Mad Fighting Grasshopper

[Smidsy 46]

So few weeks ago I bought a Grasshopper 2. It was in a bit of state. Needing new wheels and tyres, steering arms, lower wishbones. Then I went and snapped one of the rear body pins off the chassis. Yes it had a roll over. After a bit of searching, I realised it would be cheaper to buy a Rising Fighter kit, instead of ordering all the bits I needed. Couldn't find a new Grasshopper 2 body other than one in the US. That was £70 including shipping. Even if I hadn't got lumbered with customs charges. So I picked up a Madbull body for under £10. So this is what I ended up with.

What I've tried to do is take a picture at each stage of the build manual.

I've used the Grashopper 2 rear end, including uprated dampers.

Adaptors to fit the Rising Fighter wheels.

With the body just placed on. Body will be getting a paint job in the next few days.

Craig

[Pintopower 1456]

Yeah you can't beat the price of the rising fighter kit. What's the plan with the shell? How well did the mad bull shell fit?

[Smidsy 46]

Yeah you can't beat the price of the rising fighter kit. What's the plan with the shell? How well did the mad bull shell fit?

Still not fitted the madbull shell yet. Been running it around with the rising fighter shell. As in the event of a roll over, it protects the pins.

Craig

[Smidsy 46]

Started spraying up the rising fighter shell today. This will be my practice run, for the Madbull body.

[Smidsy 46]

Tonight I decided to sort how I was going to fix the Madbull body. Rear was easy. Just a case of using the old Grasshoppe 2 body. As a guide to drilling the Madbull body.

Placing the one over the other, I nervously drilled the new body shell. Worked perfectly. As you can see.

Next I had to work out what to do with front mounting. Looking at the three bodies they are all mounted differently.

As I want to be able to swap between the Madbull and Rising Fighter bodies easily, I decided to go with a single screw fixing. Did think about using the Geashopper mounting as I had one spare, but having to keep changing the mounting every time seemed too much hassle.

[TamiyaBB 48]

Nice build. I've two Grasshopper 2 shells. Interested? Let me know!

[Smidsy 46]

Nice build. I've two Grasshopper 2 shells. Interested? Let me know!

If I'd kept it original I'd probably have bought one from you. Got the Madbull body nicely on there now though. Thanks for the offer anyway though.

[Smidsy 46]

So yesterday I tried out the paint job I had in mind. What do you think?

[XV Pilot 1936]

An interesting scheme, kinda eye-catching but also kinda camo. I can clearly see the car, but orientation is a challenge.

[Biggie_G 11]

Liking the paint job, makes me think a little of the video for Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole"

[Smidsy 46]

Well I wanted a black and yellow colour scheme, after seeing the black edition Grasshopper. Came up with this. Going to do the wheels in yellow too. Not sure to paint or try to dye them.

[XV Pilot 1936]

I'd suggest trying the dye first. Dyed wheels don't show wear as easily as painted ones, and you can always paint over the dye if it doesn't turn out to your liking.

[Smidsy 46]

I'd suggest trying the dye first. Dyed wheels don't show wear as easily as painted ones, and you can always paint over the dye if it doesn't turn out to your liking.

That's what I did. And the results were far better than I hoped. They look spot on. Will get some pics up. As its nearly finished now.

[AndyjcClod 389]

I really like the black and yellow.

How did you get the yellow to be so bright ontop of black?

I have tried that in the past and got a nasty dull yellow\green colour.

[Smidsy 46]

I really like the black and yellow.

How did you get the yellow to be so bright ontop of black?

I have tried that in the past and got a nasty dull yellow\green colour.

The yellow is from a Tamiya spray can. Sprayed it into a plastic bag. Then used a small brush to flick it on the body. That's how it came out. Twice, as I have done both Rising Fighter and Madbull shells.

Craig

[Smidsy 46]

It's about time I updated this build as it's actually now finished. Got a few others I've built too, but not started a thread for. So here goes....

As I said I went with Rit dye for the wheels and they came out perfect.

On the car

A couple of weeks ago I managed to bought the remains of another Grashopper 2. It had been fitted with CVA shocks at the rear. So I replaced the ones I had originally fitted. Got another use for these anyway. One of our members sold me a nice NOS set of front ones so it now has CVA shocks all round. Finally got round to painting the driver too!

So here it is all finished.

This will sit next to my latest purchase when it's built. What was the original inspiration for this build. Black edition Grasshopper. Had to really didn't I.

Craig

[Effigy3 1267]

I've always really liked the GH II / Mad Bull looks and I must say, that Jackson Pollak style paint job is outstanding! What a great job you've done on this.

[Smidsy 46]

Took this to our local track the other day. Interesting is the only way I can describe it. Going to have to adjust the rear shocks as they are too stiff. Rear end bounces all over the place. More so than when I had the HP suspension kit on the rear.

Craig

[InsaneJim69 1584]

Took this to our local track the other day. Interesting is the only way I can describe it. Going to have to adjust the rear shocks as they are too stiff. Rear end bounces all over the place. More so than when I had the HP suspension kit on the rear.

Craig

Too bouncy wont be the springs, it will be the shock oil too thin. Try a thicker oil, it will slow the dampers rebound down

Love the build though.

James