The
aptly named 47470 Top Force Evolution from 1992 was an evolution of the original 58100 Top Force from the prior year, which was itself an evolution of the 58087
Manta Ray using the DF-01 chassis. The Evolution used the same
body, wheels, tires, and chassis as the Top Force, but upgraded the FRP
chassis to carbon fiber, the plastic shocks to aluminum "hi-caps", and
the screws to titanium. The livery was also changed from one based
on metallic green to one based on gun metal gray and the wheels became
orange. This was a truly deluxe racing buggy for the time, but
still much simpler and more robust than the Avante from only a couple of
years earlier. When the Top Force was re-released as 58362
in 2005, there was no sign of the Evolution. However, the
availability of a carbon chassis upgrade and a hi-cap shock upgrade
after there was a new production run in 2017 certainly hinted at the
possibility. It wasn't
until 2021 that the 47470
Top Force Evo was re-released. Notice the name change?
I'm guessing this is related to copyright issues with Mitsubishi on the
Evolution name. The re-release did a pretty good job of
replicating the original, but the titanium screws are gone and, like the
2017 Top Force re-release, it uses the "square spike" tires from the
DF-02 instead of the original "spire spike" tires. That's pretty
sad considering that Tamiya was still making those tires for the Top
Force as of 2005.
This is a 4WD shaft drive buggy with a twin plate carbon chassis, four wheel independent suspension, and aluminum oil shocks. I used a vintage Dynatech brushed motor to give it performance worthy of itself, and I'm glad I did. There's something special about the high pitched hum of a low turn brushed motor. I do consider this a runner, but I am pretty careful with it after what happened to its grandfather (below). I hope to keep this one looking good for a long time.
Update: I had on original Top Force Evolution in perfect condition that was destroyed in the 2022 fire before I got a chance to write about it. It has been replaced with a Top Force Evo re-release.
This is a 4WD shaft drive buggy with a twin plate carbon chassis, four wheel independent suspension, and aluminum oil shocks. I used a vintage Dynatech brushed motor to give it performance worthy of itself, and I'm glad I did. There's something special about the high pitched hum of a low turn brushed motor. I do consider this a runner, but I am pretty careful with it after what happened to its grandfather (below). I hope to keep this one looking good for a long time.
Update: I had on original Top Force Evolution in perfect condition that was destroyed in the 2022 fire before I got a chance to write about it. It has been replaced with a Top Force Evo re-release.
 Page 1: Assembly |
 Page 2: Final Photos |