RC10B3 Factory Team Buggy: Operation Blue

[flipwils11]

With all the love for blue builds going on around here lately, I figured I better start this one soon. I've been collecting parts for a little bit and while it's nowhere near as hard a process to locate these like some of the gold pan vintage stuff is, a few of these were still a bit difficult to locate (especially NIP). I got the idea for this after getting my B3 on craigslist and appreciating it for the way it's put together instead of being so hung up on the first generation RC10.

There are probably two dozen less interesting parts I didn't photo like steering assembly and other commonly available B2/B3 stuff. I still have a few minor things to locate but I'm trying to let the spending cool off a bit before placing the final order.

The centerpieces of the build.




It wouldn't be one of my builds without some unnecessary metal parts, right? Don't even look up what these Thunder Tiger aluminum pieces cost or you'll know I'm crazy.



An assortment of B2/B3 factory team goodies.



Blue RPM gear (the little blue bumper was a tough one to get)




Of course you KNEW I'd do these shocks.




The Lohas hurricane wheels with center anodized blue. The metal battery brace came on another B3 I got for spares and I had the anno redone at the same time with the Lohas wheel centers.



NIP B3 sticker sheet ready for the body which I have some cool color ideas to dress up with.

[sk7]

This is going to to be a good looking build. Nice collection of parts. I have also been thinking of a b2 or b3 build lately.

[PBR Allstar]

I figured the thunder tiger stuff couldn't be that expensive,,, I'll eat those words now! DAMN!

[klavy69]

Adam,
looks like a helluva pile-o-parts you got there but it seems to missing something. Weren't you after a blue rear RPM bumper for this build? Thought I read you had gotten one or a lead on one so I quit lookin for mine.

As far as us thinkin you ride the crazy train...we all got a ticket on that ride . Some of us just don't have first class accomodations like you do .
Todd

[flipwils11]

Weren't you after a blue rear RPM bumper for this build?

Nope, I can still get ahold of those but sorry to say, I think they look kind of dumb. It was the front RPM blue bumper I was after but I found one left at Sheldon's Hobbies in San Jose.

[klavy69]

Nope, I can still get ahold of those but sorry to say, I think they look kind of dumb.

Don't be sorry...they don't look great to me either but they do save some pretty harsh aluminum to aluminum hits on the track . I'm not thinkin you are gonna have to worry about that though.
Todd

[dldiaz]

Very cool! I have a surprisingly similar box of parts with a similar build in mind - I probably won't get to it for a while yet...

One very cool part I don't see in your plans is a blue aluminum front top plate... Yes, they exist!
I don't know who made them, nor where to get one now, but, they do exist.

I was also thinking of mounting a set of the old Team Losi "blue"-colored spec tires.
Is that gay? ((not that there's anything wrong with gay))


Question: Is the blue front bulkhead also a Thunder Tiger item? Do you know where I can get one?
((I guess that was two questions.))


-cheers

[PBR Allstar]

Question: Is the blue front bulkhead also a Thunder Tiger item? Do you know where I can get one?
((I guess that was two questions.))


-cheers

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAMBL&P=**Missing%20Data**

[fordtransman]

"rubs hands together with sinister laugh"

This is going to be good.

[m_vice]

Nope, I can still get ahold of those but sorry to say, I think they look kind of dumb.

Don't be sorry...they don't look great to me either but they do save some pretty harsh aluminum to aluminum hits on the track . I'm not thinkin you are gonna have to worry about that though.
Todd

They work best on the B2, the rear was narrower and it was more to protect the motor from rear collisions.
I am not a fan but i had it on my B2 when racing, I lost a motor before I added the rear bumper.

[flipwils11]

One very cool part I don't see in your plans is a blue aluminum front top plate... Yes, they exist!
I don't know who made them, nor where to get one now, but, they do exist.

Yep, I saw one in a lot of parts a month or two ago here on the for sale section but I didn't want to buy the whole lot and someone else got it. If I had nabbed it I would have gotten it anodized blue (it was silver I believe). But the carbon composite one I'll be using in this build was pretty hard to find as well.

Question: Is the blue front bulkhead also a Thunder Tiger item? Do you know where I can get one?
((I guess that was two questions.))
-cheers

No actually, I bought it on ebay. The seller had 10 of them but now they are no longer listed. It looks a bit different than the Thunder Tiger one on the Tower Hobbies site as it doesn't have that ridge in the front of it. I have one in my B3 runner/racer as well and like it, but have no idea who made it.

[railey72]

Adam,

Sweet bunch of parts. Looks like the blue turned out really good. Love the hurricanes with the blue centers!

[dldiaz]

Yep, I saw one in a lot of parts a month or two ago here on the for sale section but I didn't want to buy the whole lot and someone else got it. If I had nabbed it I would have gotten it anodized blue (it was silver I believe). But the carbon composite one I'll be using in this build was pretty hard to find as well.

I believe I was the winner of the lot you're talking about - those parts are kinda raw aluminum color...
Sorry I couldn't contribute to this cool build.

But, I have seen more than one of those front top plates that are factory finished in blue aluminum, not custom jobs. Perhaps vintage Trinity pieces?

Anyhow, " viva la B3 "!!!
I'm glad to see other fans here.

[JK Racing]

Was the battery strap perhaps a "Team Homies" version? I was at the LHS this past weekend and saw a blue one NIP on their was, I had to look at it for the odd company name .

[flipwils11]

Was the battery strap perhaps a "Team Homies" version?

Not sure, it came from a B3 roller I got on fleabay. It is an unfortunate brand name though.

I have a few more updates. First, I needed to acquire some more parts to begin.





Metal gears for the trans build.



I like the Thunder Tiger output drive halves because they're available and they are black instead of gray metal.



Working on the front end:



One very blue shock assembled: