neverfollow 599 Posted December 6, 2016 Hello again friends and welcome to my most recent build. I was going to name this one "What Tamiya could have and should have" just because of my disappointment when this model was originally released. OK, so let's start. When Tamiya first released the Volkswagen Amarok, it was on the WT01 chassis, and it was meant to emulate this truck: In my opinion, Tamiya completely missed the mark when they released a 2wd WT01 version of this vehicle: It's not even the right color! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 6, 2016 So, I had an idea. What if I built a vehicle that would be closer in realism to the 1/1 version? I had my eyes on a few chassis kits, and decided to give the MST CMX a try. They do use Tamiya bodies on their kits, the size proportions are just like Tamiya's, and I have never built one of their kits...so it got the nod. I first picked up an Amarok body and trimmed it up. Now, I'm at a bit of a crossroads here. The WT01 and CC01 use the same Amarok body, but have different areas to cut-mainly to accommodate the larger WT01 wheels. I haven't cut them completely or painted the shell because this build can go one of two ways. Like the one originally pictured, or maybe a stock-ish semi-modified one that one may see on a road nearby. Body trimmed: Once trimmed I started trying on some wheels. Alloy TLT wheels: CR01 wheels with some aftermarket tires: Gmade bead lock wheels with TSL super swamper tires (these are the ones I would really like to use): 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TurnipJF 9192 Posted December 6, 2016 Looking forward to seeing your progress on this. The MST chassis should be a good match for the shell, and of course for the drive line of the fullsize. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRx718 4470 Posted December 6, 2016 Been considering an MST CMX for a long time now, but the weakening of the £GBP has meant I've put it off (£160 delivered for a bare chassis) however I could still be tempted in the new year if I get a Christmas bonus. Look forward to the build. I built my Amarok on the CC01 platform, it's still good fun and with a few tweaks to address the stock "issues" it works well enough for some trail running. Watching the build with interest. Do you have a CC01 in your fleet you can cross-compare it with? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TurnipJF 9192 Posted December 7, 2016 Both chassis have their merits for an Amarok build. The CC-01 is a good chassis for a realistic stock Amarok, as it replicates the live axle rear and wishbone front suspension of the fullsize vehicle. However the MST is a good base for a replica of the heavily modified Sochi rigs with their non-standard live axles up front. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 7, 2016 2 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said: Do you have a CC01 in your fleet you can cross-compare it with? Looks great Chris! Which roll bar did you go with in the bed? I do have a CC01 Race Touareg which I upgraded quite a bit. I too am curious how the two compare. I will definitely keep you posted Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 7, 2016 OK, so on with the build... Unboxing: Everything package very nicely I must say: Like the majority of my Tamiya builds, I wanted this CMX to be the best it could possibly be using as many genuine parts..so I gathered as many MST hop-ups as I could get my hands on: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 7, 2016 First impression is a great one. Instructions are clear and easy to read/understand, parts and hardware are packaged conveniently, and the plastic parts seem very durable. Also worth mentioning is how the parts dettach from the sprues effortlessly and with a clean break. First steps were to assemble the suspension links. Kit links are plastic, hop up pieces are alloy: Some more alloy hop ups; cross members A, B, C, D: Chassis coming together: Links attached: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 7, 2016 Like the majority of Tamiya's kits, the CMX does not come with ball bearings. So that was an essential hop up. I jumped ahead a few steps as I waited for some gear box hop ups, so next I started assembling the axles. First, the front: There's no option to have an open front differential, this truck means business! Metal gears are always a bonus: Hop up king pins, CVD axles, alloy steering knuckles, alloy steering servo mount, and alloy suspension link mount: Savox waterproof servo: Steering links fitted temporarily until the turnbuckles arrive: Temporary fitting: On to the rear axle: 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 7, 2016 I chose Holmes Hobbies for the electrical duties: The HH ESC is set up via a Castle Creations program. I had one, so set up was very easy. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jupitertwo 1484 Posted December 7, 2016 This looks awesome, I'd not really seen anything about an MST CMX before. It's also making me reconsider what colours to paint my Amarok. That white combo from the promo pictures looks great, especially with the high lift wheels 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terz1 745 Posted December 7, 2016 I've never heard of this manufacturer or kit before. Looks great though. Looking forward to the rest of the build. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 18, 2016 I've accomplished a lot to this build since I last posted, and am pleased so far. I'm nearing completion, and looking forward to running it. The only dilemma I'm having is getting the proper looking wheel/tire combo. MST's hop up turnbuckles: I also swapped out the Savox servo with a Hitech waterproof servo I had. I painted it black to match: Assembling the gear box with some hop up parts: Gearbox fitted to the chassis: MST hop up prop shafts: Starting to look like a proper chassis: Fitting the hop up skid plate: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 18, 2016 On to the suspension..I originally picked up a set of Boom Racing internal spring/external reservoir dampers, but it turns out that I purchased the incorrect ones. They were 30mm too long So I continued the build with the standard kit shocks, and ordered MST's upgraded shocks. What's really nice about the standard kit's shocks is that you have a choice of 3 different stiffness springs. I went with soft oil and medium springs. Front bumper and electronics box/battery tray: I did not fit the receiver in the e-box, I found that running the wiring as per the directions caused the wiring to rub on the front prop shaft. So, I mounted the electronics towards the rear and ran the wiring as neatly as I could: I picked up MST's hop up alloy wheel hexes: And also picked up