New Build - NIB B2 Japan Export

[Tang]

Good morning, everyone!

I ended up snagging a NIB RC10 B2! This was a Japanese export, so I'm excited to see if there are any differences from the domestic kits. I'm going to kill half of what I paid to build this thing, but I can't resist. The RC10 B2 was my second ever hobby grade kit, being gifted one by my parents back in 1995 after racing my World's Car at Doug's Hobby Shop in Waldorf Maryland for a year. The nostalgia has me super excited for this, so stay tuned!

[Tang]

Okay, here we go! Started by opening everything up to perform an inventory. Good news, everything has been accounted for. Looks like a fairly basic kit for a Japan release, with the only easy to spot difference so far being the tires. Interestingly enough, in lieu of the typical Proline Edge XTR (front) and Flat Stubbie XTR (rear), we have Proline Wide Five fronts and 8082 "Fuzzie" rears. Interesting combo. While I'm stoked to see Wide Fives, I wish the rears were the harder to find Flat Stubbies. Either way, I enjoy the uniqueness, and am ready to get this build moving forward!

After doing the parts inventory, I spent some time reading through the manual. It's so nice to see the photos in person, as so much detail is lost on the digitized ones we see online. Also, this manual is different, with a lot more detail than the downloadable one on Associated's site. You'll see more of this throughout the build, as I tend to build my cars on top of the open manual. Always have haha!

Miscellaneous brochures, stickers, and advertisements

Look at those Wide Fives!

Standard length chassis

More to come a bit later as the build commences!

[jcwrks]

Full transparency since that was my kit at one time. Those tires were not the official B2 kit tires. IIRC I bought it from a guy in Thailand who shipped it without F&R tires, or it was just the fronts that were missing. I'd have to dig thru messages to figure it out. When I sold it, I just tossed in the closest period correct tires I had in my stash. I disclosed that to the buyer. I do not believe that was disclosed when you purchased it. If ocd kicks in you could source the correct kit tires relatively easy.

[Tang]

Full transparency since that was my kit at one time. Those tires were not the official B2 kit tires. IIRC I bought it from a guy in Thailand who shipped it without F&R tires, or it was just the fronts that were missing. I'd have to dig thru messages to figure it out. When I sold it, I just tossed in the closest period correct tires I had in my stash. I disclosed that to the buyer. I do not believe that was disclosed when you purchased it. If ocd kicks in you could source the correct kit tires relatively easy.

Ah, that makes sense. The thought crossed my mind, as the wheel and tire bags were not grouped together as they typically are, and they weren't tagged. Really appreciate the info, though! Cool to see how these kits bounce around other enthusiasts. I do want to make this 100% original, so the hunt for tires is on! If you have any leads for the correct tires, I'd be happy to trade or buy them outright.

[Dbar1681]

Ok. It's been awhile, but my memory doesn't agree with your comment. I don't recall you specifying to me that you just "tossed in some period correct tires". I was led to believe that Jap kit came with different tires.
I wouldn't intentionally mislead a buyer by not specifying this if it was told to me. If I'm wrong please share the email showing you told me this. I never would have bought a kit that wasn't complete. I NEVER HAVE.

Full transparency since that was my kit at one time. Those tires were not the official B2 kit tires. IIRC I bought it from a guy in Thailand who shipped it without F&R tires, or it was just the fronts that were missing. I'd have to dig thru messages to figure it out. When I sold it, I just tossed in the closest period correct tires I had in my stash. I disclosed that to the buyer. I do not believe that was disclosed when you purchased it. If ocd kicks in you could source the correct kit tires relatively easy.

[Dbar1681]

Ok. It's been awhile, but my memory doesn't agree with John's comment. I don't recall him specifying to me that you just "tossed in some period correct tires". I was led to believe that Jap kit came with different tires.
I wouldn't intentionally mislead a buyer by not specifying this if it was told to me. If I'm wrong I invite him to please share the email showing he told me this. I never would have bought a kit that wasn't complete. I NEVER HAVE.

