The
DT-01 chassis is not impressive. DT apparently stands for "Dirt,
Two Wheel Drive" which is accurate enough. But with a solid rear
axle, swing arm front suspension, and friction dampers this thing is not
exactly stable. It bounces all over the place like a Clod
Buster. I suppose that means it hones your driving skills.
With some oil shocks and a different motor it might be a different
animal though. Time will tell.This is the first model I ever bought used and already built. "Used" is a strong word since it had never been run. It was in absolutely pristine condition and I got it for a good price with the original box and instructions. This allowed me to tear it down and rebuild it which was nearly the same experience as building it new. I did find there were a couple of missing parts but it was kind of fun tracking them down.
The DT-01 is a beginner off road chassis which seems to be descended from the Grasshopper. It was first available in 1991 with the oddly named 57501 Rookie Rabbit. This was a RTR model, not a kit. Other models later followed with the 58275 Mad Fighter first showing up in 2001, ten years after the birth of the chassis. In another 10 years it was released again with exactly the same number and no changes. This makes it a little tricky to know for sure which version I have, but the labels on the box confirm mine is the re-release. This is a very simple model with only a handful of parts and no complex building steps. This shows in the handling which is far less than refined. It is pretty quick though, and very sturdy so just right for a newbie. The body shell is hard plastic and comes molded in color so it does not need to be painted. The body is extremely similar to that used in the 58093 Bear Hawk and may even be based on a modification of that original mold. It adds a front air scoop and a mount for the rear spoiler. The B-pillar directly behind the driver also appears to have been reshaped somewhat to make room for the angled rear shocks.
Update: This model was destroyed in the 2022 fire. It has not been replaced.
 Page 1: Assembly |
 Page 2: Upgrades! |
 Page 3: Final Photos |