johninderby Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 (edited) Had one of these many years ago and wished often that I had kept it so when I came across this one on eBay I just had to have it. Great condition and has apparently been stored for nearly 30 years. Everything is intact and seems to be in working condition. Only slight bit of damage is to the rear aluminium bracket that supports the cage. Just a small dent and twisted slightly but easily fixed. Also has a1985 era Futaba electronic ESC. Bought as a restoration project but doesn't really need much doing to it. I will completely disassemble it anyway just to clean up everything properly and check it thoroughly. Tyres could do with replacing as they have hardened over 30 years but are intact. Unfortunately they are nearly impossible to obtain so I'll just use them for display and fit a set of new wheels & tyres for running. The design was ahead of it's time in many ways. It's 4WD with four wheel steering. The chassis consists of a central plastic molding with aluminium side plates with the belt drive system inside. Very strong and stiff design but also very light. I think it has a sort of ugly but functional look to it. Never imported into the UK in any numbers but very popular in Australia and the far east where it dominated racing for a few years. John Edited July 12, 2015 by johninderby 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 Took the cage and a few other bits off. Except for the damaged aluminium bracket as mentioned no damage at all found so far. Think I will fit two steering servos instead of the stock single one with a long linkage to the rear. Then I'll be able to choose whether I want to use the rear steering or not and also the steering should be more positive. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 What a strange looking RC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 Yes it is a bit different. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyleftthumb Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 i love the old stuff, all very different chassis, most stuff wasnt machine made. and mass produced like it is now. I love lwatching the AE rc10 story on youtube. and see all the bits made by man not machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 With the limited time I'm able to give to RC at the moment I've been restricted to doing little bits here and there but have been able to get the bits I need to re-do the Bulldog. The twisted and dented rear alloy bracket has been straightened, dents hammered out and the surface filed smooth and then fine steel wool used to restore the surface. Looks quite serviceable now. As the wheels are 1.8" haven't been able to find suitable replacement tyres. Also the axles are very short and an odd size so finding wheels to fit has also been a problem. Only practical solution is to change the knuckles and axles to something standard. Found out Tamiya Hotshot parts will fit with no alterations to the Bulldog so it can always be put back to stock if I do ever manage to find a "new" set of Bulldog tyres. Fortunately I had a couple of spare Hotshot knuckles and a full set of axles and bearings so just needed to buy two more knuckles. Also bought a set of Tamiya Hotshot tyres and wheels which are very close in size to the stock ones and the stepped pins on them are very similar to what the Bulldog tyres should be. Unlike the ones on mine that are worn right down. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 The Bulldog has exploded !!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 In a very controlled manner... Clean up to minty freshness before rebuilding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hot soapy water followed with some Armor All for the plastic and wire wool for all the aluminium parts. Bearings for the diffs need to be ordered and some ball ends for the Hotshot knuckles to match the Mugen retainers. Ordered some new circlips as well. Fortunately the drive belts are in perfect condition. Was worried I might have to source some new ones but no need. Found an old unused Mabuchi motor that will suit and look vintage. Did some research on the Trinty motor that was fitted and found they lasted about three or four runs before new bushes were needed and weren't that good performance wise anyway. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Rebuilt the ball difs and replaced all the bushings with proper bearings. The big bearings for the centre diff were the only hard ones to get hold of. None of the usual bearing suppliers had the right size but came across an eBay seller who had some albeit at oddball hard to get size prices. The drive belts were in good condition but treated them with print roller cleaner and restorer anyway. Keeps them supple and gives better grip. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Looks box fresh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HYPER-BOY Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Epic! Keep it coming :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Little bit more done and motor and servo mounts added. Will be using two servos instead of the stock setup of just one with a long linkage to the rear. This way I'll be able to choose front steer or four wheel steer and won't be stuck with full time 4WS. John 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 (edited) Some bearings and bushes arrived so I could fit the suspension. Decided not to use the Hotshot knuckles after all due to a problem in finding the right size ball ends that would screw into the knuckles. Keeping the stock knuckles instead but ordered bearings that were the same diameter and width as the stock bushings but the right inner diameter to fit the Tamiya axles. Only one bearing per axle but they are big so will be no problem. The inner ends of the lower suspension arms had some plastic spacers that weren't in great shape and some of them were missing, but found the perfect size brass spacers on eBay. Good tight fit but the arms still move freely. John Edited August 1, 2015 by johninderby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewbacca Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 That's looking good mate, almost like a brand new build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 (edited) Sway bars, brackets and air shocks fitted. Decided to keep the air shocks as they're an essential part of the original look and they did clean up nicely and still work properly. The plastics are in great condition, still flexible and not the slightest bit brittle. Have to keep reminding myself this thing is 30 years old. The construction may be a little primitive by todays standards but the quality of the materials used is first rate. John Edited August 1, 2015 by johninderby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewbacca Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 How do the air shocks work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 There's an internal spring, a piston similar to that on a regular oil shock and an air valve that controls the release of the air as it's compressed. Doesn't work as well as a modern oil shock but it's not too bad. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewbacca Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Ah, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninderby Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 Finally managed to find some original NOS Mugen Bulldog tyres and they should be arriving from the US in a couple of weeks. They haven't been made in nearly 30 years and a new unused set are considered as unobtainable nowadays so they'll be used for display purposes only. They're an odd size that will only fit the Mugen wheels. Time to get the restoration finished I suppose. John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomr Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Awesome project can't wait to see it finished great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post johninderby Posted June 25, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 25, 2016 Few pics of the completed restoration. Still some adjustments to make yet but at least it runs now. The wheels were soaked in hydrogen peroxide under a UV light for a couple of days and have come back nicely to the original colour. The tyres haven't been glued on but don't think I'll bother as they're only going to be for display anyway. The tyres were way too expensive really but lucky to find a NOS set as they're considered as unobtainable nowadays. Have a set of Hotshot wheels and tyres to be used for actually running it. They don't look right but are easily replaceable. Driver figure is a Tamiya one and while not right will have to do for now. Who knows maybe a proper one will show upon eBay some day. Pleased with the way the restoration came out considering it's a 30 year old RC. It may be a bit ugly but for some reason I still like the way it looks. Definitely a shelfer only to be run occasionally as it's soooooo difficult to get parts for such an old RC. John Box art for comparison 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveyb84 Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 love it John!!! looks great, I think youve done an amazing job rally and have done the best you can with whats available!! i wouldnt of even known it wasnt original looking at the box art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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