Another TL-01 then...

I did think about converting one of the other TL-01 trucks to become the downgeared version, but on the other hand I really like them as they are and don't particularly want to change any of them. My spare parts box is/was pretty full though, so I think it is probably best to use all of this stuff up and build a fourth truck. I bought a couple of spare chassis along the way, one was empty of mechanical parts and the other was a fairly rare lightweight (grey plastic) touring car chassis, which I sold on minus its nicely hopped-up internals for more than I paid for it.

Anyway, here's my kit of spare parts:


The first spare chassis got used to replace the one on Blue truck after it got cracked when it collided with the triangular base bar of a park picnic table which was hidden in long grass (the bar not the table!). The chassis I've used to try out this modification is the only spare I've now got and is unfortunately the cracked one. I've tried to repair it once already with chemical (epoxy) metal but this proved not to be strong enough. I'm now going to have to make some sort of metal shoe to reinforce this area, which is where the front arms attach. I've highlighted the cracks, which are in different places on each side, with a red CD writing pen. The ink from these tends to draw itself into the cracks making them easier to see:


An evening's work has got me this far. I've locked the differentials with hot glue, and have used bronze bushings to replace the plastic originals throughout the gearboxes and driveline. I couldn't really see the point of going for expensive bearings here, being as this truck won't need any advantages that these can give. Besides which it's likely to get pretty wet and muddy at some point, which would probably wreck them anyway.


I've used black screws everywhere they are visible just to keep things as tidy as possible. The pinion gear isn't here yet so I can't yet fit the new gearbox - the next stage will now be to get all the electrics fitted.