BUiLDiNG the Tamiya Monster Beetle 2015 Assembly Kit #58618 (Part 1): Making the Body

This is the making of a Tamiya Monster Beetle 2015 rerelease Hard Body, from start to the finished result. First time ever for me!
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The duration of the video is much longer than I expected even though I have omitted much footage, like the different layers of paint and some of the self-explanatory assembling processes. This is my first try at an ABS/hard plastic body, and the proces itself was time consuming. So for those really interested in the Tamiya Monster Beetle, make yourself a good cup of coffee and follow along for the 13 minutes. For those not so interested, please feel free to skip this video or jump to the parts that interest you the most. Below you will find some links to the different parts of the video.
This Monster Beetle was a welcomed gift for me on Christmas Eve 2015. So I am quite pleased at presenting the footage from the build proces for the holidays of 2016. Hope you will enjoy.
Part A: Quick unboxing and box art presentation 0:40
- watch the whole unboxing here:
Part B: Painting the body: Preperations and priming 1:49
- I was quite unsure of whether to prime it or not. Decided on the priming as this probably would bring out the red colour better? The disadvantage is that scrathes will reveal grey paint instead of red plastic.
Part C: Painting the body: Italian Red and details 4:13
- Even though I had bought a 1500P sand paper to be used after painting it I deciced in the last minutes not to do it. I had no good result with the clear coat (TS-13) as it reacted somehow with the paint, blurring some details. Since this footage I have corrected some of those details at windows etc.
Part D: Painting the Driver ("Albert Attaboy") 6:24
- Very simple paint job! I do not master any weathering techniques. But Albert awoke nontheless!
Part E: Assembling the body: Windows and Front assembly (nose and light bar) 8:24
- Strange things occurred. The assembly of the light bar is still a mystery to me. What went wrong? Pieces do not seem to match.
Part F: Assembling the body: Details, Decals and Final Result 11:09
- Quite enjoyable proces. Learned a great technique to apply decals from the youtube channel of Sigbarth RC. Much easier! I'm happy to pass it on here.
Currently I am waiting for some final details and changes (plus better weather) before I run it outside. Something I am looking forward to in the next season. The Monster Beetle is truely visual striking, a real beauty and one of my new favorites. When it comes to running capabilities it is also still filled with flaws. Some of the changes Tamiya made has actually caused new problems. A few of them I hope to correct a little in the future. Many more Monster Beetle videos to come. This is gonna be a journey. Hope you will travel along with me.
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RC MODEL (STOCK-) SPECIFICATIONS:
- Brand: Tamiya
- Model: Monster Beetle 2015
- Article Number: #58618
- Originally released in: 1986
- Type: Assembly Kit, Monster Truck
- 2WD (Rear Wheel Drive) with universal drive shafts
- Chassis: ABS Resin Space Frame
- Body: ABS Volkswagen Beetle
- Scale: 1/10
- Length: 410 mm
- Width: 285 mm
- Height: 240 mm
- Wheel Base: 247 mm
- Tread: 220 mm Front; 225 mm Rear
- Monster Pin Spike Tire: 58 mm Width/130 mm Diameter
- Gears: Sealed Gear Box with 3-Bevel Differential
- Gear ratio: 14.7:1
- Suspension: Double Wishbone Front; Trailing Arm Rear
- Shocks/dampers: CVA Oil Filled Dampers
- Bearings: Plastic bushing x8, Metal Bearing x2, Metal Ball Bearing x2
- Electric motor: Mabuchi Brushed RS-540SH 27T
- ESC: Tamiya TBLE-02S (60A brushed + brushless sensored)
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Nordic RC Visions Statement:
This video features homemade footage of my own radio-controlled unit, the Tamiya Monster Beetle 2015 (tamiya 58618), from my personal RC model collection. All rights reserved.