How good is the Tamiya DF-03 Dark Impact?
I honestly really enjoyed building it. It is classic Tamiya - great looking box, easy to follow manual and rewarding build.
There are a few tricky bits like assembling the ball differentials and the shocks are a bit messy, but apart from that it is a joy to build.
I noticed that the car is very light, especially for a Tamiya.
You can see that the chassis is very slim. There is not much room at all for the electronics so make sure any ESC is small - there is just about enough room for a Hobbywing 1060 or Carson Dragster, which are both brushed ESC’s and fairly small.
So how did the car drive?
It drove absolutely spot on. The motor is a bit underwhelming compared to my brushless cars, but it gives enough punch to make it a competent little basher buggy.
It will be interesting to see what it would be like with a brushless motor, but until I can source a slipper clutch for it (very rare) I will not be converting it.
For now it will stay with its brushed motor and ESC. I would estimate around 25mph. The gearing is very safe as brushed motors will get very hot if over geared especially in a buggy or truck.
The things I am not keen on is the fact that hop ups and spares in general seem few and far between. The other issue is the battery fitment. This thing is purely either Nimh or round case 2s lipo. Anything else and there is no chance it will fit.
I tried a 2s hard case lipo and the edges are too square, and a shorty was the same. Even with a round case or a Nimh the fitment is crazy tight and it has a ‘trap door’ underneath the chassis that opens and closes to access the battery compartment.
Overall I did enjoy building it and will hold on to it until I can get a slipper clutch and put a brushless motor in it.
It gets a 6/10 as it is good to drive and has lovely nimble handling, but it also has flaws from the factory like battery fitment.
