Motomoto's Twin Hammers

[motomoto]

So I spent most of my Saturday tracking one of these bad boys down. I was going to order from RPP cause I love those guys but I got busy with some big projects at work this past week and didn't get a chance. So being the impatient guy that I am am, I set off to find one yesterday. In the process I discovered two new LHS that I didn't know about. Also, it baffles me how many places I called didn't even know what I was talking about. I'm not talking about random hobby stores, I called the ones listed as distributors on Vaterra's website.



Anywho, I got it home late yesterday afternoon and finally got a chance to get it out of the box last night. Very cool rig. Lot's of neat details on how they designed it. So after fondling it for about 1/2 hour, I started taking it apart.





The one thing I don't love about it is the body. The font fascia/hood just seems like an after thought. I know what they were going for but I feel like they could have done better here. Plus, the moment I saw it, like many of you I thought of two things; Mini Trophy and Sand Scorcher. So when I was out and about I picked up a Sand Scorcher body.



I knew the Mini Trophy body wouldn't work in stock for based on Badger's pics but I had just got done painting a new so I draped one over the TH just to see how off it was. Man, if you stretch out the wheelbase you could have something here!



I've always loved the Baja racers from the late 80's where it had the front clip of a VW Bug but it was pure racer from there back. I had found this rig a while back and will be using it a loose template for my build.It's built by Danny Parsel and it is truly fantastic. If you want to know more about it, it was a featured rig over at Race-Dezert: Streamline 1963 Bug Prerunner » race-deZert.com





Below you'll see where I'm at right now. The TH is a tiny bit wider than the Sand Scorcher but it'll work out. Also, making that first cut into a perfectly good Sand Scorcher was the worst! I felt like I was destroying a piece of fine art.

[tklatti]

Gonna be cool. What you gonna do for front bumper?

[finishline]

Looks interesting, what do you plan on doing for the roof?

[shwng1973]

You beat me to it on the bug body.
Can't wait to get mine this week.

[Big Mike]

I like where this is heading...

[tedo]

Awesome. I was thinking of a bug dody as well! Dammit. Looks like a cool start.

Btw, where in Minneapolis you from? I grew up in South, and before I moved to Vermont, I lived in the Whittier neighborhood (closer to MCAD). I miss a city sometimes...

[motomoto]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm pretty stoked about this build. I've been waiting for someone to come out with a rig like this. As for the bug body, I by no means beat anybody to it. It's been discussed in a couple other TH threads. I'm sure everyones will turn out different anyway!

Originally Posted by tklatti

Gonna be cool. What you gonna do for front bumper?

Not sure yet. Depends on how the front end comes together but I'll end up making something custom either way.

Originally Posted by finishline

Looks interesting, what do you plan on doing for the roof?

The roof will be styrene.

Originally Posted by tedo

Btw, where in Minneapolis you from? I grew up in South, and before I moved to Vermont, I lived in the Whittier neighborhood (closer to MCAD). I miss a city sometimes...

I live in NE, near the old Grain Belt Brewery. I was just over by MCAD Thursday. Took my daughter to a play at the Children's Theater. You wouldn't miss it right now. Nasty outside!

[Baja Bandido]

I like the TT body and with some trimming looks like it could fit really nicely. Great job on the bug by the way.

Chris

[motomoto]

Originally Posted by Baja Bandido

I like the TT body and with some trimming looks like it could fit really nicely. Great job on the bug by the way.

Chris

Thanks. Yeah the Mini Trophy body would be cool. I think with some longer trailing arms, drive shaft and what not it would fit awesome. As it sits it would take quite a bit of trimming.

[Knytemare]

Wow I really like the look of this! I'm gonna have to keep my eyes on this one!

[Rockridge]

Originally Posted by motomoto

Thanks. Yeah the Mini Trophy body would be cool. I think with some longer trailing arms, drive shaft and what not it would fit awesome. As it sits it would take quite a bit of trimming.

X2 on that after seeing badgers pic of the mini trophy I went down to my LHS and put my name on one.

[sally1800]

Sand Scorcher looks to be a great fit. Is the width match up the the side panel of the chassis OK?

Looking to find a servo winch location?

[motomoto]

Originally Posted by sally1800

Sand Scorcher looks to be a great fit. Is the width match up the the side panel of the chassis OK?

Looking to find a servo winch location?

I'm not sure what you're asking here? Do you mean does SS body match up to the roll cage by the door? If so, the SS is taller. I'm mounting the body right now and will get pics up later. Hopefully that will answer your question.

[squish72]

i think hes asking if the width of the body is close to the chassis for easier mounting

[sally1800]

Originally Posted by squish72

i think hes asking if the width of the body is close to the chassis for easier mounting

yep.

[rcaddict747]

you have just added another reason for me to get this truck! i love prerunners.

[motomoto]

So here's where I ended up today. The body is mounted to the cage and sitting where I like it. There's also a shot from the bottom to give you an idea of the fit. Like I said earlier, the Sand Scorcher body isn't quite as wide as the TH. It's getting stretched out a bit to fit on the TH.

[sally1800]

Thanks for those last shots. It's better to be stretched a pinch than loose and flopping around.

It is a great idea.

[Big Mike]

Doesn't look stretched too bad. It doesn't look deformed or anything.

I REALLY like where this is heading...

[motomoto]

Got the front clip on tonight. Lots of trimming and shaving. I'm not super happy with how it's looking right now. I'm debating filling in the headlights all together so I can get the clip to flow better with the fenders. Thoughts? Tomorrow night I plan on working on the front clip some more and hopefully start on the roof.