictures of the real car for comparison. I actually had the opportunity to see this car at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

Absolutely gorgeous example of a TRF chassis.! I have the TA03-R TRF. This is substantially prettier, the multi colored shocks, the purple(i mean i love the blue), but HPI purple somehow works. Its strange that the R-S version had so many differences to the R in terms of the colored bits as opposed to the orangy/beige/brass colored shocks, and no fancy colored CVD's or motor spacer. The alluminium bits are soo much more "chunky" on older TRF models, those rear uprights are monstrous! I love it! 

You sir are an artist. And a brave man running your extremely rare builds on the street, i would have a definite heart failure, pavements, tiny stones, dust, bugs, i cannot!

I'm sure I will have a few more valid questions about the build later on when my brain is not in office mode.
I look forward to the next post.

Deekay777 wrote:

Absolutely gorgeous example of a TRF chassis.! I have the TA03-R TRF. This is substantially prettier, the multi colored shocks, the purple(i mean i love the blue), but HPI purple somehow works. Its strange that the R-S version had so many differences to the R in terms of the colored bits as opposed to the orangy/beige/brass colored shocks, and no fancy colored CVD's or motor spacer.
 

I would have been happy with either the R or the R-S but the latter is what I happened to find first.  Based on your comments on the differences, I'm glad I did.  Some people may prefer the gold of the R though.  The David Jun edition was actually an F and used silver shocks with blue springs.  They all have their charm.  Ideally a collector would have all 3.....

The aluminium bits are soo much more "chunky" on older TRF models, those rear uprights are monstrous! I love it!

Interesting that the front uprights are machined and the rear uprights are cast.  Those spindly cast parts are mush weaker.

You sir are an artist. And a brave man running your extremely rare builds on the street, i would have a definite heart failure, pavements, tiny stones, dust, bugs, i cannot!

While posting this I started to have the same thoughts.  Why am I driving this thing?  I probably shouldn't be.  At the least I'm going to drive it gently.
 
I've also got a TA-04 TRF to build.  This is the one with the silver carbon.  Should be fun.  Probably shouldn't drive that one.....

The R is very nice looking chassis. I was quite lucky to find one. I just wish I had the original box for it. My norm is to have two of everything so if I feel the need I can run the not so great condition example. 416X unused, 416WE has been run a bit, TA05MS recent build will not be used again, but now I’m busy updating my other one with 419 suspension bits. It’s already well used, so some track time wouldn’t hurt. I would really like to see how the TA03-R feels in track with some decent setup and current tyres, so I may need to locate another one…..

I feel like all the DJ versions of TRF items are somewhat wild with color and design. Is it an Asian thing? Like Surikarns Evo’s, bright red! I’m quite happy with my 03R. But like you say, it would be nice to have all three versions.

i guess back then there was less concern for tapping something with the rear of the chassis. So cast parts were “good enough”, im sure their thoughts were less effort in machining them strong, let’s just make them huge and strong.

You really shouldn’t be driving them. Or if you do, at least get yourself some thick vinyl for the underside during testing. Then remove when they’re shelved. I would honestly die if I was testing a rare car and clipped a small stone or heaven forbid, a pavement. My chassis are my fragile children.😂😂😂 

I have four TA-04 variants in my collections, unfortunately no TRF, yet. Two R’s upgraded with carbon and SSG components, one normal R, a S, and a SS with the short wheel base arms. I had a R-tuned with its box, but I regrettably sold it for some cash flow a year back. I have since been trying to convince the guy that I sold it to to sell it back to me. I will get it right eventually. Then all I need is some TRF versions.

My TA-03R TRF.
 

I wanted a 911 gt1 ta03. But I  had the luck to buy a tgx 911 gt1 body for my tgx mk1ts hopuped. It is was my runner and the best body to run. I'm fan of the 911 gt1. And on a trf 🤤🤤🤤🤤. The body wasn't my hardest one. The worst was the delta and the 037 with martini livery. I love your trf blackbird. You give dreams like before the fire.