Tamiya themselves:

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...oduct-id=53520

http://www.rcworld.co.kr/admin/product_middle/2945.jpg

None on ebay at present, I got the last set... :whistle:

Did you get the blue ones? Or black? Not that it matters- it'll look fine either way.

They are both blue - one is just a black & white picture... :lol:

They will be silver/natural in a few hours- just finishing work & off to get some oven cleaner. :yipi:

Really....?

http://www.tamiyausa.com/images/prod...ader_53520.jpg http://www.rcworld.co.kr/admin/product_middle/2945.jpg

Really- you can see its the same picture, just greyscale; they do that with alot of pictures for some reason, usually older items that are discontinued.

Anyway, here is the result of my labours (besides dried out skin from the oven cleaner, must buy some rubber gloves to replace the ones riddled with holes....):

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan21.jpg
Funny though, if there were black ones, I may well have kept them black & just installed them unharmed... :lol:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan22.jpg
After 2x 20 minute treatments of Mr Muscle oven cleaner (aerosol foam spray).

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan23.jpg
Surface finish- 99% of the anodizing is gone, just some black/grey residue caused by the oven cleaner.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan24.jpg
After a light rub down with some 00 grade steel wool & wd40.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan25.jpg
Surface finish- shiny :mdr:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan26.jpg
Comparison.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan27.jpg
Bigger comparison- I like the lightweight chassis' design much more.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan28.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan29.jpg

I like. :yes:

Me too.... :smile:

Me 3, Much more handsome design.

That's a very nice build you got there Neil:yes:... can't wait to see the finished product.

Anything new dawg?

That thing is gonna be mean:surprised:!! Nice build Neil!

Current status:

Waiting on parts. Its been about 2 weeks since I ordered them, so they should start arriving this week/ early next week. In the mean time, heres some nostalgia for you:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUswOl6g7Dw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUswOl6g7Dw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Thats from the first TXT-1 project, way back when.... :angel:

Looks great Neil..look forward to seeing the finished product

Good times:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan30.jpg
NewEra parts arrived, along with the first pair of shocks.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan31.jpg
Had to use a 1mm thick shim behind the lower links for clearance, otherwise the rod ends prevent the center skid mounts from bolting in place- big rodends....

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan32.jpg
....cause problems. They fouled the center skid, preventing it from bolting to the mounts. Only solutions were either to use some standoffs like in the photo, or to remove some material from each corner of the skid. Only a couple of mm need to be removed, so I may tackle that at a later point- took the easy option for the time being (still looks & works fine).

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan33.jpg
Cantilevers give an additional 2 holes on the shock end/side, and the option to go in or out one hole further on the push rod end/side. I will play around with that further once I get the rest of the metal parts installed.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan34.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan35.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mulligan36.jpg

And there she sits. I didnt bother installing the front & rear skids as theres not much point, gonna wait until the lower axle guards arrive (next week?) and then I shall do my trademark mod to the front skid (see: previous TXT-1 project). Laters :smile:

Neil, looking at the close-up pic of the center skid mounting, would it make sense to mount it upside down- so that it bends downward and clears the rod ends? Or would that still not provide enough clearance?