TOPIC:

Edou wrote:

Disadvantage of this is that I'll have no choice but to glue them to the rims.

I've heard of people using rubber bands fitted around the rim (in the groove) where the tyre sits.
Effectively making the rim slightly larger in diameter and giving a bit of 'bite' for the tyre.
I haven't tried this myself, but apparently it works well.

But I guess it depends how hot your motor is too.

Thanks Falcon - I'll do some good research before I start glueing.
Tyres cost about as much as I paid for the chassis last year!
So I'd rather not mess anything up with these babies.

Another thing - waiting on parts to arrive blows big time!
Patience is not an attribute of any Rc builder I think.

Expensive tyres you got there mate!
Look pretty cool though.

The internet has made available things that were previously hard/impossible to find, but doesn't make waiting for the Postie any easier!

They didn't come cheap - mostly because of the shipment cost from the States.
But then again for that money you should get about the best tyres money can buy...
Still put a hole in the budget.

Of course today I could not withstand ordering some 3Racing black alloy wheel nuts and the TA02 speed tuned gears
(66T and 69T spurs ) at Stellamodels.
Not only patience but also self control is a known issue with Rc freaks!

Update on the tyre subproject!

This CA should be very good, so they're on their way from the States :


And somebody provided me with this cool link :



That is very useful knowledge in case I ever want to change rims/tyres!

Boiling the rims work, just don't boil them too long - or else you'll have egg shaped rims...

Thanks - I'll keep that in mind.
Wouldn't be the first time I ruined some rims while experimenting!

Back on track with some Manta Ray news!

The last fews days I've been working on the body again.
I decided to sand it down one more time to finally get a really smooth result.
The inside I painted black - this was still in grey primer.
Until now I taped off the cockpit window so this part was still clear plastic.
But since it wasn't looking that great anymore I painted this black too.


In this picture the shell has been sanded down and a clear layer of plastic primer was put on.
After that I ran into trouble with the spray can because the valve started leaking.
Can't use that one anymore. It's not the first time a 12-15 euro Motip can commits suicide on me!
Turns out the can is exactly the same as the 2 euro cans I bought earlier this weak.
So much for buying that Motip rip off...
Having an airbrush would be such a blessing!

This Manta Ray body has taken a lot of effort now and many hours went into it so far.
But when the result is finally what I'm aiming for, it will be worth it...
Because then I'll have one of the few (if not the only) Manta Ray hard bodies in the universe!

In the meantime I sorted out the "problem" with the yellow dampers too.
This colour will not look good with the rest of the car.
So I ordered some new Top Force damper housings - which come in black.
The dampers I will rebuild (with harder #600 oil) with these new items.


The black dampers are going to look much slicker than this...

And a side track also...

Because I will (hopefully) soon be able to trade the Hummer tyres that are shown in the picture above, for a clear Porsche Cayenne body that will also fit on the chassis :


Like I said, it will not come in this exact shape because it is still unpainted.
So that will be another paintjob challenge.

But you gotta love the possibilities of the wonderful TA01 (DF-01) chassis!

Today I received a big bunch of (small) stuff for the Manta Ray!


Lots of screws and other bits, but most importantly - the black Top Force damper housings!
And a set of new Levant rims since I sent the other ones to the afterlife.
Making progress on the final paint for the body too...

Results will be posted soon!