I originally was going to use one of the RCM motor mounts, probably the hot bodies one, as the main plate, but decided to make my own. I still might, as mine is a little rough. I looked at adding mechanical brakes, shouldn't be too hard, just have to make enough room. Put the brake servo where the second steering servo was. The center diff is an old one from my twin force, I upgraded the twin force to the hardened hot bodies diffs. The Hot Bodied diffs are the same as the kyosho ones, just cheaper, and are the same, I'm pretty sure, as the ones in the hybrid Revo diffs. And yes, the ring gear is just to hold it together until the Kyosho plastic spur gear gets here.