Latest mods are the side panels, bonnet and roof, made from a cut-up paper folder and the lid of a tupperware container. Overall cost - less than a quid. I've got my HPI Rock Grabber tyres and black coloured Rock-8 wheels fitted now, these were really intended for the current Clod project (see below) but never mind, needs must. I've used the old Axial aluminium beadlock rings on the outside of the wheels just for effect, and have used the much heavier stainless steel HPI ones on the insides. The ESC is now a Nosram Tomahawk Reverse, this has a much better instant reverse function when compared with the previous Mtronics RV-20 Sniper, so I'm experiencing a lot less rolling over backwards when I overdo the steep uphill bits.
Other mods? A section of old silver watch chain wrapped around the front axle, this gives me about an extra ounce and a half of weight on the front end, this helps the front wheel traction slightly when the whole thing is pointing up at the sky. And I'm also now using a Futaba T3-PDF transmitter. This gives me switchable rear wheel steering, rather than the mixed setup of the old (actually newer type) 3PM-FM. I've now got mixed feelings rather than mixed steering, I've lost the proportionality of the original TX but I've gained the addition of pure RWS when I need it, and besides which it is far less clunky when going from 2WS to 4WS.
Currently on order (coming from the USA) is a new STCR aluminium motor mount/skid plate. This will allow me to move the lower links inboard of the chassis side plates, I don't actually need any extra articulation due to the tyre/cage clearance, but this will allow for less side hangups which occur surprisingly often. The link screws and the matching rod ends now bear considerable witness to the fact that this happens as much as it does!
