Mr. ED and the Bling Bug (optima mid)

[Mr. ED]

Finished another one for the shelves. The bling stuff is not something I'd go for on a race car, but it's kind of functional on this car.
The suspension geometry is improved and now similar to what you'd find on a Lazer. The arms also increased the wheelbase: now about the same as on a LWB optima mid, even though it's just the standard SWB chassis.
Some of the less visible upgrades: no more clamp-on hexes but descent cross-pin hexes, steel idler gear, one-way diff in the front.

Picture time:

[yellowdatsun]

Not a huge fan of Bug bodies, BUT, I do love the rest of the car, and especially like blue anodized aluminum. Plus I have a soft spot for Optima Mids, since I had one as a kid.

[TRX-1-3]

Bitchin' Bug. Like the tires.

Mark

[Coelacanth]

I'm not a Bug fan either, but that's a great paint-job! Of course, I like the blue alloy bits beneath the sheets too.

[DennisM]

I like it -
Nice take on the front body mount.

[Mr. ED]

Thanks all.
I have about 13 buggies on my shelves by now. None of them had alu arms and all had buggy bodies. So this will stand out nicely.
By the way, all parts and the body are from my stash of some new but mainly used stuff, except the shocks. I bought those on a black friday sell-out.

[HKS_TRD]

Looks amazing, any more details on the wishbones?

[Mr. ED]

Looks amazing, any more details on the wishbones?

Thanks. All the blue alu parts in the suspension are a kit for the tamiya df03. Eagle Racing or something similar.

[Hcp22]

Grate looking car Ed, I like it

[losiXXXman]

Thumbs up on your Mid Beetle Erik. Looking good. (Also good to see you around these parts tinkering again.) I have been trying to get out in the garage more myself... Don't have anything worthy of photographing to share yet..

[Mr. ED]

I didn't plan to run this one, but my crawler gave up on me. Got a new one on order, but it's still on its way.
So I salvaged the solid axles, electronics, wheels, tires and battery. Replaced the blue suspension bits with mid originals and mixed it all together.

It still looks somewhat the same, but what a difference when the 790kv and tiny pinion make it crawl up on the enduro hills.

[rccars4sal]

DF-03,, Ill have to remember that. I ran out of opt mid suspension, but have the rest of the guts for another car. Sweet looking bug. Really cool paint job.

Oh yeah, the wheels too,, I LIke! They resemble the MRC wheels,, but I think not.

[HKS_TRD]

Looks amazing, any more details on the wishbones?

Thanks. All the blue alu parts in the suspension are a kit for the tamiya df03. Eagle Racing or something similar.

Did you get them from eBay. I think I found the fronts but couldn't find the rears.
Do they need any modification or spacers to work on the mid?

[Diggley]

I didn't plan to run this one, but my crawler gave up on me. Got a new one on order, but it's still on its way.
So I salvaged the solid axles, electronics, wheels, tires and battery. Replaced the blue suspension bits with mid originals and mixed it all together.

It still looks somewhat the same, but what a difference when the 790kv and tiny pinion make it crawl up on the enduro hills.

WP_DS20160724.jpg

The crawler set up looks great!


Those wheels really compliment the paint.

[Mr. ED]

Thank you.
The chromed wheels with green beadlock are from wltoys. The black ones... lrp or fastrax perhaps.
The blue arms I bought about 9 years ago in Japan in the local shop.
I used the complete set: axle carriers, c-carriers and steering knuckles. Only using the arms didn't work well amd required lots of spacers, grinding the arms... No good.
I believe I also used 2mm longer driveshafts than with the stock or lazer suspension.