Now Part Of The Big Squishy Tyre Crew

[ap6318]

After reading about how much fun everyone here has with their Lunchboxes I had to get one as well.

Picked this one up locally for a fair price. Took it home and performed my usual reverse build to see how it works and was suprised how easy it was compared to my wild one.

Obviously it wasn't to easy for the guy who assembled it... I found 9 mistakes in the build, the major one being a set of Yeah Racing oil dampers fitted - upside down, no oil and slots cut in the chasis where the stock shaft passes through front and back so the ball ends could pass through!

Did my best with the rears and filled the slot with some nitro fuel line and installed the optional shock mounts. Filled shocks with 35wt oil and used softest springs.

Front wasn't so easy. Ended up using the front brace idea and ran some 4-40 rod through the front and fastened the shocks to the rod. seems to work quite well. Shocks have 60wt oil and soft springs as well but think will try mediums as stability is good but steering still non-existant

Installed bearings throughout and popped in a CO27 motor. Run 3 packs through it and had an absolute blast. You guys were right. This is the most fun you can have struggling to control an RC!!

Next is the 3rd shock mod. Just got to find a shock somewhere...

[bfst24]

looks really good.

cant wait to get started on mine.

[Blacque Jacque]

Nice idea with the top mounts for the front shocks

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Black wheels, gota love black wheels

The steering can be improved with a little toe out and lowering of the suspension, and some different tyres. The tamiya ones do nothing to aid grip

Of course, despite my efforts handling will never be a strong point on these things

[Blacque Jacque]

This "handling" you speak of..............was it an option part (53xxx) ? or a Limited Edition (49xxx) ?

[Henk4Focus]

This "handling" you speak of..............was it an option part (53xxx) ? or a Limited Edition (49xxx) ?

LOL, wasn't it on the special black edition 42337!!! He, He, He!!!! I still need to see a good handling VLB. I feel to sorry for mine so it's shelved and the Pumpkins have to pay the price!

AP, that box looks smart with the black shoes, and a great thought on the mounting of the front shock. I suppose I'll have to get a 3rd VLB to trash next to my poor Pumkins. The price is also so tempting these days.

Cheers

Henk

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

I still need to see a good handling VLB.

On tarmac and loose dirt my pumpkin is pretty good. It's now fitted with about 400g of lead weights in the chassis bottom and over the rear suspension. It helps the rear suspension to actually work, reducing the bounce of the unsprung gearbox. Combined with hop up front suspension, oil shocks, 3rd shock, imex tyres and a 5700 kv motor it feels nothing like a pumpkin should, yet can still get out of control if you're not careful

[Power Surge]

On tarmac and loose dirt my pumpkin is pretty good. It's now fitted with about 400g of lead weights in the chassis bottom and over the rear suspension. It helps the rear suspension to actually work, reducing the bounce of the unsprung gearbox. Combined with hop up front suspension, oil shocks, 3rd shock, imex tyres and a 5700 kv motor it feels nothing like a pumpkin should, yet can still get out of control if you're not careful

So the constant rear end bouncing is normal then?

Mine is made from a Hopper chassis, but same basic idea. Over rough terrain, the rear end just keeps bouncing along, LOL.

[Henk4Focus]

So the constant rear end bouncing is normal then?

Mine is made from a Hopper chassis, but same basic idea. Over rough terrain, the rear end just keeps bouncing along, LOL.

Yip, always wondered why they didn't call it Vanessa's Lunch Hopper!

[Blacque Jacque]

So the constant rear end bouncing is normal then?

If it ain't bouncing, your pack's flat & should be recharged

[ap6318]

Thanks for all the comments guys! Gee these things are fun!

Got another comment for "If it ain' bouncin'... The cheap nasty yeah racing ball ends have snapped.

They are super hard and super brittle. Broke two in two battery packs!

Still looking for a third shock, you'd think I'd have something laying around....

[Butler]

Interesting your use of the threaded bar to mount the shocks. I have bought some the next size up, M4 and intend to use to mount the body, to replace the plastic clips that I keep breaking, in my brushless box. Should strengthen things and will mount the body with nylock nuts.

This is assuming I can get away with lowering the body on a chassis a little.

[ap6318]

Interesting your use of the threaded bar to mount the shocks. I have bought some the next size up, M4 and intend to use to mount the body, to replace the plastic clips that I keep breaking, in my brushless box. Should strengthen things and will mount the body with nylock nuts.

This is assuming I can get away with lowering the body on a chassis a little.

Great idea! I've broken 2 body posts so far so have run a 4-40 threaded rod through the rear. See the pictures below...

A little bit of dremmel work

Let the rod overhang by about 10mm

A nut to hold the rod in place and to finish off, a little heat shrink tube over the thread so it doesn't cut into the body

Finished product!

Given her a few good runs and the rod does bend but is still much more durable than the body posts.

[Butler]

Co-incidence....Although had the idea and the part back in July I have only just started the work this week. Hope to finish this weekend.

Nice work.

[Arcticfox]

The M4 bar for the body mounts is a cheap and neat idea lads. Think I may have to adopt this before the OE mounts get broken. Thinking instead of a nyloc at the end, maybe drilling the bar to fit the clips as per std? I reckon a neat little metal fab sort of bracket near the ends of the bar will help stop it bending too. Or a couple of well place cable ties through a couple of pre drilled holes instead

[dannos85]

The M4 bar for the body mounts is a cheap and neat idea lads. Think I may have to adopt this before the OE mounts get broken. Thinking instead of a nyloc at the end, maybe drilling the bar to fit the clips as per std? I reckon a neat little metal fab sort of bracket near the ends of the bar will help stop it bending too. Or a couple of well place cable ties through a couple of pre drilled holes instead

Thats a good point.

Maybe some alloy battery strap holding pins? like on TA-05's etc. They take body pins, & are quite chunky

[ap6318]

Thought I'd share a few photos from my Gold Coast holiday last month. Had to take "the box" to the beach.

WOO HOO!!!

Some attempted rooster tails

Enjoy!