Frog Evo and Sand Scorcher Evo builds

[Carmine A]

1 hour ago, Grumpy pants said:

Intrigued @jonboy1, King Cabs are well out of my price range these days.

Pesky Kids 😂

NO KIDDING!!! 😜 

[jonboy1]

22 hours ago, JimBear said:

As far as my limited knowledge goes, it seems that the M-06 gearbox is a bit more easy to work with, being a bit more "self-contained" (for lack of better words). I am always on the look-out for things to use in my thousand-year "pan car for fun in front of the house" project.

 

Yeah, the majority of the newer chassis's have integrated gearboxes, so the ability to use them elsewhere is very limited without the use of a hacksaw. The BBX gearbox is a lovely little self contained unit but an expensive option currently. I'm sure there must be other options but within the Tamiya family I haven't found anything as modern, cheap or reliable yet.

[Carmine A]

On 11/16/2024 at 7:14 AM, jonboy1 said:

Yeah, the majority of the newer chassis's have integrated gearboxes, so the ability to use them elsewhere is very limited without the use of a hacksaw. The BBX gearbox is a lovely little self contained unit but an expensive option currently. I'm sure there must be other options but within the Tamiya family I haven't found anything as modern, cheap or reliable yet.

Uhmmmm...... the ORV gearbox is self contained! 🙄🤣😂😄😜

[jonboy1]

18 hours ago, Carmine A said:

Uhmmmm...... the ORV gearbox is self contained! 🙄🤣😂😄😜

there's always one....... 

[jonboy1]

Time for an update me thinks:

Firstly, I got the body for the Frog Evo painted. It really didn't come out how I hoped at all, but with some strategic sticker placements it looks ok from a few feet away. 

I cut the body slightly differently to follow the new front end and tapered the bottom edge up at the back just to try and take away  some of the icecream tub look to it. I have never loved the rear wing and did think about leaving one off altogether, but after a rummage through my spares I found a Top Force wing that seamed to work ok. You might just be able to see I added an "Evolution" sticker to the Frog logo on the front. All the rest of the stickers came from my spares - I didn't want to put the original ones on as this needed to be a modern update, so all the sponsors got a refresh.

And that's it for this for now - i've got an ESC and receiver on the way so the next dry day I'll take it out and see how it goes.

 

[Carmine A]

GAWD @jonboy1 ..... sexiest Frog EVER! Hope it performs as good as it looks. 😀

[jonboy1]

and so onto the SRB Evo...

most of he bits have arrived so I could make a start on the build. The transmission is standard M06 (obviously) so I'll skip that and start with the build from there. The motor is one of the bits that hasn't arrived yet, so that is missing now. So, first up - fixing the transmission to the chassis plate. The chassis is 3mm thick carbon fibre. 

So there is a "subframe" that mounts to the bottom of the transmission which then bolts up underneath the chassis plate, and then there's a upper frame that will be the support for the roll bar and rear cage:

and then there's a brace that ties the top of the transmission to the frame, making it all one snug little unit:

If you are wondering why I've not gone for the usual black finish for the printed parts this was intentional. I thought as this was a "tribute" to the SRB and these parts are effectively replacing the metal parts of the original it would be more in keeping to have them grey "metallic." I think it looks ok, but it does pick up grease off your fingers and discolours very easily, so some cleaning will need to be done one I've finished handling it all.

I also need to apologise for the quality of the pictures in this build - I've just got a new cheap tablet and am evidently not getting on with the camera very well

So moving forward, the next bit is the steering block and front battery mount. This uses a SRB front chassis nut:

 

and then slides under the block. There's a top clamp to add here. 

I then bolted on the front assembly. This has a 5 degree upsweep.

Next up are the front lower arms:

and steering hubs:

It was at this point I realised I'd made a schoolboy error. When I made the CAD model of the ball end I got the overall length and the distance from the centre of the ball joint to the bottom face mixed up, so my model had them all 4mm longer than in real life. Therefore I've had to order a bunch of 4mm thick alloy spacers to make everything fit!

I had a few spare, so I managed to get one side mocked up. I also fitted the front strut tower and some ball studs - again, went for the brass ones to keep the theme with the original SRB:

Frog Evo photobombed this shot without me realising!

So next up I think I'll make the rear cage and fit that and the roll bar. Hopefully the last bits will have arrived by then so I can finish it off.  

[Re-Bugged]

Did someone say SRB 👀

[jonboy1]

got a bit more done:

[ThunderDragonCy]

This is fantastic work! 

[JimBear]

Well, there's not many words left ... have to get the dictionary out and replenish a bit. SRB-tastic? ORV-olous?

[jonboy1]

Just had some fantastic news - the best really. My sister in law has just had her results back from her 3 month post-op MRI and there is no sign of any of the brain tumour left and no evidence of any regrowth, so no need for chemo or radio 🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🐨🐰🐻🦥🦆

[Carmine A]

@jonboy1 Blessed news!! This is truly a month of miracles! She should have a long, happy life. 

[JimBear]

4 hours ago, jonboy1 said:

Just had some fantastic news - the best really.

