RC Car Restoration Project

[frankbreau]

The other day I was scrolling through ebay when I came across this:

screenshot2.png

It's called a Tamiya Hilux. It's a 1/10 scale electric RC model of a late 80's Toyota pickup. It's a hobby-grade RC kit with hundreds of parts and some interesting features- the coolest one being a functional 3-speed transmission that you work from the transmitter. It also has 4 wheel drive, locking hubs, 4 wheel steering, and working lights. Everything you need to be a 1/10 scale off road monster.

It also wasn't listed that well on ebay- the manufacturer name wasn't included, there wasn't much info in the description, and pictures more or less sucked. So I placed a last second bid and won.

It looks to be in good shape but needs a couple of parts to run. Having already built one of these from a kit, I have a bunch of spare parts lying around and am pretty familiar with how it goes together. I'm planning to tear this one down, fix what needs to be fixed, repaint it, take some good pictures of it, and put it back on ebay. I'll update this thread as the project progresses. I'll also keep track of how much money I've spent and see if I can turn a profit. If not it'll still be fun.

So far I've dropped $290.

[frankbreau]

While I'm waiting for the box to arrive here are a few shots of my existing model. This one has a few more features than the new one will, including a light/sound unit that gives you brake lights, reverse lights, blinkers/hazards, a horn, and a functional clutch pedal via the remote.

hilux1.JPG

hilux3.JPG

hilux2.JPG

[frankbreau]

The box showed up on my doorstep today. The ebay seller must have really taken it on the chin to give free shipping. It's a pretty big box that has to weigh 10 pounds...

image8.JPG

[frankbreau]

Opening it up, everything seems pretty well packed and undamaged.

image7.JPG

[frankbreau]

Time to leave some wildly exaggerated ebay feedback "A++++++ Seller! " A lot like DEMO feedback at work really.

image1.PNG

[frankbreau]

Unpacking everything, the truck seems to be in decent shape. It came with a small box of spare parts and a radio that wasn't pictured in the ad.

image6.JPG

[frankbreau]

The radio that was included is actually pretty cool. This was made by Futaba for the model manufacturer (Tamiya) specifically for the 3-speed trucks. These went out of production for a while and are getting hard to find. Note the shift gate on the left stick. Far left is first gear, center is second gear, right is third gear. You move the stick forward and backward for throttle. It's an analog AM transmitter that uses a matched set of crystals in the transmitter and receiver.

image5.JPG

I have a more modern radio running 2.2ghz in most of my cars now, but there is something to be said for these old things. They're heavier and all around more solid. The analog gauges and trims are really nice.

[frankbreau]

The only obvious damage I've found so far are these strange holes drilled in the back of the bed. They can be filled in with spare polystyrene or even bondo. I guess if i'm going for 80's toyota authenticity, bondo it is.

image3.JPG

image4.JPG

[frankbreau]

Also my cat likes it.

image2.JPG

That's enough for tonight.. hopefully I'll get some time to tear into it this weekend.

[kevm14]

Man, now I kinda wish I bought that one. Also we got bonus unboxing shots.

Also the forum software doesn't auto rotate portrait images. Oh well.