SCX30 - 90's DODGE RAM Hardbody!

[WRXronald]

Oh yeah lucky to nab this one. Walmart toy strippage is a mid 90's DODGE RAM 1500 paint looks sweet!!!

The toy is also made mid 90's don't think can find these anymore. 1 of a few at most.

Did see a few 3d prints on etsy whatnot but nothing as clean looking as this setup.

I think it's a cheap velcro job so going to be some fiddling involved I'm sure to get it right. Also see packing tape in the wrong places lol oh well.

Wheelbase and track width are pretty much spot on!!

Detailed pics and a rock vid soon!!

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I'm not a Dodge fan, but cool find. That's one of Dodge's best truck designs.

 

[WRXronald]

Kinda agreed, but the mid-90's RAM hits a bit different doesn't it!? Besides, I just love trucks!

.. almost don't even care who is the manufacturer. Dodge Ram "BEASTIE" was a truck a drove when I was 16yrs old my grandfather had passed and he had the "blazer" version I can't remember what it was called (and also had a Ford Taurus). Anyways my IDIOT buddy convinced me to neutral drop it on the way from his house maybe only after driving it a few times and well... bye bye rear drive shaft. That was the end of that.

And I was demoted to the Ford Taurus. (not a SHO)

Anyways I still tore up the neighborhood with that Taurus, what an irresponsible young litle prick driver I was - and I wasn't HALF what some of the neighbor boys where lol (think old Ford Escort EXP doing a side-berm pass where its essentially an offroad on the berm -- idiots!!!)

Ok so I digress sorry trip down memory lane. The Ram Beastie was old though mid 80's - kinda hideous.

I do love this one -- the body is MINT, can't believe it, looks like it just came out of the 1990's box --- i'm shocked, was not expecting, now how am I supposed to bash it? Or maybe owner was just good at painting, body work, and cleaned it all up idk?

It also crawls AMAZING, am shocked here too --- expected terrible performance and extreme top-heavier hardbody with bed cap --- nope, its kinda lightweight for what it is, steering is still solid too, WOW, articulates realisicly, suspension is quality, uses SCX24 shocks up front for more height.

It crawled my cardboard course considerly better than my Orlandoo Hunter Rubicon. Also was suprised it came with Mickey Thompson Baja BOSS scale tires --- SWEEET!!!! Just ordered a set of Baja Pro X's .7's of course --- gotta have a gnarly off-road setup too!!!

More to come... vid and detailed pics later tonight hopefully.

 

[WRXronald]

Quick pic....

I guess there's some paint run in the black stripe on the bumper -- evidence of paint job? But at least the body is quite clean, no dents, dings, scratches, scrapes -- not played with much for having been around 30ish years!? Almost didn't believe him but why lie I mean it is what it is. I looked for others similar size, current toys etc on various sites --- drew a blank so this was it!

The more I look, a toy from back then would have had shiny paint most likely -- this has to be post-market paint. "NYC - New York Central System" -- thats quirky but kinda cool. Thought it was or would make a good Fireman's truck, find a light bar, etc.

 

[WRXronald]

Couple super close-ups --- maybe its legit and original? OR how the heck? I can barely even read the "MAGNUM" squinting like nuts - its not a decal.

Still more impressive -- a legit "SLT" on the B pillar and I think I even see an attempt at "LARAMIE" above the SLT in the 2nd pic.... WOW that's tiny, and a bit smudged lol

Licensed? Too bad no mirrors!

 

[WRXronald]

Some basic crawl testing... battery was not fresh, I put 20mins on it yesterday and no idea level of charge when it came in the door.

These MT Baja BOSS tires seem legit!! Need 2mm more wide stance per side and this baby would rip!!


FUN in a small package, need to put the slower 88T Dynamite motor in, but might just go striaght to AM32 Brushless Outrunner 1212. Have a set sitting here was gonna go in my other FCX K10... needs a tiny rx though.

