AG100 121 Posted July 15 By best mate is turning 50 this year, when we were kids, he has a Monster Beetle, as time has gone on it has been forgotten, I got his wife to retrieve it from his loft and my plan is to restore it, and do some little upgrades/improvements, ready for his Birthday in September. Not sure if this is allowed, but this is a link to MSUK Forum which details the project. i did try and do it here, but it would only let me upload 4.5mb of photos? https://www.msuk-forum.co.uk/forums/topic/254449-original-80s-monster-beetle/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frog Jumper 3844 Posted July 15 That car has some nice history, I bet... IMO, I would dis-assemble it, clean it up, and then re-assemble it. Leave the body the way it is. I would replace any broken parts with vintage replacement parts. And then I would buy a new Re-Release kit and give that to him as a present in September along with his childhood model. Let him build a new Monster Beetle. Leave the vintage MB on the shelf for nostalgia and drive the new cars for kicks and giggles. The big reason is that the 30 year old plastic and rubber has likely become brittle with age (that's what happened to my original Frog). The re-release kits are 98% the same as original, with the addition of modern electronics to replace the 30 year old electronics. The body is slightly different, and there are a few other minor changes but overall it is the same old Monster Beetle. And when you do all this, you should buy the Blackfoot for yourself, so there is some cross-over in build experience. You both get to enjoy the build, the driving, and the understanding of how each model is the same and is different. Terry 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AG100 121 Posted July 15 44 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said: That car has some nice history, I bet... IMO, I would dis-assemble it, clean it up, and then re-assemble it. Leave the body the way it is. I would replace any broken parts with vintage replacement parts. And then I would buy a new Re-Release kit and give that to him as a present in September along with his childhood model. Let him build a new Monster Beetle. Leave the vintage MB on the shelf for nostalgia and drive the new cars for kicks and giggles. The big reason is that the 30 year old plastic and rubber has likely become brittle with age (that's what happened to my original Frog). The re-release kits are 98% the same as original, with the addition of modern electronics to replace the 30 year old electronics. The body is slightly different, and there are a few other minor changes but overall it is the same old Monster Beetle. And when you do all this, you should buy the Blackfoot for yourself, so there is some cross-over in build experience. You both get to enjoy the build, the driving, and the understanding of how each model is the same and is different. Terry Thanks Terry, I have gone the resto-mod route, not much broken or missing luckily and had been stored in a dry dark place. pretty much finished now apart from another coat of paint and stickers for the shell. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AG100 121 Posted July 23 Finished this now ( apart from adding wipers and trying to tidy up paint on the window surrounds. Updates here: https://www.msuk-forum.co.uk/forums/topic/254449-original-80s-monster-beetle/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GToddC5 2019 Posted August 12 This came out awesome, your friend will be over the moon! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AG100 121 Posted August 12 23 minutes ago, GToddC5 said: This came out awesome, your friend will be over the moon! Thank you, I hope so 😀 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lukas022 2 Posted September 9 Hi - do you know which Tamiya monster Beetle this is exactly? Maybe any manual? I would like to make it up and running - but dont have controller - and not sure if rest is working Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GToddC5 2019 Posted September 9 34 minutes ago, Lukas022 said: Hi - do you know which Tamiya monster Beetle this is exactly? Maybe any manual? I would like to make it up and running - but dont have controller - and not sure if rest is working That is the Tamiya 46008 Monster Beetle (White) QD - Quick Drive Series, 1/14th scale, released in 1990 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lukas022 2 Posted September 9 any chance that there is manual / instruction how to build? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GToddC5 2019 Posted September 9 4 minutes ago, Lukas022 said: any chance that there is manual / instruction how to build? Search the interwebs for "300046006_QD_Monster_Beetle.pdf" and you'll find a user manual. Not exactly a build manual, and I'm not sure they had one since they were for beginners mostly, with enclosed electronics. They still have a fan base, so good luck on your hunt. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lukas022 2 Posted September 9 Thanks got that pdf - any idea if I can change electronics to newer? especially the transmiter/controller ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lukas022 2 Posted September 10 12 hours ago, GToddC5 said: That is the Tamiya 46008 Monster Beetle (White) QD - Quick Drive Series, 1/14th scale, released in 1990 Funny thing, I've put AA rechargable batteries and with one of my old 27hz controllers once powered on engine is running, but I cannot turn. Need to check with dedicated controller if I find it somewhere Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ADRay1000 523 Posted September 10 just thinking out loud, my Futaba transmitter will not work with rechargeable AA batteries. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lukas022 2 Posted September 11 I've ordered new esc and I'll put there 2s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites