Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
- flipwils11
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1904
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:30 pm
- Location: St Paul, MN
- Been thanked: 15 times
Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
I've lusted after one of these for years and remember them in the Towerhobbies catalog as a kid.
Finally pulled the trigger early last year and I immediately tracked down some uber-Avante parts to add the appropriate amount of:
Here's what I decided on to dress it up (ignore the motor plate in the pic).
Of course, knowing me, everything went out for some color via anodizing, hence the motor plate shown earlier with the dress up parts. I also did the rear shock mounts and a few other aluminum bits from the kit. (ignore the rc10 parts in the first pic below).
Here's my build progress so far (shown as I was about to install the 2nd ball diff).
My observations so far? Well honestly, I'm not enjoying this build. It's my first Tamiya since my Hornet as a kid and this is a complicated bitch. The instructions are at times very cryptic. Right now I'm stuck looking for some compression washers lost somewhere in the bags and bags of parts with no rhyme or reason for their bag association. Bag B? Bag D? But you need screw "BD4", wtf. Some of the parts use their actual name (i.e the output shaft to the center drive shaft) and other times it's a vague shaft "BE5" which doesn't help since it's in a bag with 4 other shafts and a bunch of screws, bolts, pins and other crap.
Add to this that I'm substituting parts/upgrades on the fly as I build and I'm not a Tamiya experienced builder. Like the torque splitter setup took a looong time. Eventually after some searching I realized the instructions had an error!
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72192
If you don't have access to their site here's the diagram:
sumb**ch
So the build is going...... but I've never had one I can't wait to finish for the final product, but really want to skip to the end because the build is so painful to get through.
I will probably build it with the stock motor and esc, but I was thinking of putting something brushless in and running it once or twice. We'll see, but with the amount of ABS plastic in this thing, no wonder they're known as brittle and breakable. Imagine how good this could be in nylon or delrin plastic. And also jeez, the gearing leaves me scratching my head. Could we possibly add more planetary gears and other complication and drag?
Ok rant off, will post back with more progress soon.
Finally pulled the trigger early last year and I immediately tracked down some uber-Avante parts to add the appropriate amount of:
Here's what I decided on to dress it up (ignore the motor plate in the pic).
Of course, knowing me, everything went out for some color via anodizing, hence the motor plate shown earlier with the dress up parts. I also did the rear shock mounts and a few other aluminum bits from the kit. (ignore the rc10 parts in the first pic below).
Here's my build progress so far (shown as I was about to install the 2nd ball diff).
My observations so far? Well honestly, I'm not enjoying this build. It's my first Tamiya since my Hornet as a kid and this is a complicated bitch. The instructions are at times very cryptic. Right now I'm stuck looking for some compression washers lost somewhere in the bags and bags of parts with no rhyme or reason for their bag association. Bag B? Bag D? But you need screw "BD4", wtf. Some of the parts use their actual name (i.e the output shaft to the center drive shaft) and other times it's a vague shaft "BE5" which doesn't help since it's in a bag with 4 other shafts and a bunch of screws, bolts, pins and other crap.
Add to this that I'm substituting parts/upgrades on the fly as I build and I'm not a Tamiya experienced builder. Like the torque splitter setup took a looong time. Eventually after some searching I realized the instructions had an error!
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=72192
If you don't have access to their site here's the diagram:
sumb**ch
So the build is going...... but I've never had one I can't wait to finish for the final product, but really want to skip to the end because the build is so painful to get through.
I will probably build it with the stock motor and esc, but I was thinking of putting something brushless in and running it once or twice. We'll see, but with the amount of ABS plastic in this thing, no wonder they're known as brittle and breakable. Imagine how good this could be in nylon or delrin plastic. And also jeez, the gearing leaves me scratching my head. Could we possibly add more planetary gears and other complication and drag?
Ok rant off, will post back with more progress soon.
- SFC K
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:24 pm
- Location: Oakdale, MN
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Sounds like your having a tough time Adam but hang in there. I like the mild color choices you are throwing at this.
Jeff
-
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:05 pm
- Location: USA
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
I sure could have used the alloy steering parts back in the day. thats what finally side lined my avante back then. Of course that car went out of production almost as fast as it was introduced, so back then, it was done for, no spares in podunk colorado. Really cool car, and the colors will be awsome.
- EvolutionRevolution
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1495
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:24 pm
- Location: Netherlands
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 36 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
The car does have a reputation for being overengineered and fragile. Awesome looking, but it's a good example of why theory doesn't always translate into real performance...flipwils11 wrote: So the build is going...... but I've never had one I can't wait to finish for the final product, but really want to skip to the end because the build is so painful to get through.
