Monster Beetle Re-release Build Thread 58618

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

If we take a trip in the way back time machine to the mid Eighties, you would find me in the market for a new RC truck. If you were a fan of monster trucks and RC, your choices were limited. There wasn't much in the market for dedicated monsters. There were trucks based on pan car chassis, a few smaller scale kits like the Lunch Box and Midnight Pumpkin, and some obscure ones like the Big Grizzly and Royal Crusher, and let's not forget the Big Bear. At this time, I was really wanting the Pumpkin. I saved all the money I could and was ready to pull the trigger. So the day came when my dad and I went to the hobby shop to get the truck. I looked around with my RCCA classifieds intent on getting the MP, when my dad spotted something completely new and bigger. Suffice it to say, when we left the store I was a proud owner of a Tamiya Blackfoot. My pop even helped me out on the price difference 'cause he knew that the BF was the better choice. Not that the Pumpkin is a slouch by any means. My purchase consisted of the kit, a Protech 702 charger, and a 6 cell Gonzo battery pack. I had a transmitter and receiver already. Fast forward a couple years to when I made a new friend in junior high. We both shared common interests, RC being one of them. So one day I brought over my Blackfoot to show off, and then he brings out his Monster Beetle. I'm like, Whats that all about then??! This kid's got the mother of orv's! The red body, gold wheels, and those beautiful CVA shocks. If memory serves, he even had a Thorp differential. Awestruck isn't a good enough term. Well, time flies by but the memories remain. So now that Tamiya has been re releasing its old school inventory, I picked up a Beetle and this is her story....




I'll post the build pics and continue on with upgrades/changes along the way.

 

 

Oh, the sight of a NIB model.

 

 

Look at it, look at it.....

 

 

The backbone of the Beetle. Notice I am adding aluminum option parts.

 

 

Yeah baby. No fooling around here.

 

 

The single most important upgrade you can bestow upon your orv: An MIP ball differential.

 

 

Added more option parts.

 

 

And the awesome yellow CVA shocks.

 

 

Insane amount of speed and torque.

 

 

A wicked new OFNA red HD servo saver.

 

 

Traded out the 540 motor and kit esc, replaced them with a Traxxas 12T 550 and XL5 esc.

 

 

Another angle and a shot of the alloy pinion cover.

 

 

Aluminum body supports. This rig is rock solid.

 

 

Started out with Proline Badlands 2.2's on gold anodized aluminum rims and alloy knock offs.

 

 

Looking tidy.

 

 

 

 

Aluminum chassis skid plate. Battery door must be removed for this.

 

 

Bolts right to the gearbox.

 

 

JG Mfg front tower brace.

 

 

 

 

So I went ahead and bought a white Sand Scorcher body off fleabay to use as an everyday basher body. I ordered some custom decals from the UK 'cause I liked the color combo.

 

 

After a few runs, I was made blatantly aware that the tires were way too soft and the alloy rims wouldn't hold them without glue. Since the wheels are more for show and I already put a couple nicks on them, they were replaced with the kit wheels and tires. Sooooo much better. 

 

 

After about a week or so, I got tired of the white and removed the decals (they were kinda crappy to begin with - quality wise), primed it up and repainted the body and finished her off with the kit decals and three coats of clear coat. Oh, and the B-pillar, door handles and side trim are blessed with bare metal foil. About the paint scheme, I found an image online of a Beetle someone owned back in the day and fell in love with it. So I copied it. Look carefully and you can see the rare JG mfg front bumper. I also added some light pods behind it since the Sand Scorcher body doesn't support the MB's baja lights on the nose cone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ooh yeah, 7 cells baby! Not going LiPo on this bug. The 12T motor and 7 cell pack is stupid fast already. It would be uncontrollable with a brushless LiPo setup.

 

 

Installation of lights.

 

 

Dark outside? No problem.

 

 

 

 

Twiningmike HD steering rod kit.

 

 

 

 

Ultra rare NOS You-G aluminum dampers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More images to come soon. Let me know what you think. Cheers.

 

 

 

 

[pengoo 47]

WOW ,,, I like very much its true MONSTER ... the one model I was looking at doing but then as yu done the extras just don't stop .... but I love it and gives me something to follow on the builds .....

[Baddon 860]

Always loved the Monster Beetle, has to be red. Your scheme is better than the real thing though. Well done. Crazy money though!

