JimBear

I am not sure if a heavy repro stand, good lights and a pretty serious pro camera would do any better? With such a small sample, perhaps multiple photos and stitching would do it. There's AI stuff that you can use to up the resolution and "clean up" stuff but I've no idea how it has evolved in the last year or so.

It's not a Tamiya, but I snoozed on the Kyosho Fantom EP 4WD (the first, non-CRC one) and gone it is ... Legendary series or not, I don't think it'll be another batch. As for Tamiya, I don't ask for much: a slightly better priced Monster Beetle or Blackfoot - let's say at 150 euros rather than 200. Together with the relevant sprues so you could keep it alive without having to buy another one.

Partly thanks to you, I've started to see a different angle to the hobby - that our electronic scrapyard at home is actually worth exploring, not only being a source of parental exasperation (all the money spent on stuff that is now broken). Even when I am not able to actually get hands-on, my head is still at work trying out ideas. Buying stuff is fine, but thinking with a screwdriver in my hand is what got me back into the hobby again.

@BuggyDad @markbt73 I've had issues with (various) servo savers on the Rising Fighter - I need to get me a few of the Kimbroughs to try them out. Would the medium size be the right fit?

I have never seen such a crammed PCB ... sorting that one out would take a good while I guess! I really enjoy your builds - looking forward to seeing where you go with this.

A balm upon my frazzled soul, this ... Remember, kids, one can never have too many Lunch Boxes! ( ...although I still need to get off the chair and get one before they are discontinued or something worse, get replaced with the LB-01, cue double-sided tape and put-yer-motor-on-the-roof stuff)

I just hope they'll do something special - not only re-re the 51388 CR-01 Bronco body with another paint scheme. It would be cool to see the "Big Oly" from the above article, but that's not going to happen I guess.

@TurnipJF - hmm ... it was just my recent thought on the matter; snapping up a few of the hard-to-build bits from Kamtec (or Mardave) and get the hacksaw out. Yep, the WR-02 is also on the list - maybe I'll start with that since it is a bit more easy to get (and no visits to the customs officer).

Looks like a nice little project, there! Just put the oil in the shocks (they won't leak, keeping a thumb) and see if they work first. It's way too easy to get on the internets and get confused by all the shiny stuff. Don't ask me how I know ...

Well, things got stuck in "real life gets in the way" mode for a good while now ... but I managed to find the screwdriver and set to it. And 100 screws (had to re-do one wheel since I put the tire in the wrong direction) later, it really felt like serious work. The resident electric barbarian-wizard, Oog, hasn't shown up much lately (probably waffling too much on the internets) so I'll see I can get myself upstairs to connect the cables and bring the truck back to life. Don't sit up waiting for that, though.

That poor Lunch Box ... Well, seriously, I am looking forward to seeing some photos of the whole combo, @Mad Ax.

@Pylon80 - all the things one learns in a day ... even before the first cup of coffee. Yesterday, the postman rang twice. Or well, perhaps not, but he or she left two packages on the doorstep. One Axial SCX24 Jeep for the kid (how many of these small critters do we need here, really?) and one "ooh, I pressed a button again on Ebay" Tamiya #51495 (the Suzuki SJ30 Wheelie body kit) for dad. The SJ30 looks much better in real life than in the photos. It doesn't seem very popular, looking at the entries in the Showrooms. Looking forward to getting into painting that in some eye-popping colour when time comes.

Sometimes one needs to leave for a longer walk ... to come around again, some sunny day.

@BuggyDad - left the rear wing at home too? Or did you lose it in a dogfight?

The MF-01x chassis is apparently possible to change from 171 mm up to 254mm (with various sizes inbetween) so could still be of some use.

@Alex97 @ad456 When I did the original post, it was a dark and not so stormy night. I waffled long and thought a lot and waffled some more. Posted, searched youtube and found out that people make rc cars out of cardboard and felt embarrased. As it often is, tired and late is not a good combo, so I edited the post, but hacked away the most important parts of it too. So, shorter this time: I have been looking at the Kamtec and Kyosho (Fantom) cars - sort of old-school - very much at the opposite ends of the scale, in many ways. I was thinking that it might be easier to do something onroad, like a simple pan car. Or maybe a buggy with a flat chassis, connecting steering up front and some simple motor/gear on the rear.

@Ferruz - after doing such a great job on the painting and detailing ... just taking the car out to a racing track and just not potter around takes a good amount of courage, indeed! Or mad skillz. (Whichever category you may fit into - you decide)

I don't know if you want to paint it in your own colours, otherwise perhaps if you could find an XB body or a pre-painted one? (I just know them from Tamico, but perhaps those that they have sold have been XB bodies, no idea). It seems to be the cheapest body-only option, since buying it in bits is well... expensive. Worst case you could buy a kit, and get rid of (the horror!) the chassis on some decent marketplace. There is always some fool who needs to build a ... a something.

Better pick up a few extras - Tamico has them in-the-bag for 70 euros or as mentioned, 100 for the whole kit (no esc). I just ... don't need another buggy around here - or do I?

@OoALEJOoO and @Busdriver put some photos of their DynaMog builds in the above thread, and then I was thinking of the truck cab in this thread too: Maybe you'll get some ideas there - to me, it looks doable - go for it.

Gulf livery is cool, but why not paint it light yellow and call it a 916? Jokes aside, one of my favourite cars - always had a soft spot for it.

@gogsyfinnie - makes me want to keep my M-05 bits-in-bag and the Phat Body ... this looks so great!

Every now and then the kid says that he wants to build "his own car", and seeing what he does, I know that another complete kit is not enough - he wants to build more from "scratch". I am all for that, and it feels most appropriate to deal with screwdrivers and simple tools, understanding the basics and getting hands dirty, not pushing buttons. When using Tamiya parts, what kit would you "steal" the neccessary parts from?

The chickens look pretty excited, already lined up for the ride of a lifetime ...