TamTom

Just a little progress but a big one though. Thanks to the great help of fellow TC member "Wonder" I could realise the bright green FRP front sway bar mounts of the original Tamiya model from the promo video. He was so kind to make me a set and have sent it instantly. So a big thank you once again!

You can use RC4WD Blackwell X1 axles to minimize angle.

Selling a new build, unfinished, never run Williams FW07! Excellent condition overall! Body was just build never painted. Wing mirrors, exhaust, body mounts, wings all present. Decals still in bag. Comes with original lexane practice body and an Acoms quick charger which also appears to be unused. Carton box is a bit tatty but is part of the deal. EUR 360,- plus shipping. Shipping within EU is EUR 16,25 Will ship worldwide at cost. Paypal gift or + charges or SEPA bank transfer within EU.

But it looks **** good though!

Because RC4WD is online in several scale forums and their members are frequently reading and writing and building themselfes scaler models. So that's why they come out with such fine things. We as scaler builders can directly contact RC4WD for suggestions and requests and this is what we do each time we think RC4WD can make something for our community. Such great things is the outcome from hearing customers wishes. I'm afraid that Tamiya as a big company cannot do as RC4WD can do. Also Tamiya is producing models for a different group of customers. Where RC4WD focus on custom builders that want scale models, Tamiya focus on a wider range of customers that just want to buy, build and run their models. They are directly commercial oriented. Unless Tamiya seriousely want join the scaler builder market, they will not come out with such nice hard bodies I'm afraid. RC4WD can do very scale bodies as they already proved with the Cruiser body set. http://store.rc4wd.com/Gelande-II-Truck-Kit-wCruiser-Body-Set_p_4348.html And again I don't feel the K5 body is not right in proportions which means it is more scale than any Tamiya hardbody ever was. The axles of chassis the body is on are just a number to narrow. The reason: the chassis originally was designed to fit a Toyota Hilux (same size as Tamiya Hilux). RC4WD just used the chassis for reference I'm sure. RC4WD offers a wide range of variouse scale axles and maybe also in near future they will offer wider wheels... ;-) lets see. But again, this body is more or less for custom builders and you can be sure, nobody will run this body on such narrow axles. And as I already ordered a K5 body set, I will also custom build a chassis with right axles underneath.

But you don't really call a Tamiya hardbody full scale, don't you? Check the proportions of each of their hardbody with the real thing and you will discover that all of them are out of scale. Not that I do not like Tamiya bodies but to call a RC4WD body out of scale but a Tamiya body scale is wierd. Have you ever seen a RC4WD Toyota J4 Landcruiser body in person? Super scale I can say. And I know both the K5 and the J4, I mean the real ones very well. I owned a 1979 K5 Blazer (the same RC4WD made) and the details RC4WD put into their body are simply awesome. I think only ScaleArt can top that with their super scale semi models.

Proportions are right on this body. Compare to a real K5 Blazer. I have ordered one body for me already as I am waiting for such a super scale K5 Hardbody since ever. I am certain that the body will be very well detailed and made.

Well it is nothing spectacular though but, this testing is very time consuming. And I have to be very acurate because a simple mistake will destroy the whole display.

Today I have started to use my surface router for the first time. Took some wooden board and tested how to use the router and made myself familier with the handling. After some test runs, I made a slot and mounted one of the gears to see how it moves, how long the slot have to be and how long the pushrod has to be to rotate at little under full travel.

How does it hold? The big tires bring alot force to the knuckles especially at jumps. I would have thought of a crank steering.

That's the reason.

The bump steer is because of the odd front suspension geometry. I cannot imagine that you can get that working right.

Some progress today. I took the stands off and inserted grup screws into the poles so the gearboxes can stand on the stands but also taken off easely. Put the model back on the wooden platform and aligned it so everything sits on the right place. Then secured the stands with tape. Once I took the gearboxes off, I drill 3mm holes throught the center of the stands. I cut 6 pieces m3 threaded rod in the right lenght and screwed the threaded rods into the poles and slided the stands onto the rods. This way I fit the rods into the previosely drilled holes and secured them with flange nuts from the inside. Yes, it holds very well. The gearboxes sit very stiff when moving the suspespension. Now I will have to determine correct position of the slots for the rods that will drive the suspension arms.

