Thanks guys, it's been really fun. Now I need a new project. ;-)
I'm trying to decide what to do for a spare, maybe a swing bumper and rack or something, I dunno. I'm not really too keen to weight it down a bunch, it drives and crawls so well now. A front winch would be nice...we'll see. Going to my first comp this weekend so I'm sure I'll come away with a different view on setting up, equipment, technique, etc.
Shinshu - you're welcome to borrow my air brush - PM me an address and I'll ship it to you. You do need an air source though - you could borrow my compressor too but you would have to come get it.
And yes, they will package it into an aerosol can so that might be an option, although fine control goes out the window then, and I think they're pretty expensive - I can check, or you could call them - L&P Auto Paint, Anaheim.
This paint was Nason polyurethane base coat. I figured with good scuffing with a scotchbrite pad and dish soap inside the body I would be in good shape. It seems to be holding on okay now that it's cured/dried. But when I went to peel off the taillight masks (wanted them clear for potential lighting) it started to peel away the paint too. It was fresh on there and I still had some paint in a airbrush jar so I was able to patch it, but it sure wasn't sticking on there very well. A day of wheeling it pretty hard resulted in no peeling so I'm hoping it will at least hold up for awhile. It sure looks nice, just not sure how well it will stick long term to the lexan. Got some good pics with it fresh in case it goes to shit. LOL
I haven't inquired on the wheels - $115 for some 1.5's just doesn't calc for me - the wheels on it work well and look the part. I might have been motivated for about half of that, but I understand they are unobtanium any longer. Oh well. Wait and see...
The steering servo horn barely clears the panhard rod on full compression. On the RTR - the short wheelbase, it hits on top of the horn so you lose some suspension travel. But normally it's tilted over one way or the other so not a huge issue. On this build it really does work out well.
I have a plastic horn on there and was going to get a clamping alloy one but then the panhard wouldn't clear it. I did find a low profile alloy one that doesn't clamp, and should still be better than plastic. I'll try to get a pic tonight.
Many years ago the county took out the flying field at Mile Square Park and put in a golf course. I remember when the big fight was on - it was a premier RC aircraft field for so many years, comps and clubs, and general flying, really a neat place. Evidently 'golf money' has more pull, or there is more of it, cuz no matter what anyone said or did they weren't buying it, they were determined to put a golf course in. Bastidges.
Wife and I walked the entire east half of the park looking for something good to crawl. It was a nice day for a walk - New Years Day, so we didn't mind, and there were some fun little areas to crawl around in, drainage ditches, tree roots, bike trails, etc. The Jeep got a LOT of looks. Especially the little kids - what the hell is this old man doing with a cool RC tiny-truck???? :lmao:
Maybe there are some rock gardens or something somewhere in the west half of the park. Ah, a walk for another day. The nice lady at the parking kiosk suggested 'Fairview Park' in Costa Mesa...will have to check that out.
We are walking all the wilderness parks around us and finding some cool spots. One day when I have some routes we'll have a crawl meet here, invite everybody for a day of it. "thumbsup"