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Hovercat

Graupner Pinto Rebuild

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Hi together,

i am relatively new to this forum and this will be my first thread. After owning one or two rc-controlled cars as a teenager i came back to the hobby in 2012 when i purchased and build a rere-subaru brat (and some weeks later a dark impact ;-)). Besides building and driving cars i am also into rc-helicopters and -planes but when it comes to moddeling, restoring vintage rc-cars (mostly tamiya, kyosho) is whar i like most in the moment.

Some wheeks ago i got this Graupner Pinto for a resonable price. This was my 3rd or 4th project last winter (so i am still a rookie in this business) but the first one i documented with pictures.

The pinto came in quite good condition for its age:

img44031_25042015170830_2.jpg

The servos had been mounted in some kind of selfmade mount made of balsa-wood and a metal clip:

img44031_25042015170830_1.jpg

Beside a hole on the left side of the bodyshell nothing was damaged severely - just the regular smut (but i have seen worse):

img44031_25042015170830_6.jpg

Also the inside of the gearbox was not as bad as expected:

img44031_25042015171135_4.jpg

The shocks will be kept in place but will be painted in a different color.

img44031_25042015171135_5.jpg

to be continued in the next posting ...

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After some disassembling and basic cleaning:

img44031_25042015171312_3.jpg

img44031_25042015171312_2.jpg

img44031_25042015171312_5.jpg

img44031_25042015171312_6.jpg

I removed the decals and glue using a sponge and some "Aufkleber und Klebereste Entferner" (sticker&glue remover)

img44031_25042015171312_4.jpg

Gears and larger metal-parts have been kept some time in petroleum ether:

img44031_25042015171535_2.jpg

img44031_25042015171535_3.jpg

The same for the screws and tyres:

img44031_25042015171535_5.jpg

img44031_25042015171535_6.jpg

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As mentioned before, there was a section of the bodyshell missing:

img44031_25042015172006_1.jpg

Looked like cut on purpose but the reason was not clear to me because there was nothing suspicious underneeth this section of the body.

This hole has to be filled, so i cut a similar shaped piece of plasticard and glued it into the gap. I used stabilit express two component adhesive for this task.

img44031_25042015172006_2.jpg

Then, with help of some model-filler and sanding-pads ...

img44031_25042015172006_3.jpg

... and primer:

img44031_25042015172006_5.jpg

img44031_25042015172006_6.jpg

The repair is still noticable but like i said i am no pro - sufficient for my purposes. :P

Now we can start assembling some parts. Let's start with the front suspension:

img44031_25042015171805_1.jpg

Edit: this has to be continued tomorrow - seems like dinner is ready and i have to leave the computer for now ... :)

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A very interesting subject! To be honest, I was kind of expecting a likeness of the Ford Pinto :P

Your repair work is fine so long as it holds up ;) That being said, from here it looks great! Looking forward to seeing it return in its not-a-deadly-70s-Ford glory!

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It is an unusual-looking beast to be sure. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

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Excellent work and restoration. I don't remember this vehicle as Graupner. I think it was marketed in the States as the "Panda buggy". Many years ago I got three cars as a bundle, and I could have had the Panda as extra for $8 more but I did not take it. Not sure I'd do the same as of tonight. ;)

IMGP2299.jpg

And by the way, welcome to TamiyaClub! :)

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And by the way, welcome to TamiyaClub!

Thanks! it's a little ashaming, that my first thread isn't about a tamiya, but that might get better: my next project is a vintage wild one and a boomerang is also in the pipe ...

I knew that the Pinto was distributed by different companies; in german eBay you'll find mostly the Graupner-variant.

So, while we keep assembling ...

img44031_25042015171805_3.jpg

.. there is time to paint (and let dry) the shocks:

img44031_25042015171805_5.jpg

I find it not easy to get a smooth result with some of the revell email-colors i use:

img44031_25042015171805_6.jpg

All my cars are (or will be at least) runners, so i don't take those little slips too serious. :rolleyes: If it comes to exterior parts like shocks, gearbox or suspension i made the experience that the email-colors are much more scratch-resistant than for example the genuine tamiya (TS) paint. What would you guys recommend for painting those parts and getting a nice smooth but also resistant finish?

Re-assembled, the outcome doesn't look too bad i think:

img44031_25042015172556_1.jpg

Mounting the front-suspension to the chassis-tub ...

img44031_25042015172251_1.jpg

img44031_25042015172251_2.jpg

... and attaching the front-shocks:

img44031_25042015172556_3.jpg

img44031_25042015172556_4.jpg

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As the original tyres were quite worn down, i decided to use new grasshopper-type tyres. They fit the original rims (although beeing a litte thicker):

img44031_25042015172803_1.jpg

I painted the rims in semi-matt anthrazit and the hubcaps in glossy black:

img44031_25042015172803_2.jpg

(paint looks much thicker in this picture than it really is ...)

