Lancia Rally (58040) Questions

[Grastens]

Greetings:

Some winter sessions with my Buggy Champ had me thinking about rally racing and the kinds of cars Tamiya made. The tire size on my buggy was ideal for the snow on the ground at the time, and the only one I kept returning to was the Lancia Rally - the original version with the oversized tires and wheel arches.

Since I am still in school, I really have no idea if I really should be beginning another project, but if I wanted one badly enough, I would make it happen... and I could probably do with a few less drinks (to save money for it)!

So regardless, I did have a few questions about the original Lancia Rally and about other members' experiences with it:

- The body was not exactly scale, but wheel arches aside it appeared realistically-proportioned by itself. Would a re-release Lancia 037 decal sheet be useful for restoring an original Rally, or are the body dimensions too far off?

- The kit-issued tires appear to be smaller than those on the comparable Subaru Brat. A potential project could involve using a Lancia Rally bodyshell on a slightly-modified Brat chassis. Are the tire sizes significantly different to the point where another gear ratio is required if running Brat tires?

- A period accessory was a 'Mini Light' set, the dimensions of which are unfamiliar to me. Would a modern light set require re-drilling of the front headlight holes (accounting for any size difference), and are taillights also able to be mounted on the body? The original manual mentioned nothing about installing taillights but the pieces appear capable of taking them.

- Has anybody undertaken such a project, where a Lancia Rally body was mounted to a re-release Subaru Brat or Frog chassis? I do have an idea of what parts would be required to complete this conversion and the slight differences between the original and the re-released versions, but if this does happen advice from those with such cars would be much-appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this; even if nothing comes of this it at least satisfies my general curiosity!

[zakspeed]

I cant answer all your questions but i'll try

I've never tried but I would say the reissue Lancia touring car decals would fit an original (as far as i'm aware main differance is only the arch size.

Yes the Lancia wheels are smaller than the Brats in diameter (but wider) however both kits were supplied new with a 380 motor and 10 tooth pinion as such Tamiya didnt see it an issue - I run mine with a 540 & 18 tooth pinion using stock fixed diff.

Yes you can fit a original lancia body onto the reissue brat kit but you would need the side body mounts (not same as frog as a more course thread) Not sure if Brat tyres will clash with the arches as never tried. Happy to put a set on mine if no one else provides an answer.

I fit a full lighting kit on mine - see here

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=76105&sid=1604

I had to put a divider in rear lights to split the indicators and stop tail. If you look in my showroom theres another pic of the Lancia in daylight

Original tyres will be the hardest to source but not impossible