Just your basic Willy

[markbt73]

I had a Wild Willy 2 back when they first came out, and I ran it to death. Tried every modification I could think of: wide suspension, lowered, bigger wheels, smaller wheels, 13 turn motor, 55 turn motor... all sorts of stuff. But eventually, it ended up going back to more or less stock.

So this time around, I'm just keeping it simple from the beginning: full bearings, HPI shocks, Kimbrough servo saver, everything else stock. It will be one color (probably tan) with all the little detail bits painted, and then, I'll just run it. And run it. And run it...

Here's where it sits tonight:

I'll probably start on the bodywork tomorrow. Had a ton of fun already just building it; I forgot how "square" these cars are (same length as width). Really looking forward to running one again.

[essexbill]

Looks good so far..

What's a Kimbrough servo saver, and where do you get them from?

Thanks

[markbt73]

You can get them from Tower Hobbies if nowhere else. They're a little stronger and a LOT less sloppy than the Tamiya units.

[Grastens]

I like the philosophy - and hope you can get some great sessions out of this model!

The more I see Willys, the more I want one

[nodtec]

Yay, Go the Willie's. I like how you say a basic Willy, then start listing extra's. lol

Bet you don't stop there, you know you won't be able to resist the erge, so just give in now and order those alloy trick bits, bigger motor etc etc.

[essexbill]

Six wild willies!!

You must be a happy person.

[waterbok]

Eight me thinks is more correct, nice collection.

[Tamiya1/10]

Sign of a mature Hobbiest. Seen it, done it and being there. Sometimes the most basic form is beauty in itself....There is also nothing wrong in dressing it up.

[IBIFTKH]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this. I'd suggest adding a steel pinion to your list of hop-ups if you haven't already.

Mr Nodtec sir, you have good taste!

[markbt73]

So today, I did some planning:

And discovered I had a little problem.

Since this is the first plastic flaw I've ever seen in a Tamiya kit in my 30 years of model building, I can't be too upset. And I could contact them, ask for a new dashboard, wait for them to send it, delay the whole project... but instead I think I'm going to just repair it. I have Bondene, and I'm not afraid to use it.

So... onward. Laying down the first coat of tan, just good old Krylon Fusion right over the plastic. Two coats of this and we'll be good to go. Nothing fancy, just not olive drab like everyone else's.

More tomorrow...

[markbt73]

Added a bit more color tonight:

[markbt73]

Getting there... Man, I forgot how many things there are to paint on these models.

[essexbill]

It looks like it is coming together nicely

[markbt73]

All right, I'm calling this one done. If I go any further with the details I won't want to drive it. I left the flaw in the dashboard alone; sort of a "not even Tamiya is perfect" reminder. And I added some clear stick-on vinyl to the top edges of the fenders, hood, and spare tire as sort of a "scratch guard," for when (not if) it ends up on its lid.

The cleanest it will ever be:

...all right, enough of that. Willy was never meant to pose.

That's better. If anyone needs me, I'll be outside playing... bye...

[emory70]

I too had one when they first came out. Went wide, put in a super rooster and a speed gems 9 turn. Found a wrestler action figure for a driver, and got some craft store (ok, ok, doll house) beer cans to glue in the driver's hand and littered around the jeep floor. One of my favorite RCs ever

[essexbill]

They always look great.

wish I still has WW2 from a few years ago

[Tamiya1/10]

Nice color cobination with a touch of red all round.

[RcMadness74]

Great looking body on that Willy. The open gas tank still kills me on these, lol.