If is true that my BBX build goes on the mumbling about its bodywork is a swollen river. Established that the inspiration will come from Cafè Racers or Lotus/Caterham Seven graphics, I'm quite sure that it will be painted with Tamiya white and corsa gray.
To complete it I'm collecting some decals that should avoid masking work and horrible painting mistakes. Some sheet come from the Internet and some from MCI Racing.
Some building steps have been randomly completed today just to allow the installation of the electronics: ESC motor cables have been soldered... and I'm quite satisfied about the work, the receiver is also in place on its tray and finally I've placed the servo in front.
I've realized that my usually tricks for "shorten" the cables and to hidden them are not easy to do this time because both the ESC hood and the receiver cover do not leave room enough to hold cables packed with heat shrink or tape... I will find something alternative and useful at the same time.
I've also completed the cage with the two cockpit's crossmembers and placed the antenna tube and I have to admit I dont like it so it is another thing to hide or make less visible.
According to the manual this week it's the time to the install the electronics (including the servo I've omitted weeks ago). The most time, as usual, will be spent in the attemts to hide as much as possible every single cable and in the solder of ESC cables to motor.
This week the build day slips to sunday because tomorrow my wife and me will be in Treviso for the Summer Series Rugby match Italy-Japan ✌
Saturday means that the time to sit on the workbench it's arrived so, this week, I've completede the steps from 19th to 21st of the building manual intalling the main halves of the roll cage and the shocks towers: it starts to looks as a car 😁
I'm really enjoying this build and, if spending only an hour a week on the workbench isn't the way I prefer to build a new kit, I have to admit that I pretty happy it's going slow prolonging the fun.
I will spend next session in placing the electronics and, as usual, in the attempt to organize and hide the cables.
This time I was convinced that I could save myself from soldering any cable switching back to Tamiya plugs for batteries and choosing "L" shaped fastons for motors cabling. Unfortunately the plugs I've bought months ago are not suitable for that use so I will be forced to apply my poor soldering ability again 😅
During the last two weeks I've considered the idea to retire my Ko Propo EX-5 radio for a modern one. Of course my first choice is ever another Ko but noted that finding a entry level one (the EX-2 standard edition) is a mission close to the impossible, so I've considered some alternatives (Sanwa or Futaba not chinese crap of course).
In my weird brain if I could not use a Ko Propo radio in my BBX I could not have use also the brand new Ko Propo VFS-FR2 ESC bought on purpouse... ok, it sounds weirder written than only thought.
So, following the mood of the moment, I wanted to check if my unused M-Troniks TT-60 will fit: with its large footprint it fullfill the ESC tray and with its low height stay comfortable under its hood, it could be a good option but I will use the VFS-FR2... end of the paranoia of the week 😅
Building day today and, to be honest, this way of living the hobby isn't my cup of tea. Living in Venice is a kind of suffering to me, better times will come.
Some other building steps have been made: steering links are in place and the front end have been completed also with lower arms. Unfortunately I've made a mistake in preparing the lower arms, solved swapping the arms from right to left and using the correct screws. I hate to be wrong, But if Tamiya manuals became hard to read it means that I need glasses😁
During the week, when I can't go on with its build, I dedicate some of my spare time in the study of the BBX manual to be ready when on the bench and to find my way to read the build steps.
One of the step I like a less is the driver figure paint and to do it in a clean way I've already a driver's head with closed helmet and I intend to not use the upper half of steering wheel giving to the cockpit a futuristic appearence like the one of the Avante. I don't like the idea of that small plastic part that could fall away in every moment.
Driver will be painted in white, the rest of the cockpit in black and I will find some finishing for the helmet.
The other point I've considered this week is the ESC mounting: it's quite close to the motor and it will be fine because instead of a direct soldering for the cables as planned I will use some L shaped fastons as Kyosho did in the good old days.
The part that will need some extra works concern the battery cables that it's pretty clear need an extension: I would not replace the Tamiya plugs with bullet ones but I guess that a full Tamiya set up could be a bit bulky... but easy and quick to do.
Of course several meetings with my technical staff are ongoing to understand which will be the best body paintwork.
As every saturday, today have been a build day so I've completed some steps of my BBX's manual: part of the rear end with suspensions links have been completed and the steering rack have been builted and placed on the chassis.
No more talk, it's time to grab screwdrivers, cutter and pliers and to finally start to put togheter the BBX! Last saturday, during the time I weekly spend with my parents at their home, I've opened the manual to complete the first building steps: differential, other internal gears, motor, transmission and place it in to the chassis.
I want to point out that it will be a slow (and accurate) build because in the few hour I can spend on the work bench I want the take my time to reach a tidy and clean result... so I will take every time not much than an hour, an hour and half... every saturday after family lunch.
Talking about the build I have to clear out that I have never build high end Tamiya kit, only classic (original, rereleased or restored) and only a single "modern" kit (my FF03, a car that I never really love... a bit aseptic to me).
With this car all is different, all seems better because of the use of better quality plastics, because parts mach perfectly each others, because screws enter easly the plastics and hold firmly in place... it's only the beginning but I'm enjoing a lot this first steps.
