Justo's Tamiya Monster Beetle

[justo316]

Here it is. Just picked it up back off my bro. A mate of mine gave it to me ages ago but I thought it was stupid.

Now it's a project for me! Hoping to spend as little as possible to fix it up.

e107_files/public/36_bettlebefore.jpg

[opAsx]

oh man i love it

that is such a cool looking car :)

hmmmm brushless beetle... :P

[justo316]

I still think it's such a stupid looking car.

[opAsx]

no... your stupid!!! poopooface!!!

that is one of the best looking cars i have seen in ages. it has what a lot of the more recently released cars dont have... character.

swap it for one of my rc10gt's you big girly bitch with no taste :P

[James]

AWESOME! and it still has the little man inside!! valuable! :)

clean it up, dont hack it up, keep it authentic.. bring it to the Tamiya day that Matt will one day finally organise :)

[justo316]

I'm not cutting anything up (much)....I've bent a couple metal rods to give it more articulation so far.....pics to come :)

[citrus]

I still think it's such a stupid looking car.


urgh how can you say that - its mintox
i want one

[opAsx]

lol.... mintox...

justo, those tlt-1 rims james took off his would look great on your monster beetle... *hint*

[opAsx]

hehe avoid that novak crap and go for a sexy esc and motor...

then fit it to the beetle for ultimate levels of coolness :p

[justo316]

Those tlt-1 rims are pretty much the same as these ones (looks-wise). Different way of fitting them on though.

It's coming along. Gluing the tyres on now. No electrics for it though so won't be driven for a while :P

Dunno what to do about the body. It looks shite. I emailed stanbridges to see if they can get replacements.

[justo316]

A few more BEFORE pics

e107_files/public/36_beetle1.jpg

[justo316]

dirty

e107_files/public/36_beetle2.jpg

[justo316]

Gonna get rid of all those crap-lectrics

e107_files/public/36_beetle3.jpg

[justo316]

last one

e107_files/public/36_beetle4.jpg

[justo316]

** Rebuild Pics **

OK, I started with the front end and worked my way back. I re-filled all the shacks with 25wt oil and tried to find some lighter springs. All I had was two black associated springs which were softer, but I cut a few coils off anyway. Shock action is now a lot smoother.

I altered the front and rear suspension a bit to allow for more travel. You won't be able to tell what I actually did ;) Although, I didn't actually remember what it was like beforehand so can't comment on whether it worked or not.

I took bits and pieces off and gave it a semi-thorough brush/wipe down. It's hard to see in my dining room so I probably missed some bits.

Here's a pic of the chassis

e107_files/public/36_beetle5.jpg

[justo316]

Tyres need a cleaning. Couldn't be bothered cos they'll clean themselves when it gets moving on grass.

e107_files/public/36_beetle6.jpg

[opAsx]

so did you use a decent shack oil?

if you dont you might have to endure a shaq-attack...

[justo316]

New looking front end

e107_files/public/36_beetle7.jpg

[justo316]

Last one for now.

e107_files/public/36_beetle8.jpg

[opAsx]

sell it to me... not to RC_King... otherwise he will never afford his FG ffs :P

[justo316]

I'd sell it in a heartbeat. But it was my mates first and only rc that he passed onto me. I'm not I'd feel right about selling it.

But make me an offer, and I can always see if he wants some extra money.

[opAsx]

2 blowjobs and half a pack of matches (blowjobs from RC_King or my mum, your choice) :P

PM for serious bid :)

[justo316]

SOLD to opasx....






Just kidding rc_king.

I emailed my mate and asked him what he wants for it (hopefully factoring my restoration margin ;) )

[opAsx]

lol he didnt see the just kidding bit ahahahahhahahah

[justo316]

I might have to start an auction onthis thing... :P

[opAsx]

yah definately.

e-bay it and it will bring in a nice dollar or so. and hey... you have a forum of people to help push the value that little bit higher :P

[opAsx]

oh cool.... i was hoping it wasnt another hissy :P

[opAsx]

only when you have the battery leads on my nads... otherwise its just not romantic...

[justo316]

** Expression of Interest **
Ok, so if you're interested in buying this thing (besides rc_king and opasx), post here. I've got the go ahead to sell if I want to, but I'm not sure if it's worth selling at this stage.

[BAGES]

If Op or RC are seriously looking for one - there is one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44022&item=5985483439&rd=1

[justo316]

yeah, I've already asked him if that was the original body and whether the driver figure is inside (the glass isn't supposed to be tinted). Also asked him where the rear bumper and front fog lights and why he didn't take the pic with the original wheels %-6

[BALISTC]

****, I'm loving these old Tamiya's....they dont look so hardcore under the skin as the newer RCs, but they have a real appeal to them :D

[opAsx]

justo, hold off selling til you have finished your cleaning and fixing etc.

then ebay it. should get better there, that guy who has his listed seems to have started a little on the greedy side.

[justo316]

** Driving Impressions **

Well, While watching the last few episodes of the amazing race tonight, I ripped the lectronics out of my xxx4 and shoved them in the Beetle with a 15T venom motor.

Had annoying hiccups cos I didn't have the right match between ball cups, ball screw bits, rods and servo saver for my servo. Eventually I got it all sorted after cursing for an hour or so.

Took it outside for a quick spin and......well, that's what it does, the rear tyres spin easily. The tyres don't have the pin spikes anymore so this must be what the old blackfoot would have been like.

Granted it was a bit wet and with a *little* control, it takes off nice. No wheelies though :P

The Beetle handles much like you'd expect. ie. not well. hahaha....But it is kinda funny seeing it drive around.

Here's somemore pics....

e107_files/public/36_beetle9.jpg

[justo316]

The suspension is a worry. The way it works is very inefficient. Dunno if there are any mods to get it working nicely though. There's a lot of binding just from the geometry of how it's setup.

Even though I lightened the front springs, the Beetle is so light to begin with, it uses the tyre pressure as suspension more than anything!

You can't change the gearing, so the 15turn motor is probably way too much for it. I'll keep an eye on temps tomorrow when I drive it proper.


e107_files/public/36_beetle10.jpg

[justo316]

What do you guys reckon about giving it a new paint job?

I was thinking of stripping it back and painting it again just so it doesn't look so crap.

Dunno what I'd do for stickers though.

[justo316]

But if I paint it, I won't be selling it.

If I keep it, at least I can use it. If I sell it, I give the money to my mate and am left with nothing.... :(

[justo316]

hahaha.....you forget that I think it looks about as gay as possible now :P I HATE monster beetles!

[justo316]

It's a pity it's not a Blackfoot (pretty much same thing). I always wanted one of those.

[justo316]

Nah, I think the body mounting is a bit different (ie more parts needed), plus I don't think I can afford a new Tamiya body come to think of it.

[opAsx]

make it brushless... dual brushless and run it til it melts :D

i like the beetle for sure, but i dont see anything more than maybe $120-150 in the old ones.

maybe hold out til they release the lunchbox again :D

[James]

tower hobbies lists the lunch box for under 100 USD, cant wait :)

[opAsx]

OS of course :D

[opAsx]

i think i have had enough of the local hassles and buying direct from OS seems to be juust as easy and so much cheaper. but im biased :P

[justo316]

I don't ever want to see it again. It stripped my servo (which was my fault, but I'll just blame it on the beetle).

With the 15turn venom, it went a decent click. I only got to drive it for a minute. Handled like a pig. It's amazing how far rc cars have come in terms of performance.

I'm just gonna keep it for now on a shelf, unless I can use it in a trade somewhere along the lines.