1/10 Scale On-Road - Chassis Options in 2024

[GreenBar0n]

The '67 Tribute Vette to my late Stepfather's actual '67, is almost done. Going to finish the decals and mount the body magnets.

This paint job was done with Tamiya PS-55 Flat Clear as a primer, and then automotive paint, 976 Chevy Marina Metallic Blue, on top of the primer; more on the paint here: https://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=49044

Starting off with the worst mistakes on the paint job, of all of the body. The window trim decals bailed me out a bit, but I know what I did wrong.


This is the song that immediately went through my mind when I stepped back and took a hard look.












Going to finish this all up tonight, and go match the color to the real one tomorrow.








The HPI body only comes with the black or red hood stinger decal. Really want the white stinger to match, that's a rarity in that they are almost always black for '67. The white stinger is because this is 976 Marina Metallic Blue, over the Bright Blue interior. I think Goodwood Green also got the white stinger if the interior was also green, not certain about that though.

[Dangeruss]

Too late to suggest using the HPI stingers as masks inside the hood so you can have white painted stingers...

$1.50 Hobby Lobby 8.5x11 white vinyl sheet, stick the HPI stinger to it, cut out around it, peel the HPI decal away... instant white stinger.

[GreenBar0n]

Too late to suggest using the HPI stingers as masks inside the hood so you can have white painted stingers...

$1.50 Hobby Lobby 8.5x11 white vinyl sheet, stick the HPI stinger to it, cut out around it, peel the HPI decal away... instant white stinger.

There's a really thin pin stripe that accompanies the stinger, that would be really hard to get right with a blade. MCI currently has the HPI Corvette decals, and they will change the color for a fee, been considering that, or a custom order from https://callie-graphics.com/. Thanks as always @Dangeruss!

[GreenBar0n]

Turns out my Mom recently got Covid from her dentists office, and was still not feeling well today, so I didn't go over there and make any noise. Will go over there soon and match the color.

Took a moment today to finish the decals, minus the hood stinger and emblem which goes on top of the stinger.

Also finally got the magnetic mounts in order. This body has a weird shape, and it took a long time to get this to work. I'll get rare earth magnets for one side if this proves to be too weak for 25+ mph.

Kydex support.


Magnets located according to body mounts.


A lot more convenient than clips.






Rear on this model is never right.








Got the new full length body mounts for the Apex2, time to mount the other body.

[Dangeruss]

Sorry to hear about your mom. Hope she's feeling better today.

Ah, gotcha, didn't see there was a little pinstripe. Must look closer next time.

[GreenBar0n]

Thanks @Dangeruss, really appreciate that! Mom is back to feeling well again, but needs another day or so for the contagious part to pass. I'll get over there soon and take pics of the color match, looking forward to it.

[GreenBar0n]

Getting back to the Tamiya M-08 VW Bus, I spent one hour separating the decals from the sheet, and rough cutting them.




Looks like two more hours of decals, 23 windows that have to be assembled in pieces, it starts to get painful after a while. Can only do one hour sittings for decals, my least favorite chore, but so important to the overall project, can't mess up.

[GreenBar0n]

Got the word today that MCI is done with my HPI '67 Corvette custom decals and shipping them. These will have the white hood stinger is the only difference.


When the decals are on, I'll match the paint up to the real thing.


Could be another week or so.

[GreenBar0n]

Looks pretty close. My Mom loves her new little RC '67 vette, but has to learn to drive on this little slower Bus first. Working up to the faster one.


The white hood stinger decal should be here next week sometime, from MCI, I'll get the pics when it's done.

[GreenBar0n]

Got the MCI decal sheet yesterday. If this sheet was half the price, twice the delivery speed, and pre-cut, it would be more acceptable for me. Paid about $40 with the premium colors, to change the hood stinger to white. Honestly, you can see the ink jet pixelation dots in the chrome decals on the sheet, and the color fills aren't solid to the borders, there are jagged lines on the colors and borders too. MCI decals are good, not great. Sorry to say this, but manage your expectations accordingly.

HPI decals.




MCI decals.


The MCI chrome is spotty, in the long chrome prints - MCI sheet on the left.


I do believe for this project, the MCI $40 white hood stinger was the only way I was going to get one.


Enough with the bad, and on to the good: the hood stinger decal fits perfectly, once cut out correctly.


Camera flash brings out the blue in the Marina Blue Metallic.






Need to touch up the decal in the cowl, just noticed.








Need to get the dark blue vette body fit to the Team Associated Apex2 chassis.

[GreenBar0n]

Searched for HPI Porche RSR Fuchs wheels, 31mm rear, and 26mm fronts, for over 7 months. I looked every day - for months, and never once saw the staggered sized set. HPI discontinued their Pure Ten series in 2010 or so, iirc.

I contacted a wheel maker in China trying to have the HPI Fuchs reproduced, would've cost a small fortune to "open the mold", was what I was told.

I can understand not being impressed with these particular wheels, but for me, these are my favorite vintage German wheels that came on the early 911's, and prior to yesterday I could only see these on Worthpoint - the site that tracks rare items sold on ebay.

Tamiya M-08 VW Bus model has been waiting for these.





If you've seen the Tamiya Fuchs wheels, they just don't cut it, HPI nailed it. As a result, the HPI's are gone now.

Here's the problem, I can't get myself to open the bags and actually put these on. They've become too valuable in my mind, and now they're trapped in there. It's not the money, it's the scarcity that has me stymied.

I don't plan to ever sell these, or glue tires to them, or put them any place other than a shelf, but I still can't open the bags for some reason. Must open, but struggling to do it.

[GreenBar0n]

Had to make a deal with myself, I have to finish all of these decals, 100% done, before I can open the HPI wheels, like I'm a child - seems to be working for now. I have so many hours in decals alone.








Have (6) more side windows to cut and stick (the long and boring part), and then the hard part, the headlights, tough to make those go around and lay down, a heat gun helps with that.

Going to focus on this project, and try to complete this by tomorrow. This one feels a lot like work with no pay

[GreenBar0n]

Finally finished all the decals.









Still can't open those HPI wheels.

I'll finish painting and mounting the bumpers and side mirror. This one will also have magnetic body mounts, and LED lights.

[GreenBar0n]

Got the body post extension kit today for the front of the Tamiya M-08, got the ride height set with the magnetic mounts.








I did open the HPI Porsche wheels, they were not compatible with the HPI tires I have. Ordered the MX60 slicks that are the only tires that fit them, RCmart still had a new set front and rear.

[1911Colt]

I did open the HPI Porsche wheels, they were not compatible with the HPI tires I have. Ordered the MX60 slicks that are the only tires that fit them, RCmart still had a new set front and rear.

Good call. The Porsche wheels are going to push that van to a whole new level of cool.

With so many VWs on the market, I am surprised that there aren't more wheel choices available.

My Beetle needs these: