Mad Racer -
Now You´ve made me cry
Incredible nice picture.

Im probably getting a little carried away with this since its only going to be a nice shelf/runner but I just hit the chassis plate with some 800 grit wet, to clean it up a bit.

Im calling it a night, I have the trans and diffs rebuilt, I just so happen to have enough bearings laying around that I could put all new bearings in the trans and and diff out drives. I only have to order the 5x10's for the axle carriers. now I guess I wait for more parts to show up

Follow that up with 1000, 1500 grit, then rubbing compound and watch that aluminum really come to life.

Oh I know, but I didnt want to get that shiny, I just wanted a nice brushed look going with the grain of the aluminum

Little more done

Well my repo body and decals showed up over the last few days.
I have to say that even after hearing some pretty negative things about TBG, and I dont agree with some of the things they have done. I was really torn about giving them my money. But I didnt know where else to find a body. This body isnt half bad, the lines are crisp, the lexan is good quality, not full of bubbles and thicker than the original. Not bad for a last resort for a body.

So I have a few more questions, What hop ups should I be looking for for this car? How much of the Optima is compatable with the Stinger MKII, Im thinking Kyosho gold shocks are going to be near impossible to get? And cost me more than what I payed for the car in the 1st place if I find them. And Im not sure Id want to put them on this car since its going to be a part time runner. Ill let the die hard shelf queen guys nab up all the NIP stuff. But I have seen some gold Duratrax shocks pop up on fleabay, to my untrained eye they look just like Kyosho golds. would these be acceptable replacments? Or what would be good to use? How does Kyosho size them? just short, med, and long? Do I need short on the front and long in the rear?

For a nice set of shocks on a budget, look at these 3Racing dampers for the Lazer. They should fit in place of Kyosho Gold short & long shocks with minor modifications. I'm using them on my CYANide Optima.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Kyosho-Lazer-ZX-5-Aluminum-Threaded-Shock-Dampers-3Racing-ZX5-01-BU-/400282420147?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d32b103b3

To shorten them, install shorter ball ends and put spacers on the piston shafts inside, at least 5mm plastic spacers ought to do it, that will limit the shock piston travel.

To lengthen them, install longer ball ends. I like 4.8mm ball studs & cups, they're cheap and the ends won't wear out and pop off easily, like open-ended ball ends will. The ends come in various lengths. Buy an assortment set of ball cups and you can pick & choose what's best.

The shocks are a bit firm as is, but if you put in 25 weight oil and/or open up the piston holes a bit, you can get them tweaked nice & smooth.

P.S. The Duratrax shocks LOOK like Kyosho Golds, but Duratrax cheaped out on the rubber O-rings and they're more affectionately known by the nickname "DuraLeaks", for obvious reasons.

awesome Coelacanth! thank you for the info!!

Sacrilege I know, Ive already been warned But hey like I said these HPI wheels and tires are gonna be for running and you know what they dont look half bad! I always loved white 5 stars on anything! All my old Tower Hobbies catalogs had my drool all over the old Inferno adds!!

And!!!! to throw salt in my wounds I had a full set of NIP Option House chrome wheels I was watching on ebay, I forgot all about them till this morning when I looked the auction had ended with one bid at 49 bucks!!! I was about an hour late!!! GRRRRRRRRR LOL. If somebody on here got them congrats, and I wasnt even there to put up a fight for them

Ahhhh well Im still gonna get a set of aluminums and repo tires anyway.

Ok so is it just me or does the front suspention suck on these stingers?

I have messed with it for an hour and it acts like its binding up, the shocks cant even pick the nose of the car up off the bench. but when I lift the front the arms fall to the bottom of the stroke. Im guessing its just the geometry of the front end and the almost laydown front shocks.

If you guys see anything im missing let me know.

Very nice find. I've alway's like them too but like you never bought one.
Some day when i finish all my other projects still have 1953 matchless motorcycle
to finish. that too is super rare like alot of are rc's.

A Matchless?!!!! No kidding?!! I have never even seen one in real life. Thats super cool! The oddest bike Ive ever messed with was a Hodaka Combat Wombat.

body

That's looking very nice. Should be sweet when painted!