Gary gets a Scorp!

[RedScampi]

Hey guys, I've been away from RC for nearly a year. Thought I was done with it and came close to selling all my cars. One of the things that stopped me was the sheer volume, and having to deal with the packing. I was also somewhat afraid of flooding the market. My wife also stopped me because she knows how I tend to get bored with a hobby but come back to it later. I'm not sure what actually caused me to take an active interest again, but I think it was a combination of the RC10 re-re and the upcoming Scorpion re-re. I actually got some cars out and started tinkering again, lurking around the forum and next thing you know I'd made a bid on this Scorpion on ebay. I'd been wanting one for a long time but the auction on this one had a couple of issues. First, the seller had a couple of photos that were obviously of a Blackfoot mixed in and was adamant that they were all of the Scorpion (finally, though, he realized his mistake). Secondly he only had 6 feedback and this was his first sale. I figured that even if he did flake out I would eventually get my money back through ebay/paypal. As it turned out he was up front and honest, and shipped the car really quickly!
Now, on to the car itself. Aside from the dry rotted front tires and the JRXT rears, the car is in very nice condition with very few signs of use. The battery compartment had some very old and slowly decaying generic cells in it. The msc is still in place too.
I do have a couple of questions about the car that maybe an expert can help me with. First off, the rear cage is aluminum and most, if not all of the others I've seen have been plastic. Anyone know what it is? The other obvious thing I noticed was that the rear shock tower is a taller fiberglass one, and any reference pics I have seen show shorter shocks and a short aluminum tower. I think it's CRP? I must confess that this is technically not my first Scorpion since I bought a beautiful Scorpion Beetle from Jason(J.M.) two years ago. But I always wanted a "real" one. Oh, and I'll be buying a re-re as well - can't help it, I love these cars!
I also had to add some wheels I had from my Beetle for a couple of cheesecake shots. Couldn't stand the Losi rims on this car!

[GoMachV]

Nice score!
Those look like the "CB" rear shocks, very nice era correct shocks from the 1/8 scale lineup. Shock tower should be RCH or CRP I believe. I have one I just can't remember lol. Not sure about the cage

Those Losi tires.....they gots to go! Lol

[stulec52]

great story !

I think my Wife would be the same as yours, she gets that I change focus of hobbies depending on the seasons !

Car looks great too.
I also just picked up a nice one on Ebay, needs very little to make it shelf worthy, and I think the upcoming re-release will mean I can get those again

[DennisM]

Nice one, those rear shocks are pure porn.
Now of to find the matching fronts for those Losi´s
The rear cage could be JG.

What´s the story behind those wiiiiiide blaster tires?

[Hcp22]

Nice score Gary, and you might find Thorp-diff inside the gear case.

The shock tower is CRP #1536 or RCH #1160 “same same”
The motor guard is JG #c-02
The shocks are Kyosho #CB-89 (long ball ends)
The shock collars and retainers are CRP #1527 (I think)

[mikea96]

Looks good Gary and nice to see you around again!

[RedScampi]

Thanks very much for the comments guys. This is another one of the "favorites". Admittedly I have a lot of favorites. Special thanks to Hcp22 for the info on the hop up parts! Unfortunately the gearbox looks very stock inside, but very, very clean. I am really considering taking it back to stock configuration, but we will see...
Dennis, the Sand Blasters are tires that I got with my Scorpion Beetle when I bought it from Jason. I believe, but I'm not 100 percent sure, that they are two sets that have been cut and spliced together to make a wider tire. If so, they're done very, very well.
Here's the Beetle sporting said tires: (photo credit to J.M.)

[TM Ru22311]

You have 2 amazing buggy's right there!!! I would take the Scorpion back to original if it is possible, but it looks like it needs very little to make that happen. I love the paint on the Beetle....I'm so jealous! I would love to have both of those for my collection (which is VERY small) LoL. I just picked up an original NIP rear cage for my Tomahawk from eBay for $22 (total) but I think the aluminum is much better.

[RedScampi]

Thank you sir! I do indeed feel privileged to own these two cars. Jason has to get credit for the paint on the Beetle. It is a modified Kamtec body, much nicer than the original in my opinion. I plan to take the Scorpion almost back to stock as you suggested, although the hop up parts on it are very nice. I think the rear shock tower and shocks will be replaced with stock parts, though I might keep the rear cage and polish it, along with the roll bar and shock bodies, then splurge on a set of Pargu's rims for it. The body is actually in nice shape apart from the horrible paint job but I'll probably end up picking up a new TBG body. In any case it'll get blown apart, cleaned, polished and I think it'll be near perfect when done. There are almost no wear marks on this buggy! How it came to be sporting the JRXT truck tires will always be a mystery!

[bearrickster]

Very Cool Gary those are two great looking cars I love those fat rear tires you were talking about.

[RedScampi]

Thank you Rick,
I didn't build the Beetle but I'm very happy to own it. I have big plans for the Scorpion. I think it's one of the most realistic looking buggies.

[TM Ru22311]

I think you have a good plan Gary! I think hop up parts are great as long as they are period correct. I see quite a few buggy's for sale without original wheels (or no wheels at all). I guess it's because you can spend just as much on them as the actual buggy itself. Pargu rims would look awesome though I ordered mine the first week of April and still have not received them, but I'm sure I will like them when they do arrive. I received a message from Marwan last month that he is currently working on Good Year repro's.....How many vintage buggys are starving for those? He better make a huge batch of those! I agree, that Beetle body does look better than original. Also, if I had the chance to do it over, I would have someone else do the paint job for me. That is not an easy thing to do. Looks like Jason would be the one to contact.

[bearrickster]

Thank you Rick,
I didn't build the Beetle but I'm very happy to own it. I have big plans for the Scorpion. I think it's one of the most realistic looking buggies.

You no I am all about that these days. I just got a Tamiya Fast Attack and I am building it as scale as possible. I am getting a scale motor and all for it. I really like those tires can I get some detailed pic's of them

[RedScampi]

Rick, I've been watching your Fast Attack thread with interest. I have a Wild One that is close to completion that I want to make look more scale as well.
Because you asked, here are some tire close ups. And because I wanted to, here are a few more shots that somewhat demonstrate how lightly used this car was.

[bearrickster]

thats a very nice car. those tires have been widened you can just see it in the 3rd pic down.