Robb's Bolink Invader #2
Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 4:04 pm
Well, I finished up the O/R, so time to get into the 2nd Invader of my trifecta. This one will just be set up as a typical pan car Invader. This one is just going to be a refresh, not a show restore.
I started off with an early version green chassis, and I initially wanted to stay with that, but it is slowly being converted to a later black chassis version. Outside of plate colors, there are a few other differences over the life of the model.
This is the foundation.
Broke everything down, cleaned up everything as best as possible, and then sat down to day to start assembly. First to put together was the rear pod, and this is where the cheating starts. Right off the bat, I didn't like the main chassis plates, so new black versions were ordered from factoryworks.com I was fine with this addition of black, because to be honest, I liked the mix of green and black on my O/R, so a nice mix was fine for me. And then when I go assembling the rear, I really cheated and went with a later shaft and differential set up, with black hubs, off a later version. I went this route because TBH, it was new and sitting in front of me, and was cleaner than the original parts ended up.
Then add on the main plate. This actually takes a little bit of artistry to get everything lined up, and proper spacers are installed and such.
I started off with an early version green chassis, and I initially wanted to stay with that, but it is slowly being converted to a later black chassis version. Outside of plate colors, there are a few other differences over the life of the model.
This is the foundation.
Broke everything down, cleaned up everything as best as possible, and then sat down to day to start assembly. First to put together was the rear pod, and this is where the cheating starts. Right off the bat, I didn't like the main chassis plates, so new black versions were ordered from factoryworks.com I was fine with this addition of black, because to be honest, I liked the mix of green and black on my O/R, so a nice mix was fine for me. And then when I go assembling the rear, I really cheated and went with a later shaft and differential set up, with black hubs, off a later version. I went this route because TBH, it was new and sitting in front of me, and was cleaner than the original parts ended up.
Then add on the main plate. This actually takes a little bit of artistry to get everything lined up, and proper spacers are installed and such.
I found enough screws in the stash to make it work, and had a few bags of official Bolink 5-40 nylon lined nuts. I also managed to lose a few spacers of various widths, but had an official bag of Bolink spacers on hand to handle that.