Getting my mojo back starting...

[alvinlwh 6893]

Due to a family crisis, I had not built any kits for 6 months. However, with a model show coming up, I need to get ready. Unlike some "feel like giving up" threads, I will never give up building models. It's my life, had been doing it for over 40 years.

So to try and get my mojo back, I will start by servicing and upgrading a 15 years old TT-01 that had been converted to rally specs.

This car was the first car I bought for myself in 2009, back when TTM was still in Stevenage. At that time I did not really know what I was doing and just went with whatever Neil said, and grabbed some hopups he has in stock. It had since followed me from Stevenage to Edinburgh to Shetland and finally now Orkney. In that time, it had broke its chassis tub, drive cups (due to the Ra mods) and various other bits.

As seen, it is quite a mess. It was last used about 6 months ago and the crisis hit. It wasn't even cleaned up and I got my work cut out for me. It already had some hopups like adjustable upper arms, carbon top deck, aluminium centre shaft, speed gear set and GPM rear lower arms and hubs. I recently came across some Team Raffee stuff on Asiatees and they are cheap. So even I just ordered some (shopping is my stress relief!). Yesterday was the most recent delivery.

Together with what I had ordered before the crisis, time to get upgrading and hopefully getting my mojo back.

[JimBear 811]

I get you with that stress relief thing - stuff is really piling up here. But to the matter: great to hear you keep on keeping on! And I really like these posts where people talk of "ooh, I have this one for years and years" and they still tinker with it and run it, and enjoy it.

[alvinlwh 6893]

Starting with cleaning up, I removed the wheels and they are quite the mess.

While I am not one for keeping everything nice and clean, this surely will not be good for the car.

With all wheels off, I can get at the gearboxes for the proper upgrades.

While I already have GPM bits for the rear suspension, this car is a mismatch of Tamiya blue and GPM silver, which I aim to get them all unified with the Team Raffee blue parts.

The rear diff don't look too bad so just a slap of ceramic grease on the teeth.The bearings looks rusted but still spins, so a few drops of bearing oil and away they go. I am usually a "don't fix it until it is broken" guy so I am not going to fuss over every little rust spots or scratches.

[alvinlwh 6893]

Getting the spur gear out to replace the drive cup, this is a real upgrade as I had stock ones from new. Also, getting the spur out reminded me of why there is a TT-02!

Putting the spur gear back after cleaning out the gearbox. It is filled with sand but surprisingly, the spur and pinion are still fine. I put some thick silicon grease to all mating surfaces to try and keep dirt out. Bear in mind that this car was done well before I knew much about RC, and it was originally built as a road car, not rally.

[alvinlwh 6893]

Next is to switch out the GPM rear lower arms. They are fine but the new set cost me less than £10, so why not? I will be transferring the adjustable uppers over so C-clips time!

The new rears done up, after loosing 3 C-clips. I made a mistake here as I got one of the upper arms upside down, only to be discovered later. Also, a set of bearings are frozen solid on the GPM hub so I used new rubber sealed ones on that side. I originally had metal shielded ones, which surprisingly still works.

Installed back on the chassis, I still had not discovered that I had the left upper arm upside down! I had also replaced the drive cups with the TR ones along with metal dog bones. Replacing the drive cups is a good idea for a Ra conversion as it involved cutting quite a lot away from the chunky stock plastic ones, which weakened them. I had blown a few drive cups in the past.

The back together, which will come apart again soon enough!

[alvinlwh 6893]

The front was more of a mess than the rear, which makes sense as it is the business end that meets the rough stuff. One thing is I forgot to order dog bones for the front (on order now) so they will have to wait. I also ordered TR aluminium lower arms. As with the rear, I am keeping the adjustable uppers. One thing is, when I was working in the front, I noticed I still have the original Acoms 17 servo in it! Well, if it isn't broke...

The reason for getting the front off is to replace the drive cup and shaft. The original was a Tamiya item, which had it's blue rubbed off in parts (not a real problem). However since I am changing for TR cups, it will not work anyway so it has to go too.

Cup and shaft in, but it will not fit! I should had done the front first then the rear as it needed quite a lot of tilting and forcing to get it in. Also, the steering bridge is in the way. I did not give it a proper clean as the front will be coming apart again when the lower arms and dog bones arrive.

So took the rear apart again, got the spur assembly out, finally got the drive shaft in, and corrected the rear left upper arm!

[alvinlwh 6893]

Last thing to do is to get the new TR upper arms holder in. However the rear one does not fit correctly.

There is a notch on the Tamiya one to clear the aerial holder, which is missing from the TR one. I need to remove the holder but it was getting too late in the night to do that. Work will continue when the additional bits arrived.

Time to move on to building a static kit to refresh my skills.

[alvinlwh 6893]

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[Badcrumble 4406]

Hope the crisis has passed or the end is in sight and your hobby time provides some welcome relief.

Good to see you back here and building.

[Grumpy pants 5180]

57 minutes ago, Badcrumble said:

Hope the crisis has passed or the end is in sight and your hobby time provides some welcome relief.

Good to see you back here and building.

100% what BC says 👍

[Busdriver 6270]

Great to see you back in the saddle again! This, like most hobbies is a rollercoaster ride. You never quite know where it’s going to take you. I’ve kinda veered off into RTR stuff ( though I still keep changing it) but I still have my built collection along with some unbuilt stuff, and their time will come again. My other hobby is shooting air rifles but a few years back i was ready to sell my collection of guns and give up. . Now I work in a gun shop a couple of days a month and we’re back on track😃

[alvinlwh 6893]

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[Sogogi 3333]

3 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

Unfortunately in Scotland, I will need a licence to have air rifles. A valid reason or membership of a club is needed, and there are no clubs here in Orkney. Oh, I don't have a valid reason and plinking in the garden in a built up area is probably a nono.

Whoa i just realized that high land park distillery is in orkney?! 

[alvinlwh 6893]

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[Sogogi 3333]

16 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

Aye, it is a 20 minutes walk away from my house.

That sounds awesome. One of my favourite scotch…. And would like to visit distilleries one day

[Busdriver 6270]

On 5/18/2024 at 8:37 PM, alvinlwh said:

Unfortunately in Scotland, I will need a licence to have air rifles. A valid reason or membership of a club is needed, and there are no clubs here in Orkney. Oh, I don't have a valid reason and plinking in the garden in a built up area is probably a nono.

Sadly all true

[ad456 457]

@alvinlwh has our shooting club shut down? We certainly used to have one, I used to have to do paperwork for the competition shooters in my last job. 

[alvinlwh 6893]

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[ad456 457]

They used to be on Facebook at one time, that’s all I really know.

[alvinlwh 6893]

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[alvinlwh 6893]

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