Guess I posted this in wrong catagory - 1985 Tamiya Bruiser redo
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/tami...r-project.html

I am restomodding a 1985 Tamiya Bruiser that I bought used in town. It is original with the exception of being upgraded to full bearings including the transmission. The body is very rough (see my other post), but the chassis is new and has not been used outside and very little inside. The chassis is new-clean, not cleaned if you get my meaning. I am going to fill and clean up the body- no screws and such showing. I will mount on the chassis with rare earth magnets, so no mount holes either. Beyond that, it will stay as it is other than running an esc and 2 cell lipo. I even have an old Futaba 4 channel ground AM to use to run it. I will be painting it Toyota metallic charcoal colored- had an '87 pickup and an '88 4Runner in that color and I love it!

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated...

Looks like your doing a good job. Do you have the shift gate for the transmitter also? Someday I hope I can get ahold of a Bruiser. Enjoy it, take your time. :)

No, I do not but I have a copy of the manual which has a template for making one.

That's pretty cool. You should post more pictures. Would like to see more.

Ok, more pics coming up.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0fdc5cda.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps29d1cd99.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psffb4c68e.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps3996165f.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps91ceb1e5.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6592d480.jpg

You can see the Ace DS 1015 in the second photo inside the front of the chassis for steering - better setup than stock IMHO. And that ugly yellowed silicone on the tranny has been scraped off- it just looked bad! That bright yellow paint looked ok like in these pics but if you looked close it was clumpy and thick. Now that I have the body down to bare plastic, I am puttying and sanding to get a smooth base to do my paint on. The prep work is the most important thing - you cannot get a good shiny finish on a rough or wavy base. I am far from expert, but I know how to paint full size motorcycles and the basis is the same - just a lot smaller!

The chassis, stripped of the bumpers and such -
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps838b4945.jpg

The tranny looks much better without the clumpy silicone, proper original plugs on order (along with the shock covers as well)-

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psc330dee2.jpg

All four wheels are in this condition - looking like new, without my doing anything to them. The original tires are in ziplock bags soaked in silocone based tire dressing, and also look new.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb06baed1.jpg

Here is a closeup of the steering servo relocated inside the chassis in front of the front axle.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1a586fae.jpg

Here are some other parts fresh from stripping with oven cleaner. The bumpers are rubbery - a very good thing! That darn red paint on the figure just will not come off all the way...

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8409920c.jpg

That is it for now, still have to strip the interior and the front grille but I am out of oven cleaner - 3 cans so far and still some more to go!

Nice pictures. It's a magnificent machine. I envy you. :)

Good weekend - got some more done. I ran out of clear lacquer, so I will have to pick some up. That and white for the front signals and the "TOYOTA" on the tailgate. But it is coming along... Still waiting for the metal badging, but that is a minor issue.

Attachment 2235046

looks like it's all coming together. Looking good.

I've decided to dump the Futaba Attack 4wd I was going to use and am going to user a Traxxas TQ-3 modified with a 3 position switch for the 3rd channel. It's funny.... I grew up using dual stick for my cars but now it just is not comfortable... I guess I am too used to dual stick for my tanks. I've used this for my Axial crawler and it works extremely well.

I'm still working on my Bruiser when I get a chance...

Latest pics show the finished paint (it looks A LOT shinier and smoother in person), the metal emblems, the license plates (authentic 1985 Manitoba vanity plates for this 1985 released classic) and stuff like that. I really like how the bed turned out - I cut an insert of rubber floormat which I think makes it look a lot more finished. I did get in the rubber switch boot but am still waiting on my shock covers. Be gentle on criticizing my tailgate paint - that is hand painted and is NOT easy!

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps58419a1b.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps0f2bd4c1.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7e8a8a2a.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8f5b3eef.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8ffba777.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps2d46a510.jpg

Your hand painted tailgate looks good.

This project looks great.. whats planned next?

Right now, I am waiting for some replacement rubber parts... the shock boots and some grommets. EBay is great for finding vintage parts but slow. I am also working up the magnetic mount under the hood.

Other projects on the go are restoring a Traxxas Villain IV speedboat and wearing in/repainting/detailling/weathering four 1/16 scale tanks. Got a Mato Sherman to turn into a Firefly, a WSN T34/85 to reinforce the hull so I can change to metal tracks, and change out electronics, and 2 Tam KT's to finish up - one a Production turret and the other on a Porsche turret. Add into that the '67 Mustang I am restoring and varous home reno projects.... it will be a slow winter. ;)