RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

It's an interesting one.

From what I have only recently learnt (sorry if I am a little slow on this) but all repro shells that have a 'buck' made from an original shell will be smaller than that of the original. From what I can tell only Jay (Mr Lexan) can do exact copies of originals that are pulled from the factory original molds (which he has). Therefore a repro made from a repro will be an even smaller form which may or may not cause some issues depending on the body in question. Some people may not care but the issues can soon arise when undertrays etc.. are smaller than the chassis pan for example.

I think making rero's from repro's is a little questionable for more reasons than this but I don't want to voice my opinions on that.

Yes, all repros made from back poured bucks/molds will be slightly smaller due to Lexan shrinking as it cools. Every repro will have this problem and this will only get worse as you make a copy of a copy, etc. See the movie Multiplicity for reference .

In any case, there are ways to compensate for the shrinkage factor, but nothing is perfect.

Many of Mr.Lexan's molds are actual OEM originals and the bodies he pulls from those are perfect regarding size, thickness consistency, overall quality, etc. In fact, the two that I have purchased from him (RPS Yokomo SE and Yokomo Funco) are better than the originals I have.

Got mine this morning (WFH today)... as said, the quality is about right, I don't think Schuey (Frewer?) bods were of top quality bitd anyways. The wing is a bit crude, and the side dams are cut "by hand" but again nothing shocking.

I never noticed TBG did a C2 body either... I would have bought one otherwise!

Couple of pics - good that lexan (assuming it is lexan) is flexible, otherwise...

Anyways, total bargain, nothing to complain about!

paul

Interestingly, looks like there's no more availability, so looks like I did the right thing

Paul

Kamtech make a few repros:

http://www.kamtec.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=110&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

I only have the Procat shell from Kamtec and it seems quite strong.

Yes Kamtec sure does.

The question was more about how good Penguin's are, given that their combined lexan + s&H costs were so low!

I can report they're worth the money Proof is, they're all gone by now

Paul

Lonestar wrote:Yes Kamtec sure does.

The question was more about how good Penguin's are, given that their combined lexan + s&H costs were so low!

I can report they're worth the money Proof is, they're all gone by now

Paul

Well, as you pointed out the penguin ones have all sold out so the question is now less about quality, as no one can buy them

I posted a link to kamtec so people can still at least get hold of repros.

CAT3K wrote:I didn't realise TBG did a Cougar 2 shell or i'd have ordered from them before now. Previously my only option was Kamtec..

Paul.

I asked about a C2 body from TBG a month ago, he said it is to be released early february.

fakiee wrote:

Lonestar wrote:Yes Kamtec sure does.

The question was more about how good Penguin's are, given that their combined lexan + s&H costs were so low!

I can report they're worth the money Proof is, they're all gone by now

Paul

Well, as you pointed out the penguin ones have all sold out so the question is now less about quality, as no one can buy them

I posted a link to kamtec so people can still at least get hold of repros.

They are still availible these shells!!!!!!

notme wrote:

CAT3K wrote:I didn't realise TBG did a Cougar 2 shell or i'd have ordered from them before now. Previously my only option was Kamtec..

Paul.

I asked about a C2 body from TBG a month ago, he said it is to be released early february.

So the earlier statement about Penguin copying the TBG Cougar 2 cant be right then?

Back when I first came into r/c again, a great friendship was forged with Ant down in Melbourne. Ant is a clever guy who has an engineering back ground and also started repop'ing lexan shells. The only real problem was some of the material he had access to didn't really stand up to being used out on the track. Long story short, I spent days masking, painting and applying factory original RARE decals only for the shell to shatter quite violently on its first roll over. Needless to say I was gutted.

Similarly I remember TBG having some issues early on and also witnessed a very similar incident with a friends JRX2 shell that he had given the same type of TLC in prep only to end up smashing to bits again on the first roll over,

I'm more than certain TBG have lifted their game and learnt from the mistakes on their way up and perhaps these guys will too.

Basicaly what I am getting at is how affordable does a lexan repro need to be before it is damaged easily and beyond use. For me, I'll gladly pay more for a quality repop everytime. Its not so much about the accuracy of the form as much as it is the durability.

Ultimately I think these guys have their heart in the right place but I hope Penguin isn't making the same mistakes by using those same incorrect materials that the other guys were earlier on.

i have now painted and cut out the bosscat shell, and i must say the quality is very good.
unfortunately the same cannot be said about the undertray as it is way too small to fit the chassis, so although the price of the set seemed very reasonable i now have to buy another undertray that fits before i can race the bosscat.

brian s wrote:i have now painted and cut out the bosscat shell, and i must say the quality is very good.
unfortunately the same cannot be said about the undertray as it is way too small to fit the chassis, so although the price of the set seemed very reasonable i now have to buy another undertray that fits before i can race the bosscat.

That's not good Did you ask him for a replacement? It would be interesting to see what the customer service is like.

On another bad note, i had a quick nosey through his feedback and it seems he's bought shells from Mr Lexan, Lohas and TBG recently, and now he makes those same shells himself...

what goes around comes around.......