Jonesy76

Alternatively if you're in the UK why not try RCBearings? Next day delivery normally (if the Royal mail is playing ball) and you can specify if you want metal shielded or rubber shielded bearings. The way I understand it from my cycling (I'm also a Lycra loony) that ceramic bearing are the absolute dogs danglies, but only really suited to the top end racer, or the "all the gear - no idea" loaded amateur. Metal shielded gives you slightly less friction than rubber shielded but lets in fine dust and water, in other words metal shields for indoors, rubber for outdoors.

Just the drivers to do now but here's the finished product (before clear coating) And 'Herbie' Even the stripes are seperately sprayed rather than using stickers that simply didn't look right. Only one more thing though : Does anyone have an old Monster Beetle or Blackfoot plastic diff casing/cog in their spare parts drawer? The original in mine had 2 missing teeth so I replaced it (and the metal diff cogs and bevels) with the one from the re-re Frog. I think it's a tiny bit smaller than the beetle original and the gears keep slipping under acceleration and braking, especially as it has a Sport Tuned in there rather than a stock silver can. Any suggestions?

I'm currently running an Mtroniks Tio Storm ESC (no turn limit) in my TXT-1 with two 19x2 motors using the Novak wiring guide! Works a treat and is also waterproof for those who like floating Clods!

Hi there, and welcome to the forums and the joyous money pit that are vintage Monster Beetles. I'm the same as you (34 rather than 35) and just back into the joys of RC after a Blackfoot and a used Boomerang as a kid. Its kinda addictive though.............I already have had a Lunchbox (swapped), a Monster Beetle, Wild Willy 2, Super Clodbuster and a TXT-1. However if you want an MSC complete with arm to connect it to a servo I have one about to go in the bin should you wish to have it? I've just rebuilt a Monster Beetle but I've slung an ESC in it rather than the old school MSC.

Well after a lot of thought I think I may have the answer for the time being....... I'm returning the TEU-103BK. I'm going to get hold of a waterproof Mtronik Tio Storm which has no turn limit, will happilly run 8.4v NiMh and Lipos for if I fancy a change in the future. A bit of soldering should give me a decent wiring harness and then I'm going to experiment to start with with a pair of LRP 19x2 brushed motors. I'm in the process of a complete rebuild of the gearboxes so they're all being completely rebuilt with ceramic grease and sealed ballraces. Should help it handle the extra power.

Well a bit of tinkering so far has found a number of more pressing problems with the old TXT-1 than I first thought when I first got the car. The front suspension has been involved in one big crunch at some stage as the lowest rod connection to the grey plastic axle guards has been broken off and has then been bodged back together with a couple of metal extensions. The problem with this is that every time you run the ca rinto anything remotely solid they get twisted out of position which causes the steering to go wonky. This issue has been addressed with the purchase of some blue anodised aluminium axle guards that should toughen the whole suspension rig up. The vertical 120mm dampers that were on the truck when I got it have been removed and replaced with the stock suspension set-up with the addition of some Yeah Racing dampers I had in the parts bin. It now rests a bit closer to the ground than it did, but the stock suspension setup gives the better range of movement than the vertical suspension, and the marginally lower centre of gravity should help it. It also needs one new hub as one has broken where the lower articulating screw holds it in..........maybe a standard replacement for the time being, and then an alloy replacement may be on the cards in the future. I've got hold of a stock Tamiya TEU-103BK twin motor ESC for it now, and I have an option on a couple of Tamiya GT Tuned motors someone has. I'm actually contemplating a pair of Super Stock TZ 23 turn motors to give it some poke for some big giggles down the beach. ...............and it's completely un-ballraced.

What is everyone using then in their Clods, modded Clods (Dragoons etc), TXT-1's, Dual Hunters etc? There is a bit of a bewildering assortment out there, and the bodged ESC in my TXT-1 needs to be replaced.

