Tamiya Blitzer Beetle 2011, mastino's version.

[mastino]

Hi there, close to my 60th birthday, but wait until the end of the month for best wishes   I started building a blitzer beetle, 2011 edition. As I always do, before I started, I read about everything and anything, read up on possible modifications, and stole ideas here and there. 

The rear end remains as out of the box except for the use of ball bearings. In the differential I tried inserting AW grease to see if I could harden it a bit compared to the standard.

[mastino]

The most challenging modification concerns the steering system. The simple solution of inverting the front knucles is too simple so I thought of creating a dual column steering system by reusing parts that I did not use by fitting the M07 concept kit.

I thought for a few days that I would be the first to try this, and then right here I saw that already this way had been found, using the same parts. FRP parts are of mini4wd origin.

 

[mastino]

To allow full movement of the system, the plastic of the bathtube needs to be touched up. As you can see, it is quite invasive. To provide strength and secure the upper and lower halves together, it will be best to use a single through-bolt instead of the two provided in the manual.

 

[mastino]

The servo, low profile version, is placed in the center of the chassis. Again, a couple of holes are needed.

 

[mastino]

The assembly proceeded according to the manual. The only variation was the front knucles, using fathers I had taken for the DT03 frame, to which I replaced the spindles.

I did some tests with other shocks I had at home, but they are too long. The steering rods are redone with SS threaded rod.

[mastino]

The final release...and first attempt with body in place

 

[mastino]

 

I would prefer it a little lower on the chassis... some thought goes into it. 

At the rear it is quite simple, but at the front?

[mastino]

Well, I finally found a simple solution.

Rear mod, easy...

Just a second hole, 12mm above the originale one.

What about the front?

Edited March 3, 2024 by mastino

[mastino]

Think, think, think, mastino... 

 

 

Et voilà la mod...

Easy and clean 

[mastino]

The only, and hopefully last, obstacle is the front shocks that beat against the nose. I solved this with a dremel pass to give them the necessary clearance for movement . 

And, since I have the dremel on my hands, why not reduce the fenders a little bit?

 

[mastino]

I also tried an old set of HPI rims. The rear tire is fine, the front tire is too narrow. The tires in the photo, on the other hand, have slightly larger inner diameter than the rim. I ordered another pair of rear tires that I will mount on the front

[mastino]

Unfortunately, to paint the body I have to wait for the weather to stabilize. It has been raining here for ten days now, this is the second weekend that has passed without me being able to do anything.

I have in mind something very "tamiya family feeling" but completely non box art.

[Badcrumble]

Great to see a build from you, and an entertaining one at that!

Many happy (early) returns - for your birthday and TC!

[wolfdogstinkus]

Great mod on the steering, I only skimmed through ( I'll go back and read it properly, erm, I mean look at ALL the pictures) but the front end can be a bit weak on these, can't say I ever had a problem with the steering on mine, I just didn't have any.

 

[BuggyDad]

Nice! 

I did something similar with the steering, having found that simply inverting the knuckles kills steering throw. Mine differed mainly in that I brought the steering posts forward using a bit of sheet material to provide the bottom fixing and drilled the tops through the bulkhead between the front tub holes. This was in an effort to get them to clear the front of the tub, which they pretty much do. Having found this weak point I wanted to minimise/strengthen it. Also M-05 cranks are curved which helps this same point quite a bit. 

See here if you're interested:

 

 

[mastino]

Painting and striping 

[mastino]

Some minor progress. The bodywork has been completed and I have arranged the chassis to be able to use small lipo.

 

 

[mastino]

 

 

 

[mastino]

 

[mastino]

I have come to the end of the job. Only the driver was missing. Special guest, from a petz candy dispenser...

 

...with minimal modification and some hot glue...

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you, from Marvel Comics... here, on Tamiyaclub...

 

 

 

Black Panther.