Procat Refurb No.1

[Groomi]

Update time!

Front end built up with crashback system, suspension arms, hubs and driveshafts:


Rear end suspension assembly mounted to chassis:


Coming together nicely:


The next jobs will be refurbing the original shocks which will take me a while. I won't be trying to achieve a highly polished look, more a low sheen like the transmission sideplates. I also need to finish cleaning up the bumber which has silver paint on it. The worst has come off but now the whole thing has a slight silver tint to it, so a more thorough job required.

[Bormac]

Great work this far in.

I often clean paint from plastic schuey parts by soaking them in acetone. Has worked wonders for me.

[Groomi]

Just thinking ahead, I want to make up a front roll bar but have never actually seen one in the flesh. What sort of metal is best to use and is there any special technique for soldering into the ball joints?

[Groomi]

Thanks Jason, is that the same as nail varnish remover?

[Bormac]

Yes acetone is a very similar product to nail polish remover, but cheaper to buy in bulk.

As for your roll bar, the front is a little tricky to get bent up the right way. I have picked up a few for my cars in trades or off eBay at cheap prices. Soldering the balls the the OEM item is relatively simple.

[uzzi]

If I may chime in......you can fabricate the anti roll bar out of piano wire and with the soldering part, use a pair of pliers to hold the ball joint with the 'flat' part upright (use rubber bands on the grips). Heat the ball joint with a soldering iron and melt some solder onto the flat part. Next is to tin the wire slightly (not too much otherwise it will not go into the hole) or dip it into some flux. Heat the ball joint again and as the solder melts quickly insert the wire into the the ball joint and voila you are done!

In regards to the shock polishing you would be better serve getting them to a high polish and they will slowly oxidise to the dull finish. Just easier to get them to the same 'sheen' like that IMO.

Good progress by the way

[Groomi]

A little update tonight:

After a lot of faffing around trying to find the right nuts to fit the screws, I have assembled and fitted the steering system. I also had another go at cleaning up the bumper and have fitted that too.


Overhead view showing an almost complete car now. Just need to refurbish the shock absorbers, fit the wheels and then sort out the shell.


I've also decided that for my next car, I need to set aside a corner of my office for a simple photo stage and use a proper camera rather than my phone as I have done here...

[Groomi]

No updates, but as I'm about to start another project I cleared space in the office for some better photos:

[Coelacanth]

Lookin' good....real good.

[Groomi]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

It's been so long since I started this build that half of the photos have disappeared for some reason - I'll try to fix that. Anyway, I've finally 'finished' this totally original, as-per-the-instructions build. The ONLY parts I'm missing are the wing buttons.

[Groomi]

Photo links now fixed. Thanks to Facebook for changing the links to old photos - useful for sharing NOT!

[Groomi]

A little while ago I was able to get hold of those elusive wing buttons, so they're fitted now and the car is ready to sell to make way for other projects.



It's been a slow paced refurb, fitting it around other life commitments and other RC projects, but I've enjoyed building something completely standard spec as I normally either add genuine hop-ups or make various mods of my own to improve things.