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Makes sense if you think that chrome is used as a surface finish on softer metals not only for its look or to prevent oxydation but also for its hardness I believe it's one of the hardest metals around with a 8.5 value and this make the coating durable and resistant to abrasion, but it's very brittle in itself and paired with a waaay softer material such as plastic... might help starting cracks in it.

if you don't mind me asking, is there a way to obtain the STL or Step file for this front brace? Only reason i'm asking is that i know shapeways is gone and i'm trying to do something similar to a CW-01 Pajero/Montero, only with a DT-03 gearbox.

I'm very curious too. I have one on preorder. On that train of thoughts I have also bought a brand new fully assembled DT3 with black CVA's and a motor to try and make some kind of montero/pajero chassis """EVO""" with double wishbone suspension. To my defense, It cost less than buying all the parts to make a complete dt-02/03 gearbox . no vintage parts will be harmed, I will use a cracked CW-01 that i have fixed after fitting a fresh one on my lunchbox and other parts i have lying around. i'll see if the hornet evo parts that attach the gearbox and front wishbone/steering will fit the cw01 without adding the lower part (like in the original montero/pajero chassis). Then because i'm cheap i'll reverse engineer and 3d print them