I also decided to paint the front bumper:

img44031_25042015172803_4.jpg

img44031_25042015172803_5.jpg

img44031_25042015172803_6.jpg

Btw: is there a proper way of filing/sanding this kind of plastic to get a real smooth result again? Especially parts like bumpers and roll-cages often have severe scratches and cuts ... Common sanding-paper or -pads often don't have enough effect on it and using a rougher file makes also the sourface rougher ...

Edited by Hovercat

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The gearbox and wheels were equipped with metal bushings (probably brass). They're gonna be replaced by ball bearings:

img44031_25042015173409_1.jpg

Proper amount of cera-grease, i hope:

img44031_25042015173409_4.jpg

img44031_25042015173409_5.jpg

done:

img44031_25042015173409_6.jpg

Somehow, the metal screws that hold the motor were a little bit too long - blocking the motor if set tight. I had to add two spacers under the screwheads:

img44031_25042015173607_1.jpg

For this little buggy, a standard silver can will be sufficient.

img44031_25042015173607_2.jpg

Adding some molybdenum grase to keep the joint smooth (don't know if this makes much sense, but i have too much molybdenum grease, so let's give it a try :) ):

img44031_25042015173607_3.jpg

img44031_25042015173607_4.jpg

Gearbox attached ...

img44031_25042015173607_5.jpg

... and rear shocks in place:

img44031_25042015173607_6.jpg

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The holes which take the screws for the bumper had been torn a bit too far i think - There where visible holes also from the upside and it was impossible to tighten the screws:

img44031_25042015173924_2.jpg

(tiny hole bottom left)

So i filled the holes with some two-component adhesive and let it dry.

img44031_25042015173924_3.jpg

of course that's not the most professional way - but to my excuse:

- i doubt i will have to remove the bumper again. And in case, it should be possible to remove the screws with some force (but without further damage)

- the fix is not visible :ph34r:

What would you recommend in such a case? Welding the plastic to fill up the gaps and drilling new holes for the screws?

Or is there a proper modelling fillup which is strong enough to hold those tapping screws in place?

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For the steering-servo i kept the glued-in balsa-mount, which one of the pre-owners placed inside the tub. Instead of the metal-clamp he used, i equipped a standard-servo-mount with two spikes (tiny screws, head cut off after inserting), drilled two equivalent holes into the wood, placed the mount and glued it together.

This way, i could attach the servo with common tapping-screws:

img44031_25042015173924_4.jpg

Next step: putting on ball bearings and attaching the wheels:

img44031_25042015173924_5.jpg

img44031_25042015173924_6.jpg

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Cover plate and roll bar i had to buy seperately as they where missing on the original model. I decided to paint them silver ...

img44031_25042015174301_2.jpg

... and black for the headlights:

img44031_25042015174301_4.jpg

(a little bit out of focus)

For the bodyshell, i used tamiya TS-paint again. I choosed a combination of gun-metal and metallic-orange which might harmonize with the original decals.

img44031_25042015174301_5.jpg

painting a-pillar and putting on decals:

img44031_25042015174427_1.jpg

img44031_25042015174427_5.jpg

img44031_25042015174427_6.jpg

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I covered the inside of the speed-controller switch with black pasti-dip to keep it water- and dust-resistant. This was due to the fact that the switch was too small for the corresponding cut-out. From the outside i screwed the plate of a common tamiya speed-controller but there were still small gaps...

img44031_25042015174551_4.jpg

Final detail: re-painted motor-cover:

img44031_25042015174551_2.jpg

Bodyshell attached (and messy workbench) ...

img44031_25042015174551_6.jpg

... and final result:

img44031_25042015174733_3.jpg

img44031_25042015174733_2.jpg

Still missing a driver-figure - this will be corrected before the first run.

img44031_25042015174733_4.jpg

... looking tiny with huge tail in front B)

img44031_25042015174733_5.jpg

My next project is a vintage wild one which i allready started some days ago. On this project, i will pay much more attention on preparing and painting single parts as it is a real classic and in worse condition compared to the pinto. As i spent too much time on eBay the last months, this won't be the last one. Among others, a boomerang, a traxxas radicator and several kyosho's are waiting in the pipeline ... :rolleyes:

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The buggy looks excellent so far!

That is a very impressive tail too. What does it belong to?

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That is a very impressive tail too. What does it belong to?

just one of my cats. (i got three of those - which means lots of cat hair on greased/painted parts ... :wacko: )

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This thread got me to join the club and show off my Panda Pandamonium buggy. Thank you for this thread.

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