Jump to content
Pumesta

Project Dusty the Blackfoot

Recommended Posts

Hi all Newbie alert please go easy on me. Decided to resore my old Blackfoot which has been sitting on a shelf for over 20 years. Just looking some advise and feedback, so some pictures

1.jpg

Dug out the control, charger and battery. I don't hold much hope of the battery working but the light did come on when I plugged it into the charger which might be a good sign

2.jpg

How it came off the shelf, currently wearing it's Monster Beetle body

Just a bit dusty

5.jpg

3.jpg

4.jpg

7.jpg

6.jpg

Broken front shock

11.jpg

Broken bumper mount

10.jpg

Broken windscreen mount

Beetle shell pretty good

12.jpg

Apart from a slightly unhinged sunroof and the driver is faceless

13.jpg

14.jpg

Headlight wiring on the beetle

19.jpg

one of the four screws that holds the gearbox on is missing

20.jpg

It's ok the bit of wood replacing the screw on the other side is still in place

21.jpg

Think I need some front wheel bearings

So far I have ordered

New set of bearings,

2005 Frog back axel

new set of bevel gears

Also plan on upgrading to Lipo, and esc but need to do more reading up, get more advise on these

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This should be a fun project! I think an ESC is a must but that is me being biased and utterly despising MSC's. I think I have 2 esc's that are LiPo compatible but for the rest I use lipo alarms. I was skeptical about LiPos when went to buy one but the reliability, charge rate, discharge rate, capacity and weight are in a league of their own. Couple that with incredible pricing and they are a no brainer. Get yourself a good charger, a lipo charging sac and do not waste money on Lipo's too cheap to be true. If you say "wow that's cheap!" then it is an should not buy them. I have a 6500 mAh Lipo 2s that i use in all my cars. In my monster beetle with the stock 540, it will run so long that your arm will hurt from holding the radio. The only issue I have ever had was in fact in the MB at the beach. I was running the truck so long it started to slow down. I was worried that the lipo alarm malfunctioned but when I got to the car I realized that the foam i put over the motor to keep sand out was causing it to over heat since i had been running it over an hour straight.I seriously love LiPo's. do not waste a cent on a NiMh.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Pintopower,

What brand lipo are you using? Been thinking about getting new nimhs for my cars, won't mind picking up some reliable lipos.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome back to the world of RC.

This lipo fits in every Tamiya chassis I've tried it on and is decent quality. I have two of these.

cr293.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/core-rc-4000mahr-7.4v-30-60c-2s-lipo/rc-car-products/388538

As for chargers, there are so many to choose from. This looks decent (5yr warranty) and is a dual charger which is always handy...

dync2020.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/dynamite-prophet-sport-duo-50wx2-dual-battery-mains-charger/rc-car-products/384411

Or cheaper single version here;

dync2010uk.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/dynamite-prophet-sport-plus-50w-ac-dc-charger-uk-version/rc-car-products/380516

You'll need one of these too for nimh;

et0271.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-tamiya-charging-cable/rc-car-products/375996

and this for lipo typically;

m19d.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-charge-lead-4mm-to-deans-male/rc-car-products/35585

And something to safely store the battery like this;

107249_01.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-plazma-pouch-lipo-safe-case-black-/rc-car-products/370156

and an extended balance lead so you can charge it conveniently in its pouch...

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-2s-30cm-balance-lead-extension-wire/rc-car-products/393557

et0245.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in... :D

All I did with my 25-year-old Pumpkin was gave it a quick wipe over with a cloth, stuck a new NiMh battery in it and then drove it round the yard. There was a bit of smoke off the MSC but some fresh lubricant fixed that.

Having done that, I decided to retire it to the shelf and then found myself buying a couple of new kits plus a couple of old cars off Ebay to mess around with. I could have made the Pumpkin like new again and/or thrown hop-ups at it but then all the history would be gone.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ps...

I use this ESC which is lipo compatible,

113076_01.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-sc-3swp-waterproof-electronic-speed-control/rc-car-products/384395

Newer verision a bit smaller same price here;

114712_01.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-sc-3swp2-waterproof-electronic-speed-control/rc-car-products/393139

Others highly recommend this which is cheaper and looks to be made in the same factory;

hw30105060001.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hobbywing-quicrun-1060-brushed-esc/rc-car-products/382831

You'll also need one of these...

