Nitro 4x4 Panther

[Danf1275]

A recent addition, a Nitro 4x4. Bosscat based with engine and clutch from Nitro 10 range.

Doesn't seem to be much info on these, so I thought it might be useful to document restoration . My plan is to rebuild it as a Panther buggy with a view to gently running it.

Prior to strip, fairly complete including truck body mounts. Has clearly had an impact to the front, but damage is restricted to transmission housings common to Bosscat.

[Danf1275]

A few more photos of strip down - a surprising number of unique parts

[Incredible_Serious]

How did I miss this??? I have a Nitro 4x4 as part of my oddball nitro Schumacher collection (https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=46476&id=154)... Have a fair bit of spares and a some info (magazine reviews, etc.).... you're right about the unique parts, too.

Mine has been in rebuild for 12 years ... but it's only the last few years I've been able to find the parts I need to complete the rebuild - belts and instruction manual / guide book.

Look forward to watching your rebuild, as it may motivate me to get stuck into mine!

Alex

[klavy69]

How did I miss this???

Alex

You've just been slacking Alex! Hell, even I seen this and I've been wiped out at work 68 hours a week on the low average

Todd

[Incredible_Serious]

How did I miss this???

Alex

You've just been slacking Alex! Hell, even I seen this and I've been wiped out at work 68 hours a week on the low average

Todd

[klavy69]

How did I miss this???

Alex

You've just been slacking Alex! Hell, even I seen this and I've been wiped out at work 68 hours a week on the low average

Todd

[Danf1275]

Small amount of progress made, everything cleaned up and rear transmission built up with fresh belts This is predominantly as the Bosscat including Pro diff but features a few unique parts. During stripdown it became clear that chassis has had a whack on the back at some stage which has bent tabs on top of side plates. These will be left as-is for fear of them coming off if I try to bend stretched material back into position and won't effect running. Discolouration to pan due to a battery leak is also mildly irritating but will be largely unseen once electrics are back in, so I'm not letting it bother me too much.

[Incredible_Serious]

Looking great so far, mate! Looks very different a) reassembled, and b) clean! Watching your progress with interest, it's making me want to start on mine again..... but I have all the cleaning to do, and I HATE cleaning

Keep up the updates, please!

Alex

[Danf1275]

Front transmission and suspension in place.

[Danf1275]

Belt covers and top deck in place. Lower belt cover is as Bosscat, so a replacement from Penguin RC was used. Upper one is unique so fragile original was cleaned up and refitted. Note unusual front moulding and dog leg upper deck to clear engine.

[Incredible_Serious]

Coming along very well, mate....

If you decide that you just can't stand the used upper belt cover, I know a guy....

Keep up the good work!

Alex

[Danf1275]

Engine back in along with clutch and exhaust. A very tight fit that required removal of carburetor - I suspect that Schumacher originally fitted it through transmission much earlier during original assembly.

[Danf1275]

Good progress yesterday, electrics in, shocks rebuilt and on and all plumbed up. Throttle linkage still needs some work to remove unwanted slop, but otherwise ok.

....and for the 1st time in 20-odd years it's had a tank of fuel through it. Took some starting on a cold English evening with a bit of help from offboard glowplug warmer but otherwise runs fairly well.

Shell next - I would consider boxart but haven't been able to find a single clear or colour photo of a Nitro 4x4 Panther.

[Incredible_Serious]

You RAN it? Wow!!!!

I agree about there not being much in the way of box art pictures... of course, that's because there was no box art, from what I've seen, just a red box with a clear plastic window, showing the pre-built 4x4 inside.

The ones from the cover of the Service Manual were used in the 1993 catalogue...

Only other option that comes to hand easily is the Nitro 10 Panther from the same catalogue...

Not very helpful.....

Alex

[Danf1275]

You RAN it? Wow!!!!

Only very gently - very satisfying to hear it going though. Pleased to report it's surprisingly fuel tight too.

Any clues as to how front of Panther shell was retained?