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

Dangeruss wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 3:59 pm Always welcome! Drag Mags were aftermarket wheels, early 60's to early 70's muscle cars. On your Vette the DS wheels really do look better without the caps.

By the way...
"Let me have a diablo sammich, a Dr Pepper and make it fast. I'm in a g d hurry. -- Buford T. Justice"
...hands down best part of an already fantastic movie

Can you even imagine that movie without Jackie Gleason? I won't bother trying

The whole reason I went for the Bandit body was the gold snowflake looking wheels on the DS, didn't know those were only caps that came off of there - should've read the manual.

In too deep now, and the water feels great, gold caps are going back on, this one is going full Bandit tribute. The HPI body comes with the movie car grill, and the VTA grill too.


Bandit wing, or VTA:


The decals blew my mind - Full Bandit is happening.


Looks like carefully trimming the wheel wells will get me there.

Going to cut both bodies today, with a new blade for each.

Getting my courage and a steady hand ready for this - not a fan of this part of it. Hoping one day I can somehow look forward to doing the bodies, like I do the chassis; this last year has been me trying my hardest to get there.


Pass or fail coming up.

I hate cutting wheel wells, probably because I suck at them.

I found these drift wheels for my bandit build. At the time DS wheels were crazy expensive and these were pretty cheap so what the heck.

That TA decal set is impressive! It includes tinting for windows and even the T-tops.
I don't have a Pontiac in my on-road collection.
Can no longer resist - ordering one now.

Burniefloyd wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:33 pm I hate cutting wheel wells, probably because I suck at them.

I found these drift wheels for my bandit build. At the time DS wheels were crazy expensive and these were pretty cheap so what the heck.

17233288821560.jpg

Those are as close as I've seen to the real thing. Are those still obtainable on ebay?

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 7:11 pm That TA decal set is impressive! It includes tinting for windows and even the T-tops.
I don't have a Pontiac in my on-road collection.
Can no longer resist - ordering one now.

HPI bodies are as good as it gets imo, I really appreciate their attention to detail. The Kyosho Fazer MK2 RTR bodies are really nice too.

A blue or white TA whould look pretty incredible too.

Bummer they didn't include the Bandit door decal

Cutting out lexan bodies, I've seen it recommended to use the corner of a table to get a solid surface behind your #11 blade cut lines. This has worked well for me. But I need to be able to stand up and do this, sitting down and cutting on the table, is too difficult.

I taped up three boxes to provide the solid surface. With these different sizes, I can move the body into the best position to have the solid surface behind the cut line, while standing up, and not contorting or running in to angles that can't be reached with a table some times.



Long straight cuts.


Tight wheel well cuts.


Awkward tail/nose cuts.




The hard part is providing room for the rest of the body, so you can get at the lines. This worked for me.

This pic demonstrates the wheelbase directly according to the HPI provided cut lines. The wheels are sticking out of the wheel wells for effect only.


Stock DS wheels/tires fit inside the HPI 200mm provided wells.






Really happy with HPI - always, their wheels too. The TA body will only require minimal wheel clearance-ing, so the decals should still look right. Stoked!

About to start on the stock DS body next.

RC10th wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 7:36 pm Bummer they didn't include the Bandit door decal

Good eye! Doesn't mean I can't include it

GreenBar0n wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 7:23 pm

Burniefloyd wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:33 pm I hate cutting wheel wells, probably because I suck at them.

I found these drift wheels for my bandit build. At the time DS wheels were crazy expensive and these were pretty cheap so what the heck.

17233288821560.jpg

Those are as close as I've seen to the real thing. Are those still obtainable on ebay?

I've had them for a few years but these might be them?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186147606574?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=XPFMXGPQSSa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=o2iXWIdlRua&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=SMS

Stock body without being trimmed fits perfectly.


Reminds of a Ferrari Testarosa or F40 from some angles.


DS body all cut out except for the rear wheel wells.


The rear wheel well cut line disappears on the stock DS body:


You see where the rear wheel well cut line begins, and then it trails off to nowhere. That's strange because of how prominent the cut lines are on this body, probably the strongest cut line I've seen on an RC body to date, just a ravine. And then in the rear it's nonexistent.

Could this be because the original DS had an adjustable wheelbase, and they left the stock body from the original kit, which accommodates for using the farther rear setting?

I need to get me one of those Trans Am bodies that looks so good, did you go short wheelbase I had to with the protoform 71 Camaro to get a good fit in the wheel wells.

KidAgain wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 10:25 am I need to get me one of those Trans Am bodies that looks so good, did you go short wheelbase I had to with the protoform 71 Camaro to get a good fit in the wheel wells.

The new DS Classic doesn't mention having an adjustable wheelbase, anywhere. The only place I can see where the wheelbase could be lengthened, would be the toe-blocks for the rear arms, there is another set of holes:


But then the dogbones for the Stealth would be at an angle. Looks like the Classic was never intended to have an adjustable wheelbase.

Luckily the HPI body is really close in wb, will need to trim some to clear the tires, but not much.

Going to cut the rear wheel wells on the stock body today, and start masking both bodies. Might spray one today if I can get there.

First time using the compass circle cutter.


Had a rough go on the drivers side, used scissors to get the arch going on the provided cut line, then used the compass cutter. Not a great way to do it, should've used the compass cutter only.


Easier time on the second try.


Going to get the dremel drum sander bit to clean up the arch on the driver side. The compass cutter is the cleanest way to do this, I was just too new to use it properly. That rear arch was the only difficult thing about this body, not sure why they did that.