Budget rally car project

[spencertrax]

Well after completing my amg merc.I decided Iwanted a rally car. As I had a chopped up TL01, and a tight budget after the holidays I ordered a new chassis case off evil bay. I had been looking for a deal on a rally car shell, when my brother offered me another merc shell. Brought it home this afternoon and after checking out these forms for ideas to strip the paint off the lexan I went ahead and stripped it. I removed all the decals from the outside except the lights. I tried some denatured alchol with little success then tried this goo be gone paint stuff with pretty good results. I checked out the local hobby shop for some paint, but they had very little choice today. But I think I will go back Monday as they did have some green which should be Ok. I also ordered a set of decals for a subaru wrc. I think I can uses some of them and the yellow should look good with green, for a low budget rally look..

More or less this type of colour scheme ordered decals

[alfagta]

that will be a cool runner ,spencertrax,

i was out with my converted 190mm M04 Escort Cosworth rally car today in the unreal weather (T-shirt in February ?)testing out my new ESC , superb fun holding drifts on the gravel for way longer than i thought a rwd car would be capable of,

looking forward to seeing your car all painted up,

[spencertrax]

Well I've had a bit of a change in plan, bought a can of what I expected to be metalic green but when I started spraying it was very strange. Turned out to be a flip flop paint from pactra that had to be backed with a special black backing paint. Anyway I was able to get some at another shop today. It's not what I planned but it is a beater body and not worth redoing again. It does look green at certain angles, not really showing up in the pictures. I might use the Martini decals instead of the WRC ones. I have had word that the new chassis has been shipped from RCmart, my first order from them. Thanks Jay

I had expected the cap colour.

[alfagta]

like it, nice job spencertrax ,

[dyahipfakta]

I had a similar paint guff up I wanted White but ordered White pearl and a black to do the truck back bit. The White ended up being almost completely clear with lots of metallic and flip colours so I backed it with the black. Final result is an actually quite cool supermetallic pearl gunmetal grey. Nothing like what I intended but still happy with it lol.

[spencertrax]

Thanks Guys, If it wasn't just going to be a runner body I'd be more disapointed with the colour. But I might do another shell for the shelf later. I took another picture wich shows the greenish colour a bit better. The black backing didn't do alot.

[alfagta]

Thanks Guys, If it wasn't just going to be a runner body I'd be more disapointed with the colour. But I might do another shell for the shelf later. I took another picture wich shows the greenish colour a bit better. The black backing didn't do alot.

i like it, i bet it will look really good when out in the sun shredding about

[spencertrax]

I just got my first order from RC mart, shocked at how quick it got here. I can now build the chassis.

[spencertrax]

Didn't get much done today, but dismantled the old gearboxes and cleaned all the parts, for reassembly into the new chassis. But I discovered I don't have the battery holders that attach to the chassis. I managed to get one from my brother off a parts tree in one of his many Tamiya kit boxes. Still need one more, I gave my nephew a bunch of spare parts for a blackfoot extreme I had give him, hopefully I tossed one in there as I will be to his place tomorrow for the Daytona 500. Then I can start assembly with out waiting for another parts order

[spencertrax]

Well guys, thought I'd post a quick update. Got both the missing battery holders so the chassis can be assembled but I need a new steering servo, I'll rob one from another truck or boat and order a couple of new ones. I finally decided I couldn't stand tne colour the car turned out and painted the outside with the left over backing black, for a satin black finish, much like a real low budget racing team might use. When the decals arive the yellow should look pretty good against the black background IMO. Cheers jay

[djmcnz]

...much like a real low budget racing team might use...

You'd be surprised how much that "flat black" paint actually costs... it ain't no budget paint!

[spencertrax]

You'd be surprised how much that "flat black" paint actually costs... it ain't no budget paint!

[djmcnz]

Can you raise the suspension a little to give it more of a "rally" look? And yes, the new paint looks much better.

Some front spotlights also for those special stages... (M01/3/5 Mini rally lights would look good I think).

[spencertrax]

Yes and Yes, The body doesn't have a chassis under it in the last few pictures just sitting on the tires, just inset some faux lights in the lower spoiler, and plan on getting some lights as well maybe similar to what I have in my mini.

[djmcnz]

Yes and Yes, The body doesn't have a chassis under it in the last few pictures just sitting on the tires, just inset some faux lights in the lower spoiler, and plan on getting some lights as well maybe similar to what I have in my mini.

Nice looking Mini! I love them.

[alfagta]

love mini's too, especially off road

i am digging the black stealth look

[dyahipfakta]

Can I make a recommendation. After rallying with my newly aquired tl01 I discovered the front diff section of the chassis to be abit exposed with the standard bumper. So much so I cracked it when going over a rock. The front bumper and bumper brace from a wild dagger or similar drops abit lower and covers the front of the diff housing so if you do hit something its the bumper that takes the punishment not the chassis. I dno if you already sorted this or not just thought I better mention it. Mine really needs a new chassis now although I will see how well my repair holds up.

[XV Pilot]

I'll second that recommendation. The TL01B kick-up front bumper (also used on the WR01 and other models) is a very good idea on an off-road TL01 (and M03 for that matter). It helps the chassis ride up and over obstacles rather than just hitting them.

[spencertrax]

Good idea for the bumper, much like I did with the mini. Got the chassis assembled and the body sitting on it. Still waiting on my decals but added a few racing decals I had on hand to get started.

[djmcnz]

I wonder, has anybody ever actually rallied a Mercedes? I mean like for a team? Not quite the typical choice I imagine...

[spencertrax]

I wonder, has anybody ever actually rallied a Mercedes? I mean like for a team? Not quite the typical choice I imagine...

Did a quick google search, looks like it's been done a least a couple of times

[djmcnz]

That brings a smile to my face really... it just seems so unlikely to me.

Now we need to see an action and podium pic of yours!

[alfagta]

I wonder, has anybody ever actually rallied a Mercedes? I mean like for a team? Not quite the typical choice I imagine...

old school

[spencertrax]

Did some digging in the parts bins and came up with this for a front bumper, with a bit of foam inside the body shell the front bumper, fits tight to the chassis. Stuck a stock motor in and one of my cheap ebay esc's it was able to do donuts on the hardwood floor, should be OK.

[djmcnz]

You need to buy some screws...