RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I liked my sons Sand Scorcher so much I converted my Buggy Champ to Herbie.
Posted on: 3/26/2011 6:16 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10424784

RE: Official Tamiya Sand Scorcher Re-Release thread
My son and I are working on this Sand Scorcher.
Posted on: 3/4/2011 6:32 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10379468

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: Lunchboxer Nice.. with your machining capability, maybe you can start selling some hop-ups, ha!! [:D] [/quote] I'd be happy to help out anyone that I can, time permitting. I don't want a hobby to turn into another job.
Posted on: 3/3/2011 7:02 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10377658

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I eliminated a lot of slop in the front end of my Buggy Champ today. I'll take photos the next time I take it apart. What I did was bore new upper and lower tubes for the front end with .228" + .001" bores, and then turned new upper and lower trailing arm shafts from heat treated 15-5ph stainless with .228" - .001" shafts. I also bored out the centers of my wheels to accept bearing spacers, turned the spacers to fit, and installed shim washers. My front wheels now actually run on the bearings instead of wobbling around on the spindles! These mods eliminated most of the slop in the front end, but the ball joints are still sloppy. I'm not sure how to fix that yet, but I have a few ideas.[:D]
Posted on: 3/3/2011 5:33 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10377469

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I machined some solid wheel halves to spruce up the stock plastic wheel centers. I want to use these for another set of tires. My question is, what tires are available that will fit Buggy Champ wheels?
Posted on: 3/2/2011 4:39 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10363600

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
My wheels came in yesterday. Today I fabricated a skid plate, and finished the paint on the body. I think I'm going to leave the driver out, I never put him in my Rough Rider either.
Posted on: 3/2/2011 4:37 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10361238

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I'm still waiting on parts, but I started on the paint, fabricated a new skid plate/bumper, and began assembling the camber correction kit for my Buggy Champ.
Posted on: 3/2/2011 4:35 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10355926

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: ElectricGuy007 Those rims are awesome! The only question I have is how to glue them? They must be beadlocks. [/quote] Yeah, they'll be bead locks once I fit them to the center sections. I'm going to make another set to fit Sand Scorcher tires. Some pics of the complted Buggy Champ. Also, if anyone else buys the camber correction kit the cap screws I have circled in red in the photo of the rear end are too long as they come with the kit. If you don't trim them down a little they protrude into the knuckle and will tear the rubber boots on the universals.
Posted on: 3/2/2011 4:31 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10367275

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I started on the Sand Scorcher for my son, this mod takes a ton of slop out of the rear end. I drilled and tapped the shock screw hole all of the way through to the counterbore for the extra bearing, and then used a grub screw to hold it in place.
Posted on: 3/2/2011 4:30 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10370050

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
Got it LB, thanks!
Posted on: 3/1/2011 7:04 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10373317

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I think I figured it out. This is the original Sand Scorcher I picked up on E-bay. I will tear it completely down for a re-build once I get the new one finished, but I did get some new tires, install a new bumper, and machine some new rims for it in the mean time.
Posted on: 3/1/2011 6:48 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10373263

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: Lunchboxer If you actually upload the pictures to RCU (instead of linking your Photobucket), it will show up as the small thumbnails.. ! [/quote] How do you do that?
Posted on: 3/1/2011 6:39 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10373235

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I've found couple of brushless conversions guys have done looking while searching the web. It would be nice to get one set up so that you could program the throttle curve to go easy on the drivetrain. I'm thinking the differential would help a lot with all of that power also. How do you guys post the thumbnails in your posts? I feel out of place being the new guy and all of my photos are full size. [:D]
Posted on: 3/1/2011 6:06 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10373143

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I almost have my Buggy Champ done per the instructions. I have an original Sand Scorcher here for comparison and the first thing I notice is that the re-release front suspension has a way sloppier fit than the original due to the shafts that the upper and lower arms ride on are sloppy in the tubes that connect the left and right (axles), and the tubes are a sloppy fit to the (axles) themselves. I will correct his by machining custom tubes with a slip fit. Another issue is that the front wheel bearings don't have a spacer between them so the inner races are just flopping around on the spindles. I'll open up the center section of the wheels so a spacer will fit between the bearings and then stack up washers behind the nut to take up the rest of the slack to solve that. I have an idea to add an extra set of bearing on the inside of the rear A arms to take up some slop there too.
Posted on: 2/27/2011 12:39 AM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10366601

