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

[jamin]

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

Hehhee, thanks Rick. I'd happily spray you one if I had the time!

[DerbyDan]

Sorry to hear that you are not happy with how the shell has come out.... but to me it looks 1st class - & I really like the blue window surround!!

That said, I think i'm like you Ben, in that quite often you have a look in mind, but the end result doesn't appear as good as you'd imagined it.... i've recently painted a new shell for my touring car, but I think the design looks awkward... luckily they never last very long on the race track, so i'll be spraying another one before too long

[jamin]

Exactly that Dan! Looking back I should of spent more time trying to get the right Trinity blue. It also killed my enthusiasm for my build, once i've finished sulking I'll get on with it!

The blue needs to be brighter and more turquoise in colour I think. I want to do this on my race cars too, I think I'd better get mixing!

[slapshot1979]

I too like the paint design, but if your not happy with it could you remove the blue to do it again?? I have had luck with a tooth pick when its still fairly fresh...? time consuming but hey what isnt

[jamin]

I too like the paint design, but if your not happy with it could you remove the blue to do it again?? I have had luck with a tooth pick when its still fairly fresh...? time consuming but hey what isnt

I think it'll end up looking worse if I did that. I'll just have to live with it and see how it goes once the truck is built. I can always do another, the only annoying is finding those Trinity stickers!

[jamin]

I called an expert tonight (the wife) and she mixed me up a cocktail (she likes cocktails!) of paints and ended up with the Trinity blue I am after with her first attempt! I am going to order a new shell tomorrow!

The colour is lost in this pic, but its almost a perfect match, as you can see from the gearbox brace, thanks wifey!

[fakiee]

You're a lucky man Jamin

[urpaldan]

That shell looks great Jamin! Really like the 'team jamin' paint work design. All your losi's must look the business lined up next to each other! Matching colours is always an arse-ache, looks like you have that pretty close tho. Did you note down the wifes colour mix or is it top secret?

[jamin]

You're a lucky man Jamin

Cheers Andy, yes I am indeed! She's got a good eye for colours - you should see her collection of nail varnishes! Hehehe

That shell looks great Jamin! Really like the 'team jamin' paint work design. All your losi's must look the business lined up next to each other! Matching colours is always an arse-ache, looks like you have that pretty close tho. Did you note down the wifes colour mix or is it top secret?

Thanks! yeah, I have stuck with the design for some time now. Its a trade between time to paint and how good it looks. I was hoping the window frame would be a nice touch, shame I have wasted this shell and the Trinity stickers, although I have found another set now!

I'll have to dig them all out and line them up for a pic, still got the Mini-8Ight and my TC to do though!

My wife used Pactra Cheezom Teal and Candy Blue - 1/1 mix! I might increase the blue a little more, but its a damn good match already.

[aradaiel]

What exactly is the point of the centered motor plate? Does it move the motor to the right of the vehicle for balance?

[jamin]

Yep, exactly that. It moves the motor closer to the centre line of the chassis to aid the balance.

[aradaiel]

There's one on the 'bay right now and was curious.

[jamin]

Still waiting for the new shell to arrive, Horizon UK have had to order it in from the states, so in the mean time, I've found myself some Trinity screws to use on the build, mainly for just the shock collars I think. Gotta be careful I don't over-do the blue

[jamin]

Another part arrived this week, some 'CR' style hubs from Trinity! This now gives me the option of fitting the XXX pivot block and VLA arms and hubs, or fit the original 'CR' style rear end with the larger pivot block and shorter arms

Thanks to Dan (urpaldan) for these!!

Still waiting on that damn shell though

[jamin]

Finally some progress with this project! I've just had one of the worst weeks of my life, so tonight I thought I would cheer myself up by making a real start to this build. Some parts I was waiting for arrived this week so I could make a start on the transmission, I was missing a few small items, but now I could start putting it together....which took me all of 5 minutes to build

A few before and after pics, I want to detail all the parts used as much as possible with this build. Nothing outrageously different here, except for the custom anodised motor plate in Trinity blue (thanks to Rick for this )

I am not going for a hydra drive with this build, but dual-slipper instead, and have chosen the bright red spur (86T) to contrast the blue, which I think works well. One final touch was to add a Trinity blue 4-40 nut that I found recently amongst all my spare old Losi parts, the devil is in the detail!

Parts in this step of the build

Motor side

Slipper assembly