Jamin's Losi XXT-CR Graphite+ MK1 Motor Plate!

[Charlie don't surf]

That's a nice job on the plate! kinda surprised to hear you say how close it matches the Trinity colors as they are a really dark and rich blue-and a killer score on the trinity decals!! BTW a shop fairly local to me has plenty of the earlier xx/xxt trinity parts-

[jamin]

That's a nice job on the plate! kinda surprised to hear you say how close it matches the Trinity colors as they are a really dark and rich blue-and a killer score on the trinity decals!! BTW a shop fairly local to me has plenty of the earlier xx/xxt trinity parts-

You have PM! I am always on the hunt for Trinity parts, blue or purple!

[bearrickster]

how is it comming?? no updates since Aug?

[jamin]

Afraid not Rick, its been all quiet on the RC build front recently, been too busy with family life and house decorating to find any real time to sit down and build, I have barely bought anything of ebay either!!!

I am hoping to get some time soon, once the decorating is done of course!

I am in 2 minds whether to do this build first or another XXT replica , but we'll see.

[jamin]

This arrived today from the states, never realised they made this item for the Losi XXT - does anyone know if they made one for the front too, and maybe even for the XX? That would go with my front brace nicely!

photo-8.JPG (56 KiB) Viewed 932 times

photo-8.JPG (56 KiB) Viewed 932 times

[jamin]

Wow, I actually sat down tonight and started this build!! I've decided that I am going to spray the body shell first (as thats the boring bit) and then on to the more exciting build!

I took all the chassis parts and mocked it up so I could ensure the holes lined up and cut the shell out. The lexan seems very thin at the rear so I had to be very careful not to tear it. Here's some progress pics, not exciting, but progress none the less...

I am keeping my usual paint scheme, same as my XX build and my current runner, my XXXT-CR, as shown by my enthusiastic assistant

[Charlie don't surf]

Nice pic!

[RC10resto]

This arrived today from the states, never realised they made this item for the Losi XXT

Glad it made it - small world

[jamin]

This arrived today from the states, never realised they made this item for the Losi XXT

Glad it made it - small world

Ha, no way?! It is...

[DerbyDan]

Your son is one cool dude! - great picture with the XXX

Progress looks good so far.... I know what you mean regarding the shell thickness, when cutting out shells I normally use a sharp blade to score the shell, then fold/tear the shell along the score line to break off the un-wanted material... but with my XXT shell one pass with the blade was all it needed to cut straight through!!

Those Graphite parts assembled together reminds me of my first experience trying to build my first XX.... I was less experienced & struggled with the kit supplied little allen keys trying to tighten up the screws in the tough 'Stiffizel' plastic - I ended up with numb fingers/thumbs & rounded off screw heads The best tool I was given for my XX, was a 40/40 tap - a hard tool to come across in the UK, it was given to me by a guy that worked for Ilmor race engines (& father of a fellow racer) - I still use it all the time to tap out the holes in the tougher plastics that are used in Losi & Associated cars

[jamin]

The best tool I was given for my XX, was a 40/40 tap - a hard tool to come across in the UK, it was given to me by a guy that worked for Ilmor race engines (& father of a fellow racer) - I still use it all the time to tap out the holes in the tougher plastics that are used in Losi & Associated cars

He does love his cars, not sure where he gets it from

The tapping screw that comes in the kit is quite handy too - I used it on this build! I too have a 4-40 tap that my Dad got from his work for the same reason! He also knew a guy that worked for Ilmor building the Mercedes Penske engines I believe - what was the guys name, can you remember? I'll ask my Dad next time I see him.

[DerbyDan]

The best tool I was given for my XX, was a 40/40 tap - a hard tool to come across in the UK, it was given to me by a guy that worked for Ilmor race engines (& father of a fellow racer) - I still use it all the time to tap out the holes in the tougher plastics that are used in Losi & Associated cars

He does love his cars, not sure where he gets it from

The tapping screw that comes in the kit is quite handy too - I used it on this build! I too have a 4-40 tap that my Dad got from his work for the same reason! He also knew a guy that worked for Ilmor building the Mercedes Penske engines I believe - what was the guys name, can you remember? I'll ask my Dad next time I see him.

I'm not sure if that 'tapping' screw came with the earlier XX kits, but certainly came supplied with my later Losi kits, Street Weapon & XXX.... ?

The guy who gave me my tap was Dave Measor, his son Ian raced at regional level & Junior Nationals, would have been mid 90's so Penske/Mclaren era, I think he still works there. Unfortunately I witnessed the demise of Paul Morgan (the 'mor' in Ilmor), he had a small collection of WW2 warbirds based at Sywell airport, I was there when his Sea Fury flipped onto it's back on landing

[jamin]

I'm not sure if that 'tapping' screw came with the earlier XX kits, but certainly came supplied with my later Losi kits, Street Weapon & XXX.... ?

The guy who gave me my tap was Dave Measor, his son Ian raced at regional level & Junior Nationals, would have been mid 90's so Penske/Mclaren era, I think he still works there. Unfortunately I witnessed the demise of Paul Morgan (the 'mor' in Ilmor), he had a small collection of WW2 warbirds based at Sywell airport, I was there when his Sea Fury flipped onto it's back on landing

I could of sworn there was one in my XXT kit...not really worth worrying about though.

Oh, thats not nice at all. I'll speak with my Dad, probably won't be the same guy though as I am sure we would of known him better if his son raced too.

[jamin]

I spent this week masking and spraying my XXT shell for this build, finishing it off today.

Once cut out and washed, I offered up the supplied paint masks to find that they were not even close to the lines on the shell! But in any case I wanted to put a frame round the windows, and so wanted to mask them a little larger so they won't look too small with the frames.

I made my own by tracing the lines and then cutting out the mask a little larger, nice and simple, and it worked!

Next I masked the tears that I always use on my shells, really easy to do and effective, the end result looking like my shell in the background.

With the main paint laid down, I started on masking the frames, in the same was as before, but going slightly smaller.

At this point I used Pactra blue pearl which looked really nice in the jar, and similar to the Trinity blue that I was trying to match the frames to. Once I put the blue on, I decided on backing it with white, which I think was a mistake. I wanted to keep the blue bright, but by doing so it lost some of its 'metallic' look. The blue looks brighter in the pics, but still not enough. I wish I had of left it without the frames

Overall I am gutted as I think I've ruined it. I also put the stickers on before I did the frames, and I don't have any more of the large Trinity ones. I thought I had this nailed mid-week with the stickers etc, it looked awesome, but I thought the frames with the same Trinity blue would be a neat touch...

Not the best start to my build, I may do another shell now as I am not a happy bunny

[bearrickster]

well send it to me I think it looks great and will look great on my XXT