WANTED: Maverick DesertWolf Centre Diff

[TrueBlue]

It was a good idea, not seen it before or since.. just a shame it looks odd, at least to me.. with that very steep looking window, lol. My clear bodies, I've only drilled the holes needed to have it the way I prefer it. makes it look cleaner. I might also sell my first clear body that I painted in Tamiya iridescent Purple and Green, since I have another clear shell to paint.

So the shell is available from Maverick in the Netherlands? So does that mean they CAN back order it if needed?

Nose cone should be a given, no reason for it NOT to be included, otherwise that would just be silly. Would be good if it included the wing as well... part of me is saying get a pre-painted shell just for the wing, lol.

[wintersdawn]

Looks like they can back order, assuming Nicky checked the Wheelspin system and found the source of available stock. 

To answer my question about the wing/nose cone, they might have to contact Maverick in the Netherlands to get them to physically check what's inside the bag.

The reason I ask about the nose cone is because when I wanted to buy the pre-printed DW body shell, make it build it had it in stock and as my DW didn't come with a nose cone, I wanted to check. Emma at mibi replied and said it didn't include the nose cone but I ordered anyway and it was in the bag.

Also, as it's quite a small piece, I always ask about the nose cone, just to make sure the factory put one in the bag.

[wintersdawn]

If it turns out the wing is included with all pre-printed Desertwolf body shell's, my theory is, that although the wing on its own was discontinued sometime ago, it is included with the pre-printed bodyshell as they are old stock and put together when the wing was readily available. 

The quite small presence of the Desertwolf online, such as youtube videos etc, plus how rarely it comes up for sale on Ebay, makes me think they sold poorly and adding weight to the theory that the remaining pre-printed bodyshell sets with a wing are old stock and as such are probably only available now in small quantities, even from back order sources. 

What do you think? 

[TrueBlue]

So it's included with ALL pre-painted shells? Good to know... I might have to take advantage of that one day, as long as I can still find a shall.

It's possible that the lack of interest and poor sales could have contributed to many of the DesertWolfs spare parts being hard to find, even something as simple as a plastic wing. Same goes for the pre-painted shells, being sold in small quantities on various sites.

[wintersdawn]

I said 'IF' it turns out the wing is included with all pre-printed DW body shells, haven't really confirmed that yet, although I'm continuing my research and have sent emails to Modellbau and RC Model Store (both in the U.K.) asking about the inclusion of the wing.  Here are their store listings:

https://themodelshop.net/maverick-racing-maverick-desertwolf-pre-printed-bodyshell-wdecals-mv29010-176955-p.asp

https://rcmodelstore.co.uk/painted-1-8th-buggy-body-shells/89595-maverick-maverick-desertwolf-pre-printed-bodyshell-w-decals-mv29010-5050864019590.html

Have you ordered from either of them before?  I have not.

 

[TrueBlue]

Ah, IF... didn't see that bit. Speaking of emails... I still haven't heard back from Modelsport about my question regarding the pre-painted body shells and the wing. Thought they'd have responded by now.

Love how every website just uses the same copy-paste description for this body shell, without adding any information that they might have found out... like an included wing!

I haven't ordered anything from either of them before, so no idea what they're like. I've ALMOST ordered something from Modellbau, but didn't... saving ht epennies.

Modellbua has then actually in stock rather than shadow/supplier stock.. impressive. And it's a little cheaper.

[wintersdawn]

Agreed on the copy/paste generic description!  Definitely needs more detail!  At least with the clear bodyshell there was a picture showing what was included.

I sent my email to Modelsport last Friday and heard back Saturday morning so maybe yours went astray as they are usually quick to respond. 

Yes, Modellbua apparently has the pre-printed DW bodyshell in stock, will be interesting to see if I get a reply from them.  Did an experiment to check their stock levels by adding it to the cart and increasing the quantity and when I went from 5 to 6 it said they only have 5 in stock.

[wintersdawn]

Just had this back from Wheelspin re the DW pre-printed body shell, sort of muddy's the waters as now wonder if some come with a wing and some don't! 

Dear Martin Sterry,

I have had this reply from the supplier:

The pre-printed body will come with a separate nose cone & a decal sheet but no wing. The wing was MV23044 or 101370 but are discontinued.

Best Regards,

Rich Westwood

Deputy Manager
Wheelspin Models

t: 01543 577278
 

[TrueBlue]

So Modelsport and Wheelspin have conflicting answers? That's... not confusing at all.

