My 1st Build Thread - all carbon original B2

[erichevy]

My B3 build will be a mixed up too... I have the same "short" B2 chassis in Carbon, but everything else on mine will be B3 Factory Team stuff. It'll still be cool

[R Cane]

If I have to use a B3 plate, it will just be until I find a B2 one. Trying to get it to all original B2 parts when it's done.

[erichevy]

If I have to use a B3 plate, it will just be until I find a B2 one. Trying to get it to all original B2 parts when it's done.

Same goes for me.... if I ever find a "new" B3 standard length carbon chassis... not holding my breath tho

Can wait to see yours come together.

[slotcarrod]

My B3 build will be a mixed up too... I have the same "short" B2 chassis in Carbon, but everything else on mine will be B3 Factory Team stuff. It'll still be cool

Hey you don't have to worry about using a short chassis on a B3 replica. Although the original FT B3 was a standard length, the short chassis is an option part. The only thing it should have is two extra holes under the rear shock tower for a rear sway bar mount!

Many of the B2 parts crossed over to the B3 and even kept the B2 name on the header card (like your top plate), the parts were just updated.

[erichevy]

My B3 build will be a mixed up too... I have the same "short" B2 chassis in Carbon, but everything else on mine will be B3 Factory Team stuff. It'll still be cool

Hey you don't have to worry about using a short chassis on a B3 replica. Although the original FT B3 was a standard length, the short chassis is an option part. The only thing it should have is two extra holes under the rear shock tower for a rear sway bar mount!

Many of the B2 parts crossed over to the B3 and even kept the B2 name on the header card (like your top plate), the parts were just updated.

Thanks for the info It makes me feel better now. I have about 95% of everything I need to build it up. Searching for new in package parts has been fun, but I think I'm going to end up with the most expensive B3 on the planet, lol. All those little parts add up quick!!!

[R Cane]

Yes they do.

[R Cane]

Ok, so the beginning of this build was a B2 I picked up pretty cheap from Craig's. It was about 85% original, with a couple B3 parts and a couple misc things, like an Integy wing and RPM gear cover. I was originally going to just get regular composite B2 parts and use it as a runner, since it had been well used - it had its fair share of scratches and minor dings, but very little actual damage. Anyway, I started looking for parts, and found a couple carbon upgrades at a pretty good price, and it just snowballed from there until it became "damn, I may as well just do it right".
I'm using some of the parts from the B2 I bought - the ones that are still in nice condition, but it will end up being at least 75% new when I'm done. It will have all of the period available carbon upgrades; I went with the short chassis.
The only thing I'm not going to try to be completely accurate with is some hardware - I grabbed a period correct Trinity B2 purple screw set - (thanks Aaron!) to break up the monotony of all the black parts. Sorry to the purists, but I gotta be me!

Pretty much all the remaining parts I need are (supposed to be) arriving this week, so I went ahead and got a couple things moving, as I was antsy to see how the purple would look on there.

So far, I like it.

[broodenburg]

Yep.... that looks nice already

[slotcarrod]

The purple screws are sweet!

[R Cane]

Got a bunch of parts today, from 5 different places...
I can only put a few components together, and do some simple mock-ups...I still have a few important parts that aren't here yet.
I rebuilt the trans today, smooth as silk. The case and outdrives were pretty beat up - so I replaced them - but all the innards were in great shape, so I was able to clean them and reuse them.

[erichevy]

Lookin' great so far. I finally received my last parts in the mail for my B3 build today.... The transmission is the only used item on my entire project.... but it looks new Not sure when I'll get around to assembling it. I have a WOIN project that is taking priority. This thread will definitely spark a fire to get me going on mine I think. Keep the pictures coming please.

[broodenburg]

looks great!

more pictures please

[R Cane]

Some progress, though not all as I would have liked it...
I've had to use a few of the original parts that I wanted to replace because of cosmetic issues. The shock caps are the original aluminum, not the later composite, and so far I've been unable to find replacements. So the old ones are on there for now, and I will either send them to get recolored, or do it myself, if I get up the motivation to collect all the equipment I need to do it.

I ordered replacement turnbuckles, and as you can see in the picture, the top one is new, but I had to reuse the old ones for the steering - and in the rear - because the ones I ordered, though the same part number, etc...were a completely different length. Grumble

Also, the shock bodies are not in bad condition, I just wanted them to be like new...I ordered new bodies, and of course...not all the same color shade. So again for now, the old ones are on there - not a big deal, they are in fairly decent shape.
And yes, I know - the top plate is the carbon B3 version...it's there until I find a correct B2 one and replace it.

I rebuilt the shocks, using Unobtanium shafts.

[R Cane]

[R Cane]

And of course, I have a handful of the purple screws left over...
The screw kit said visible screws only, but there aren't but a couple places left to use them, such as mounting the servo to the chassis.
And also, the screws are not the same length as the ones original to the kit, so I can't use them in some places I'd like to, because they are too long or too short...
I might cut a bit of length off of a couple and use them for the gear cover...