their brake rotor and caliper hop up: I think they look great! And the TLT wheels fit without any issues Trying on the body: Even tried on my Blackfoot body. If I went with the shorter wheel base CMX, it would have been a perfect fit: With the Gmade wheels and TSL Super Swamper tires: Trimmed the remaining portions of the body, as I decided to go with the Sochi winter olypmpics theme: But now these wheels/tires kind of look too small: The hop ups I've fitted thus far: Naked TLT wheels: After a few coasts of Plasti-dip: All masked and ready for paint: I masked the lights, maybe down the road I'll fit some lights: 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 18, 2016 3 coats of PS1 white, backed with PS12 silver, and finally backed with PS5 black. Additionally, windows sprayed with PS31 smoke: I picked up another set of wheels, this time 2.2 sized from Alientac. I thought to stretch the 1.9 Super Swamper tires to give them a puffier look, to look closer to the 1/1 version of this truck. I had no luck using the CR01 wheels and tires, they were just too big. Even tried spacing them out. First I tried 17mm, and then 20mm. Neither looked right. I tried a set of Proline Masher tires I have on my High Lift, and they were even worse than the CR01 tires. What would have been perfect would be a 1.9 Proline Masher, but those do not exist unfortunately. The TLT wheels would have been great, if only a tad bigger. But, I think these will do for now.. Alientac 2.2 wheels (left) and Gmade 1.9 wheels (right) And with the decals: The width of the TLT wheels are perfect, just not tall enough: And a parting shot of some suspension flex: Next I plan to add some scale items, lights, and the new shocks. Thanks for viewing! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 20, 2016 The new aluminum shocks arrived yesterday, and I wasted no time getting them on. And just like the stock dampers, these come with 3 different spring rates. I chose medium. Before (front): Side by side. The hop up units are alloy and have threaded bodies for adjustment. They are also thinner in diameter, I assume for better clearance with wider tires. And finally, they come with stainless pivot balls at their mounting points, rather than the standard plastic: After (front): Before (rear): After (rear): That's it for now but there's still some more to come, stay tuned Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prescient 671 Posted December 20, 2016 That looks great in the white. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisRx718 4470 Posted December 21, 2016 Looks very good. I'm sure it will be way more capable than the CC01. I notice there is a company now selling body mounts for the CMX which allow you to fit the Tamiya hard bodies (Wrangler, Pajero etc). I'm seriously tempted! I'm kind of pooped about the USD / GBP exchange rate though, makes this an expensive purchase. Also spotted the MST CFX - is this an evolution of the CMX? To the untrained eye (that's me) they don't look that different - and certainly the price-point is much the same? Spot the difference?! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TurnipJF 9192 Posted December 21, 2016 Aren't they pretty much the same apart from the motor location? Mid in the CMX, front in the CFX? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Effigy3 1267 Posted December 23, 2016 Those hop-up shocks look great with the rotor/caliper parts. Like the others who have already replied, I've never heard of MST either. Looks like a truly viable option to an RC4WD chassis. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 23, 2016 On 12/21/2016 at 10:49 AM, ChrisRx718 said: Also spotted the MST CFX - is this an evolution of the CMX? To the untrained eye (that's me) they don't look that different - and certainly the price-point is much the same? Spot the difference?! Thanks Chris. I do believe it is an evolution. Figures it gets released right after I purchase the "older" version. I noticed they changed the battery location and went with a transfer case style transmission while putting the motor more towards the front of the vehicle. Not sure about the axles and prop shafts, but I did see that the CFX is available in 1/8th scale. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 23, 2016 During the last couple of days some little bits arrived and I was eager to get them on. I am trying to replicate the Sochi Amarok as best as I can so I realized I needed a roof rack and a roll bar in the bed. I wasn't sure of what size roof rack would fit so I took a chance with the roof rack that comes standard on the Gmade Komodo. It's a nice little kit, and comes with some accessories like a shovel, tie down straps, and some plates to lay down under a tire to increase traction: All assembled: After a mock up test fit, it was perfect. So a little bit of XF-16 flat aluminum: Some paint on the shovel, and the roof rack is done: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 23, 2016 Next was the roll bar. Again I had some uncertainty about which to use. In my search, I came across the G parts from a Bush Devil II. Price was reasonable, so I ordered it in hopes of completing the look I am after. I especially liked that the bar doesn't have provisions or cut outs for roof lights, since I won't be mounting any: Test fit, and success: First coat of XF-16 flat aluminum: And mounted: Although neither the roof rack or roll bar are identical to the Sochi Amarok, I am pleased with the outcome. Just waiting on the door mirrors and I think I may be done. I would really like to add some lights, but the decals don't really allow much light to travel through them. I may give it a shot anyway, we'll see. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TurnipJF 9192 Posted December 23, 2016 I don't suppose there is any scope for lengthening the front links at all,possibly with some Gmade or Axial spacers? One of the distinctive features of the Sochi Amarok is the extended wheelbase achieved by moving the front axle forwards relative to its stock position. Could this be replicated on the model? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted December 23, 2016 7 minutes ago, TurnipJF said: I don't suppose there is any scope for lengthening the front links at all,possibly with some Gmade or Axial spacers? One of the distinctive features of the Sochi Amarok is the extended wheelbase achieved by moving the front axle forwards relative to its stock position. Could this be replicated on the model? I suppose I could. There is plenty of length to be used on the front prop shaft. But I may end up contacting the front bumper with the tires if I did. But thanks for the idea. Could be something I could try in the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites