New Projects For 2023

Hello fellow RC enthusiasts from around the World, I hope you are well and also wish you a belated Happy New Year.

In the next 11 months, I will hopefully finishing off some projects from last year and also looking to buy a (can I say rare) Tamiya Avante. I do intend to buy one in the box so I can show you a detailed build process. I say this because I have seen many video's of the Avante, but never a detailed build and only the paint work and details. In the blog I intend to write will be a full break down of the parts and the build. 

However, with funds being few and bills being high, it will take many months to save for one. I'm sure we are well aware of the price tag of this car, so you can expect this project very late in the year. I also want to experiment with a different colour scheme I have in mind and stay clear of the box art for this buggy and make it stand out. The Avante is an iconic 80's Tamiya race buggy that won nothing in terms of Championships and yet it has won the heart of millions of Tamiya fans around the World for an amazing 35years. Apparently, Tamiya enlisted the help of a designer who also worked for NASA on the Challenger program. As a result, the buggy was over designed, too heavy and very expensive. 

It has a mid mount motor and is quite well balanced, but it was way too heavy to compete with the likes of the PB's, Kyosho's and Schumacher's of the day. Warts and all said, it's still, to this day, a beautifully designed car and something to behold. It's an amazing piece of engineering, of which I fully respect! Now, with a saving plan set up, all we can do is look forward to this epic build. 

To make the Avante purchase a reality, I have to sell my Schumacher CATXLS full custom buggy, which cost me £1311 to build from brand new and uprated parts only. However, I think the colour choices I used out off potential buyers.

 Therefore my plan is to buy a new body shell, undertray, wing, wheels and tyres and take it back to box art. I will keep this body shell, undertray, wheels and tyres for original XLS as I do still love the colour scheme. 

 I do love the white wheels yet, the black rims and Schumacher mini darts look a lot better.

A new body shell, undertray, rear wing, wheels and tyres will be over a £100. 

Above is a picture of my Kyosho Beetle. As you can see, it is not a standard looking Kyosho Beetle. I have changed the rear hub fittings to the 12mm hex fitting kit allowing a pair of 2.2" RC Racing pepper pot wheels a pair of brand new Schumacher full pin tyres. At the front wheels, I have used original white Kyosho five hole wheels and the kit tyres. I have finished the wheels off with four contrasting orange M4 nyloc nuts. 

 I have also painted the side running boards in matte black paint to match the front and rear bumpers. I also intend to fit a genuine Kyosho rear wing to the Beetle I took from my Kyosho Optima Mid kit that is perfect for this great looking buggy! My further plans for this car involve ceramic bearings, so please stay tuned for new Beetle news.

To be truthful, I wish I had painted my Optima Mid rerelease in the Turbo yellow colour scheme and added the Turbo Optima decals rather than the standard Mid white. 

Therefore a new bodyshell needs to be ordered. The price of an authentic Kyosho bodyshell is £56 plus delivery. I already have the Turbo Mid decals, so again, I need to save up. I would also love to fit the Marwan repro Good Year tyres so I can add another £60 to this project. A wish list!!

Another car that will be leaving me this year is LC Racing PTG-2 Lancia Delta Integrale. Again this will help fund the purchase of the super expensive Tamiya Avante.

It's a shame to sell this car, because it is a great chassis with superb handling. Fully adjustable alloy shocks that are silky smooth. It also has a full aluminium chassis that is super strong.

When I bought this car, it did not come with a bodyshell and I had to buy it separate from the rolling chassis. It was made by Hot Bodies and was quite expensive at £55. However, the quality is outstanding and it even has the LED light holders already installed.

I had also hoped to have upgrade many parts on the Delta to full alloy (as there's loads available), but unfortunately funds will not allow.

That's all for the moment my friends.

I am sure there will loads more details, cars and RC enthusiasm this year guys. I will update this page on a need to know ASAP basis!

All best wishes around the World.

catxls.com

2023