Percymon 2183 Posted April 7, 2014 I know the chassis design is 7+ years old now, but since there is next to nil build threads for this chassis I thought I might as well document my rebuild.A rather optimistic bid on evil bay brought me this horror Not exactly a looker, and yes it's the avante family runt, but for £25 including full electrics it's not all bad Plan was/is NOT to spend a lottery win on a rebuild. A basic clean up and a few hop ups here n there to make it a useable runner - I've already got too many nice looking runners that never go out to play !So first things first, the shell. It was painted PS-16 inside (badly) and some awful purple on the outside (badly) - great start then The plan was to strip the outside and repaint with a matt finish - purely for a change from the glossy lexan look. My preferred polycarbonate paint stripper is Autosmart Tardis, a 1:1 car valeting product designed to remove tar. It's surprisingly similar to Tamiya's own polycarbonate cleaner in smell and performance. Previous experience says Tardis will remove some polycarbonate paints almost on contact but others are a real challenge.After ten minutes rubbing away with a tardis soaked cloth I was getting....... Nowhere Not one to give up easily the cloth was soaked in tardis, draped over the body and left overnight.Following morning presented this..Hmmm, not exactly what I'd hoped for, but at least the paint was softened and starting to look removable. An hour of rubbing away with tardis on a cloth , and some gentle persuasion in the fold lines , followed by a warm soapy water wash got me to this..I can only assume that the outside had been painted with yellow auto filler primer spray, followed by auto spray paint - hence the difficulty. Worth the effort ? Probably not but the £20 cost of a new body set can be used elsewhere in the rebuild More to come - let's hope it gets better 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WillyChang 1745 Posted April 7, 2014 if you were gunna repaint matte anyway... Could just hit it with a sandblaster 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 7, 2014 if you were gunna repaint matte anyway... Could just hit it with a sandblaster It might have been easier ! I'll remember for next time - I'm sure this won;t be the last 'less than pristine' example I ever buy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kontemax 1613 Posted April 7, 2014 I believe a new body will do the trick. Max Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gruntfuggly 540 Posted April 7, 2014 If you're going for a new body, get the Dark Impact shell - it looks much better... that Avante is a bit of a minger... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fruitfly01 595 Posted April 7, 2014 Cool thread. I have a DF03 project sitting on one of my many back burners right now, so it'll be interesting to see how yours comes on, and to glean a few tips and pointers along the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 7, 2014 I don't believe in throwing stuff away so will persevere with this shell Base chrome paint on to ensure top coat is consistent.. looks better already 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 9, 2014 Some progress, although I forgot to take any photos of disassembly until I'd almost stripped it - DOH.So theses will have to do..Wishbones not too badC hubs and uprights pretty ok , all bearings to be replaced so no real issues..At the rear rather muddy!Rear gear case full of grey grease on the inside, and mud on the outside..Other parts..So nothing that a good clean won't sort out there.The spur cover might take a bit more effort - someone had access to plenty of copper slip grease for free I reckon...And the front diff cups are for the bin since previous owners didn't use the urethane bushes in the drive cups On a slightly more positive note the wheels were very receptive to Rit dye, so the awful pastel orange/beige colour has been banished..Before..After... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grastens 2717 Posted April 9, 2014 It is great to see you persevering with the Avante Mk.II pieces - your handiwork should do it a lot of good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 9, 2014 It is great to see you persevering with the Avante Mk.II pieces - your handiwork should do it a lot of good! Well, in for a penny, in for a pound ! It cost pennies, it might takes pounds to sort it 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wood5tock 861 Posted April 10, 2014 How much copper slip Your JPL 7000 is gonna get a hammering Great job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 11, 2014 Sometimes physics just can't cope - I went straight for the chemistry option, a 20 minute soak in white spirit saw all that grease n grime removed. Followed up with a soapy water wash and blow dry Now waiting on spares coming from banzai so rebuild is pretty much stagnant for the next two weeks. Got a little more done on the shell - added chrome then translucent orange to the cockpit area. Marking decals arrived, sadly size wise they are more suited to a 1/8th truck/ truggy body than this fiddly little avante shell - the scalpel will be working overtime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAD RACER 564 Posted April 11, 2014 Nice work there. I have a NIB Keen Hawk with all of the rare upgrades like slipper and steel lay shaft gear. Bought the kit new for a steel from rc mart. Been meaning to build it up . Maybe one day. Good to see a build thread. Well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 11, 2014 Thanks I have had a slipper sat in the spares now for a few years (bought to attempt to install in a SRB but never quite got round to it !). I've bought the turnbuckle set, motor heat sinks posts, alloy servo turnbuckle as well as new d sprues, and towers. Just to smarten things up a little. Bearings , shims and diff out drives are just necessities after the strip down - one 10mm diff shim was reduced to a thin c shaped piece of wire Thank goodness for banzai prices, otherwise this would have been cobbled back together and back on eBay in the hope of recovering my initial £24 outlay . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tamiya1/10 381 Posted April 11, 2014 you got it for a good price. After going through your rebuild, it reminds me of taking a stray off the street and after a thorough cleaning, trimming, and feeding, a smart looking and lovable dog appears. it will be an amazing transformation after some TLC. look forward seeing the results. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted April 30, 2014 Not updated this for three weeks as it's been limited progress waiting for parts. Every time a delivery arrived I'd get excited that I could get on with sizeable parts of the rebuild only to find another part was in a different order not delivered. I still have one outstanding delivery, for d parts , diff balls and shims. I have managed to add the ball connectors to new damper towers, build up the slipper clutch, build the hop up hard turnbuckles, build the motor heat sink. The rest is pretty much a stack of screw and a stack of plastic . Hopefully this weekend I can really get going 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 2, 2014 Well final parts order came in today so managed to get some of it bolted back together.. Rear ball diff Counter gear .. Prop shaft drive/coupling Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 2, 2014 Rear gear set in.. Motor plate (swapped some tamiya machine screws got hex head stainless ones ) Hop up slipper and motor heat sink bars installed 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 2, 2014 Sport tuned motor installed (for now) along with hard turnbuckle hop up , new shock tower and some alloy blue ball connectors for s but more bling... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 2, 2014 Front ball diff .. Installed.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
94eg! 820 Posted May 2, 2014 You are brave using the 2-piece outdrives in the rear. You might consider swapping them to the front since you typically run the front diff tighter (safer) than the rear. Just a thought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 3, 2014 You are brave using the 2-piece outdrives in the rear. You might consider swapping them to the front since you typically run the front diff tighter (safer) than the rear. Just a thought. I did think about it when rebuilding, but just stuck to the manual - if I ever install a faster motor it'd probably be wise to swap them around as you say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biggamehunter 127 Posted May 3, 2014 looking great mate !!! cant believe the state on the inside of the spur cover and gear plate !!!' shell came out good , definately worth saving !! following with interest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 4, 2014 Cheers Shaun - yes it was a mess, the gears were never going to run dry ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2183 Posted May 4, 2014 Moving on.. Steering assembly installed.. Test fit servo turnbuckle for correct length.. At this point I'd already installed the front wishbones, upper turnbuckle links, axles n shocks (needed something to do whilst waiting for parts earlier in the build process), so it was just a case of bolting on the front end with the four screws and connecting the turnbuckles. Hence no pics Wheels body and wing fitted.. Still need to add RX and ESC, then it'll be ready to roll again 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
