Sand Scorcher - to SRB or not to SRB...?

[beefmuffin]

hey fellow tamiya nerds. i've been passively battling in the back of my mind about something. not a big deal at all, but i have never had a sand scorcher - although i have / do have buggies champ and super champ. i guess the question is that i have had experience driving my blitzer beetle and really like the way it performs, but i've never felt inclined to drive any of my SRBs - i'm not sure i could feel comfortable bashing it around. i don't know how to explain that... but the curiosity for how they drive has always taken a back seat to what i perceive as their preciousness / fragility / a desire not to ruin them.

so a vision of a box art blitzer body (either done on a monster beetle shell to have the holes already in place, or with drilled holes and a re-re sand scorcher body) on a blitzer beetle chassis with sand scorcher wheels and tires all around inserted itself into my brain. i'm just not sure if anyone had an opinion as to whether to ditch this mutant idea and make a runner SRB sand scorcher and just suck it up and drive it, or if this idea should be pursued.

putting new uprights and hex-to-SRB hub adapters on the blitzer chassis are simple enough, and the body mounts are already perfect.

would the wider wheelbase of the blitzer look rubbish on a sand scorcher?

[bromvw]

IMO Do it . The SRB simply don't handle . The Blitzer is 100 % better in terms of performance . In terms of looks my thinking is this . Tamiya thought the Blitzer looked good enough to sell many thousands of them world wide . its the same body so its going to work and look GREAT . BTW fitting scorcher wheels will lower the COG so it will handle even better - result

[Percymon]

I'd double check ground clearance first, the scorcher wheels aren't the biggest (esp the fronts) so you may find you have very little clearance for running with hardly any suspension travel before the chassis bottoms out.

[Gruntfuggly]

Why not put a kamtec sand scorcher shell on one of your SRB's and run it somewhere with plenty of space... might be a bit of a learning experience! And when you've had enough, take the Blizter out and give it a good thrashing without worrying!

I can't really see the point of putting sand scorcher wheels on a blitzer, though.

Makes me nostalgic for the 30 years ago when treating my sand scorcher with so little respect was no issue

[beefmuffin]

IMO Do it . The SRB simply don't handle . The Blitzer is 100 % better in terms of performance . In terms of looks my thinking is this . Tamiya thought the Blitzer looked good enough to sell many thousands of them world wide . its the same body so its going to work and look GREAT . BTW fitting scorcher wheels will lower the COG so it will handle even better - result

yeah - this is all pretty much just as i was thinking! but it would only be worthwhile if it basically looks like a sand scorcher when done (broad strokes). so that still remains to be seen...

I'd double check ground clearance first, the scorcher wheels aren't the biggest (esp the fronts) so you may find you have very little clearance for running with hardly any suspension travel before the chassis bottoms out.

i was thinking of the ground clearance thing actually and haven't tested it yet, but what made me generally comfortable it wouldn't be a problem is the fact that the blitzer chassis is the same as the falcon, which uses small buggy wheels up front too. now, the front suspension arms may be narrower for the falcon... but that's also something i might be able to mix and match to make the 'sand blitzer' work. hmm

I can't really see the point of putting sand scorcher wheels on a blitzer, though.

well - the thing is that i have SO many big wheeled models, so if i do this i really want it to look as much like a sand scorcher as possible. but i'm genuinely curious to see if the blitzer hybrid would actually be a better runner and look about the same. far from certain, but hence this post.

[BadWagon]

Do it Sir Beef.

I'm at a spot where many of the builds I've been working on are wrapping up: brushless Fox done minus body, big bear up and running finally, boomer is running. So I'm looking for my next project after I get the hotshot for Mac (my oldest) completed in time for Christmas. I'm thinking either a SRB, Egress, monster Beetle or frog.

But the desire to run a SRB, is strong. Really strong. I know they have their drawbacks, but after running a few packs through the big bear yesterday, I wanna run one. The big bear is slow, wooblely, huge turning radius, and under powered, but it's a blast to drive. I'm thinking the SRBs have gotta be the same. Not the best performer, but a lot of fun.

If you have an idea, run with it. If ya don't like it, just modify the build later on.

You'll know once you mount the wheels if it's gonna work. If it doesn't, well blitzers are cool anyway. Paint it like a scorcher, and have fun with it. OR just get a re re scorcher to run.

Ok, enough talking, start ordering parts.

[BangkokBulldog]

Put a decent set of shocks/springs on your SRB and a re-re body and away you go! I think the SRB's run very well considering the lack of diff.