My biggest complaint is the high pitch whine of the brushed. And the velcro body mount. Need to swap for magnets I'm thinking.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

What's that thing you're crawling on in the video? Please share a link where I can get some.

 

[WRXronald]

Yeah Jato this is a wonderful question I wish I could answer! I've had it since my first tiny crawler builds (Walmart Rubicon, and a Tamiya Hilux 'model" shell -- both on Losi Trail Trekker chassis' -- still have them and they still run!).

Pretty sure I nabbed it on the bay, but it was over a decade ago.

Trust me -- I would have an entire table full of it -- if I could find more! Never seen another piece like it. Its just cardboard, strangely has texture so somewhat decent grip.

Instead of this -- somebody on the tube made a SWEET course using some kind of fabric"ish" sort of like knapsack or burlapp -- grippy -- and layered on top of aluminum foil tape --- then you push "crinkle" the tape to the mountain terrain you want. Either buy the super thick 4mil foil tape or double up layers to get enough strength to hold the weight of an SCX30 no prob, almost no under support required from what I understood (of course depending how big/tall you go)

Let me see if I can find the link and I have some tape on order was just gonna make something and see what turns out. Will post up about it. Not exactly sure what fabric but I have this old burly cheap "BUDGE" brand automotive car cover - the fabric looks to me like it would work great so will start there.

Appreciate all the feedback!!! Will get it on real outdoor terrain soon - if I go brushless might just go thru it all and get super waterproofed while torn apart. And I have to work up the gumption to risk scratch & denting the shell. Man its soooo perfect in condition and it was priced that way too Damage will be painful to my heart lol!

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Hmm I wonder if that rock "course" is something Losi released. It kind of rings a dim bell inside my dim bulb.

I bought the canvas and aluminum tape to make the course. I just never got around to it.

 

[DickyT]

What's that thing you're crawling on in the video? Please share a link where I can get some.

Hmm I wonder if that rock "course" is something Losi released. It kind of rings a dim bell inside my dim bulb.

I bought the canvas and aluminum tape to make the course. I just never got around to it.

Exactly that, for the Losi micro crawler that came out late 2009. Both long since discontinued.

Losi Micro Rock Crawler Course Piece [LOSB1625]

This is a Losi Micro Rock Crawler Course Piece. This Micro Rock Crawler Course is designed for use with Losi's 1/24-scale Micro Rock Crawler, and... LOSB1625

www.amainhobbies.com

 

[WRXronald]

LOL that's cool -- thanks for refreshing my memory -- or heck idk maybe just bringing me up to speed altogether lmao -- I vaguely recall buying one of the Trekker's used and maybe it came with the crawler board. I quickly retrofitted for a RC4WD Mini-HAMMER zinc/steel gear transmission from a Land Rover and a 70T tiny motor for crawling, and I was hooked on the little rigs from there!

Will have to get another round of pics up, got the Proline pre-glued "steel stamped" chrome wheels w/MT Baja Pro X tires ---- oh SO freakin' gnarly and MEAN lookin'!!!

If the Baja BOSSs are 35-37ish inch tires in terms of real scale, then these would in the 42inch range, a bit bigger, and wider for sure.

Added a good amount of stance width too on wheel offset.

The outcome -- LOOKS AMAZING (if you're into the lifted truck "monster" tire look), as for crawl, well um, yeah they work great, but RUB BAD. I mean it is just about fully driveable, but there are challenges with rubbing and grabbing fenders -- I put the 88t motor in and still could use a tad more torque. Steering certainly is diminished on full lock throw and also now just struggles a tad with the size and gnarliness of the tire --- tire stickiness level is WAYYY up there and super soft foams inside too, worth it just for the look!

Pics and a vid tomorrow hopefully! These little nuts are a PITA but you get a rhythm goin' and its relaxing after all (if you don't drop and lose one!)

 

[WRXronald]

Well don't I feel silly now... Its from a Model Train set... LIONEL is the manufacturer --- O Scale sized. Made in 1998 range.

