WLToys curiosity project

[Russ Winn]

I've had the building/tinkering bug lately. I'm pretty much done with the cars I have, and honestly, I don't have the money to build what I'd really like...Anyways, I still get tires and odd hardware from Amazon periodically. I never paid much attention to the RC cars they have, until now...I took the chance on this WLToys model 124007..1/12 scale 4wd buggy. I figured, if the car was junk, I could use the electronics and parts for a scratchbuild project.

I could not believe how this car is built ! ...Metal chassis, shock towers and suspension tie-bars...gear diffs, full bearings (including the steering rack), turnbuckles, multiple camber mounts, drilled for droop screws, VERY nice threaded body aluminum shocks, metal cv front and dogbone rear axles, 4300Kv motor, and a 2s 2200Mah Lipo battery (with deans plugs)....$ 120.00 brand new complete!
The car feels very solidly built. So far, the only real drawbacks are the CHEAP transmitter (no servo reverse, or dual rate), and the lack of programming for the ESC (or, I haven't found any info on it yet).

First thing I've done was disassemble the car, lubed the bearings, packed the diffs, put much heavier oil in the shocks, squared up the linkages and swapped out the receiver to use my Futaba transmitter.
The body is gawd-awful....looks like a clown threw up on it. I did a quickie rattle can paint job on the outside, and sealed it with clear lacquer....It'll do until I get a new body.
The maiden run was very surprising...It's very quick, and my telemetry unit clocked it at 43 mph on pavement, out of the box....This is quickly becoming my new favorite toy!

This car has a full line of parts on Amazon, and a ton of upgrades. I'm considering eventually doing a full aluminum build, and turn it into a street rod.

[RCveteran]

Ryan Styles Harris on his YT channel a while back took one of these and his 4wd Losi buggy to track. Despite being unfair and having the Losi on race tires and the WL not, the WL was not far off and not tuned at all.

The price actually just makes me realize how much we are being ripped off on the "cool" brands.

[8rad]

What about parts? Do you need to buy 2 for spare parts?

[Russ Winn]

What about parts? Do you need to buy 2 for spare parts?

Amazon has a full line of replacement parts and other upgrades. It uses standard electronics, although the stock transmitter sucks. Since it's 1/12 scale, the worst thing is body availability.
I'll probably use an open wheel 1/10 coupe, because I only run on pavement anyway.

[Russ Winn]

Ryan Styles Harris on his YT channel a while back took one of these and his 4wd Losi buggy to track. Despite being unfair and having the Losi on race tires and the WL not, the WL was not far off and not tuned at all.

The price actually just makes me realize how much we are being ripped off on the "cool" brands.

I'll have to look up that video sometime..... I get what you mean about price. I would've rather restored an older classic, but parts are crazy expensive and scarce. The options on this are plentiful, and I would go as far as saying it's better built than any Traxxas I've dealt with.

[azone]

What about parts? Do you need to buy 2 for spare parts?

Haha. That's actually what I do! You can easily get parts but they're so cheap you can just buy another car and roll into a new one when one is beyond saving, and then still use it for parts. They are awesome for kids, they have the steering trim and throttle limit knobs right on the controller. And the controller (at least up until recently) are small and perfect for kids. I have 5 or 6 of them all with compatible parts. You will never give a kid one of your annoyingly fragile TT-01's again..

[RCveteran]

Hyper Go is another brand on Amazon and AliExpress where a complete brushless car can be had for $100, or less.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807270763542.html?src=google&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21131.07%2158.61%21%21%21%21%21%40%2112000043419204290%21ppc%21%21%21&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en3256807270763542&ds_e_product_merchant_id=747066553&ds_e_product_country=US&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=20546179873&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2oW-BhC2ARIsADSIAWrg61XOMqzw5Bp-5ePxx2G-8rKFO-kK9mwTaC4zbGWKZ_-mncKL6u0aAjCTEALw_wcB&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

I'm as old school as they come and of course prefer the brands we love here but for everyday throw it in the yard or off a cliff and have fun, "racers" or "RC snobs" miss out on a lot of cheap RC fun ignoring these. As to parts, at these prices you can buy 6 of them for the price of a name brand.

[Russ Winn]

I'm as old school as they come and of course prefer the brands we love here but for everyday throw it in the yard or off a cliff and have fun, "racers" or "RC snobs" miss out on a lot of cheap RC fun ignoring these. As to parts, at these prices you can buy 6 of them for the price of a name brand.

I bought my first car in 1985 (Tamiya Grasshopper). The first, and main reason, was that it came in a kit. The building and customizing is the appeal to me. ...I no longer care to race, due to costs and the over abundance of "racers and RC snobs"....Times have changed, and not necessarily for the better....This car takes me back to those early days, with better quality options.

I'm going to update this thread as I make changes, for better or worse.

[RCveteran]

I get it. At that price point it encourages tinkering and customizing. When you spend $400-500 on a kit and then the upgrades are another $100 or more it gets hard to justify if you are not racing and even then.

Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[juicedcoupe]

I picked up one of the 1/14 versions when Walmart was clearing them out for $45.

I got some wider bearings to take up the play in the axles, added aluminum hexes, and shimmed the diffs.

I've only used it to chase the dog around. But on smoother surfaces, I was pretty impressed with its speed.

[Russ Winn]

I get it. At that price point it encourages tinkering and customizing. When you spend $400-500 on a kit and then the upgrades are another $100 or more it gets hard to justify if you are not racing and even then.

Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

This is exactly why I chose this particular model...It just isn't worth putting real money into a car that I would only run occasionally, but it satisfies my building urge.
The biggest problem, is the body. Being a 1/12 offroad, it's tough to find something I like (I'm not into trucks or buggy bodies)....I have an old Mcallister coupe that I checked against the chassis, and it might be a winner, if I trim it differently.
Similar to this:

blob__68313.jpg (16.63 KiB) Viewed 652 times

blob__68313.jpg (16.63 KiB) Viewed 652 times

Of course, it'll be a street rod, instead of a race car.

[RCveteran]

Why are the wheel base dimensions length and width? Tamiya Beetle Body maybe?

[Russ Winn]

Why are the wheel base dimensions length and width? Tamiya Beetle Body maybe?

It is 9"/230mm wheelbase, and 8"/200mm width measured at the front axle.....I think a Baja style VW may work out pretty well, but I'm stiil checking options.

I've been building my shopping list for what I'm going to do. I am going to visit family in a few days, and I'll start on it when I get home.

[Elkcycles]

230mm WB, 200mm W is in the touring car realm. A lot of those bodies have unmarked rear wheel arches.

[Elkcycles]

*double post from phone*