Fancy posting the instructions to Norfolk DCLXVI? I'll happilly pay for postage from Sweden and a bit for the instructions too. The ESC however is another conundrum. My Super Clodbuster is the chrome version and came with Tamiyas twin motor (TEU-103BK) ESC. Now I can't stick anything more potent than a Tamiya Super Sport motor(s) into that, but could I use it to power two 55turn crawler motors? Or I may just say sod it for the time being and stick something like a Novak Super Rooster in the TXT-1, run it off an 8.4v battery and stick something like a pair of 19T motors in it for some serious fun down the beach. Ideally I'm going to stick with just the one high mah battery in either 7.2v or 8.4v (although I think the TEU103BK will only take 7.2v

I guess the answer to my previous question of "to Clod or not to Clod" has been answered The answer is "To Clod and TXT-1 at the same time!" One trade for my Mystery Machine Lunchbox has resulted in my getting my grubby little tinkering mitts on a used TXT-1. Now I don't know if it's ball-raced or not but I've ordered a full set for it as I've a feeling it's not, and stripping it down to ball race it should be a good way to get to know it. Now it does have an ESC fitted, and it will handle an 8.4v battery, but it's a bit jury-rigged as the two motor leads are fed into a chocolate block connector and then into the ESC motor leads. Questions for you good people are:- 1. Is it possible to get new body posts? 2. Does anyone have a TXT-1 manual out there or will I have to stick with the online version? 3. What's a good proper twin motor ESC (preferably a UK available model) 4. Sticking with a brushed set-up what's the best bet with these things? Go slow or fast? If go fast what kind of motors do I need to look for? 5. Are both the TXT-1 motors turning in the same direction?

Does anyone else get those silly ideas that just creep into your head and refuse to go away? I had one this morning and I keep trying to talk myself out of it to no avail. Basically I've spotted a couple of interesting Tamiya monster trucks on the ol' eBay (couple of Clodzilla jobs, a Juggernaut, and a couple of TXT's) but I can't afford them right now. However now I have my WW2, and my Monster Beetle I have to admit that my customised 'Mystery Machine' isn't getting used that much (more like not at all). However I love the idea of the old Lunchbox and I adore the look of the thing which got me thinking......... How about a Clodzilla or TXT chassis with a 1/10 dodge van shell on top? Basically a Super Lunchbox!

Yep! One servo horn adjusted + the short link to the rear wheels + the front connecting rod to the front steering and it now runs straight............ ............which is nice!

First set of shocks were just too **** soft and completely unadjustable so they're going to have to go back. Running in full bouncy bouncy stock mode at the moment! First test run was tonight. A few observations:- 1. WOW these things are HUGE! It's currently dwarfing my Monster Beetle! 2. The ESC works an absolute treat, and the braking is so sudden it will wheel stand on the front wheel. 3. The steering is a bit hit and miss! On the go it's ok but slow manoevring is pretty impossible on the stock steering. On the steering I have a question....... How do you correct a turn to the right (or left for that matter)? Even though I measured out my rods perfectly it has a lovely habit of pulling right even with full left correction enabled on my transmitter. Is there a trick to getting it spot on?

Thanks all...... Didn't know all about the serch function (I tend to come in straight at the forums), but I do now so thank you very much. Jobs a good 'un Mine is progressing slowly as it's a real awkward wotsit trying to get the transparent blue to adhere well enough to that chromed shell, but it's coming along. It's been in the airing cupboard drying seriously hard the last two days so hopefully now the paint won't lift again when I try to apply the decals.

Building my new Super Clodbuster and have come up with my own idea for the bodyshell (chrome one, but I want a touch of colour too), but it would be good to see what you imaginative lot have come up with for your giant beasties in the past.

I have two cans of transparent deep blue! Going to hit the chrome body up with some transblue that should hopefully allow the chrome finish underneath it to shine clean through. Couple of chrome racing stripes up the bonnet, over the cab and through the flatbed (which will otherwise be black) should stand out nicely through the blue. Getting the blue right down the sides to coincide with the decals is going to be the tough bit. Need to wait on bearings first anyway so the chassis can stay in the box currently anyway. Going to run it stock to start with and then go on the hunt for less bouncy shocks. From what I've read on the net I think I should be looking for 100mm shocks......that right?

..........admit to management (the wife) that I may have brought another one! Pointless trying to hide a Super Clodbuster. After that I'm definitely a sniffer too. I love the smell of fresh rubber so it's always the tyres and wheels that get done first on any build of mine.

Ha ha......... Have you seen my Lunchbox on this forum? I have a wee bit of a thing for spray jobs. Just done spray work on a 'Herbie' version of the Monster Beetle. Even though it's the chrome version it's still going to get a bit of spraying done.......two tone chrome and metallic dark blue I'm thinking of currently.

