The Lancia Delta HF Integrale bodyshell

What is specific to this body, apart from being beautiful, is to feature a complete cockpit set. This is the original body that can be found on the kit 58117 based on the TA-01 chassis but also on the kit 58342 (TT-01 chassis) and kit 58446 (DF-03Ra chassis). Given the complexity of this body decoration, I chose to get the painted set. Well, the cockpit set still has to be painted: I planned long hours holding a thin brush.

The result brings even more realism to the whole bodyset but it doesn't resist to a close inspection due to my very low-level skills in painting. After all, my models are not meant to be shelf decorations .

First runs

I had already driven with this bodyshell fitted onto the TT-01 chassis of my Xsara WRC and on the TB-01 chassis of my Focus WRC. This time, I drove it with its original TA-01 chassis on the track.

This bodyshell is still very beautiful even if it now shows use even after reinforcing and repairing it from the inside with scotch. About the chassis, I discovered its handling in a pure on-road configuration which is pretty different from the off-road version of my Ford F-150 (which chassis is not a true TA-01).

The TA-01 is great to drive as it is very well balanced and very similar to my Xsara WRC. But there is a real difference: whereas the TT-01 remains silent, the TA-01 sings a pure vintage sound worth the best Hollywood FX. The main driveshaft makes this sweet sound that definitely reminds our grand-ma's coffee mill . Of course, you can upgrade it with a reinforced main driveshaft to shut this mechanical opera, but I think this would drastically cut the TA-01 from one of its utmost remarkable feature (this option is highly recommended when using a more powerful motor though).

And now the video with pure sound from the famous central shaft:

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