Ronin Marui Samurai runner build

[Dadio]

Coming on now , really just wants a receiver and body , I've foregone old school power as this is for running and fitted a 17.5 BL system , I got a pair of spring inside shocks and used one without the spring for the front as it looks really clean .

[Dadio]

The new RX arrived today so it was a quick fit together and she went for her first run , went like a dream so now it's time to break it all down and do the finishing bits , oh must get a body n wing !

[Dadio]

Spoilers ! you should be able to see where I'm going now .

[Dadio]

This has been the most awkward , insolent and complaining thing I have ever modelled in Fusion 360 , its a really difficult shape , it's going to to be an over 9 hour print per side that I'll start tomorrow , fingers crossed .

[Dadio]

very very close



still needs some slight tweaking but it fits

[Dadio]

Made an under chassis guard like the one I did for my other Samurai , its 2mm Kydex.

[Dadio]

Chassis was a little rough so i thought i had a licence to paint it , this is in part inspired by Boromac's build and video on YouTube and in part by the pictures of the prototypes that went to the 85 worlds .



The more I look at it the more I need to change the rear shocks .... this was meant to be a rough runner build

[Dadio]

Not sure what to do about the wing ? might make one out of 1mm white Kydex ? The roof is 1mm white Kydex in these shots and replaces the 3d printed one from earlier so the wing would match . I did think of doing the roof section a bit like a Samurai helmet but thought it was a bit cheesy when I mocked it up in card , it would have protected the rear top shock mounts a bit more though .

[Dadio]

Finally got the replacement corrected gearbox half from Shapeways and it's a perfect fit now , the designer was a really genuine guy .
Also redesigned the body slightly so I'll pop pictures up later

[Dadio]

This is the slightly redesigned body/cage .

[Dadio]

Very nearly there , I have some silver alloy rear shocks coming but otherwise its all done , well I may dye a few red plastic bits black and .....
The Ronin and the Samurai together .

[Coelacanth]

Nice twins. The same...but different!

[samarui]

Finally got the replacement corrected gearbox half from Shapeways and it's a perfect fit now , the designer was a really genuine guy .
Also redesigned the body slightly so I'll pop pictures up later

Amazing work on this build! Curious if you have any other comments on the shapeways GB now that you've had some time with it? Was it on par with original, better? I'm now seeking my third Samurai gearbox, the first failed in 1990, the second failed last year! . Failure points are almost identical - the housing that holds chain drive gear, and some of the gear shaft recesses, and multiple bearings worn down.

On the latter point, wondering if you'd recommend a good source for new bearing kit for the car? I see some on ebay but who knows...!

Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you have. My ride is here:

[Dadio]

Im very happy with the printed gearboxes , they are a nylon not abs plastic like the original so less brittle , however they are in form exactly like the original so the bearing that sits behind the rear sprocket is still only in a very narrow sleave of plastic , i think id have added a little thickness there as you know and i can see in your pictures its a weak point but having said all that my printed one is still fine.
I just got one of the bearing kits of ebay , i found that the smaller bearings are slightly wider than the bushings , mostly this makes no difference exept on the diff out drives , the bushings also have a brass thrust washer on the outdives but it cannot be fitted with the bearings , ive not seen any ill effect from this yet as it does not affect the diff mesh but its just something i found .

[samarui]

That’s great to hear about the shapeways set. I’ll put an order in tomorrow.

I’ll keep an eye on that bearing placement, see what comes to mind, though given my last GB survived 30 years im sure it’ll hold up for a while.

Thanks so much for the insightful and quick response. I was really pleasantly surprised to see your project thread and that it was so recent. I’ll post back here once I get it all back in working order!