What Chassis Shall I Use?

[skip665]

Hi all,

I have acquired a Marui Big Bear shell (no other Marui parts included) which I was going to use on my Touareg - but as I have a Blackfoot shell I am undecided what to do with it. I am thinking that I will fit it to a chassis (not sure which!) and make something different out of it.

Any ideas what I should use? I was thinking an ORV chassis - but I dont have mine to compare the wheelbase to at the moment.

[dready]

Hi all,

I have acquired a Marui Big Bear shell (no other Marui parts included) which I was going to use on my Touareg - but as I have a Blackfoot shell I am undecided what to do with it. I am thinking that I will fit it to a chassis (not sure which!) and make something different out of it.

Any ideas what I should use? I was thinking an ORV chassis - but I dont have mine to compare the wheelbase to at the moment.

SRB it, like the Ranger? easy peasy

Brat Chassis like um the Brat? no problems with parts

Hotshot it for some 4wd Fun as above

Hilift it for a bit of crawling if it's to short you could crewcab it or stretch the bed.

Any help?

[skip665]

Missed out on a Brat chassis on eBay over the weekend - forgot to bid and it ended!

I think its the way to go though - got one nearby you can measure the wheelbase for me?

[dready]

Missed out on a Brat chassis on eBay over the weekend - forgot to bid and it ended!

I think its the way to go though - got one nearby you can measure the wheelbase for me?

nah haven't got one sorry matey

[Mad Ax]

I'd be inclined to build a chassis from scratch. A few months ago I picked up an NIB TLT Rock Buster from a HK store on Ebay, forget which one but it was a fantastic deal - about 65 inc. postage. I also bought a K2-3S from Kaetwo, a new Traxxas Stampede transmission, some servo/toplink mounts from Twinset, and some rod ends from G-Made - and now I can build the truck to suit my shell.

I'm using the shell from an NIB super-clod that I also picked up cheap from RCMart (will be using the axles for a stick crawler later and ebaying the rest) - but the principle is the same. In fact before I began I was looking for a Big Bear shell for this very project, but couldn't find one.

The above won't get you speed or handling but it will get a capable scale crawler

[skip665]

Dont suppose you still want a Big Bear shell do you? Sounds like you will make better use of it than I will!

[Mad Ax]

Depends on how much you want for it! I'm always happy to take spare truck shells off people's hands

I think the Brat chassis is definately your easiest option - with a little bodging it'll go straight on (not sure about the wheelbase tho but I'm sure someone will be along to help soon!) and you'll have a good fun basher to play with

[_miga_]

if it shoulkd be a 2wd: i think a M02L or M04L will fit perfectly since the BigBear has an different wheelbase - it's not 258mm

[markbt73]

The Big Bear is 1/12 scale, and has a really short wheelbase. I'd say M-chassis, or maybe Lunchbox?

[Mad Ax]

if it shoulkd be a 2wd: i think a M02L or M04L will fit perfectly since the BigBear has an different wheelbase - it's not 258mm

That would be a cool idea. It could be a tarmac-spec Datsun pickup with an M04 chassis. It's also very easy to make a custom-length M04 chassis using metal plates (see my showroom for my M04 Pumpkin Lowrider).

If you wanted to make an off-roader then you just need to find some suitable off-road style wheels and tyres that fit under the M04, and mount the body higher.

To make a monster truck you could either go the M04 route with Wild Willy 2 wheels and a body lift, or for 4x4 buy a 2nd hand TL01 chassis (very cheap on ebay), cut it and re-glue it so that it's the right wheelbase, cut the propshaft by the same amount and re-drill the hole for the pin. I have a shortened TL01 chassis that Petercabrio made and it's inspired me to make a 4x4 lunchbox. The TL01 is a fantastic chassis for modifying because it's so easily chopped around, plus the flat chassis ends lend themselves to custom-made aluminium shock towers so you can fit longer shocks too

[skip665]

Some great tips there people - I am thinking that the TL01 chassis is the way to go as I have not had one of those before - anyone wanna sell me one!

[Mad Ax]

Search on Ebay for used TL01 chassis - there were so many different models made on TL01s that they're dirt cheap now.

Alternatively, some TL01 models are still available new - for example, the Baja King is one of the cheapest Tamiyas available from Hong Kong and comes with the longer buggy arms for a wider stance. With monster truck wheels, this will make it as wide as a Wild Dagger (which is basically a highly-modified TL01 chassis anyway). However this may be far too wide for a 1:12 shell, in which case stick with the standard touring car arms (or perhaps rally arms from the TL01 rally subaru that's still dirt cheap on the bay) and make some new shock mounts.

I have recently discovered that it's cheaper to buy an NIB TL01B than it is to buy a 2nd hand TL01 and buy the longer buggy arms, shocks and driveshafts seperately.

When I finally get around to starting my TL01 Lunchbox I'll do a build thread and get lots of pics so you can see what's happening

Ax

[skip665]

Looks like a go-er as the Big Bear has a wheelbase of 241mm and the Baja Champ is 258mm so not much in it - nothing a little work wont fix!

[WillyChang]

Big Bear's shell is really really small... have my doubts it'll fit over a M03 even.

[monster_beetle]

I'm hoping to have enough money soon to buy a big bear shell to put on a tlt.

[skip665]

It will have to sit fairly high as there isnt much clearance underneath the shell itself

[secretasianman]

I'm hoping to have enough money soon to buy a big bear shell to put on a tlt.

Has my vote. Should make a nice looking kit. Even as a monster the small stance of the TLT chassis should work with the 'Bear. I was looking at my Wild Willy 2000 and was lamenting on how i can't find any spare shells.

Speaking of which if you want a cheaper option, Wild Willy may make a cheaper avenue for mounting that 'Bear shell since it's nice and short.

[terry.sc]

It does fit well on a TLT

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...321&id=5414

[scollins]

As TC member terry.sc pointed out, I used the TLT chassis with a Big Bear body last year and it worked out really well. I am sorry i sold it now, as it was a really neat little truck. the bodymounts I fabbed up from HPI parts, while for scale realism reasons of my personal taste....the front body mount was custom, using velcro in conjunction with a tab A- slot b feature to assure it stayed put. Cheers on your project, scollins

[bakaguyjean]

As TC member terry.sc pointed out, I used the TLT chassis with a Big Bear body last year and it worked out really well. I am sorry i sold it now, as it was a really neat little truck. the bodymounts I fabbed up from HPI parts, while for scale realism reasons of my personal taste....the front body mount was custom, using velcro in conjunction with a tab A- slot b feature to assure it stayed put. Cheers on your project, scollins

The Scollons Big Bear was the best ever!