Soze's UMG10 - 80's toy/cartoon theme build

[soze]

The UMG10 was intriguing enough for me to pick up another SCX10.2. Bonus that it came as a kit. As soon as I saw the driver included with the kit I knew what I what direction I wanted to go with it.

I mulled over how detailed to make this thread since the SCX10.2 is pretty well known at this point. Decided to go ahead and just document everything just in case there are newcomers to the hobby.

Follow this build on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...z6_PHerM8MMzUd


Build Details:
Axial SCX10 II UMG10 Kit
Boom Racing 25T Alloy Servo Horn


Electronics:
Hobbywing WP-1080 Brushed Crawler Esc (ebay)
Holmes Hobbies Trailmaster Sport 550 21T (ebay)
FlySky R6B 2.4GHz 6-Channel Receiver
FlySky GT-3C 2.4 GHz Radio
DS3218 20kg Servo (ebay)


Tools:
Versachem Brake Caliper Grease
Permatex Anti Seize Lubricant (ebay)
Tamiya Side Cutter
Protek RC Shock Pliers (available on eBay)
DEWALT DCF610S2R 12V MAX Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Hex Chuck Screwdriver Kit
MIP Metric Speed Tip Set MIP9512
Associated 1656 FT 1/4 in Driver Handle
Duratrax Shock stand
Bob Smith Industries Blue Thread locker (available on eBay)
Multistar Rubber R/C Work mat


Paint:
Tamiya PS-4 Blue
Tamiya PS-23 Gunmetal
Tamiya PS-5 Black
Tamiya PS-55 Flat Clear
Tamiya XF-15 Flat Flesh
Tamiya 5mm Masking tape for Curves
Frog Tape (for general masking)

[soze]

Part 1: Axles

Let's get started!




We need parts from these bags.




Step 1 - diff gears






Step 2 - Going to give these 1 piece housings a try before I replace them.








Step 3 - Front Axle






Step 4 - Rear Axle






Step 5





lockouts for multi-piece housing replaced with just screws for 1-piece housing.




Axles are complete!

[soze]

Part 2: Links and Shocks


These are needed for this section






Step 6 - Steering and Panhard Links






Step 7 - Attaching steering and panhard links






Step 8 - Front lower links






Step 9 - Front upper link



Forgot picture of completed link.


Step 10 - Mouting front links






Step 11 - Rear Links






Step 12 - Mounting rear links






Links all mounted up.




Need this stuff for the shocks



Step 13-15 - Shocks




So my kit was missing all 4 pistons (Axial QC at it again). I had to steal them from a second SCX10.2 Cherokee kit I picked up. In the meantime I called up Axial to tell them that they were missing so that they could send me the pistons (AX30132).




UMG10 shock shafts on the left, Cherokee Kit shock shafts on the right.




Good ol' Noleen SF3 Shock Grease










Filled oil with low pressure setup






Shocks all good to go.




Part 2 complete.

[soze]

Part 3: Drivetrain


Parts needed for this step. DON'T FORGET THE ADDENDUM PARTS & INSTRUCTIONS!. I almost forgot there was the addendum package. Not following it would have resulted in a 305mm wheelbase and apparently not molded quite correctly transfer case. (more on that later).




Step 16 - Transmission shafts






Step 17 - Transmission assembly




Yup, the top-shaft play is still there. It's ok, I've got a Vanquish Top Shaft for SCX10.2 (ebay) waiting in the wings...




Step 18 - Transfer case. Make sure you use the Addendum transfer case. I couldn't see any differences between the addendum piece and what was provided in the kit, but I ended up using the addendum piece out of caution. After asking around... apparently the original kit provided piece had some mold issues on the inside of the case. The Addendum piece supposedly has the insides molded correctly to prevent any binding of gears. I have not had a chance to open up the transmission case again to look at the differences in detail, but I will put pictures up if I dig into it again. The other confusing aspect of this step is that the addendum calls this part of the instructions "servo mount".








Step 19 - Motor mount plate.








Step 20 - Spur gear and slipper assembly






Step 21 - Motor and pinion




Holmes Hobbies Trailmaster Sport 550 21T






Onto the driveshafts




Step 22 - Front driveshaft






Step 23 - Rear driveshaft






Step 24 - Mounting the driveshafts.




I have the rear driveshaft on backwards in this picture... corrected later on.




Step 25 - Mounting transmission to skid






All done with part 3!

[soze]

Part 4: Chassis Assembly


Poaching stuff from these bags




Step 26 - battery tray






Step 27 - Servo mount. It always amuses me how over-complicated this assembly seems to be.




Directions call for those 2 pieces under the battery tray, and for them to face in opposite directions. I don't know why or what they're for?




Step 28 - Mounting the servo




I ended up having some servo horn clearance issues with this particular servo. I had to use spacers for the time being, but I don't think this is the final servo I'll end up using... just what I have on hand.






Step 29






Step 30 from Addendum




MAKE SURE YOU USE THE ADDENDUM INSTRUCTIONS! This will give you the correct wheelbase.








Step 31 from Addendum






Step 32 from Addendum






Step 33 from manual - Mount front axle assembly (Addendum instructions skip from Step 32 to 37... so be aware that you need to jump from Addendum Step 32 to Manuals Step 33-36... back to Addendum steps 37, 38 and 39).






Step 34 - Front shocks mounted






Step 35 - Servo Horn




Boom Racing low profile 25T servo horn






Step 36 from manual - Attaching panhard rod








Step 37 from addendum - Rear links mounted.