[Robert5000 929]

Simply put: wow! That looks so cool it made me order a MIP diff for my re re as the kit diff was abused to death within the first hour. 

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

Thank you guys! I appreciate the kind words. I've just installed some more parts that you'll love to see. I just gotta get my lazy butt to upload them lol.

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

Here's how my Beetle looks today. It will be upgraded to 2.4GHz soon. If anyone has the JG body posts/mounts PM me please. Cheers.

 

 

[pengoo 47]

when you think you cant get better it does ... like the body mods , sunvisor and black window covers etc .. I have put and order in for the same wheelie bar and part from that supplier ,,,, unsure on the twin wheels ( does this drag the motor ) but does look like something from madmax film.... keep it up ..

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

On 1/21/2018 at 10:31 AM, pengoo said:

when you think you cant get better it does ... like the body mods , sunvisor and black window covers etc .. I have put and order in for the same wheelie bar and part from that supplier ,,,, unsure on the twin wheels ( does this drag the motor ) but does look like something from madmax film.... keep it up ..

Thank you so much for the compliments. I also got the wheelie bar, gearbox skid plate, front suspension plate and roof rack from that seller. It took quite a while to get them shipped from overseas, but the parts are top notch. To tell you the truth, I don't know about motor drag 'cause I haven't run it yet with the duallies lol. I've been waiting for the snow to melt (which it finally has). I purchased the dual wheel adapters to try and help create stability and prevent rollovers with a wider stance. Cheers.

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

Here's some more photos. Lights on, and body-off shots.

 

 

[pengoo 47]

Well my wife has started to ask whats all these parcels coming to the house .. I JUST put a picture of your car up and say I like ,I want , I building one ....lol

 

I was looking at the aluminium parts you have on yours and the thing I want is the rear post bar going across ,as the other company does not make this in the sets they offer .. but I guess your in the US and the postage is putting me off its as much as the item is to pay for , so will keep my eyes open for one over here to finish it off .. not started yet but stock piling the parts ready .... who knows may get two lots to build my blackfoot too ....lol .. credit buddy

[Frog Jumper 3934]

8 hours ago, TamiyaTony(Original) said:

Here's some more photos. Lights on, and body-off shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You need some more bling on that Beetle!

Terry

 

[Rb4276 803]

Are you going to run it?

[TamiyaTony(Original) 22]

On 1/23/2018 at 12:15 PM, pengoo said:

Well my wife has started to ask whats all these parcels coming to the house .. I JUST put a picture of your car up and say I like ,I want , I building one ....lol

 

I was looking at the aluminium parts you have on yours and the thing I want is the rear post bar going across ,as the other company does not make this in the sets they offer .. but I guess your in the US and the postage is putting me off its as much as the item is to pay for , so will keep my eyes open for one over here to finish it off .. not started yet but stock piling the parts ready .... who knows may get two lots to build my blackfoot too ....lol .. credit buddy

Haha that's right. I hope you build one even more exciting. Yeah, I'm in the 'States. Most of the parts can be had here, but some things I had to order from overseas. Here's the rear brace that I ordered: Rear Brace

On 1/23/2018 at 12:21 PM, Frog Jumper said:

You need some more bling on that Beetle!

Terry

 

Lol, sure why not? 

On 1/23/2018 at 1:03 PM, Rb4276 said:

Are you going to run it?

I ran this Beetle before I added the duallies. She is wickedly fast with the 12T Titan and 8.4v 7-cell pack. The MIP differential is amazing.

[BigJag 46]

This car seems to be for sale on Ebay. Strangely the seller is using low quality pics in the auction. Wonder why?

On closer inspection. They're not the same cars.

[funkindemup 0]

Don't you have the problem that those double tires just pull up the truck on the wheelie bar instead movin it forward? Would be nice if those classics would be 4WD. I have a Black Foot but with bigger motor, it's only hopping up, making wheelies.

Your big antenna looks nice classy as it is on real size buggys but move it to the rear.

[rc4ever 30]

WOW !

[GeeWings 2860]

This is insane and absolutely brilliant. I love it! Great work @TamiyaTony(Original)

[Tommyh89 8]

Out of interest what kit did you use for the led lights?! After a set for my Blackfoot! But some reason most of eBay sets say 4-6v!