A dream project

[Tudorp]

This is a little off topic, but would like to comment anyway of my dream project. I first love is and has always been Tamiya kits. But, In the early 80s, when I got into RC, I also had a Graupner buggy (I was serving in the USAF in Germany at the time), and later found out it wasn't really a "Graupner", but a Kyosho marketed by Graupner in Germany. It was a 1:8 scale gas buggy called the "Rowdy Baja". I loved that car. All aluminum chassis, cage etc. And was scary fast (for the day). I sold that buggy many years ago. But have always wanted to find another basket case Rowdy Baja, and convert it to a modern brushless motor/Lipo buggy. I don't think it would be difficult to do by fabricating a new motor mount etc to replace the gas motor with the electric. It is a heavy beast, but the new lipo/brushless set ups I think would carry this buggy very well, and make a pretty awesome project. 

 

[Aerobert]

That's a cool buggy and a nice idea of brushless convertion. With a powerfull outrunner the weight should be no problem. Do you already have a car for your project or do you searching for one?

[Tudorp]

I am not actively searching, but keeping my eyes open. I sold mine many years ago. It was one of those that I wished I never sold. It had a lot of parts, including the wheels that we machined out of aircraft aluminum billet. I was an aircraft electrician, and had buddies in the aircraft machine shop, so we made a lot of the parts on mine. Wished I still had it. They also had a 4x4 version of that car called the "Landjump". It was a chain driven buggy. I wouldn't mind having either one for the project. 

 

They were beasts, and all steel & aluminum. Heavy has heck. I remember we were running mine out of the flightline, and a buddy parked his motorcycle near us. I told him to move it, but he said it would be fine. I lost control of mine and it hit his motorcycle and actually knocked it over. Took a chunk out of his tire and flattened it.. lol.. We all got a kick out of that, even him. Had no idea it had the speed, power and weight to knock over a full size motorcycle.. lol.  I was hitting speeds on the flightline with that thing at 70mph 1:1 scale speeds. 

 

[Aerobert]

Out of curiosity I've just searched the biggest second hand website here in Germany. There are some for sale but prices are mostly high. If you are interested have a look on www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de. The main problem would be to ship it to the US as this website is mainly for local trading.

[Tudorp]

Yes, I prices are very high for them. That is why I haven't gotten another one yet. I hope I can find one in bad condition, or basket case for a bargin price and build it back as a brushless electric buggy. I sold mine back in 86 and got $400 for it then. That was a lot of money for a used RC back then, but I did have a lot of custom aircraft aluminum parts on it which the buyer really liked, so he paid the price for it.  In Germany, those buggies were sold as "Gaupner" licensed from Kyosho. Mine was a Graupner because I bought it while serving in Germany. I also think Graupner called it the "Circuit 20"? Can't remember exactly.  I will check out the German ebay and see what they have. Thanks.