[Grumpy pants]

I've got both the B.B and S.C and I'm much more precious with the SRBs.

I did get a lucky on a nearly new S.C that I don't mind running to much, the price was reasonable enough for me to be to be able to enjoy it more it.

IMO the S.C is a lot better looking the wider front on the B.B doesn't look as nice too me.

I've got a M.B body shell painted up to look like a S.C would you like me to post up a pic of it on the B.B chassis?

[Zac_F83]

I have a RE-RE "Runner" SS and love it! It has a few custom touches and running a Traxxas XL2.5 ESC, Duratrax 20T brushed motor and 2S 3200 Lipo battery

I just finished the interior for it- have yet to final mount it up in the body, admittedly I have yet to run it since finishing the body.. mostly due to no time and other builds (mod Clod and TT01D R34 Skyline are the currents - soon to have a Sand Viper DT-02 as well haha)

[SteveU30]

That's a great looking Scorcher Zac!

For me, a Scorcher isn't a Scorcher unless it's on an SRB chassis. I'm currently building 2 though, a vintage one for the shelf and a cobbled together one for running as I couldn't face ruining my only example. My runner is going to be far from standard though as I want it to actually drive well.

[Grumpy pants]

Not sure if this helps-

[Zac_F83]

Thanks! I was going for a scale box art- I love these cars! It's my first and likely not my last.. I'll come back to a Rough Rider most likely in the same configuration as this one to do some matched racing on my beach haha

mine is a rocket with the Duratrax 20T motor and speed tuned spur/pinion so much so it stripped the plastic gears haha- better keep spares if you plan on putting some HP to the car.. wish someone would make a SRB metal gear kit that is readily available and cheapish to boot

[beefmuffin]

Not sure if this helps-

eh - can't say i like the look of the front end with the wheels sticking out so far from the wheel wells. drats.

well i guess i'll just have to put together a runner SRB... but that may be a long time in the making...

[BadWagon]

Psssssst.... Beef.... You already have two SRBs. Take your panties off, find a baseball diamond, and go run them.

[beefmuffin]

true, but one is brand new and spotless and the other one is pretty much the same and ancient. my panties would get all twisted up and i'd end up in the ER with some sort of circulatory issue...

[redzone]

Run the rere, they are nothing special. Just make sure you run it on the right terrain (sand)

[BadWagon]

Beef, I think you'd be safe if you kept it in the infield, drove carefully, and didn't let me behind the wheel.

But ya know bud, if YOU aren't comfortable with that, then it ain't worth it.

I'd put it up in the long term project category and piece a runner together that's not gotta give you a heart attack.

I'm very curious about the SRBs, and I've gotta imagine the locked rear is a blast on sand.

We'll see how it goes down, I've got a line on a nice SRB, I'm hoping the current owner and I can find a price that works for both of us.

So far ice not heard back from him, perhaps I low balled him, and he's not wanting to haggle. Me, I love haggling.

If I do scoop it up, once it's all good to go, I'll ship it up to ya and let you bash it around a bit.

[mongoose1983]

Do it, Ben. And be sure to share some pictures of your VW running.

[bromvw]

Ben don't get me wrong .The Scorcher is good at what it was designed for - running on a beach . The vintage handling is best described as ' a experience ' . Totally different from a modern RC . I think all of us should experience driving a SRB at least once in our RC life's .

[30YrsL8r]

My son and I ran our DT-02 and DT-01 buggies at the beach yesterday and, whilst it was fun, I kept on wishing I'd gotten the Frankenscorcher running and taken that.

[mr crispy]

If you want a scale looking Scorcher that can handle a bit of rough and won't give you a heart attack when it rolls, I think this M03 chassis conversion that Reuben's building is the way to go. Much more authentic looking than a Blitzer based abomination

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=71092#entry508129

If you're thinking Blitzer then you might as well go the whole hog and stick the Beetle shell on a TL01B... it's rather pleasing and an awful lot of fun on a beach!

[Gruntfuggly]

@mr crispy - nooooo! 4wd scorcher is just wrong!

[JennyMo]

If I might throw an idea into the mix? - what about building one around a Frog/Brat chassis - that way you get the RWD, and a similar style chassis layout - just with more modern handling?

Jx

[Grumpy pants]

This is a really nice twist B.M, it would make a nice change to the SRB or B.B route and I bet you have a ORV chassis lying around somewhere!

[BadWagon]

Mr. Crispy I'm digging it, and Jenny I love yours!

I bit the bullet today on a SRB.