My Mudblaster project update - one year on and still not complete

[TAZ-NZ]

Well it's been over a year since I first posted picture of this project and in that time of replaced more than half the parts on it and learned a badword of a lot in the process. So here are some picture of my Mudblaster today, and a few details for those of you that are interested.

 

My latest mod was to convert the steering assembly to that of a King Blackfoot, thus eliminating the asymmetric stock steering setup, I had to make custom 60mm steering rods to suit the new setup.

I've done a lot of work on the chassis to try and eliminate the weaknesses it has in it's stock form.

The Mods so fare are:

CHASSIS:

- JG heavy duty front bumper.

- King Blackfoot SD8 rubber bushings.

- CRP bushed front arms.

- CRP heavy duty uprights.

- Trinity aluminum oil filled front shocks.

- Lowered front body mount.

- Full length front skid plate.

- Parma aluminum side nerf bars.

- King Blackfoot servo saver assembly.

- King Blackfoot servo cover.

- Modified King Blackfoot MSC mount.

- Trinity aluminum oil filled rear shocks.

- CRP battery door Clip.

- Lowered rear body mounts.

- Frog aluminum swing arm supports.

- Parma aluminum swing arm central support.

- CRP adjustable motor mount.

- Re-release Frog 19t Pinon.

- Frog 49t spur gear.

- Frog brass counter gear.

- Fully ball raced.

- Re-release drive cups w/ Oldfrogshot screw mod.

- 2005 Frog Universal Axles.

- CRP differential bearing supports.

- Parma rear sway bar.

- Motor Heatsink.

- Monster Beetle gold wheel rims.

- Unknown brand low profile diamond treaded tires.

ELECTRONICS:

- Custom 7 cell 8.4v 3700mah NiHm Battery.

- Kyosho Magnetic Mayhem 22x1 Motor.

- Hitec Hitec Aggressor CRX 3-channel controller.

- Hitec DXC dual conversion receiver.

- Hitec HS-325HB heavy duty ball bear servo.

- Hitec EZN-R Pro electronic speed controller.

Here's a picture of the custom 7 Cell 8.4v 3700mah NiHm hump battery.

The body is a Re-issue set with an orginal vintage roll bar. I also have a NIB Parma Lexan Mudblaster body.

TO DO LIST:

- Replace old H1 part.

- Replace old rear swing arms.

- Screw mod, then fit long drive cups that came with universal axles.

- Find & fit aluminum wheel hubs.

- Paint Lexan body.

- Trim Lexan body.

- Paint hard body.

- Fit windows to body.

- Apply decals.

- Bash and have fun doing it.

I'm basically happy with it now. I'd love to find out who made/makes the tires and get a spear set. And I really need to learn to paint a lot better before I try and paint the hard body.

I've got a Blackfoot that is basically getting the same treatment, but I'm fitting it with Lunchbox rims & Big Bear tires. It should be a little less extreme, i.e. a few more stock parts.

 

[cyclepsych0]

those tires used to be made by duratrax. not sure though if they are still available.

[tarznatz]

How much was that battery pack?

 

[Nitro_John]

Nice [], should look great when it's all painted up. Are you going to keep with the box paint job or do a custom one ?

[TAZ-NZ]

How much was that battery pack?

 

It wasn't cheap $78.00 from Diversity Model Aircraft. But they will make any battery config you like, just send him a picture of the layout you want.

 

 

[TAZ-NZ]

Nice [], should look great when it's all painted up. Are you going to keep with the box paint job or do a custom one ?

I plan on painting the Lexan body metalic blue, and putting a set of factory decal on it.

The hard body, I'm still not sure, I started out thinking I would paint in blue too, but I'm not so sure anymore. I'm afraid of stuffing up the paint on the hard body, because I suck with a spray can.

 

[Nitro_John]

Metallic blue sounds lovely to me, with a hint of metal flake []

[billg4]

remove that SLOPPY  kbf steering ****, trust me.

put the proper crossmembers back in and get a kimbrough servo saver

then mount your servo towards the center slightly at and angle useing cross holes

by mounting your servo this way the bump steer will be less, and handle

better because of less slop and much more control than that wweak kbf

unit.

If you want pictures, seee RCMT.NET and my steering post in the blackfoot forum

[TAZ-NZ]

Argh,  now I have to strip it down and rebuild it again. It will have to wait until I get a new H1 part.

 

[billg4]

you might be easily able to obtain one from the re-re frog owners ??

I just looked in m parts bucket, didn't see one sorry

Have just gears and some posts

what is wrong with your H1 ?  Looks ok in pics http://members.cox.net/billghobby2/MANUAL22.JPG

[TAZ-NZ]

what is wrong with your H1 ?  Looks ok in pics

It's a little bent out of shape and one or two the screw holes are starting to strip out on me, It's one of the few use parts left on the chassis, almost everything else is new including the screws. I've got a Re-release H-tree on it's way, I would have replaced it earlier but it's a pain to get at, and there was no way I was paying the pre re-release  rate of a $100 USD for a mint vintage H-tree.

The Chassis you see today is the third this projects had:

- The first was a wreck, about the only thing I'm still using from it, is the JG bumper.

- The second was a used runner, but was starting to show it's age, the H1 part, rear swing arms, and transmission case are about the only things I'm still using from that chassis.

- The third one I build with mint parts straight off the trees, and a complete set of new screw bags. I've been slowly replacing the used parts with mint or upgraded items.

I'll tell you now, buy NIB kits, it's cheaper in the long run for projects like this, but there's more fun in hunt when you restore a car part by part.

I'll probably try your servo mod on my Blackfoot in the next day or two, I'll post pics of the results.

 

 

 

[kalsh]

Hey Mark

That is a great looking project. Have you considered using a black chassis as all the aluminium parts would look great against black rather than the red. I think I have a new in packet Black chassis if you are interested.