Marui Samurai - for the track

[dinglem]

In fact, looking at it more closely, the steering arms are already bent!

[dinglem]

You're right, the Samurai is a real looker. I remember when it first appeared at my LHS, where I worked at the time...and being a muscle car guy, those wheels...icing on the cake! If you're interested in pretty stuff to wear while sitting on the shelf, Pargu in Korea makes aluminum repros of the Samurai wheels.

http://pargustore.blogspot.com/2012/03/pargu2000-alloy-marui-samurai-wheels.html#!/2012/03/pargu2000-alloy-marui-samurai-wheels.html

I have been lucky enough to be able to source a brand new set of original rims and tyres (yeah - those slot mags... oh my days...) so they will be the shelf shoes it wears. I also have a set of adapters for this to enable me to fit a set of alloys which i already have sat here waiting so i will at least be able to use 'normal' 2 inch tyres on it.

I will make it look good - i can picture how i want it in my head. Bodyshell is already off at my painters too

[klavy69]

In fact, looking at it more closely, the steering arms are already bent!

well now you don't have to worry about doing it yourself

Todd

[dinglem]

That is the least of my worries i think....

Saying that, I am literally amazed at how quickly everything I need has popped up. Only a couple of days after getting the car I have sourced everything I need to make it viable again. Still a long way to go, and it will need modifying considerably for full-on track use, but that is the end goal.

[dinglem]

A little self motivation for me.... i absolutely love this (World Championship) picture!!!

[Dadio]

That's a great picture , wide cross section of cars , am I seeing a Zerda , a Dog fighter , 2 Frogs , an RC10 and the Samurai ? Or is that a wild one in the middle not a zerda and a bobcat top right not a frog ?

[dinglem]

That's a great picture , wide cross section of cars , am I seeing a Zerda , a Dog fighter , 2 Frogs , an RC10 and the Samurai ? Or is that a wild one in the middle not a zerda and a bobcat top right not a frog ?

Yeah - fantastic, isn't it? I am sure I could possibly look up the reports from that World Championships and check out the cars involved, although which heat/final that pic is from is a bit of an unknown. Great period shot though.

I have a few more screen grabs of these prototype 'White Samurai's' - very little info on them and pictures are few and far between.

[dinglem]

That's pretty much everything I can find online about these early cars.

[Dadio]

So cool thanks for sharing those pictures ,is that the 1985 worlds then ?

[dinglem]

Yes, 1985 Worlds. The only one Marui sent a team to i believe. The car was still very much in prototype form and was even weaker than the production version, so they struggled to keep them in one piece or so i have read. This white cars look epic though! Love the monster front bumpers - must get something like that on mine.

I was intending doing a load of research, but somebody has already done this and there is info including a write up and all of these pictures on the Dirt Burners web page. (Sorry for nabbing all of the pics but they were too good not to share on here!)

Great motivation for my build anyway.

I have also found a totally cool shot of a full racing Samurai nestled between a Coyote and a Pro Radiant. Probably my three all time fave looking cars and a set of three of which i am lucky to possess myself. It has some interesting roll bars which are kinda cool, especially when you consider the rear training arm set up of the Samurai. I will be looking into that also!

[naushad]

Anti roll bars are likely dirt burner hop ups. They also did alloy nerf bars and alloy undertray parts too.

[isobarik]

By the looks of it the polybutler has been in the rc community for a loooong time

Mvh Iso

[dinglem]

Just realised i had forgotten to update this build thread for a while...

It turns out Samurai tyres have an inside and an outside tread. All these years and i never knew. The wonky squares go to the outside. The wider rears are the same. I wonder whether there is any grip difference if fitted incorrectly?

Bloody great looking rim/tyre combo IMHO. One of the best ever in fact. I am surprised nobody has tried them on other cars (or have they?)...

[dinglem]

...and here is the car, finally starting to look as i had imagined it complete with a variation on the blobby paint scheme and layered stickers. Bit different to red anyway. New wheels and tyres on, just a second battery strap to source. Always loved the look of these.

I do have a brand new ladder chassis to fit at some stage but not really ready to tackle that just at the minute. Then on to electrics.

[coxbros1]

Lots of Samurai action this month! cool cars for sure and yes best looking wheel/tire combo ever