I will probably build it with the stock motor and esc, but I was thinking of putting something brushless in and running it once or twice. We'll see, but with the amount of ABS plastic in this thing, no wonder they're known as brittle and breakable. Imagine how good this could be in nylon or delrin plastic. And also jeez, the gearing leaves me scratching my head. Could we possibly add more planetary gears and other complication and drag?
Ok rant off, will post back with more progress soon.
Sometimes I wonder why every single Tamiya seems to have a fatal flaw...
- Coelacanth
- Approved Member
- Posts: 7375
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Alberta, Canada
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 291 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Trials & tribulations aside, with your personal touch to the custom aluminum anodizing, it's gonna be pretty to look at!
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
- flipwils11
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1904
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:30 pm
- Location: St Paul, MN
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Thanks for the comments on the parts and colors.
It's possible I lost them, but unlikely. I think my kit had a missing screw bag.
I had to order a "cross joint" screw bag from Tamiya USA because I need these key pieces to continue with the build. Very disappointing.
It's possible I lost them, but unlikely. I think my kit had a missing screw bag.
I had to order a "cross joint" screw bag from Tamiya USA because I need these key pieces to continue with the build. Very disappointing.
- EvolutionRevolution
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1495
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:24 pm
- Location: Netherlands
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 36 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Wouldn't they send it for free? If the kit's missing bits you shouldn't have to pay to get them.flipwils11 wrote:Thanks for the comments on the parts and colors.
It's possible I lost them, but unlikely. I think my kit had a missing screw bag.
I had to order a "cross joint" screw bag from Tamiya USA because I need these key pieces to continue with the build. Very disappointing.
Does this kit come with CF chassis plates? I thought the original came with a FRP chassis.
Will you be making the body box-art, or in a color scheme more fitting for the wheels?
- flipwils11
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1904
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:30 pm
- Location: St Paul, MN
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
I thought about telling them the bag was missing and asking for a replacement, but it was Sunday night and it was easier to pay the $15 with shipping and just get it sent asap. The car is a re-release 2011 model, so weren't they all carbon fiber chassis?
The body has been painted for months, waiting for me to get going on this. The body is a subtle play on the gold and yellow anodizing, you'll have to see soon.
I do need to send one more item out for anodizing because it wasn't part of the original plan. I didn't know about the pargu aluminum wings for the Avante but ordered one up so now I'll need to add some color to it.
The body has been painted for months, waiting for me to get going on this. The body is a subtle play on the gold and yellow anodizing, you'll have to see soon.
I do need to send one more item out for anodizing because it wasn't part of the original plan. I didn't know about the pargu aluminum wings for the Avante but ordered one up so now I'll need to add some color to it.
- flipwils11
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1904
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:30 pm
- Location: St Paul, MN
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Got my replacement parts today so I was back at it. Progress is sloooowww. This thing is like an Erector Set.
- askbob
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1735
- Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:24 am
- Location: KY
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Looks nice! I see Tamiya doesn't use the K.I.S.S. philosophy...
- SFC K
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1336
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:24 pm
- Location: Oakdale, MN
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
LOL, It does seem like it has a lot of moving pieces as well. Look how thin the sway bar is too. Looks fantastic Adam so far.askbob wrote:Looks nice! I see Tamiya doesn't use the K.I.S.S. philosophy...
Jeff
- uniquenamehere
- Approved Member
- Posts: 553
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:34 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
That looks great. I've always loved these cars... Tamiya has really made some iconic RC cars. Looking forward to seeing this done!
-
- Approved Member
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:09 am
- Location: Brisbane Australia
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Flip's 2011 Avante (with flair) build
Funny that the parts where missing , in the past couple of years I have built a Avantee, Black special and an Egress and have had no problems at all with parts, must admit the builds where some oft he toughest that I have done, still can't believe I built 1 when I was 13.
The parts are looking great, regretting not getting the titanium screw kits, they look a lot tougher than the butter soft kit screws, more progress please
The parts are looking great, regretting not getting the titanium screw kits, they look a lot tougher than the butter soft kit screws, more progress please
The Dreaded 7 - 10 Split
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute
Sign in
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 7 Replies
- 995 Views
-
Last post by ralphee
-
- 5 Replies
- 1807 Views
-
Last post by snowfox
-
- 1 Replies
- 626 Views
-
Last post by stickboy007
-
- 9 Replies
- 1219 Views
-
Last post by rangerg
-
- 10 Replies
- 2146 Views
-
Last post by marlo
-
- 2 Replies
- 582 Views
-
Last post by besty22
-
- 44 Replies
- 5261 Views
-
Last post by Bormac
-
- 17 Replies
- 2284 Views
-
Last post by soniccj5
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests