Reproduction parts? Poll!

[mytimac]

I am toying with the idea of having some parts reproduced for some of the vintage Losi stuff. Molds will cost a fortune, I am sure. But might be enough interest from the people who want to run them and not just have them sit on a shelf.

So what parts are people really looking for? Feel free to post ones I missed that you really want.

[fakiee]

Front XX/XXT brace seem to be pretty scarce these days.

[aconsola]

I don't think it would pay to do any molded parts, especially if you are aiming at the runner crowd. all are still available enough that I have built a couple cars from NIP parts.

For runners I just buy decent looking used car lots and sell off the excess. most of the guys at the vonats seemed to have similar bins of used parts as spares.

Aside from lexan, stickers,(both already done), and graphite chassis plates, The hard to find parts are really the early variations of running changes. All of the variations are things that I would say most would want original parts for a restoration. Things like no or jrx2 stamped motor plates, black bellcranks, aluminum outdrive spacers, no-hole rear shock towers and the like.

Doug had some aluminum screws black anodized a while back, there may be some interest in another run of those for shelfers.

ohh, and this applies only to pre-xx vehicles, I don't do any losi with more than one x in the name.

[mytimac]

I agree with you completely on a lot of that in the short term. But long term things are going to be needed and the prices just keep climbing on the new and used stuff.
This isn't some thing that you could expect to make you money back on in 6 months. It could be a year or more. It is a fun hobby thing, not a get rich quick scheme.

If I do have a mold made it helps that I have a friend with actual experience designing injection molds. Plus I wouldn't just do a mold for one part, it would be a tree of parts all done at same time.

If and when this happened it would be more like a next year at earliest. I have to research mold costs, plastic material, copyright issues, and final part cost for the customer before pulling the trigger.

[fredswain]

What if there was a source of these parts that weren't exact copies but had the same length and geometry? Kind of like the RPM Worlds arms and the Dynotech arms? Would there be an interest?

[highwayracer]

Based on what I see people needing, I think 5 link parts would in in somewhat high demand. Parts like the lower rear spring retainers and the 4 plastic links would be welcomed. If these were reproductions....as in not exactly to specifications, then I would think a version that had little to no play would be the way to go.

[shirochanwrx]

I think making *replacement* parts rather than *reproduction" parts would be great ... that way the runner crowd can obtain essential spares while satisfying the folks who want to respect the intellectual property of the original designer(s) and copyrights.

I would second the 5-link rear lower shock perches of similar or somewhat more robust design.

Also, a ball bearing bellcrank set designed to use a standard bearing size would be great.

[mytimac]

Just as an FYI, I have made an inquiry to a higher up at Horizon about molding more a1101 XX Front Bulkheads and the answer I got back was, "Unfortunately we are probably not going to release that part again.
Sales are quite low and the minimum order quantity to produce that part
again is very high".

Bummer!

[aradaiel]

I've had a hard time getting xxt transmission cases.

I still need one, haven't run into one in a while

[murphy3428]

You need xxt parts here you go http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/tag/2931681570.html Make sure you use the password to see the pics of alot of losi parts

[milkyd]

are you still thinking of doing this?

[License2iLL]

Funny the part needed the most is "are you nuts? " why would anyone vote that? why not just let other's enjoy their cars and have another round of limited parts go out? if they can? period the end.

my vote goes for rear bottom shock perches and the side links or all 4 links in one damm package NOT per side. but the perches could be seperate.

2)shock braces for original shocks.

[mytimac]

Yes this is very much still alive.
The first up is most likely going to be the older transmission gears.
I have brand new sets of both the low friction and original gears to use as source design.

The JRX2 and JRXT lower shock mounts might be next if those work out.

[milkyd]

feel like this is going to be sweet!

[mytimac]

After the a1101 topic in the other thread I figured it was time to do an update for this one.

I have checked different avenues to get these parts made.

So far it looks like new tooling will have to be done for anything we want. I contacted Losi with a long list of parts I was willing to invest in getting made by either having them make it or buying the old tooling. I was told that the tooling was either worn out or broken. I find this a little hard to believe that ALL the tooling is bad, it was a long list. But I am not going to push the issue. I think the real issue is that it is not profitable enough for them. Not that there is no profit, just not enough to justify the work.

So while I was looking at that I sent a whole bunch of parts to an injection molding company.

The a1101, not realistic to get made in lower quantities because it has to be run by itself in a mold due to the design. It is a very complex part for injection molding and CNC. It really is a horribly designed part for manufacturing ease.
So that puts me at the redesign phase for a1101. There are 2 different designs I hope to prototype in the next few months. I have to 3d print the designs and then tweak them until it is ready for final manufacturing.

As of right now the other parts under final consideration that would be included with the a1101, are a1110 xx front arms, a1001 jrx2 front arms, a4110 chassis brace (just the main part), a2000 jrx2 trailing link mounts, a2004 suspension links, and a1016 LXT front arms. I am not going to lie, it is a big investment. Financially it would probably make more sense to do Team Associated parts, but I think we all know by now I am a Team Losi guy.

As I tell others I know, the parts at old hobby stores are getting fewer and fewer. Someone has to either start making new ones or we all start getting comfortable to used parts selling for the same prices new parts are fetching right now.

I really wish Losi would have worked with me, because the costs are big. It will slow things down, but it will happen. I had been trying for this year until i was told the a1101 just wouldn't work in a mold with the other parts I had. So it might be next year.