Blitzer Beetle question: reverse Wide Willy

[emory70]

So I'm really partial to the Tamiya Baja Bugs. Had a Monster Beetle back in the 80s. All these beautiful Sand Scorchers make me want to build another Baja.

So I'm looking around at options: rere Sand Scorcher, modified Frog, and Blitzer Beetle. And then I had an idea. I had a Wild Willy 2 when they first came out, and did the Wide Willy mod to it. Well, how about building a Blitzer Beetle and doing the opposite? Make it narrow enough to fit the tires in the fenders.

Is this reasonable, is it old news, or am I way off the reservation?

[Nobbi1977]

I am sure someone will do it with the Willys wheels when it comes out it the wheel base is correct for the tyres to fit in the arches. It would be a cool thing to try

[Mokei Kagaku]

This idea was discussed here some years ago, and then discarded for a good reason; it may not be impossible, but the steering arrangement makes it very hard. The simple direct mounted arrangement causes bumpsteer, which is bad enough with the original wide suspension arms, and gets worse with shorter arms. Furthermore, the off-centre servo saver means different length steering rods, and with much shorter suspension arms, the difference gets much bigger, making the steering geometry even worse.

Problems that probably can be solved with a lot of effort and substantial cost, but there exists an easy way to build a similar model. The M04 chassis is quite suitable for the Blitzer Beetle/Monster Beetle/Sand Scorcher body. Fitted with TL01 suspension arms and two M04 wheelbase extension "blocks", the basic dimensions are virtually perfect. Below a couple of photos of mine. I built it for the use of the old Proline Modified Baja body which has a shorter wheelbase than the Blitzer Beetle body, hence the use of just one instead of two extension "blocks". The pictures are low quality because i built and photographed it around 1999/2000. This also explains the use of now vintage hop-ups like the dampers.

[emory70]

Good info. Thanks

[emory70]

Decided to just order a Brat and a Scorcher body. Ultimate Monster Beetle begins soon