This is really the last one of this special species of unreal RC cars from another parallel universe far far away.
And to be honest, I really get the impression, that I am in the wrong dimension. So many crazy things happen, it simply can´t be the real world! Please let it be a absurd terrible dream! Did they really vote Trump again? It is early February 2025 and the crazy and unbelievable news every single morning crumbling my poor brain into a dry raisin. I have at least 3 WTF-moments even before I had my breakfast! Can someone be so kind and bring me back to my normal crazy dimension, where we only destroy our planet and still have some stupid wars and some medium dangerous pandemics?
And here is another sad thing: industry legend Jay Kinbrough died yesterday. The maker of the famous gears and servo savers, what we all used since the beginning.
I never counted the number of your gears and servo savers I used. RIP Jay!
The famous Kimbrough Racing Products spur gears, how we know them since so many years.
We are in an age, where we have to realize and correct errors we made in the past. No matter, if we had treat people not good, if we made wrong decisions with jobs, partners or votes, or thousends other not so good things. We must be honest to ourself! A late apology. Meet an old friend after many years. Help others. It is never too late. If we die, people only remember you as a good person, or an fucking asshole. No matter, what you accomplished in your life.
Another important part in your late life is, to remember your roots as RC Car racer! This RC10 Stealth 1985 project car were sold many times. I assume, most of this kits went straight on the next shelf (hopefully). Some never built it and some build it with a very special personal touch. Jason Ruona from JConcepts created a special body for this car for example. Pretty nice!
Proper wheels on this one!
I opted the good old Protech RC10 body, because I love the design so much!
Holiday Buggy style rear wheels and Tamiya Frog front wheels on original CRP black rims. Both wheels makes the proportions between body and wheels perfect! The look is 100% right. This makes the character and look of every RC Car! Body to wheel proportions. Same for rim to tire proportion. Modern racing wheels are fast, but to get nthis look, it only works with those old style small rims.
For me as a designer this car has the absolutely best overall proportions and look possible.
But let´s start this project from the beginning - with my new Bambu Lab X1-Carbon 3D printer! This thing is a little high tech beast! One of the most fastest and most accurate 3D printer out there for hobby purpose.
It is pretty cold here these days.
Since I went into my new home in Bremerhaven/Germany, I use it nearly every day. And I simply love it!
All Stealth 1985 kits were made from Shapeways 3D printed plastic parts and Shapeways gone bancrupt since a while. So why not printing all those needed parts by myself?
My chose of material gone to PC blend material. A very strong material, what is pretty expensive, but strong enough to really race this car! And the natural colour matches the original AE colour pretty well!
The printing time was about 10 hours. But to remove all the support material took me at least the same time. I nearly had bloody fingers after all. It was no fun, but the result was fantastic!
So I took my very last kit, what I reserved for myself and built this one!
I also printed the rear hubs, rear bulkhead and adjustable battery cubs.
Not to forget, I also printed the Stealth-Stealth transmission case. This case allows the internals of the original AE Stealth transmission gears and the AE B4 slipper clutch in a 6-gear tranny transmission case.
Stealth internals hidden in a 6-gear case. For this I will end in hell. Available at Neo Vintage Racing Shop. www.neovintageracing.com
This is for racing!
Body off. Oldschool look, but for racing!
Nice colours!
The suspension works fantastic. Long wheel travel front and rear - with Kyosho Ultima JJ option springs on both ends.
Wheels off. The long arms are so much stronger against the Shapeways material! And the material is a kind of shiny.
Right side of the joy!
The re-release Yokomo Esprit motor. Fits good in terms of power and look!
Gear box and rear end.
Steering unit. Even the bell crank arms are 3D printed. The decal shows the shock oils.
The Novak GT7 speedo. Again, I want to race it and need a proper power source!
The Reedy selected LRP 4000mAh Sub-C batteries from another less stupid dimension.
The adjustable battery cups with cut-outs.
I made shock spring rings to center the springs to the shock body. Even better, if you use Kyosho springs, what have a little larger inner diameter.
I also made shock spring retainer with a larger diameter. A short version for the front and a standard height version for the rear shocks.
It took some days to make all adjustments for the car. Especially you have to take time for the shocks. Finding the right springs and shocks oil is always the most important thing for Vintage racing. Now we are finished with this article. I hope, the summer is coming soon to drive this car finally on track. If you are from the other side of the pond and was so brave to read until the end, please forgive me my harsh words at the start. I know, most of you are the nicest people you can meet. And I know, you can do it better! We all can do it better! Peace!