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From several weeks I'm restoring a Super Astute bought after Christmas 2014. The car was in awful condition (previous owner said it was perfect): missed screws, rusted turnbuckles, cracked plastics and generally dirt and neglected.
For first I've disassembled the car and divided all the parts candidates to be saved from the other to be discarded.
I made a huge inventory of the new parts needed and I'm buying it in several steps to avoid the bankrupt.

The build of this car isn't, from its start, a true restore; it wants to be a kind of upgrading made on my own specifics.



Many parts are 3d printed and I'm using stainless steel screws all around.



New housing, polished motor plate, full ball raced, gears deeply cleaned.





The TTC sits in place, Corally 16x2 brushed motor refurbished by me



Handmade battery stops, it needs to be finished and polished but I'm happy.

Nice build and looking great so far! Like the homemade battery tray!

Super Astute was my first 2wd off road buggy so got a soft spot for it!

Wow! did u print that front bulkhead! it looks great with the incorporated bracing! nice job

looks like u did the steering belcranks too, they look nice and beefy, the standard ones were a bit too fragile

Yes, great work with the custom parts. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Delorean wrote:Wow! did u print that front bulkhead! it looks great with the incorporated bracing! nice job

looks like u did the steering belcranks too, they look nice and beefy, the standard ones were a bit too fragile

All the 3D prints come from ORB Racing in the Netherlands.
Bulkhead and brace are two separated pieces... I've asked them for a single piece but they need time.
I'm going to send them Mad Cap arms to obtain a 3D printed copy gain stiffness (I don't own SA arms but MC ones are slim and I prefer how them look).

RichieRich wrote:Yes, great work with the custom parts. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Yesterday I made some tests with a standard servo and I have to say that there isn't much room. Some stuff are coming and I will try to clean a little the chassis around the battery. Not many ideas and confused

in my astute i ran a low profile servo and put the battery holder as far forward as it would go so i could move the battery forward and back to adjust the weight balance

even if the bulkhead and brace are 2 pieces, they look great!!

Turnbuckles and more in place. Using Tamiya IFS suspension's rocker as inner pivots I tried to limit the MadCap arm's twist problem (awaiting for 3D printed ones). Turnbuckes are completed with 5mm ends outer and with 6mm ends inner so I will be ready to swap to uniballs if necessary.

Battery holder almost complete. I took inspiration from the modern Lipo holder, I will build a battery strap ASAP. Some Urethane cuts will help the battery to sits in place.

Full MadCap setup for the back, arms needed minor modifications. Some doubts about unis integrity

Complete, thanks for watching.

Wow, I really like how this turned out? How does it run?

lmwong wrote:Wow, I really like how this turned out? How does it run?

Thanks

I drove it for a pair of times on tarmac because of old and tired wheels: it's fantastic, precise and stable, well balanced... it needs only some set up adjustment (springs). Received 2 or 3 days ago Schumacher tires for grass and it's all ready for next holidays.

I like the build - you've put a modern twist to it. I have a super astute that I'm going to do in Box style.

The shell is nice...what was the inspiration for the decals?

Many thanks! The body work is made more by a need than by an inspiration ... I'm not a great painter so I called in my help some stickers and in particular the Tamiya style skulls made by B-side Label in Japan.