Again, driveshaft backwards, but has since been corrected.




Step 38 from addendum- Rear shock mounting.






Done with part 4 update.

[soze]

Part 5: Electronics, Bumper, Wheels/Tires


Step 39 from addendum - receiver box






Decided to not fully assemble yet, since my electronics choices are still in flux. There is a good chance that I'll be switching up the servo mount + battery arrangement as well.




Step 40 - front bumper








Step 41 - Mounting tires. I really like the way these tires look. I also like the plastic beadlocks wheels as well.












Step 42 - Mounting wheels onto chassis





Part 5 out of the way. Almost done!

[soze]

Part 6: Body and Rear Cage

COBRAAAAAAAAAA! Ok, you guys probably get what the title means now. I think it was brought up that the helmet style was an odd choice given the background of who used that type. I thought it was similar enough to a Cobra Trooper helmet to make it a less offensive/controversial choice to be able to stick with it.


Steps 43-45 - painting body and parts, applying decals. I decided not to black out the fenders or rear panels this time, as I felt I wanted a "fuller" body of color. I blacked out the inside of the lexan, and painted the blue and flat cleared the outside of the lexan.

Colors Used:
Tamiya PS-4 Blue
Tamiya PS-23 Gunmetal
Tamiya PS-5 Black
Tamiya PS-55 Flat Clear
Tamiya XF-15 Flat Flesh
Tamiya 5mm Masking tape for Curves
Frog Tape (for general masking)













I really really wish I had a vinyl cutter for the Cobra emblems.




I'm glad this kit came with an interior. Real nice touch. I used the decal shift console at first, but later replaced it with the shifters from the parts tree.




Kudos to Axial for using reflective decals for the mirror. I don't know why non-reflective decals are still being used in some other kits.




Step 46 - Front grille assembly






Yup, Axial is at it again with that thin strip below the front grille. I think they're just trolling us at this point. However, I will say this one came out better and the grill seems to contour and grip the body much better when mounted.




Step 47 - Light lenses and buckets






Step 48 - Mounting side mirrors.










Step 49 - Snorkel assembly






Step 50 - Interior






Step 51 - Mounting the interior










Step 52 - Starting the rear cage assembly






Step 53






Step 54






Step 55 - At this point I discovered that Axial QC has yet blessed me with a shortage of screws 2.6x6. And an overage of incorrect screws 2.6x10. I ended up having to use some extra 2.6x10s that were provided instead of 10 2.6x6 screws that I was supposed to use.






Step 56 - Spare tire mount






Step 57 - Mounting the cab to cage.




Made a hole at the top of the cab for extra screw to support mounting to the top of the cage lining up with existing cage screw joint.










Step 58 - Mounting body to chassis








Stock form build complete.

[toka100]

noticed the kit has the ti coated shock shafts again. Kinda glad to see that. The older kit shocks were the best axial shocks.


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[Teng]

Live manual


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[Shinchu]

In for thread title ;)
Looking at your selected colors I have no idea where you are going with this... Looking forward to seeing the rest!

[soze]

Originally Posted by Shinchu

In for thread title ;)
Looking at your selected colors I have no idea where you are going with this... Looking forward to seeing the rest!

What???? Really? Try harder!

[Shinchu]

You're missing red for what I was thinking.
Dont give any hints! I want to be surprised ;)

Cobra HISS variant?? I got nothing lol

[soze]

Originally Posted by Shinchu

You're missing red for what I was thinking.
Dont give any hints! I want to be surprised ;)

Cobra HISS variant?? I got nothing lol

I might as well post it now....

Post updated.

More pictures coming.

[soze]

Now it's time to put some of those Axial tree parts (ammo cans, rifles, etc.) to good use. Need to figure all that out.

[2mtech]

I'm really sorry/not sorry that you have no life and an unlimited expense account to keep putting up these awesome build threads for us.

This is definitely a departure from mainstream but I like what you did there!

[soze]

Originally Posted by 2mtech

I'm really sorry/not sorry that you have no life and an unlimited expense account to keep putting up these awesome build threads for us.

This is definitely a departure from mainstream but I like what you did there!

LOL, yeah family life doesn't leave much time for other stuff, but I find time in the evenings to do stuff.

Unlimited expense account! Hah I wish! Most of this is funded by selling off my stuff from my older hobbies that I've left.

[zane!]

Ermahgerd the Cobra theme is perfect. Nicely done, and great walkthrough.

I'm digging that servo horn. I had to clearance my panhard mount to make my Axial aluminum horn fit which was annoying.

[JatoTheRipper]

It looks great!

Thanks for warning me about the grille! This is a body for me to avoid.

When you said cartoon theme I was picturing a UMG10 body on a Tamiya Comic chassis.

[B-MOW71]

Looks great Soze! Love the Cobra theme! Seeing this took me back 37 years to my first G.I. Joe's!

[Shinchu]

CO - BRAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

hahaha awesome!!!
I totally took a stab in the dark on that!
Hey you know I have some A.R.B.C.O. decals for custom vehicles. I cant remember the name of the site where I got them. Maybe it was reprolabels? Anyway I can send them your way if you want!
(For those not in the know, ARBCO was cobras super clever "disguised" name for thier businesses usually run by the twin crimson guard commanders tomax and xamot. IIRC...)

GREAT WORK SOZE!!!
I still have not yet "figured" out a way to tie in my two favorite hobbies of RC and figure collecting. I think you nailed it here!