Desert Stormer - preview

[frgna]

Building myself a runner pieced together from eBay and around the interwebs.

Inspiration is that I basically want it to look like the Desert Storm Abrams M1 A1 tanks:



Build will be in the 1st weeks of August when I return home. Going stir crazy knowing there's a huge pile of parts just waiting there...so I thought I'd at least put up a preview. Here's a photoset of what's been ordered so far (most of it I think):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wattersonhobbes/sets/72157634436061108/

Will be a flat sand-colored tub chassis, just planning to spraypaint with superflat Krylon in khaki color (low maintenance and easy to touch up), use a 10T or regular front end, paint up the metal Bart's A-Arms in the desert color, and have all black parts otherwise. Electronics to the extent possible will also be black (some mild orange accents, since I went with a Savox servo and the Fusion batt packs). I am going for a low bling look that will wear well, because I'm gonna run this bad boy. The Andy's truck chassis is a wild-card - I might mock it up and see what it looks like, but I am thinking for now I'll just keep the chassis fresh and use the tub.

Would love to hear any and all input on this - this is my first build since I was 12 so anything I should know, or any ideas for improving, please chime in!

Thanks
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What's been ordered so far (most of it at least):

CHASSIS
Main Chassis Associated, black (Stock)
Front Nose Associated, RC10T front nose or standard RC10 nose
Back Plate Associated, black (Stock)

FRONT SUSPENSION
A-Arms (Wide-Track) Bart's Parts, metal wide-track arms
Suspension Mounts Associated, RC10T bulkhead
Front Block Carrier Associated, black (Stock)
Steering Arms Associated, black (Stock)
Front Shock Strut (Tower) Associated, RC10T front tower
Inner Hinge Pin Donor car
Steering Houge ball bearing steering, black
Shocks Traxxas Big Bore 5862

REAR SUSPENSION
A-Arms Barts, metal rear arms
Suspension Mounts Andy's, black
Rear bulkhead Associated, black (Stock)
Rear hubs Andy's, black
Rear Shock Strut RC Carbon Works
Shocks Traxxas Big Bore 5862

DRIVETRAIN
Stealth tranny Associated, black (Stock)
Slipper/topshaft Associated, B4.1
Dogbones MIP Original CVDs
Spur 81 tooth, B4.1
Pinion Traxxas 19 tooth

HARDWARE
Screws Tony's RC10 screws
Tie-rods Associated, black (Stock)
Ball cups Associated, black (Stock)
Ball studs Associated, black (RC10B4)
Bearings Ratkowskis (eBay - great little family venture)

ELECTRONICS
Motor Hobbywing EZRUN 3656 4700KV
ESC Hobbywing Waterproof SC8 120A
Steering Servo Savox 1257TG with glitchbuster
Batteries FUSION hard case LiPo 4500mAh 2S, 7.4V 60C
Receiver Airtronics 92625 Waterproof
Transmitter Airtronics MX-V

OTHER
Body/wing Team Blue Groove, Jammin Jay body and wing
Body Posts X Venom
Servo Horn Axial, aluminum servo horn
Servo Mounts Axial Raith, aluminum servo mounts
LiPo Battery tray Generic eBay find
Wheels JCRacing (UK) (black and white)
Tires Proline Dirt Hawg

[justinspeed79]

Sounds like a cool project. Didn't see a .50 cal. on the list though.

[Charlie don't surf]

It's tenth scale Justin! He's using a Desert Eagle .50 instead

Sounds like a neat project

[RC10Eh]

Get home safe and build that thing

[THUNDERSTRIKE1]

I wanna see that too! I did up a clodbuster truck all in Desert Storm attire then sold it don

[flipwils11]

Cool, will be watching for updates.

[frgna]

Thanks guys, yeah I'm super excited to build - will take lots of pics along the way!

Can anyone guide as to the best way to prep the chassis parts to take the paint? I am probably using this paint:

http://www.krylon.com/products/camouflage-paint-made-with-fusion-for-plastic-technology/

I haven't seen the chassis in person yet but I'll assume the worst, which would be black painted over some kind of anodization. I'd like to strip to bare metal, and then apply the flat paint probably.

Thinking I'll paint some simple black chevrons along the sidewall (like on the tank) and maybe the number 94 in black (year I got my first RC10).

[frgna]

Sounds like a cool project. Didn't see a .50 cal. on the list though.

Yeah this thing would probably just be firing BB pellets haha

I'd love to put some gun-style custom stamped letters into the chassis - RC10, Team Associated, etc - maybe I can find a good local engraver or invest in some letter stamps myself. You see this on custom golf clubs a lot these days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30062916@N04/2843051520/lightbox/