Project Commando

[acprc]

Hi all,

So I picked up this 43503 Tamiya Wild Commando second hand through Ebay. Auction picture below.

I thought it would be good to document what I do to return the truck back to Boxart Tamiya standard and the thought processes and actual processes I go through as I do it. It's nitro so a bit different to other builds here and also will detail how I strip, clean and rebuild the engine. Plenty of pictures and commentary to follow.

Hopefully some interest so stay tuned.

Adam

[mongoose1983]

I know about this model, but haven't had much chances to see it piece by piece so it would be interesting to have a chance to see a Wild Commando rebuild.

[acprc]

So,

After some time overseas I finally managed to get going on the Commando. After a quick strip down it's apparent that the Commando has been maintained on a budget! The engine has a few of what I would call "daddys" screws on it and has been taken apart badly in the past. More worrying was there was sand in the chassis which made me worry about the engine condition. After stripping out the engine, removing the wheels etc I made a list of what was needing repair or replacement:

Engine starting wiring harness is damaged

Engine needs stripping, cleaning and rebuilding

Chassis skid plates have had it

New fuel tubing

So, I started with the engine. I usually strip them apart to component parts and clean and polish them. New gaskets and screws as required. The carb screws were very rounded off so my first job was to cut slots in them and then remove them. I have spares so will be replaced.

I use the same process to clean all my nitro engines and it involves Bicarbonate of Soda, a stiff brush and boiling water

I put all the component parts out on a tray so you can see the oil staining and dirt. The engine starter backplate was slightly bent and needed straightening. The last owner had tried to use silicone to seal the backplate. The paper gasket works fine if replaced.

Then the parts are put in a tray and covered in Bicarbonate of Soda, boiling water straight from a kettle is then poured on. The Bicarb fizzes up and then with rubber gloves its scrubbing time.

After about an hour the parts are clean. I then polish them up, oil them and they are ready to be fitted back together.

A new backplate gasket (17684139) will be used. The rubber carb gasket is ok. Screws will come from my spares as I have loads. The Muffler has been washed and cleaned in normal soapy water and will be re-used. I have ordered a new rubber exhaust deflector as the original is ripped.

In the mean time I got hold of the under chassis plates, part number 50949 from Ebay

More to come soon.

Adam

[XV Pilot]

Looks like a promising start!

[Plopes]

Looking good.

[acprc]

Will get some chassis pics up over the next couple of days. Body just needed a wash as do the wheels and tyres. I will be working on the electrical starting system tommorow so will get the pictures up when done.

Tonight I have continued to wash the odd plastic parts like gearbox covers and fuel tank. I also use the left over washing up water to clean the odd part, much to my wifes annoyance!

[acprc]

Today the rain and a trip to the supermarket has stopped me getting the chassis blown off with the compressor and cleaned so did the starting electrics instead. The original loom had the glow plug clip missing (orange wire), the earth clip was damaged (black wire) and some of the other solder joints on the circuit board were poor. The flexible protector was also missing from the orange wire. Started with this:

The new black wire with earth clip came from a scrap wiring harness I had. I rarely throw these things away as they are hard to come by and expensive when you find them. I then cut off the glow plug clip from the old harness (see below), stripped it and tinned it ready to be swapped.

Then I attached the new wires to the board, heatshrinked where necessary and after 20 mins we had a new functional harness. The protector just needs winding onto the orange wire and we are all done.

Much better and saved around £25 on the price of a new one. When working on these cars the savings soon add up.

[acprc]

Raided the parts bin for a few bits.

Backplate gasket, carb screws, starting motor gasket, exhaust coupler and starting system cap and tie

[Pingman]

Great engine cleaning technique, I must try it some time.

How is the commando coming along?

[ChrisRx718]

It's hard not to feel nostalgic looking at this - when at Time Tunnel Models we had one of these which sat around for ages before it sold, gawd knows how long it was on the shelf. At the time Nitro was all the rage, but you had companies like HPI listing the 'max speed' on the box and that had the knuckle-dragging public foaming at the mouth - the Commando looked expensive in comparison (it was) but there were just better offerings out there.

I never saw inside the box - I never even saw the truck sell, I went on my lunchbreak one day and when I returned it had been sold!

Look forward to following this thread