Monster Beetle

[BillL130 0]

Well, I won a Monster Beetle last week, and it arrived this weekend. Let's just say I am not happy with myself...

...a bad purchase on my part. Rust and dirt everywhere, plus a chipped & cracked body. I don't even know where to start with this thing.

[matman 1501]

Take the good bit's off it & look for another one . Use the old bit's as a runner &

Just keep looking for parts .

[Percymon 2187]

Well its no shelf queen, but given its the best part of 30 years old and its been used it's not too bad. In fact i'd say thats a typical Monster Beetle thats been used but not exactly cleaned or stored well

Break it all down

clean plastic parts with warm soapy water and a toothbrush

metal parts can be cleaned with a dish scouring pad, or fine wire wool and even polished with metal polishing pastes

screws can be replaced, they are in the main just M3 tapping or engineering screws, or paint them black/silver to suit

Strip the sell of old paint using caustic soda or liquid based oven cleaner.

The body can be repaired at the front mount - a small piece of 1mm styrene/plasticard sheet and some plastic magik solvent adhesive will sort that easily. Add a Blitzer beetle nose cone and chrome parts. The rear arch could be repaired with styrene sheet, but i'd cut/sand back the broken arch in a nice curve to the widest point at the top of the arch, cut a paper template, flip it over and mark and cut the other side to math (there are plenty of scorcher bodies modified this way and a many more extreme examples). Or you could buy a lexan shell from teambluegroove or Kamtec.

I'm not sure what you paid, but i'd expect something like that to have sold in UK eBay for £55-70 ($90-125) plus shipping.

[Wez-li 1797]

+1 As above, I've restored much worse

[moffman 6101]

Well, I won a Monster Beetle last week, and it arrived this weekend. Let's just say I am not happy with myself...

...a bad purchase on my part. Rust and dirt everywhere, plus a chipped & cracked body. I don't even know where to start with this thing.

thats not bad, trust me ive seen a lot worse the rust can be removed so to the dirt!.tyres look good chassis looks good body can be fixed! bit of time and tlc ,ive just finished a super clod which i put on the showroom "then and now" which was dirty and body a mess with yellow car paint tlc give it a go , im onto my blitzer beetle now which ive used to bits!!! that looks like an early MB because its got a red body the second editions came with a white bodies SO DON'T CHUCK IT

[BillL130 0]

Thanks for the tips, advice and ENCOURAGMENT guys, lol.

I'm in the middle of two other builds right now (Ferrari 599xx new build and Toyota HiLux rebuild), but once I am done with those, I'll breakdown the Beetle and see what needs to be done.

Are there any other places to source original Blackfoot/Monster Beetle/Mud Blaster parts other then eBay?

[moffman 6101]

Thanks for the tips, advice and ENCOURAGMENT guys, lol.

I'm in the middle of two other builds right now (Ferrari 599xx new build and Toyota HiLux rebuild), but once I am done with those, I'll breakdown the Beetle and see what needs to be done.

Are there any other places to source original Blackfoot/Monster Beetle/Mud Blaster parts other then eBay?

ive looked and looked and looked again and im affraid patience and ebay are the only place ,but if ya find anywere else let me know!

[nosthevamp 1]

that looks like an early MB because its got a red body the second editions came with a white bodies

It's the other way around, the original batch had white bodies (with flat mudguards), the later came with red (but I thought they still had the flat gaurds). I know as I still have the original I bought for my son when they where first released. Also the glass on the original had a bit more tint.

That said unless you paid hundreds for it, it is a very good base for a restoration with most bits there.

Oh yea it looks like the front mount is from the Black Foot, but someone has just started making Monster Beetle alloy ones.

[lindorf 3]

Looks in the same kinda state as one i won off ebay for 89 squids hehe.. and when it came there was dead spiders and all sorts in it.. stripped it all down .. cleaned it up .. bit of elbow grease .. new oil in the shocks .. some polishing .. and now it shines.

even the basket cases can be made into nice cars

and i brought many a basket case hehe

[Madmuz77 19]

It really depends on what you want to do with it. if you're looking to restore it back to original then you need parts from the A, E, G, P parts trees.

If you can find them these 4 parts trees plus a set of decals would see you with a very nice MB(+ a bit of elbow grease).

Trouble is these are the most common parts to break & as such can be quite sought after & pretty pricey when they show up.

May be cheaper to find another Monster Beetle that has the parts you need & build one good one out of the two.

Good luck with what ever you choose to do with it, the MB is one buggy that allways makes me

It's the other way around, the original batch had white bodies (with flat mudguards), the later came with red (but I thought they still had the flat gaurds).

The body shells are exactly the same the only thing that differs between the white & the red shell is the font that rcc Monster Beetle is written in under the roof , same as the Blitzer but in black

even the re-re scorcher & Blitzer are still using the same shell but with different mount holes.

The original Scorcher is the only one that has different mudguards.

[BillL130 0]

Ah, great info guys thank you.

I actually won another MB a few days ago ... looks to be in much better condition. Will find out when it arrives.

I had planned on maiking this a runner, as I would like to do with all the cars I get.

Will keep you updated once I get around to breaking it down.

[teddyt 17]

As others have said Bill, seen alot worse.

and if you want a runner looks like a good start

[BillL130 0]

What do you guys suggest is the best way to remove rust? I am primarily speaking of the shock springs. I have two bins of various Tamiya screws, so not much worried about those.

[teddyt 17]

I always use a metal polishing compond

shines and cleans, with out cutting too far into surface

[nosthevamp 1]

What do you guys suggest is the best way to remove rust? I am primarily speaking of the shock springs. I have two bins of various Tamiya screws, so not much worried about those.

Not sure if you can still get it, but the best stuff to get rust off chrome (the original springs are chrome plated) is "Solvel Autosol". If you can't find any you could try Brasso for Chrome, or even Brillo pads.

[BillL130 0]

Wow, been busy lately and have not been able to put any attention to my Tamiyas. However, that hasn't stopped me from PURCHASING any, lol.

I now have to Blackfoots (both in pretty good condition) and two Monster Beetles (both in so-so) condition.

Once I finish building the Ferrari 599xx and put the Toyota HiLux back together, I will begin to break down these great trucks.

I hope to put together at least 3 solid runners form these four trucks.