A lot of them are out of stock in places especially other colors / emblems aside from the red with NewYork Central System emblem. The truck was meant as a "rail rider" and came on a rail set for riding on the train tracks -- inspection services.

Other colors have other emblems presumably for other railroads besides NewYorks CENTRAL Railway system, makes sense.

The others look to be in $45-$60 dollar shipped range -- scoop them up now if you want one I guess cuz once word gets out they fit SCX30 perfectly --- I mean I don't kinda want to go buy them all myself lol.

I did buy one extra the cheapest could find on Ebay --- want to hack the cap off and make a Tonneau-cover style pick up. LOL great excuse to get another SCX30 muhahaha!

So far I saw the red, there's black, white, yellow, (maybe grey but I think someone painted there's in a pic I found) so not a lot of color availability out there.

Well crud just search LIONEL Dodge Ram -- bunches of them mostly the red!!

Yellow is clearly the rarest (and coolest looking) color --- pricey!!! See item #297003050858

 

[WRXronald]

Ok so then maybe opening up the door for other "O" scale 4x4 trucks out of the train sets? No clue if there are others. Also not sure if wheelbase will be same as the 90's Dodge RAM or not, but its possible?

Item #396672086287 1957 Dodge pick-up with Sunoco paint job --- fully licensed!! These are cool. Tried to lift and image and post it, all trouble about file types on imgur.

 

[WRXronald]

Yellow FORD F-150 (Lighning body style?) also cool... 336500103806

Believe it sitting on a 10 1/2" long rail car base making the truck about the right size/length for the 1/30th --- presume same size as the Dodge RAM or close --- or how else can they go on the same O scale train tracks together and not look "off".

 

[WRXronald]

Heres another VERY cool bespoke pick-up.... Looks like an early '80 K10 or C10 square body, extended cab, outfitted with tool-box flat bed setup for working crews on the tracks....

again, no clue if the right size but I thnk its got to be close, worse case make your own re-sized tiny 4-links?

I nabbed one! It looks TOO COOL!

Look up ITEM # 236639577501

Don't be alarmed if you see "1/48" -- that's "O" scale in trains I guess. The Red Dodge Ram is also "1/48" or "O" scale.

These are WAYY nicer than 3D printed (if you don't want to do all the body work) -- and seem to be fully licensed -- the Dodges at least.

 

[Gramps]

Went searching for O gauge Lionel on eBay and found this



1946 Chevy Panel $35 shipped really tempting

 

[WRXronald]

Oh yeah didn't see that one that is SIIICK!!! What a cool classic that would make!!

Great price too even the most common red DODGE Ram 1500's are over $35 shipped.

Other bespoke vehicle types were more in the $50 - $75 from what I was seeing.

Prices only likely to increase if more people catch on to these fitting scx30's?

 

[WRXronald]

Well need to make some course adjustments I think before I can get a good vid going --- underestimated how tiny a crevice will easily swallow it whole lol.

But at least get to see it on the jagged terrain and with the new aggressive Mickey Thompson Baja PRO X stance on cool looking wheels. 88t motor on this vid... brushless soon!

 

[JatoTheRipper]

That's awesome and it looks like it side hills better than it has any right to do so with that heavy body on top.

 

[WRXronald]

It's not half bad! Can't wait to get one going w/out the cap... should kill it then.

Watch your size on the various "O" gauge trucks I'm finding they are custom so trucks that sit as "display" on rail cars may not be sized anywhere near same as the inspection vehicle DODGE Rams.

I suspect the Ford F150 inspecton veh would fit right, and hoping the blue Chevy tool truck as well.

Also there are die cast models too -- that won't work super heavy.

I been sending messages asking for wheelbase etc so far quite a few come back real tiny like true 1:48 scale? 3.3" overall etc. A firetruck that looked right to me came back super tiny and I was like uh oh.

There's a cool wrecker but I'm guessing it's small sized.