Aluminum G1 Parts For Beetle / Blackfoot

[mooter]

Got the basic shape, size and layout into CAD already, just need to fine tune the measurements with some decent instruments and then send off to have them made.

Anyone else interested? They wont be mega cheap, based on a 100 units I'm looking at around £12/£20 per part, but they will be the same dimensions as the originals, just made out of lovely aluminium!

I'm sure there has to be a good few Albert & Ron nuts around the world to make it worth my while...

[Leethal Driver]

Anything to pimp my MB gets my vote.

[mooter]

So, I need three, you want one, just got to find another 96 interested people

I'm exploring two routes.

My dad is an engineer and he has lots of CNC Milling buddies... it also happens to be my 30th coming up and he kindly offered (?!) to get a few made for me. I'd have preferred some dancing ladies and loads of cash but MB bling will do I guess

I've also been busy chatting with a UK company who have asked me to send in a part so they can cost the job and give me some feedback. It'll be off in the post tomorrow and I should have some more news next week.

I also have a rough CAD drawing I drew up myself, but I'd prefer to send the parts off and have them 'professionally' made to measure. Last thing I want is to send off my CAD for an order of 100 and find out they don't fit.

Either way, it IS happening! Hopefully within the next few weeks too. Watch this space.

Now then, what next I wonder....hmmm.....

Maybe some shiney Sees style wheels?!

[tpsolid]

seems like alot of guys are getting into reproducing parts in alum now. Make sure u get some nice 6061-t6 alum or 7075 alum more beefer the better!

[mooter]

Agreed! Can't have them bending/breaking just like the plastic bits.

I think people go down this route as the original plastics are just so hard to find these days. A couple come up on ebay every now and then, usually with body posts you dont need, but always at extortionate prices! I consider a custom alu part to be a new hop up and I'm sure there are enough Beetle/Blackfoot fans out there to warrant a decent run of them.

If I could go down the shop and buy a couple of plastic bits I would, but it's difficult to find such things after 20 odd years and I'm determined to run my Beetle hard (one of them anyway)!

[tpsolid]

I agree. why pay premium for plastic piece that will break if you can pay same price or lower for something stronger! I been designing some stuff for the lunchbox but havent sent them to my machinist yet. I might be getting laid off so better save some money haha.

btw what kinda cad program are you using?

[Leethal Driver]

Check the Monster Truck forum, mikea96 is also making some ali parts. Best not double up

Can we have them shiny as well? Might get one for my BF as well then...

[mooter]

I don't think Mike is going to be able to sort them any time soon?

My old man is getting a few made up for my personal use anyway, but I'll wait and see what price the machinist comes back with before deciding if I want to get a load more made up.

As for the CAD program, try out www . emachineshop . com as they have some nice easy to use software for quick designing and it's a small install.

[tpsolid]

ahhh ok. I used emachineshop cad before i upgraded to inventor 2010. Sometimes i use emachine shop to make a quick layout then import it into inventor and build from there just too used to emachine shop's simple menus.

[mooter]

I think the guys at my Dad's firm use SolidWorks, but he said that would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! I can get hold of AutoCAD if I need it. Not heard of Inventor 2010 - I'll have a nosey at it now

Still no word from the machinist, I'll give him a bell tomorrow and see what he says. My Dad's project is underway though! /excited at new alloy parts

[mooter]

Ok, so I heard back from the machinist and it's looking good!

The price for 100 units is doable. They aren't going to be cheap (around £11 a unit, maybe a little less) and then I need to add a small margin to make it worth my while, but I think I can provide them at an appealing price to those who want them. They will be pretty much bang on replica's of the originals, minus the recessed pocket on the back. He can do that but it'll just add extra cost and it serves no purpose so I wouldn't bother.

I've just gone back to the machinist with some questions covering materials and time-scales and I'm also hoping to get a sample in my hand before I take the plunge and make an order.

Watch this space... I just hope there are 100 MB / BF fans out there willing to shell out for some bling, otherwise I'm going to be left with loads of aluminium paper weights!

[Jack_Truck]

I just hope there are 100 MB / BF fans out there willing to shell out for some bling, otherwise I'm going to be left with loads of aluminium paper weights!

Or you can just by 99 MBs???

[mooter]

lol!

Now, there's an idea.

I could buy them ALL. Then I could slip them back to the market, one at a time, for a million pounds each. I can foresee two problems though.

The first is my perfectionist nature and the fact that it takes me weeks of painstaking work to restore every one that I buy. At that rate I wouldn't get very far.

The second, well, as well all know and recognise, is The Mrs. The non-Understander.

I think I'd soon find myself sleeping in the garage. With 103 Monster Beetles. 4 is pushing the limits already.

(it's not just the MBs either, it's the Lunchbox, the RX7, the Blazing Star and the Blitzer Beetle too)

tpsolid - still got the job?

[mooter]

Bit of a bump, but with some new news! See the attached pic from the machinist. Looks good to me.

The grade of aluminium used would be 6082 T6. The finish would be machined all over. Other finishes they can offer would be:-

Glass bead blast - this would give a satin finish to the item and wouldn't incur any cost, but wouldn't offer the protection (if required) of:-

Anodising - available in clear, satin or various colours, this would add between £1 and £1.30 to the price of each item.

So, machined, satin finish or pretty colours?

[tpsolid]

type 3 anodized would be best!

[Leethal Driver]

Anodized in TS8 Italian Red pls to matcb my lovely shell.

OK, maybe not, but you get my idea...

[mooter]

Anodized red eh? You might be onto something....

Type 3 anodizing? What's that all about?

[mooter]

Ok, so not to let this die, I am making an order at the end of this month.

Fingers crossed there are 96 other Monster Beetle / Blackfoot / Mud Blaster fans out there who want some shiny, yet functional, bling too! I'm now a fully paid up TC member so I'll get some action going in the showroom/trades section but if you are genuinely interested in getting your hands on one please drop me a PM or reply on this thread and I'll put you on "The List".

I'm going to make an order at the end of the month and they'll take 3/4 weeks to be made and delivered. I can then start sending them out in time for Christmas.

I'm looking to get 50 'vanilla' machined parts and 50 red anodized parts - might as well have a mix I think. The plain machined parts will cost £12 + P&P and the Red anodized will cost £15 + P&P. I don't expect P&P to be too much as I'll buy a load of bubble wrap/envelopes in bulk to keep costs low - probably just a couple of quid extra.

Who wants some?

[Blacque Jacque]

Put me down for two red anodised ones please.

[BiggusDitchus]

Put me down for one in red too please.

[Connor]

Hi there, I would probably take a few off your hands if the price was right!!!

[mooter]

Bargaining now eh? Excellent - that shows definite interest!

I know that TC isn't the be all and end all when it comes to Tamiya fans and perhaps this thread should be in the Monster Trucks section anyway, but it's good to get an indication of numbers in advance. I'm sure eBay will turf up a load more interested peeps too.

I'm going to have to stump up a LOT of hard earned cash to get these made and I'll be gutted if they don't sell. I'm not expecting them to all fly out of the door on the first day, but I don't want to be left with the majority of the order for years to come either. Make no mistake either, I'm not doing this for massive profits, just enough to help me buy the next shiny Monster Beetle parts I want/need/adore!

I have confidence in my machinist to deliver the goods though and from the discussions so far and the spec's they've given me they will look the part and fit the bill perfectly.

I should speak with mikea96 too I guess, I don't want him getting upset at me doing this when he started it first! I'll message him now and if he's cool then we're on I think.

[Leethal Driver]

Bagsy one (maybe two) in red pls squire.

[mooter]

Red seems popular! Maybe I'll change the ratio.... I just think there are enough people out there who will want something other than red, especially those with non-box art models. Hmnmm... perhaps 50 red, 25 plain and 25 GOLD?! They might look swish with the gold rims....

I've messaged Mike to see where he's at with the whole idea and I'll hopefully hear back from him soon. I think I'm just about ready to place the order after that 4 weeks and counting!

/excited

[mooter]

Sorry for the bump but I just wanted to add that I've just heard back from Mike and he's got no problems with me going ahead on this, we wont be doubling up as he's not had a chance to get his made.

So I've emailed my machinist (my contact is the boss and goes home early on a Friday!) and production should begin next week. Expect them to be ready for sale by this time next month I think. As soon as I get any updates I'll post them here.

In for a penny, in for a grand as the old saying goes Fingers crossed they will sell. Just in time for Christmas too