simensays

nope

Well, the fix you mention you'd rather do is already out there - it's called 40 years of design evolution. The zip ties you refer to are part of that evolution, and historically accurate if you want to build an old SRB. If you plan on building a kick *** runner, well you should not be basing the build on a SRB platform?

Score! Two excellent WWs to bring back to their former glory - or to enjoy as is I've restored a few of these over the years, and had 17 at one point in time, but am down to a humble 10 or so now. Unless you're going for a true original and hence very expensive build, you can find some nice replacement parts on Shapeways, like the grill.

All I know from my local ventures for old Tamiyas back in the early 00s - mostly a hunt for Wild Willys and Sand Scorchers, is that I turned down something like 10-15 Porsche 959s, usually at a cost around $60-75 at the time... Hindsight is 20/20 and today I naturally wish I'd picked up a couple back then, as the model fascinates me much more today than it did then. Then again, lexan bodied models is not my thing...

Old thread, but might give you some info...

They're expensive, but the coolest model Tamiya ever made, so just get one!

Probably one of the worst promo videos by Tamiya when watching it now, but I really wanted this car back in the early 2000s. It is still a cool car, but probably more of a collectable than a runner? I don't think they sold too many of them, so they don't show up that often. I'm tempted to bid on your auction myself

nothing much, but wheels painted...

This GF01 is slowly looking more and more like a Wild Willy...

Some quick shots with the roll bar (temporarily) mounted, just to check proportions... I can easily adjust the tilt angle of the body.

All the mods have been made to the body & driver figure. The chassis is untouched apart from the body mount spacers that I made shown in earlier posts.

I couldn't find them on eBay at the moment, so probably temporarily sold out. From experience this has been the case earlier, so as long as peopel keep buying them (as they do), they will probably make more. I picked up a few sets, but as my last spare set went on the WW2, I need to pick up some more at some point. I have lots of spare original tires in various states, but the repro tires is a better way to go for all projects other than a 100% original restoration build.

There are really several ongoing projects in this thread, all WW related and with various custom parts and mods I do. As usual I've been busy with others things, but I did 3D print a set of the wheels on Shapeways for my WW2 and mounted some of @RA1028 excellent repro Wild Willy tires. I want all my various WWs to resemble the proportions and look of the original gansta, and to me the tires play a huge role in this. [/img] As I have modded the stance of my WW2 (wider rear and front mods to accommodate heck wheels), I swapped out the wider rear with the stock parts. The wheels I've designed are the standard 12mm hex mounted set up, so I left the upgraded front assembly (uprights and front axles from a M-04) and everything fit perfectly. I've done multiple wheels set ups on my WW2 over the years, but I am so pleased that I finally have gotten around to making wheels to fit the vintage style WW tires. The GF01 Wild Willy has gotten some paint, waiting for some detailing now. At first I was planning on doing a subtle olive drab weathered look, but as this will be my 4x4 Wild Willy and probably see some run time, I want it as part of my stock WW look brigade. So I will most likely do it as per original box art.

Someone has... TC member RA1028 has made some repro Wild Willy / Blazing Blazer tires (I believe he had some Rough Rider front tires and Hilux 4x4 tires made also (?). I have several sets of his WW tires - which are better than the originals. There are several threads on this in these forums, like this one:

That looks awesome so far! Ah yes, I have ongoing projects that I started years ago waiting to get some attention I will pick them up one at the time though... Please post some pics here when you have the time to finish or even progress the Big Oly build - not enough of them out there!