LOL

I don't know. It pops up from time to time and then I have a closer look. Yes, I know about the numbering. In the 1985 Guide Book, the Hotshot heading up the dune has the number 1 and Pin Spike Tires. It is obviouse a prototype shot. And also interesting, while the pictures showing a true Mk1 running, the cut away model on the other side has the later reinforced bumper. The prototype still belongs to a fellow TC member. Unfortunately it is not me. Otherwise this HS would already sit on such a display cabinet of mine. PS: the wife and the kids are out of the house. So I'm alone! Wohooo!! Now working on the Display Cabinet

I am doing the same. I am collecting all information about all valuables I own. I also have all important informations, user information and passwords stored in a password safe on my PC that is secured and regular backups are available. I even store the pass for my safes in house where I store my weapons and printed documents. So when the time has come, she will have every information needed.

LOL You'd note down in your last will what you really paid for them. That keeps her sadness and dolor about you passing away calm I'm sure.

Another thing I have noticed is, on last page of the vintage Mk1 manual you see a Hotshot running. It seems to be a production Hotshot with correct screws and screwpins except for the sway bar mount. It is made of black material but not the common black FRP.

Pipe cutter.... good point. Will have to check this option. I don't think a hobby cutter will cot steel. They are made for cutting aluminum, plastic and maybe brass. But a good pipe cutter is still something I will have to check.

Sure I'd do if necessary. However, I already bought blank steel rods and I have already tried to cut grooves with my lathe but said, my lathe is not powerful enought to work on steel. So I thought about asking someone with a larger lathe to cut grooves as needed.

Yes, it is glass, no acrylic plastic. So it is also quite heavy all in all. I was thinking about that too. Maybe some newer models bin may fit. Would be cool if you could check somehting out as I don't have any modern buggy or even such pins. In worst case I will ask someone making them for me. The diameter are still the same. It is just a matter of lenght and if the nut for the E-clip is on the right place.

Thanks! Yes, I have copied all the things Tamiya did to heir model. I also want to go with brighter stabilizer bars if I find the right material. I will contact WONDER if he can help me. Thanks for the hint. I also want to change from screw pins for the wishbones to steel pins with E-clips like in the video but unfortunately my micro lathe cannot handle steel so well. I might find someone who can turn steel for me. As for the tires, I also wandered because they used Pin Spike Tires instead of oval blocks. Obviousely they were ready already at Hotshot times. In the 1985 Guide Book you also can see one Hotshot climbing up the dunes with Pin Spike Tires on. I want finish this one in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I can stick to my schedule somehow. But I don't want to rush because this display cost me over 300 euro. But is worth the money. As I already mentiones before, once this project is finished, I am going to work on the next... still secret what it will be

I am sooo sorry! But here we go. Yesterday I was surprised by my mother who brought me something from the carpenter I have been waiting for It turned out much nicer than I have expected. They have polished and sprayed to high grade finish. It looks much better than on the pictures! So here is what it will look like. I mocked up the project as it will sit then. I now have to plan the mounting points again and carefully drill holes and mill the slots for the movement rods. Now the finishline of my project comes closer. I have ordered the right cupboard with measurements to carry two of these displays It might not looks so spectacular on pictures but I think when it will move it will turn out better. Hope you enjoy.

More updates soon

Selling following new in box motors: .) RS-540SD Black Motor Sprint 1x EUR 105,- (reserved) - one is SOLD .) RX-540VZ Technigold Motor 1x 125,- .) RX-540SD Technituned Motor 2x 130,- each (1x reserved) .) Dynatech 02H Motor 1x 80,- (reserved) Will ship worldwide at cost.