danny boy Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 So I received this today, apparently found it on Ebay when I was not so sober and decided a small bid wouldn't go amiss. Wasn't sure what it was at the time, it was simply listed as a "Vintage RC car". After a little research it seems I got my self a Texas Wild Baja, a car that later on to become the Kyosho Baja California, with a few alterations. As far as I can tell these were manufactured between 1978-79. Now slightly unsure what I would do with it, I've decided the only that can be done is a restoration to it's former glory. It seems almost completely original, just a shame it's missing the shell :(, though Kyosho Baja California shells can still be bought, so not a huge loss. So here is as it stands today, "fresh" from the box. This has to be my favorite but, engine sticking right out the back of the car Guess now we see how far this can go 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Wtf...love that heat sink 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autobutcher Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 What were you drinking that night? Just so I can stay away from it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 13, 2017 Author Share Posted November 13, 2017 2 hours ago, evssv said: Wtf...love that heat sink Yes, I cant see that it serves much purpose, but I definately want to leave it on there just for the looks! 2 hours ago, autobutcher said: What were you drinking that night? Just so I can stay away from it! It's a really pretty car, you just have to squint hard enough . On a serious note, what would be my best bet for cleaning this baked on gunk off these metal parts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExLimeyBasher Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Bloody hell, The Texas Wild Baja was the second RC vehicle i ever owned back in the 70's (The first was a mardave Nitro Ferrari). If you are not a Vintage enthusiast then that would be a good model to bring up to modern day standards add shocks etc. Yes it does look as if everything is original, i love the spring adjusters on the front, things were so much simpler back then!! Is that a vecco 21 motor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 That is one cracking car.What did you pay for it? J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 13 hours ago, yoodoo said: That is one cracking car.What did you pay for it? J The more I work on it the more I love it, some great engineering in it. Spent £130 posted on it, thought it was slightly smaller before it arrived, actually a 1/8 scale as it turns out 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 1 hour ago, danny boy said: Spent £130 posted on it Damn! u musta been wasted that night........ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 Just testing ways to clean this beast up, the chassis rails came out great with some wire wool and a little polishing, now just the rest of the car to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 That would be a great project, getting it back to showroom condition. Guess what I'm going to look for on fleebay? J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 36 minutes ago, yoodoo said: That would be a great project, getting it back to showroom condition. Guess what I'm going to look for on fleebay? J Honestly I can recommend it! I've never done a restoration before, didn't really plan on this one. But I'm enjoying it way, way more than I thought I would. Maybe the novelty will fade off after a while, but making these old parts shine is keeping me occupied for hours. Small wheel comparison just for fun. Just done the wire wool on the left one, still to polish it. I'm wondering if it may be worth lacquering some of these parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 1 hour ago, danny boy said: Just testing ways to clean this beast up, the chassis rails came out great with some wire wool and a little polishing, now just the rest of the car to do! ..looks like new dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 I use a wheel and polishing wax on my alloy .The wax stops the fade. J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 16, 2017 Author Share Posted November 16, 2017 Now that is not a bad call yoodoo, I'm sure I have something suitable in the garage. Meanwhile, progress is expectedly slow. Every single part needs cleaning, so as you can imagine I only get through a handful of parts each evening. What comes off the car What goes back on the car A little pitting on these parts, which is a shame, though these have so far only been lightly polished, when all the parts are done I'll have a day at properly polishing them all with a rotary tool and polishing addon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted November 16, 2017 Share Posted November 16, 2017 Here is a G2 chassis I have , a bench grinder with polishing wheels and wax...mirror finish. This was as dull as dish water when I got it. This looks 100 times better in the flesh. J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted November 26, 2017 Author Share Posted November 26, 2017 Great advice yoodoo! I gave it a go and re-assembled the front end, looking 100x better than when I first got the car. Now just that crazy rear end to go 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 any more progress on this dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 (edited) On 12/19/2017 at 18:36, evssv said: any more progress on this dude Yes a little, progress slowed as a part repair was needed. but all is now sorted! One of the four front suspension arm mounts had some damage. It's a solid machined part, and when I tightened it up the thread snapped clean off. Luckily it's a fairly beefy part, so I was able to lathe out and tap a new thread to insert a piece of threaded bar into the stub. Now it's tinted black again I think it will go unnoticed. Once that was sorted I started work on the back plates, only one back on the car for now until the rest is cleaned up Also rear arms ready to go back on Another thing I noticed when working on this car. This thing is looooooong. Definitely longer than my hyper 7, maybe a little narrower though. Edited December 22, 2017 by danny boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 sweet getting there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Starting to feel a little more like a car again every day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Well the car has been packed away for Christmas, so will not be updated for a few days. Only progress I made today was to clean half of the exhaust, which isn't that exciting to be honest In case anyone was wondering, the car did come in the original box, though it didn't fare so well in storage over the years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 so what is the actual make of it dude?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny boy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, evssv said: so what is the actual make of it dude?? I believe the make is Hobby products. Though I can't find any info on this company, where they were based or what become of them. Possibly linked to Kyosho/Graupner based on the similarities to the Kyosho circuit 20, which came a bit later than the wild baja, though that is just a guess. (not my picture, but this is the kyosho version of the car) Edited December 24, 2017 by danny boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evssv Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 looks simular..plus the Japanese wrighting on the box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Made by Nitro Hobby Products circa 1979. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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