markbt73 5316 Posted January 17, 2021 So you sit down at your workbench one Saturday morning, and time passes without you knowing it, and suddenly you're looking at a Clod chassis. 100% by-the-book stock, except for full bearings, and going to stay that way for now. I may eventually upgrade the steering, and put some real shocks on it, but I have no intention of losing the tub chassis or the ladder bars. Or going beyond 540 power. This is meant to be a relaxing bounce-around-the-garden machine, not a hardcore racer. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-=Jeff=- 57 Posted January 17, 2021 I miss my Clod.. bought it in 87-88 when they first came out.. sold it in 97 I think.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 18, 2021 Well well well... look who finally decided to show up? So this is the other half of the equation: The idea is for this one to become my new go-to basher, especially to take on camping trips and to other places like that. It will be built stock at first, but modified as needed to make it do what I want. Came with a painted body, so I'll just decal it and call it good. And this is it for me for new kits this year. Hope it lives up to the good press... 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tamiya3speed 464 Posted January 19, 2021 On 1/16/2021 at 7:31 PM, markbt73 said:  Mark, sorry to go off-topic, but details on the 110 on the shelf there?   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 19, 2021 Not a 110... It's my only successful scratch-build to date. Body and chassis completely hand-made out of aluminum. Drivetrain is Losi Mini Crawler, with Tamiya leaf springs. Wheels and tires are RC4WD. It's 99% a shelfer because it's so fragile, but I do air it out every so often... 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakratfink 967 Posted January 19, 2021 14 hours ago, markbt73 said: Well well well... look who finally decided to show up? So this is the other half of the equation: The idea is for this one to become my new go-to basher, especially to take on camping trips and to other places like that. It will be built stock at first, but modified as needed to make it do what I want. Came with a painted body, so I'll just decal it and call it good. And this is it for me for new kits this year. Hope it lives up to the good press... Same story with mine. Kept it mostly stock  to use as a general basher. I love mine. Ball. Ratings throughout.  I ran it on the silver can for a little bit. Then I found a cheap Dynamite 15T for under $20. Other than that I put CVAs on the corners only ( kept the stock shocks in the middle wheels ) and added a second servo for 4ws. I also got the pre painted one. It’s still a lot of decals lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 23, 2021 Heh... What has 10 wheels, 14 friction shocks, 58 bearings, and three motors? My workbench. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 23, 2021 Well, there's that. Have I mentioned how much I hate, hate, HAAATE doing big decals? Good thing this is destined to become a basher, because it sure isn't going to win any beauty contests. Time to throw some electronics in it and go see what it can do. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 23, 2021 I'll just let the photos do the talking... suffice to say, me likey! It's much quieter and smoother than I expected, and it turns plenty tight at low speeds with just 2 wheel steering, so I don't think I'll bother with the extra servo. It does need more power; I'll see how it does with the silver can and 2s lipo before I start playing with more motor. (This test run was just with an old NiMH pack that has seen better days.) But there is potential here, definitely. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 29, 2021 Having a little fun with various "visual enhancements"... 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c64orinoco 667 Posted January 30, 2021 15 hours ago, markbt73 said: Having a little fun with various "visual enhancements"... Diesel. Overpowering smell of diesel if it was anything like the school busses I knew. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saito2 6686 Posted January 30, 2021 3 hours ago, c64orinoco said: Diesel. Overpowering smell of diesel if it was anything like the school busses I knew. Interesting. While they are diesel now, the buses I rode as a kid were gas/petrol motors. Typically, Big Block Chevys/GMCs, mostly 366s variants IIRC. They commonly developed exhaust manifold leaks and ticked like crazy under load, back when the drivers knew their way around a manual transmission too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-=Jeff=- 57 Posted January 30, 2021 2 hours ago, Saito2 said: Interesting. While they are diesel now, the buses I rode as a kid were gas/petrol motors. Typically, Big Block Chevys/GMCs, mostly 366s variants IIRC. They commonly developed exhaust manifold leaks and ticked like crazy under load, back when the drivers knew their way around a manual transmission too. Yep same here and I remember the transition from manual to auto.  off topic, my youngest is finishing Drivers Ed, my oldest did 2,5 years ago, they don't speak or teach much about manual transmissions here. Sad really Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted January 30, 2021 ...You all caught the joke, though, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saito2 6686 Posted January 30, 2021 57 minutes ago, -=Jeff=- said: ep same here and I remember the transition from manual to auto.  off topic, my youngest is finishing Drivers Ed, my oldest did 2,5 years ago, they don't speak or teach much about manual transmissions here. Sad really Most of my bus drivers were women back the. I remember coming up to watch them row the gears. I was inquired why the one driver began skipping gears as the bus ride went on. She said she could get away with it later in the ride because there was less and less weight as the kids got dropped off. I drive manuals almost exclusively nowadays and have converted several of my automatic cars to manuals over the years. Sad to see them go, but at this rate, internal combustion engines are headed out too. 4 minutes ago, markbt73 said: ...You all caught the joke, though, right? From Ferris Bueller right? Great movie . And of course the Waldo/Van Halen reference . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6209 Posted February 1, 2021 All the buses I drive are diesel and autos. Even most coaches are now autos. When I started driving buses 18 years ago the majority of coaches were manual, in fact the bus company would only train you on auto buses to stop drivers getting their license for nothing and jumping ship to the coach companies!! Interesting that a few years back all auto bus licenses were upgraded to auto/manual. No test or anything. I still love driving manual gearbox vehicles. Saves a huge amount of wear on brakes using the gearbox 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted February 13, 2021 Had some fun in the snow today with these two... Turns out you CAN get it stuck in the snow, if it high-centers... Wow, heh... Good thing I put the receiver in a plastic bag, huh? Next up it was the Clod's turn. Man, I forgot how well these things drive in the snow... I do think I'll go ahead and make a few minor upgrades to it, after having driven it stock. The steering really does need help. It turns tighter to the right than it does to the left, which I need to figure out. But I am so glad I got another Clod. These things are just a hoot to bomb around with. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbt73 5316 Posted February 14, 2021 And a little video of the Clod doing its thing... Â Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftyAl 164 Posted February 14, 2021 On 1/30/2021 at 5:01 AM, markbt73 said: Having a little fun with various "visual enhancements"... Nice Van Halen reference there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites