Steady on mate - thats a serious accusation there! Lets hope so though, I havent bought any Cen parts from the UK for ages now due to waiting times.

I know just how you feel though mate, does your nut in doesnt it, waiting for parts.

Raining here so no playing with my truck... typical. Ive only run it for about 10 seconds, just to check it works, it sounds mean though - no "ninininininin WEEEEEEEE!" - it goes "plop, plop, plop, BROOOOOM" lol.

Better get it toilet trained!!(sorry, couldn't resist). I know what you mean about the waiting. I could have been out running this thing ages ago if I had bought the parts from here. I would have paid alot more for them aswell though. Today would have been a perfect time to work on it as I was woken at the crack of dawn by a huge thunder storm, so no chance to run them but all day to work on them. Ah well, it will be ready for winter when the beaches are empty and the sand is harder.
I have fitted a GS Storm steel brake disc to the mechanism though. I will try this out and see what difference it makes.

Well, maybe you guys need to move to the US just to reduce wait times on Funfactor parts...

Or contact CEN about becoming the distributor!!![X(]

Was thinking about this one for the bodyshell. Should look ok if I trim some of the beak off it?

Well as is the way when you sit staring at a project for nearly a month, I have had a few thoughts about the truck. Seeing as I am using the JT chassis, I thought I may aswell make it as 'racable' and lightweight as possible. I am currently toying with the idea of making a rear brace and some shock towers out of carbon fibre!! If I am mainly using this thing on the beach, crash impacts will be quite light so damage risk should be minimal. I was wondering if anyone had done any cutting of cf? If so what is the best method of avoiding splitting and cracking when you cut? Cheers for any help on this, any thoughts? Waste of time? Good idea?

Id expect a fine toothed, high speed blade would be best at a fairly gentle feed rate. Sounds good, but Ive no experience of the stuff tbh!

Maybe youd like to do a batch of them towers n braces, mate? Hint, hint... Although with something like 1600hp per tonne, I might be ok with the weight issues

Havent your parts arrived yet?

PJ, if these towers and braces work out I will deffo be doing more, no worries there mate. I am going to pick up some blank sheet and give it a go, should be good for some giggles at the very least!! Its as much for the bling as anything but I really do fancy making something that can hold its own against the RC10GT/XXXNT/MST-1 racers.
Still no parts dude. This is the longest I have had to wait for anything I have ordered from the web. Maybe they are a bit miffed at how much saving I made on the postage by doing a multi purchase!! ($55).

Sad news on the update front I'm afraid. I have had to start an ebay action against Atomic Hobbies. Repeated emails, zero replies and now zero patience with them.[] The beach buggy has hit the skids!!

Oh man. Ebay is a nightmare. Ive just been having issues with some bits for my 1:1, no fun at all. Hope you get it sorted.

If theres any bits youre after that I might have here, let me know mate.

Cheers mate but it was most of the project that I had ordered. Two wheel drive bulkhead, all the single speed stuff and the hardened diff gears. It would appear they are selling stuff on buy it now that they don't have in stock. Ah well, you live and learn. I am seriously considering just buying from LHS from now on!!
Sorry to hear you are having troubles aswell, what is the score with your seller?

I trusted the guy to sell out of ebay as he had tons of positive feedback, did him a favour by saving listing charges etc, and he sent me the wrong items. Was just a pair of Rover 200 REAR door handles I was after as they fit my CRX, but have no keyhole you see. Im about to delock it as it was broken into the other week- stock CRX door locks are about as secure as a Metros... Ive done this a few times and had no issues. He is now not returning emails after sending one rear and one front handle. Ive been resonable and offered them both back so he can resell to someone who needs them... arsehole... Im just to much of a walk over I guess.

I do have his address though . Silly boy he is! I have developed something of a mean streak for tossers like him. I got me a set of brand new rear handles in the right colour for the same price, so now its just a case of deciding what to do to him/send him in the post... hmmm wheres that poop-a-scooper bin...?

As for your issues mate... bummer. I dont have any 2wd specific parts Im afraid, and I only have 2 hardened diffs and Im using those. Ive got some stock ones kicking about if theyre any good (not really I know, but they will work for a bit...?) LHS with Cen hardened diffs in the UK? You know better than that! Pants innit. Let me know about the stock diffs though.

Jeez mate, sorry to hear about the banana you've got to deal with. Had your car broken into to boot!! Something good has got to be round the corner. The store I am having problems with has obviously sold stuff they don't actually have. They have received quite a few neutrals and negatives recently, (AFTER muggins hit 'buy it now'!) but its the first time I have had any problems. I have bought loads of stuff specifically for this truck but the bulk of it was from these divvies. Thanks for the offer of the diff gears but I have loads of the stock ones aswell. Maybe I will stick it on the backburner for a while and concentrate on racing for a bit. I still have CEN #1 to thrash around the beach when I can't make the track, plus two and a half GSs', plus a Savage. Things could be worse!

SPAM!

Well it would seem the paypal action has spurred Atomic Hobbies into some action and my parts have been shipped!![X(] They have told me to expect delivery early next week . Pics as soon as they are here.

I know it's not much but at least I have got something started!!
Pic 1........its all still a big pile of junk!
Pic2.........got to have those hardened steel diff gears
Pic3.........the GS steel brake disc, I will let you know how these work out
Pic4.........coming together
Pic5.........that Baja style! Might have to work something out with the body mounts! Botch something from the Savage mounts probably

Looking good. The wheel base on the shell looks damn close too.

Now, get a move on will yer?!?!

Hey Scouser (or anyone else who may be able to help). Quick question about your 2wd beach buggy. I have been picking up a bunch of Magnum parts off ebay and have almost everything to put together another truck. I like the progress you are making on yours and was thinking maybe a 2wd stadium truck, although I really like the bug bodies. What did you do about the 2 speed gearing? I have been checking over the diagrams of the CEN 2wd truck and it looks to have a slipper (FF058) setup in place where the output center joint cup (FF047) is on 4wd trucks. Is this slipper necessary or can I just use the joint cup without the center shaft? It also looks like the bevel gear shaft is also different on the 2wd to accomodate the slipper setup. What setup are you using on yours?

My plan right now is to just go with the 4wd setup minus the center shaft and front diff. Although I might pick up the stub axles for the front wheels so it does not look like a hack job. Any thoughts?

I for one jus take the centre shaft out for some 2wd fun. I believe the slipper is there to take some of the back lash out of the drive train. Seeing as CEN put the slipper in there, I guess it is best to run with it in, not that Ive had any breakages in "cheap" 2wd.

Losing the front diff and shafts would lose a fair bit of weight, which can only be good, so long as it still steers.

Id like to know about the shaft though too.

To fit the slipper you need part number FF054. This is the driveshaft that is threaded at the end to allow adjustment of the slipper clutch tension. The part all 4wd trucks have is milled with a flat spot to enable the drivecup grub screw to grip. I am having a bit of trouble locating one of these driveshafts at the moment. It seems single speed Fun Factors are not too popular anymore!! Might give CEN direct a try. Personally I think I will need the slipper clutch fitted as running on the beach could be hard work on a dirct drive!