That's absolutely great news - happy for you and your sister-in-law.

[Grumpy pants]

5 hours ago, jonboy1 said:

Just had some fantastic news - the best really. My sister in law has just had her results back from her 3 month post-op MRI and there is no sign of any of the brain tumour left and no evidence of any regrowth, so no need for chemo or radio 🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🐨🐰🐻🦥🦆

Beautiful, congrats 👏👏👏👏

[jonboy1]

Thank you @Carmine A @JimBear and @Grumpy pants 

I think we all feel like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We've tried to keep a positive outlook, particularly in the wait between the scan and the results, but you also have to be realistic in that things can go either way, and it's very hard not to spiral down that route once you've started.

Obviously, this is just the first scan, there is going to be another one every 6 months for the next 5 years. But we're focussing on this being a really good sign and an opportunity for her to concentrate on improving her speech and writing and getting back to a "normal" life  

 

[MadAnt]

6 hours ago, jonboy1 said:

Thank you @Carmine A @JimBear and @Grumpy pants 

I think we all feel like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We've tried to keep a positive outlook, particularly in the wait between the scan and the results, but you also have to be realistic in that things can go either way, and it's very hard not to spiral down that route once you've started.

Obviously, this is just the first scan, there is going to be another one every 6 months for the next 5 years. But we're focussing on this being a really good sign and an opportunity for her to concentrate on improving her speech and writing and getting back to a "normal" life  

 

Good to hear good news, live life and whatever may be left is treatable.  I just had my tumor removed in September, so now I go for eye tests every 6 months and an MRI once per year. I consider myself lucky or maybe someone up there is looking out. I wish your sister in law, you and your loved ones good luck. The amazing work of the doctors, sticking together and family love will help her heal.💪🙏

[Carmine A]

1 minute ago, MadAnt said:

..... The amazing work of the doctors, sticking together and family love will help her heal.💪🙏

I couldn't agree more! I may be an Old Fart, but I still try to believe in Christmas miracles. She's on the right path, Jon.

[jonboy1]

15 hours ago, MadAnt said:

Good to hear good news, live life and whatever may be left is treatable.  I just had my tumor removed in September, so now I go for eye tests every 6 months and an MRI once per year. I consider myself lucky or maybe someone up there is looking out. I wish your sister in law, you and your loved ones good luck. The amazing work of the doctors, sticking together and family love will help her heal.💪🙏

I'm so glad you are recovering well @MadAnt and thank you very much for your kind words  There has been a TV show on here recently called "Saving Lives In Cardiff" and on one episode the surgeon who operated on my sister in law does a very similar surgery on another girl. Watching brain surgery is not what I expected it to be at all - how they know what they are doing and the judgement required in knowing what to take, what not, when to stop, what not to go near - it is incredible - and I have the utmost respect for the incredible work they do. The issues they have to deal with in terms of cost cutting and waiting times and juggling all that on top of all this just makes my admiration for them even bigger.

As you say, having a support network of family and friends is super important too, and as you say, it is amazing how that makes such a difference to how you heal. 

I wish you and your loved ones all the very best, and thank you again, I really appreciate it  

[jonboy1]

A quick update on the SRB-Evo.....

95% of the parts have arrived, just a couple of hubs and axles that were out of stock, but I had some bits in my spares that have allowed me to get this to a rolling chassis (despite it not having wheels - I didn't feel like dismantling 2 other buggies just to take a picture and then put them back together again - I'm getting old and grumpier people!)

All in all this has gone together really smoothly, which I think is a testament to how elegantly simple the original SRB is that I have worked from. There's hardly any parts to it (especially with it following the Frog-Evo that had 3752 individual parts - true story) yet it all works really nicely. 

I'm really annoyed that the blue of the ball adjusters isn't the same as the Tamiya blue of the turnbuckles, I might strip and polish them so they blend in better. I think I'll reprint the rear cage and include a brace between the rear camber arm mounts, just to beef it up a bit. I meant to do this originally but I wasn't confident enough in my model of the gearbox to be sure it wouldn't hit anything! I'll also print a better fitting exhaust - this was just a prototype for the FAV-Evo which I didn't use and was in my spares box.

Anyway, here's some pictures instead of more waffle:

Which leaves the small but not insignificant issue of the body. I have always admired @Toykid's Class 5 - that's the ultimate scorcher buggy for me, so maybe - maybe - I can be inspired by that. Alternatively, I really loved the rusty bug I did for @barneys66 so maybe something like that?

[Re-Bugged]

Marvellous, marvellous, marvellous 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[ThunderDragonCy]

Spectacular 

[BuggyDad]

Well, I have to say these are both just so so good. I'd love to see the SRB Evo run. Feels like it'll have a lovely scale type action alongside all the updating. Epic work @jonboy1. Next level!

[Grumpy pants]

Phenomenal work @jonboy1 💥

[jonboy1]

@Re-Bugged, @ThunderDragonCy, @BuggyDad & @Grumpy pants you are far, far too kind and generous with your comments. Thank you!