Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 26, 2020 Just wondering if the Blackfoot and Monster Beetle are exactly the same? Or are there differences? Can you just pop on a Blackfoot body to a Monster beetle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter_B 997 Posted May 26, 2020 They are mostly the same. Body mounts are different, wheels and tyres are different. In the original releases Blackfoot had friction shocks and Monster Beetle oil filled. The re-releases both have oil filled, although the plastics are different colours - yellow for the MB and black for the BF. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mokei Kagaku 2706 Posted May 26, 2020 Most important; all you need to mount the Blackfoot body on the Monster Beetle chassis, are the three body mounts (front body mounts have different lengths despite looking identical at first glance.) As for differences between the kits, it depends on whether we're talking about original releases or re-releases. Originals (in addition to different body mounts): Blackfoot: black friction shocks / Monster Beetle: yellow CVA shocks. Blackfoot: soft version of the Bruiser tires / Monster Beetle: new tires in relatively similar design, but with additional spikes. Blackfoot: yellow wheels / Monster Beetle: gold coloured chrome plated wheels. Additions to the Monster Beetle: Steel brace for the servo saver, which necessitated longer upper screw pins for the upper front suspension arms Rear skid plate and antenna mount, which necessitated the two bottom screws of the gear box to be a bit longer (30mm vs. 27mm, if I recall correctly) That's all I can recall from the top of my head. Re-releases (in addition to different body mounts): Blackfoot: black CVA II shocks / Monster Beetle: yellow CVA II shocks. Blackfoot: tires same as original release / Monster Beetle: tires same as original release Blackfoot: yellow wheels / Monster Beetle: gold coloured chrome plated wheels. The Monster Beetle's servo saver brace isn't included in any of the re-releases. The Monster Beetle's rear skid plate is included in both re-releases, but on the Blackfoot, only the lower part without antenna mount is used. That's all I can recall from the top of my head. (Note: There are quite a lot of differences between each of the original releases and a their re-release siblings, which are not mentioned above. I just tried to cover the differences between the two originals and the differences between the two re-releases.) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 26, 2020 I am looking at the re-releases. I wanted a Blackfoot but can't find one for a couple months on backorder. Should I pull the trigger on a monster beetle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 26, 2020 Will the MIP ball diff solve the rear axle problems for the Monster Beetle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathon Gillham 4595 Posted May 27, 2020 17 hours ago, Clodbusterfan said: Will the MIP ball diff solve the rear axle problems for the Monster Beetle? It solved it for me. The standard diff lasted a few runs with the kit motor on NiMH. The MIP diff has lasted 2 years and countless packs through it and its been flawless. Still the kit motor but lipo now 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 27, 2020 Thanks Jonathan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted May 27, 2020 I did skim through this thread a little bit I think everyone missed the title question? I am surprised @Mokei Kagaku didn't pick up on this he's normally very astute. (Did you see what I did there?) Lol "Is the Blackfoot and the Monster Beetle the same?" No. The Blackfoot is a pick up truck and the Monster beetle is a VW bug. Lol. Sorry been in the sun all day. backs away from phone. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mokei Kagaku 2706 Posted May 27, 2020 1 hour ago, wolfdogstinkus said: I am surprised @Mokei Kagaku didn't pick up on this he's normally very astute. I'm more madcap than you may believe. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 27, 2020 I am actually Blackfoot indian! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juggular 4914 Posted May 27, 2020 One of my old friends living in Colorado has some Blackfoot in her (so said her family lore). When she did a gene test, her gene was from farther South, like Southern California. Maybe the gene test didn't have enough native American gene pool to pinpoint. At any rate, if you like Blackfoot, you could get a shell later, but it's going to be expensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 28, 2020 So the Monster Beetle's rear axle DOES NOT pop out with the MIP ball diff? This is very important to me! If it doesn't fix the problem I will go with a Blackfoot! I heard from someone else that the MIP ball diff did not fix the problem with the rear axle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rb4276 803 Posted May 28, 2020 7 hours ago, Clodbusterfan