So, What Have You Done Today?

[Grumpy pants 3932]

@Re-Bugged thanks for the info and picture.

I think the springs need to be put between the 2 protruding alloy nipples. 

[Re-Bugged 8995]

No worries @Grumpy pants, just glad to help 😉

[Willy iine 16812]

4 hours ago, Re-Bugged said:

That’s nice 👍🏻 colour sits very well with the kit stripes.

 

Chatting to a fellow member over on another thread led to my whole fleet in one spot for a family photo the first time….

 

A great way to take stock & represents almost 6 years of accumulation. Turned out to be a great opportunity to dust the shelves as well 😄

Thanks!  I was a little worried the blue stripe might clash with the green, but with hope , turns out the green has a bit more blue hue so complimented the blue well.  I think overall it looks pretty good so far.  I was actually hoping to do a lighter pastel green, but can't have everything one wants!  

Nice collection you got there!  Quality cars with exceptional painting.    I LOL'ed at the dusting the shelves.. I know exactly what you mean!  hahaha

[Re-Bugged 8995]

Thanks @Willy iine, I’ve got to do something to pass the time as I’m still signed off work for another 2 weeks. I’ve apparently got a bulging disc in my lower back squashing a nerve, so no Truck driving for now. I did manage to convince my wife however that I now have the perfect hobby for my condition, RC’ing doesn’t require any heavy lifting, and I get the light exercise required walking around outside running the cars, happy days 😃

[Busdriver 5959]

6 minutes ago, Re-Bugged said:

Thanks @Willy iine, I’ve got to do something to pass the time as I’m still signed off work for another 2 weeks. I’ve apparently got a bulging disc in my lower back squashing a nerve, so no Truck driving for now. I did manage to convince my wife however that I now have the perfect hobby for my condition, RC’ing doesn’t require any heavy lifting, and I get the light exercise required walking around outside running the cars, happy days 😃

Join the disc club. 3 operations and a lot of money and I’m ok. Rest is good but keep moving around. Don’t sit for more than 20/30 minutes!!!

[Willy iine 16812]

34 minutes ago, Re-Bugged said:

Thanks @Willy iine, I’ve got to do something to pass the time as I’m still signed off work for another 2 weeks. I’ve apparently got a bulging disc in my lower back squashing a nerve, so no Truck driving for now. I did manage to convince my wife however that I now have the perfect hobby for my condition, RC’ing doesn’t require any heavy lifting, and I get the light exercise required walking around outside running the cars, happy days 😃

Sorry to hear about your back..!  Back pain is not fun at all.  I too have been slowly migrating from my 1:1 car hobby to 1:10 for the same reasons.. no heavy lifting! 

[Aerobert 1970]

Finished the line-up for this years holidays on the danish west coast which will start end of next week. 

[Aerobert 1970]

Also made big step ahead in converting the TD4 to a TD4T. This is my approach:

All parts I used so far came from my stash. Wheels are from a Wild Dagger which got new ones, tires are Blitzer Beetle rear tires which were laying around. Wheels and tires are the most significant parts in this conversion as the chassis itself needs only minor changes which mainly related to body post. As I don't want to drill additional holes for body posts I used the parts remaining from the build and modify them. Technically speaking I've extended them by drilling holes in two body posts and joined them with a threaded rod. The lower part is TD4, the upper part is some generic Tamiya body post. Works very well but need to show its stability when used. 

The front were raised to increase ground clearance. For the rear I need longer shocks but it currently seems not to be necessary. 

The body is a Traxxas Stampede body I've got with the truck for my daughter but she didn't like it.

I will probably change the tires and maybe the wheels in the future and for sure the body. But Stadium Truck bodies are hard to get currently. This one will get some stickers for a better look.

[Willy iine 16812]

Finished Beetle #5 and posted in the gallery thread.  

Also available in my profile page/about me or Instagram #pretendrcshop where more photos posted.  

Thanks for looking.  

[one_hit 912]

Track day today. First run of the TA08. Compared to the TT-02 Type S, I managed a faster single lap time with the TA08 but the lap times are close and I found the type S to be more consistent and easier to drive. Both cars have identical tires and electronics (R204GF-E receivers, S9551 servos, Hobbywing v2.1 clone ESCs, Tamiya 16T motors with the same turbo settings). Only difference is FDR, 4.77 on the Type S and 3.59 on the TA08. Will change the gearing on the TA08 to match the Type S and test again

 

[Grumpy pants 3932]

Fitted the newly arrived tyre foams into the back wheels of the Lunchbox, ready to test drive at the weekend.

School boy error corrected with the Sand Scorcher front springs 😂 

 

[Re-Bugged 8995]

10 hours ago, Busdriver said:

Join the disc club. 3 operations and a lot of money and I’m ok. Rest is good but keep moving around. Don’t sit for more than 20/30 minutes!!!

 

10 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Sorry to hear about your back..!  Back pain is not fun at all.  I too have been slowly migrating from my 1:1 car hobby to 1:10 for the same reasons.. no heavy lifting! 

Cheers fellas, definitely a few life style changes on the cards. Looks like I’ll have to put my bicycle on the rollers in the lounge while watching Netflix now to avoid sitting around to long 😉

[Re-Bugged 8995]

3 hours ago, Grumpy pants said:

Fitted the newly arrived tyre foams into the back wheels of the Lunchbox, ready to test drive at the weekend.

School boy error corrected with the Sand Scorcher front springs 😂 

 

Sorted 👍🏻 It’ll be worth another 30 quid now. Have fun with the LB. 

[SupraChrgd82 1421]

Still scratching the other retro itch.  Hope to return to RC soon.

[ChrisRx718 3934]

Please take pity on me

Got caught (2nd time this year) for a Plaza Japan order - £57.08 invoice paid 

For other folks in the UK - have you noticed any particular pattern? Do you get "caught" and have to pay import duty? 

For me it's very hit-and-miss. I've had a £200 value order with zero charges "slip thru" whereas an order for £90 which incurred £40-odd in charges (£12.odd is FedEx service charge). There seems to be no rhyme or reason!

[BuggyDad 2471]

13 minutes ago, ChrisRx718 said:

Please take pity on me

Got caught (2nd time this year) for a Plaza Japan order - £57.08 invoice paid 

For other folks in the UK - have you noticed any particular pattern? Do you get "caught" and have to pay import duty? 

For me it's very hit-and-miss. I've had a £200 value order with zero charges "slip thru" whereas an order for £90 which incurred £40-odd in charges (£12.odd is FedEx service charge). There seems to be no rhyme or reason!

That does seem odd if <£135. I have kept all PJ orders below the £135 limit (including postage) and not had a charge on any of those. When I forgot about the charges and placed a bigger one once it was caught. I have ordered bigger things a few times from other places and therefore expected to be charged but in hindsight it is hit and miss - I got away with no charges on two EU orders in the last year, including my recent TD4 which was therefore a bit of a win at ~£175. 

[Twinfan 599]

Yep, that sounds very odd @ChrisRx718.  Like @BuggyDad I've made around a dozen PJ orders, all <£135 and no charges on a single one (which is correct).  I've made three Tamico orders, all over £135, and the first two came through with no charges but the third (the largest, unfortunately) got stopped.

Everything under £135 including postage should be charge free, and I think due to Customs not being able to stop and check every parcel anything over £135 is down to luck as to whether it gets taxed.

[Tobyone 389]

My understanding is anything under £135 including postage/insurance etc. VAT should be collected by the seller at point of sale and the seller is responsible to pass this on to the HMRC. If i place an order with Aliexpress then the last part of the checkout adds 20% to cover the VAT, which i presume they pass on to HMRC. 

Over £135 then its collected by HMRC (customs) on entry to the UK and charged to the buyer directly with any handling fees, i presume that's why Tamico and a like will only ship to the UK for orders over 165 Euros to avoid the paperwork hassle etc. that they would have to do. All my Tamico orders since the 165E limit, have been hit by customs charges. 

Not sure how customs tell the difference with the orders under £135 having paid VAT or not, unless there is some indication on the postage label/invoice attached to the parcel?

 

[Twinfan 599]

2 minutes ago, Tobyone said:

Not sure how customs tell the difference with the orders under £135 having paid VAT or not, unless there is some indication on the postage label/invoice attached to the parcel?

They could do that with random checks I guess, but I would expect they just wave them through which is why I'm surprised ChrisRx718 got charged.  I suspect the use of FedEx was the reason why, they do seem to check very thoroughly.  I only use DHL from PJ.

[Sogogi 1951]

Trx4 is hefty.. feels like 50% heavier than rampage.

Torque is insane….. with hobbywing fusion brushless system.

[Willy iine 16812]

Did some maintenance on my outdoor Scorpion and took it out for a spin.     My neighbors and his friends came by to check out my car.   They were extremely impressed by the construction as these are retired mechanical engineers.  I told them my friend designed the original car back 40+ yrs ago when he was only 19. 

 

[Grumpy pants 3932]

Gave the Lunchbox a blast around the garden tonight instead of going to the gym 😉

I’m not sure the tyre foams make any difference, but none the less I’m happy, it looks like a LB and drives like an LB, just not like an LB on amphetamines which suits me.

This way I spend less time having to walk over to put it back on its wheels and more time putting miles on it = 🙂

From here on modest tweaks, adjustments and repairs with a bit of a clean every now and then 😎

The vintage Sand Scorcher will go up for sale this weekend, along with lots of spares, I’ve enjoyed where I’ve got to but it has taken me to long to get this far and cost a fair bit more than I had anticipated.

The unlikely duo -

 
 

[Sogogi 1951]

TRX4 maiden run… surprised how good it is…

[Willy iine 16812]

9 minutes ago, Sogogi said:

TRX4 maiden run… surprised how good it is…

It's cool that your are trying out different brands and RTR.   These cars are quite impressive out of the box and should not be ignored.  The knowledge one gains from the driving experience alone is a huge plus.  Enjoy your new car.   

 

[Willy iine 16812]

While cleaning Willy’s shop today, I let my Beetles introduce themselves.