Robb's Bolink Invader O/R

Post by **morrisey0** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 1:58 pm

This was just going to be a quick throw-together build, but I have ended up liking it so much that I may try at BOTM with it, so I thought it should have it's own thread for the build.

This all started with the rear pod, that ended up in a bunch of parts I picked up probably about a year ago. I had never seen one before, and posted about it here, and GoMachV informed me that it was for an Invader O/R. I noted it, and put it in a box on the shelf. Then, a few months ago, I was working out a deal for a Team Cobra pan car, and the seller mentioned that he also had an Invader that he could throw in real cheap, so I ended up that without really wanting it. But when I got it, I realized it was like new, and then I remembered that strange O/R rear end that I had packed away. So, it was time to make an O/R.

From here, it mainly became a parts lot / spare parts build. Which actually, the two parts of the chassis really weren't purposeful purchases, they really just happened to show up, so basically the vast majority of this car will be built from spares.

Starting the build. I bought a bunch of Bolink pan cars wheels a long time ago, so had those on hand. The tires are Losi somethings I had around, and they fit perfect. I already had the motor in stock, so that was a no-brainer.

I was missing a shock tower, and two shocks. I also realized the lower front shock mounts had been "modified" and wouldn't work for what I needed. But yep, another parts lot was on the way. This deal was for an RC10L, but for some reason, came with a bunch of Bolink parts. This provided the shocks and the mounts, and I thought it would have a tower, but it wasn't really any good.

So this lead to the one part that I needed to actively purchase for the build, a shock tower from factoryworks.com I actually ordered a few parts, thinking I may swap everything in the back to black, but decided against that and just used the tower. I go back and forth on it. Part of me wants it all black, but the other part likes the oddity of it mixed up.

Post by **TheDiamondOne** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:18 pm

Should win easy!

Post by **morrisey0** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:19 pm

Then moved on the electronics. I like "matching" electronics, which usually came on older RTRs, so they aren't great, but I just really like how they are a matching set. I had this Airtronics leftover from something, so I went with it. ESC and motor got new wire and plugs, again from stock already here. This is with the servo laying flat on the radio tray, which leads to the arms being high in the center, and not parallel to the suspension arms at all, which leads to crazy bump steer. GoMachV suggested that I lift the servo the get every parallel, and I did this later. It still has some bump steer, but it also has constantly changing camber, so nothing up front is really all that good.

Then I needed to decide on a body, and yep, hit the body pile in the garage, and a Bolink Corvette Dirt Tracker was there.

Then had a little time today to get it mostly finished up mechanically and got the body on. Still a bit of tweaking to do but it is getting close.

Post by **TheDiamondOne** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:26 pm

Cool body! Great build!

Post by **coxbros1** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:40 pm

Car is just sick!....if it doesn't win BOTM it's strictly cause of politics

Post by **cas22** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 4:48 am

Its great when you havevbits fall into place for a build, great looking car

Post by **MarkyDents** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:12 am

I’m digging this thing dude, very cool piece

Post by **morrisey0** » Wed Apr 23, 2025 6:54 pm

The standard ProLine front bumper wasn't working with the body at all, so I decided to design my own. I have not decided if this will end up with Invader, or Bo-Link, or nothing on it at the end. I just wanted something that formed to the body, and stuck out just a little so it actually could be protection. This is just very rough FDM printed for now; I hope to CNC it from black ABS in the future, if I can ever get my machine running correctly again.

Post by **morrisey0** » Tue Apr 29, 2025 3:40 pm

Got into the decals. Pretty much a Greenwood Corvettes tribute theme. Actual colors came out a little more "Hot Wheels" than I think I like, but overall good with it. Still need to correct some paint issues, and get into the bumper, and should wrap it up.

Post by **morrisey0** » Sun May 04, 2025 1:07 pm

Finally got on the same page with my new CAM software, so got the bumper done. I could keep tweaking and get this better, but I think it is good enough, and I actually like seeing a bit of the tooling marks. And yea, I have already wasted enough material just getting it to this point.

Post by **GoMachV** » Sun May 04, 2025 1:17 pm

Looks good!

What I do personally is run the cutting pass as a climb, which is better for less rigid machines. Then I run through same pass after that but as conventional. It's more time spent, but the cuts tend to be cleaner. I do this with every part I cut, not just doing pockets or engravings.

Post by **morrisey0** » Sun May 04, 2025 1:36 pm

Thanks Jeff. I will look into using a Climb.

I could have done more with this by changing bits between the different pockets, but I tend to be lazy and just want to run one, so I end up with one that is two small for most of the cutting. I ran this all with a 2mm bit, and could have ran it all with a 2.5mm, except it would have missed two small parts in the text. I coulda / shoulda have worked with the design of the text to eliminate the two small sections. Also, I need to start thinking more forward in regards to cutting paths while I am still in CAD phase. That inner surround should have been more rounded off, and its width set to match a bit, so one nice pass would have left it smooth.

One thing I like with this new CAM, Kiri:Moto, is that I can import stls. So on a part like this, I can fine tune it in FDM, and directly move it into CNC CAM. I just have to start thinking about the CNC side while I am still in CAD.