Lester:

The Blizzard DX was the first incarnation, and was powered by two 380 motors driving separate gearboxes. You had two options for the final drive ratio, and the speed control was unusual... it was not separate left-right, it mixed 'em in some odd way (would have to show ya the wiring, the two controls are wired together and aren't the same) It had 5 rubber-rimmed roadwheels, plus sprocket and idler, and sometimes you got a snow-blade out front, and if you were lucky, stumbled onto the rare Graupner-release rear grooming assembly (anyone got plans, images or measurements?)

Then they released it as the Heavy Metal Monster Tank, keeping the chassis but ditching the rubber roadwheels for solid-rim chromed ones. The sprocket shifted from metal to plastic. They also swapped the groomer body for a Ford van body.

I ~think~ the DX was released briefly as the LX, but I don't have my research handy on this...

Then Kyosho re-released the Blizzard, completely renovating the chassis (ditching the monocoque tub for side-frames, crossmembers and underguards) but keeping the same roadwheels as the HM tank. They did drop from five wheels to four, and made the body a two-part assembly. They released it as the Blizzard EP (electric) that was track-braked, and the Blizzard EV, or Nitro-Blizzard as its commonly called now.

There were also a different set of tracks issued : BL10b's, which had every second 'cleat' missing from the track, supposedly to let the track slip a bit more when used on the nitro version. The length was the same though.

It wouldn't be good for steam conversion... styrene and heat = BAD. But for an amphib... a DX or HM with a Graupner mini water-jet... I'm debating this... if I can get a spare Bliz chassis. Also going to start playing with better 380 motors, like the tankers are using.

WhiteWolf McBride