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
Glenn, I think I like the plain chassis plate better than the fancy ones, mine hasn't arrived yet though. Skinned, I like those wheels a lot. Where did you get them?
Posted on: 2/23/2011 2:49 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10358461

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: Lunchboxer I'm bad at painting.. ha! Maybe you can get your kid to do it for you?! [/quote] Yeah, but he'd just want to paint the driver to look like Luke Skywalker or something. [:D] Kids aren't into that sort of thing as much as they used to be. I used to paint every detail, down to the lug nuts on some of my plastic scale models. Sometimes I'd even use sewing thread to simulate spark plug wires.
Posted on: 2/22/2011 5:56 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10356419

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
The ball diff is the main thing I'm waiting on. BTW, is there someone that paints details like the dash panel and the driver? My hands aren't steady enough, and my eyes aren't sharp enough to do that sort of thing anymore.
Posted on: 2/22/2011 5:23 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10356314

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
The disease worsens, I have a Sand Scorcher inbound for my son now. I plan to build the Buggy Champ with the differential, aluminum chassis, sport tuned motor, and camber correction kit, but leave the Sand Scorcher stock just to see what the difference in handling etc. is.
Posted on: 2/18/2011 5:46 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10346673

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: Lunchboxer I wonder how well those radios work.. very affordable, it seems.. Keep us posted! [/quote] I guess I'll find out! What radio do you recommend? I had a real nice 7ch Futaba for my helicopters.
Posted on: 2/14/2011 12:49 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10335855

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I think I've ordered everything I'll need except the servo. Any input would be appreciated on my choice of parts. Buggy Champ kit from Tower. Rear suspension/cage [link]http://www.rccarparts.biz/product_info.php?cPath=67&products_id=467&osCsid=a6cc54bb7942562e255e62931be3ab3d[/link] The wheels I posted above. Tamiya ball differential. Sport tuned motor. Aluminum chassis [link]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320655720980&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT[/link] Batteries [link]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250748192952&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT[/link] Hyperion EOS0606i AC/DC Balance Charger. TX/RX [link]http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10608[/link] I will fabricate my own skidplate similar to the one from Awesome alloys, and maybe a front skid plate/bumper althought I kind of like the original bumper. This is going to be fun!
Posted on: 2/14/2011 11:40 AM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10335709

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: Lunchboxer Be sure to post some pics of your project once you got all the parts!! [/quote] I will. After some more searching I've decided to go with these wheels. [link]http://store.rc4wd.com/Beadlock-Wheels-for-Tamiya-Buggy-Champ_p_271.html[/link] Edit: What is a good servo for these?
Posted on: 2/14/2011 4:14 AM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10333194

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: skinned [quote]ORIGINAL: my65pan Edit: I see that Awesome-alloys is no longer making the chassis/skid plates. I have every intention of making something similar for my buggy. Would there be any interest in more of these? [/quote] yes!!![:D] [/quote] Well, I ordered the RC Channel rear suspension kit, the ball differential kit, and I found another type of aluminum chassis
Posted on: 2/13/2011 9:09 AM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10332868

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
[quote]ORIGINAL: AutoXMan I can give you advice on the radio... http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=16199 That looks out of stock, so this one works too, just not as programmable, but will do the job for sure... http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10608 [/quote] Wow, it looks like getting back into RC cars is going to be way easier on my checkbook than helicopters were! Thanks for the links.
Posted on: 2/12/2011 9:35 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10331985

RE: Tamiya Buggy Champ 2009 Resource Thread!
I haven't been into RC cars for almost 30 years. This morning I decide to see if there's any info on the web regarding the RC buggy I had back then, I couldn't even remember who the mfg. was or anything. Imagine how happy I was when I found this thread searching the site! I ordered one right away and can't wait to get busy putting it together. I have a lot of questions. How do I get in touch with RC Champ for the camber correction kit? I remember buying aluminum wheel inserts for my old car, are these still available? Also, what is recommended for a TX? I was flying RC helicopters for a while, but I would imagine something much simpler will do for an electric car? I've been a machinist for most of the years since I last had one of these cars so I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can come up with for upgrades. Edit: I see that Awesome-alloys is no longer making the chassis/skid plates. I have every intention of making something similar for my buggy. Would there be any interest in more of these?
Posted on: 2/12/2011 4:18 PM by Author "my65pan" in the forum "RC Electric Off-Road Trucks, Buggies, Truggies and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10331330