Which Beetle to pick for the holidays at the beach?

[Gruntfuggly]

If you want to fit hex drive wheels on the front, you can use TL01 hubs and carriers instead of the standard blitzer hubs. Some pics here: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=53319&id=32

[wolfdogstinkus]

 

[njmlondon]

I’m with MadAx on this one. Sure the Blitzer is probably the lowest maintenance and is certainly the one that can handle a monster brushless motor if you want that sort of thing, but the Sand Scorcher is the daddy. 

[WhteRbt]

⬇️ See below (my mistake, sorry!)

Edited March 24 by WhteRbt
Please delete, double post

[WhteRbt]

@Gruntfuggly: Thanks a lot for this great advice! This means, I now may have a plan! 😎 

I would order the following parts (a verbose list of items to allow other people to find this information in the future):

• Tamiya 84175, Screws (https://www.modellbau-seidel.de/index.php?firma=Tamiya&best=84175)
• Tamiya 50736, B Parts (https://www.modellbau-seidel.de/index.php?firma=Tamiya&best=50736)
• Tamiya 50823, Axles (https://www.modellbau-seidel.de/index.php?firma=Tamiya&best=50823)
• Tamiya 53056, Aluminium Hexes (https://www.modellbau-seidel.de/index.php?firma=Tamiya&best=53056) [Optional, as plastic hexes are included with B Parts]
• … and some cheap M-Chassis rims, e.g. https://www.modellbau-seidel.de/index.php?firma=Tamiya&best=51659 or https://racersparadise.de/TAMIYA-1-10-M-CHASSIS-FELGEN-FIAT-ABARTH-ALPINE-A110-4-STUeCK-SILBER-309335209 (the ribs need to be removed)

This should allow me to mount every wheel with 12 mm hexes in general, and the original GH/SH tires with M-Chassis rims.

@njmlondon: Absolutely. I see the benefits of the Sand Scorcher and like the idea to make it ready as a second car for the trip, at least for some lighter usage… 👍

[WhteRbt]

@Nikko85 and @OoALEJOoO:

Time for a status update. I purchased a (cheap) set of M chassis rims (which I quite like) and what can I say? It turned out beautifully! ❤️

Yes, I had to remove the ribs in the center, but after that, the tire fits beautifully. I even tried it with the front tires, just for fun – and must admit that I like this look very much, but after all, I think I will indeed trying to run the Paddle tires front AND rear. I doubt the smaller front tire of the Grasshopper/Sand Scorcher will work (visually) for the wide Blitzer Beetle.

So, it seems that I have to get my Sand Scorcher opened to get a second pair of tires… and a set of Fast Attack wheels and tires for the Scorcher?  

Cool to have a few NiB sets laying around… combining a few parts with each other, at least for the trip… 😎

 

[JimBear]

@WhteRbt - how does the front tyre/rim combo look like when ... aaah .... looking at it from the front?

[WhteRbt]

Will take a picture later on! I think it will look… cool. 😎 

[WhteRbt]

Here we go, not the best photos, but you get the vibe! 👍

[Wooders28]

I'd go Blitzer,  paddles  , brushless and lipo (probably 3s, if the gearbox is good, the beach really sucks the power out of a car..) 

[WhteRbt]

Guys, the Blitzer is nearing its completion. I built the Chassis nearly stock, but upgraded the motor to a Torque Tuned. I also mounted the shocks with ball heads to reduce the slack and used machine screws (and a cut to length threaded rod) for the shock towers – I did not trust the few mm of tap screws to hold the shocks securely in the long term…  

As I wanted to try something new to get used to painting, I am still in the process of doing a kind of „Rat Blitz“. Here is a sneak peak of the current state of the body:

It is not finished as I want to bring in another color. First I thought green would be cool, but now I think I will go flat black and create a cool flat black & white look with some rust and dents. 😉 I am just not sure which parts to paint black. 😅

With the chassis, I think I will run it stock with the Torque Tuned and don’t get an another set of wheels. The Grasshopper tires are indeed a bit small for this wide beast. I just still can’t decide if I buy a set of white original rims or just paint the original ones – but I can’t stand the orange (this time) as the color is obviously no part of the paint scheme of this build. 😅

What I plan to buy instead is a second differential – one spare will be locked with Diff Putty (Blu Tack) for the time near the beach. A second diff will allow me to swap them fast and easy.

To be continued – and opinions and ideas welcome! 👍

[Grumpy pants]

I’ve just been to the beach with my BB, using NiMH and a dirt tuned motor.

All plenty good enough, it was just the standard rear tyres that needed upgrading. 
 

Next time, I’ll take a pair of paddle tyres and a pair of Schumacher V’s for the rear and all will be 👍

[WhteRbt]

I want to share some pictures of the (almost) finished model. I consider it „finished enough“ for sharing, but will wait a few more days until I add a showroom entry…  „Almost“, because…

• I need to paint the rear louvres
• I need to apply some stickers to the rear side windows (like Box Art)
• I need to do something (what?) with the rims

Please be gentle, as this is the second hardbody I have painted in my life – after the Grasshopper II, which I shared in the „Done today“ thread (which needs an update and a showroom entry, too).

The idea behind this „rat style“ is to create a runner body – a body which can be run without any fear for damage. As I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of the Blitzer Beetle Box Art, I used the chance to just try something and apply all the different techniques I have read about…

What do you think?

[Grumpy pants]

 Looks great ⬆️ 👏

If you want to paint the wheels, I’d use a Scotch pad, then primer, then paint and finish with a clear coat lacquer. 

The wheels will get chipped and scuffed, so the orange will inevitably be visible, but it’s a rufty, tufty, runner so just go with it. 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, WhteRbt said:

I want to share some pictures of the (almost) finished model. I consider it „finished enough“ for sharing, but will wait a few more days until I add a showroom entry…  „Almost“, because…

• I need to paint the rear louvres
• I need to apply some stickers to the rear side windows (like Box Art)
• I need to do something (what?) with the rims

Please be gentle, as this is the second hardbody I have painted in my life – after the Grasshopper II, which I shared in the „Done today“ thread (which needs an update and a showroom entry, too).

The idea behind this „rat style“ is to create a runner body – a body which can be run without any fear for damage. As I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of the Blitzer Beetle Box Art, I used the chance to just try something and apply all the different techniques I have read about…

What do you think?

Looks good man, nice work. 

[Grumpy pants]

There you go - Dirt Tuned motor, bearings, cheap servo, Tamiya ESC, glued rear tyres, steel pinion and a servo saver. 

About 20 NiMH packs through it so far - garden, woods, sand pit, tennis court, pebble beach, dusty car parks and rough tarmac. 

Had to change the nose cone, swapped out the ESC and servo, but otherwise runs well and plenty fast enough. 
 

Very happy with it, no plans to change anything until somethings breaks. 
 

[MadAnt]

Liking the Blitzer Beetle the more I look at them. They must be fun, right?

Someday I'll get myself a Blitzer Beetle, someday.

[Grumpy pants]

7 hours ago, MadAnt said:

Liking the Blitzer Beetle the more I look at them. They must be fun, right?

Someday I'll get myself a Blitzer Beetle, someday.

Great fun, robust, basic and decent out of the box imo.

[Twinfan]

Agreed. I've just got bearings and an old Super stock Type-T motor in mine and I like it more than I thought I would!