wintersdawn

Yes, it can be expensive! Thankfully I've never been into collecting them or having them for shelf-queens, just a select few to bash and have now reduced mine down to 4 models.

The original orange of the Desertwolf bodyshell looks great and I think/imagine the metallic orange you are going to do may look even better and the decals that come with the clear Desertwolf bodyshell should work too. You have quite a few bodyshell's to do.

Did this Timberwolf bodyshell a couple of years ago featuring my favourite blue, Tamiya PS-3 Light Blue. I Couldn't use some of the decals that came with the clear shell as they clashed with the blue so got some HPI decals. I've added some more decals since taking this picture.

Look forward to seeing the new body shell.

Not sure about the official metal turnbuckles holding up in a collision but they seem pretty solid. I run mostly on forest tracks and grass and so far so good but one day might find out.

Says below about 3S on the original ESC but suppose I've got nothing to lose and so will try the original ESC on 3S and if shuts down or burn's out, upgrade then, and hope it won't damage the motor in the process.

TW1 at a local park, haven't given the DW a proper run yet.

The turnbuckle upgrade kit includes the steering turnbuckle. The original plastic shocks seem ok, although mine have leaked a bit but I might have put too much oil in and the pressure was too much. The original rear shocks have longer shock bodies than the fronts. The front shocks are another unobtainable but if you modify the rears by putting a length of rubber tubing (like that on the end of a motor spindle), you can make the rear shock travel/height the same as the fronts and there is still enough travel, unless you are doing jumps. Yes, my Desertwolf electronics are still stock, although if I want to run 3S I will change the ESC to the EMH-3S, although the previous owner said they ran the stock ESC with 3S but the manual says the ESC cooling fan should be upgraded to a 12v supply. I have upgraded both of my Timberwolves to the EMH-3S. Yes, the height of the ESC has to be very close to the original due to the restricted height, the EMH-3S fits fine. I have resisted the carbon fibre upgrades as they are quite expensive and think they might just be for the look/bling, the original plastic parts seem very flexible and strong. Still hoping for a sale at Make it Build it where the 'in stock' parts, including carbon fibre parts, are reduced but not so far.

Do you think the carbon fibre upgrades, that are still easily available, are worth it?

Current pics

I have done the turnbuckle upgrade, my wording wasn't the best. Below is the official one I did, around £23, already did it to my two Timberwolves so went ok, except I couldn't undo the front wheel nuts on the Desertwolf as the nuts had been a bit rounded off. It made it a bit more difficult but done now. Also replaced the front shock tower as the original was bent, probably from a heavy landing. Got a new bodyshell set (including the nose cone, which mine didn't come with) and added a heatsink and cooling fan to the motor. I believe the shocks are the same for the Timberwolf and Desertwolf and quite recently was able to order the official rear shocks and its quite easy to modify the rear shocks to work for front shocks, although your idea sounds good too.

Thanks for the update, like the wheels and tyres. I have got the front and rear drive-shaft upgrades ready to fit to mine, but have done the turnbuckle upgrade. The picture below is how mine came to me with wrong big shocks on the front so I swapped some front shocks from one of my Timberwolves as they cannot be seen under the bodyshell. I didn't fit the big shocks to the front of the Timberwolf, I ordered some rear Timberwolf shocks (fronts out of stock) and shortened the travel of the piston and fitted them to the Timberwolf that donated its shocks. The shock bodies are longer but again you can't see them under the big Timberwolf bodyshell.

What's the latest on your Desertwolf?

Just saw your reply, although I've got a Desertwolf now, I don't have any spare 17mm hex wheel adapters, only the ones fitted. Seems to be another unobtainium part, like the original spur gear

Cheers 🎉

Thanks for confirming about the parts, yes hopefully the pinion is correct. Good idea putting tubing in the drive cup to reduce movement. I have done the front and rear driveshaft upgrades so only the side going into the centre diff will be able to move, just hope that end will go far enough into the diff outdrive. That's odd about the correct E clips not being very tight. I encountered them when doing the front and rear driveshaft upgrades and if I remember correctly they fit into a narrow groove in the drive cup shaft and once in place I think they can still move around but should not get out of the groove. If I do the FTX centre diff I will get the steel spur gear as will have to take the diff apart to change the outdrives anyway, just hope I won't get any screws stripping as you had happen. Did you find a way to tighten things up, maybe with slightly bigger screws or by gluing them in?

Just watched your YouTube video on the centre diff, did you sort out the movement in the rear driveshaft? Seemed like quite a lot of movement and wondering if the driveshaft may pop out under stress when running. Cheers.

As I'm doubtful that the FTX Zorro spur gear would fit the Timberwolf centre diff, starting to get quite interested in putting together a FTX Zorro centre diff to have on standby. Are the following parts correct? Cheers. Centre diff: https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/ftx-zorro-brushless-complete-centre-differential-unit-1338468 Maverick diff outdrives (for Desertwolf/Timberwolf): https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/maverick-differential-outdrive-pr--389696 FTX Zorro pinion gear: https://sussex-model-centre.co.uk/products/ftx-zorro-brushless-13t-pinion Are there any other parts I need? Cheers.

You did very well to crack the centre diff problem, well done, as you say that was the make or break aspect of the restoration. I believe the Desertwolf and Timberwolf came out in around 2015/16 for about £300 but don't think they could have sold very well as they seldom come up on Ebay. The video below show them being unveiled at a toy fair: https://www.hpiracing.com/en/article/view/2016020101 My Timberwolf does fly on 2s so 3s might be pushing it! It is my favourite RC so don't want to break anything. The stock ESC was 3S capable if a change was made to the fan so hopefully Maverick made the Timberwolf/Desertwolf capable of handling 3S power. Had an email from Elite Models and the Axial spur gear is not actually available so had to cancel the order and carry on looking for a replacement spur gear.

Glad the restoration is going well and the centre diff issue is resolved! Thanks for the link to the video's, will check them out I've done a bit of work to my Timberwolf lately, replaced the mud flaps, the front bumper support and upgraded the stock ESC to a fully 3S compatible ESC (HPI EMH-3S), also ordered a few spare parts in case they become harder to come by.

This is the thread I learned about the spur gear but it also mentions diff parts: https://www.rctech.net/forum/electric-off-road/839687-tower-hobbies-cutback-1-10-4x4-short-course-truck-25.html

Any news about the restoration? Did you resolve the centre diff problem? I did some research and found out that the Tower Hobbies Cutback was virtually the same as the Maverick Timberwolf/Desertwolf but again parts are long discontinued, including the spur gear, which I think is the same as used on the Timberwolf/Desertwolf but there appears to a replacement that can be used that was made for an Axial rc: https://www.elitemodelsonline.co.uk/Cars/Car-Spares/Axial/Axial-1/84458-/Spur-Gear32P-54T Someone tried it and said it needed to be slimmed down, probably on the sides I imagine. Just ordered two as the Maverick ones are definitely unobtainium.

Cheers 👍