Uh oh........ **** model shops ought to have a sign saying that they're hazardous to your wallet! Went into Snetterton park models today to get a basic ESC for the Lunchbox I'm rebuilding for my brother-in-laws Christmas present and they may have had a Super Clod or two! Bit of haggling and I walked out with a Super Clodbuster Chrome with an ESC for £225! The thing is huge! Gonna be fun to build, just need a full bearing kit first though.

I had Acoms gear when I used to be into RC as a kid in the 80's, so it made sense that when I got back into RC a while ago I'd go with Acoms again. However when I picked up my Wild Willy 2 Iain from Hobbysport in Watton told me that there was a reason why flyers don't use Acoms and why they mostly use Futaba. Being new to the hobby (once more) - and having an open mind - I decided to go with him and get Futaba radio gear which funnily enough I ended up installing in my Monster Beetle re-build first. It may just be me but the Futaba seems to respond more accurately to control inputs than the Acoms. The only downside being the fact that the Acoms handset is a nicer looking thing. What does everyone else use with their Tamiya kits?

Thanks Kstar. I've had a looksie at the Dinball webpage and their prices are superb, but looking at the shipping rates and probable customs charges (recently brought a new guitar from the US and know what those are like) it's only going to work out a tiny bit cheaper than buying it in the UK. I've got a couple of superb modelshops near me in Norfolk (special mention to Hobbystores in Watton) and I'd prefer to keep our local shops going in the UK. If I was to go for the standard Super Clod it'll cost me £200, but what ESC should I then go for? Just I can get the Chrome Super Clod complete with ESC for £257. Also what length oil filled shocks should I look at? The ol' Clod does look very bouncy in YouTube vids so building it with proper shocks would be an essential.

ARGH!!!!! To much choice! I'm going to have three weeks of badword trying to make up some form of decision of what I'm going to go for. Basically I want something to have a good laugh with, because since re-finding the hobby of RC I've found that the most fun can be had going at a fairly sedate pace with a stupid monster truck around the back garden........the issue I guess I'm struggling with is whether or not I'm going to try taking the massive beastie over any of the big stuff down on the coast of Norfolk........... I guess I'd then have to head down the route of the TXT-1 But the Clod is just silly good fun, and the looks of that old body is utterly superb.

But if I wanted a Stadium Truck then I would be looking for a stadium truck. What I'm after is a good old-fashioned huge monster truck. Yes the HPI E-Savage may be indestructible and may be amazing, but I had a seriously hopped up DF-03 chassis which was also pretty unkillable, and certainly amazing to handle, but going fast is no fun if there's no danger. I got a ton more kicks from my basic Lunchbox than the DF-03. I also want a kit. Half the fun is building it myself. Maybe a TXT-1 is the thing to go for if the Clod is scorned so much.

Well....... I watched a lot of vids last night on YouTube of both Clods and TXT-1's to try and get some idea what to go for next month, and two things stuck out:- 1. The TXT-1 is a simply awesome bit of gear. 2. The Clod is stupidly good fun! Fun I think is the name of the game so I'm drifting more over to the Super Clodbuster now, but I take it that it just has standard springs and no dampers? Every one I saw was as bouncy as my Lunchbox used to be. Oil filled dampers I take it are a must? And are there no ballraces with the Super Clod kit?

I think the Monster Beetle Wheels are marginally larger around the rim of the wheel (just rebuilt a MB and built a re-re Lunchbox 2 months ago) but I could be wrong. However the Lunchbox tyres are more malleable than the MB ones so they could be stretched to fit as the size difference is only slight. Why do you want Lunchbox tyres on a Monster Beetle anyway? You can still get Monster Beetle tyres as they're the same as the Blackfoot Xtreme.

What does your £330 get you with the TXT-1? Oil filled shocks? ESC? Ballraces? These are all standard build upgrades for me, but the TXT-1 would score some points if it had those already. Also I read that the TXT-1 needs a 4 channel radio for it's steering set-up......is this so? To be honest the old school clod would be cool enough and it's only going to be blasted around the back garden or occasionally outside of the house, but would I miss having a TXT-1 for that?