276 - Tamiya BBX: Last (?) Dilemma

 

In these days, surfing the Web, I realized about something I've already supposed during the build of my BBX: there is an alternative way to fix the body to the chassis.

It doesn't look much common (but it's hard to say because what was a window on the world has turned into a spy hole and due to the Google search that shows ever the same results) but it's the classic way that uses clips and it can be made with parts included in the box and marked as "not used".

I haven't particular problems with velcro tape but, to be honest, I'm a bit worried by the coupling between the upper and the lower body and I guess that the punches marked on lexan for the body posts holes would help... in addition: I love body clips 😁

275 - Tamiya BBX: Don't Shoot the Driver

Of course, last weekend, I've found the time to give some attentions to the BBX driver. As said I'm going to swap the original driver's head with the one with the closed visor, the same choice I've made for my Wild One driver's figure years ago.

Unfortunately the body cut and its painting have needed more time than I expected and, for the moment, the driver has been only sprayed with fine primer and black. I will paint it with simple black/white scheme repeating, more or less, the same done with the Wild One's driver but, this time, it will less simple because of the Wild One's driver figure, that is made out of lexan, allowed me to paint it in black inside and finishing it in white outside.

274 - Tamiya BBX: Building Progress a Short Slideshow

273 - Tamiya BBX: Cutting, Trimming and Painting

Yesterday and today have been Two days of intense building, finally I've faced the body cutting and the its painting. A step in every model's build that scares me most of the times 😓

It have been the hardest lexan body cut of my entire life as RC cars enthusiast and from what I'm reading on the Web I'm in good fellowship.

The BBX body is a beautiful six pieces masterpiece made out of high quality lexan that gives to this new buggy a unique appeal but, this time, Mister Tamiya I have to complanin because cutting and trimming it has been a real tour de force... yesterday evening my eyes were tired as after a full office day in front of one of my excel spreadsheet.

After the entire afternoon of cutting and trimming, before goin to sleep, friday evening I've cleaned the body to have it ready to be painted early this moorning (I've sprayed the first coat at the first lights). So this morning I've started with the first coats... unfortunately I've forgot to use a glove with the results shown in the pic below: 😁

Starting so early allowed me to spray in black coat the back of the main colors before lunch, the result satisfy me because both green and white looks uniform and "solid".

From the pics in this post is pretty clear that the dilemma between Metallic Green and Camel Yellow have been solved, I've decided for the first also considering that the silver cage of this car, in my opionin, will not accords to much with a yellow body.

272 - Tamiya BBX: "That" Moment

 

Suddenly, Saturday, I've realized that "that" moment had come. The BBX's build was almost complete and in my hands I've found the tires's bag. Tires has a special room in every RC car enthusiast's heart but this time I've resisted to the impulse to squeeze and sniff them before starting the build and for weeks I've forgotten about them... but, saturday, that time had come, so I squeezed, sniffed, mounted them on the rims so, now, the car stands on its own wheels and the air smells good.

271 - Tamiya BBX: Body Work

The custom decals purchased weeks ago from MCI Racing are arrived last week: gread product as usual, MCI is a great resource for this hobby.

Considering that this week I will have more time to spend on the work bench, probably, I will complete most of the remaining building steps... probably because I haven't already decided the main color of the BBX's body 😅

Of course, some weeks ago, I was sure that I would use the Tamiya PS32 Corsa Gray in tribute of the great italian motor tradition but (of course there is a "but") considering that I'm still the guy that, at the high school, framed his notes with scketches of paint  schemes for model's bodies still to buy (and never bought in some cases) I'm still deciding wich one between the PS17 Metallic Green (my favourite PS) and the PS19 Camel Yellow (I have a brand new can laying around from a while and I think it could give a kind of Yamaha cafè racer's appeal to the car) will complete, alongside the PS1 White and the MCI decals, the simple scheme I've planned, it will be a surprise (hope in positive) for me... for first 😎

270 - Tamiya BBX: Almost Complete

 

With a deep sadness I'm almost at the end of my BBX's build. Yesterday, after a quick check of the parts installed last week, I've completed the cage with its rear end, I've finished the rear transmission installing the external bearings and the wheels are finally bolted on the four corners.

Still to decide where to hide the antenna wire, paint the driver figure and, mostly, wich one between the two or three I've got supposed will be the choosen option for body paint work.

269 - Tamiya BBX: Bumpstops

Some of the first guys around the world that have driven the new Tamiya BBX have noticed that the rear drive shafts are prone to pop out from the outdrives when the rear dampers are full compressed (because of landings for example).

Recently I've realized that the 41st step of the manual underlines that to avoid this issues could be necessary to play with 0,5 mm spacers.

Before starting my build I've surfed the Web looking for some useful tricks and Tamiya USA suggests, to avoid the shafts to slip out, to use some rubber o-rings as shocks bumbstops, this is the way I've choosen to prevent troubles and it's shown by today's pics.

268 - Tamiya BBX: Shocks Towers? Solved!

The spares ordered last week after my mistake in widening the screw holes are arrived so I have been able to replace the ruined shocks towers with a pair of new ones, great!

267 - Tamiya BBX: Trailing Arms

Sunday of build today! A strange day of build to be sincere... frenetic... because of much things to do and only little of time to spend on the workbench but all seems to went fine.

Finally today I assembled the rear trailing arms, a suspensions scheme that I love and the main reason why I decided to buy this new Tamiya car.

Trailing arms are the reason why I bought my Brat and my Wild One and why I love so much driving my Wild One and I guess it will be the same with the BBX.

266 - Tamiya BBX: Admit My Own Mistakes

 

I have to be honest, last saturday during the build I've been a bit careless and I miss the important notice about the thirthieth building step: I widen BOTH the shock towers holes instead of only the ones on the front side. Genius!

Stopped instantly I've ordered the spares from Tamico and, fortunately, yesterday DHL delivered them to my parent's s home just in time for sunday (this week I will visit my parents with a day of delay than usual), can't wait to do it in the right way.

265 - Tamiya BBX: Wiring Redone

The work I did with ESC cables last week didn't convince me in deep so, saturday, I've think back about it and I gathered the switch and the receiver wires in a sleeve of heatshrink and I secured it to the cage with a pair of cable ties.

The ESC switch can't be screwed to its shelf so I've fixed it with double sided tape on it. Now the wire to the receiver passes through the right hole of its cover instead of through the left one as thought at first.

264 - Tamiya BBX: Front End Complete

I'm really sorry, this week I hadn't much time to take some decent shots because I was so involved by the build that the hour to leave my parents home (so the work bench) has arrived without realizing it.

Just to explain: every saturday I have to leave max at 15:00 to be in time to take the boat for Venice at 16:30 after more or less an hour of driving. Unfortunately between me and the boat stop there are two of the most mainstrem beaches here in Veneto (three if I consider my hometown) and, during the summer, the traffic is terrible... so every minute is precious. In winter things go much better 😁.

To a non Tamiya enthusiast eye the new pic could not seem different from the previous but this week I've finished the front end installing steering knuckles, upper suspension arms and dampers.

I contiunue to love the build of this car appreciating the way the screws slip in to the plastics and the sturdy feeling they carry.

I enjoyed the damper build and I appreciate the Tamiya choice to use non threaded bodies, to me is oriented more to the daily bashers than to the racers because they will require less cleaning compared the threaded that could be more prone to collect dust and dirty.