MH's Duratrax Mini Q

[METALHEAD]

Here's my little 'Quake. Years ago, I bought a nitro Thunderquake, but this little guy has already been more fun because it's less finicky and when I drive it in the house, it won't kill my cat or ruin my couch... .

Anyway, I've always loved the hard bodies, especially in the small scales because they add weight to the equation. That seems backwards to some people, I understand, but I like the realism and more true-to-scale handling the heavier bodies offer. The stock lexan body was just too light for my little guy, so I went to Wally World and picked up an $8 assbag RC Dodge Ram and tore it down. This is the wretched-looking body that I started with:



Here it is, stripped down and marked for the chop shop. I ended taking more off than indicated by my green cut lines. I also had to ditch that big-ass rollbar. It makes it look like a Tonka or something.... ahahaha You'll see later on, but here's where I jumped from, before any cuts:



This next pic is after all the chopping, sanding, etc. As I mentioned, I really whacked on the front end, but I kinda like the new look. It gives it a rally or crawler look, which is pretty cool I think. I also sanded the body to smooth out the mold lines in the plastic. I guess for 8 bucks, you aren't buying a top notch model, so it all comes with the territory. Here it is right before primer/wet sanding/paint:



And....right after paint. The paint is a semi-transparent pearl red, laid over a neon blue. I had higher hopes for the finished product, but this is what I got. This pic is before I cut and buffed it's little monkey ass. :



This is the completed product. I sanded the paint with 1200 and buffed it out with some nice compound and wax. I dyed the rims with red and black Rit dye to match the paint, then accented them with a black Sharpie. I also glued on some black nitro fuel line around the wheel wells and on the front and rear of the body. It really adds to the look in my opinion. Also, those are the optional "nubbie" tires. I'm not so sure about them, but here ya go:




...and of course...the gratuitous articulation shot:

[payaso]

Fuckin a man... That thing looks awesome like that. I dig the style of it being all cut up. Paint looks great to me, and with matching wheels too.. I likes me some wheels..


Killer job man.




silla

[civicsr2cool]

couldnt be purrrtier....unless of coarse u had a crap load of alloy!

[METALHEAD]

Thanks a lot guys. This was definately a fun project. Alloy would be cool, but for running, I kinda like to break plastic...if ya know what I mean.

...I likes me some wheels.

I'm a wheel man myself. Currently I have the Mini-T adaptors and some black RPM Bullies with baby Proline Dirt Hawgs up on there. I lost a little clearance, but the rubber is far better for the way I play and it looks more scale too. I fried the friggin' ESC and I gotta fix that, so I'll grab some pics when I get it back together.

[ynad]

looking good. tubes for wheel wells flres, yes! some time ago i was playing with the idea of using small gauge wire cut up to shape wheel wells flares for a bit project. good looking color too

[payaso]

Yeah man... I'm just gettin ready to get some bully wheels for the 18B... They look super tough, but I'm gonna toss some street meats on em.. That's after they get a good bath in some orange rit dye.


I gotta get some pics of my little buggy up.


silla