ET0817.jpg

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/index.php?product_id=39232

Think that covers it...or you could just get sucked in further with one of these without esc lol! ;

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-monster-beetle-2015-without-esc/rc-car-products/395365

58618-1.jpg

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Went to order all of the above bits and they won't ship the battery to Northern Ireland :( But some parts did arrive :)

12265630_1195287457153650_72424098574300 . Next step is strip all the old electronics out and wash all the dust and crud off before I progress. Really want to trial fit and test the new electronics before stripping the car down to the bare bones

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So not much done tonight,


23.jpg


24.jpg

Radio gear, manual speed control and servos removed


And a quick trip to the bath tub for the chassis, as I strip and rebuild I will clean everything properly, I just don't want to be whipping dust and crud off my desk all the time when I work at it

26.jpg

27.jpg

28.jpg

25.jpg

I left the motor on simply because I didn't really want to fill the gear box with water. The motor will be replaced anyway

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I put all the bits in the dishwasher. Wife not impressed but it does a great job

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
So it was a long day at work today, so just going to chill out tonight so nothing much to report and won't be much until the weekend. My new aerial arrived for the R/C and I dug out my old spare parts bin.
29.jpg
31.jpg
32.jpg
30.jpg
34.jpg
33.jpg
Nothing really interesting, a few bits I need such as rear window and a full set of spot lights
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wish i didn't give away my old Blackfoot 20 some odd years ago... maybe I'll cross my fingers for a Blackfoot rerelease... :)

Looks great so far!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Now we're talking get some a that Norn iron elbow grease on it wee fella.... Used to be you'd just shuffle down to leisure world in the city and pick up what ya need.... That's where my wild willy came from back in 83 or 84? Looking good keeper lit.. What am I like I haven't spoken like that in 26 years.. That when I moved state side. I'm enjoying the build. Where are you in the Provence.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Now we're talking get some a that Norn iron elbow grease on it wee fella.... Used to be you'd just shuffle down to leisure world in the city and pick up what ya need.... That's where my wild willy came from back in 83 or 84? Looking good keeper lit.. What am I like I haven't spoken like that in 26 years.. That when I moved state side. I'm enjoying the build. Where are you in the Provence.

I am frrom Ards. Yea it was Leisure World I got it in, I remember having to get dad to take me to 'town' to get parts and having to go threw the police checkpoint at the end of the road lol. I was actually talking to an ex staff member from Leisure World a couple of weeks ago and that combined with the MB re-re put me in the mood to get Blackfoot going again.

so done a bit of shopping today
35.jpg
Lipo
Charger,
motor,
oil filled shocks,
ESC was out of stock but should be with me early next week :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
So trial fitted the shocks to make sure they fit before dismantling
36.jpg
37.jpg
My only worry is the fronts feel very firm and the rears a bit soft, unless I have fitted them back to front. There is some adjustment they are threaded and the collar screws up and down, but I assume this is for ride hide like coilovers on a car rather than damping rate

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
38.jpg
39.jpg
A bit of modification required to get the battery to fit, but only needs a couple of spacers.
40.jpg
No going back now
41.jpg
Ah thats why the front suspension was a bit em loose, time to try to track down a correct bolt
Then dumped it all in the sink and gave it another wash. hope to have the front end all built up over the next few days and then tackle the gearbox next week

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Everything was going so well
42.jpg
Was checking the front end and everything looked good after a wash, decided just to nip everything up and refit. Well that was the plan until the aged plastic crumbled away :( so new parts ordered, and it will let me replace both sides and the shock tower which was looking tired anyway.
So after looking on ebay I couldn't find the correct step screw to replace the odd one in the front suspension, so made my own.
43.jpg
using the bushes from the top mounts for my old shocks. Time will tell if works or not
Then to cheer myself up after the breakage I fitted my new bearing to the front wheels
44.jpg
45.jpg
Then hit the tyres with some Maguire's tyre gel
46.jpg
Both tasks pointless as the wheels need repainted anyway

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Take a couple of 850 bearing the bronzze ones if you have any and put them in as battery spacers for the battery stop on each side.. or iff you dont have them something similar couple of pieces of tubing cut to length... I lived in Jordanstown over the bridge from Monkstown before I moved to Florida... I have alot of Family still there... Mostly in the car trade.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So does anyone know how I would go about fixing the missing part of the body shell.

11.jpg

Apart from that the shell is more or less intact, and I refuse to replace it for both money reasons and originality

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

looks great I to have just started my Blackfoot rebuild been put up for many yrs as well gonna get it updated for my son and i to run its all original all but the rear dogbones were custom machined by my dad at the shop yrs ago they work awesome pulled all orig electronics out needs bearings few minor things got a list of items ready to order .... esc , radio / receiver combo , servo etc , body is in great shape so ill post pics as i go gonna be a winter project here in snowy upstate NY love the sight cant wait to check out all the projects - Dave

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

where did you get the shock set for your rig Pumesta? love them thanx Dave F Jr

I got them in a local model shop, I went in looking a set of CVA's but ideally black to keep things as original looking as possible, they told mr the CVA's were poor compared other brands, I don't even know what brand these are but they look cool

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...