[Tang]

Listen, it's a bit of a bummer that I don't have the correct tires, but I don't regret the purchase either way. When dealing with unsealed vintage products there's always the chance that something won't be correct. The buyer certainly has some responsibility to verify what they're purchasing. I asked a question to verify something that was important to me before I bought this, and I got what I needed. I suspected the tires may not be correct, but a photo of them was provided, and I got exactly what was shown. No hard feelings here. I say squash this and enjoy my build

[Charlie don't surf]

So far it's an earlier kit since the chassis doesn't have the MSC holes. Hoping for white servo horn and servo mounts on this one for you.


And I prob have the box front tires NIP....but the wide fives and the Yokie rears will look cooler anyway!

[jcwrks]

Ah, that makes sense. The thought crossed my mind, as the wheel and tire bags were not grouped together as they typically are, and they weren't tagged. Really appreciate the info, though! Cool to see how these kits bounce around other enthusiasts. I do want to make this 100% original, so the hunt for tires is on! If you have any leads for the correct tires, I'd be happy to trade or buy them outright.

I think I have the fronts in a proline box. If so I’ll swap you out for the Wide-Fives.

[Tang]

And here we go!

Kicking this off with the front suspension. Getting the parts out and putting the steering/carrier blocks together

Steering blocks to the arms and arms to the bulkhead

Shock tower!

Doing turnbuckles is always fun. I do love how they put an image to scale for the correct starting length. Also, I completely expected the ball stud dust covers to disintegrate, but they're still fine!

[Tang]

Ah, that makes sense. The thought crossed my mind, as the wheel and tire bags were not grouped together as they typically are, and they weren't tagged. Really appreciate the info, though! Cool to see how these kits bounce around other enthusiasts. I do want to make this 100% original, so the hunt for tires is on! If you have any leads for the correct tires, I'd be happy to trade or buy them outright.

I think I have the fronts in a proline box. If so I’ll swap you out for the Wide-Fives.

Please don't feel like you have to do anything here. I have no negative feelings about what went down in the past, or what I have in my possession. Having said that, if you have the 6877 edge tires, I'd definitely be interested in a trade. I love the wide fives, but feel like they're wasted on me. I don't plan on doing a 93 Kinwald build or anything, so I'm sure someone out there will get better use from them. I'd be happy to add a few bucks if your set is in the Proline box. These are unused, but obviously don't come with a box. What's the Proline part number for the tires you have? I always wondered what that translated to, since 6877 is the Associated part number.

[jcwrks]

Please don't feel like you have to do anything here. I have no negative feelings about what went down in the past, or what I have in my possession. Having said that, if you have the 6877 edge tires, I'd definitely be interested in a trade. I love the wide fives, but feel like they're wasted on me. I don't plan on doing a 93 Kinwald build or anything, so I'm sure someone out there will get better use from them. I'd be happy to add a few bucks if your set is in the Proline box. These are unused, but obviously don't come with a box. What's the Proline part number for the tires you have? I always wondered what that translated to, since 6877 is the Associated part number.

I was just offering to offer. Nothing more. Sadly my boxed Pro-line fronts are Edge 2 XTR's.

[Tang]

Please don't feel like you have to do anything here. I have no negative feelings about what went down in the past, or what I have in my possession. Having said that, if you have the 6877 edge tires, I'd definitely be interested in a trade. I love the wide fives, but feel like they're wasted on me. I don't plan on doing a 93 Kinwald build or anything, so I'm sure someone out there will get better use from them. I'd be happy to add a few bucks if your set is in the Proline box. These are unused, but obviously don't come with a box. What's the Proline part number for the tires you have? I always wondered what that translated to, since 6877 is the Associated part number.

I was just offering to offer. Nothing more. Sadly my boxed Pro-line fronts are Edge 2 XTR's.

That is very nice of you. The manual actually lists the Proline part number for the correct fronts, it's 8145. I found a site that suggests Proline marketed them as the Edge 2, where Associated marketed them as Edge in part number 6877.

[jcwrks]

Those should be relatively easy to find.

[Charlie don't surf]

I'll double check tonight, but I'm 90% I have a pair NIP