Revive a Grasshopper

[Problemchild]

Picked up 2 cars and a box of shells and wheels a few weeks ago

thought it was only fair after tending to the REELY carbon fighter that the grasshopper should get some attention too

 

it’s pretty tatty 
 

shell cracked

chassis intact but v tatty

tyres perished

wheels painted with humbrol

no motor 

 

A friend has an original release grasshopper that he’s rebuilding and bought a rere kit for the few spares he needed so I’ve bought and traded with him bits he didn’t need 

 

got new tyres on the way, pearl white TS spray and some Kawasaki green for bits and bearings too 

 

in the mean time - full strip down and clean of parts I’m keeping 

 

 

Then I attacked the wheels with some paint stripper 

really testing my patience

but I’ll stick with it for now 

 

Just waiting for some more bits to come so I can get stuck in 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Rebuilt the gearbox today with bearings and new casing 

 

With original 380 sourced for originality 

And attached to the brand new chassis 

Side bars cleaned and refitted 

along with the servo then the lower suspension arms 

then I got bored and the wind had died down so I gave the shell a few coats of primer 

 

(I’d previously shaved all the mould markings off to make it as clean as possible)

then 5 coats of pearl white 

 

 

I wish I’d have filled the roll bars - May still do that as they are already bugging me 

more tomorrow

JJ

[Problemchild]

Roll bars Kawasaki green (TS52 candy green)

Overkill but trying to brush paint the green was starting to look crap haha 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Worked out really well...

 

primed, masked and sprayed the spots too

 

 

 

just need to work out what to do re the wheels now 

 

JJ

[Grumpy pants]

Great colour choices and another quality thread JJ.

Where do you get your paint turn table from that looks really useful?

Simon

[Problemchild]

Amazon - it’s the tamiya one

thank you though 

for a £30 model and some spares from a friend it’s looking really good 

JJ

[Aerobert]

Love the pearl white colour. Looking forward for the finished buggy.

[Problemchild]

Just giving the tatty wheels a coat of primer and having to just go with them due to costs 

waiting to get hold of some decals and the box from the rere my friend doesn’t need 

JJ

 

[Problemchild]

Wheels sorted 

 

just need new screws and some decals to come now

JJ

[Problemchild]

And some fiddling 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Getting closer to the end now 

got my wheel screws so started to build up the 3 piece ones 

I saw some people who were struggling so thought I’d do a mini guide 

fronts:

squeeze tyre to elongate 

this allows you to push the wheel in a bit more 

Pull the rubber of the tyre at the top over the wheel

 

Then the bottom 

 

and the same for the other side and the wheel is inside the tyre 

you can then rotate it

Rears:

defo harder but same principle 

just need to do the top a bit then the bottom a bit 

rotate the wheel in while pulling the rubber out 

 

et voila

 

added some Castrol Oil spotlight decals to continue the green theme 

also added some white detail to the wheel rims

looks pretty good 

JJ

[Frog Jumper]

Funny. I read the same threads and played with some GH wheels and tires last night...

Terry

 

[Problemchild]

I think the key is not to rotate the wheel until it’s right inside 

JJ

[Frog Jumper]

And a lot of cussing on my part...

[Problemchild]

Just grab the tyre edge and pull it towards you - id say adding soap won’t work as you can’t grab the tyre and the tyre will keep slipping back 

dry would defo be the best 

tool me 30 seconds per wheel 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Well the grasshopper is alive again (well no radio gear but she’s certainly looking way better)

not box art but simple and fresh 

 

 

 

 

 

ive found it an interesting refurb and it’s defo a basic model aimed at new builders.

but it’s great fun and the pre-cut decals help lots when your eyes are tired

i did trim them closer to help them fit better

JJ

[Problemchild]

A sort of “before and after” 

 

 

 

JJ

[Problemchild]

Thanks to @yogi-bear for the funny decals 

fitted a few to the grasshopper

 

JJ

[yogi-bear]

glad to see they arrived!