So Modelsport says the pre-painted shells come with a wing and Wheelspin says they DON'T come with a wing?

Could Modelsports stock somehow have the wing, and Wheelspins' stock is different...?

[wintersdawn]

That's correct Modelsport said it comes with the wing and Wheelspin say no.  

My theory is the Modelsport one is old stock, when they came with the wing, and the Wheelspin stock is after the wing was discontinued and so no longer included.

[TrueBlue]

That does make sense. Modelsports stock is older and therefor still had the wing, while Wheelspins stock was "updated" to exclude the wing when it became discontinued.

Guess I know where I'm gonna buy a pre-painted shell from. Maybe.. possibly.

[wintersdawn]

Other than Modelsport, it maybe difficult to get a pre-printed DW body shell with a wing, if it has to be old stock.

Maybe the other stores I've seen them on, either in stock or available for back order, are the later version with no wing.

The other choice is to still pursue the Vorza wing...

[wintersdawn]

Earlier I found the pre-printed DW body shell on a store called SC Models in the U.K. and it said 'arriving soon' so I shot them an email asking about the wing being included and just got this reply:

Hi Martin

It will include the nose cone, wing would be separate.

Shaun

Best Regards
01438 563690
 

Perhaps, the same as the Wheelspin stock, from a later time after the wing was discontinued and so again not included.

This is the link to the store: https://www.scmodels.co.uk/shop/maverick-maverick-desertwolf-pre-printed-bodyshell-w-decals/

[wintersdawn]

Well, I decided to be the guinea pig and ordered the pre-printed Desertwolf body shell from Modelsport!

When it comes will let you know if it actually includes the wing. I'm still not convinced as they may have just said it did because they always used to, and may not have actually checked the contents.

If it does include the wing, I'll probably keep it sealed as a museum piece!

[TrueBlue]

Oooh... he's only gone and done it, lol. So, I guess in a few days we'll see if Modelsports pre-painted shells do indeed come with the wing. And if it does... keep it in a museum, lol. 

Also, speaking of... I've also purchased the Vorza wing, otherwise called the HPI Deck Wing, from Make It Build It on eBay., Should be here Thursday or Friday. And we'll see if the Vorza wing is a direct fit for the Desertwolf.

[wintersdawn]

Sounds good about the Vorza wing, hope it is a direct fit for the Desertwolf, look forward to hearing about it.

The pre-printed DW body shell should be here by the end of the week and then, yes, we'll know if it comes with the wing.  I finished tidying up my original wing and put it, along with the original bodyshell, in the bag the new one came in and noticed on the tag that it said it came with decals.  This was not the case, the new one included the pre-printed/decaled body shell, nose cone and wing.  I'm wondering if its because it came with the decaled wing that they didn't include the wing decals, if that's what they were supposed to be.  The reply from Wheelspin said that the stock from Maverick in the Netherlands, that doesn't include the wing, comes with a decal sheet but didn't say what sort.

[TrueBlue]

I'll let you know once it arrives!

You put your original used shell in the bag? And keeping the new one on the buggy? Wouldn't it better to keep the new one in the bag, so it stays in good condition? Or was the original shell rather damaged? And how did the wing tidy come out? New decals on it? Did you try and sand down any of the chips and scratches so they were smooth-ish?

I just assumed when they say w/Decals, it just means they came with them pre-applied. That was always my assumption, but could be wrong. Not including the wing decals because they included the wing with decals would make sense.

[wintersdawn]

Yes, I put my original wing and body shell in the bag the new one came in as I'm keeping the new wing, body shell and nose cone on at the moment as it looks better.  Might swap back to the original's for bashing and only need to take one staple out to access them.  Also mine didn't come with a nose cone so needed to use the new one and just fitted the new body shell and wing too.

In tidying up the original wing I just glued the cracked and raised decals back down and gave it a clean.  Looks good enough for a basher wing.  I would only want to replace the damaged decals with originals and can't get them unless I buy the clear body shell.  Pity they didn't sell them separately, or maybe they did and they're discontinued.

You may be right about 'w/Decals' meaning pre-applied and not a decal sheet, although the newer/later stock, without the wing, apparently does include a decal sheet, so could mean either. 

I contacted Make It Build It about the pre-printed DW body shell/wing, as its still on their store for backorder, and received the reply below:

Hi Martin

I have double checked this with HPI, they advise the body comes with the front nose and decals, but not the wing.
Hope this helps.

Kind Regards
Emma

Make It Build It
www.makeitbuildit.co.uk

[TrueBlue]

Ah, so the new one looks better when on the shelf. Naturally. Yeah, I'd definitely use the older used shell for bashing. Shame the nose cone is a small pain to swap out, since it's screwed in. But since it seems you only have the one nose cone (?) it's not probably not too much of a bother.

Well, I hope the glue keeps the old decals stuck down well. It's only for bashing though, as you say... so it's good enough I'm sure.

More conflicting answers... yes it does, no it doesn't... everyone seems to have different types of stock when it comes to this pre-painted shell. Well, unless the one you purchased from Modelsport also doesn't have the wing...

Speaking of the shells, I put two body shells on eBay, including the first clear Desertwolf shell that I painted Tamiya Iridescent Purple and Green. Not a lot of interest, for some reason. It's the only result on eBay if you search for Maverick Desertwolf. Give's an interesting insight into how many people are still dabbling with the Desertwolf.

[wintersdawn]

Yeah, the new one makes it look like a shelf queen, must swap the shell/wing and get out and bash it!  No one I know is into RC so if I go out, I usually go early in the morning, as feel a bit conspicuous.  Yes, only one screw for nose cone but may leave it at home in case of damage.

The pre-printed DW body shell was sent by courier today and will be delivered on Thursday and so the issue about the wing will finally be revealed!  

Just checked out your DW shell on Ebay, looks like a good job and I see you already have a watcher.  Did you go off it and prefer the orange metallic?

Yes, your DW body shell listing is the only DW listing in the U.K. that is coming up for my Desertwolf search but have found that some parts only come up for the Desertwolf or Timberwolf when searching using the catalogue number. 

I found out yesterday that the Desertwolf/Timberwolf was launched in 2015 and discontinued in 2018 so not a long run and probably didn't sell many, they should have badged it as a HPI.  Also wonder how many spares/upgrades were actually made when they realised that sales were maybe not that high.

 

[TrueBlue]

Thanks to the condition of my original body and wing, as well as the wheels, mine also looks like shelf queen at this point. Not sure how long it'll stay that way, I don't want to bash it too hard after all.

Ah, gotta wait till Thursday? I think I have to wait till Thursday for the Vorza wing to arrive. So I guess we'll have the answer to both these questions in one more day, hopefully.

Haha, it was a decent job. Not too hard though, one can of iridescent and one can of black, no masking to do... simple job. I wouldn't say I went off it, but I think the orange will better suit it, even if it's metallic.

Hm, makes sense. More results when using the product number, since many Maverick parts aren't restricted to the Desertwolf or Timberwolf.

I thought the Desertwolf was a lot older than 2015, until you showed me that video. Not even 10 years old yet, and presumably discontinued after only 3 years. Well, given the amount of spares and upgrades on sites like Wheelspin.. looks like a fair amount of parts were made for them in those 3 short years. Lucky for us though... we can still (for now) buy the spare parts we may need.

[TrueBlue]

Ooh, the Vorza wing arrived! And...

Yeah.. doesn't fit. Mounting holes are too far apart. If I measure properly, I could drill out the holes to make it fit... but yeah, doesn't fit. Boo!

[wintersdawn]

Glad the Vorza wing came but sorry its not a direct fit.  Yes, if you elongate the left hole towards the right so the fitting will come through and then use something to cover the original side of the hole, maybe a decal, sometimes I use gorilla tape as its black and has an ok pattern on the top side.  Actually the round plastic piece that screws into the wing has quite a large surround so might cover the extra long hole...

Be good to see your progress getting it to fit.  

What do you think about the original DW  wing decals fitting?

[TrueBlue]

Well, it took a little bit of cutting.. and a bit of mess... but I elongated each hole (otherwise it would have been more to one side) using an X-Acto knife and sandpaper wrapped around a drill bit, lol. Nowhere near enough surface room to use a drill bit to make the hole, so had to do it manually. Used masking tape as lines to follow... but it is possible!

As for the decals. This wing is actually a bit bigger than the original. Slightly wider and the end plates are bigger too. The decals might fit without a lot of cutting, if any. The top decals might fit, but also might need a bit of fiddling to get right.

[jonboy1]

Could you maybe put a spacer either side of the wing mounts to get the holes to line up?

 

Edit: Never mind - just seen you've made the holes bigger!