said: So the Monster Beetle's rear axle DOES NOT pop out with the MIP ball diff? This is very important to me! If it doesn't fix the problem I will go with a Blackfoot! I heard from someone else that the MIP ball diff did not fix the problem with the rear axle. They have the exact same drivetrain and rear suspension. So yes it will pop out on both of them with or without the mip ball diff in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A-Baum 352 Posted May 28, 2020 8 hours ago, Clodbusterfan said: So the Monster Beetle's rear axle DOES NOT pop out with the MIP ball diff? This is very important to me! If it doesn't fix the problem I will go with a Blackfoot! I heard from someone else that the MIP ball diff did not fix the problem with the rear axle. If you can find a Monster Beetle, get one. I know there are a few MB Black editions still available out there and maybe an odd "original" red body one. Can't go wrong with either one. If you're in the US, Tower Hobbies has a red monster beetle in stock right now and with a coupon it'll be like $175 shipped at most. Grab a bearing kit and the MIP ball diff and you're good to go. I built a rere-blackfoot recently with the MIP ball diff. I've run it several times and only when my son did a head-on crash with his racing fighter to my blackfoot did one of the rear axles pop out. For me it's not a chronic problem although in looking at them the axles do sit very shallow in the drive cups so I can see why it's a problem. I've done some jumps and bounced around a lot but until that violent collision, the axles stayed in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark_C 198 Posted May 28, 2020 9 minutes ago, A-Baum said: If you can find a Monster Beetle, get one. I know there are a few MB Black editions still available out there and maybe an odd "original" red body one. How about an original release red one? ignore the price.. its only money https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-Monster-Beetle-Kit-No-58060-Vintage-NIB/143616822927 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 28, 2020 So is there no way to fix this problem with the rear axle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted May 28, 2020 You need the "old frog mod" or something like that, it's called, lol Someone will hopefully provide a link to the mod itself. I don't know how to turn off bullet points. Lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted May 28, 2020 Is this the frog mod? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TAMIYA-BRAT-FROG-Axles-Rear-BLACKFOOT-TBF2/142739002420?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted May 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Clodbusterfan said: Is this the frog mod? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TAMIYA-BRAT-FROG-Axles-Rear-BLACKFOOT-TBF2/142739002420?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 No. I think that's a standard axle set. Hang on. I'll have a look.. Try this link https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=24674&sid=3142 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pinoy808 32 Posted June 1, 2020 On 5/26/2020 at 5:04 AM, Clodbusterfan said: I am looking at the re-releases. I wanted a Blackfoot but can't find one for a couple months on backorder. Should I pull the trigger on a monster beetle? Just noticed towers has the Blackfoot in stock if you're still interested: https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGCWK&P=ML Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Childhood#2 1 Posted June 1, 2020 Just a quick note to say that the information in this thread was great. I was looking to restore a monster beetle which I purchased on Ebay several years ago to get the parts to build a good beetle. In looking at the information above it appears that I have both a beetle and a blackfoot which was a big surprise. Below is the chassis which were in the bundle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A-Baum 352 Posted June 1, 2020 12 hours ago, Pinoy808 said: Just noticed towers has the Blackfoot in stock if you're still interested: And the Super Clod. Darn you for providing me that information. Now I need one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KEV THE REV 2304 Posted June 1, 2020 On 5/28/2020 at 5:47 PM, wolfdogstinkus said: You need the "old frog mod" or something like that, it's called, lol frogshot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clodbusterfan 21 Posted June 1, 2020 Thanks Pinoy. I already pulled trigger on the monster beetle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kid168 36 Posted June 3, 2020 On 5/28/2020 at 11:20 PM, Mark_C said: How about an original release red one? ignore the price.. its only money https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-Monster-Beetle-Kit-No-58060-Vintage-NIB/143616822927 So the TAMIYA BRAT/FROG Axles Rear wont do the trick??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites