RC yaris project

[ilikerice]

ok, So after seeing that RC yaris that was posted a couple weeks ago, I HAD TO GET ONE.. I always wanted to get into the RC game but never liked any of the typical skins. Now I got a yaris shell and want to pull the trigger on this and have a cheaper hobby the fiance is more willing to let me buy things for, before the marriage, lol.

ANYWHO!, I need some help though. Bought this and didnt realize its a clear shell, so I dont know where to start. Any help is appreciated. What paint do I use to paint this plastic? Any websites that help on a newbie like me to start with. Some links to vendors that sell the motorized base would be awesome.

I would like to keep this car legit as a FWD RC but I dont know if they exist. But I am also ok with making this one of those RWD drifter RC's. Here are the pics that came out of the box.


ALSO, can someone tell me what Scale this is? the wheel base from center of front wheel to rear wheel is 8 1/2 inches and 7 inches wide

[Killchain]

I will be so jealous when its done...................

[1.5]

That looks to be 1/10 scale which is going to be your most common size in RC.

I have been in this hobby for years and absolutely love it. I might steal your idea and get a yaris body for mine as well. I have a HPI rs4 which is an electric 1/10 scale FWD road car that I built from the ground up including the 2 speed transmission. I also have a HPI Ntro MT which is a 1/10 4WD gas powered stadium truck with intake/exhaust and larger engine. That thing is a screamer and will climb easily to 35-45 mph or more.

If you are looking into a fun hobby this is deff going to be one. I happen to think HPI products are some of the best out there. You will find that they are more expensive than a lot of other brands out there but the quality and refinemnet is top notch. Do you know if you are going to go gas or eletric for the car? Do you already have a car? I prefer gas because of the speed/power/sound but there is more maint required. Nitro is not that cheap considering it is usually a combination of 70-80% gasoline and 20-30% nitrous oxide. keeping up with glow plugs, cleaning engine and frame, overall maintenance and having to buy things like starters (unless pull cord) can add to the overall price. Expect a new gas powered vehicle with all required to get you going to run you close to 400-500.


As far as painting is concerned, airbrushing is going to come out the best but can be overkill. I just buy the basic rattle can or tub of acrylic paint and use either brush or just direct spray depending on the design. I would search for a hobby store in your area and they will direct you to a good brand. The paint is quite cheap too. No primer or anything needed but be sure to wash the body thuroughly and dry before painting. Apply coat by coat and let each sit and dry. 3-5 coats is plenty. Not sure if this is obvious for everyone so ill mention it, make sure you're painting the inside of the shell. Also tape off the windows/lights for that more realistic look depending on the stickers you got with it.

Sorry if I rambled I got excited seeing someone else getting into RC cars. LMK if you need any other info.

[WeeYari]

Cool. Will be watching.

What type of a job is it to cut the shell away from the mold flange? Scary, or relatively easy?

[1.5]

Extremely easy. They make the shells very flexible and movable so the paint won't chip away when flexed which also makes the shell easy to cut without having to worry about cracking/fraying. Household scissors do fine.

[ilikerice]

Yes. Was thinking about geting an hpi one off ebay and tossing the shell. I would like to do electric motor for the maint and quietness. Been watching videos. Thats awesome ur into this also. I will need all the help. Found a mercedes one on ebay for buy it now 175. I may jump on that. I just need a starting point. I did not think about painting the inside. Dur.

In the first pic. Whats that tan soft stuff on the left. Where do i put that at. Its like a sticker but soft

[1.5]

I would keep the shell it would be awesome to have a Yaris lol. I actually have been considering dropping my electric one and focusing all my attention on the truck so if you are interested in a used electric road car needing maybe only some missing screws and hardly any work I would be willing to work something out with you.

As for the tan stuff I cannot tell the cutout shape it just looks like a sheet on my screen but it could be to mask the windows during painting. A lot of higher quality bodies come with pre cut masks.

[ilikerice]

Yea. I meant ill ditch the mercedes and keep the yaris. Ur road car is like the drifter one or is it the fwd?

[JumpmanYaris]

My drifting RC is 4WD and is is a Solara faasst motherfucker

[1.5]

Its not one of the drift ones but I cant remember if it was AWD or FWD

[ilikerice]

I have decided to go with either the hpi 'Switch' thats the fwd beginner or sprint 2 awd drifter. The Switch is 200 new from thier website. Thoughts?

[JumpmanYaris]

Ill sell you my RC with everything $150 shipped lmao

[1.5]

I have decided to go with either the hpi 'Switch' thats the fwd beginner or sprint 2 awd drifter. The Switch is 200 new from thier website. Thoughts?

I am looking at it right now. It is a great package for 200. To get a car/radio/speed control/motor/battery/and charger is very rare, even in an RTR kit. I dont know if you saw but this is not the standard size RC car this is a micro car so it most likely will not fit the body you have. I would measure the body and ensure it fits the Switch.

It looks like they did away with any anodized metals and went complete plastic which saves weight and costs, just be carefule hitting anything it may be a total wreck lol

[ilikerice]

mmm.. good point..

@jumpmanyaris, if you are for real, I am interested. Could you post a couple pictures of it? could you measure the wheel base and the distance between the towers where the body is pined in. I got small pilot holes, looks like where im suppose to drill my holes for the chassis. I think my main concern is could the back 2 towers be adjust to fit a hatch?

[JumpmanYaris]

I don't have pictures but I could take some later on or tomorrow mean while here it is on HPI web.

http://www.nitrorcx.com/hpi-gas-rs4-3-rtr-on-road-rc-drift-car-toyota-soarer-10072.html
http://www.hpiracing.com/kitinfo/10071/

[ilikerice]

Sweet. But i think that is too much power. Lol. Also i dont think the rear will be tall enough to fit the hatch. Actually thinking that none of the drifter chassis will fit a hatch. The Switch xB is the only one i see that i maybe be able to use.

[JumpmanYaris]

Lol yup I think this thing is faster than my Yaris haha

[ilikerice]

Lol

[1.5]

Lol yup I think this thing is faster than my Yaris haha

Haha my truck deff pulls harder LOL 1 gear queer

[Spidermandud]

How's this progressing? :D

[ilikerice]

great, I just painted the roof, hood, mirror trim and the window trim that divides side front window and rear window black. I got to go to work, I got progress pictures but wanted to post all of them at the same time when I got all the color done.

1.5 just sold me his old AWD chassis, I should be getting that in about a week or so. excited!

[1.5]

Yes you should and I should be getting my new Savage X 4.6 in about a week or so as well.

[Spidermandud]

Well sweet action. I look forward to seeing some pics. @1.5; is yours a Yaris as well or something else?

[1.5]

The one I let go had a Peugeot 206 body and an sti body. My other is a nitro powered stadium truck and the savage I just bought is a monster truck. I am more into off-road.

[ilikerice]

ok, here is the black on the car. I bought a blue and when I test sprayed it on a separate piece of plastic, I didn't like how light it looked. So I will go later today and get a darker blue.. I would really like to get as close to Blazing Blue as possible. BUT, my fiance is really pushing for an orange, which I think would look awesome also. I haven't quite decided yet

[ilikerice]

Update: My fiance went with me to get the paint. I told her either orange or blue, So she liked this burnt orange color but it looked more like a light brown. But I thought why not. If I dont like it, I could always get another shell and do another color.

My original plan is to make this model like I want my yaris to be one day.

So here is after the few coats of paint

[ilikerice]

Here is after I pulled the tape off and trimmed the car up a bit.

[ilikerice]

The finished product with stickers.

well I would like to install actual headlights and tail lights. Also I forgot to do the mirrors. I'll do that later today.
I figured I could easily setup a separate battery system with a switch for that, Its the mounting them that I need to figure out.. any suggestions?

[fnkngrv]

Great progress and fun thread.

[matthewai]

make a little ramp that comes out of the trunk so when you park you can then drive the little one right out the back haha

[ilikerice]

HAHA! yes, thats a good idea Matt. @fnkngrv, thanks, It is a fun and cheap project. She lets me mod this one because the mods I want for the actual size one is too expensive right now, saving up for a wedding next year so big mods are on hold.

[1.5]

Looking good man. I had no idea it had that lip kit on it, super cool. As far as real lights, that is something that is pretty big in R/C right now. Here are a couple kits FS and as you can see are very cheap.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=led

[ilikerice]

Thanks for that link. Will do spoiler and mirrors when i get home

[ilikerice]

FINISHED.. shell is complete. Just needs lights.. but in time.

Now just waiting for the chassis. Will do quality pictures and video when I get it right. Enjoy

[ilikerice]

Ok, got the chassis in and it doesn't fit.. Son of a monkey!

Was my fault. I was probably too excited and got a couple numbers confused..

Any pointers in the correct type of chassis I can use on my Yaris?

measurements:

Hub to Hub: 215mm

front-back pilot holes for body pins: 200mm

Wheel base: 175mm

[ilikerice]

quick update. After searching, I have fount probably my only bet is to use the HPI Switch chassis. I can not find a AWD version of this, only FWD.

EDIT:

I have found what I am looking for http://www.hpiracing.com/kitinfo/100594/

Now I need to sell this one and buy that one. lol.. WHY DIDN'T I SEE THIS LAST WEEK!

[1.5]

Wow look at that low offset yaris

[1.5]

sick savage jump contest

http://www.hpiracing.com/videoplayer/17/

[ilikerice]

Wow. those things can take a beating.. holy crap

[1.5]

so cute lol

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HPI-Nitro-Star-G3-0-Piston-Cylinder-Connecting-Rod-Set-/230781872503?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35bbabe977

[ilikerice]

HAHAHA.. I want to buy just to put on my key chain

[ezhacker1]

y no 2 door yaris.. wont get into RC again unless i can find a 2dr.

[1.5]

My new Savage X 4.6

46603

46604

46605

46606

46607

46608

46609

This thing is a monster. It is just massive with that 4.6 big block pushing 3.3hp!!!

Can't wait to get it bashing.

[ilikerice]

what. that looks awesome..

I just got the charger in yesterday. I got the car running and it was much fun. Is there a reason why the reverse doesnt work? I see the gear moving, but It just spinning in place. Other than that, its really fun to play with.

[1.5]

Yea thats the piece I lost thats why I saved the stock single one there too. It lost the 2nd speed spur gear on the engine side. Glad you had fun with it. If we can get a meet together we will have to bring our respective cars and thrash around lol.

[ilikerice]

Cool. thanks. I will probably tinker with it tomorrow. Definitly.. your truck will slaughter mine though.. lol.. but fun none-the-less

[ezhacker1]

so you're gonna get the Cup Racer? Make a drift Vitz. Im really tempted again..

[mr_miles]

gah, i'm going to end up buying one of these sooner or later....

[ilikerice]

yea, I wanna do a drift vitz. I am going to have to wait til after I get back from vacation though.. will be gone all next week

[ezhacker1]

after looking, for HPI only the Switch and Cup Racer like you posted can fit that 210mm Vitz Body. I just bought a 1:18 used hopped up xray m18 for giggles, i miss these little guys. Cant wait to see your Vitz, there are literally no more 1:18 parts or bodies...

[ilikerice]

Yea.. I wish I did more research before I jumped the gun.. Also my mistake on measuring. I was also in the process of measuring my Sparco seat bolt pattern, and had too many numbers running thru my head at the time. lesson learned.

[1.5]

Man I had my savage running hard yesterday following about 60 minutes of break in time. This thing is a complete monster, once it hits second gear and climbs up to the
40's its so hard to bring to a stop. With all that power its a wheelie machine and flips over pretty easy on sharp turns in grass/dirt. Just need to tune a/f a little more and set the idle. Hopefully will get some vids up soon.